Factory traffic monitoring and analysis apparatus and method
AssigneesSony Corporation, Sony Electronics Inc.
InventorsGuillermo Rodolfo Chacon, Mitsuru Hirotani, Alberto Castano-Pardo
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A factory traffic monitoring and analysis apparatus and method that may be used as both a real-time monitor of factory traffic intensity and variability, and as a predictor of factory congestion and lead time. The system constructed in accordance with the invention provides both descriptive and prescriptive information to enable improved factory performance. The system helps to identify actual and potential capacity constrained stations or with high traffic variability. Increasing capacity or reducing variability on stations within the factory identified by the system will allow increased product output and shorter manufacturing lead time.
Claims20
A factory traffic monitoring method, comprising the steps of:
- measuring at least interval times, processing times, and maintenance times of various pieces of equipment in a factory:
- calculating point and interval estimates of mean and variance values of job interarrival times and service times for said equipment;
- determining which of said various pieces of equipment have a high load factor;
- determining a coefficient of variation of interarrival times for each of said pieces of equipment having a high load factor;
- and
- identifying pieces of equipment for which variation in interarrival times should be reduced.
A factory traffic monitoring system, comprising:
- means for measuring at least interval times, processing times, and maintenance times of various pieces of equipment in a factory:
- means for calculating point and interval estimates of mean and variance values of job interarrival times and service times;
- means for determining which of said various pieces of equipment have a high load factor;
- means for determining a coefficient of variation of interarrival times for each of said pieces of equipment having a high load factor;
- and
- means for identifying pieces of equipment for which variation in interarrival times should be reduced.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.