Suite of configurable supply chain infrastructure modules for deploying collaborative e-manufacturing solutions

Abstract

A suite of configurable supply chain infrastructure modules provides the “collective manufacturing management infrastructure” necessary to support a high velocity e-business initiative. At the core of the collaboration scheme is the Business Process Modeling Module. The Business Modeling Module consists of two components: Business Process Event Coordinator, and Business Process Modeler. To further support the collaborative scheme, a suite of highly configurable application templates and pre-configured industry applications provide an interface or wrapper around the business rules. The application templates are designed to be used as stand-alone components, or can be assembled/configured into a cohesive solution to provide a basic foundation layer for a Collaborative Manufacturing Execution System (CMES). To address the connectivity of the CMES layer to the business layer and the shop floor automation layer, an Extensible Markup Language (XML) Business Connector and Optical Photo Conductor (OPC) Shop Floor Connector fulfill the interface needs required to support a collaborative infrastructure.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A manufacturing process, comprising: 
 providing a work flow from a business decision making layer to a production line and decision making layer; and    implementing a real-time integration of said work flow.    
     
     
         2 . The process of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 determining business objectives at said business decision making layer;    performing said business objectives at said production line and decision making layer; and    carrying out said real-time integration of said business decision making layer and said production line and decision making layer by a collaborative infrastructure.    
     
     
         3 . The process of  claim 2 , further comprising: 
 analyzing a result from said production line and decision making layer; and    reporting said analyzed result to said business decision making layer.    
     
     
         4 . The process of  claim 3 , further comprising: 
 receiving a report containing analyzed result from said reporting process; and    adjusting said business objectives according to said report.    
     
     
         5 . The process of  claim 4 , wherein said report comprises a plurality of formats, including Spreadsheet and GANTT Chart.  
     
     
         6 . The process of  claim 2 , wherein said collaborative infrastructure further comprises a first coordinator connector providing interface for said collaborative infrastructure and said business decision making layer.  
     
     
         7 . The process of  claim 6 , wherein said first coordinator connector is a web-based open technology for electronic data interchange.  
     
     
         8 . The process of  claim 7 , wherein said first coordinator connector is the Extensible Mark-up language (XML) Business Connector.  
     
     
         9 . The process of  claim 6 , wherein said collaborative infrastructure further comprises a second coordinator connector providing interface for said collaborative infrastructure and said production line and decision making layer.  
     
     
         10 . The process of  claim 9 , wherein said second coordinator connector is an Application Programming Interface (API).  
     
     
         11 . The process of  claim 10 , wherein said second coordinator is the Ole Process Control (OPC) Shop Floor Connector.  
     
     
         12 . The process of  claim 11 , further comprises integrating said business decision making layer, production line and decision making layer by said collaborative infrastructure through an Intranet or the Internet.  
     
     
         13 . The process of  claim 2 , wherein said production line and decision making layer further comprises a plurality of business rules.  
     
     
         14 . The process of  claim 13 , further comprising: 
 analyzing a result from said production line and decision making layer; and    reporting said analyzed result to said business decision making layer.    
     
     
         15 . The process of  claim 14 , further comprising: 
 receiving a report containing analyzed result from said reporting process; and    automatically adjusting said business rules based on said report.    
     
     
         16 . The process of  claim 13 , wherein said collaborative infrastructure further comprises a plurality of configurable module templates.  
     
     
         17 . The process of  claim 16 , wherein said collaborative infrastructure further comprises a graphical user interface capable of configuring and modifying said plurality of business rules.  
     
     
         18 . The process of  claim 16 , wherein said configurable application templates are capable of synchronizing and optimizing execution activities at said production line and decision layer.  
     
     
         19 . The process of  claim 18 , wherein said infrastructure is a Manufacturing Executive System (MES).  
     
     
         20 . The process of  claim 19 , wherein said infrastructure is a Collaborative Manufacturing Executive System (CMES).  
     
     
         21 . The process of  claim 13 , wherein said collaborative infrastructure further comprises a plurality of scalable application templates.  
     
     
         22 . The process of  claim 21 , wherein said collaborative infrastructure comprises at least one custom application constructed with at least one scalable application template.  
     
     
         23 . The process of  claim 13 , wherein said collaborative infrastructure further comprises a plurality of maintainable application templates.  
     
     
         24 . The process of  claim 23 , wherein said maintainable application templates increase the updating and debugging abilities of said collaborative infrastructure.  
     
