Production scheduling method and system

Abstract

The invention provides a production scheduling method and system, and the method comprises the steps: obtaining a production process of a target product, the production process comprising a plurality of process stages, and each process stage comprising a plurality of production stations; obtaining the process stage of the current production station, and when the process stage is in the middle process stage of the production process, according to the first position of the current production station, determining the production station which meets a preset scheduling condition and is closest to the first position as a target station; and controlling the production line to move the target product between the current production station and the target station. According to the method, the actual situation on a production line is fully considered, and the circulation time and the waiting time of the target product between the processes can be reduced to the maximum extent, so that the production efficiency is improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of production scheduling, and in particular to a production scheduling method and system. Background Art

[0002] The modern production of target products faces a series of challenges related to the production process. These challenges mainly manifest in the lack of flexibility of the production line, the inconvenience of flow between processes, and the need for backtracking and secondary operations due to the unstable process route.

[0003] First, the production of target products often requires customization based on specific customer needs, resulting in significant disparities in the operating time of each process across different production batches. Since the number of workstations and personnel required for each process fluctuates with each production run, existing production lines have a fixed number of workstations for each process, making it difficult for production lines to meet the demands of a flexible production model. Consequently, production bottlenecks are common during the production process, leading to low overall production efficiency.

[0004] Secondly, the weight and volume of target products can vary greatly, making the flow between processes quite inconvenient. Existing manual and semi-automatic production lines mostly circulate work-in-progress in a one-way sequence and cannot support reverse flow. This fixed flow method limits production line flexibility and further exacerbates production inefficiencies.

[0005] Therefore, how to achieve flexible scheduling of production lines and ensure the continuity and stability of production under the order-based production model has become an urgent problem to be solved in the current production scheduling process. Summary of the Invention

[0006] One of the purposes of the present invention is to provide a production scheduling method to solve the technical problem in the prior art that the operation time of each process stage on the production line is unbalanced, resulting in some workstations being idle while some workstations are busy, production line resources are not fully utilized, and production efficiency is difficult to improve.

[0007] In order to achieve one of the above-mentioned purposes of the invention, the present invention provides a production scheduling method, including: obtaining a production process of a target product, the production process including several process stages, each process stage including several production stations; obtaining the process stage in which the current production station is located, and when the process stage is in the middle process stage of the production process, according to the first position of the current production station, determining that the production station that meets the preset scheduling conditions and is closest to the first position is the target station; controlling the production line to move the target product between the current production station and the target station.

[0008] As a further improvement of an embodiment of the present invention, the production workstation includes an in-process workstation and a cache workstation, and the in-process workstation is determined as the target workstation based on the first position of the current production workstation, which meets the preset scheduling conditions and is closest to the first position. The method includes: determining the production workstation that meets the preset scheduling conditions and is closest to the first position as the target workstation in the priority order of in-process workstation first and cache workstation later; wherein the in-process workstation is directly located at the workstation of the production process, and the cache workstation is located at a workstation outside the production process.

[0009] As a further improvement of an embodiment of the present invention, the method of determining the production station that meets the preset scheduling conditions and is closest to the first position as the target station according to the priority order of the work-in-progress station first and the cache station later includes: obtaining the process stage corresponding to the current production station, and determining the corresponding number of work-in-progress stations; judging whether the production status of the work-in-progress station meets the preset scheduling conditions; if so, selecting the work-in-progress station closest to the first position as the target station; if not, obtaining all the cache stations of the entire production line, and selecting the cache station that is closest to the first position and whose corresponding production status meets the preset scheduling conditions as the target station.

[0010] As a further improvement of an embodiment of the present invention, the method of determining, based on the first position of the current production station, the production station that is closest to the first position and meets the preset scheduling conditions as the target station includes: obtaining the production status of the current production station, the production status characterizing the production status of the current production station in completing the process stage; if the production status is a waiting-to-receive state, the upstream production station that is closest to the first position and has completed the upstream process production is used as the source station; if the production status is a completed waiting-to-be-pushed state, the downstream production station that is closest to the first position and is in an idle state is used as the target station.

[0011] As a further improvement of one embodiment of the present invention, the control of the production line to move the target product between the current production station and the target station includes: judging whether the process stage corresponding to the target station is located in the upstream process of the process stage corresponding to the current production station; if so, controlling the production line to move the target product from the target station to the current production station; if not, controlling the production line to move the target product from the current production station to the target station.

[0012] As a further improvement of one embodiment of the present invention, before obtaining the production process of the target product, the method also includes: obtaining the total number of production stations corresponding to the production process, and the actual production time of each process stage; determining the overall production time of the production line based on the actual production time, and determining the actual number of production stations required for each process stage based on the overall production time and the actual production time of each process stage; the overall production time represents the production situation of the slowest process stage in the production line.

[0013] As a further improvement of one embodiment of the present invention, the overall production time of the production line is determined based on the actual production time, and the actual number of production stations required for each process stage is determined based on the overall production time and the actual production time of each process stage, including: determining the maximum actual production time among the actual production time of each process stage as the overall production time; calculating the ratio of the actual production time of each process stage to the overall production time, and determining the proportional coefficient of each process stage; determining the actual number of production stations required for each process stage based on the ratio of the proportional coefficient of each process stage to the total proportional coefficient of the corresponding production line, and the product of the total number of production stations.

[0014] As a further improvement of one embodiment of the present invention, the method also includes: determining the remaining production time of each production station in the downstream process stage based on the downstream process stage corresponding to the current production station; and determining the scheduling path between the current production station and the downstream process stage based on the minimum remaining production time.

[0015] As a further improvement of one embodiment of the present invention, the method of determining the remaining production time of each production station in the downstream process stage according to the downstream process stage corresponding to the current production station includes: obtaining the process stage of the current production station and determining the corresponding downstream process stage; respectively calculating the difference between the predicted production time of the downstream process stage and the actual production time of each production station and determining the corresponding remaining production time.

[0016] As a further improvement of an embodiment of the present invention, the method of determining the scheduling path between the current production station and the downstream process stage based on the minimum remaining production time includes: selecting the production station with the minimum remaining production time as the first target station; based on the second position of the first target station, determining the idle production station with the shortest distance to the second position as the second target station; controlling the production line to move the target product from the current production station to the second target station, and when the first target station meets the preset scheduling conditions, moving the target product from the second target station to the first target station.

[0017] In order to achieve one of the above-mentioned purposes of the invention, the present invention also provides a production scheduling system, including: a first module, used to obtain the production process of the target product, the production process includes several process stages, and each process stage includes several production stations; a second module, used to obtain the process stage of the current production station, and when the process stage is in the middle process stage of the production process, according to the first position of the current production station, determine that the production station that meets the preset scheduling conditions and is closest to the first position is the target station; a third module, used to control the production line to move the target product between the current production station and the target station.

[0018] Compared with the prior art, the embodiments of the present invention have at least one of the following beneficial effects: This invention employs a production scheduling method that obtains the target product's production process, which is subdivided into multiple stages, each of which includes several production stations. When the target product is in the middle of a production process, the system determines, based on the current production station's specific location (i.e., the first position), a production station that meets preset scheduling criteria and is closest to the current position as the target / source station. This method fully considers the actual conditions on the production line and can minimize the target product's transit time and waiting time between processes, thereby improving production efficiency. Furthermore, because the system can flexibly adjust scheduling strategies based on real-time conditions, it can better adapt to changes in the production process, thereby ensuring continuous and stable production. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019] Figure 1 It is a schematic diagram of the steps of a production scheduling method in one embodiment of the present invention.

[0020] Figure 2 Schematic diagram of the position distribution of production stations in a production process according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0021] Figure 3 FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of step S2 ′ in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0022] FIG4( a ) is a schematic flow chart of a drawer pushing operation according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0023] FIG4( b ) is a schematic flow chart of a drawer pulling-in operation according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0024] Figure 5 FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of step S2 in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0025] Figure 6 It is a schematic diagram of the steps before step S1 in one embodiment of the present invention.

[0026] Figure 7It is a schematic diagram of step M2 in a specific embodiment of an embodiment of the present invention.

[0027] Figure 8 1 is a flow chart of a production line scheduling process according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0028] Figure 9 It is a structural diagram of a production scheduling system in one embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0029] The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the specific embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings. However, these embodiments do not limit the present invention, and any structural, methodological, or functional changes made by those skilled in the art based on these embodiments are all within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0030] It should be noted that the term "comprises" or any other variant thereof is intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion, so that a process, method, article, or apparatus that includes a list of elements includes not only those elements but also other elements not explicitly listed, or elements inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus. In addition, the terms "first," "second," etc. are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be understood as indicating or implying relative importance.

[0031] like Figure 1 As shown, an embodiment of the present invention provides a production scheduling method, including but not limited to the following steps.

[0032] Step S1: obtaining a production process of a target product, wherein the production process includes several process stages, and each process stage includes several production stations.

[0033] Step S2, obtain the process stage of the current production station. When the process stage is in the middle process stage of the production process, determine the production station that meets the preset scheduling conditions and is closest to the first position as the target station based on the first position of the current production station.

[0034] Step S3: Control the production line to move the target product between the current production station and the target station.

[0035] In this way, the production process of the target product is obtained and subdivided into multiple stages, each of which includes several production stations. When the target product is in the middle of the production process, the system determines the target station based on the specific location of the current production station (i.e., the first position) that meets the preset scheduling conditions and is closest to the current position. This method fully considers the actual conditions of the production line and can minimize the target product's transit time and waiting time between processes, thereby improving production efficiency. Furthermore, because the system can flexibly adjust scheduling strategies based on real-time conditions, it can better adapt to various changes in the production process, thereby ensuring continuous and stable production.

[0036] In step S1, the production process refers to the series of processing, handling, or assembly steps or operations that a product undergoes from raw materials to finished product. These steps or operations are performed in a specific order to ensure that the finished product meets design requirements and quality standards. For example, in the manufacturing process of electronic or electrical equipment, the corresponding production process is "component installation -> secondary line installation -> primary line installation -> quality inspection."

[0037] The production process is divided into several relatively independent components with specific functions or goals. Each component is the process stage in step S1. The division of process stages helps to better organize and manage production activities and improve production efficiency and quality.

[0038] In step S2, the intermediate process stage refers to the remaining process stages in the production process that are neither the initial stage nor the final stage. The intermediate process stage is used to connect the previous and next process stages and transfer the work-in-progress.

[0039] A production station is a fixed location on a production line or within a production area used to complete a specific production task or operation. Each production station may be equipped with the necessary equipment, tools, and personnel to ensure the smooth progress of production tasks. In other words, a production station is the specific implementation point of a production process or process stage.

[0040] In one embodiment, the production workstations are configured as "single person single workstation", that is, each workstation is managed by only one employee, and the employee completes all designated process operations at the workstation he is responsible for.

[0041] In another embodiment, the production stations are configured as "single-person dual-stations," meaning each station is still managed by one employee, but the employee needs to take turns completing the process at two adjacent stations. The two stations can be set up adjacent to each other to facilitate quick switching between employees.

[0042] In step S2, the first position refers to the specific location of the current production station within the production process or process stage. This location can be a physical location or a logical location. In this application, the first position is used to determine the distance to the target station.

[0043] Based on this, the "shortest distance" in step S2 refers to the shortest physical or logical distance between the first location and the target workstation. This distance can be measured using criteria such as straight-line distance, travel time, and transportation cost.

[0044] In one embodiment, production stations may include in-process stations and cache stations. In-process stations refer to stations on the production line where products or components are directly processed. Cache stations are stations used to temporarily store products or components that have been processed or are awaiting processing. Cache stations can be located between specific nodes on the production line, or between the production line and an external storage area, to buffer and coordinate production rhythms, ensuring the continuity and stability of the production process.

[0045] In a specific embodiment, the in-process station is directly located at a station of the production process, and the buffer station is located at a station outside the production process.

[0046] like Figure 2 As shown in the figure, for example, taking the production process "a->b->c->d" as an example, it is assumed that the production process includes 16 work-in-progress stations and 4 buffer stations. Specifically, process stages a, b, c, and d each include 4 work-in-progress stations, 1 buffer station is set between process stages a and b, 2 buffer stations are set between process stages b and c, and 1 buffer station is set between process stages c and d.

[0047] Based on this, in one embodiment, the production stations in step S2 include work-in-progress stations and cache stations, and determining the production station that meets the preset scheduling conditions and is closest to the first position as the target station based on the first position of the current production station may specifically include the following steps.

[0048] In step S2 ′, the production station that meets the preset scheduling conditions and is closest to the first position is determined as the target station according to the priority order of the in-process station first and the cache station later.

[0049] In this way, by prioritizing WIP stations over cache stations, WIP stations that meet preset scheduling criteria can be prioritized. This allows production resources and attention to be focused on workpieces currently being processed or assembled. This reduces waiting time and downtime for products in the production process, ensuring that each product completes its process as quickly as possible, accelerating the overall production process and shortening the production cycle. Furthermore, prioritizing WIP stations also helps reduce WIP inventory during the production process, avoiding production line interruptions caused by WIP backlogs.

[0050] like Figure 3 As shown, in a specific embodiment, step S2' of the present invention may specifically include the following steps.

[0051] Step S211: obtain the process stage corresponding to the current production station and determine the corresponding number of in-process stations.

[0052] Step S212: determine whether the production status of the work-in-progress station meets the preset scheduling conditions.

[0053] If so, the process jumps to step S213A, and the in-process workstation closest to the first position is selected as the target workstation.

[0054] If not, jump to step S213B, obtain all cache stations of the entire production line, and select the cache station closest to the first position and whose corresponding production status meets the preset scheduling conditions as the target station.

[0055] In this way, by prioritizing the selection of target workstations from the workstations in progress, we focus on the workstations in progress that correspond to the process stage of the current production station. When the workstations in progress at the current process stage meet the conditions and are at the shortest distance, production can be quickly arranged to reduce waiting time. On the contrary, when these workstations in progress do not meet the conditions, all cache workstations on the entire production line are considered, and the nearest cache workstation whose production status meets the scheduling conditions is selected as the target workstation, which can avoid production interruptions and minimize the cost and time of product handling and transfer.

[0056] It should be noted that in the above embodiment, by giving priority to the in-process workstations directly related to the production process, the flexibility and response speed of the entire production line are taken into account, thereby optimizing the overall production process and improving production efficiency and flexibility.

[0057] In step S212, the production status refers to the specific conditions of the current production station at the time of completing its current process stage, including but not limited to at least one of the following: the production speed of the product, the operating status of the equipment, and whether there are any faults or abnormalities. In other words, the production status can represent the production status of the current production station at the time of completing the current process stage.

[0058] It can be seen that determining whether the scheduling conditions are met through the production status can fully consider the actual situation of each workstation, ensure that the production tasks are reasonably allocated, and help ensure the smoothness and efficiency of the production process.

[0059] Furthermore, the selection of the target station is not fixed; it is closely related to the production status of the current production station. Specifically, on the one hand, the target station can serve as a receiving station, or a source station. That is, when the current production station has completed its production task in the current process stage and is idle or about to be idle, to ensure the continuity and efficiency of the production line, a station in the upstream process stage of the current production station is selected as the target station. In this case, the target station acts as a supplier, providing the current station with the required products to maintain the flow of the production line.

[0060] Alternatively, the target station can serve as an output station, or push-out station. That is, after completing its current production phase, the current production station selects a downstream station as the target station. In this case, the target station acts as a receiver, accepting the finished product from the current production station and integrating it into the subsequent production process.

[0061] To facilitate understanding of receiving and ejecting stations, let's take a drawer-type switchgear (drawer cabinet) as an example. This cabinet has removable modules or drawers. During production scheduling, drawer operations include pushing out and pulling in. When pushing out a drawer, the corresponding ejecting station is pre-determined, while when pulling in a drawer, the corresponding source station is determined.

[0062] Figures 4(a) and 4(b) illustrate the specific processes for determining scheduling to the push-out station and scheduling from the pull-in station, respectively. As shown in Figure 4(a), in response to a drawer push signal, the number of the corresponding push-out station (i.e., the target station) is determined. Based on the number, it is determined whether the push-out station has a drawer and whether it is online (i.e., in a valid state). Furthermore, it is determined whether the current production station has a drawer, whether the process has been completed, whether the drawer is online, and whether there are any push-pull tasks in progress. Based on the judgment results, it is determined whether the drawer of the current production station can be moved to the push-out station.

[0063] Similarly, as shown in Figure 4 (b), in response to the signal of pulling in the drawer, the number of the corresponding source station (i.e., the target station) is determined; based on the number, it is determined whether there is a drawer at the source station, whether it is online, and whether the process is completed; and it is also determined whether there is a drawer at the current production station, whether the process is completed, whether the drawer is online, and whether there is an ongoing push-pull task; based on the judgment result, it is determined whether the current production station can receive the work-in-progress from the source station.

[0064] Based on this, Figure 5As shown, in one embodiment, the step S2 of determining the production station closest to the first position and meeting the preset scheduling conditions as the target station according to the first position of the current production station may include the following steps.

[0065] Step S221: obtaining the production status of the current production station, wherein the production status represents the production status of the current production station in completing the process stage.

[0066] Step S222: If the production status is the waiting-to-receive status, the upstream production station that is closest to the first position and has completed the upstream process production is used as the source station.

[0067] Step S223: If the production status is the completed and ready-to-be-pushed status, the downstream production station that is closest to the first position and in an idle state is set as the target station.

[0068] In this way, the acquisition direction of the target workstation can be flexibly adjusted according to the production status of the current production workstation, ensuring the continuity of the production process, reducing production interruptions, and avoiding waste of space and time.

[0069] In step S221, the production status refers to the specific situation or status of the current production station in a certain process stage. The production status can reflect at least one of whether the current station is working, whether the current process has been completed, and whether it is ready to receive new tasks.

[0070] In step S222, the "pending" state means that the production station is currently idle and ready to receive the work-in-process (WIP) from the next process stage. In step S223, the "pending" state means that the production station has completed the production task of the current process stage and the WIP produced is ready to be transferred to the downstream process stage for the next stage of processing.

[0071] Based on this, in one embodiment, step S3 may specifically include the following steps.

[0072] Step S31 , determining whether the process stage corresponding to the target workstation is located in the upstream process of the process stage corresponding to the current production workstation.

[0073] If so, jump to step S32A to control the production line to move the target product from the source station to the current production station.

