US6591153B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
System and methods for scheduling manufacturing resources
Assignee: Blue Yonder Group Inc
•
Filing: 2001-10-12
•
Granted: 2003-07-08
•
Expires: 2021-10-12
Abstract
Abstract A system and method for scheduling manufacturing resources based on user defined scheduling and routing goals. Attributes and constraints may be assigned to manufacturing resources and SKUs that facilitates the planning and scheduling of the resources. Resource transitions may be restricted only to desirable transition by using product wheels. Excess work-in-process may be minimized by scheduling orders that consume the excess work-in-process.
Inventors
- 👤 Myrick Crampton
- 👤 George Zdravecky
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 02:00
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06Q; G06Q10/00; G06Q10/06
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 69
Claim 1
Independent Claim
74 words
A system for generating and selecting a planning route and selecting scheduling opportunities according to the selected route, comprising: means for defining resources; means for receiving an order having an objective; means for generating a production method based on said objective and said defined resources; means for generating routes based on said production method; and means for selecting one of said routes and scheduling opportunities based on a scheduling goal and a routing goal.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
74 words
A system for generating and selecting a planning route and selecting scheduling opportunities according to the selected route, comprising: means for defining resources; means for receiving an order having an objective; means for generating a production method based on said objective and said defined resources; means for generating routes based on said production method; and means for selecting one of said routes and scheduling opportunities based on a scheduling goal and a routing goal.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
The system of claim 1 , wherein said scheduling goal is selected from the group consisting of maximizing resource utilization, just-in-time, minimize production cost, minimize cycle time and balance resource utilization.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
The system of claim 2 , wherein said routing goal is selected from the group consisting of fast, best and fast on time.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
The system of claim 1 , wherein said routing goal is selected from the group consisting of fast, best and fast on time.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
15 words
The system of claim 1 , further comprising a means for creating a product wheel.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
The system of claim 5 , wherein said means for creating a product wheel comprises a means for defining allowed transitions for one of said resources.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
46 words
The system of claim 6 , further comprising a means for reviewing said selected route and scheduling opportunities to determine whether said selected route and scheduling opportunities violates said product wheel and selecting another one of said routes generated if said product wheel has been violated.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
15 words
The system of claim 1 , further comprising a means for packing out excess work-in-process.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
22 words
The system of claim 8 , wherein said means for packing out excess work-in-process comprises the step of identifying said excess work-in-process.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
25 words
The system of claim 9 , wherein said means of packing out excess work-in-process comprises a means for identifying orders that consume said excess work-in-process.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
22 words
The system of claim 10 , wherein said means for packing out excess work-in-process comprises a means for scheduling said identified orders.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
22 words
The system of claim 11 , further comprising a means for assigning a first attribute and a second attribute to a SKU.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
26 words
The system of claim 12 , wherein said first attribute indicates whether said SKU needs to be packed out when said SKU is present in excess.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
20 words
The system of claim 13 , wherein said second attribute indicates a finished good that is associated with said SKU.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
30 words
The system of claim 1 , wherein said means for defining resources comprises a means for defining said resources by identifying starting and ending SKUs, production rates and resource families.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
28 words
The system of claim 15 , wherein said means for generating a production method based on said objective and said defined resources further based on said resource families.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
93 words
A system for generating and selecting a planning route and selecting scheduling opportunities according to the selected route, comprising: a database storing manufacturing data and receiving and storing an order, wherein said order having an objective; a modeling module which defines resources; a production method module which generates a production method based on said objective and said defined resources; a routing module which generates routes based on said production method; and a scheduling manager module which selects one of said routes and scheduling opportunities based on a scheduling goal and a routing goal.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
93 words
