Abstract: A method and apparatus converts an original query into a sequenced query that takes into account a range of values of a variable defined by a start and end point in performing the query. The start or end points are calculated if necessary and a query to collect all of the start and end points may be generated, and a query is generated that produces a constant set of start and end points defining consecutive periods, such that all the data in the tables related to the original query is constant over each of these periods. These two queries are merged into the original query to produce a sequenced query capable of execution on various database software and capable of taking into account the range of values of the variable in performing the original query.

Abstract: A method and apparatus provides a resource capable of affecting the manufacture of a product to a bay and a chase. Clean resource is supplied to the bay where it is used to affect the manufacture of a product in one or more steps highly sensitive to contaminants in the resource. The resource contaminated by the manufacture of the product is then sent to a chase where it is further used to affect the manufacture of the same or a different product in steps that are less sensitive to the contamination of the resource. Because the bay is most sensitive to contaminants in the resource, the impurified resource received at the chase may not adversely affect the manufacture of products in the chase and thus, supplying a clean resource to the chase is unnecessary.