Production line task scheduling method and electronic equipment

Abstract

The embodiment of the invention discloses a production line task scheduling method and electronic equipment, and the method comprises the steps: taking a work station as a unit, and determining the replenishment advance of the work station; generating a pre-scheduling request according to the replenishment advance and submitting the pre-scheduling request to a transportation management system, wherein information in the pre-scheduling request comprises workstation information generating a scheduling demand and corresponding scheduling demand target information; and determining the work station generating the scheduling demand as a destination through the transportation management system, making a decision of a cache region or a target work station according to the scheduling demand target information, taking the cache region or the target work station as a departure place, generating a transportation task according to the departure place and the destination, and sending the transportation task to the transportation management system. And determining a target transporter, and allocating the transportation task to the target transporter for execution. According to the embodiment of the invention, the beat balancing scheme which is more flexible and more suitable for the real-time situation of the site can be provided when the variable complex environment of the production line site of mixed production is coped with.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of production line management technology, and in particular to production line task scheduling methods and electronic devices. Background Technology

[0002] In intelligent manufacturing management systems, production resource management and task scheduling are key aspects affecting production efficiency, cost control, and flexible manufacturing capabilities. Traditional production management typically employs a "single-product, single-line" production organization model, where a single production line produces only one product at a time. This model requires frequent resource and production line reorganization when product demand changes, easily leading to periods of resource idleness and impacting production output.

[0003] For example, each workshop in a factory is typically a well-organized space with several production lines. When changing styles, the first step may be a rearrangement of the workshop space. For instance, if style A previously required 20 workstations, switching to style B might require 60 workstations, necessitating a rearrangement of the workshop space, including repositioning workstations. Additionally, equipment adjustments may be involved; for example, significant differences between styles might require equipment replacement or readjustment. Furthermore, changes in personnel may occur, including changes in the number of workers, division of labor, and job tasks. All these adjustments or reorganizations of resources and production lines can lead to worker wait times, thus impacting production efficiency.

[0004] As retail market demands become more diversified and varied, and product production needs change frequently, manufacturers operating on a "single-style, single-line" model are forced to frequently switch production lines. However, due to the high cost of switching styles, factories typically complete the production of one style before switching to another. But for the client (e.g., a brand owner), this "single-style, single-line" production method can lead to excessively long production cycles for some styles, potentially delaying business opportunities or impacting product conversion rates. For example, suppose a brand owner commissions a smart manufacturing factory to produce multiple different styles. If some styles have already filled all production lines, other styles must wait until one style is fully produced before switching to the others. This results in long lead times for other styles, potentially causing seasonal products to miss their peak sales season. Even if they can be sold as pre-orders, consumers are more likely to request refunds while waiting, negatively impacting conversion rates and other key performance indicators. In short, the traditional production model of "single style, single line" production at the same time is no longer able to meet the ever-changing market demands. Summary of the Invention

[0005] This application provides a production line task scheduling method and electronic equipment, which can provide a more flexible and more suitable cycle balancing solution when dealing with the complex and ever-changing environment of the production line for mixed production.

[0006] This application provides the following solution:

[0007] A production line task scheduling method, wherein the production line supports mixed-style production, wherein mixed-style production is: realizing the mixed production of multiple styles within the same time period without relying on the rearrangement of production resources; the same production line includes multiple workstations, each workstation being used to complete production tasks in at least one production process; the method includes:

[0008] Taking the workstation as a unit, determine the replenishment lead time for the workstation so that the replenishment of the workstation is completed before the current remaining task quantity on the workstation is about to be cleared;

[0009] A pre-schedule request is generated based on the replenishment lead time and submitted to the transportation management system. The information in the pre-schedule request includes the workstation information that generates the scheduling request and the corresponding scheduling request target information, which includes the replenishment request.

[0010] The transportation management system identifies the workstation generating the scheduling request as the destination. Based on the scheduling request target information, it determines the corresponding candidate replenishment style information and the previous process information of the candidate. After deciding on the buffer area or target workstation based on whether the production completed materials of each candidate replenishment style in the previous process are in stock in the buffer area, the estimated production time of each candidate replenishment style in the corresponding candidate workstation in the previous process, and the transportation waiting time from the candidate workstation to the destination, the buffer area or target workstation is designated as the origin. A transportation task is generated based on the origin and destination, the target transport vehicle is determined, and the transportation task is assigned to the target transport vehicle for execution.

[0011] The determination of the replenishment lead time for the workstation includes:

[0012] Based on the current remaining workload of the workers in the workstation, the historical average operating hours of the workers in the workstation when completing the current production process, and the current status information of the transportation system, the replenishment lead time corresponding to the workstation is determined; wherein, the current status information of the transportation system includes the loading capacity of each transport vehicle, the capacity distribution, and / or the busy / idle status of the transportation tasks.

[0013] For multiple workstations with the same or similar replenishment lead time, the priority of each workstation's scheduling task is determined based on whether the process currently being processed or about to be processed by the workstation is a key process for the corresponding style, so as to generate corresponding pre-schedule requests in order of priority.

[0014] The transportation waiting time consists of the estimated transportation time, the estimated connection and delivery time, and the estimated waiting time.

[0015] The estimated transportation time is calculated based on route planning and the transportation speed of the vehicle, from each departure point to the destination workstation.

[0016] The estimated delivery time is calculated based on the historical connection response time of the destination workstation, resulting in the estimated connection and delivery time for each destination.

[0017] The estimated waiting time is the estimated waiting time after delivery, which is determined based on the remaining workload in the workstation when the goods are expected to arrive at the destination workstation and the historical average operating time of the corresponding workers in the corresponding process.

[0018] During the process of the target transporter executing the transport task, the decision-making process for the buffer area or target workstation is dynamic and carried out in multiple rounds. If a new departure point is determined in a new round of decision-making, the transport task is updated.

[0019] The re-decision regarding the cache or target workstation is triggered at the following times:

[0020] When the target transport vehicle receives the transport task;

[0021] When the target transport arrives at the departure point determined in the previous round and completes pickup; or,

[0022] When other transport vessels complete a transport mission.

