Data processing method and system

A data processing method for obtaining a procedure for 10 generating a product, the method using a computer based data processing system comprising:

• digital processing means, and
• digital storage means,
• the digital storage means having a database stored therein comprising:
• (a) data defining generic product descriptions in terms of physical and/or functional elements and associated properties,
• (b) data defining a plurality of generic process 20 descriptions in terms of process activities, activity sequence, and associated process capabilities, at least one of said generic process descriptions including an iterative set of process activities, and
• (c) data defining rules relating to (a) and (b),
• the method comprising:
• providing the system specific product information for the product, including information associating the product with one or more of the generic product descriptions and information defining constraints for the product in terms of said properties of the associated generic product descriptions,
• operating the digital processing means in accordance with the rules to derive for the specific product information, from the data of (a) and (b), a valid combination of a specific product information and a generic process description as the procedure for generating the product.

A data processing method for obtaining a procedure for generating a product, the method using a computer based data processing system comprising:

• digital processing means, and
• digital storage means,
• the digital storage means having a database stored therein comprising:
• (a) data defining generic product descriptions in terms of physical and/or functional elements and associated properties,
• (b) data defining a plurality of generic process descriptions in terms of process activities, activity sequence, and associated process capabilities, and
• (c) data defining rules relating to (a) and (b), the method comprising:
• (1) providing the system with specific product information for the product, including information associating the product with one or more of the generic product descriptions and information defining constraints for the product in terms of a generic product properties, a data to be processed further including information defining ranges of probability of one or more parameters of said product, and
• (2) operating the digital processing means in accordance with the rules to select a specific value for the or each said defined product parameter range and to derive for the specific product information, on a basis of said selected parameter(s), from the data of (a) and (b), a valid combination of the specific product information and a generic process description as the procedure for generating the product.

A computer based data processing system for use in providing a procedure for generating a product, the system comprising:

• (1) a storage unit having stored therein data defining:
• (a) one or more generic product descriptions of product physical and for functional elements and associated properties;
• (b) generic descriptions of processing elements and capabilities in relation to the procedure;
• and
• (c) a series of rules relating to (a) and (b) (2) a digital processing unit comprising a first processing means for operating the stored rules to derive for specific product information given in terms of said generic product description, from the stored data:
• (i) a selection of valid combinations of (a) and (b) as industrial activities, and
• (ii) an arrangement of the activities of (i) in order;
• and
• a second processing means to store said derived selection and arrangement in the storage unit as an output file.