Abstract: A computer device implements a method of dimensioning a new plant for production of packaged dairy products by simulation. The method operates by obtaining a production target for dairy products to be produced and packaged in the production plant, by obtaining recipes for production of the packaged dairy products, where each recipe defines ingredients and recipe activities, and by obtaining production unit data that associates each of a plurality selectable production units with one or more unit activities and a production capacity. The method further performs the simulation by generating, as a function of the recipes and the production unit data, combinations of selectable production units that are connected for fluid communication and operable to perform the recipe activities of the respective recipe to achieve the production target, and evaluating the combinations for selection of at least one combination representing a plant configuration.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed including a planner having a processor and memory. The planner models a supply chain network over a planning horizon having one or more time buckets and a production line to produce one or more products using one or more campaign operations and one or more campaignable resources. The planner further formulates a supply chain master planning problem comprising a hierarchy of objective functions and one or more constraints and segments a campaign planning problem into three stages. The planner solves a first stage to determine prioritized production demands on campaignable buffers, solves a second stage to determine a timing and a sequence for allocating campaignable resources to campaignable buffers, and solves a third stage to determine a quantity of products to produce on campaignable resources.

Abstract: A method includes determining a plurality of dependencies associated with a plurality of tasks of a substrate processing system. The method further includes generating, based on the plurality of dependencies, a dependency graph of the plurality of tasks. The method further includes topologically sorting the dependency graph to generate one or more outputs. A schedule associated with processing a plurality of substrates in the substrate processing system is based on the one or more outputs.

Abstract: For etching tools, a neural network model is trained to predict optimum scheduling parameter values. The model is trained using data collected from preventive maintenance operations, recipe times, and wafer-less auto clean times as inputs. The model is used to capture underlying relationships between scheduling parameter values and various wafer processing scenarios to make predictions. Additionally, in tools used for multiple parallel material deposition processes, a nested neural network based model is trained using machine learning. The model is initially designed and trained offline using simulated data and then trained online using real tool data for predicting wafer routing path and scheduling. The model improves accuracy of scheduler pacing and achieves highest tool/fleet utilization, shortest wait times, and fastest throughput.

Abstract: A substrate processing system for performing processing on a plurality of substrates. The substrate processing system comprises: a processing unit comprising a plurality of processing modules each configured to perform a predetermined process; a transfer unit having a transfer device configured to transfer a substrate to each of the plurality of processing modules; a loading/unloading unit configured to hold a plurality of substrates and load/unload a substrate to/from the processing unit; and a controller configured to control the processing unit, the loading/unloading unit, and the transfer unit. The controller controls the transfer unit to transfer to the plurality of processing modules in a serial manner a plurality of substrates that are sequentially loaded from the loading/unloading unit to the processing unit, the controller further comprises a standby mode setting unit configured to set a standby period of the substrate at an appropriate timing depending on a content of the process.

Abstract: The time required to modify order allocation rules is shortened in a production planning system. A performance rule is generated, in which a manufacturing condition is set as the input and a manufacturing facility is set as the output, based on allocation performance data representing a performance of allocating the manufacturing facility for the manufacturing condition. A comparison table is generated representing a difference between the performance rule and an existing rule in which the manufacturing condition is set as the input and the manufacturing facility is set as the output. A modification rule is generated in which the existing rule is modified according to a user operation on the comparison table; and an evaluation index is calculated for production plan data corresponding to each of the existing rule and the modification rule. The rule modification unit generates the comparison table including a modification plan for the existing rule.

