Operating methods and integrated product management systems for floating factories and manufacturing service equipment

Abstract

An operational method for managing manufacturing service equipment for floating factories includes: obtaining demand information for electronic products at a demand location; calculating cost information for at least one of the plurality of floating factories based on the demand information and status information of each of the plurality of floating factories; selecting from the plurality of floating factories a floating factory corresponding to the calculated cost information indicating the lowest cost; generating movement scheduling information for the selected floating factory based on the demand location and the manufacturing location of components of the electronic products; sending the movement scheduling information to the selected floating factory; configuring the selected floating factory to manufacture the electronic products and test the electronic products for defects based on the movement scheduling information while moving to the demand location; and supplying the tested electronic products at the demand location.

Description

[0001] Cross-reference to related applications

[0002] This application claims priority to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2019-0035326, filed with the Korean Intellectual Property Office on March 27, 2019, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Technical Field

[0003] Example embodiments of the inventive concepts described herein relate to product manufacturing systems, and more specifically, to floating factories, methods of operating manufacturing service equipment for managing floating factories, and / or integrated product management systems including floating factories and manufacturing service equipment. Background Technology

[0004] Demand for electronic products such as home appliances and semiconductor devices is growing globally. Considering factors such as individual costs and location of demand, electronic products and the components that make them up are manufactured worldwide. Because it is difficult for a single company to manufacture all the components of an electronic product, a company may collect components from various companies and / or manufactured in different locations for the purpose of manufacturing the electronic product. Furthermore, electronic products manufactured using the collected components may need to be delivered to their destination.

[0005] Thus, problems arise in the supply of electronic products when component collection, product manufacturing, and product transportation are carried out separately. For example, a problem in any of these areas could delay the supply of electronic products. Specifically, if products are not quickly supplied to a market where demand for electronic products changes suddenly, sales may decrease. Therefore, integrated management of component collection, product manufacturing, and product transportation is desirable. Summary of the Invention

[0006] Some exemplary embodiments of the present invention provide a floating factory for integrated management of the manufacturing and supply of electronic products, an operating method for managing the manufacturing service equipment of the floating factory, and an integrated product management system including the floating factory and the manufacturing service equipment.

[0007] According to an example embodiment, an operational method for managing manufacturing service equipment for floating factories includes: obtaining demand information for electronic products at a demand location; calculating cost information for at least one of the plurality of floating factories based on the demand information and status information of each of the plurality of floating factories; selecting from the plurality of floating factories a floating factory corresponding to the calculated cost information indicating the lowest cost; generating movement scheduling information for the selected floating factory based on the demand location and the manufacturing location of components of the electronic products; sending the movement scheduling information to the selected floating factory; configuring the selected floating factory to manufacture electronic products and test electronic products for defects based on the movement scheduling information while moving to the demand location; and supplying the tested electronic products at the demand location.

[0008] According to an example embodiment, an integrated product management system includes: a manufacturing service device configured to generate motion scheduling information based on the demand location of an electronic product and the manufacturing location of components of the electronic product; and a floating factory configured to move to the manufacturing location of components of the electronic product based on the motion scheduling information to collect components of the electronic product, and to assemble the collected components to manufacture the electronic product while moving to the demand location.

[0009] According to an example embodiment, a floating factory includes: at least one memory configured to store computer-readable instructions; and one or more processors configured to execute the computer-readable instructions, such that the one or more processors are configured to: obtain demand information for a demand location of an electronic product; generate movement scheduling information based on the demand location and the manufacturing location of components of the electronic product; move the floating factory to the demand location and the manufacturing location of the components of the electronic product based on the movement scheduling information; and assemble components collected from the manufacturing location to manufacture the electronic product while moving to the demand location. Attached Figure Description

[0010] The above and other objects and features of the present invention will become apparent from a detailed description of some exemplary embodiments of the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0011] Figure 1 This is a block diagram illustrating an example embodiment of an integrated product management system based on a concept according to the present invention.

[0012] Figure 2 It is shown Figure 1 A diagram illustrating an example of a floating factory.

[0013] Figure 3 This is a detailed block diagram illustrating an exemplary embodiment of an integrated product management system based on the concept of the present invention.

[0014] Figure 4 It is shown Figure 3A flowchart illustrating an example of the operation of manufacturing service equipment.

[0015] Figure 5 It shows Figure 3 An example of a manufacturing service device obtaining demand information and selecting a floating factory.

[0016] Figure 6 It shows Figure 3 An example of manufacturing service equipment generating mobility scheduling information.

[0017] Figure 7 It shows Figure 3 Another example of manufacturing service equipment generating mobility scheduling information.

[0018] Figure 8 It shows Figure 3 Another example of manufacturing service equipment generating mobility scheduling information.

[0019] Figure 9 It is shown Figure 3 A flowchart illustrating an example of the operation of a floating factory.

[0020] Figure 10 This is a block diagram illustrating an example embodiment of an integrated product management system based on a concept according to the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0021] Below, exemplary embodiments of the inventive concept will be described in detail and clearly, enabling those skilled in the art to readily implement the inventive concept.

[0022] Figure 1 This is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary embodiment of an integrated product management system according to a concept proposed in this invention. (Reference) Figure 1 For the purpose of selling various electronic products, the integrated product management system 1000 can integrate and manage electronic products. For example, the integrated product management system 1000 can manage the collection of components constituting electronic products, the manufacture or production of electronic products using the collected components, and the transportation of electronic products. Here, electronic products may include mobile phones, household appliances such as televisions (TVs) and air conditioners, and semiconductor devices such as memory devices, memory controllers, and processors. However, the inventive concept is not limited thereto. Electronic products according to exemplary embodiments of the inventive concept may include any product that can be manufactured through an assembly process (e.g., a secondary battery or a vehicle).

[0023] The integrated product management system 1000 may include manufacturing service equipment 100 and multiple floating factories 200 to 400. The floating factories 200 to 400 may be mobile manufacturing plants capable of manufacturing electronic products while moving from one location to another. For example, the floating factories 200 to 400 may collect components of electronic products from various locations while moving between locations. Furthermore, the floating factories 200 to 400 may manufacture electronic products by assembling the collected components while moving between locations. Thus, the transportation and manufacturing of electronic products can be performed simultaneously. In other words, electronic products can be manufactured while the respective floating factories among the floating factories 200 to 400 are moving. For example, each of the floating factories 200 to 400 may be implemented using a boat (or ship). However, the inventive concept is not limited thereto. For example, each of the floating factories 200 to 400 may be implemented using any type of transportation capable of being equipped with facilities for assembling components and capable of moving to various locations.

[0024] For ease of description, it is assumed that each of the 200 to 400 floating factories is implemented using ships.

[0025] Each of floating factories 200 to 400 may include an assembly facility capable of manufacturing one or more electronic products. For example, the first floating factory 200 may include an assembly facility capable of manufacturing solid-state drives (SSDs), and the second floating factory 300 may include an assembly facility capable of manufacturing memory controllers. In some example embodiments, the first floating factory 200 may include an assembly facility capable of manufacturing SSDs and TVs.

[0026] Floating plants 200 to 400 may include the same assembly facilities or may include different assembly facilities. For example, the first floating plant 200 and the second floating plant 300 may include assembly facilities capable of manufacturing SSDs, and the nth floating plant 400 may include assembly facilities capable of manufacturing mobile phones.

[0027] Manufacturing service equipment 100 can generate movement scheduling information for each of the floating factories 200 to 400. The movement scheduling information can include movement information for individual floating factories used to manufacture electronic products and transport the manufactured electronic products to their destinations. Here, the destination can be the location (or site or region) where the manufactured electronic products are needed. For example, manufacturing service equipment 100 can generate location information for gradually moving the floating factory from its current location to its destination. The generated movement scheduling information can be provided to the floating factories.

[0028] A floating factory that receives mobility scheduling information can collect components while moving between locations based on the information, and can then transfer electronic products manufactured using the collected components to their destination.

[0029] Manufacturing service equipment 100 can be implemented using a server that sends / receives information to / from floating factories 200 to 400. In this case, such as... Figure 1 As shown, the manufacturing service equipment 100 can be implemented separately from the floating factories 200 to 400. However, the inventive concept is not limited thereto. For example, the manufacturing service equipment 100 can be implemented with any electronic equipment, as long as these devices are capable of analyzing various types of information and sending / receiving information.

[0030] A server may include: at least one memory configured to store computer-readable instructions; and one or more processors configured to execute the computer-readable instructions stored in the memory.

[0031] As described above, the manufacturing service equipment 100 can generate movement scheduling information for the floating factories 200 to 400, and the floating factories 200 to 400 can manufacture and transport electronic products based on this movement scheduling information. In this way, the integrated product management system 1000 can respond to sudden changes in market conditions at various locations and can supply electronic products more efficiently. Furthermore, because the floating factories 200 to 400 can manufacture electronic products while moving between locations, the time spent supplying electronic products can be shortened. Therefore, the manufacturing cost of electronic products can be reduced.

[0032] Figure 1 The example embodiment shown illustrates that the integrated product management system 1000 includes "n" floating factories 200 to 400, but the inventive concept is not limited thereto. The integrated product management system 1000 may include one or more floating factories. The operation of the integrated product management system 1000 will now be described more fully with reference to a first floating factory 200. The description given with reference to the first floating factory 200 can also be applied to other floating factories.

[0033] Figure 2 It is shown Figure 1 A diagram illustrating an example of a floating factory moving. (Reference) Figure 2 The floating factory 200 can be located at location "X". The floating factory 200 can move along the first path P1 to the fourth path P4 based on the movement scheduling information received from the manufacturing service equipment 100. That is, the floating factory 200 can move from location "X" to location "C", location "D", location "B" and location "A" in the order of the listed destinations.

[0034] For example, location "A" could be the destination where electronic products are expected to be supplied, and locations "B," "C," and "D" could be locations where components for the electronic products can be manufactured or procured. In this case, when moving to locations "C," "D," and "B," the floating factory 200 can collect components and assemble them according to an assembly process. Simultaneously moving to location "A," the floating factory 200 can assemble components to manufacture electronic products. The floating factory 200 can then supply the manufactured electronic products at location "A."

[0035] For example, in order to supply SSDs at location "A", floating factory 200 can collect components such as flash memory, memory controllers, and dynamic random access memory (DRAM) while moving to locations "C", "D", and "B". In some example embodiments, floating factory 200 can manufacture SSDs while moving between locations after collecting components.

[0036] Figure 3 This is a detailed block diagram illustrating an exemplary embodiment of an integrated product management system according to a concept proposed in this invention. (See reference...) Figure 3 The integrated product management system 1000 may include a manufacturing service device 100 and a floating factory 200. The floating factory 200 may provide status information ST to the manufacturing service device 100. The status information ST may include various information about the floating factory 200. For example, the status information ST may include, for example, the location of the floating factory 200, a list of assembleable electronic products, the quantity of electronic products and components stored in the floating factory 200, and / or information on production per unit time.

[0037] Manufacturing service equipment 100 can generate movement scheduling information SC based on status information ST, and can provide the movement scheduling information SC to floating factory 200. The movement scheduling information SC can indicate the movement path of floating factory 200 over time. Floating factory 200 can move to various locations based on the movement scheduling information SC.

[0038] Manufacturing service equipment 100 may include a communication module 110, a demand assessment module 120, an inventory management module (or stock management module) 130, and a scheduling module 140. The communication module 110 can receive status information ST from the floating factory 200 and can send movement scheduling information SC to the floating factory 200. Furthermore, the communication module 110 can communicate with various locations associated with the manufacturing and supply of electronic products. For example, the communication module 110 can receive information about components from a factory manufacturing components of electronic products.

[0039] The demand determination module 120 can determine the demand for various electronic products at various locations. For example, the demand determination module 120 can determine the demand for a specific electronic product based on received orders for that specific electronic product or predicted demand for that specific electronic product. For example, when an order for an SSD is received from location "A", the demand determination module 120 can determine the demand for an SSD at location "A". In some example embodiments, to predict demand, the demand determination module 120 can store sales data indicating, for example, sales trends of home appliances based on location and time, so that the demand determination module 120 can predict the demand for home appliances based on the sales data. For example, the demand determination module 120 can predict the demand for a TV at location "B" based on sales data associated with the sales trend of a TV at location "B" over time.

[0040] The inventory management module 130 can manage the inventory levels of electronic products and their components. For example, the inventory management module 130 can manage the inventory levels of electronic products and their components based on the location where they are manufactured or supplied. For example, the inventory management module 130 can manage the inventory level of SSDs at location "A".

[0041] The scheduling module 140 can generate movement scheduling information SC for floating factories 200 to supply electronic products at the demand location (e.g., destination). For example, the scheduling module 140 can select a floating factory 200 based on demand information determined from the demand judgment module 120 and status information ST for each of the multiple floating factories, and can generate movement scheduling information SC for the selected floating factory 200. For example, demand information may include the demand location, type of electronic product, expected quantity, expected timeframe, etc. When providing demand information, the scheduling module 140 can calculate cost information based on the status information ST for each of the multiple floating factories. The scheduling module 140 can select one floating factory from floating factories 200 to 400 that corresponds to cost information indicating the lowest cost. For example, cost information may include information about fuel consumption and inventory.

[0042] In an example embodiment, the scheduling module 140 may generate movement scheduling information SC based on, for example, the location of the floating factory 200, the desired component, the location of the manufactured or procured component, and / or the demand location. The scheduling module 140 can generate movement scheduling information SC to enable the floating factory 200 to move efficiently to various locations. In this case, the scheduling module 140 may pre-store information about the location for manufacturing the desired component. The scheduling module 140 may store the location for manufacturing the desired component (e.g., component supply location). The stored locations may include a first location of the company running the integrated product management system 1000 and a second location of a third-party company.

[0043] In an example embodiment, the scheduling module 140 may generate mobility scheduling information SC taking into account the assembly process of the electronic product. For example, the scheduling module 140 may generate mobility scheduling information SC such that components used first during the assembly process are collected first.

[0044] In an example embodiment, the scheduling module 140 may generate movement scheduling information SC for the floating factory 200, taking into account the inventory level or number of components managed by the inventory management module 130. For example, the scheduling module 140 may generate movement scheduling information SC such that the floating factory 200 moves to a location where the inventory level or number of components can be secured.

[0045] In the example embodiment, the scheduling module 140 can modify the movement scheduling information SC according to changes in circumstances. For example, when inventory changes or problems occur in manufacturing components, the scheduling module 140 can modify the movement scheduling information SC. The modified movement scheduling information SC can be sent to the floating factory 200. The floating factory 200 can change its movement path according to the modified movement scheduling information SC.

[0046] As described above, the manufacturing service equipment 100 can determine the demand for electronic products and select a floating factory 200 suitable for manufacturing and supplying electronic products with relatively high efficiency. The manufacturing service equipment 100 can take various factors into account to generate movement scheduling information SC for the floating factory 200.

[0047] Each module of the manufacturing service equipment 100 can be implemented in hardware or a combination of hardware and software. For example, software can be machine code, firmware, embedded code, and application software. Hardware can include circuits, electronic circuits, processors, computers, integrated circuits, integrated circuit chips, pressure sensors, microelectromechanical systems (MEMS), passive components, or combinations thereof.

[0048] The various modules of the manufacturing service equipment 100 may be various functional units that perform various corresponding operations and / or functions. However, the various elements of the manufacturing service equipment 100 are not intended to be limited to the disclosed functional units. For example, the manufacturing service equipment 100 may include one or more additional functional units that perform some additional operations and / or functions corresponding to them.

[0049] According to some example embodiments, various operations and / or functions corresponding to the respective functional units in each functional unit (e.g., communication module 110, demand determination module 120, inventory management module 130, and scheduling module 140) can be performed by one or more other functional units. Furthermore, the manufacturing service equipment 100 can perform the operations and / or functions of various functional units without needing to subdivide the operations and / or functions of the manufacturing service equipment 100 into these various functional units.

[0050] For example, some or all of the various modules of the manufacturing service equipment 100 (e.g., communication module 110, demand determination module 120, inventory management module 130, and scheduling module 140) can be implemented using the following: at least one memory or storage device configured to store computer-readable instructions; and one or more processors configured to execute the computer-readable instructions stored in the memory, such that one or more processors are configured to perform various operations and / or functions corresponding to the various modules of the manufacturing service equipment 100.

[0051] The floating factory 200 may include a moving unit 210, an assembly facility 220, a storage device 230, a communication circuit 240, and a controller 250. The moving unit 210 can move the floating factory 200 to various locations. For example, under the control of the controller 250, the moving unit 210 can move the floating factory 200 to a location for manufacturing components or a location where electronic products are needed.

[0052] Assembly facility 220 can assemble components to manufacture electronic products. Assembly facility 220 can assemble components under the control of controller 250. Assembly facility 220 may include facilities capable of manufacturing one or more electronic products. For example, assembly facility 220 may include facilities capable of manufacturing SSDs, memory controllers, mobile phones, TVs, etc.

[0053] Assembly facility 220 can be implemented to be easily installed on floating factory 200 and / or easily detached from floating factory 200. In this case, assembly facility 220 can be detached from floating factory 200 and can be moved to a land-based factory or any other floating factory. That is, assembly facility 220 to be installed on floating factory 200 can have different configurations depending on the type of electronic products being manufactured.

[0054] Storage device 230 can store electronic products and components of electronic products. For example, storage device 230 can store components supplied from a location where components are manufactured or procured, or it can store electronic products manufactured using components. Information about the components and electronic products stored in storage device 230 can be provided to controller 250. Controller 250 can transmit the provided information to communication circuit 240.

[0055] The communication circuit 240 can send the status information ST of the floating factory 200 to the manufacturing service equipment 100, and can receive the mobility scheduling information SC from the manufacturing service equipment 100.

[0056] The controller 250 can control the operation of each component of the floating factory 200. For example, when receiving movement scheduling information SC from the manufacturing service equipment 100, the controller 250 can control the movement unit 210. Thus, the floating factory 200 can move to various locations in a given order. When collecting components from various locations, the controller 250 can control the assembly facility 220 according to the assembly process. Thus, the assembly facility 220 can assemble components to manufacture electronic products. The manufactured electronic products can be stored in the storage device 230.

[0057] According to some example embodiments, the controller 250, alone or in combination with the communication circuit 240, may be implemented by: at least one memory or storage device configured to store computer-readable instructions; and one or more processors configured to execute the computer-readable instructions stored in the memory or storage device, such that one or more processors are configured to cause the mobile unit 210, assembly facility 220, storage device 230 and / or communication circuit 240 to perform various operations and / or functions corresponding to them.

[0058] Below, we will refer to Figure 4-8 A more comprehensive description of the operation of manufacturing service equipment 100.

[0059] Figure 4 It is shown Figure 3 A flowchart illustrating an example of the operation of manufacturing service equipment. (See reference) Figure 4 In operation S101, the manufacturing service equipment 100 can obtain demand information for electronic products. The manufacturing service equipment 100 can obtain demand information based on received electronic product orders or predicted demand for electronic products.

[0060] In operation S102, manufacturing service equipment 100 can select one of a plurality of floating factories 200 to 400 (e.g., floating factory 200) based on the obtained demand information. For example, manufacturing service equipment 100 can calculate cost information based on the status information ST of each of the plurality of floating factories 200 to 400. Manufacturing service equipment 100 can select the floating factory 200 corresponding to the calculated cost information indicating the lowest cost. That is, floating factory 200 can be selected to manufacture and supply the desired electronic products. For example, when demand information including the type, quantity, and duration of the desired electronic products is obtained, manufacturing service equipment 100 can calculate cost information based on the electronic products that the floating factory can manufacture, the production volume per unit time, and the inventory of electronic product components and / or the inventory of electronic products. Manufacturing service equipment 100 can select the floating factory 200 corresponding to the lowest cost.

[0061] In operation S103, manufacturing service equipment 100 can generate movement scheduling information SC for the selected floating factory, such as floating factory 200. Manufacturing service equipment 100 can generate movement scheduling information SC based on various information (e.g., the desired components of the requested electronic product, component locations, the location of floating factory 200, assembly process, and inventory status of the desired electronic product).

[0062] Figure 5 It shows Figure 3 An example of a manufacturing service facility obtaining demand information and selecting a floating factory. (Reference) Figure 3 and Figure 5 Manufacturing service equipment 100 can obtain demand information based on received orders or demand forecasts. For example... Figure 5 As shown, manufacturing service equipment 100 can receive a first order and a second order, and can perform a first demand forecast and a second demand forecast. In this case, the first order could be an order for 100,000 SSDs two months later at location "A", and the second order could be an order for 200,000 memory controllers three months later at location "B". The first demand forecast could be a demand forecast for 200,000 memory controllers two months later at location "A", and the second demand forecast could be a demand forecast for 50,000 televisions two months later at location "B".

[0063] In response to the first order, manufacturing service equipment 100 can select a floating factory 200 capable of manufacturing SSDs and supplying them to location "A". Manufacturing service equipment 100 can select a first floating factory 200 from a pool of floating factories, which can be equipped with SSD assembly facilities and can manufacture 100,000 SSDs within two months. In this case, the first floating factory 200 can be the one among the multiple floating factories that can supply SSDs at the lowest cost. As described above, manufacturing service equipment 100 can select floating factory 200 based on its assembly facilities and productivity.

[0064] Figure 6 It shows Figure 3 An example of manufacturing service equipment 100 generating mobility scheduling information. (See reference) Figure 3 and Figure 6 The manufacturing service equipment 100 can generate the expected movement scheduling information SC for the selected floating factory 200 to manufacture and supply electronic products. The manufacturing service equipment 100 can generate the movement scheduling information SC based on the demand location of the electronic products, the components of the electronic products, the location of the components, and the location of the floating factory 200.

[0065] When the demand for an electronic product, including a second component and a third component, is at location "A", the manufacturing service equipment 100 can generate movement scheduling information SC based on the location "C" for manufacturing the second component, the location "D" for manufacturing the third component, the location "X" of the floating factory 200, and the demand location "A" for the electronic product. In this case, the manufacturing service equipment 100 can generate movement scheduling information SC including the first path P1 to the third path P3.

[0066] Floating factory 200 can move along a first path P1 based on movement scheduling information SC, and can obtain a second component at location "C". Then, floating factory 200 can move along a second path P2, and can obtain a third component at location "D". For example, when moving along the third path P3, floating factory 200 can assemble the second and third components to manufacture electronic products. After reaching location "A", floating factory 200 can supply the manufactured electronic products.

[0067] For reference Figure 6 As described above, when movement scheduling information SC is generated based on the demand location of electronic products, the location of components, and the location of the floating factory 200, the floating factory 200 can move a reduced or minimal distance to obtain components and assemble the obtained components to manufacture electronic products. Therefore, the time spent manufacturing and supplying electronic products can be shortened by using the floating factory 200.

[0068] Figure 7 It shows Figure 3 Another example of manufacturing service equipment 100 generating mobility scheduling information. (See reference) Figure 3 and Figure 7 The manufacturing service equipment 100 can generate the desired movement scheduling information SC for the selected floating factory 200 to manufacture and supply electronic products. The manufacturing service equipment 100 can generate the movement scheduling information SC based on the demand location of the electronic products, the components of the electronic products, the location of the components, the assembly process, and the location of the floating factory 200.

[0069] When the demand for assembling an electronic product comprising components in the order of the first component, the third component, and the second component is at location "A", the manufacturing service equipment 100 can generate movement scheduling information SC based on the demand location "A", the location "B" for manufacturing the first component, the location "C" for manufacturing the second component, the location "D" for manufacturing the third component, and the location "X" of the floating factory 200. In this case, the manufacturing service equipment 100 can generate movement scheduling information SC including the first path P1 to the fourth path P4.

[0070] Floating factory 200 can move along a first path P1 based on movement scheduling information SC and obtain a first component at location "B". Then, floating factory 200 can move along a second path P2 and obtain a third component at location "D". While moving along the third path P3, floating factory 200 can assemble the first and third components to manufacture an intermediate product. Floating factory 200 can obtain a second component at location "C". While moving along a fourth path P4, floating factory 200 can assemble the intermediate product with the second component according to the assembly process to manufacture an electronic product. After reaching location "A", floating factory 200 can supply the manufactured electronic product.

[0071] For reference Figure 7 As described above, when components are collected according to the assembly process, the floating factory 200 can manufacture intermediate products while moving to different locations to obtain another component. Therefore, the time spent manufacturing and supplying electronic products can be further reduced.

[0072] Figure 8 It shows Figure 3 Another example of manufacturing service equipment 100 generating mobility scheduling information. (See reference) Figure 3 and Figure 8 The manufacturing service equipment 100 can generate the desired movement scheduling information SC for the selected floating factory 200 to manufacture and supply electronic products. The manufacturing service equipment 100 can generate the movement scheduling information SC based on the demand location of the electronic products, the components of the electronic products, the location of the components, the inventory location of the electronic products, and the location of the floating factory 200.

[0073] When the demand for an electronic product, including the first and third components, is at location "C", the manufacturing service equipment 100 can generate movement scheduling information SC based on the demand location "C", the location "B" for manufacturing or procuring the first component, the location "D" for manufacturing or procuring the third component, the inventory location "A" for the electronic product, and the location "X" of the floating factory 200. When the inventory at the inventory location is greater than the demand, the movement scheduling information SC can be generated based solely on the inventory location "A" and the demand location "C". When the inventory is less than the demand, the manufacturing service equipment 100 can generate movement scheduling information SC including the first path P1 to the fourth path P4.

[0074] Floating factory 200 can move along the first path P1 based on movement scheduling information SC, and can obtain inventory of electronic products at location "A". Then, floating factory 200 can move along the second path P2, and can obtain a first component at location "B". Next, floating factory 200 can move along the third path P3, and can obtain a third component at location "D". While moving along the fourth path P4, floating factory 200 can assemble the first and third components to manufacture electronic products. After reaching location "C", floating factory 200 can supply the inventory of electronic products obtained from location "A" and the manufactured electronic products.

[0075] For reference Figure 8 As described above, when there is a location where electronic products are in stock, movement scheduling information (SC) can be generated based on the location of the stock. In this case, the stock located at that location can be transported to the location where the electronic products are needed. Therefore, the inventory of electronic products can be managed efficiently, and the integrated product management system 1000 can efficiently respond to sudden changes in demand.

[0076] Figure 9 It is shown Figure 3 A flowchart illustrating an example of the operation of the floating factory 200. (See reference) Figure 3 and Figure 9 In operation S201, the floating factory 200 can collect components of electronic products. The floating factory 200 can collect components while moving to a location provided by the movement scheduling information SC from the manufacturing service equipment 100. In an example embodiment, the floating factory 200 can manufacture intermediate products by assembling some components according to an assembly process while collecting components and moving between various locations.

[0077] In operation S202, the floating factory 200 can assemble collected components while moving to the required location. Based on the movement scheduling information SC received from the manufacturing service equipment 100, the floating factory 200 can move to the required location. The floating factory 200 can assemble components to manufacture electronic products.

[0078] In an example embodiment, the floating factory 200 can test or inspect manufactured electronic products. The floating factory 200 can classify defect-free products (or, alternatively, products with fewer than a threshold number of defects) through testing. The floating factory 200 can package and supply tested electronic products.

[0079] In operation S203, the floating factory 200 can supply electronic products at the demand location. In an example embodiment, the floating factory 200 can supply inventory collected while moving to the demand location, as well as electronic products manufactured while moving to the demand location.

[0080] Figure 10 This is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary embodiment of an integrated product management system according to a concept proposed in this invention. (Reference) Figure 10 The integrated product management system 2000 may include a mobile unit 2100, an assembly facility 2200, a storage device 2300, a controller 2400, a demand judgment module 2500, an inventory management module 2600, a scheduling module 2700, a communication module 2800, and a bus 2900.

[0081] The operation of the mobile unit 2100, assembly facility 2200, storage device 2300, and controller 2400 can be synchronized with... Figure 3 The operation of the mobile unit 210, assembly facility 220, storage device 230, and controller 250 is the same or substantially similar. The operation of the demand judgment module 2500, inventory management module 2600, and scheduling module 2700 can be similar to... Figure 3 The operations of the demand judgment module 120, inventory management module 130, and scheduling module 140 are the same or basically similar. The following description will focus on... Figure 3 Integrated Product Management System 1000 and Figure 10 Differences between the integrated product management systems 2000 and 2000.

[0082] Integrated Product Management System 2000 may include Figure 3 The integrated product management system 2000 can include all the functions of the manufacturing service equipment 100 and the floating factory 200. For example, the integrated product management system 2000 can include the functions of the manufacturing service equipment 100 and can be implemented as mobile as the floating factory 200. The integrated product management system 2000 can generate movement scheduling information SC through the scheduling module 2700 and can move based on the generated movement scheduling information SC. While moving, the integrated product management system 2000 can manufacture electronic products and supply electronic products at the destination.

[0083] The controller 2400 can control the components of the integrated product management system 2000. The controller 2400 can control, for example, the demand assessment module 2500, inventory management module 2600, scheduling module 2700, and communication module 2800, as well as the mobile unit 2100, assembly facility 2200, and storage device 2300. Under the control of the controller 2400, the demand assessment module 2500 can determine the demand for electronic products, and the inventory management module 2600 can manage inventory and component information at various locations. Furthermore, under the control of the controller 2400, the scheduling module 2700 can generate mobile scheduling information SC. The controller 2400 can control the mobile unit 2100, assembly facility 2200, and storage device 2300 based on the generated mobile scheduling information SC.

[0084] The communication module 2800 can send signals generated in the integrated product management system 2000 to the outside, or can receive signals from the outside. For example, the integrated product management system 2000 can communicate with any other integrated product management system through the communication module 2800.

[0085] Bus 2900 can provide a communication path between the components of the integrated product management system 2000. For example, via bus 2900, controller 2400 can send signals to or receive signals from each component.

[0086] The various modules of the Integrated Product Management System 2000 can be various functional units that perform various corresponding operations and / or functions. However, the various elements of the Integrated Product Management System 2000 are not intended to be limited to the disclosed functional units. For example, the Integrated Product Management System 2000 may include one or more additional functional units that perform some additional operations and / or functions corresponding to them.

[0087] According to some example embodiments, the controller 2400, alone or in combination with one or more of the demand determination module 2500, inventory management module 2600, scheduling module 2700, and communication module 2800, can be implemented by: at least one memory or storage device configured to store computer-readable instructions; and one or more processors configured to execute the computer-readable instructions stored in the memory or storage device, such that one or more processors are configured to cause the mobile unit 2100, assembly facility 2200, storage device 2300, and / or communication module 2800 to perform various operations and / or functions corresponding to them.

[0088] At least one memory described in this disclosure may be a tangible or non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, such as random access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), permanent mass storage devices (such as disk drives), solid-state (e.g., NAND flash memory) devices, and / or any other similar data storage mechanism capable of storing and recording data. The at least one memory may be configured to store computer programs, program code, computer-readable instructions, or combinations thereof for one or more operating systems and / or for implementing the exemplary embodiments described herein. Computer programs, program code, computer-readable instructions, or combinations thereof may also be loaded from a separate computer-readable storage medium into the memory and / or one or more processors using a drive mechanism. Such a separate computer-readable storage medium may include a Universal Serial Bus (USB) flash drive, Memory Stick, Blu-ray / DVD / CD-ROM drive, memory card, and / or other similar devices. Computer programs, program code, computer-readable instructions, or combinations thereof may be loaded from a remote data storage device into the memory and / or one or more processors via a network interface, rather than via a local computer-readable storage medium. Additionally, computer programs, program code, computer-readable instructions, or combinations thereof can be loaded from a remote computing system into one or more storage devices and / or one or more processors, the remote computing system being configured to transmit and / or distribute the computer programs, program code, computer-readable instructions, or combinations thereof over a network. The remote computing system can transmit and / or distribute the computer programs, program code, computer-readable instructions, or combinations thereof via a wired interface, an air interface, and / or any other similar medium.

[0089] The one or more processors described in this disclosure may include processing circuitry, such as hardware including logic circuitry; hardware / software combinations, such as processors executing software; or combinations thereof. For example, the processing circuitry may more specifically include, but is not limited to, a central processing unit (CPU), an arithmetic logic unit (ALU), a digital signal processor, a microcomputer, a field-programmable gate array (FPGA), a system-on-a-chip (SoC), a programmable logic unit, a microprocessor, an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), etc.

[0090] Exemplary embodiments of the present invention can also be embodied as computer-readable code on a computer-readable recording medium. A computer-readable recording medium is any data storage device that can store data as a program, which can then be read by a computer system. Examples of computer-readable recording media include read-only memory (ROM), random access memory (RAM), CD-ROM, magnetic tape, floppy disk, and optical data storage devices. The computer-readable recording medium can also be distributed across a network-coupled computer system, allowing the computer-readable code to be stored and executed in a distributed manner. Furthermore, the functional programs, code, and code segments of the exemplary embodiments of the present invention can be understood by those skilled in the art to which the exemplary embodiments of the present invention pertain.

[0091] According to the present invention, while moving along an optimal path based on motion scheduling information generated taking into account various factors, a floating factory can manufacture electronic products and supply them at the destination. Therefore, the time spent supplying electronic products can be shortened, and / or the manufacturing cost of electronic products can be reduced.

[0092] Furthermore, electronic products can be supplied efficiently by responding to sudden changes in market conditions at various locations.

[0093] Although the inventive concept has been described with reference to some exemplary embodiments thereof, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the inventive concept as set forth in the appended claims.

Claims

1. A method of operating manufacturing service equipment for managing a floating factory, the method comprising: Obtain demand information for electronic products at the desired locations; Based on the demand information and the status information of each of the multiple floating factories, calculate the cost information of at least one floating factory among the multiple floating factories; Select the floating factory corresponding to the calculated cost information indicating the lowest cost from the plurality of floating factories; Based on the demand location and the manufacturing location of the electronic product components, the movement scheduling information of the selected floating factory is generated. Send the movement scheduling information to the selected floating factory; The selected floating factory is configured to manufacture the electronic product and test it for defects based on the movement scheduling information while moving to the required location; and Tested electronic products are supplied at the required locations.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the status information includes the location of each of the plurality of floating factories, whether each of the plurality of floating factories is capable of manufacturing the electronic product, the quantity of components and the electronic product stored in each of the plurality of floating factories, and the production volume per unit time of each of the plurality of floating factories.

3. The method as described in claim 1, wherein, The acquisition includes receiving an order for the electronic products.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein, The acquisition includes: predicting the demand information for the demand location based on sales data of electronic products according to location and time.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein, The generation includes additionally taking into account the assembly process of the electronic product when generating the mobility scheduling information.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising: Manage the inventory information of the electronic products based on their manufacturing or supply location.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein, The generation includes additionally taking into account the inventory information when generating the movement scheduling information.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein, The chosen floating factory is a ship.

9. An integrated product management system, comprising: Manufacturing service equipment is configured to generate movement scheduling information based on the demand location of electronic products and the manufacturing location of the components of said electronic products; as well as The floating factory is configured as follows: Based on the mobility scheduling information, the components of the electronic product are moved to the manufacturing location of the component to collect the component. The collected components are assembled to manufacture the electronic product while being moved to the required location.

10. The integrated product management system of claim 9, wherein the floating factory is further configured to: Based on the mobility scheduling information, the vehicle moves to the required location; and Store collected components and manufactured electronic products.

11. The integrated product management system as described in claim 10, wherein, The floating factory is also configured to send its status information to the manufacturing service equipment.

12. The integrated product management system as described in claim 9, wherein, The manufacturing service equipment includes: At least one memory is configured to store computer-readable instructions; and One or more processors are configured to execute the computer-readable instructions, such that the one or more processors are configured to: Obtain the demand information for the required location of the electronic product. Based on the demand information and the status information of each of the multiple floating factories, the floating factory is selected from the multiple floating factories; and Generate the movement scheduling information for the selected floating factory.

13. The integrated product management system as described in claim 12, wherein, The one or more processors are configured to predict demand information for the demand location based on sales data of the electronic product according to location and time.

14. The integrated product management system as described in claim 12, wherein, The status information includes the location of each of the plurality of floating factories, whether each of the plurality of floating factories is capable of manufacturing the electronic product, the quantity of components and the electronic product stored in each of the plurality of floating factories, and the production volume of each of the plurality of floating factories per unit time.

15. The integrated product management system as described in claim 12, wherein, The one or more processors are also configured to additionally take into account the assembly process of the electronic product when generating the mobility scheduling information.

16. The integrated product management system as described in claim 12, wherein, The one or more processors are also configured to manage inventory information of the electronic products at each location where they are manufactured or supplied.

17. The integrated product management system as described in claim 16, wherein, The one or more processors are also configured to additionally take the inventory information into account when generating the mobility scheduling information.

18. A floating factory, comprising: At least one memory is configured to store computer-readable instructions; as well as One or more processors are configured to execute the computer-readable instructions, such that the one or more processors are configured to: Obtain demand information for the location of electronic products. Mobility scheduling information is generated based on the demand location and the manufacturing location of the electronic product components. The floating factory is moved to the demand location and the manufacturing location of the electronic product components based on the movement scheduling information. While moving to the required location, the components collected from the manufacturing location are assembled to manufacture the electronic product.

19. The floating factory as claimed in claim 18, wherein, The one or more processors are also configured to predict the demand information for the demand location based on sales data of the electronic product according to location and time.

20. The floating factory as claimed in claim 18, wherein, The one or more processors are also configured to generate the mobility scheduling information taking into account at least one of the locations of the floating factory and the assembly process of the electronic products.

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