A system for generating and selecting a planning route and selecting scheduling opportunities according to the selected route, comprising: a database storing manufacturing data and receiving and storing an order, wherein said order having an objective; a modeling module which defines resources; a production method module which generates a production method based on said objective and said defined resources; a routing module which generates routes based on said production method; and a scheduling manager module which selects one of said routes and scheduling opportunities based on a scheduling goal and a routing goal.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
31 words
The system of claim 17 , wherein said scheduling goal is selected from the group consisting of maximizing resource utilization, just-in-time, minimize production cost, minimize cycle time and balance resource utilization.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
23 words
The system of claim 18 , wherein said routing goal is selected from the group consisting of fast, best and fast on time.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
23 words
The system of claim 17 , wherein said routing goal is selected from the group consisting of fast, best and fast on time.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
17 words
The system of claim 17 , further comprising a product wheel module which creates a product wheel.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
20 words
The system of claim 21 , wherein said product wheel module further defines allowed transitions for one of said resources.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
48 words
The system of claim 22 , where in said product wheel module further reviews said selected route and scheduling opportunities to determine whether said selected route and scheduling opportunities violates said product wheel and selects another one of said routes generated if said product wheel has been violated.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
17 words
The system of claim 17 , further comprising a pack out module which packs out excess work-in-process.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
20 words
The system of claim 24 , wherein said pack out module packs out excess work-in-process by identifying said excess work-in-process.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
19 words
The system of claim 25 , wherein said packing out module further identifies orders that consume said excess work-in-process.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
16 words
The system of claim 26 , wherein said packing out module further schedules said identified orders.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
22 words
The system of claim 27 , wherein said scheduling manager module assigns a first attribute and a second attribute to a SKU.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
26 words
The system of claim 28 , wherein said first attribute indicates whether said SKU needs to be packed out when said SKU is present in excess.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
20 words
The system of claim 29 , wherein said second attribute indicates a finished good that is associated with said SKU.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
29 words
The system of claim 17 , wherein said modeling module which defines resources is by identifying starting and ending SKUs, production rates and resource families associated with said resources.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
31 words
The system of claim 31 , wherein said production method module which generates a production method based on said objective and said defined resources is further based on said resource families.
Claim 35
Independent Claim
66 words
A method for generating and selecting a planning route and selecting scheduling opportunities according to the selected route, comprising the steps: defining resources; receiving an order having an objective; generating a production method based on said objective and said defined resources; generating routes based on said production method; and selecting one of said routes and scheduling opportunities based on a scheduling goal and a routing goal.
Claim 36
Independent Claim
66 words
A method for generating and selecting a planning route and selecting scheduling opportunities according to the selected route, comprising the steps: defining resources; receiving an order having an objective; generating a production method based on said objective and said defined resources; generating routes based on said production method; and selecting one of said routes and scheduling opportunities based on a scheduling goal and a routing goal.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 33 , wherein said scheduling goal is selected from the group consisting of maximizing resource utilization, just-in-time, minimize production cost, minimize cycle time and balance resource utilization.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 34 , wherein said routing goal is selected from the group consisting of fast, best and fast on time.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 33 , wherein said routing goal is selected from the group consisting of fast, best and fast on time.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 33 , further comprising the step of creating a product wheel.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 37 , wherein said step of creating a product wheel comprises the step of defining allowed transitions for one of said resources.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method of claim 38 , further comprising the steps of reviewing said selected route and scheduling opportunities to determine whether said selected route and scheduling opportunities violates said product wheel and selecting another one of said routes generated if said product wheel has been violated.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 33 , further comprising the step of packing out excess work-in-process.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 40 , wherein said step of packing out excess work-in-process comprises the step of identifying said excess work-in-process.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 41 , wherein said step of packing out excess work-in-process comprises the step of identifying orders that consume said excess work-in-process.