Method, system, and storage medium for facilitating a transport scheme in an automated material handling system environment

A storage medium encoded with machine-readable computer program code for facilitating a transport scheme in an automated material handling system environment, said storage medium including instructions for causing a server to implement a method, comprising:

• detecting an occurrence of a trigger event while monitoring production operations in an automated material handling system environment, said trigger event being user-defined;
• identifying a materials candidate to purge from a production line in response to:
• said trigger event;
• production data captured relating to said materials candidate;
• and
• user-defined criteria for purging materials from said production line;
• selecting a disposition plan for handling said materials candidate;
• generating a transport process job for said materials candidate operable for instructing said automated material handling system on executing said disposition plan;
• and
• transmitting said transport process job to said automated material handling system for execution.

A system for facilitating a transport scheme in an automated material handling system environment, comprising:

• a server executing an automated material handling system control application;
• a data repository in communication with said server, said data repository storing:
• trigger events operable for defining conditions for initiating a search for productions materials as candidates for purging;
• purge criteria operable for defining conditions for executing a purge operation;
• disposition operations operable for defining instructions for handling
• production materials designated for purging;
• and
• captured production data, said captured production data received from
• production operations carried out on production materials occurring in said production area;
• a production area in communication with said server via a communications network, said production area including:
• at least one stocker carrying production materials;
• at least one production bay including a process tool;
• and
• at least one transport vehicle;
• a purge tool executing on said server, said purge tool including:
• a monitor component;
• a user interface;
• and
• a rules engine.