System and method for simulation and modeling of biopharmaceutical batch process manufacturing facilities

A method for simulating and modeling a batch processing manufacturing facility, comprising the steps of:

• (1) selecting a sequence of unit operations wherein each of said sequence of unit operations has an identifier code;
• (2) selecting a set of scheduling cycles for each of said sequence of unit operations;
• (3) referencing a master table using said identifier code to obtain operational parameters for each of said sequence of unit operations;
• (4) generating a block flow diagram using said sequence of unit operations and said operational parameters;
• and
• (5) generating a process time line using said operational parameters, said block flow diagrams, said set of scheduling cycles for each of said sequence of unit operations, wherein said process time line is used as a tool for batch processing and facility design.

A system for simulating and modeling a batch processing manufacturing facility, comprising:

• a master table listing a plurality of operational parameters for each of a plurality of unit operations, wherein each of said unit operations has an identifier code, each of said plurality of unit operations specifying at least one task in the batch processing manufacturing facility;
• a calculation set list, accessible via said identifier code, listing equations to calculate material flow and equipment sizing requirements for each of said plurality of unit operations;
• means for defining scheduling cycles of a sequence of said plurality of unit operations;
• and
• means for generating a block flow diagram using said sequence of said plurality of unit operations and said plurality of operational parameters.

A computer program product comprising a computer usable medium having computer readable program code means embodied in said medium for causing an application program to execute on a computer that schedules a batch production process, said computer readable program code means comprising:

• a first computer readable program code means for causing the computer to identify a production process sequence, said production process sequence including a plurality of unit operations, each of said unit operations being identified by unit operation identifiers;
• a second computer readable program code means for causing the computer to retrieve process parameter information from a master list for each of said unit operation identifiers in said production process sequence, said process parameter information including information on discrete tasks associated with each of said unit operations;
• and
• a third computer readable program code means for causing the computer to generate a process schedule that identifies initiation and completion times for each of said discrete tasks in said production process sequence.

A computer program product comprising a computer usable medium having computer readable program code means embodied in said medium for causing an application program to execute on a computer that simulates and models a batch processing manufacturing facility, said computer readable program code means comprising:

• a first computer readable program code means for causing the computer to select a sequence of unit operations wherein each of said sequence of unit operations has an identifier code;
• a second computer readable program code means for causing the computer to select a set of scheduling cycles for each of said sequence of unit operations;
• a third computer readable program code means for causing the computer to reference a master table using said identifier code to obtain operational parameters for each of said sequence of unit operations;
• and
• a fourth computer readable program code means for causing the computer to generate a block flow diagram using said sequence of unit operations and said operational parameters.

A method for scheduling a batch production process, comprising the steps of:

• (1) identifying a production process sequence, said production process sequence including a plurality of unit operations, each of said unit operations being identified by unit operation identifiers;
• wherein:
• (a) a set of at least two of said plurality of unit operations is selected;
• and
• (b) a cycles-per-batch value is assigned to said set;
• (2) retrieving process parameter information from a master list for each of said unit operation identifiers in said production process sequence, said process parameter information including information on discrete tasks associated with each of said unit operations;
• and
• (3) generating a process schedule, based upon said cycles-per-batch values, that identifies initiation and completion times for each of said discrete tasks for each unit operation in said production process sequence.

A method for scheduling a batch production process, comprising the steps of:

• (1) identifying a production process sequence, said production process sequence including a plurality of unit operations, each of said unit operations being identified by unit operation identifiers;
• wherein:
• (a) a set of at least two of said plurality of unit operations is selected;
• and
• (b) a cycles-per-process value is assigned to said set;
• (2) retrieving process parameter information from a master list for each of said unit operation identifiers in said production process sequence, said process parameter information including information on discrete tasks associated with each of said unit operations;
• and
• (3) generating a process schedule, based upon said cycles-per-process values, that identifies initiation and completion times for each of said discrete tasks for each unit operation in said production process sequence.