Manufacturing Workflow Mapping for Intermediate Part Traceability
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Solution Overview
Problem
In manufacturing processes for print products involving multiple parts, it is difficult to track which parts constitute an intermediate part generated during production, as existing workflow management systems do not effectively display or manage relationships between individual parts and intermediate products.
Innovation Solution
An information processing device that specifies plural parts and processes required for a print product, generates intermediate objects indicating intermediate parts, and creates workflow information to display work objects for each part in order, associating intermediate objects with work objects used to generate them, thereby facilitating the tracking of intermediate parts within the manufacturing process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If workflow management systems manage manufacturing processes from order to completion, then process control is achieved, but it becomes difficult to easily know which parts are used for intermediate parts
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the manufacturing workflow into distinct work objects representing individual parts and intermediate parts. Each work object is independently tracked and associated with specific parts, allowing the system to maintain comprehensive process control while providing clear visibility into which parts constitute intermediate products. This segmentation enables separate management and tracking of each component throughout the manufacturing process.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediate object as a mediator that connects individual parts to the final product. This intermediate object serves as a tracking entity that aggregates information about the parts used to create intermediate products, enabling the system to maintain process control while providing transparent visibility into part composition without requiring complex direct tracking relationships.
2Adaptability or versatility
If individual workflows are created for each product, then customized process control is achieved, but the complexity of managing workflows increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal workflow management structure where work objects and intermediate objects serve multiple functions across different product workflows. The same framework and data structures are used regardless of the specific product being manufactured, allowing customized process control for each product while utilizing a standardized management system that reduces overall complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent establishes preliminary templates and structures for work objects and intermediate objects that can be reused across multiple workflows. By pre-defining the framework for tracking parts and intermediate products, the system enables customized process control for individual products without requiring complex ad-hoc workflow creation, thereby reducing management complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
An information processing device includes: a processor configured to: specify plural parts for manufacturing an ordered product; specify plural processes required from receiving an order of the product to completion of the product using plural parts; for an intermediate part generated by processing at least two of the plural parts, generate an intermediate object indicating intermediate part; for each of the plural parts, generate work objects indicating processes required for manufacturing the part; and create workflow information that arranges and displays, for each of the plural parts, the work objects indicating processes required for manufacturing the part in an order of the plural processes, and relates and displays, for each of the plural parts, work objects indicating processes executed continuously, in which in the workflow information, the intermediate object indicating intermediate part is associated with the work objects for the at least two parts used to generate the intermediate part.