US 6,662,066 B1 · Dynamic adjustment and auto generation of water per hour (WPH) in capacity check system (CCS) by tool performance tracking platform (TP2)

Abstract

A manufacturing execution system determines production rates of tool elements of a manufacturing system and from the production rates, the efficiency of the tool elements and the efficiency of the manufacturing process system. The manufacturing execution system is in communication with a plurality of tool elements of the manufacturing process system. The manufacturing execution system includes a process data collection device, a data retaining device such as a memory, a time recording device, and a production rate calculator. The process data collection device is in communication with sensors located on the tool elements to receive tool element status data. The data retaining device is in communication with the process data collection device to record and retain the tool element status data. The time recording device records times of changes of the tool element status data to the data retaining device. The production rate calculator receives the records of times of changes of tool element status data and from the records of times of changes determining the product fabrication rate for the manufacturing system. The production rate calculator is an apparatus that executes a method for determining the production rate of the individual tool elements, the production rate of the manufacturing process system, and the efficiency of the manufacturing process system.

Claims50

Dependent claims

A method for determining a product fabrication rate for a manufacturing process comprising the steps of:

receiving from sensors within each tool element of a plurality of tool elements data detailing events occurring within each tool element of said plurality of tool elements;
recording time of occurrence of each of said events;
from said recording of said time of occurrence, measuring a tool operation time for each tool element of the plurality of tool elements engaged in said manufacturing process;
from said recording of said time of occurrence, measuring an alarm duration time during fault conditions for any of said tool elements;
from said recording of said time of occurrence, measuring an idle duration time of each of said tool elements;
from said recording of said time of occurrence, measuring a product transport time, said product transport time indicating an amount of time that a work-in-process is being transported between tool elements;
and
determining said product fabrication rate as a function of the tool operation time, the alarm duration time, the idle time, and the product transport time.

5 more elements

A method for determining an efficiency measurement for a product manufacturing process comprising the steps of:

receiving from sensors within each tool element of a plurality of tool elements data detailing events occurring within each tool element of said plurality of tool elements;
recording time of occurrence of each of said events;
from said recording of said time of occurrence, measuring a tool operation time for each tool element of the plurality of tool elements engaged in said manufacturing process;
from said recording of said time of occurrence, measuring an alarm duration time during fault conditions for any of said tool elements;
from said recording of said time of occurrence, measuring an idle duration time of each of said tool elements;
from said recording of said time of occurrence, measuring a product transport time, said product transport time indicating an amount of time that a work-in-process is being transported between tool elements;
determining said product fabrication rate as a function of the tool operation time, the alarm duration time, the idle time, the product transport time;
and
comparing a planned manufacturing process product fabrication rate to the determined product fabrication rate to determination the efficiency of said manufacturing process.

6 more elements

An apparatus for determining a product fabrication rate for a manufacturing process comprising the steps of:

means for receiving from sensors within each tool element of a plurality of tool elements data detailing events occurring within each tool element of said plurality of tool elements;
means for recording time of occurrence of each of said events;
means for measuring a tool operation time for each tool element of the plurality of tool elements engaged in said manufacturing process, from said recording of said time of occurrence;
means for measuring an alarm duration time during fault conditions for any of said tool elements, from said recording of said time of occurrence;
means for measuring an idle duration time of each of said tool elements, from said recording of said time of occurrence;
means for measuring a product transport time, said product transport time indicating an amount of time that a work-in-process is being transported between tool elements, from said recording of said time of occurrence;
and
means for determining said product fabrication rate as a function of the tool operation time, the alarm duration time, the idle time, and the product transport time.

5 more elements

An apparatus for determining an efficiency measurement for a product manufacturing process comprising the steps of:

means for receiving from sensors within each tool element of a plurality of tool elements data detailing events occurring within each tool element of said plurality of tool elements;
means for recording time of occurrence of each of said events;
means for measuring a tool operation time for each tool element of the plurality of tool elements engaged in said manufacturing process from said recording of said time of occurrence;
means for measuring an alarm duration time during fault conditions for any of said tool elements from said recording of said time of occurrence;
means for measuring an idle duration time of each of said tool elements from said recording of said time of occurrence;
means for measuring a product transport time from said recording of said time of occurrence, said product transport time indicating an amount of time that a work-in-process is being transported between tool elements;
means for determining said product fabrication rate as a function of the tool operation time, the alarm duration time, the idle time, the product transport time;
and
means for comparing a planned manufacturing process product fabrication rate to the determined product fabrication rate to determination the efficiency of said manufacturing process.

6 more elements

A manufacturing execution system in communication with a plurality of tool elements of a manufacturing system for determining a product fabrication rate, comprising:

a process data collection device in communication with sensors located on the tool elements to receive tool element status data;
a data retaining means in communication with the process data collection device to record and retain said tool element status data;
a time recording device in communication with the process data collection device and the data retaining means to record times of changes of the tool element status data to the data retaining device;
and
a production rate calculator in communication with the data retaining means to receive the records of times of changes of tool element status data and from the records of times of changes determining the product fabrication rate for the manufacturing system.

2 more elements

A medium for retaining a computer program for determining a product fabrication rate for a manufacturing process, said computer program executing the steps of:

receiving from sensors within each tool element of a plurality of tool elements data detailing events occurring within each tool element of said plurality of tool elements;
recording time of occurrence of each of said events;
from said recording of said time of occurrence, measuring a tool operation time for each tool element of the plurality of tool elements engaged in said manufacturing process;
from said recording of said time of occurrence, measuring an alarm duration time during fault conditions for any of said tool elements;
from said recording of said time of occurrence, measuring an idle duration time of each of said tool elements;
from said recording of said time of occurrence, measuring a product transport time, said product transport time indicating an amount of time that a work-in-process is being transported between tool elements;
and
determining said product fabrication rate as a function of the tool operation time, the alarm duration time, the idle time, and the product transport time.

5 more elements

A medium for retaining a computer program for determining an efficiency measurement for a product manufacturing process comprising the steps of:

receiving from sensors within each tool element of a plurality of tool elements data detailing events occurring within each tool element of said plurality of tool elements;
recording time of occurrence of each of said events;
from said recording of said time of occurrence, measuring a tool operation time for each tool element of the plurality of tool elements engaged in said manufacturing process;
from said recording of said time of occurrence, measuring an alarm duration time during fault conditions for any of said tool elements;
from said recording of said time of occurrence, measuring an idle duration time of each of said tool elements;
from said recording of said time of occurrence, measuring a product transport time, said product transport time indicating an amount of time that a work-in-process is being transported between tool elements;
determining said product fabrication rate as a function of the tool operation time, the alarm duration time, the idle time, the product transport time;
and
comparing a planned manufacturing process product fabrication rate to the determined product fabrication rate to determination the efficiency of said manufacturing process.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Dynamic adjustment and auto generation of water per hour (WPH) in capacity check system (CCS) by tool performance tracking platform (TP2)

Life of this patent

Dynamic adjustment and auto generation of water per hour (WPH) in capacity check system (CCS) by tool performance tracking platform (TP2)

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims50