Machine-State Production Planning for Dynamic Sub-Order Scheduling

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Current production planning systems inadequately account for the current state of resources, such as machine failures and ad-hoc orders, leading to inflexible planning and inefficiencies in production environments with multiple heterogeneous machines.

Innovation Solution

A production optimization system with a distribution unit that continuously monitors machine status and an optimization unit that dynamically adjusts production plans by dividing orders into machine-specific sub-orders, allowing for real-time adaptation to resource changes and machine availability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If traditional production planning is used, then planning simplicity is maintained, but the system cannot adapt to current equipment conditions and machine failures

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadaptability to equipment conditionsVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system segments production planning into discrete sub-orders that can be independently assigned to different machines. Each sub-order represents a separable unit of work that can be dynamically reassigned based on machine availability, allowing the system to adapt to equipment conditions without complete replanning.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements dynamic production planning where the production plan is continuously adjusted based on current machine status. The optimization unit recalculates sub-order assignments in real-time when machine conditions change, transforming static planning into a dynamic adaptive system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Manufacturing precision

If detailed production planning is implemented, then processing times are accurately determined, but the system becomes inflexible to ad-hoc orders and changes

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprocessing time accuracyVSAvoidflexibility to changes
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

By dividing orders into smaller sub-orders with individually calculated processing times, the system maintains precise time accounting while enabling flexible reassignment. Each sub-order's processing time is determined based on specific machine capabilities, allowing accurate scheduling that can adapt to changes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system continuously monitors machine status and feeds this information back to the optimization unit, which adjusts sub-order assignments accordingly. This feedback mechanism allows the system to maintain accurate processing times while adapting to ad-hoc orders and machine failures in real-time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Productivity

If production planning is decoupled from actual production, then planning efficiency is improved, but current equipment state cannot be considered

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveplanning efficiencyVSAvoidequipment state consideration
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The distribution unit continuously monitors machine status and provides real-time feedback to the optimization unit. This feedback loop ensures that current equipment states are considered in production planning without significantly impacting planning efficiency, as the system uses automated status reporting rather than manual updates.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary optimization of sub-order assignments based on current machine status before production begins. By pre-calculating optimal assignments based on real-time equipment conditions, the system maintains both planning efficiency and reliability of equipment state consideration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

4Speed

If multiple machines are used for parallel processing, then production speed increases, but planning complexity increases exponentially

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveproduction speedVSAvoidplanning complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system segments production into sub-orders that can be independently assigned to multiple machines for parallel processing. This segmentation allows the use of heuristic algorithms that efficiently handle multi-machine scheduling without exponential complexity growth, as each sub-order can be evaluated and assigned relatively independently.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP3414638B1Production planning system and method
Publication Date: 2024.07.17 TRUMPF WERKZEUGMASCHINEN GMBH & CO KG
  • EP3414638B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3414638B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3414638B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a production planning system and method, in particular such a production planning system and method which take into consideration the state of the production means. A production optimization system is provided which has the following: a production environment (110) with at least one first machine (111), a second machine (112), a distribution unit (120) which is designed to be connected to the first machine (111) and the second machine (112) via a communication network and to ascertain the machine state thereof, and an optimization unit (130) that is designed to generate a production plan in which at least one task for producing a product is separated into machine-specific sub-tasks for the first machine (111) or the second machine (112), said sub-tasks being provided with a sequence for the first machine (111) or the second machine (112). The distribution unit (120) is designed to ascertain the next occurring sub-task for the first machine (111) or the second machine (112) from the optimization unit (130) while taking into consideration the respective machine state, to remove the sub-task from the production plan, and to assign the sub-task to the respective machine.