Method and device for determining optimum batch sizes

A device for determining optimum batch sizes for placing components on circuit boards within a pick and place line,

• wherein a quantity of circuit board types to be produced on the pick and place line is predefined within a predefined planning time period,
• wherein a number of circuit boards which is to be produced is predefined per circuit board type,
• wherein the number of circuit boards per circuit board type forms a quantity which is to be divided into equally large sub-quantities, also referred to as batches, which are produced distributed uniformly in terms of timing over the planning time period as production orders,
• wherein the batch size of a circuit board type represents the number of circuit boards in a sub-quantity,
• wherein the predefined circuit board types are divided into a quantity of set-up families,
• wherein a set-up family with an associated set-up comprises a quantity of circuit board types which can be produced with the associated set-up,
• comprising:
• means for recording set-up costs which are incurred for setting up the associated set-up of a set-up family,
• means for determining the time intervals between the production orders per circuit board type as a function of the batch size,
• means for determining the set-up costs per set-up family over the planning time period as a function of the batch sizes of the circuit board types and taking into account the recorded set-up costs,
• means for determining the total set-up costs from the sum of the set-up costs per set-up family,
• means for determining the total warehousing costs of the circuit boards produced in a time interval within the planning time period from the sum of the warehousing costs per circuit board type as a function of the batch sizes, and
• means for optimizing the batch sizes in such a way that the sum of the total set-up costs and total warehousing costs can be minimized.