     
         25 . A manufacturing method, comprising: 
 providing a work flow from a business decision making layer to a production line and decision making layer; and    implementing a real-time integration of said work flow.    
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25 , further comprising: 
 determining business objectives at said business decision making layer;    performing said business objectives at said production line and decision making layer; and    carrying out said real-time integration of said business decision making layer and said production line and decision making layer by a collaborative infrastructure.    
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26 , further comprising: 
 analyzing a result from said production line and decision making layer; and    reporting said analyzed result to said business decision making layer.    
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27 , further comprising: 
 receiving a report containing analyzed result from said reporting process; and    adjusting said business objectives according to said report.    
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein said report comprises a plurality of formats, including Spreadsheet and GANTT Chart.  
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein said collaborative infrastructure further comprises a first coordinator connector providing interface for said collaborative infrastructure and said business decision making layer.  
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein said first coordinator connector is a web-based open technology for electronic data interchange.  
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein said first coordinator connector is the Extensible Mark-up language (XML) Business Connector.  
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein said collaborative infrastructure further comprises a second coordinator connector providing interface for said collaborative infrastructure and said production line and decision making layer.  
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein said second coordinator connector is an Application Programming Interface (API).  
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein said second coordinator is the Ole Process Control (OPC) Shop Floor Connector.  
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 35 , further comprises integrating said business decision making layer, production line and decision making layer by said collaborative infrastructure through an Intranet or the Internet.  
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein said production line and decision making layer further comprises a plurality of business rules.  
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 37 , further comprising: 
 analyzing a result from said production line and decision making layer; and    reporting said analyzed result to said business decision making layer.    
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 38 , further comprising: 
 receiving a report containing analyzed result from said reporting process; and    automatically adjusting said business rules based on said report.    
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein said collaborative infrastructure further comprises a plurality of configurable application templates.  
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 40 , wherein said collaborative infrastructure further comprises a graphical user interface capable of configuring and modifying said plurality of business rules.  
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 40 , wherein said configurable application templates are capable of synchronizing and optimizing execution activities at said production line and decision layer.  
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 42 , wherein said collaborative infrastructure is a Manufacturing Executive System (MES).  
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 43 , wherein said collaborative infrastructure is a Collaborative Manufacturing Executive System (CMES).  
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein said collaborative infrastructure further comprises a plurality of scalable application templates.  
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 45 , wherein said collaborative infrastructure comprises at least one custom application constructed with at least one scalable application template.  
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein said collaborative infrastructure further comprises a plurality of maintainable application templates.  
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 47 , wherein said maintainable application templates increase the updating and debugging abilities of said collaborative infrastructure.  
     
     
         49 . A manufacturing system, comprising: 
 a work flow from a business decision making layer to a production line and decision making layer; and    a real-time integration of said work flow.    
     
     
         50 . The system of  claim 49 , further comprising: 
 a plurality of business objectives determined at said business decision making layer and performed at said production line and decision making layer; and    a collaborative infrastructure implementing said real-time integration of said business decision making layer and said production line and decision making layer.    
     
     
         51 . The system of  claim 50 , further comprising: 
 a result analysis from said production line and decision making layer; and    a report of said result analysis sent to said business decision making layer.    
     
     
         52 . The system of  claim 51 , further comprises an adjustment of said business objectives according to said report.  
     
     
         53 . The system of  claim 52 , wherein said report comprises a plurality of formats, including Spreadsheet and GANTT Chart.  
     
     
         54 . The system of  claim 50 , wherein said collaborative infrastructure further comprises a first coordinator connector providing interface for said collaborative infrastructure and said business decision making layer.  
     
     
         55 . The system of  claim 54 , wherein said first coordinator connector is a web-based open technology for electronic data interchange.  
     
     
         56 . The system of  claim 55 , wherein said first coordinator connector is the Extensible Mark-up language (XML) Business Connector.  
     
     
         57 . The system of  claim 54 , wherein said collaborative infrastructure comprises a second coordinator connector providing interface for said collaborative infrastructure and said production line and decision making layer.  
     
     
         58 . The system of  claim 57 , wherein said second coordinator connector is an Application Programming Interface (API).  
     
     
         59 . The system of  claim 58 , wherein said second coordinator is the Ole Process Control (OPC) Shop Floor Connector.  
     
     
         60 . The system of  claim 59 , further comprises integrating said business decision making layer, production line and decision making layer by said collaborative infrastructure through an Intranet or the Internet.  
     
     
         61 . The system of  claim 50 , wherein said production line and decision making layer further comprises a plurality of business rules.  
     
     
         62 . The system of  claim 61 , further comprising: 
 analyzing a result from said production line and decision making layer; and    reporting said analyzed result to said business decision making layer.    
     
     
         63 . The system of  claim 62 , further comprising: 
 receiving a report containing analyzed result from said reporting process; and    automatically adjusting said business rules based on said report.    
     
