Hierarchical Workflow Scheduling for Adaptive Manufacturing Changes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ERP software lacks flexibility to adapt to complex manufacturing environments, particularly in aerospace, where rapid changes in part designs, material availability, and customer demand require dynamic workflow adjustments that cannot be programmed quickly enough to keep up with iterative developments.
Innovation Solution
A system with a data fusion engine that logs workflows to child nodes in a hierarchical data structure based on user input, allowing flexible workflow management and adaptation to real-time changes, including a workflow scope selector to ensure compatibility and enforce rules-based actions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If existing ERP software uses workflows to assign tasks and track project progress, then task management and project tracking are improved, but the system lacks flexibility to adapt to rapid changes in part designs, material availability, and customer demand
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic workflow capabilities where workflows can be created, modified, and assigned in real-time through a user interface without requiring custom code programming. This allows the system to adapt dynamically to changing manufacturing requirements, part designs, and customer demands while maintaining ease of task management and tracking.
Solution Approach 2:
The system allows parameters such as workflow definitions, task assignments, and project configurations to be changed dynamically through user input. This enables rapid adaptation to changing conditions in aerospace manufacturing without requiring software reconfiguration or custom programming, thus maintaining both operational ease and adaptability.
2Adaptability or versatility
If new workflows are created via custom code-based programming, then workflow functionality is improved, but software developers cannot program new workflows fast enough to keep up with rapid manufacturing changes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables end-users to create and configure workflows directly through a user interface without requiring software developers or custom code programming. This self-service capability allows manufacturing personnel to rapidly create new workflows in response to changing requirements, dramatically increasing the speed of workflow creation while maintaining full workflow functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces an intermediary layer between user requirements and workflow execution, where a user interface and data fusion engine translate user input into executable workflows. This intermediary enables rapid workflow creation by non-programmers while maintaining the complexity and functionality of custom-programmed workflows.
3Ease of operation
If ERP software assumes users know what they want to build before they build it, then project planning is improved, but the system cannot accommodate iterative development processes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic project planning capabilities where workflows and task definitions can be created and modified during the execution process. This allows users to start with initial plans and iteratively refine and adapt them as projects progress, accommodating iterative development processes while maintaining ease of planning through the user interface.
Data Source
AI summary
A system for managing resources and scheduling is disclosed. The system includes a client computer, software executable by the client computer for providing a user interface, a server in data communication with the client computer, a database for storing data in a hierarchical data structure, and a data fusion engine executing on the server. The hierarchical data structure includes a parent node and child nodes linked to the parent node. The data fusion engine is configured to log a workflow to at least one of the child nodes based on user input received via the user interface. A related method and software is also disclosed.