Production Process Graph Modeling for Modular Manufacturing Planning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Complex production systems with multiple interacting modules face challenges in planning and executing production processes due to the complexity of graphical representations, leading to unclear and unmanageable process graphs with numerous possible pre- and intermediate products.
Innovation Solution
A method and device for designing production processes using a process model represented as a graph with nodes and edges, where each node describes a process step and edges indicate dependencies, allowing for a clear graphical representation of production steps and their order, enabling flexible and efficient planning and execution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a process graph is used to represent production steps and dependencies, then the production process can be visualized and planned, but the graph becomes unclear and unmanageable when the number of possible pre-products or intermediates increases
Solution Approach 1:
The process graph is segmented by introducing a standardized intermediate representation that divides the complex graph into manageable components: production steps, products, and standardized intermediates. This segmentation allows the system to handle complex production processes with multiple pre-products and intermediates without losing clarity, as each component can be independently managed and visualized.
Solution Approach 2:
A standardized intermediate representation acts as an intermediary between the process graph and the production execution system. This intermediary layer translates complex production dependencies into a standardized format that maintains graph clarity while accommodating a large number of pre-products and intermediates through structured data representation rather than visual complexity.
2Extent of automation
If production modules are programmed in a module-specific and product-specific manner, then specialized production tasks can be performed, but user decisions and user interventions are required for planning
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables self-service automation by allowing production modules to automatically determine their execution based on the standardized intermediate representation. The modules read the standardized data structure and autonomously execute their specialized tasks without requiring user intervention for planning, while still maintaining the capability for user-defined configurations through the standardized interface.
3Reliability
If a detailed process graph is created to show all production steps and dependencies, then complete production planning is achieved, but computational time and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of directly processing the complete detailed process graph, the system creates a standardized intermediate copy or representation of the production plan. This standardized copy contains all necessary production steps and dependencies in a simplified, structured format that can be processed more efficiently while maintaining complete production planning information for execution and monitoring.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a method and also an associated computer program (product) and an apparatus for shaping a production process for producing a product made up of multiple subproducts in a production system (PS) having multiple production modules (PM1, PM2, PM3). The claimed method has the following steps: – generating a process model (PMOD) using data about production steps (P1, P2, P3, P4) to be carried out for the product and the subproducts thereof, – from which process model at least some of the data about at least one production step are read and a respective production module that is available and associated for carrying out the respective production step is ascertained and – using a signal connection (S) to provide instructions (A) that correspond to the respective production step for the production module (e.g. PM1), characterised in that the process model is represented by a graph that comprises a plurality of nodes connected by edges, each node describing a process step and the nodes being connected to one another by the edges such that the dependencies that exist between the production steps are expressed by means of the edges.