US7860737B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Constraint-based production planning and scheduling
Assignee: Blue Yonder Group Inc
•
Filing: 2003-05-02
•
Granted: 2010-12-28
•
Expires: 2023-05-02
Abstract
Abstract The present invention is a constraint-based planning tool that specifically addresses the needs of complex discrete and process industries by providing a computationally efficient method and system for fulfillment of customer orders in a supply chain. By comprehensively synchronizing and optimizing the flow of materials through the enterprise, the present invention creates a feasible plan for manufacturing operations that simultaneously optimizes both material and capacity constraints by planning and scheduling multiple customer orders, planning for use the various resources located in remote locations needed to fulfill such orders, and scheduling the used resources for replenishment at appropriate times so that the resources meet the needs of the orders.
Inventors
- 👤 David Jordan
- 👤 Brian Taylor
- 👤 Paul Johnston
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 22:50
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06Q; G06Q10/00; G06Q10/04; G06Q10/06; G06Q10/063; G06Q10/0631; G06Q10/06311; G06Q10/06312; G06Q10/06315; G06Q10/06316; G06Q99/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
306 words
A computer implemented method for optimally scheduling manufacturing resources and selecting scheduling opportunities to fulfill customer orders based on user-defined goals, comprising the steps of: defining at least one human resource and at least one non-human resource, wherein said at least one human resource and said at least one non-human resource are divided into periods of common working time; receiving an order having an objective; generating using a computer a production method based on said objective, said at least one human resource and said at least one non-human resource, wherein each said at least one non-human resource is associated with a generated priority; generating using a computer a plurality of routes and scheduling opportunities based on said production method, wherein said plurality of routes is generated based on the priority of said at least one non-human resource, and wherein the priority of said at least one non-human resource is determined with consideration of a setup time for said at least one non-human resource; selecting one of said plurality of routes and said scheduling opportunities based on a scheduling goal and a routing goal; releasing said at least one human resource at an end of each of said periods of common working time; generating using a computer a plurality of revised routes and revised scheduling opportunities at an end of each of said periods of common working time including after at least a first period of common working time and after releasing said at least one human resource, wherein said first period of common working time includes a period during which said at least one human resource and said at least one non-human resource are used in conjunction with one another to achieve a first user-defined goal; and selecting one of said revised routes and revised scheduling opportunities and applying said scheduling opportunity to said manufacturing resources.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
306 words
A computer implemented method for optimally scheduling manufacturing resources and selecting scheduling opportunities to fulfill customer orders based on user-defined goals, comprising the steps of: defining at least one human resource and at least one non-human resource, wherein said at least one human resource and said at least one non-human resource are divided into periods of common working time; receiving an order having an objective; generating using a computer a production method based on said objective, said at least one human resource and said at least one non-human resource, wherein each said at least one non-human resource is associated with a generated priority; generating using a computer a plurality of routes and scheduling opportunities based on said production method, wherein said plurality of routes is generated based on the priority of said at least one non-human resource, and wherein the priority of said at least one non-human resource is determined with consideration of a setup time for said at least one non-human resource; selecting one of said plurality of routes and said scheduling opportunities based on a scheduling goal and a routing goal; releasing said at least one human resource at an end of each of said periods of common working time; generating using a computer a plurality of revised routes and revised scheduling opportunities at an end of each of said periods of common working time including after at least a first period of common working time and after releasing said at least one human resource, wherein said first period of common working time includes a period during which said at least one human resource and said at least one non-human resource are used in conjunction with one another to achieve a first user-defined goal; and selecting one of said revised routes and revised scheduling opportunities and applying said scheduling opportunity to said manufacturing resources.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method according to claim 1 wherein said step of selecting one of said revised routes includes releasing only the human resources at the end of any of said periods of common working time.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method according to claim 1 , wherein said resources include future arrivals of supply stock for bought-in items.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
180 words
A system for optimally scheduling manufacturing resources and selecting scheduling opportunities to fulfill customer orders based on user-defined goals, comprising: means for defining at least one human resource and at least one non-human resource, wherein said at least one human and non-human resources are divided into periods of common working time; means for receiving an order having an objective; means for generating a production method based on said objective and said defined at least one human and non-human resource; means for generating a priority for each said at least one non-human resource; means for generating a plurality of routes and scheduling opportunities based on said production method, based on said relative priority of the at least one non-human resource; means for selecting one of said plurality of routes and said scheduling opportunities based on a scheduling goal and a routing goal; means for generating a plurality of revised routes and revised scheduling opportunities at an end of each of said periods of common working time; and means for selecting one of said plurality of revised routes and revised scheduling opportunities.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
180 words
A system for optimally scheduling manufacturing resources and selecting scheduling opportunities to fulfill customer orders based on user-defined goals, comprising: means for defining at least one human resource and at least one non-human resource, wherein said at least one human and non-human resources are divided into periods of common working time; means for receiving an order having an objective; means for generating a production method based on said objective and said defined at least one human and non-human resource; means for generating a priority for each said at least one non-human resource; means for generating a plurality of routes and scheduling opportunities based on said production method, based on said relative priority of the at least one non-human resource; means for selecting one of said plurality of routes and said scheduling opportunities based on a scheduling goal and a routing goal; means for generating a plurality of revised routes and revised scheduling opportunities at an end of each of said periods of common working time; and means for selecting one of said plurality of revised routes and revised scheduling opportunities.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
35 words