[0074] If not, jump to step S32B to control the production line to move the target product from the current production station to the target station.

[0075] In this way, by judging the relative position of the target / source station and the current production station in the process stage (i.e. upstream or downstream), the direction of movement of the product on the production line can be determined, and two-way scheduling of the production line can be achieved, thereby improving the flexibility and response speed of the production line.

[0076] Of course, steps S221 to S223 and steps S31 to S32B can also be applied to the process of determining the target workstation in step S2 ′.

[0077] Understandably, to ensure a consistent and balanced production rhythm, the production capacity of each process stage must be aligned with the overall production line's cadence. Specifically, if too few production stations are allocated to a process stage, this may result in insufficient processing capacity to meet the demands of subsequent stages, creating a production bottleneck and impacting overall production progress. Conversely, if too many production stations are allocated, this may lead to wasted resources and increased costs.

[0078] Therefore, in the production line, the number of production stations allocated to each process stage has an important impact on ensuring that the production time of each process stage in the entire production process remains consistent.

[0079] Based on this, in one embodiment, before step S1, the production scheduling method may further include the following steps.

[0080] Step P11, obtaining the total number of production stations corresponding to the production process and the actual production time of each process stage.

[0081] Step P12: Determine the overall production time of the production line based on the actual production time, and determine the actual number of production stations required for each process stage based on the overall production time and the actual production time of each process stage.

[0082] In this way, by obtaining the actual production time and using it to determine the actual number of production stations required for each process stage, we can ensure that the actual production capacity of each process stage matches the overall rhythm of the production line, thereby maximizing resource utilization and maximizing production efficiency.

[0083] In step P11, the actual production time refers to the specific time required to complete a process stage and is used to determine the production efficiency and production capacity of that process stage. Specifically, a shorter actual production time indicates a faster production speed and greater production capacity for that process stage; conversely, a longer actual production time indicates a slower production speed and lower production capacity for that process stage.

[0084] In step P12, the overall production duration represents the production performance of the slowest process stage in the production line. Specifically, it refers to the production duration of the process stage that takes the longest time to complete a process in the entire production line, which limits the production speed and overall production capacity of the entire production line.

[0085] like Figure 6 As shown, in a specific embodiment, step P12 may specifically include but is not limited to the following steps.

[0086] Step P121: Determine the maximum actual production duration among the actual production durations of each process stage as the overall production duration.

[0087] Step P122, respectively calculate the ratio of the actual production time of each process stage to the overall production time, and determine the proportional coefficient of each process stage.

[0088] Step P123, determining the actual number of production stations required for each process stage based on the ratio of the proportional coefficient of each process stage to the total proportional coefficient of the corresponding production line and the product of the total number of production stations.

[0089] In this way, by calculating the ratio of the actual production time of each process stage to the overall production time, it is helpful to determine the production efficiency of each process stage relative to the slowest production process stage, and allocate the total number of production stations according to the corresponding production efficiency, ensuring that each process stage can obtain the number of stations that matches its production capacity or efficiency, which helps to achieve balanced and efficient operation of the production line.

[0090] In the above embodiment, the actual production station corresponding to each stage in the production process can be continuously determined and / or updated based on the predicted production duration of each stage in the production process, so that the production process of the target product matches the product demand. In other words, when the target product changes, the corresponding production process and production station will also adapt to change.

[0091] For example, let's assume the production process for a target product is "component installation -> secondary line installation -> primary line installation -> quality inspection." This production process consists of four stages. Assume the predicted number of production stations corresponding to each stage is 2, 4, 8, and 2, respectively. The total number of production stations for the entire production line is 2 + 4 + 8 + 2 = 16. Assume the actual working hours for each stage are 45 minutes, 60 minutes, 90 minutes, and 25 minutes, respectively. Based on this actual working hour distribution, the maximum process duration for the production line (i.e., the actual working hours corresponding to "primary line installation") is determined to be 90 minutes.

[0092] Calculate the ratio of the corresponding working hours for each process stage to the maximum process duration (i.e., the overall production duration) to obtain the corresponding proportional coefficients. For example, the first proportional coefficient for "component installation" is 45 / 90 = 0.5, the second proportional coefficient for "secondary line installation" is approximately 60 / 90 = 0.67, the third proportional coefficient for "primary line installation" is 90 / 90 = 1, and the fourth proportional coefficient for "quality inspection" is approximately 25 / 90 = 0.28.

[0093] According to the corresponding proportional coefficient of each process stage, the total number of production stations is allocated to obtain the corresponding actual number of production stations. That is, the first actual number of production stations for "component installation" is about 16. 0.5 / (0.5+0.67+1+0.28)=3.27, the actual number of the second production station of "secondary line installation" is about 16 0.67 / (0.5+0.67+1+0.28)=4.38, the actual number of the third production station of "primary line installation" is about 16 1 / (0.5+0.67+1+0.28)=6.53, the actual number of the fourth production station of "quality inspection" is about 16 0.28 / (0.5+0.67+1+0.28)=1.83.

[0094] Adjustments are made based on the actual and predicted number of production stations for each process stage. The difference between the actual and predicted numbers is used. For example, "Component Installation" is 3.27-2 = 1.27, "Secondary Line Installation" is 4.38-4 = 0.38, "Primary Line Installation" is 6.53-8 = -1.47, and "Quality Inspection" is 1.83-2 = -0.17.

[0095] Because the number of workstations cannot be decimals, the adjustment values ​​are rounded down for positive values ​​and rounded up for negative values ​​(i.e., the absolute value is taken to the nearest integer, but not greater than the absolute value). The resulting numbers of workstations to be adjusted for the four process stages are 1, 0, -1, and 0, respectively. 1 indicates that the corresponding number of workstations at the process stage is one less than the predicted number of production workstations, and -1 indicates that the corresponding number of workstations at the process stage is one more than the predicted number of production workstations.

[0096] Based on this, the actual number of workstations after adjustment for "component installation" is 3, the actual number of workstations after adjustment for "secondary line installation" is 4, the actual number of workstations after adjustment for "primary line installation" is 7, and the actual number of workstations after adjustment for "quality inspection" is 2.

[0097] In one embodiment, the production scheduling method of the present invention may further include the following steps.

[0098] Step M1: Determine the remaining production time of each production station in the downstream process stage according to the downstream process stage corresponding to the current production station.

[0099] Step M2: Determine the scheduling path between the current production station and the downstream process stage based on the minimum remaining production time.

[0100] In a specific embodiment, step M1 may specifically include the following steps.

[0101] Step M11: Obtain the process stage of the current production station and determine the corresponding downstream process stage.

[0102] Step M12: Calculate the difference between the predicted production time of the downstream process stage and the actual production time of each production station to determine the corresponding remaining production time.

[0103] like Figure 7 As shown, in another specific embodiment, step M2 may specifically include the following steps.

[0104] Step M21: Select the production station with the shortest remaining production time as the first target station.

[0105] Step M22: According to the second position of the first target workstation, determine the idle cache workstation with the shortest distance to the second position as the second target workstation.

[0106] Step M23: Control the production line to move the target product from the current production station to the second target station, and move the target product from the second target station to the first target station when the first target station meets the preset scheduling conditions.

[0107] In this way, by selecting the workstation with the shortest remaining production time as the first target workstation, it can ensure that the products of the current process stage can enter the downstream process stage as soon as possible, thereby reducing waiting time and inventory of work-in-progress, and avoiding the situation where some workstations are idle because they are waiting for products from the upstream process, while other workstations are busy because of too many products piled up.

[0108] In step M21, the remaining production time refers to the remaining time required for each production station in the downstream process to complete the current process. By determining the remaining production time for each production station in the downstream process, the production station with the smallest remaining production time is selected as the first target station. This means that this production station can complete the remaining process the fastest at the current production rate.

[0109] In the above embodiment, the second target station is used to temporarily store the products removed from the current production station, and the first target station is used to move the products to the final position of the downstream process after the current production station completes the process of this stage. When the first target station meets the preset scheduling conditions (for example, the production of the current process stage is completed), the products are moved from the second target station to the first target station.

[0110] In steps M22 to M23, when the first target station is temporarily unable to meet the scheduling conditions, the product is moved to the second target station in advance to avoid accumulation and delay of the product on the production line, while maintaining the smoothness of the production line. Once the first target station meets the preset scheduling conditions, the target product is moved from the second target station to the first target station to ensure that the product can be moved from the temporary storage position to the final position in the shortest time.

[0111] The above-mentioned various implementation methods, embodiments or specific embodiments provided by the present invention can be combined with each other to ultimately form multiple better implementation methods.

[0112] Continuing with the example of a chest of drawers, Figure 8 Showing the scheduling diagram of the production line, the following is combined with Figure 8 The flowchart shown describes its scheduling process.

[0113] Determine whether the current process stage is the last process stage in the production process; if so, determine that the drawer is offline when the process of this stage is completed; if not, determine whether there is an available work-in-progress station in the downstream process stage of the current production station (that is, whether the preset scheduling conditions are met); if there is an available work-in-progress station, control the production line to move the work-in-progress of the current production station to the available work-in-progress station of the downstream process; if there is no available work-in-progress station, determine whether there is an available cache station on the production line; if there is an available cache station, control the production line to move the work-in-progress of the current production station to the available cache station; if there is an available cache station, keep the work-in-progress at the current production station; and when the work-in-progress station in the downstream process stage outputs a pull-in request signal, control the production line to move the work-in-progress of the current production station to the available work-in-progress station in the downstream process stage.

[0114] In one embodiment of the present invention, a production scheduling system is provided.

[0115] The production scheduling system may adopt a production scheduling method for determining an optimal scheduling path for work in progress between various process stages.

[0116] In one embodiment, the production scheduling method can be as described in the embodiments and specific embodiments above, and the corresponding technical solutions are set and referenced in the production scheduling system provided by the present invention.

[0117] The production scheduling system includes a first module, which is used to obtain a production process of a target product. The production process includes several process stages, and each process stage includes several production stations.

[0118] The production scheduling system includes a second module, which is used to obtain the process stage of the current production station. When the process stage is in the intermediate process stage of the production process, based on the first position of the current production station, the production station that meets the preset scheduling conditions and is closest to the first position is determined as the target station.

[0119] The third module is used to control the production line to move the target product between the current production station and the target station.

[0120] In a specific embodiment, Figure 9 As shown, the production scheduling system can include a cloud, a host system, and a lower-level system. The cloud includes the Internet of Things (IoT) and a production line management system. The IoT is responsible for device access management and data collection, while the production line management system is responsible for cloud-based business data management and task delivery to the upper-level system for executing agencies. The production line management system processes business logic and makes decisions based on the data collected by the IoT, and then delivers the generated tasks or instructions to the upper-level system.

[0121] The upper system consists of a workstation tablet and an edge gateway device. The workstation tablet is the interface used by operators to monitor and control the production line, while the edge gateway device is responsible for providing data exchange and protocol conversion between the device layer and the cloud.

[0122] When the production line management system sends tasks to the upper system, these tasks may first reach the edge gateway, which then forwards them to the corresponding workstation tablet. At the same time, the workstation tablet may also upload the instructions or data entered by the operator to the edge gateway, and then upload it to the cloud.

[0123] Lower-level systems include push / pull physical operation buttons, actuators, and industrial control devices at workstations. These devices are located at the forefront of the production line and are directly involved in production operations. Actuators perform specific operations such as starting, stopping, and adjusting parameters based on instructions received from upper-level systems. Industrial control devices may be human-machine interfaces (HMIs) that display device status and parameters and provide an interface for operator interaction with the equipment. Push / pull physical operation buttons allow operators to manually intervene in equipment operations in emergencies or specific scenarios.

[0124] In the above embodiment, when the equipment on the production line changes or needs to perform new tasks, the IoT collects data on these changes or task requirements and uploads the data to the cloud; the production line management system processes the business logic and makes decisions based on this data to produce corresponding tasks or instructions; the task or instruction is sent to the actuator and industrial control agency through the edge gateway and workstation tablet of the upper system. The actuator performs specific operations according to the received instructions, and the industrial control agency displays the status and parameters of the equipment, providing an interface for the operator to interact with the equipment.

[0125] One embodiment of the present invention provides a computer-readable storage medium.

[0126] In one embodiment, a computer-readable storage medium stores a computer program executed by the aforementioned processor, or a production scheduling method in any of the aforementioned technical solutions.

[0127] When the processor executes the computer program, it can execute the description of the production scheduling method in any of the above technical solutions, so it will not be repeated here. In addition, the description of the beneficial effects of using the same method will not be repeated.

[0128] The computer-readable storage medium may include a flash drive, a read-only memory (ROM), a random access memory (RAM), a magnetic disk, or an optical disk.

[0129] In summary, the present invention provides a production scheduling method and system. By obtaining the production process of the target product, these processes are subdivided into multiple process stages, and each stage includes a number of production stations. When the target product is in the middle stage of the production process, the system will determine a production station that meets the preset scheduling conditions and is closest to the current position based on the specific position of the current production station (i.e., the first position) as the target / source station. This method fully considers the actual situation on the production line and can minimize the flow time and waiting time of the target product between processes, thereby improving production efficiency. At the same time, because the system can flexibly adjust the scheduling strategy according to real-time conditions, it can better adapt to various changes in the production process, thereby ensuring the continuity and stability of production.

[0130] It should be understood that although this specification is described in terms of implementation methods, not every implementation method contains only one independent technical solution. This narrative method of the specification is only for the sake of clarity. Those skilled in the art should regard the specification as a whole. The technical solutions in each implementation method can also be appropriately combined to form other implementation methods that can be understood by those skilled in the art.