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 42 , wherein said step of packing out excess work-in-process comprises the step of scheduling said identified orders.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 43 , further comprising the step of assigning a first attribute and a second attribute to a SKU.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 44 , wherein said first attribute indicates whether said SKU needs to be packed out when said SKU is present in excess.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 45 , wherein said second attribute indicates a finished good that is associated with said SKU.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 33 , wherein said step of defining resources comprises the step of defining said resources by identifying starting and ending SKUs, production rates and resource families.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 47 , wherein said step of generating a production method based on said objective and said defined resources further based on said resource families.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
86 words
A program storage device readable by a machine, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by a machine to perform the steps of generating and selecting a planning route and selecting scheduling opportunities according to the selected route, comprising the steps: defining resources; receiving an order having an objective; generating a production method based on said objective and said defined resources; generating routes based on said production method; and selecting one of said routes and scheduling opportunities based on a scheduling goal and a routing goal.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
86 words
A program storage device readable by a machine, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by a machine to perform the steps of generating and selecting a planning route and selecting scheduling opportunities according to the selected route, comprising the steps: defining resources; receiving an order having an objective; generating a production method based on said objective and said defined resources; generating routes based on said production method; and selecting one of said routes and scheduling opportunities based on a scheduling goal and a routing goal.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
33 words
The program storage device of claim 49 , wherein said scheduling goal is selected from the group consisting of maximizing resource utilization, just-in-time, minimize production cost, minimize cycle time and balance resource utilization.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
25 words
The program storage device of claim 50 , wherein said routing goal is selected from the group consisting of fast, best and fast on time.
Claim 56
Dependent Claim
25 words
The program storage device of claim 49 , wherein said routing goal is selected from the group consisting of fast, best and fast on time.
Claim 57
Dependent Claim
16 words
The program storage device of 49 , further comprising the step of creating a product wheel.
Claim 58
Dependent Claim
16 words
The program storage device of 49 , further comprising the step of creating a product wheel.
Claim 59
Dependent Claim
28 words
The program storage device of claim 53 , wherein said step of creating a product wheel comprises the step of defining allowed transitions for one of said resources.
Claim 60
Dependent Claim
48 words
The program storage device of claim 54 , further comprising the steps of reviewing said selected route and scheduling opportunities to determine whether said selected route and scheduling opportunities violates said product wheel and selecting another one of said routes generated if said product wheel has been violated.
Claim 61
Dependent Claim
17 words
The program storage device of claim 49 , further comprising the step of packing out excess work-in-process.
Claim 62
Dependent Claim
24 words
The program storage device of claim 56 , wherein said step of packing out excess work-in-process comprises the step of identifying said excess work-in-process.
Claim 63
Dependent Claim
27 words
The program storage device of claim 57 , wherein said step of packing out excess work-in-process comprises the step of identifying orders that consume said excess work-in-process.
Claim 64
Dependent Claim
24 words
The program storage device of claim 58 , wherein said step of packing out excess work-in-process comprises the step of scheduling said identified orders.
Claim 65
Dependent Claim
24 words
The program storage device of claim 59 , further comprising the step of assigning a first attribute and a second attribute to a SKU.
Claim 66
Dependent Claim
28 words
The program storage device of claim 60 , wherein said first attribute indicates whether said SKU needs to be packed out when said SKU is present in excess.
Claim 67
Dependent Claim
22 words
The program storage device of claim 61 , wherein said second attribute indicates a finished good that is associated with said SKU.
Claim 68
Dependent Claim
32 words
The program storage device of claim 49 , wherein said step of defining resources comprises the step of defining said resources by identifying starting and ending SKUs, production rates and resource families.
Claim 69
Dependent Claim
30 words
The program storage device of claim 63 , wherein said step of generating a production method based on said objective and said defined resources further based on said resource families.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4744028A
Cited
US5369570A
Cited
US5467285A
Cited
US5764543A
Cited
US5720157A
Cited
US5808891A
Cited
US5835377A
Cited
US5983195A
Cited
US6415196B1
Cited
US6308107B1
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2006-07-07 | 2007-01-06 | 2007-07-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2010-07-07 | 2011-01-06 | 2011-07-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2014-07-07 | 2015-01-06 | 2015-07-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |