Method and apparatus for analyzing the variable operating rate of a manufacturing process
OwnerRoger P. Hoffmaninventor
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Abstract
The present invention relates generally to a method and apparatus for analyzing the variable operating rate of a manufacturing process. The system contains information relating to procurement activity, manufacturing activity and sales and marketing activity.
Claims20
A method of determining a cost effective way of running a manufacturing facility comprising:
- selecting least expensive inputs;
- using lowest cost manufacturing methods;
- producing sales transactions with the highest net of all customer specific costs;
- selecting next best alternatives;
- continuing iterations until variable margin approaches zero, or a previously agreed minimum contribution.
A software system for analyzing the variable operating rate of a manufacturing process comprising:
- a database having procurement options;
- a database for market/customer options;
- a database for manufacturing options;
- said system supplying optimum run-rate information to a production planning database.
- said system providing production planning feedback which provides outputs (instructions) to coordinate procurement, manufacturing, and sales.
A system for calculating costs for each grade of paper by using the following formula:
- Grade Specific Cost=A % Material A+B % Material B+C % Material C+Y×Power Cost+Z×Energy Cost+Consumable Costs;
- said cost of each Materials, Power and Energy vary with throughput so that Grade Specific Cost is a function of throughput.
A method for reducing capacity of a papermaking machine and increasing profit comprising:
- reducing drum capacity of a debarking drum so that it is run below full capacity;
- reducing digester capacity so that it is run below full capacity;
- reduce water supply below full capacity;
- reduce capacity of pulp screening below full capacity;
- reduce pulp washing;
- reduce bleaching volumes and residence times;
- slow down feed rate to recovery boilers.
A method for analyzing the variable operating rate of a manufacturing process comprising:
- inputting information relating to procurement activity, manufacturing activity, and sales and marketing activity into a variable operating rate analyzer which comprises a computer database;
- calculating an optimum run-rate of said manufacturing process;
- supplying said optimum run-rate information from said variable operating rate analyzer to a production planning feedback system;
- providing instructions from said production planning feedback system to coordinate said procurement, said manufacturing and said sales and marketing.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.