Method for feedforward corrections for off-specification conditions
AssigneeInternational Business Machines Corporation
InventorsJerome M. Kurtzberg, Menachem Levanoni
Life of this patent
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Abstract
In current manufacturing practices, if a process results in a partial product which is outside its specification, it is either sent back to be reworked, or is scrapped. This results in unacceptable waste. The present invention comprises a method for minimizing this wasted work and materials, by corrective actions by subsequent processes. This approach is general, and is capable of correcting the effects of out-of-specs manufacturing process conditions, including the salvaging of partial product, thereby obviating the need for rework or scrap.
Claims9
A method for optimizing manufacturing production of a workpiece, the method comprising:
- (i) specifying ideal values for a parameter list corresponding to a completed workpiece;
- (ii) subjecting the workpiece to a plurality of manufacturing processes so as to produce the completed workpiece in satisfaction of said ideal values;
- (iii) monitoring the workpiece after a first manufacturing process for ascertaining the status of the in-process workpiece with respect to said ideal values;
- (iv) providing feedforward corrective actions to said manufacturing processes conditioned by said status of the in-process workpiece after the first manufacturing process to alter target values of said parameter list;
- (v) monitoring the workpiece after a second manufacturing process for ascertaining the status of the in-process workpiece with respect to said ideal values;
- and
- (vi) providing feedforward corrective actions to said manufacturing processes conditioned by said status of the in-process workpiece after the second manufacturing process to alter target values of said parameter list until the in-process workpiece is brought back within specifications,
- wherein out-of-specifications conditions determined in a previous manufacturing process are corrected beginning in a next subsequent manufacturing process capable of bringing the in-process workpiece back within specifications.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.