US 5,295,067 A · Order planning system which transforms existing engineering relationships into an order planning knowledge base

Abstract

A system for order planning that translates an order configuration into a list of bills of materials list. The system operates based upon a first logical specification of relationships between models, optional features or device codes and required material components. The first logical form of relationships is transformed into an unambiguous statement of relationships. These relationships are then encoded to provide a compact knowledge base for evaluation of orders and order plans. Each order is encoded in a manner that allows rapid comparison with the predicates specified in the knowledge base. The order evaluation mechanism is independent of the knowledge base allowing the knowledge base to be updated in response to changes in design or relationships. A pre-processor can be introduced evaluate even more complex logical relationships between models and device codes using similar logical principles based on that comparison bill of material one assigned to a list to form a complete a complete manufacturable configuration.

Claims12

Dependent claims

A method for determining component requirements for a assembly said method operating in an computer system having storage means for storing computer readable data, wherein component specifications and relationships for a finished assembly are specified in a first logical form having terms and operators on those terms, the method comprising the steps of:

transforming said specifications and relationships from said first logical form to an unambiguous second logical form having the same terms;
encoding each term in said second logical form by assigning a unique identifier to each distinct term;
transforming said specifications and relationships in said second logical form into rules in an encoded knowledge base by replacing each term with its respective encoded term;
encoding said proposed assembly configuration using said encoded terms;
generating a list of said component requirements by:
generating satisfied rule indicators by comparing said encoded proposed assembly configuration to said encoded knowledge base;
and
assigning a component requirement to said list of component requirements by evaluating said satisfied rule indicators using said encoded knowledge base.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Order planning system which transforms existing engineering relationships into an order planning knowledge base

Life of this patent

Order planning system which transforms existing engineering relationships into an order planning knowledge base

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims12