Data processing: generic control systems or specific application – Specific application – apparatus or process – Product assembly or manufacturing
Reexamination Certificate
1998-11-17
2002-01-29
Gordon, Paul P. (Department: 2121)
Data processing: generic control systems or specific application
Specific application, apparatus or process
Product assembly or manufacturing
C700S099000, C700S106000, C700S111000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06343238
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a computerized system for providing various kinds of information regarding the current progress in a mass production process. The information is useful for a manager in charge of management of a mass production line, when he is required to make some decision on various parameters for the purpose to maximize the efficiency of the mass production line. The information is obtained employing a computer system.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The object of management of a mass production line is to maximize the efficiency of the mass production line. “A turn-around-time” defined as a length of time required for completion of production of a lot of products, is one of the most important parameters to determine a magnitude of efficiency of a mass production line. In this specification, “a mass production line” is assumed to be a production line which is employable for producing various kinds of products, and “a lot” is defined as a unit for identifying a group of a single kind of product to be produced employing a mass production line. As a result, “a turn-around-time” means in this specification a length of time required to produce a group of a single kind of product employing a mass production line, and the length of time is identified as a length of time from the beginning of supply of the first item of the materials to be processed for production of a lot until the termination of delivery of the last item of the finished products included in the same lot.
Although a turn-around-time, a received quality of materials and a shipped quantity of finished products were major tools employable for management of a mass production line and which is available in the prior art and which is employable for management of a mass production line, other parameters including a factor showing operation of facilities, a factor showing working time of laborers, et al. are items to be influential for the efficiency of a mass production line. This is because the parameters influential for a turn-around-time are increasingly more complicated, in line with a tendency in which a production process is increasingly more complicated.
Accordingly, if a system for providing various kinds of information regarding the current progress in a mass production line, it is remarkably helpful for a manager in charge of the management of a mass production line to improve the efficiency of the mass production line and to minimize the turn-around-time thereof.
OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, the sole object of this invention is to provide a system for providing various kinds of information regarding the current progress in a mass production line which is effective to assist a manager in charge of the management of a mass production line to improve the efficiency of the mass production line, when he makes some decision on various parameters regarding the following progress of the mass production line.
Each system for providing information regarding production progress of a mass production line in accordance with this invention is composed of a computerized means having a specific function which is specified for each embodiment, the computerized means being a host computer attached by a memory means, plural input means for inputting various source information and plural output means for outputting results of the computerized means. Some of the results of the computerized means are preferably shown in terms of a histogram which is conveniently displayed on a screen of display means.
In this sense, identification of each embodiment in accordance with this invention is made by the function of a computerized means included in each of the systems. Accordingly, the following description will be concentrated in the function of each embodiment.
To achieve the foregoing sole object, a system for providing information regarding production progress of a mass production line in accordance with a first embodiment of this invention comprises a plurality of first input means for respectively inputting a quantity of materials received by, a quantity of materials remained unprocessed at and a quantity of finished products shipped from a production stage of a mass production line for production of a production lot, a first computerized means for calculating relations respectively between the quantity of finished products and a sum of the received quantity of materials and the quantity of materials remained unprocessed for a production stage of a mass production line of a production lot and a plurality of first output means for outputting the relations respectively between the quantity of finished products and the sum of the received quantity of materials and the quantity of materials remained unprocessed for the production stage of a mass production line for production of the production lot.
In the foregoing first embodiment, the relations respectively between the quantity of finished products and the sum of the received quantity of materials and the quantity of materials remained unprocessed for the production stage of a mass production line for production of the production lot, can be shown in a graph and the first output means can be display means.
To achieve the foregoing sole object, a system for providing information regarding production progress of a mass production line in accordance with a second embodiment of this invention comprises a plurality of first input means for respectively inputting a quantity of materials received by, a quantity of materials remained unprocessed at and a quantity of fished products shipped from a production stage of a mass production line for production of a production lot, a plurality of second input means for respectively inputting an operation period of each of facilities provided for a production stage for a production lot, a time at which each of the facilities starts operation at each of the production stage for each production lot and a time at which each of the facilities finishes operation at each of the production stage, a second computerized means for calculating relations respectively between the quantity of finished products and a sum of the received quantity of materials and the quantity of materials remained unprocessed, relations between a length of period during which some of the facilities are remained under an idle position or a non-operating position and a sum of the received quantity of materials and the quantity of materials remained unprocessed, and relations between an average turn-around-time and a sum of the received quantity of materials and the quantity of materials remained unprocessed, for a production stage of a mass production line for production of a production lot, and a plurality of second output means for outputting the relations respectively between the quantity of finished products and the sum of the received quantity of materials and the quantity of materials remained unprocessed, and the relations between a length of period during which each of the facilities is remained under an idle position or a non-operating position and a sum of the received quantity of materials and the quantity of materials remained unprocessed, and relations between an average turn-around-time and a sum of the received quantity of materials and the quantity of materials remained unprocessed, for a production stage of a mass production line for production of a production lot.
In the foregoing second embodiment, relations respectively between the quantity of finished products and the sum of the received quantity of materials and the quantity of materials remained unprocessed, and the relations between a length of period during which each of the facilities is remained under an idle position or a non-operating position and a sum of the received quantity of materials and the quantity of materials remained unprocessed, and relations between an average turn-around-time and a sum of the received quantity of materials and the quantity of materials remained unprocessed, for a production stage of a mass production line for production of a
Garland Steven R.
Gordon Paul P.
Jones Volentine PLLC
Oki Electric Industry Co. Ltd.
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