System and method for dynamic multi-objective optimization of machine selection, integration and utilization

A method for controlling one or more aspects of a business operation, comprising:

• employing a processor executing computer-executable instructions stored on a computer-readable storage medium to implement acts, including
• specifying two or more business objectives, including specifying two or more of the following:
• reducing energy usage of the business operation, reducing energy cost incurred by the business operation, increasing revenue generated by the business operation, increasing product throughput, reducing machine life cycle cost, increasing machine longevity, reducing overhead, or reducing machine repair cost;
• capturing first state data relating to a present state of one or more machines that control at least one process that is part of the business operation;
• capturing second state data relating to the at least one process;
• correlating the first state data, the second state data, the two or more business objectives, and efficiency information for at least one machine of the one or more machines to yield correlated information;
• and
• iteratively updating at least one control variable associated with the one or more machines, the updating comprising:
• inferring a future state of the one or more machines based in part on the first state data;
• determining an alternate future state of the one or more machines that achieves the two or more business objectives based on the correlated information;
• computing an updated value for the at least one control variable, wherein the updated value is calculated to drive the one or more machines from the present state to the alternate future state;
• and
• setting the at least one control variable to the updated value.

A computer-readable medium having stored thereon computer-executable instructions that, in response to execution, cause a computer to perform operations including:

• collecting operational data from a set of machines and at least one process associated with the set of machines within a business operation;
• correlating the operational data, two or more specified business objectives, and efficiency information for at least one machine of the one or more machines to yield correlated information;
• inferring a future state of the at least one process using the operational data;
• determining an alternative future state of the at least one process that moves at least one process closer, relative to the future state, to two or more specified business objectives, wherein the determining is based on the correlated information, wherein the two or more specified business objectives include two or more of reducing energy usage of the business operation, reducing an energy cost incurred by the business operation, increasing revenue generated by the business operation, increasing product throughput, reducing machine life cycle cost, increasing machine longevity, decreasing overhead, or decreasing machine repair cost;
• and
• calculating, based on the correlated information, a value for at least one variable controlling the at least one process predicted to drive the at least one process to the alternative future state.