Database Tracking for Liquid Food Production Plants

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing tracking methods for liquid food production plants are unreliable due to delays and lack flexibility, as they rely on time and date stamps or batch identification, which cannot accommodate simultaneous filling and emptying of tanks.

Innovation Solution

A database-based method where each production unit and material quantity is allocated a unique identity, allowing events to be registered with a work identity that tracks transport from a source to a destination, enabling reliable and flexible tracking of raw materials in liquid food production.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If time and date stamps are used for tracking, then tracking capability is provided, but reliability deteriorates when transport delays occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetracking reliabilityVSAvoidflexibility to handle delays

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The tracking system segments the production process into discrete events (transport start, transport end, processing start, processing end) rather than relying on continuous time stamps. Each event is independently recorded with its own identity, allowing the system to track material flow reliably even when timing relationships between transports are disrupted by delays.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If batch identification method is used, then tracking capability is improved, but flexibility deteriorates due to unit reservation constraints

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetracking capabilityVSAvoidoperational flexibility

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically assigns work identities to material quantities based on actual processing events rather than pre-reserving identities for entire batches. A work identity is created when material enters processing and can be released when processing completes, allowing the same production unit to be allocated to different batches sequentially without rigid reservations, thus maintaining both tracking capability and operational flexibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Measurement precision

If unit identity allocation is implemented, then tracking precision is improved, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetracking precisionVSAvoiddatabase structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses a universal work identity structure that serves multiple functions: identifying material quantities, tracking their movement between production units, and recording processing events. Rather than creating separate complex identification systems for each function, the same work identity mechanism handles all tracking needs, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining high tracking precision.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS7881966B2Method of tracking in production in a plant for liquid foods

Publication Date: 2011.02.01 TETRA LAVAL HOLDINGS & FINANCE SA

AI summary

The invention relates to a method and associated database structure for tracking in production in a plant for liquid foods. Each production unit in the plant is allocated a unit identity which is registered in a database. Each production unit can be a source or a destination. Each material quantity which is included in the production is allocated a work identity which is registered in the database. A material quantity includes a given product of a given quantity. Each event in the plant is registered in the database. The registration takes place as a transport from a source to a destination, with references to the unit identities of both the source and the destination.