US6633790B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Systems and methods for optimizing a production facility
Assignee: Xerox Corp
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Filing: 2001-01-29
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Granted: 2003-10-14
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Expires: 2021-01-29
Abstract
Abstract Systems and methods are provided for optimizing a production facility that includes workstations for producing products. The method involves utilizing an objective function to find optimal production rates of the products.
Inventors
- 👤 Yuri Gartstein
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 22:51
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06Q; G06Q10/00; G06Q10/04
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
76 words
A method for optimizing a production facility having a plurality of workstations for producing products, the method comprising the steps of for each product, finding a bottleneck rate representing the inverse of a maximum effective processing time of one of workstations of the plurality of workstations; for each product, associating a production rate; and computing optimal production rates for the plurality of workstations by utilizing an objective function of the bottleneck rates and the production rates.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
76 words
A method for optimizing a production facility having a plurality of workstations for producing products, the method comprising the steps of for each product, finding a bottleneck rate representing the inverse of a maximum effective processing time of one of workstations of the plurality of workstations; for each product, associating a production rate; and computing optimal production rates for the plurality of workstations by utilizing an objective function of the bottleneck rates and the production rates.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein, in the step of computing, the optimal production rates substantially maximize the objective function.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 2 , wherein, in the step of computing, the objective function is substantially maximized subject to capacity constraints of the at least one workstation.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein, in the step of computing, the objective function of the bottleneck rates and the production rates is a linear function of the inverse of the bottleneck rates.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein, in the step of computing, the objective function of the bottleneck rates and the production rates is a linear function of the production rates.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein, in the step of computing, the objective function is a sum of products of the production rates and the inverse of the bottleneck rates.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein, in the step of finding, the at least one workstation is a print shop workstation.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein, in the step of finding, the at least one workstation includes at least one machine or processing operator.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein, in the step of finding, the at least one workstation includes a machine for manufacturing image forming systems.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein, in the step of computing, each product is associated with an optimal production rate computed by utilizing the objective function.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 10 , further comprising manufacturing the products at the optimal production rates associated therewith.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 1 , further comprising re-calculating optimal production rates to reflect a changing status of the facility and of jobs in the facility.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
81 words
A production facility comprising a) at least one workstation for producing products, each product having a bottleneck rate representing the inverse of a maximum effective processing time of the at least one workstation; and b) a central processor having instructions to input the bottleneck rate of each product, and to output an optimal production rate for each product; wherein the instructions utilize an objective function of the bottleneck rate of each product to output the optimal production rate for each product.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
81 words
A production facility comprising a) at least one workstation for producing products, each product having a bottleneck rate representing the inverse of a maximum effective processing time of the at least one workstation; and b) a central processor having instructions to input the bottleneck rate of each product, and to output an optimal production rate for each product; wherein the instructions utilize an objective function of the bottleneck rate of each product to output the optimal production rate for each product.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
27 words
The production facility of claim 13 , wherein the optimal production rate output by the central processor influences a production rate of the at least one workstation.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
27 words
The production facility of claim 13 , wherein the instructions include a subroutine for maximizing the objective function to obtain the optimal production rate for each product.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
37 words
The production facility of claim 13 , wherein the instructions include a subroutine for maximizing the objective function to obtain the optimal production rate for each product subject to capacity constraints of the at least one workstation.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
138 words
A method for optimizing a production facility that produces Np products using Nw workstations, where Np and Nw are natural numbers, the method comprising the steps of: for each of the Np products, finding a bottleneck rate representing the inverse of a maximum effective processing time of the Nw workstations, the bottleneck rate of product j being denoted by r jb , where j=1,2, . . . , or Np; for each of the Np products, associating a production rate, the production rate of product j being denoted by u j , where j=1,2, . . . , or Np; and computing optimal production rates by utilizing an objective function of r 1b , r 2b , . . . , r Npb , and u 1 , u 2 , . . . , u Np .
Claim 20
Independent Claim
138 words
A method for optimizing a production facility that produces Np products using Nw workstations, where Np and Nw are natural numbers, the method comprising the steps of: for each of the Np products, finding a bottleneck rate representing the inverse of a maximum effective processing time of the Nw workstations, the bottleneck rate of product j being denoted by r jb , where j=1,2, . . . , or Np; for each of the Np products, associating a production rate, the production rate of product j being denoted by u j , where j=1,2, . . . , or Np; and computing optimal production rates by utilizing an objective function of r 1b , r 2b , . . . , r Npb , and u 1 , u 2 , . . . , u Np .
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 17 , wherein, in the step of computing, the objective function is substantially equal to Σ j u j /r jb .
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 18 , wherein the optimal production rates substantially maximize the objective function subject to capacity constraints.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
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| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2006-10-13 | 2007-04-14 | 2007-10-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2010-10-13 | 2011-04-14 | 2011-10-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
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