[0023] A production line task scheduling method, wherein the production line supports mixed-style production, wherein mixed-style production is achieved by scheduling the mixed production of multiple styles within the same time period without relying on the rearrangement of production resources; the same production line includes multiple workstations, each workstation being used to complete production tasks in at least one production process; the method includes:

[0024] The system receives pickup requests for materials produced at each workstation, and supplies the materials to the next process.

[0025] A pre-schedule request is generated based on the pickup demand and submitted to the transportation management system. The information in the pre-schedule request includes the workstation information that generated the scheduling demand and the corresponding scheduling demand target information, which includes the pickup demand.

[0026] The transportation management system identifies the workstation that generates the pickup request as the origin, determines the corresponding style information and candidate next process information based on the scheduling request target information, and makes a dynamic decision on the target workstation or buffer area based on the estimated processing time of each candidate next process and the transportation waiting time from the origin to the candidate workstation. The determined target workstation or buffer area is then used as the destination. A transportation task is generated based on the origin and destination, the target vehicle is determined, and the transportation task is assigned to the target vehicle for execution.

[0027] A computer-readable storage medium having a computer program stored thereon that, when executed by a processor, implements the steps of any of the preceding methods.

[0028] An electronic device, comprising:

[0029] One or more processors; and

[0030] A memory associated with the one or more processors, the memory being used to store program instructions that, when read and executed by the one or more processors, perform the steps of any of the preceding methods.

[0031] A computer program product includes a computer program / computer executable instructions that, when executed by a processor in an electronic device, implement the steps of any of the preceding methods.

[0032] According to the specific embodiments provided in this application, the following technical effects are disclosed:

[0033] This application proposes a mixed-style production mode, which allows for the simultaneous production scheduling of multiple styles without relying on the rearrangement of production resources. To avoid or reduce worker confusion, operational errors, and material transfer mistakes during mixed-style production, this application also provides a task scheduling scheme for this mode. Specifically, for replenishment scenarios at workstations, the replenishment lead time for each workstation can be determined. Then, a pre-scheduling request can be generated based on this lead time and submitted to the transportation management system. The pre-scheduling request may include information about the workstation generating the scheduling request and corresponding scheduling target information, including the replenishment requirement. Then, the transportation management system can determine the workstation generating the scheduling request as the destination. Based on the scheduling request target information, it determines the corresponding candidate replenishment style information and the candidate's previous process information. After deciding whether to use the buffer area or the target workstation based on whether the completed materials of each candidate replenishment style in the previous process are in stock in the buffer area, the estimated production time of each candidate replenishment style at the corresponding candidate workstation in the previous process, and the transportation waiting time from the candidate workstation to the destination, the buffer area or target workstation is designated as the departure point. A transportation task is generated based on the departure point and destination, the target transport vehicle is determined, and the transportation task is assigned to the target transport vehicle for execution. Therefore, through the above scheduling scheme, automated transport equipment can be used to replenish the workstation. Furthermore, the timing of replenishment is determined by the scheduling system automatically predicting the replenishment lead time for a specific workstation, enabling timely replenishment and avoiding worker waiting. Furthermore, compared to the traditional point-to-point transportation model driven by "address," this embodiment adopts a "goal-driven" approach. During task execution, the transportation management system can autonomously and dynamically calculate and adjust the starting or ending point of transportation based on the "goal" required for this scheduling, thereby achieving the scheduling objective more efficiently. This operating mode can provide a more flexible and tailored cycle time balancing solution when dealing with the complex and ever-changing environment of the production line.

[0034] Of course, any product implementing this application does not necessarily need to achieve all of the advantages described above at the same time. Attached Figure Description

[0035] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this application or the prior art, the drawings used in the embodiments will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of this application. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0036] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the system architecture provided in the embodiments of this application;

[0037] Figure 2 This is a flowchart of the first method provided in the embodiments of this application;

[0038] Figure 3 This is a flowchart of the second method provided in the embodiments of this application;

[0039] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the electronic device provided in the embodiments of this application. Detailed Implementation

[0040] The technical solutions of the embodiments of this application will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of this application, and not all embodiments. All other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art based on the embodiments of this application are within the scope of protection of this application.

[0041] First, it should be noted that the inventors of this application discovered during the development of this application that, generally speaking, products produced in the same factory or workshop are basically of the same or similar categories. That is, although there may be many different styles of products produced, these styles usually correspond to the same or similar categories. For example, a factory mainly produces clothing products; although there may be many styles, they all belong to the category of clothing, and so on. In such cases, the production processes used for different styles of products will have many similarities. For example, different styles of shirts may all involve cutting, hemming, and sewing buttons. The same worker responsible for a certain process may have the skills to complete that process for multiple different styles, and the machinery used may also be the same, and so on. Therefore, this application proposes a "mixed-style production" method, which means that multiple styles can be produced simultaneously within a given time frame without requiring a rearrangement of production resources within the workshop.

[0042] For example, suppose a workshop has 100 workers and only one production line. In a single-style production mode, all 100 workers would produce the same product. After completing one style (which might take several days), the workshop resources would be rearranged to produce another style. However, in a "mixed-style production" mode, although there is still only one production line, these 100 workers can handle multiple styles simultaneously. A worker might receive a package of materials corresponding to style A. While producing style A, the worker might receive another package of materials corresponding to style B. After completing style A, the worker can immediately begin producing style B at that stage, without waiting for resource rearrangement. Each worker at each workstation only needs to focus on their assigned process, not the specific style.

[0043] The aforementioned "mixed production" model is conducive to improving efficiency and reducing workers' waiting time. Furthermore, there is no longer an absolute sequential relationship between the production of different styles. For clients such as brand owners, it allows each style to be gradually and continuously replenished, which helps to ensure that all different styles can seize business opportunities and avoid situations where some styles have become inventory backlogs while others have not been completed in time.

[0044] However, in practice, specific production models require the cooperation of a task scheduling system. If traditional scheduling methods are used, many problems may arise in mixed-style production, including potential confusion among workers, errors in operational processes, and material transfer errors. For example, in traditional scheduling, material transfer between different workstations is usually done manually. Suppose that when producing style A, worker A consistently gives materials to worker B. In a mixed-style production model, worker A's next batch of materials might be for style B. At this point, worker A might need to give the completed materials to worker C. However, because the materials were previously consistently given to worker B, this sudden change in recipient can lead to confusion. For instance, worker A might habitually give materials for the new style to worker B, resulting in material transfer errors. In this manual material transfer process, there is no material tracking. After a transfer error, it's unclear where the material has gone, causing the workstation that should receive the material to miss it, resulting in worker waiting. Furthermore, other workers relying on this process might also stop, creating a chain reaction.

[0045] To address the above issues, this application provides a more efficient task scheduling method for mixed-production modes. Specifically, this solution utilizes the autonomous decision-making mode of automated transport equipment (e.g., AGVs, or Automated Guided Vehicles), resulting in better system computing performance and timely feedback in large-scale production scenarios. Furthermore, compared to the traditional "address-driven" point-to-point transport mode of traditional transport systems, this application adopts a "goal-driven" approach. The transport management system can autonomously and dynamically calculate and adjust the starting or ending point of transport based on the "goal" required for this scheduling during task execution, thereby achieving the scheduling objective more efficiently. This operating mode provides a more flexible and tailored cycle time balancing solution when dealing with the complex and ever-changing environment of the production line.

[0046] First, in order to better understand the solutions provided in the embodiments of this application, some concepts will be introduced below.

[0047] 1. Production resources: Resources used for production and processing, including but not limited to workers who perform specific production tasks, production equipment and fixtures, materials / semi-finished products / consumables required for production, production environment (temperature and humidity control, workstations, etc.), and production process (production procedures and technical specifications).

[0048] 2. Production process is a technical solution used to guide the production and processing process. It usually consists of a set of sequential production steps, with clear series and parallel dependencies between the steps.

[0049] 3. A workstation is the smallest unit capable of independently carrying out production operations, possessing the necessary production resources. Taking garment production as an example, a workstation may include sewing workers, sewing machines, wind turbines, cut pieces, and accessories. The production of a product typically requires the collaboration of multiple workstations with different production capabilities to complete the entire production process.

[0050] 4. A production line is a production unit composed of multiple workstations that work together to achieve a specified production target. In traditional discrete manufacturing, production lines are usually relatively fixed structures. After the initial planning and design are completed in the early stages of factory construction, they are solidified into a rigid production organization form through large-scale automated equipment, with fixed production resources, the sequence of workstations, and the order of material flow.

[0051] 5. Production cycle time: On average, how long does it take for a production line / workstation to complete a planned production process and produce one finished product (finished or semi-finished product)? Consistent (or nearly identical) production cycles at each production stage (section) and node (process) help reduce idle process resources and improve the overall resource utilization rate of the production line.

[0052] 6. Production batch size: The number of work-in-process items processed in a single batch during production. This is typically determined by factors such as the complexity of the product's manufacturing process, estimated operation time, order quantity (and cycle time), and the structure of the production line. To improve production efficiency, different products, even those manufactured by the same company, may be processed using different production batch sizes.

[0053] In this embodiment of the application, in order to achieve specific task scheduling, the factory workshop can first be required to meet the following hardware conditions:

[0054] 1. Each workstation in the production workshop is equipped with a material receiving area for the production transportation system to support AGVs and other transport vehicles in loading or delivering materials.

[0055] 2. There are transport paths that can be reached by transport vehicles between each workstation; among them, transport vehicles such as AGVs can use laser navigation or navigation based on QR codes set on the ground. This condition is used to ensure that a path can be formed between different workstations and to support AGVs to achieve autonomous navigation.

[0056] 3. The workstation is equipped with production equipment (such as sewing machines), production operators (such as sewing workers), necessary tooling fixtures and auxiliary materials, etc.; the workstation can provide real-time feedback on digital production capabilities (i.e., the ability to produce which processes / procedures) based on the above configuration of people (production operators), machines (production equipment and tooling fixtures), materials (main and auxiliary materials), and environment (station space).

[0057] Building upon the aforementioned hardware, a software-level task scheduling system, along with specific transportation management systems and transport vehicles, can be integrated to complete specific scheduling tasks. Specifically, task scheduling in mixed-production processes primarily involves dispatching specific transport vehicles to a workstation when a demand is generated, thereby fulfilling that workstation's demand. There are two main types of demand objectives: one is to retrieve materials already produced at the workstation and deliver them to the next workstation in the next process step, or, if a buffer area is provided in the workshop or on the transport vehicle, to temporarily store the materials. In this case, the transport vehicle needs to arrive at the workstation first and then transport the materials to a specific workstation corresponding to the next process step (of course, in this embodiment, the specific workstation in which process it is delivered, or whether it needs to be delivered to the buffer area, requires dynamic decision-making); the other demand objective is to replenish the workstation, meaning that the previous package of materials at the workstation may be almost finished, and to avoid idle workers at the workstation, new materials can be delivered to the workstation in advance. At this point, the transporter needs to pick up the goods from a certain workstation corresponding to a certain previous process. Alternatively, if there is a buffer area in the workshop or on the transporter, and the materials of a certain previous process are in stock in the buffer area, the goods can be picked up from the buffer area and then sent to the workstation that currently needs replenishment (of course, in this embodiment, whether to pick up the goods from which process and which workstation or from the buffer area is also a dynamic decision).

[0058] For the former (i.e., the demand to remove materials produced at the workstation), the worker at the specific workstation can manually issue a request. That is, after confirming the completion of production of a package of materials, the worker issues the specific demand information, allowing the scheduling system to allocate a transport vehicle. For the latter (i.e., the demand to replenish the workstation), the scheduling system needs to determine the replenishment lead time for the specific workstation based on information such as the current remaining workload of the workers at the workstation, the historical average working hours of the workers completing the current production process, and the current status of the transport system. In other words, it needs to determine how far in advance the workstation needs to be replenished to ensure that replenishment is completed before the current remaining workload at the workstation is depleted, avoiding delays that cause worker waiting and delays that cause material accumulation at the workstation.

