Visualization Tool for Manufacturing Standard Time Routing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current manufacturing processes face challenges in accurately defining and calculating standard times for both manufacturing and support tasks, especially in complex production environments, where changes in processes or resources require cumbersome updates across multiple records, leading to inefficiencies and inaccuracies in resource planning.
Innovation Solution
A standard time system that utilizes task-specific formulas, recursive algorithms, and a linking matrix to calculate and maintain standard times, integrated with a visualization tool for data management and propagation of changes throughout the manufacturing process, enabling efficient updates and precise resource allocation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If manual methods are used to define and calculate standard times for manufacturing tasks, then flexibility in process definition is maintained, but accuracy and efficiency deteriorate due to cumbersome updates across multiple records
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a standardized template for defining manufacturing tasks and support tasks. Once a task is defined in the template, it can be copied and reused across multiple products and processes. This eliminates the need to manually redefine the same tasks repeatedly, ensuring consistency in standard time calculations while significantly reducing the time required to update processes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a universal task library that serves multiple functions: it defines standard times for manufacturing tasks, supports alternative routing definitions, and provides a standardized framework for calculating support task times. This universal structure allows the same task definitions to be applied across different products and processes, improving both accuracy and efficiency.
2Measurement precision
If detailed tracking of support tasks is implemented, then resource planning accuracy improves, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the manufacturing system into distinct task types: manufacturing tasks and support tasks. Each type has its own standardized definition template with specific attributes. This segmentation allows detailed tracking of support tasks without overwhelming system complexity, as each segment follows its own simplified rules and structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces specific parameters for support tasks (such as task codes, standard times, and resource requirements) that can be independently defined and adjusted. By changing these parameters in a standardized manner, the system can accurately track support tasks while maintaining a manageable level of complexity through consistent parameter structures.
3Adaptability or versatility
If alternative routing options are defined, then manufacturing flexibility improves, but data management complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic routing that allows the system to switch between standard routing and alternative routing based on current manufacturing conditions. The alternative routes are defined using the same standardized task templates, allowing flexibility in path selection without increasing the fundamental data management structure. This dynamic approach maintains flexibility while controlling complexity through consistent data models.
Data Source
AI summary
A standard time system provides a methodology and structure to calculate standard times for both manufacturing tasks and support tasks, based on task specific formulas, recursive algorithms for breaking down tasks into any granularity of actions and steps, routing structures for defining standard routing and alternative routing, and a linking matrix to link all related attributes such that a change in one variable value and/or calculated standard time is propagated through the entire manufacturing process. Access to the standard time system is provided by a visualization tool, which includes a graphical user interface (GUI). The visualization tool provides the user a visual representation of the full manufacturing process and the means for defining, recording and maintaining the related data and structure. Individual tasks are defined for the manufacturing of each product, and standard times are attributed to each defined task by formula based calculations.