Planning system and method for processing workpieces

A planning system for simulating the processing of workpieces by a manufacturing cell, the planning system comprising:

• a production utilization planner (PUP) core having a simulation and analysis module having a processor and a memory, the memory storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the simulation and analysis module to perform as:
• a simulation manager configured to simulate the processing of workpieces arranged in a workpiece order, by performing the following steps:
• creating, at initiation of a simulation, an instance of a simulation controller, and an instance of a software model of the manufacturing cell, the software model having state machines configured to perform timed actions on the workpieces, the state machines comprising workers, workpiece stations, and automated ground vehicles, the workers comprising technicians and/or robotic devices, and each state machine has a state during the timed actions, and a state transition from state to state;
• determining, via the simulation controller, a next timed action to be performed by the state machines;
• incrementing the simulation to the next timed action;
• updating the software model and the simulation controller each time a state machine performs a timed action;
• repeating the steps of determining the next timed action, incrementing the simulation, and updating the software model and the simulation controller, until all of the workpieces have been processed;
• and
• outputting a simulated completion time for the simulation, and a state transition log for each state machine during processing of the workpiece order.

A method of simulating, via a production utilization planner (PUP) core, the processing of workpieces in a workpiece order by a manufacturing cell, the method comprising:

• creating, at initiation of a simulation, an instance of a simulation controller and an instance of a software model of the manufacturing cell having state machines configured to perform timed actions on the workpieces, and each state machine has a state during the timed actions, and a state transition from state to state;
• determining a next timed action to be performed by the state machines;
• incrementing the simulation to the next timed action;
• updating the software model and the simulation controller each time a state machine performs a timed action;
• repeating the steps of determining the next timed action, incrementing the simulation, and updating the software model and the simulation controller, until all of the workpieces have been processed;
• and
• outputting a simulated completion time for the simulation, and a state transition log for each state machine during processing of the workpiece order.