[0059] In a mixed-style production model, a single workstation typically handles multiple processes, and the same process may be distributed across different workstations. Furthermore, different styles may have different production processes, meaning that the next process after production at the same workstation may differ. Additionally, some processes may not have an absolute order; for example, for the same garment, sewing buttons before or after the collar is possible. Therefore, even for the same style produced at the same workstation, the next process can have multiple options. Consequently, when a workstation needs restocking, there are multiple choices regarding which style to restock and what the preceding process for that style was. Moreover, the production rhythm and other factors may differ between styles and processes during production. Therefore, when a scheduling request arises at a specific workstation, dynamic decision-making based on the specific demand objective can determine the most suitable pick-up origin or delivery destination, and then the transport vehicle will execute the specific transportation task. During the execution of a transportation task, the aforementioned dynamic decision-making process can continue. If a more suitable origin (corresponding to replenishment needs) or destination (corresponding to pickup needs) is determined, the transportation task can be updated.

[0060] In dynamic decision-making based on specific demand objectives, for cases where the scheduling demand objective is to pick up goods, the following steps can be taken: First, determine the style information of the materials to be picked up and the information of the candidate next process. Then, predict the estimated processing time of each candidate next process at the corresponding candidate workstation, as well as the transportation waiting time from the origin (the workstation currently generating the pickup demand) to the candidate workstation. From this information, a specific target workstation can be selected. If none of the candidate workstations are suitable, the goods can be temporarily stored in a buffer area. The selected target workstation or buffer area can then be used as the destination.

[0061] For situations where the scheduling requirement is replenishment, the candidate replenishment styles and their preceding processes can be determined first. In other words, since a single workstation can correspond to multiple styles, or even multiple processes, and each process may have multiple preceding processes, when replenishing a workstation, the workstation can be selected from among the candidate workstations corresponding to the various styles and processes and their corresponding preceding processes. Alternatively, if the buffer contains materials for a particular candidate style in a specific preceding process, these materials can be retrieved directly from the buffer to replenish the workstation, and so on.

[0062] From a system architecture perspective, see Figure 1This application embodiment can deploy mixed-style production lines and corresponding task scheduling systems in smart manufacturing factories and other scenarios. The task scheduling system can include a replenishment demand prediction module and a pickup demand receiving module to identify workstations that need replenishment or pickup and initiate pre-scheduling requests. Specifically, when scheduling transport vehicles, a "target-driven" approach is adopted. Therefore, it can also include a transport management system. This system can determine target transport vehicles and, based on specific demand targets, determine candidate styles, candidate workstations corresponding to the previous / next processes, etc., and make decisions on which workstation or buffer zone to replenish the current workstation, or which workstation to send materials to after pickup at the current workstation, or whether to send them to the buffer zone. This decision-making process can also be dynamically repeated multiple times.

[0063] The specific implementation schemes provided in the embodiments of this application will be described in detail below.

[0064] Example 1

[0065] First, in Embodiment 1 of this application, a production line task scheduling method is provided for replenishment situations. The production line supports mixed-style production. As mentioned earlier, mixed-style production specifically refers to the simultaneous production of multiple styles within a given time period without relying on a rearrangement of production resources. The same production line includes multiple workstations, each used to complete production tasks in at least one production process. See also... Figure 2 The method may specifically include:

[0066] S201: Determine the replenishment lead time for each workstation, so as to complete the replenishment of the workstation before the current remaining task quantity on the workstation is about to be cleared.

[0067] Specifically, the replenishment lead time for a workstation can be determined based on the current remaining workload (also known as "hand-on workload") of the workers (i.e., specific workers), the historical average operating hours of the workers in the current workstation when completing the current production process (which can correspond to "production cycle time" information), and the current status information of the transportation system. The current status information of the transportation system includes the loading capacity of each transport vehicle, the distribution of transport capacity (the location of each transport vehicle, etc.), and / or the busy / idle status of the transport tasks (whether there are idle transport vehicles, etc.).

[0068] For example, suppose that historically, the average processing time for a worker at a certain workstation is 30 seconds per piece for the current task, and the current busy / idle coefficient of the transportation system is A, meaning that a pre-schedule request (calling a transport vehicle) needs to queue for 15 minutes (the exact time can be determined based on the current status information of the transportation system), and the average travel time of the transport vehicle to the workstation is 5 minutes, with a 3-minute transfer time, then ideally, a transport vehicle can be called for the workstation in advance (15+5+3) = 23 minutes. Under this assumption, if the current workload at the workstation reaches 23 minutes * 60 seconds / minute / 30 seconds / piece = 46 pieces, a pre-schedule request can be automatically initiated to reduce the workstation's waiting time.

[0069] In practical applications, we can also consider the estimated queuing and scheduling time under different busy and idle states of the transportation system, the time difference in connection processing of individual workstations, and the number of safety buffers reserved in the workstation, in order to balance the risks of work-in-process circulation and workstation outage (no goods to work on).

[0070] Specifically, there are usually multiple workstations, and replenishment lead times can be calculated for each workstation individually. Since a single workstation can produce multiple different styles and processes, even with the same number of operators at each workstation, the lead time for picking up materials can be recalculated each time a new package of materials begins production, based on the style information of that package and the current required process. This allows determining how many units remain in each package before dispatching a transport vehicle to replenish the workstation.

[0071] S202: Generate a pre-schedule request based on the replenishment lead time and submit it to the transportation management system. The information in the pre-schedule request includes the workstation information that generates the scheduling requirement and the corresponding scheduling requirement target information, which includes the replenishment requirement.

[0072] After determining the replenishment lead time, a pre-schedule request can be generated and submitted to the transportation management system based on this lead time information. For example, the generation and submission of a pre-schedule request can be triggered when the inventory at a certain workstation reaches a certain value. In specific implementations, the pre-schedule request information only needs to reflect the workstation information that generated the scheduling request and the specific scheduling request target information. In one embodiment, the specific scheduling request target can be a replenishment-related requirement. In this way, it can be determined that the transportation destination of this scheduling task is the workstation that generated the scheduling request, but whether the replenishment should be made from which workstation or from the buffer is still undetermined at this time.