The system according to claim 4 , wherein said means for selecting one of said revised routes includes releasing only the human resources at the end of any of said periods of common working time.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
The system according to claim 4 , wherein resources include future arrivals of supply stock for bought-in items.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
242 words
A system for optimally scheduling manufacturing resources and selecting scheduling opportunities to fulfill customer orders based on user-defined goals comprising: a computer processor configured to execute: a module for defining at least one human resource and at least one non-human resource, wherein said at least one human and non-human resources are divided into periods of common working time; a receiving module for receiving an order having an objective; a first generating module for generating a production method to achieve said objective using said defined at least one human and non-human resource; a second generating module for generating a priority for each said at least one non-human resource, wherein the priority of said at least one non-human resource is determined with consideration of a setup time for said at least one non-human resource; a third generating module for generating a plurality of routes and scheduling opportunities based on said production method and the priorities of said at least one non-human resource; a first selecting module for selecting one of said routes and scheduling opportunities based on a scheduling goal and a routing goal; a fourth generating module for generating revised routes and revised scheduling opportunities at an end of each of said periods of common working time, wherein a plurality of revised routes and revised scheduling opportunities are generated after releasing said at least one human resource; and a second selecting module for selecting one of said revised routes and revised scheduling opportunities.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
242 words
A system for optimally scheduling manufacturing resources and selecting scheduling opportunities to fulfill customer orders based on user-defined goals comprising: a computer processor configured to execute: a module for defining at least one human resource and at least one non-human resource, wherein said at least one human and non-human resources are divided into periods of common working time; a receiving module for receiving an order having an objective; a first generating module for generating a production method to achieve said objective using said defined at least one human and non-human resource; a second generating module for generating a priority for each said at least one non-human resource, wherein the priority of said at least one non-human resource is determined with consideration of a setup time for said at least one non-human resource; a third generating module for generating a plurality of routes and scheduling opportunities based on said production method and the priorities of said at least one non-human resource; a first selecting module for selecting one of said routes and scheduling opportunities based on a scheduling goal and a routing goal; a fourth generating module for generating revised routes and revised scheduling opportunities at an end of each of said periods of common working time, wherein a plurality of revised routes and revised scheduling opportunities are generated after releasing said at least one human resource; and a second selecting module for selecting one of said revised routes and revised scheduling opportunities.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
18 words
The system according to claim 7 , wherein resources include future arrivals of supply stock for bought-in items.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method according to claim 7 , wherein resources include future arrivals of supply stock for bought-in items.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
238 words
A non-transitory program storage device readable by a machine, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by a machine to perform the steps of optimally scheduling manufacturing resources and selecting scheduling opportunities to fulfill customer orders based on user-defined goals, comprising the steps: defining at least one human resource and at least one non-human resource, wherein said at least one human and non-human resources are divided into periods of common working time; receiving an order having an objective; generating a production method based on said objective and said defined at least one human and non-human resource; generating a priority for each said at least one non-human resource, wherein the priority of said at least one non-human resource is determined with consideration of a setup time for said at least one non-human resource; generating a plurality of routes and scheduling opportunities based on said production method, and based on said relative priority of said at least one non-human resource; selecting one of said routes and said scheduling opportunities included in said plurality of routes and scheduling opportunities based on a scheduling goal and a routing goal; generating a plurality of revised routes and revised scheduling opportunities at end of each of said periods of common working time, and after releasing at least said at least one human resource; and selecting one of said revised routes and revised scheduling opportunities from said plurality of revised routes and revised scheduling opportunities.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
238 words
A non-transitory program storage device readable by a machine, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by a machine to perform the steps of optimally scheduling manufacturing resources and selecting scheduling opportunities to fulfill customer orders based on user-defined goals, comprising the steps: defining at least one human resource and at least one non-human resource, wherein said at least one human and non-human resources are divided into periods of common working time; receiving an order having an objective; generating a production method based on said objective and said defined at least one human and non-human resource; generating a priority for each said at least one non-human resource, wherein the priority of said at least one non-human resource is determined with consideration of a setup time for said at least one non-human resource; generating a plurality of routes and scheduling opportunities based on said production method, and based on said relative priority of said at least one non-human resource; selecting one of said routes and said scheduling opportunities included in said plurality of routes and scheduling opportunities based on a scheduling goal and a routing goal; generating a plurality of revised routes and revised scheduling opportunities at end of each of said periods of common working time, and after releasing at least said at least one human resource; and selecting one of said revised routes and revised scheduling opportunities from said plurality of revised routes and revised scheduling opportunities.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
39 words
The program storage device according to claim 10 wherein said step of selecting one of said revised routes includes releasing only the at least one human resource at the end of any of said periods of common working time.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
25 words
The program storage device according to claim 10 wherein, in said step of defining resources, and resources include future arrivals of supply stock for bought-in-items.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US5212791A
Cited
US5111391A
Cited
US5233533A
Cited
US5369570A
Cited
US5432887A
Cited
US5860067A
Cited
US5619695A
Cited
US5787000A
Cited
US6216109B1
Cited
US5596502A
Cited
US5826236A
Cited
US6411922B1
Cited
US6415195B1
Cited
US6415194B1
Cited
US6591153B2
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2013-12-27 | 2014-06-28 | 2014-12-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2017-12-27 | 2018-06-28 | 2018-12-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2021-12-27 | 2022-06-28 | 2022-12-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |