Method for reconfiguring production unit and reconfiguration management device

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for reconfiguring an implemented production unit 1 as a reconfigured production unit 2, comprising a configuration development step 100, the configuration development step 100 being carried out on a configuration development component 13, the actual state of the implemented production unit 1 and the target specification of the implemented production unit 2 being provided, wherein a target state of the reconfigured production unit 2 is determined on the basis of the actual state and the target specifications, and wherein the target state of the reconfigured production unit 2 is output in order to reconfigure the active production unit 1 as the reconfigured production unit 2.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to a method for reconfiguring an implemented production unit into a reconfigured production unit, as well as a reconfiguration management device and a computer program for reconfiguring an implemented production unit or the implemented production unit. Background Art

[0002] Industrial production faces increasing instability due to the interaction of international markets, disruptive technologies and scarce resources. Therefore, flexible or highly variable production systems are of great interest to manufacturers. Summary of the invention

[0003] The subject matter of the invention is a method for reconfiguring an implemented production unit having the features of claim 1, a reconfiguration management device having the features of claim 13 and a computer program having the features of claim 16 and optionally a storage medium.

[0004] Within the scope of the present invention, a method is proposed for reconfiguring an implemented production unit to form a reconfigured production unit.

[0005] A production cell is preferably understood to be a spatial area with production resources in production, within which production functions are implemented, such as material processing, quality control, logistics tasks, material flow tasks, etc. In production, there may be a plurality of production cells, which implement individual and / or common production functions.

[0006] An implemented production unit is particularly understood to be an active production unit which actually implements a production function. In particular, an implemented production unit is in a (real) operating state, in particular a production state.

[0007] A reconfigured production unit is understood in particular to be a production unit that is changed based on an implemented production unit. In particular, a reconfigured production unit is designed as a reconfigured, implemented production unit, which is understood in particular to be an active production unit, the actual implementation of which may be a new production function. Particularly preferably, the reconfigured, implemented production unit is in a (real) operating state, in particular a production state. In particular, for this purpose, the production unit is designed as a modular and / or convertible production unit.

[0008] The method is in particular carried out and / or supported in a computer-aided and / or computer-implemented manner.

[0009] The method has a configuration development step, wherein in the configuration development step a reconfiguration from an implemented production unit to a reconfigured production unit is determined. The configuration development step is performed by a configuration development component.

[0010] In a sub-step, the actual (IST) state of the implemented production unit and the target specification of the implemented production unit are provided. In particular, the actual state includes dynamic real data of the implemented production unit, in particular production data, in particular real-time data. In addition, the actual state preferably includes static real data of the implemented production unit, in particular configuration data, in particular the current module composition, the prepared production functions and the production process.

[0011] In a subsequent substep, a target (SOLL) state is determined based on the actual state and the target specifications, in particular in an automated, computer-assisted, computer-implemented and / or program-based manner.

[0012] In a subsequent sub-step, the target (SOLL) state of the reconfigured production unit is output, wherein, based on the target state, the active production unit is reconfigured and / or can be reconfigured into the configured production unit. In particular, the reconfigured production unit is implemented, on standby or even in a (real) operating state, in particular a production state, after the reconfiguration.

[0013] The invention is based on the fact that, in the field of industrial production, rigid, highly specialized and automated production systems have been used to date. These systems are subject to long planning before they are put into operation. This planning also includes extensive manual optimization of the production cells, including the design of their (machine) elements and the programs (workflows) that are executed. After the production cells have been implemented, there is usually little room for further adjustments in the design of the machine elements and programs. This leads to the problem that the unfavorably planned cell design sometimes remains unchanged throughout its entire service life.

[0014] Modular, highly variable production cells eliminate these problems, but their continuous redesign is still limited due to the following points: The workflow and cell layout (hereinafter also referred to as cell configuration) are planned manually. This leads to long planning cycles because complex planning problems have to be solved regarding the machine modules to be selected and the programs to be performed. In addition, solving these problems sometimes requires a lot of manual work.

[0015] The invention provides a method, in particular computer-based, for the automatic planning and optimization of configurations, in particular of program flows and unit layouts. Complex manual planning is dispensed with, and a larger range of the space of all possible configurations can be examined in a computer-based manner. This increases the probability of finding the actual optimum.

[0016] In a preferred embodiment, the target state and / or the actual state has one, some or all of the following information:

[0017] - Resource planning of the production resources used. In the simplest embodiment, this resource planning can be a collection of production resources. Production resources are understood to be, in particular, all means of production for implementing a production function. Production resources can include, in particular: machines, handling systems, transport devices (such as self-propelled mobile devices, in particular vehicles), electromechanical objects, robots, power supply devices, clamping devices, etc.

[0018] - A layout plan of the production resources used. The layout plan describes in particular the spatial and / or functional arrangement of the production resources in the area of ​​the production unit. In particular, the layout plan is designed as an arrangement plan. Preferably, the arrangement of the production resources and / or modules is described according to the possibilities given by the modular hardware architecture (e.g. geometrical 2D / 3D layout, connected hardware / software interfaces, etc.).

[0019] For example, two different architectural possibilities can be realized:

[0020] - Geometrical arrangement in grids and geometrical continuous arrangement (freely selectable rotation and translation)

[0021] - A robot with a fixed tool (without a corresponding hardware interface) and a robot with a tool changer (with a hardware interface and thus with further arrangable modules in the form of a tool)

[0022] The production program describes, in particular, the temporal and / or spatial control of production resources for implementing production functions in a production unit.

[0023] The respective state, in particular the actual state and / or the target state, is adequately or even completely described by this information.

[0024] Preferably, the target specification includes the need to meet the functional and / or capacity adjustment requirements of the implemented production unit. Functional adjustment requirements arise because the production unit does not provide the technical functions required to complete the production task to be completed (e.g. the product requires a tightening process and the production unit does not have a suitable functional module). Capacity adjustment requirements ("bottlenecks") arise because of insufficient performance dimensions (e.g. an increase in the number of orders on a production unit leads to system dynamic bottlenecks, which can be eliminated, for example, by shortening the unit cycle time). Both types of adjustment requirements lead to the need to reconfigure the production system or its production units.

[0025] In a preferred extension, in the configuration development step, an implementation strategy for implementing the target state into the implemented production unit is provided. Therefore, in addition, an implementation strategy for the subsequent implementation of the planned configuration can also be developed as a target state and output as an implementation input. The implementation strategy describes in particular the process of reconfiguring, in particular transforming, the implemented production unit in order to implement the reconfigured production unit. For example, the implementation strategy includes a method description of how to preferably automatically change the production resources, layout planning and / or production programs in the implemented production unit in order to create the reconfigured production unit.

[0026] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the determination of the target state includes, as a sub-step, the selection of production resources. In this case, the possible solution space can be expanded by identifying the available resource types of production resources, and then the space is evaluated and selected, for example, taking into account the target specifications. Thus, a plurality of different production resources are determined as options, which form solutions in the space.

[0027] Resource types are preferably designed as property-based representations for describing the production functionality of the corresponding production resource.

[0028] Preferably, these characteristics can be designed as follows:

[0029] Trace properties, such as:

[0030] - Description of possible connection trajectories (e.g. path, force curves over path sections)

[0031] - Description of possible dispensing trajectories (e.g. path, nozzle size, and flow profile along that path)

[0032] - Description of possible screw trajectories (e.g. speed, torque curve)

[0033] Features such as:

[0034] - Capability or skill-based characteristics that describe a work process, such as the characteristics assigned to an assembly task. Skills are also described in a feature-based manner.

[0035] In particular, a matching method is carried out using analytical methods or artificial intelligence methods (eg neural networks) for comparing product-side features with resource-side capability descriptions.

[0036] Optionally, this substep includes a fully automatic or semi-automatic, supplementarily expert-assisted, preselection of suitable production resources (eg robots, robot tools, functional modules) to be taken into account in the selection.

[0037] It is also preferred that the determination of the target state includes the determination of a production program as a further sub-step. The determination of the target includes in particular the identification of a resource selection from a previous solution having the best or at least optimized program flow.

[0038] When determining the production sequence, an optimization problem is preferably addressed, in which different target variables are taken into account (in particular in a value-stream-oriented manner), such as:

[0039] -Maximization of throughput

[0040] -Maximization of quality or quality parameters

[0041] - Minimization of investment and / or operating costs of the corresponding resource selection

[0042] - Minimization of the conversion costs for converting an implemented production unit into a reconfigured production unit.

[0043] When determining the production program, it is preferred to take into account various boundary conditions, such as:

[0044] - Available resource instances (e.g., the number of available tools that can be used in the unit);

[0045] - Usable workshop area, available structural space in the production unit.

[0046] In this determination, various variables may preferably be varied, such as:

[0047] - The set of resources used (resource selection) and their own configuration (e.g. robot + tooling).

[0048] Preferably, when determining the production program, the following solution method is performed:

[0049] In a single step of the solution method, a logical flow ("logical skeleton") is automatically generated for a plurality of acting and cooperating agents within a resource set (robots, functional modules, flat robots, etc.), for example based on symbolic logic / symbolic modeling. The resource set is defined or formed by the resource selection. Symbolic methods enable formal checks of certain guarantees.

[0050] The solver for generating the logic flow ("logic skeleton") is based on, for example, an artificial intelligence method (e.g., a graph-based search method, reinforcement learning, etc.). Alternatively, a random logic flow ("logic skeleton") is formed. In this case, for example, a trial-and-error strategy is used.

[0051] Within the framework of optimizing a specifically used resource set, it is proposed to generate a plurality or all possible processes for the respective examined resource set.

[0052] In the following, for example, the generated logic flow (“logic skeleton”) is completely searched or solved by another optimization method, so that one or more logic flows (“logic skeletons”) are selected.

[0053] In another single step of the solution method, the logic flow ("logic skeleton") is converted into the time domain. Basically, a parameterized schedule ("time skeleton") is formed, which contains the boundary conditions from the logic flow. Subsequent simulations (e.g. robot simulations for determining travel times) enable the determination of the individual parameters in these time skeletons. The selection of an ideal time skeleton for a given layout or the generation of an ideal layout for a time skeleton (see below) is a specific task within the optimization.

[0054] It is also preferred that the determination of the target state includes, as a further sub-step, the determination of a layout plan, the purpose of which is to identify an ideal layout taking into account the technical possibilities of the reconfigurable production cell.

[0055] When determining the layout plan, an optimization problem is preferably addressed, in which different target variables are taken into account (especially in a value-flow-oriented manner), such as:

[0056] -Minimization of robot travel distance

[0057] - Minimization of travel time and cycle time

[0058] -Minimization of energy consumption

[0059] - Minimization of overlap of movements of production resources, in particular of agents (eg robot arms).

[0060] When determining the layout plan, it is preferred to take into account various boundary conditions, such as:

[0061] - Available area or space

[0062] - production technology boundary conditions (e.g. possibility of grid arrangement of configurable resources and possibility of continuous arrangement on a reference surface; possibility of connecting resources to energy, information, materials)

[0063] - Process-related boundary conditions (eg the achievable accuracy of the robot arm depending on the position of the foot relative to the workstation).

[0064] In this determination, various variables may preferably be varied, such as:

[0065] -The posture of resources in space

[0066] -Solution method.

[0067] For implementation, genetic or meta-heuristic optimization methods can be used based on artificial intelligence or analytical methods, combined with simulations or simulation-based or general automatic planning methods. Preferably, the simulations are constructed so that they are automatically, parameterized, configured or completely regenerated. In particular, no manual work is required to perform the individual iterations in the optimization.

[0068] Preferably, these sub-steps will be traversed, for example iteratively or cyclically, until the target state at least meets these target specifications or even exceeds these target specifications. Thereby, these target specifications form the termination criteria of these sub-steps. The target state determined in this way is output.

[0069] Preferably, before the configuration development step, there is a reconfiguration requirement identification step for determining the actual state and target specifications of the implemented production unit. In particular, in the reconfiguration requirement identification step, functional and / or capacity adjustment requirements are determined as the basis for these target specifications. The reconfiguration requirement identification derived therefrom is performed at the implemented production unit, especially in an active and / or standby state, especially in an operating state. In particular, during the reconfiguration requirement identification, real data and / or real-time data of the implemented production unit are used. When the reconfiguration requirements of the implemented production unit are identified, information is summarized, which is used as input parameters for subsequent planning processes, especially for the configuration development step. This information includes in particular instructions about the target specifications to be met (for example, production functions required to meet production tasks as functional adjustment requirements and target throughput / cycle time as capacity requirements). Optionally, these target specifications are formulated specifically for each implemented production unit under the consideration of the optimization criteria of the unit complex of the entire system. In addition to these target specifications, the current configuration information of the production unit as the actual state can be transferred as a planning input, which configuration information can be used as a starting point if necessary. The latter is of particular interest for capacity adjustment requirements, which can be solved, if necessary, by especially slight adjustments to the layout or program. Optionally, the resource selection is kept constant in the configuration development step based on the planning input. Up to now, such reconfigurations have been triggered manually and individually by responsible personnel. Up to now, it has been the responsibility of human observers to identify the adjustment requirements of the configuration, who then initiate the reconfiguration. It is advantageous that the reconfiguration requirements are automatically identified and reported by evaluating the configuration data and the information detected by sensors. As a result, human observers are supported or no longer necessary.

[0070] In a preferred embodiment, the method has an implementation step in which the production unit is automatically and / or automatically transferred from an actual state to a target state.

[0071] Therefore, the method is designed to implement the developed configuration automatically as a target state. The basis for this can be the implementation strategy formed in the configuration development step. Likewise, the implementation strategy may be generated and implemented in the implementation step. The special feature in this case is that the production resources themselves are reconfigured and, optionally, this operation can be done dynamically during the operating time of the production unit. For example, functional modules of production resources designed as electromechanical objects can be physically moved within the production unit with the help of robots located therein in order to create a cell layout that, in combination with an adapted program flow, meets shorter cycle times or other production capacity and / or functional requirements. Functional modules that are not required for an order can also be removed from the working area of ​​the production unit. In addition, the use of planar robots to realize material flows (e.g. based on workpiece carriers) or to provide production unit modules makes it possible to also achieve simple adjustment of the working area because of the additional mobility.

[0072] The expansion concept relates in particular to a method for automatically implementing a cell configuration planned as a target state by means of a robot manipulator. The planned cell configuration previously had to be implemented (also referred to as reconfiguration) by manual hardware modifications or (control) software adjustments. Due to the various hazards that may be associated, trained personnel are required to carry out these changes. Within the framework of the expansion concept, the configuration planned as the target state does not require any manual intervention for its implementation. It can also be implemented in the operation of the production cell (for example, during this operation, the layout is optimized in order to shorten the cycle time for higher loads).

[0073] Another subject of the present invention relates to a reconfiguration management device, in particular for implementing the above method.

[0074] The reconfiguration management device has a configuration development component designed to implement the configuration development step.

[0075] Therefore, the reconfiguration management device has a corresponding component for configuration development. The component plans a new cell configuration as a target state based on the planning input provided by the reconfiguration requirement identification. In this case, the planning process can be regarded as a complex optimization problem with the optimal resource selection, program and / or cell layout as sub-problems to be solved. The problem of resource selection may have a variety of target parameters (e.g., the minimum transformation workload relative to the current configuration) and boundary conditions (e.g., the maximum allowable machine hour rate as the sum of the operating costs of each module). The problem of program flow design depends directly on resource selection and can also apply different target parameters (e.g., the minimum number of tool changes) and boundary conditions (e.g., the sequence of product processes to be performed). Similarly, the problem of cell layout design depends directly on the upstream problem and can include a variety of target parameters (e.g., minimization of work travel, cycle time, etc.) and boundary conditions (e.g., no collision, no violation of restricted areas, etc.). The optimization method used can be based on different algorithms (e.g., metaheuristics, etc.) and optimization models (e.g., mathematical models, simulation models, etc.). The purpose of optimization is to search the space of configuration possibilities and extract the best solution. In this case, an automated solution to the problem has the advantage that a large portion of the space can be examined, which is almost impossible to achieve manually. If the optimizer and / or solver finds a solution that is optimal and meets the target criteria, the identified resource plan, floor plan and program description (e.g., by program code, process language, etc.) are generated by the configuration development component as the target state.

[0076] The reconfiguration management device preferably has a reconfiguration requirement identification component, which is designed to implement the reconfiguration requirement identification step. The reconfiguration management device preferably has an implementation component, which is designed to implement the implementation step.

[0077] In particular, these components are designed as software modules and are implemented and / or can be implemented as a component of the reconfiguration management device, for example on a computer or another digital data processing device or in the cloud.

[0078] Another subject matter of the invention relates to a computer program which is designed to carry out the above-mentioned method when the computer program is executed on a digital data processing device and / or on the reconfiguration management device.

[0079] Another possible subject matter of the invention relates to a machine-readable storage medium having such a computer program. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0080] Other features, advantages and effects of the present invention are apparent from the following description of preferred embodiments and the accompanying drawings. In these drawings:

[0081] Figure 1 A schematic top view of an implemented and reconfigured production unit with a reconfiguration management device as an embodiment of the present invention is shown;

[0082] Figure 2 A block diagram is shown for illustrating a method for reconfiguring an implemented production unit and for presenting a reconfiguration management device at the same time. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0083] Figure 1 A schematic top view from above of an implemented production cell 1 and a reconfigured production cell 2 is shown, which is formed by a reconfiguration of the implemented production cell 1. The production cells 1, 2 each have production resources 3, wherein these production resources 3 have, for example, a robot 4, a tool 5 of the robot, a transport device 6 (optionally with a workpiece carrier) and other production means, such as a clamping device 7 on the floor of the production cell 1, 2 and an electrical power supply line or other power supply device 8.

[0084] The production resources 3 are arranged in the production cells 1, 2 according to the layout plan 9. The layout plan 9 describes the spatial distribution of the production resources 3 in the respective production cells 1, 2. A comparison of the production cells 1, 2 shows that different layout plans 9 exist here.

[0085] Production functions such as workpiece processing, quality assurance, logistics tasks, etc. are implemented in the respective production units 1, 2. The production functions or tasks are implemented according to production programs 10, wherein the program description of the production program 10 includes spatial and / or temporal coordination of production resources 3. Different production programs 10 are implemented in the production units 1, 2.

[0086] The resource planning of the production resources 3 used, the layout planning 9 of the arrangement of the production resources 3 used and the program description of the production program 10 form an actual state in the implemented production unit 1 and, within the framework of the method described subsequently and / or the reconfiguration management device 11 described subsequently, form a target state in the configured production unit 2.

[0087] Figure 2 The method for reconfiguring an implemented and / or active production unit 1 into a reconfigured production unit 2 is illustrated in a schematic block diagram. At the same time, the block diagram also visualizes the reconfiguration management device 11.

[0088] The reconfiguration management device 11 has an optional reconfiguration requirement identification component 12, which performs a reconfiguration requirement identification step 100; a configuration development component 13, which performs a configuration development step 200; and an implementation component 14, which performs an implementation step 300. These components 12, 13, 14 are especially designed as software modules, which work on a digital data processing device (such as a computer, a server) or in the cloud. These components 12, 13, 14 can be designed as separate components, but it is also possible that they are implemented as a common component or in another architecture.

[0089] The reconfigurable production system, here the reconfigurable production units 1, 2, is controlled by a corresponding process control system, such as a Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition System (SCADA) or an Industrial Control System (ICS). In the sense of a layered architecture, the system is subordinate to an operations management system (such as a Manufacturing Execution System (MES)), so that the process control system and the operations management system together form a reconfiguration management device 11. The operations management system receives information about characteristic values ​​relevant to the current value flow (such as throughput / unit cycle time, scrap rate) from the process control system, which is derived by evaluating sensor data detected in the production system (such as RFID antennas, barcode scanners, proximity sensors). In addition, the operations management system has all information about the currently implemented configuration of its production units and thereby about the configuration of the entire system.

[0090] The reconfiguration requirement identification component 12 implements the reconfiguration requirement identification step 100 and obtains function and / or capacity information as data input in substep 110. This information includes in particular sensor data of sensors in the production unit 1, and in substep 120 checks whether reconfiguration is required.

[0091] exist Figure 1In the example, the implemented production cell 1 has some weaknesses in its configuration: for example, one of the transport devices 6, as an unused conveyor device 6, forms an interfering contour 15 that hinders the material flow. The robot 4 with its tool 5 can only approach the used transport devices 6 using long track routes, so that the production capacity of the production cell 1 is reduced, as visualized by the dashed line. In addition, the production program 10 further reduces the production capacity. These weaknesses are discovered by the reconfiguration requirement identification component 12 and a configuration development for reconfiguring the implemented production cell 1 is automatically triggered in the sense of continuous monitoring or initiated externally.

[0092] Thus, the reconfiguration requirement identification component 12 identifies functional and / or capacity adjustment requirements on the implemented production unit 1 based on real data. In substep 130, target specifications are derived from the identified adjustment requirements. In addition, the actual state of the production unit 1, including the resource planning of the used production resources 3, the layout planning 9 and the used production programs 10 as configuration information, is summarized in substep 140 based on the real data of the implemented production unit 1 and provided as planning input 16.

[0093] The configuration development component 13 has an input interface 17 , wherein the reconfiguration requirement identification component 12 transfers the planning input 16 to the configuration development component 13 via the input interface 17 .

[0094] In substep 210 of the configuration development step 200, it is checked whether the actual configuration meets the target specification or whether another termination criterion is reached, such as sufficient compliance with the target specification. In the case that the actual configuration does not meet these target specifications, a resource selection is performed or checked in substep 220. Subsequently, based on one or more resource selections determined in this substep 220, a new or modified production program 10 is determined in substep 230. In substep 240, a new layout plan 9 is determined based on the resource selection and the program flow 10. In substep 210, the resource selection, the program flow 10 and the layout plan 9 are checked again against the target specification or another termination criterion. For the above cases where the target specifications are met, in substep 250, an implementation input is provided as a target state, and optionally supplemented by an implementation strategy via an output interface 18 to output the implementation input. The target state includes the resource selection, the layout plan 9 and the program flow 10 of the production resources 3 and optionally includes the implementation strategy 18 as implementation input 19.

[0095] During the resource selection in this sub-step 220, the production resources 3 are presented as resource types described by their characteristics. When the production resources are designed as electromechanical objects, such as transport devices 6 or robots 4, for example, these characteristics may include tracking characteristics or movement characteristics. These characteristics may include functional characteristics that describe the function of the corresponding production resource 3. During this resource selection, the production resources 3 corresponding to the production function according to the target specification are described, so that these production resources can realize this production function as a whole. Exactly one or more variants of this resource selection can be determined.

[0096] In one embodiment, when determining the program flow 10 in substep 230, a logical flow is first formed as a logical skeleton of the production resource 3. This can occur, for example, on symbolic logic and / or symbolic modeling. A plurality or even all possible logical flows and / or logical skeletons are formed. For the case where a plurality of variants of resource selection have been determined, such a logical flow and / or logical skeleton can be determined for each variant.

[0097] Subsequently, the logic flow and / or logic skeleton are converted to the time domain so that a parameterized schedule and / or time skeleton is formed, which contains boundary conditions from the logic flow and / or logic skeleton. By simulation, the parameterized schedule and / or time skeleton can be filled with parameters. Subsequently, a parameterized schedule and / or a time skeleton filled with parameters is selected. Optionally, the selected time skeleton and / or the selected parameterized schedule is output as a program flow 10, and it forms an input to sub-step 240. Alternatively, all parameterized schedules and / or time skeletons are output as possible program flows 10, so that selection is only made in sub-step 240.

[0098] In substep 240, a layout plan 9 is determined based on the output program flow 10 or the output program flows 10. For example, the posture of the production resources 3 according to the resource selection is used as a variable. In addition, the boundary conditions of the production units 1, 2 are taken into account, as these boundary conditions have been described previously. By means of a solution method, a layout plan 9 is determined for the case where only one resource selection and only one program flow 10 are handed over. Alternatively, a layout plan 9 is determined for each combination of resource selection and program flow 10, and the best combination is selected and output.

[0099] In the implementation component 14 , within the framework of the implementation step 300 , an implementation strategy is optionally determined or simply accepted in a substep 310 , and in a substep 320 the target state as the planned configuration is independently implemented, in particular by the production resources 3 .

[0100] When implementing the optimized configuration, the robot 4 rearranges the functional modules ("MO"), here the transport device 6, and the other production resources 3 themselves in the production cells 1, 2. In the case shown, starting from the implemented production cell 1, the unused MO / transport device 6 (according to the developed configuration in the target state) as an interference contour 15 is pushed into the rear area in order not to block the working area. On the other hand, the used MO as transport device 6 is placed closer to the working area in order to achieve shorter travel distances. In addition, the robot 4 and the transport device 6 (for example, designed as a mobile planar robot ("WPC") with an installed workpiece carrier) are adapted so that every two of them are processed in sequence as a batch. The identified capacity bottleneck is eliminated using the described measures.

Claims

1. A method for reconfiguring an implemented production unit (1) into a reconfigured production unit (2), the method comprising the following steps: Providing the actual status of the implemented production unit (1) and providing the target specifications of the implemented production unit (1); A configuration development step (100) is performed, wherein: In the configuration development step (100), a reconfiguration from the implemented production unit (1) to the configured production unit (2) is determined, wherein a target state of the reconfigured production unit (2) is determined based on the actual state and the target specification, and wherein the target state of the reconfigured production unit (2) is output in order to reconfigure the implemented production unit (1) into the reconfigured production unit (2).

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that The actual state and / or the target state include a resource plan of the used production resources (3), a layout plan (9) of the arrangement of the used production resources and / or a production program (10).

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The target specifications include: satisfying the functional and / or capacity adjustment requirements of the implemented production unit (1).

4. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that In the configuration development step (100), an implementation strategy is provided for implementing the target state into the implemented production unit (1).

5. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that The determination of the target state includes selecting production resources (3) as a sub-step (220).

6. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that The determination of the target state includes determining the production program (10) as a sub-step (230).

7. The method according to claim 6, characterized in that The determination of the production program (10) comprises, as a single step, determining at least one logical skeleton of the production program (10), wherein the logical skeleton describes the functional collaboration of the production resources (3) for implementing the production program (10).

8. The method according to claim 7, characterized in that The determination of the production program (10) comprises, as a single step, determining at least one time skeleton of the production program (10), wherein the time skeleton describes the time and functional collaboration of the production resources (3) for realizing the production program (10).

9. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that The determination of the target state includes determining a layout plan (9) as a sub-step (240).

10. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that A reconfiguration requirement identification step (100) is used to determine the actual state and the target specification of the implemented production unit (1).

11. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that A step (300) is performed, wherein the implemented production unit (1) is automatically and / or automatically transformed from the actual state to the target state to become a configured production unit (2).

12. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that The configuration development step (100) is performed on a configuration development component (13).

13. A reconfiguration management device (11) for reconfiguring an implemented production unit (1) into a reconfigured production unit (2) and in particular for carrying out the method according to any one of the preceding claims, The reconfiguration management device has a configuration development component (13), The configuration development component has an input interface (17) for receiving and / or providing the actual state of the implemented production unit (1) and the target specification of the implemented production unit (1), in, The configuration development component (13) is designed to determine a target state of the reconfigured production unit (2) based on the actual state and the target specification, The configuration development component has an output interface (18) for outputting the target state of the reconfigured production unit (2) so as to reconfigure the implemented production unit (1) into the reconfigured production unit (2).

14. The reconfiguration management device (11) according to claim 13, characterized in that: The reconfiguration management device comprises a reconfiguration requirement identification component (12) for determining the actual state and the target specification of the implemented production unit (1) and for transferring the actual state and the target specification to the input interface (17).

15. The reconfiguration management device (11) according to claim 13 or 14, characterized in that: The reconfiguration management device has an implementation component (14) for automatically and / or automatically changing the implemented production unit (1) from the actual state to the target state and for receiving the target state from the output interface (18).

16. A computer program, wherein The computer program is designed to perform the method according to any one of claims 1 to 12 when the computer program is executed on a computer, a digital data processing device or a reconfiguration management device according to any one of claims 13 to 15 .

Images