[0073] For multiple workstations with the same or similar replenishment lead time, the priority of scheduling tasks for each workstation can be determined based on whether the process currently being processed or about to be processed by the workstation is a key process for the corresponding style, the expected impact of the overall pace balance of the workshop, etc., so as to generate corresponding pre-schedule requests in order of priority.

[0074] For example, suppose a workstation may not be very urgent, but the process it is currently or about to process is a bottleneck process for the corresponding product (characterized by low efficiency, many quality problems, and few workstations capable of producing that process). In this case, the priority of the scheduled task can be increased.

[0075] S203: The transportation management system determines the workstation that generates the scheduling request as the destination, and determines the corresponding candidate replenishment style information and the previous process information of the candidate based on the scheduling request target information. After deciding on the buffer area or target workstation based on whether the production completed materials of each candidate replenishment style in the previous process are in stock in the buffer area, the estimated production time of each candidate replenishment style in the corresponding candidate workstation in the previous process, and the transportation waiting time from the candidate workstation to the destination, the buffer area or target workstation is designated as the departure point. A transportation task is generated based on the departure point and destination, the target transporter is determined, and the transportation task is assigned to the target transporter for execution.

[0076] After receiving a pre-schedule request, the transportation management system can initially identify workstation A as the destination, since the request information only contains information about the specific workstation with scheduling needs (e.g., workstation A) and the target demand (in this embodiment, the target demand is to replenish workstation A). That is, a transport vehicle needs to be dispatched to replenish workstation A. However, the transport vehicle must first retrieve materials from another workstation B or a buffer area before delivering them to workstation A. Therefore, in this replenishment scenario, workstation A with the current scheduling demand is the endpoint of the specific transportation task. After the pre-schedule request is issued, the endpoint (i.e., the destination) of the transportation task can be determined. However, the starting point is not yet determined and requires dynamic decision-making based on the specific scheduling target. Therefore, the transportation management system has another important task to complete: specifically determining the starting point of the transportation task, i.e., the departure point.

[0077] Specifically, at the decision-making stage, the first step is to determine the corresponding candidate replenishment styles and their preceding processes based on the scheduling demand target information. This is because in a mixed-style production mode, workstation A may support the production of multiple styles; therefore, when replenishing workstation A, it can be selected from among these supported styles. Furthermore, as mentioned earlier, there may not be an absolute sequential relationship between different processes; therefore, when replenishing workstation A, there can be multiple different candidate preceding processes to choose from. The styles supported by workstation A and the candidate preceding processes can be pre-configured in the system. The transportation management system can obtain the supported styles and candidate preceding processes of workstation A by querying the configuration information. When the supported styles or preceding processes of a workstation change, the configuration information in the system can be updated by having the workstation report to the system server.

[0078] After identifying the candidate styles and their preceding processes, it can be determined whether the completed materials for each candidate replenishment style in its preceding process are in stock in the buffer area. Furthermore, based on the estimated production time of each candidate workstation corresponding to its preceding process and the transportation waiting time from the candidate workstation to the destination, a decision can be made regarding the buffer area or the target workstation. In other words, based on the inventory status in the buffer area, along with the aforementioned estimated production time and transportation waiting time, a comprehensive decision is made regarding whether to replenish workstation A from a specific workstation or from the buffer area.

[0079] Specifically, when screening target workstations, the following steps can be followed:

[0080] First, calculate the possible previous process: Based on the production process of the work-in-process, calculate the list of the previous feasible processes and generate the alternative process flow List_A{process flow 01, process flow 02, ..., process flow 0X}.

[0081] Next, the workflows are prioritized: based on the production balance of each style of order, and principles such as prioritizing the slowest workflow within a historical X minutes, the priorities of each workflow are determined. In other words, by prioritizing multiple workflows, it's determined which workflow is more likely to become a bottleneck. This allows us to choose which workflow to process first. Specifically, starting with the highest priority workflow, we check among the workstations that can support it to see if there is a suitable workstation to replenish workstation A. If a suitable workstation is found in the first priority workflow, the process ends; otherwise, if not, we continue searching in the workstations corresponding to the second priority workflow, and so on.

[0082] For a specific process flow, the first step is to calculate the list of available workstations corresponding to the process flow: based on the "previous target process list," calculate which workstations in the current workshop's workstation set are capable of completing the process for each process, thus obtaining candidate workstation information. Then, for each candidate previous process 0X, form a combination Set_A{process 0X, workstation List1...n} of workstations. Additionally, based on historical production cycle times and other information about similar processes produced by workstations List1...n, calculate the estimated production time T_0X_n for each process 0X at workstations List1...n.

[0083] Furthermore, the transportation waiting time from the candidate workstation to the destination (i.e., workstation A that currently generates the scheduling request) can be determined. In practice, the transportation waiting time can be determined in several ways. For example, in one method, the specific transportation waiting time can consist of the estimated transportation time, the estimated connection and delivery time, and the estimated waiting time. Specifically, the estimated transportation time can be calculated based on route planning and the transport speed of the transport vehicle, determining the estimated transportation time from each origin to the destination workstation; the estimated delivery time can be calculated based on the historical connection response time of the destination workstation, determining the estimated connection and delivery time for each destination; and the estimated waiting time can be the estimated waiting time after delivery, determined based on the remaining workload within the workstation when the goods are expected to arrive at the destination workstation and the historical average operating hours of the corresponding personnel in the corresponding process.

[0084] After determining the estimated production time of each candidate replenishment style at the candidate workstation corresponding to the previous process, and the transportation waiting time from the candidate workstation to the destination, a comprehensive decision can be made based on whether the completed materials of each candidate replenishment style at the previous process are in stock in the buffer area. This decision can then determine whether to replenish workstation A from workstation B or from the buffer area. Workstation B or the buffer area can then be designated as the starting point for the transportation task. In other words, based on the selection results of various workstations and the estimated order of arrival, a scheduling decision that better adjusts the production line balance can be obtained through comprehensive planning. This better production line balance scheduling decision means that, within a future time period, the sum of the production line balance rates of various products / orders in production, weighted by the daily production volume, reaches its highest value or other target value. Finally, the scheduling demand target of the specific pre-scheduled instruction is converted into a clear transportation origin, including a specific workstation or buffer area.