     
         64 . The system of  claim 61 , wherein said collaborative infrastructure further comprises a plurality of configurable application templates.  
     
     
         65 . The system of  claim 64 , wherein said collaborative infrastructure further comprises a graphical user interface capable of configuring and modifying said plurality of business rules.  
     
     
         66 . The system of  claim 64 , wherein said configurable application templates are capable of synchronizing and optimizing execution activities at said production line and decision layer.  
     
     
         67 . The system of  claim 66 , wherein said collaborative infrastructure is a Manufacturing Executive System (MES).  
     
     
         68 . The system of  claim 67 , wherein said collaborative infrastructure is a Collaborative Manufacturing Executive System (CMES).  
     
     
         69 . The system of  claim 61 , wherein said collaborative infrastructure further comprises a plurality of scalable application templates.  
     
     
         70 . The system of  claim 69 , wherein said collaborative infrastructure comprises at least one custom application constructed with at least one scalable application template.  
     
     
         71 . The system of  claim 61 , wherein said collaborative infrastructure further comprises a plurality of maintainable application templates.  
     
     
         72 . The system of  claim 71 , wherein said maintainable application templates increase the updating and debugging abilities of said collaborative infrastructure.  
     
     
         73 . A manufacturing apparatus, comprising: 
 a work flow from a business decision making unit to a production line and decision making unit; and    a real-time integration of said work flow.    
     
     
         74 . The apparatus of  claim 73 , further comprising: 
 a plurality of business objective schemes determined at said business decision making unit and performed at said production line and decision making unit; and    a collaborative infrastructure implementing said real-time integration of said business decision making unit and said production line and decision making unit.    
     
     
         75 . The apparatus of  claim 74 , further comprising: 
 a result analyzing unit for result analyzing at said production line and decision making unit; and    a report generator for generating a report after said result analyzing.    
     
     
         76 . The apparatus of  claim 75 , further comprises an adjustment unit at said business decision making unit for adjusting said business objective schemes according to said report.  
     
     
         77 . The apparatus of  claim 76 , wherein said report comprises a plurality of formats, including Spreadsheet and GANTT Chart.  
     
     
         78 . The apparatus of  claim 75 , wherein said collaborative infrastructure further comprises a first coordinator connector providing interface for said collaborative infrastructure and said business decision making layer.  
     
     
         79 . The apparatus of  claim 78 , wherein said first coordinator connector is a web-based open technology for electronic data interchange.  
     
     
         80 . The apparatus of  claim 79 , wherein said first coordinator connector is the Extensible Mark-up language (XML) Business Connector.  
     
     
         81 . The apparatus of  claim 78 , wherein said collaborative infrastructure comprises a second coordinator connector providing interface for said collaborative infrastructure and said production line and decision making layer.  
     
     
         82 . The apparatus of  claim 81 , wherein said second coordinator connector is an Application Programming Interface (API).  
     
     
         83 . The apparatus of  claim 82 , wherein said second coordinator is the Ole Process Control (OPC) Shop Floor Connector.  
     
     
         84 . The apparatus of  claim 83 , further comprises integrating said business decision making unit, production line and decision making unit by said collaborative infrastructure through an Intranet or the Internet.  
     
     
         85 . The apparatus of  claim 75 , wherein said production line and decision making unit further comprises a plurality of business rules.  
     
     
         86 . The apparatus of  claim 85 , further comprising: 
 analyzing a result from said production line and decision making layer; and    reporting said analyzed result to said business decision making layer.    
     
     
         87 . The apparatus of  claim 86 , further comprising: 
 receiving a report containing analyzed result from said reporting process; and    automatically adjusting said business rules based on said report.    
     
     
         88 . A computer program embodied on computer readable medium with instructions for controlling manufacturing, comprising: 
 providing a work flow from a business decision making layer to a production line and decision making layer; and    implementing a real-time integration of said work flow.    
     
     
         89 . The computer program of  claim 88 , further comprising: 
 determining business objectives at said business decision making layer;    performing said business objectives at said production line and decision making layer; and    carrying out said real-time integration of said business decision making layer and said production line and decision making layer by a collaborative infrastructure.    
     
     
         90 . The computer program of  claim 89 , further comprising: 
 analyzing a result from said production line and decision making layer; and    reporting said analyzed result to said business decision making layer.    
     
     
         91 . The computer program of  claim 90 , further comprising: 
 receiving a report containing analyzed result from said reporting process; and    adjusting said business objectives according to said report.    
     
     
         92 . The computer program of  claim 91 , further comprises integrating said business decision making layer, production line and decision making layer by said collaborative infrastructure through an Intranet or the Internet.