Continuous-line manufacturing system and method for automated machine allocation

A manufacturing system comprising:

• a production line;
• a first station located on the production line;
• a first tool located in the first station;
• a second station located on the production line;
• a second tool located in the second station;
• a plurality of automated machines distributed between the first station and the second station such that the first station comprises at least two automated machines and the second station comprises at least one automated machine, at least one of the plurality of automated machines being movable between the first station and the second station;
• and
• a controller configured to monitor machine capacity and workload requirements of the plurality of machines, wherein the controller is configured to reallocate a first automated machine of the at least two automated machines from the first station to the second station based on the machine capacity and workload requirements.

A system for fabrication using multiple stations, the system comprising:

• a production line comprising a first station comprising a first tool and a second station comprising a second tool;
• a plurality of automated machines distributed between the first station and the second station such that the first station comprises at least one automated machine and the second station comprises at least two automated machines;
• and
• a controller configured to determine a location of the plurality of automated machines based upon compiled statistics for the first station and the second station, and further configured to compare variables of the plurality of automated machine;
• wherein the compiled statistics comprise total required time, time completed, time remaining, and zone location.

A process for distributing a plurality of automated machines between a plurality of tools, the process comprising:

• defining a first automated machine set among the plurality of automated machines dedicated to one or more of a plurality of stations, based on a minimum number of automated machine requirements or minimum workload requirements;
• defining a second automated machine set among the plurality of automated machines configured to travel between the plurality of stations to complete total workload requirements based on a maximum difference in station-level workload requirements between two or more adjacent stations of the plurality of stations;
• measuring statistics of each station of the plurality of stations and tool;
• communicating the statistics to a controller;
• measuring variables from a numerical control program in each automated machine of the plurality of automated machines;
• compiling data measured of a total machine capacity and the total workload requirements across each station of the plurality of stations;
• and
• reallocating one or more of the plurality of automated machines to at least one of the plurality of stations that has unmet workload requirements.