[0085] After determining the origin and destination of the transportation task, a specific transportation task can be generated. Additionally, a target transport vehicle can be identified, and the transportation task can then be assigned to that vehicle for execution. Specifically, the target transport vehicle can be determined based on factors such as its availability and distance from the origin.

[0086] In practice, during the execution of a transportation mission by the target transporter, the decision-making process regarding the buffer zone or target workstation can be dynamic and multi-round. If a new departure point is determined in a new round of decision-making, the transportation mission can be updated. That is, during the execution of a transportation mission, the transporter can change its route based on the new decision results, thereby using a better strategy to complete the transportation mission.

[0087] Specifically, the re-decision on the buffer or target workstation can be triggered at various different times. For example, it can be triggered when the target transport receives a transport task; or when the target transport arrives at the departure point determined in the previous round and completes the pickup; or when another transport completes a transport task, and so on.

[0088] In summary, this application proposes a mixed-style production mode, which allows for the simultaneous production scheduling of multiple styles without relying on the rearrangement of production resources. To avoid or reduce worker confusion, operational errors, and material transfer errors during mixed-style production, this application also provides a task scheduling scheme for this mode. Specifically, for replenishment scenarios at workstations, the replenishment lead time for each workstation can be determined. Then, a pre-scheduling request can be generated based on this lead time and submitted to the transportation management system. The pre-scheduling request may include information about the workstation generating the scheduling request and corresponding scheduling target information, including the replenishment requirement. Then, the transportation management system can determine the workstation generating the scheduling request as the destination. Based on the scheduling request target information, it determines the corresponding candidate replenishment style information and the candidate's previous process information. After deciding whether to use the buffer area or the target workstation based on whether the completed materials of each candidate replenishment style in the previous process are in stock in the buffer area, the estimated production time of each candidate replenishment style at the corresponding candidate workstation in the previous process, and the transportation waiting time from the candidate workstation to the destination, the buffer area or target workstation is designated as the departure point. A transportation task is generated based on the departure point and destination, the target transport vehicle is determined, and the transportation task is assigned to the target transport vehicle for execution. Therefore, through the above scheduling scheme, automated transport equipment can be used to replenish the workstation. Furthermore, the timing of replenishment is determined by the scheduling system automatically predicting the replenishment lead time for a specific workstation, enabling timely replenishment and avoiding worker waiting. Furthermore, compared to the traditional point-to-point transportation model driven by "address," this embodiment adopts a "goal-driven" approach. During task execution, the transportation management system can autonomously and dynamically calculate and adjust the starting or ending point of transportation based on the "goal" required for this scheduling, thereby achieving the scheduling objective more efficiently. This operating mode can provide a more flexible and tailored cycle time balancing solution when dealing with the complex and ever-changing environment of the production line.

[0089] Example 2

[0090] This second embodiment addresses the scenario where a workstation completes the production of a package of materials and requires a transport vehicle to pick it up. It provides a production line task scheduling method, wherein the production line supports mixed-style production, which means achieving mixed production scheduling of multiple styles within the same time period without relying on the rearrangement of production resources; the same production line includes multiple workstations, each workstation being used to complete production tasks in at least one production process; see [link to previous document]. Figure 3The method may specifically include:

[0091] S301: Taking the workstation as a unit, receive the material retrieval request for the materials produced by the workstation, so as to supply the materials to the next process.

[0092] S302: Generate a pre-schedule request based on the pickup demand and submit it to the transportation management system. The information in the pre-schedule request includes the workstation information that generated the pickup demand and the corresponding scheduling demand target information. The scheduling demand target information includes the pickup demand.

[0093] S303: The transportation management system determines the target transport vehicle, identifies the workstation that generates the pickup request as the origin, determines the corresponding style information and candidate next process information based on the scheduling request target information, and makes a dynamic decision on the target workstation or buffer area based on the estimated processing time of each candidate next process corresponding to the candidate workstation and the transportation waiting time from the origin to the candidate workstation, so as to set the determined target workstation or buffer area as the destination, and generates a transportation task based on the origin and destination, and assigns the transportation task to the target transport vehicle for execution.

[0094] For the parts of Embodiment 2 that are not detailed above, please refer to Embodiment 1 or other parts of this specification. They will not be repeated here.

[0095] It should be noted that the embodiments of this application may involve the use of user data. In practical applications, user-specific personal data may be used in the scheme described herein within the scope permitted by applicable laws and regulations, provided that it complies with the applicable laws and regulations of the country (e.g., with the user's explicit consent, with the user being properly notified, etc.).

[0096] Corresponding to Embodiment 1, this application also provides a production line task scheduling device, wherein the production line supports mixed-style production, which means: realizing the mixed production of multiple styles within the same time period without relying on the rearrangement of production resources; the same production line includes multiple workstations, each workstation being used to complete production tasks in at least one production process; the device includes:

[0097] The replenishment lead time determination unit is used to determine the replenishment lead time for each workstation, so as to complete the replenishment of the workstation before the current remaining task quantity on the workstation is about to be cleared.

[0098] A pre-schedule request submission unit is used to generate a pre-schedule request based on the replenishment lead time and submit it to the transportation management system. The information in the pre-schedule request includes the workstation information that generates the scheduling requirement and the corresponding scheduling requirement target information, which includes the replenishment requirement.

[0099] The transportation task generation unit is used to determine the workstation that generates the scheduling request as the destination through the transportation management system, and determine the corresponding candidate replenishment style information and the previous process information of the candidate based on the scheduling request target information. After deciding on the buffer area or target workstation based on whether the production completed materials of each candidate replenishment style in the previous process are in stock in the buffer area, the estimated production time of each candidate replenishment style in the corresponding candidate workstation in the previous process, and the transportation waiting time from the candidate workstation to the destination, the unit uses the buffer area or target workstation as the origin, generates a transportation task based on the origin and destination, determines the target transport vehicle, and assigns the transportation task to the target transport vehicle for execution.

