Glass demand scheduling system

a scheduling system and glass technology, applied in the field of glass demand scheduling system, can solve the problems of slow ig supervisor monitoring of ig manufacturing variables and modifying production run sequences, inaccurate and confusing, and unable to meet the requirements of production runs,

Inactive Publication Date: 2007-05-17
GED INTEGRATED SOLUTIONS INC
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  • Summary
  • Abstract
  • Description
  • Claims
  • Application Information

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

This solution enables real-time, accurate, and efficient monitoring and control of production sequences, reducing waste, increasing production efficiency, and minimizing costs by optimizing material flow and equipment utilization, even during fluctuations in demand or machine operational status.

Problems solved by technology

Variables in the manufacturing process rarely allow the regular production runs to be manufactured in the exact planned sequence.
Further, demand fluctuations, such as a shortage at one of the glazing lines may cause the sequence of the regular or planned production runs to be altered.
Current methods employed by IG supervisors for monitoring IG manufacturing variables and modifying production run sequences are slow, inaccurate and confusing.
Use of these non-automated forms of communication often confuse operators, tie up machines and delay standard manufacturing procedures.
Use of these informal communication methods cause production efficiencies to drop even further while new employees are being trained or new machines are being commissioned.
These Low Yield Patterns or Low Yield Sheets significantly reduce the yield of entire production batches resulting in higher manufacturing costs due to wasted glass.
Waste is particularly expensive when manufacturing windows from increasingly popular specialty glasses such as Low-E or self-cleaning materials.
Unfortunately, each method presents one or more problems to manufacturing operations.
Because fillers are inserted prior to the actual manufacturing process, the number and type of filler lites rarely meet actual production demand.
Too few filler lites starve production lines while too many fillers create storage and quality problems.
Although this method enhances yield, it also increases inventory space and costs while decreasing throughput (more glass sizes to shuttle in and out).
Although these features provide flexibility and increase yield, they also cause the cutting table to remain idle during the manual entry process.
This greatly reduces production throughput and efficiency.

Method used

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Examples

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Embodiment Construction

[0032] The disclosed invention provides an integrated software and apparatus solution used in the manufacture of windows and / or doors for dynamically monitoring manufacturing variables and controlling production sequences using central production control workstation 10 (FIG. 2).

[0033]FIG. 1 schematically illustrates a window and / or door manufacturing facility 12. The facility 12 includes a front end system or terminal 14 where orders for windows and / or doors are entered and window assembly is scheduled. The front end system 14 provides orders 16 to an insulating glass unit (IG) production control terminal 18. The orders 16 may include regular production orders 20, rush orders 22, and remake orders 24. The rush orders 22 are orders that are prioritized, usually due to a customer demand. The remake orders 24 are entered when an IG 25, a component of an IG, or a finished window or door 58 is damaged. In the exemplary embodiment, remake orders are provided directly to the central contr...

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Abstract

A method for optimizing material flow and equipment utilization in the fabrication of insulating glass units in a production operation. The method includes compiling a plurality of orders and converting the plurality of orders into production schedules for operating processes that fabricate the insulating glass units over a prescribed period of time. The method further includes releasing the production schedules to the plurality of processes used to fabricate insulating glass units. The method also includes monitoring production operations data produced as a result of the releasing the production schedules to the plurality of processes used to fabricate the insulating glass units and providing reports used by the monitoring production operations having image readable indicia that are imaged for providing real-time data for tracking material flow to, from, and through the processes used in the fabrication of insulating glass units.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION [0001] The present application is a Continuation-in-Part application of currently pending U.S. application Ser. No.: 10 / 751,382 having a filing date of Jan. 5, 2004 entitled “Glass Production Sequencing” claiming priority as a Continuation-in-Part of U.S. application Ser. No. 10 / 646,191, entitled “Glass Optimization” filed Aug. 22, 2003. The present application claims priority to, and incorporates in their entireties both of the above-identified applications for all purposes.FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] The present invention concerns a method and apparatus for controlling production run sequences of insulating glass units. BACKGROUND ART [0003] Window manufacturers typically receive orders that include a variety of different sizes and types of windows and / or patio doors. The different sizes and types of windows and / or patio doors require different sizes and types of insulating glass units (IGs) that are assembled into a frame or sash to form a...

Claims

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Application Information

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Patent Type & AuthorityApplications(United States)
IPC IPC(8): G06F19/00C03B33/037G05B19/04G05B19/048G05B19/418
CPCC03B33/037G05B19/41865G05B2219/32252G05B2219/45174G05B2219/49366Y02P40/57Y02P80/40Y02P90/02
InventorCLAYTON, BYRONDORSCH, PAUL
OwnerGED INTEGRATED SOLUTIONS INC