Abstract: A negotiation-based method and system for managing manufacturing execution system (MES) orders within a structure of distributed systems that include at least one ordering system and one or several executing systems ES. The method includes the steps of: a) creating an order for a service, the order having at least one negotiable requirement; b) distributing the order to one or several ES; c) evaluating the order by each ES and automatically determining whether the order is acceptable without negotiating or generating an offer for the service to launch a negotiation process wherein said OS and ES exchange offers and counteroffers until an agreement is reached or the offer refused; d) if a least one of the ES accepts the order, the OS sends a refusal to offers received from another ES; if no ES accepts the order, the OS starts a negotiation process for the negotiable requirement with each ES.

Abstract: A method and a system determine a technological layer in which a module of a Manufacturing Operations Management (MOM) application is to be deployed. The specific MOM application has two or more modules that are separately deployable in at least two technological layers. For the specific MOM application, a set of characteristic parameters is defined that characterize business, process and information technology characteristics of the specific MOM application relevant for technological layer computation purposes. For each given module, there is defined a layer-deploying function, having as input a subset of the characteristic parameters and having as output a range value determining the technological layer to deploy the module at configuration time. For at least one of the given modules, there is determined the corresponding deploying technological layer by applying its corresponding layer-deploying function.

Abstract: A system and a method for managing a buffer system contain compartments for stocking contents needed for a production of products. The method includes: a) a determination from an initial configuration of the buffer system and a stack of orders of a production cycle and a configuration of the buffer system enabling an execution of the production cycle. The determination is completed by carrying out a virtual filling of the compartments with content required by the orders; b) providing instructions controlling content filling/emptying actions to a transport system for filling and/or emptying compartments; c) triggering an execution of the production cycle by the production equipment while recording usage of buffer system content; and d) updating the stack of orders after the end of the execution of the production cycle by removing from the stack of orders all orders which have been fully executed during the execution of the production cycle.

Abstract: A method and system for dispatching a production order for a product within a distributed environment with several production lines Ljsi distributed in one or several production sites Si. A production order for the product is received with a first list of required production parameters, with an ordered target value for each required production parameter. A nominal set of production lines Ljsi is automatically determined that are capable of implementing the production of the product with respect to resource availability and sets are selected from a nominal set of production lines and from a production scenario. The system selects a first set, a second set and a third set of production lines from the nominal set and then automatically determines one or more optimal production lines for producing said product and then dispatches the production order to the optimal production line(s).

Abstract: A method and a system determine a technological layer in which a module of a Manufacturing Operations Management (MOM) application is to be deployed. The specific MOM application has two or more modules that are separately deployable in at least two technological layers. For the specific MOM application, a set of characteristic parameters is defined that characterize business, process and information technology characteristics of the specific MOM application relevant for technological layer computation purposes. For each given module, there is defined a layer-deploying function, having as input a subset of the characteristic parameters and having as output a range value determining the technological layer to deploy the module at configuration time. For at least one of the given modules, there is determined the corresponding deploying technological layer by applying its corresponding layer-deploying function.

Abstract: A method and system for dynamically deploying a module of a manufacturing operations management application across a plurality of layers. A MOM application has a plurality of modules organized in a hierarchical architecture, wherein each module is independently deployable in at least two layers of the plurality of layers; for each module and for each layer wherein the module is deployable, defining a set of production parameters relevant for recommending a layer for module deployment; defining for each module a layer-deploying function, having as input variables values of the production parameter sets for the module and having as output variable a recommended layer wherein the module is to be deployed; and, upon request, for a specific module and for a specific time-point, calculating the recommended deploying layer with the layer-deploying function by using values of the input variables at the requested specific time-point.

Abstract: A negotiation-based method and system for managing manufacturing execution system (MES) orders within a structure of distributed systems that include at least one ordering system and one or several executing systems ES. The method includes the steps of: a) creating an order for a service, the order having at least one negotiable requirement; b) distributing the order to one or several ES; c) evaluating the order by each ES and automatically determining whether the order is acceptable without negotiating or generating an offer for the service to launch a negotiation process wherein said OS and ES exchange offers and counteroffers until an agreement is reached or the offer refused; d) if a least one of the ES accepts the order, the OS sends a refusal to offers received from another ES; if no ES accepts the order, the OS starts a negotiation process for the negotiable requirement with each ES.

Abstract: A method distributes order execution in a MOM system. A GOM module is capable of generating production orders with a negotiable requirement. Each LOM module is capable of offering to the GOM module local order planning functionalities for a production order due to a communication based on a bilateral negotiation exchange with the GOM module on negotiable parameters. The method includes: using past negotiation data exchanged with the LOM module to compute a module providing as output a negotiation reliability score to assign to a negotiation exchange with the LOM module; at runtime, negotiating a negotiable parameter of a specific production order with the LOM module by the specific negotiation model; at runtime, updating the specific negotiation model with tunings obtained by applying runtime data to the corresponding computed reliability module aimed at improving the reliability score; and at runtime, distributing the order execution to the LOM module.

Abstract: A method monitors the energy cost for the production of a product lot using a manufacturing execution system (MES) that enables the operator of a production facility to optimize the production process in terms of energy costs. The method includes a) executing a production process being scheduled and controlled by the MES to produce the product lot; b) for each individual production step measuring the energy consumption over the course of the execution of the individual production step; c) creating a data model within the MES that correlates production specific data and the energy consumption data related to the product lot; d) defining commands to manage the production specific data and the energy consumption data wherein the commands are web APIs; and e) evaluating the production specific data and the energy consumption data and creating an energy consumption profile for the production process related to the product lot.

Abstract: A system and a method for managing a buffer system contain compartments for stocking contents needed for a production of products. The method includes: a) a determination from an initial configuration of the buffer system and a stack of orders of a production cycle and a configuration of the buffer system enabling an execution of the production cycle. The determination is completed by carrying out a virtual filling of the compartments with content required by the orders; b) providing instructions controlling content filling/emptying actions to a transport system for filling and/or emptying compartments; c) triggering an execution of the production cycle by the production equipment while recording usage of buffer system content; and d) updating the stack of orders after the end of the execution of the production cycle by removing from the stack of orders all orders which have been fully executed during the execution of the production cycle.

Abstract: A method monitors the energy cost for the production of a product lot using a manufacturing execution system (MES) that enables the operator of a production facility to optimize the production process in terms of energy costs. The method includes a) executing a production process being scheduled and controlled by the MES to produce the product lot; b) for each individual production step measuring the energy consumption over the course of the execution of the individual production step; c) creating a data model within the MES that correlates production specific data and the energy consumption data related to the product lot; d) defining commands to manage the production specific data and the energy consumption data wherein the commands are web APIs; and e) evaluating the production specific data and the energy consumption data and creating an energy consumption profile for the production process related to the product lot.

Abstract: A device generates images (50) which are displayed on a monitor (44) and transmitted to a printer (41); the images (50) are printed on a physical medium (46), in horizontal strips (51), in such a way that the time to print each band (51) overlaps with the time to acquire new images (50).

Abstract: A method and system is described which facilitates the proper association of radiographic film with a patient information. The invention maintains information for each patient to be examined in the current day and generates a unique identifying ID code for each patient to be examined. Before examining a patient, the current patient's unique identifier is imaged on an unexposed radiographic film. After the patient is examined and the film is exposed, the film is developed and digitized. Patient information is retrieved and associated with the digitized medical images by analyzing the digital image data in order to determine the patient's unique identifier. In this manner, the invention ensures the proper association of patient information with exposed radiographic film. Once properly associated, the digital image data and the patient information can be communicated to a Picture Archiving and Communication System.