[0131] The series of detailed descriptions listed above are only specific descriptions of feasible implementation methods of the present invention. They are not intended to limit the scope of protection of the present invention. Any equivalent implementation methods or changes that do not deviate from the technical spirit of the present invention should be included in the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. A production scheduling method, characterized in that: include: Obtaining a production process of a target product, wherein the production process includes a plurality of process stages, and each process stage includes a plurality of production stations; Obtaining the process stage of the current production station, and when the process stage is in the middle process stage of the production process, determining, based on the first position of the current production station, a production station that meets a preset scheduling condition and is closest to the first position as the target station; Control the production line to move the target product between the current production station and the target station.

2. The production scheduling method according to claim 1, characterized in that: The production stations include in-process stations and cache stations, and determining, based on the first position of the current production station, a production station that meets a preset scheduling condition and is closest to the first position as a target station includes: According to the priority order of the work-in-progress workstation first and then the cache workstation, the production workstation that meets the preset scheduling conditions and is closest to the first position is determined as the target workstation; among them, the work-in-progress workstation is directly located at the workstation of the production process, and the cache workstation is located at the workstation outside the production process.

3. The production scheduling method according to claim 2, characterized in that: The step of determining, in the order of priority of the in-process workstations first and the cache workstations later, the target workstation by satisfying the preset scheduling conditions and being closest to the first position comprises: Obtain the process stage corresponding to the current production station and determine the corresponding number of work-in-progress stations; Determine whether the production status of the work-in-progress station meets the preset scheduling conditions; If so, the work-in-progress station closest to the first position is selected as the target station; If not, all cache stations of the entire production line are obtained, and the cache station closest to the first position and whose corresponding production status meets the preset scheduling conditions is selected as the target station.

4. The production scheduling method according to claim 1, characterized in that: The step of determining, based on the first position of the current production station, the production station closest to the first position and satisfying a preset scheduling condition as the target station includes: Obtaining the production status of the current production station, wherein the production status represents the production status of the current production station in completing the process stage; If the production status is the waiting-to-receive status, the upstream production station that is closest to the first position and has completed the upstream process production is used as the source station; If the production status is the completed and ready-to-be-pushed status, the downstream production station that is closest to the first position and in an idle state is set as the target station.

5. The production scheduling method according to claim 1, characterized in that: The controlling the production line to move the target product between the current production station and the target station includes: Determining whether the process stage corresponding to the target workstation is located in an upstream process of the process stage corresponding to the current production workstation; If so, the production line is controlled to move the target product from the target station to the current production station; If not, the production line is controlled to move the target product from the current production station to the target station.

6. The production scheduling method according to claim 1, characterized in that: Before the production process of obtaining the target product, the method further includes: Obtain the total number of production stations corresponding to the production process and the actual production time of each process stage; The overall production time of the production line is determined based on the actual production time, and the actual number of production stations required for each process stage is determined based on the overall production time and the actual production time of each process stage; the overall production time represents the production situation of the slowest process stage in the production line.

7. The production scheduling method according to claim 6, characterized in that: Determining the overall production time of the production line based on the actual production time, and determining the actual number of production stations required for each process stage based on the overall production time and the actual production time of each process stage, includes: Determine the maximum actual production time among the actual production time of each process stage as the overall production time; Calculate the ratio of the actual production time of each process stage to the overall production time, and determine the proportional coefficient of each process stage; The actual number of production stations required for each process stage is determined based on the ratio of the proportional coefficient of each process stage to the total proportional coefficient of the corresponding production line and the product of the total number of production stations.

8. The production scheduling method according to claim 1, characterized in that: The method further comprises: According to the downstream process stage corresponding to the current production station, determine the remaining production time of each production station in the downstream process stage; Determine the scheduling path between the current production station and the downstream process stage based on the minimum remaining production time.

9. The production scheduling method according to claim 8, characterized in that: The determining, based on the downstream process stage corresponding to the current production station, the remaining production time of each production station in the downstream process stage includes: Obtain the process stage of the current production station and determine the corresponding downstream process stage; The difference between the predicted production time of the downstream process stage and the actual production time of each production station is calculated to determine the corresponding remaining production time.

10. The production scheduling method according to claim 8, characterized in that: Determining the scheduling path between the current production station and the downstream process stage according to the minimum remaining production time includes: Select the production station with the smallest remaining production time as the first target station; According to the second position of the first target workstation, determining the idle production workstation with the shortest distance to the second position as the second target workstation; Control the production line to move the target product from the current production station to the second target station, and move the target product from the second target station to the first target station when the first target station meets the preset scheduling conditions.

11. A production scheduling system, characterized in that: include: The first module is used to obtain a production process of a target product, wherein the production process includes a plurality of process stages, and each process stage includes a plurality of production stations; The second module is used to obtain the process stage of the current production station. When the process stage is in the middle process stage of the production process, the production station that meets the preset scheduling conditions and is closest to the first position is determined as the target station based on the first position of the current production station; The third module is used to control the production line to move the target product between the current production station and the target station.

Images