[0100] Specifically, the replenishment lead time determination unit can be used for:

[0101] Based on the current remaining workload of the workers in the workstation, the historical average operating hours of the workers in the workstation when completing the current production process, and the current status information of the transportation system, the replenishment lead time corresponding to the workstation is determined; wherein, the current status information of the transportation system includes the loading capacity of each transport vehicle, the capacity distribution, and / or the busy / idle status of the transportation tasks.

[0102] For multiple workstations with the same or similar replenishment lead time, the priority of each workstation's scheduling task is determined based on whether the process currently being processed or about to be processed by the workstation is a key process for the corresponding style, so as to generate corresponding pre-schedule requests in order of priority.

[0103] Specifically, the transportation waiting time consists of the estimated transportation time, the estimated connection and delivery time, and the estimated waiting time;

[0104] The estimated transportation time is calculated based on route planning and the transportation speed of the vehicle, from each departure point to the destination workstation.

[0105] The estimated delivery time is calculated based on the historical connection response time of the destination workstation, resulting in the estimated connection and delivery time for each destination.

[0106] The estimated waiting time is the estimated waiting time after delivery, which is determined based on the remaining workload in the workstation when the goods are expected to arrive at the destination workstation and the historical average operating time of the corresponding workers in the corresponding process.

[0107] During the process of the target transporter executing the transport task, the decision-making process for the buffer area or target workstation is dynamic and carried out in multiple rounds. If a new departure point is determined in a new round of decision-making, the transport task is updated.

[0108] Specifically, a re-decision regarding the cache or target workstation can be triggered at the following times:

[0109] When the target transport vehicle receives the transport task;

[0110] When the target transport arrives at the departure point determined in the previous round and completes pickup; or,

[0111] When other transport vessels complete a transport mission.

[0112] Corresponding to Embodiment 2, this application also provides a production line task scheduling device. The production line supports mixed-style production, which means: achieving mixed production scheduling of multiple styles within the same time period without relying on the rearrangement of production resources; the same production line includes multiple workstations, each workstation being used to complete production tasks in at least one production process; the device includes:

[0113] The picking request receiving unit is used to receive picking requests for materials produced by the workstation, on a per-workstation basis, so as to supply the materials to the next process.

[0114] A pre-schedule request generation unit is used to generate a pre-schedule request based on the pickup requirement and submit it to the transportation management system. The information in the pre-schedule request includes the workstation information that generates the scheduling requirement and the corresponding scheduling requirement target information, which includes the pickup requirement.

[0115] The transportation task generation unit is used to determine the workstation that generates the pickup request as the origin through the transportation management system, and determine the corresponding style information and candidate next process information according to the scheduling request target information. After making a dynamic decision on the target workstation or buffer area based on the estimated processing time of the candidate workstation corresponding to each candidate next process and the transportation waiting time from the origin to the candidate workstation, the unit selects the target workstation or buffer area as the destination, generates a transportation task based on the origin and destination, determines the target transport vehicle, and assigns the transportation task to the target transport vehicle for execution.

[0116] In addition, embodiments of this application also provide a computer-readable storage medium storing a computer program thereon, which, when executed by a processor, implements the steps of the method described in any of the foregoing method embodiments.

[0117] And an electronic device, comprising:

[0118] One or more processors; and

[0119] A memory associated with the one or more processors, the memory being used to store program instructions that, when read and executed by the one or more processors, perform the steps of the method described in any of the foregoing method embodiments.

[0120] A computer program product includes a computer program / computer executable instructions that, when executed by a processor in an electronic device, implement the steps of the method described in the foregoing method embodiments.

[0121] in, Figure 4 An exemplary architecture of an electronic device is shown, which may include a processor 410, a video display adapter 411, a disk drive 412, an input / output interface 413, a network interface 414, and a memory 420. The processor 410, video display adapter 411, disk drive 412, input / output interface 413, network interface 414, and memory 420 can communicate with each other via a communication bus 430.

[0122] The processor 410 can be implemented using a general-purpose CPU (Central Processing Unit), microprocessor, application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), or one or more integrated circuits, and is used to execute relevant programs to implement the technical solution provided in this application.

[0123] The memory 420 can be implemented in the form of ROM (Read Only Memory), RAM (Random Access Memory), static storage device, dynamic storage device, etc. The memory 420 can store the operating system 421 for controlling the operation of the electronic device 400, and the basic input / output system (BIOS) for controlling the low-level operations of the electronic device 400. Additionally, it can store a web browser 423, a data storage management system 424, and a production line task scheduling processing system 425, etc. The aforementioned production line task scheduling processing system 425 can be the application program that specifically implements the aforementioned steps in this embodiment. In summary, when implementing the technical solution provided in this application through software or firmware, the relevant program code is stored in the memory 420 and executed by the processor 410.

[0124] Input / output interface 413 is used to connect input / output modules to realize information input and output. Input / output modules can be configured as components in the device (not shown in the figure) or externally connected to the device to provide corresponding functions. Input devices may include keyboards, mice, touch screens, microphones, various sensors, etc., and output devices may include displays, speakers, vibrators, indicator lights, etc.

[0125] Network interface 414 is used to connect a communication module (not shown in the figure) to enable communication between this device and other devices. The communication module can communicate via wired means (such as USB, Ethernet cable, etc.) or wireless means (such as mobile network, WIFI, Bluetooth, etc.).

[0126] Bus 430 includes a pathway for transmitting information between various components of the device, such as processor 410, video display adapter 411, disk drive 412, input / output interface 413, network interface 414, and memory 420.

[0127] It should be noted that although the above-described device only shows the processor 410, video display adapter 411, disk drive 412, input / output interface 413, network interface 414, memory 420, bus 430, etc., in specific implementations, the device may also include other components necessary for normal operation. Furthermore, those skilled in the art will understand that the above-described device may only include the components necessary for implementing the solution of this application, and does not necessarily include all the components shown in the figures.

