Modular optimizer with precedence constraint-handling feature for optimization of component placement machines

A modular optimizer for determining a configuration of a production line comprising one or more component placement machines used to place components for assembly, the modular optimizer comprising:

• a part splitter module;
• and
• a plurality of different machine modules each associated with a different component placement machine type, wherein the plurality of machine modules further comprises at least a Fast Component Mounter (FCM) module and an Advanced Component Mounter (ACM) module;
• wherein the modular optimizer is operative:
• to determine a set of precedence constraints including at least a first class of constraints that apply to only one of the component placement machine types and a second class of constraints that apply to more than one of the component placement machine types;
• to process each of the constraints in the first class of constraints that are associated with a given machine type in a corresponding one of the machine modules;
• and to process the second class of constraints in the part splitter module, the part splitter module providing inputs to one or more of the machine modules;
• wherein outputs of the machine modules provide information used to determine the configuration.

An article of manufacture comprising a machine-readable medium for storing one or more software programs for use in determining a configuration of a production line comprising one or more component placement machines used to place components for assembly, the one or more programs when executed implementing the steps of:

• determining a set of precedence constraints including at least a first class of constraints that apply to only one component placement machine type and a second class of constraints that apply to more than one component placement machine type;
• processing each of the constraints in the first class of constraints that are associated with a given machine type in a corresponding machine module of a modular optimizer which includes a plurality of machine modules each corresponding to one of the machine types, wherein the plurality of machine modules further comprises at least a Fast Component Mounter (FCM) module and an Advanced Component Mounter ACM module;
• and
• processing the second class of constraints in a part splitter module of the modular optimizer, the part splitter module providing inputs to one or more of the machine modules;
• wherein outputs of the machine modules provide information used to determine the configuration.

A method for use in determining a configuration of a production line comprising one or more component placement machines used to place components for assembly, the method comprising:

• determining a set of precedence constraints including at least a first class of constraints that apply to only one component placement machine type and a second class of constraints that apply to more than one component placement machine type;
• processing each of the constraints in the first class of constraints that are associated with a given machine type in a corresponding machine module of a modular optimizer which includes a plurality of machine modules each corresponding to one of the machine types, wherein the plurality of machine modules comprises at least one Fast Component Mounter (FCM) module and at least one Advanced Component Mounter (ACM) module;
• and
• processing the second class of constraints in a part splitter module of the modular optimizer, the part splitter module providing inputs to one or more of the machine modules;
• wherein outputs of the machine modules provide information used to determine the configuration.

A method for use in determining a configuration of a production line comprising one or more component placement machines used to place components for assembly, the method comprising the steps of:

• determining a set of precedence constraints including at least a first class of constraints that apply to only one component placement machine type and a second class of constraints that apply to more than one component placement machine type;
• processing each of the constraints in the first class of constraints that are associated with a given machine type in a corresponding machine module of a modular optimizer which includes a plurality of machine modules each corresponding to one of the machine types;
• and
• processing the second class of constraints in a part splitter module of the modular optimizer, the part splitter module providing inputs to one or more of the machine modules;
• wherein a given one of the machine modules of the modular optimizer is configured such that if selection of one of a plurality of buckets for use with a part subject to a precedence constraint will violate any constraints associated with previously-assigned parts, a low level of desirability is assigned to the bucket, and wherein outputs of the machine modules provide information used to determine the configuration.

A method for use in determining a configuration of a production line comprising one or more component placement machines used to place components for assembly, the method comprising the steps of:

• determining a set of precedence constraints including at least a first class of constraints that apply to only one component placement machine type and a second class of constraints that apply to more than one component placement machine type;
• processing each of the constraints in the first class of constraints that are associated with a given machine type in a corresponding machine module of a modular optimizer which includes a plurality of machine modules each corresponding to one of the machine types;
• and
• processing the second class of constraints in a part splitter module of the modular optimizer, the part splitter module providing inputs to one or more of the machine modules;
• wherein a given one of the machine modules is configured such that a bucket desirability is computed for a part subject to a precedence constraint as a function of a ratio of a total cumulative number of “pre” precedence constraints to a total cumulative number of precedence constraints, and wherein outputs of the machine modules provide information used to determine the configuration.