System and Method for the Production of Goods or Products

Abstract

A computer-based system and method for production planning are described that relies on developing factory shop floor modeling. This modeling includes simulating the factory shop floor to create a Virtual Factory. This Virtual Factory provides the ability to assess any possible production sequence for determining an optimal of production sequence according to the criteria defined the user.

1 . A method for calculating a value score for a production sequence that contains a plurality of pieces of equipment comprising the steps of:
 (A) designating each piece of equipment as a resource type according to such piece of equipment's function;   (B) selecting the last resource in the sequence and designating such resource as a current resource;   (C) determining if there is another resource upstream in the sequence and if there is an upstream resource, selecting the upstream resource and designating such upstream resource as the current resource, and repeating step (C) until an upstream resource is not identified, then proceeding to step (D);   (D) calculating a value score for the sequence based on a composite of assigned values for each of the resources selected at steps (B) and (C) for the sequence;   (E) returning to a system user a calculated value score for the sequence.   
     
     
         2 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein assigning a value to each resource includes a value based on at least a time score, energy score and/or human resource score for that resource. 
     
     
         3 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the method is capable of calculating a value score for the sequence at any point in time during operation of that sequence. 
     
     
         4 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the method is capable of calculating a value score if the sequence processes products in batch form. 
     
     
         5 . A computer-based system for calculating a value score for a production sequence that contains a plurality of pieces of equipment comprising:
 (A) means for receiving designations for each piece of equipment as a resource type according to such piece of equipment's function;   (B) means for selecting the last resource in the sequence and designating such resource as a current resource;   (C) means for determining if there is another resource upstream in the sequence and if there is an upstream resource, selecting the upstream resource and designating such upstream resource as the current resource, and repeating step (C) until an upstream resource is not identified, then proceeding to step (D);   (D) means for calculating a value score for the sequence based on a composite of assigned values of each of the resources selected at steps (B) and (C) that were received by the system;   (E) means for returning to a system user a calculated value score for the sequence.   
     
     
         6 . The system as recited in  claim 5 , wherein the assigned value to each resource includes a value based on at least a time score, energy score and/or human resource score for that resource. 
     
     
         7 . The system as recited in  claim 5 , wherein the system is capable of calculating a value score for the sequence at any point in time during operation of that sequence. 
     
     
         8 . The system as recited in  claim 5 , wherein the system is capable of calculating a value score if the sequence processes products in batch form.