Applying relational database technology to process control in manufacturing processes

A method of controlling a production process, comprising:

• (a) creating at least one row for each work item to be processed and at least one column for each attribute associated with one or more of the work items in one or more relational database tables;
• (b) retrieving a highest priority work item having a ready status for a processing step from the one or more relational database tables where priority is determined based on an ordering of the attributes;
• (c) performing the processing step on the work item or designating a processing device to perform the processing step on the work item;
• and
• (d) upon completion of the processing step, updating the status of the work item to a completed status for the processing step, the completed status for the processing step representing a ready status for a next processing step.

A method of controlling a production process, comprising:

• (a) retrieving from a relational database table a highest priority work item having a ready status for a first processing step by querying the relational database table;
• b) performing the first processing step on the work item or designating a first processing device to perform the first processing step on the work item:
• (c) updating the status of the work item to a completed status for the first processing step, the completed status for the first processing step representing a ready status for a second processing step;
• (d) retrieving from the relational database table the highest priority work item having a ready status for the second processing step by querying the relational database table;
• (e) performing the second processing step on the work item or designating a second processing device to perform the second processing step on the work item;
• and
• (f) updating the status of the work item to a completed status for the second processing step, the completed status for the second processing step representing a ready status for a next processing step.

A method of controlling a production printing process, comprising:

• (a) creating at least one row in a first set of relational database tables for each large print file to be processed by a plurality of processing steps;
• (b) retrieving a highest priority large print file from the first set of relational database tables;
• (c) subdividing the highest priority large print file into multiple small print files;
• (d) creating at least one row in a second set of relational database tables to represent each of the small print files;
• (e) retrieving a highest priority small print file having the ready status for print pre-processing from the second set of relational database tables;
• (f) performing the print pre-preprocessing on the small print file or designating a second processing device for performing the print pre-processing on the small print file;
• and
• (g) upon completion of print pre-processing, updating the status of the small print file to a ready status for printing
• (h) retrieving a highest priority small print file having a ready status for printing from the second set of relational database tables;
• (i) printing the small print file or designating a second processing device to print the small print file;
• and
• (j) upon completion of printing, updating the status of the small print file to a ready status for print post-processing.

A method of controlling a production printing process, comprising:

• (a) creating at least one row for each print file to be processed and at least one column for each attribute associated with one or more of the print files in one or more relational database tables;
• (b) determining a highest priority print file having a ready status for print pre-processing based on a first ordering of the attributes;
• (c) retrieving said highest priority print file for print pre-processing from the one or more relational database tables;
• (d) performing the print pre-processing on the print file or designating a first processing device to perform the print pre-processing on the print file;
• (e) upon completion of the print pre-processing, updating the ready status of the print file to a ready status for printing;
• (f) retrieving sold highest priority print file for printing from the one or more relational database tables;
• (g) printing the print file or designating a second processing device to print the print file;
• (h) upon completion of printing, updating the status of the print file to a ready status for print post-processing;
• (i) determining a highest priority print file having a ready status for priority based on a second ordering of the attributes;
• (j) retrieving said highest priority print file for print post-processing from the one or more relational database tables;
• (k) performing print post-processing on the print file or designating a third processing device to perform print post-processing on the print file;
• and
• (l) upon completion of print post-processing, updating the status of the print file to a completed status for print post-processing.

A method of manufacturing finished goods, comprising:

• (a) creating at least one row for each work item to be processed and at least one column for each attribute associated with one or more of the work items in one or more relational database tables;
• (b) determining the highest priority work item having the ready status for the processing step based on an ordering of the one or more attributes
• (c) retrieving said highest priority work item from the one or more relational database tables;
• (d) performing the processing step on the work item;
• and
• (e) upon completion of the processing step, updating the status of the work item to a completed status for the processing step, the completed status for the processing step representing a ready status for a next processing step.

A computer program having computer-readable program code means on a computer-usable medium, the computer program comprising:

• (a) means for causing the creation of at least one row for each work item to be processed and at least one column for each attribute associated with one or more work items in one or more relational database tables:
• (b) means for causing the determination of the highest priority work item having the ready status for the processing step based on an ordering of the one or more attributes;
• (c) means for causing the retrieval of a highest priority work item having a ready status for a processing step from one or more relational database tables;
• (d) means for causing the processing of the processing step on the work item;
• and
• (e) means for causing the updating of the status of the work item to a completed status for the processing step upon completion of the processing step, the completed status for the processing step representing a ready status for a next processing step.

A computer program having computer-readable program code means on a computer-usable medium, the computer program comprising:

• (a) means for causing the creation of at least one row for each work item to be processed and at least one column for each attribute associated with one or more of the work items in one or more relational database tables;
• (b) means for causing the retrieval of a highest priority work item having a ready status for a processing step from the one or more relational database tables where priority is determined based on an ordering of the attributes;
• (c) means for causing the processing of the processing step on the work item or causing a processing device to perform the processing step on the work item;
• and
• (d) means for causing the updating of the status of the work item to a completed status for the processing step upon completion of the processing step, the completed status for the processing step representing a ready status for a next processing step.