Abstract: A computing system for monitoring activity in an automated fabrication facility includes a computer operably coupled to an MES (Manufacturing Execution Systems) database having data relating to manufacturing operation events; and the computer also being operably coupled to an AMHS (Automated Material Handling Systems) database having data relating to movement of the work-in-process material lots between the manufacturing operations and the storage operations; and a solver product operatively installed on the computer for processing information regarding timing of the events and information regarding operation of the automated material handling system to generate a report regarding performance of the automated fabrication facility, wherein the report identifies information regarding a sequence of events having occurred in the manufacturing process.

Abstract: A computing system for monitoring activity in an automated fabrication facility includes a computer operably coupled to an MES database having data relating to manufacturing operation events; and the computer also being operably coupled to an AMHS database having data relating to movement of the work-in-process material lots between the manufacturing operations and the storage operations; and a solver product operatively installed on the computer for processing information regarding timing of the events and information regarding operation of the automated material handling system to generate a report regarding performance of the automated fabrication facility, wherein the report identifies information regarding a sequence of events having occurred in the manufacturing process.

Abstract: A method of monitoring activity in an automated fabrication facility in which work-in-process material lots undergo manufacturing operations and storage operations includes tracking processing load and unload times of the lots at each of the manufacturing operations; tracking processing start and stop times of each of the manufacturing operations performed on the lots; tracking movement of automatically guided vehicles and cassettes containing the lots for purposes of transferring the lots between the manufacturing and storage operations; tracking storage load and unload times of the lots stored in the intermediate storage operations; tracking requests for the automated transfer of lots and a time each automated transfer request is made; and combining the processing load and unload times, the processing start and stop times, the storage load and unload times, the times associated with the requests for automated transfer, and information regarding the movement of the guided vehicles to generate a report.

Abstract: A machine for slitting a metal sheet has a number of knife holder assemblies each containing a rotary knife. The knife holder assemblies are mounted for movement along upper and lower rotating shafts which rotate the knives during a slitting operation. The position of the knife holder assemblies is programmably controlled for efficient and accurate positioning and adjustment of the knives along the rotating shafts for a variety of slitting configurations. Additionally, each of the upper and lower drive shafts contains a pair of drive shaft sections that are normally connected together during operation and can be disconnected for servicing of the knife holder assemblies on the shafts. The slitting machine includes upper and lower frames that are movable relative to each other by adjustment of a pair of jack screws to slit metal sheets of differing thicknesses without labor intensive adjustment or reconfiguration of the machine.

Abstract: A machine for slitting a metal sheet has a number of knife holder assemblies each containing a rotary knife. The knife holder assemblies are mounted for movement along upper and lower rotating shafts which rotate the knives during a slitting operation. The position of the knife holder assemblies is programmably controlled for efficient and accurate positioning and adjustment of the knives along the rotating shafts for a variety of slitting configurations. Additionally, each of the upper and lower drive shafts contains a pair of drive shaft sections that are normally connected together during operation and can be disconnected for servicing of the knife holder assemblies on the shafts. The slitting machine includes upper and lower frames that are movable relative to each other by adjustment of a pair of jack screws to slit metal sheets of differing thicknesses without labor intensive adjustment or reconfiguration of the machine.