[0128] As can be seen from the above description of the embodiments, those skilled in the art can clearly understand that this application can be implemented by means of software plus necessary general-purpose hardware platforms. Based on this understanding, the technical solution of this application, in essence, or the part that contributes to the prior art, can be embodied in the form of a software product. This computer software product can be stored in a storage medium, such as ROM / RAM, magnetic disk, optical disk, etc., and includes several instructions to cause a computer device (which may be a personal computer, server, or network device, etc.) to execute the methods described in various embodiments or some parts of the embodiments of this application.

[0129] The various embodiments in this specification are described in a progressive manner. Similar or identical parts between embodiments can be referred to mutually. Each embodiment focuses on describing the differences from other embodiments. In particular, for system or system embodiments, since they are basically similar to method embodiments, the description is relatively simple, and relevant parts can be referred to the descriptions in the method embodiments. The systems and system embodiments described above are merely illustrative. The units described as separate components may or may not be physically separate. The components shown as units may or may not be physical units; that is, they may be located in one place or distributed across multiple network units. Some or all of the modules can be selected to achieve the purpose of this embodiment according to actual needs. Those skilled in the art can understand and implement this without creative effort.

[0130] The production line task scheduling method and electronic equipment provided in this application have been described in detail above. Specific examples have been used to illustrate the principles and implementation methods of this application. The descriptions of the above embodiments are only for the purpose of helping to understand the method and its core ideas. Furthermore, those skilled in the art will recognize that, based on the ideas of this application, there will be changes in the specific implementation methods and application scope. Therefore, the content of this specification should not be construed as a limitation of this application.

Claims

1. A production line task scheduling method, characterized in that, The production line supports mixed-style production, which means: achieving the mixed production of multiple styles within the same time period without relying on the rearrangement of production resources; the same production line includes multiple workstations, each workstation is used to complete the production task of at least one production process; the method includes: Taking the workstation as a unit, determine the replenishment lead time for the workstation so that the replenishment of the workstation is completed before the current remaining task quantity on the workstation is about to be cleared; A pre-schedule request is generated based on the replenishment lead time and submitted to the transportation management system. The information in the pre-schedule request includes the workstation information that generates the scheduling request and the corresponding scheduling request target information, which includes the replenishment request. The transportation management system identifies the workstation generating the scheduling request as the destination. Based on the scheduling request target information, it determines the corresponding candidate replenishment style information and the previous process information of the candidate. After deciding on the buffer area or target workstation based on whether the production completed materials of each candidate replenishment style in the previous process are in stock in the buffer area, the estimated production time of each candidate replenishment style in the corresponding candidate workstation in the previous process, and the transportation waiting time from the candidate workstation to the destination, the buffer area or target workstation is designated as the origin. A transportation task is generated based on the origin and destination, the target transport vehicle is determined, and the transportation task is assigned to the target transport vehicle for execution.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, Determining the replenishment lead time for the workstation includes: Based on the current remaining workload of the workers in the workstation, the historical average operating hours of the workers in the workstation when completing the current production process, and the current status information of the transportation system, the replenishment lead time corresponding to the workstation is determined; wherein, the current status information of the transportation system includes the loading capacity of each transport vehicle, the capacity distribution, and / or the busy / idle status of the transportation tasks.

3. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, For multiple workstations with the same or similar replenishment lead time, the scheduling task priority of each workstation is determined based on whether the process currently being processed or about to be processed by the workstation is a key process for the corresponding style, so as to generate corresponding pre-schedule requests in order of priority.

4. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The transportation waiting time consists of the estimated transportation time, the estimated connection and delivery time, and the estimated waiting time; The estimated transportation time is calculated based on route planning and the transportation speed of the vehicle, from each departure point to the destination workstation. The estimated delivery time is calculated based on the historical connection response time of the destination workstation, resulting in the estimated connection and delivery time for each destination. The estimated waiting time is the estimated waiting time after delivery, which is determined based on the remaining workload in the workstation when the goods are expected to arrive at the destination workstation and the historical average operating time of the corresponding workers in the corresponding process.

5. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, During the execution of the transportation task by the target transporter, the decision-making process for the buffer area or target workstation is dynamic and carried out in multiple rounds. If a new departure point is determined in a new round of decision-making, the transportation task is updated.

6. The method according to claim 5, characterized in that, A re-decision regarding the cache or target workstation is triggered at the following times: When the target transport vehicle receives the transport task; When the target transport arrives at the departure point determined in the previous round and completes pickup; or, When other transport vessels complete a transport mission.

7. A production line task scheduling method, characterized in that, The production line supports mixed-style production, which means: achieving mixed production scheduling of multiple styles within the same time period without relying on the rearrangement of production resources; the same production line includes multiple workstations, each workstation is used to complete production tasks in at least one production process; the method includes: The system receives pickup requests for materials produced at each workstation, and supplies the materials to the next process. A pre-schedule request is generated based on the pickup demand and submitted to the transportation management system. The information in the pre-schedule request includes the workstation information that generated the scheduling demand and the corresponding scheduling demand target information, which includes the pickup demand. The transportation management system identifies the workstation that generates the pickup request as the origin, determines the corresponding style information and candidate next process information based on the scheduling request target information, and makes a dynamic decision on the target workstation or buffer area based on the estimated processing time of each candidate next process and the transportation waiting time from the origin to the candidate workstation. The determined target workstation or buffer area is then used as the destination. A transportation task is generated based on the origin and destination, the target vehicle is determined, and the transportation task is assigned to the target vehicle for execution.

8. A computer-readable storage medium having a computer program stored thereon, characterized in that, When executed by a processor, the program implements the steps of the method described in any one of claims 1 to 7.

9. An electronic device, characterized in that, include: One or more processors; as well as A memory associated with the one or more processors, the memory being used to store program instructions that, when read and executed by the one or more processors, perform the steps of the method according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

10. A computer program product comprising a computer program / computer-executable instructions, characterized in that, When the computer program / computer executable instructions are executed by a processor in an electronic device, they implement the steps of the method according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

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