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US 7,072,731 B1Granted
Starvation avoidance lot start agent (SALSA)
AssigneeAdvanced Micro Devices, Inc.
InventorsLarry D. Barto, Steven C. Nettles, Yiwei Li
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system and method are provided for monitoring work in process (“WIP”) in a manufacturing facility. The system and method utilize software objects to identify a bottleneck workstation and calculate a WIP value representing the amount of work approaching the bottleneck workstation. If it is determined that the WIP value for a bottleneck workstation is projected to fall below a control limit during the evaluation period, an additional amount of work is released into the manufacturing line. In this manner, new work is introduced to a bottleneck station in order to prevent bottleneck starvation. Various embodiments provide for multiple products and multiple bottleneck workstations.
Claims26
An automated system that monitors work-in-process (“WIP”) in a manufacturing facility, comprising:
- a software object that determines when an evaluation cycle should be invoked;
- and
- a recommendation wakeup listener object that performs the evaluation cycle, the recommendation wakeup listener object further including:
- a software object that identifies a bottleneck workstation;
- a software object that calculates a WIP value representing the amount of work approaching the bottleneck workstation;
- a software object that determines whether the WIP value is projected to fall below a control limit during an evaluation period;
- and
- a software object that recommends, if the WIP value is projected to fall below the control limit during the evaluation period, that a selected amount of additional work be released into a manufacturing line of the manufacturing facility.
5 more elements
An automated system that controls work-in-process (“WIP”) in a manufacturing facility, comprising:
- a software object that determines when an evaluation cycle should be invoked;
- and
- a recommendation wakeup listener object that performs the evaluation cycle, the recommendation wakeup listener object further including:
- an object that identifies a plurality of bottleneck workstations;
- an object that calculates a WIP value for each of the plurality of bottleneck workstations, wherein each of the WIP values represents the amount of work approaching the corresponding bottleneck workstation;
- an object that determines, for each WIP value, whether the WIP value is projected to fall below a control limit during an evaluation period;
- and
- an object that recommends, if any of the WIP values are projected to fall below the control limit during the evaluation period, that a selected amount of additional work be released into a manufacturing line of the manufacturing facility.
5 more elements
A method of controlling work-in-process (“WIP”), comprising:
- providing a software object that determines when an evaluation cycle should be invoked;
- and
- providing a recommendation wakeup listener object that performs the evaluation cycle, the providing recommendation wakeup listener object further includes:
- providing a software object that identifies a bottleneck workstation;
- providing a software object that calculates a WIP value representing the amount of work approaching the bottleneck workstation;
- providing a software object that determines whether the WIP value is projected to fall below a control limit during an evaluation period;
- and
- providing a software object that recommends, if the WIP value is projected to fall below the control limit during the evaluation period, that a selected amount of additional work be released into a manufacturing line.
5 more elements
A method of controlling work-in-process (“WIP”), comprising:
- determining when an evaluation cycle should be invoked;
- and
- performing the evaluation cycle, the performing the evaluation cycle further including:
- identifying a bottleneck workstation;
- calculating a WIP value representing the amount of work approaching the bottleneck workstation;
- determining whether the WIP value is projected to fall below a control limit during an evaluation period;
- and
- recommending, if the WIP value is projected to fall below the control limit during the evaluation period, that a selected amount of additional work be released into a manufacturing line.
5 more elements
A manufacturing facility, comprising:
- a bottleneck workstation;
- and
- an automated system that monitors work-in-process (“WIP”);
- wherein the automated system includes:
- a software object that determines when an evaluation cycle should be invoked;
- and
- a recommendation wakeup listener object that performs the evaluation cycle, the recommendation wakeup listener object further including:
- a software object that identifies the bottleneck workstation;
- a software object that calculates a WIP value representing the amount of work approaching the bottleneck workstation;
- a software object that determines whether the WIP value is projected to fall below a control limit during an evaluation period;
- and
- a software object that recommends, if the WIP value is projected to fall below the control limit during the evaluation period, that a selected amount of additional work be released into a manufacturing line of the manufacturing facility.
9 more elements
A manufacturing facility, comprising:
- a plurality of bottleneck workstations;
- a software object that determines when an evaluation cycle should be invoked;
- and
- a recommendation wakeup listener object that performs the evaluation cycle, the recommendation wakeup listener object further including:
- an object that identifies the plurality of bottleneck workstations;
- an object that calculates a WIP value for each of the plurality of bottleneck workstations, wherein each of the WIP values represents the amount of work approaching the corresponding bottleneck workstation;
- an object that determines, for each WIP value, whether the WIP value is projected to fall below a control limit during an evaluation period;
- and
- an object that recommends, if any of the WIP values are projected to fall below the control limit during the evaluation period, that a selected amount of additional work be released into a manufacturing line of the manufacturing facility.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.