Abstract: A production support system for generating a plant bill of process, PBoP, from a product bill of process, PdBoP, for a production plant, a corresponding method and a corresponding computer program product is provided. The production support system includes: (a) a reasoning component for determining possible cells; (b) a selection component for selecting all those cells that address operation capabilities used in the PdBoP; (c) an operation capabilities identifying component for identifying, additional operation capabilities for the selected cells which include at least two production entities, PET, based on the operation capabilities of the individual production entities, PET; and (d) a PBoP generating component for generating the PBoP from the PdBoP using the additional operation capabilities identified by the operations identifying component.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is technology for performing a simulation based optimization to identify a schedule for a manufacturing tool. An example method may include determining, by a processing device, resources of a manufacturing tool, wherein the resources comprise a first chamber and a second chamber; accessing task data indicating a first manufacturing task and a second manufacturing task; determining a duration to perform the first manufacturing task using the first chamber and a duration to perform the second manufacturing task using the second chamber; updating a machine learning model based on the duration to perform the first manufacturing task and the duration to perform the second manufacturing task; performing a set of computer simulations that uses the machine learning model and the task data to produce a set of simulation results; storing, by the processing device, a simulation result of the set of simulation results in a data store.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a processing device refers to data sets. Each of the data sets includes previous plan data and performance data. The previous plan data are of a time series of a relationship between time and a target production volume of a previous plan. The device calculates first evaluation values for sets of the performance data. The new plan data are of a time series of a relationship between time and a target production volume of a new plan. The device inputs a new plan image to a first model and calculates second evaluation values for the sets of performance data. The new plan image is of the relationship between time and the target production volume of the new plan. The device extracts at least one of the sets of performance data by using the first evaluation values and the second evaluation values.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a smart-tag based work processing device and a work processing method, wherein the work processing device comprises a work object processing unit creating a work object that implements a work processing flow through a plurality of heterogeneous work units having a dependency relationship; a work processing flow controller creating a work unit of a first type through the work object and sequentially generating a work unit of a second type through the work unit of the first type; and a smart-tag processing unit identifying attribute information of the work unit of the second type when the corresponding work unit is created, automatically generating a smart-tag based on the attribute information, and combining the smart-tag into the work unit of the first type.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for solving subsequent runs of a supply chain planning problem modeled as a multi-objective hierarchical linear programming problem. Embodiments further include receiving supply chain input data for a supply chain planning problem, modeling the supply chain planning problem as a multi-objective hierarchal linear programming problem having a first objective and at least one additional objective, solving a base run of the multi-objective hierarchical linear programming problem for the first objective and the at least one additional objective, generating a base plan by converting a solution of the base run of the multi-objective hierarchical linear programming problem, receiving one or more changes to the supply chain input data, identifying primal feasibility change of the one or more changes that affect only primal feasibility, and identifying dual feasibility changes of the one or more changes that affect only dual feasibility.

Abstract: There is provided a transport control system assigning multiple jobs to an overhead hoist transport (OHT) based on the availability of linkage transporting and the likelihood of transport congestion. The transport control system includes: a plurality of transports, each of the plurality of transports transporting a carrier with a wafer loaded thereon; and a transport control apparatus controlling the plurality of transports and determining one of the plurality of transports as a target transport to which multiple jobs are to be assigned. The transport control apparatus determines one of the plurality of transports as the target transport based on a first element, which is the availability of linkage transporting, and a second element, which is the likelihood of transport congestion.

Abstract: Systems and techniques for read-write network visualization are described herein. A selected sub-region of a visual representation of a graph network may be displayed based on inputs received from a user. Boundaries for the selected sub-region of the visual representation of the graph network may be calculated. State data may be captured for a portion of the graph network associated with the selected sub-region using the calculated boundaries for the selected sub-region of the visual representation upon activation of an edit mode user interface control. A change to an element of the graph network may be identified. The graph network may be modified based on the change. A formula may be identified that is associated with the element of the graph network. The formula may be automatically recompiled and values for the element of the graph network, and nodes and edges that share a path with the element, may be automatically recalculated using the recompiled formula.

Abstract: A method includes receiving readings from a plurality of Internet of Things (IoT) devices. The method identifies rules associated with the readings from the IoT devices and determines a three dimensional (3D) dataset based on the plurality of IoT devices, the readings and rules associated with the readings from the plurality of IoT devices. The method includes determining policies to be applied to routing of the readings based on rules for dividing the readings into subsets of the 3D dataset, and routing processing for subsets of the readings to be processed in parallel by processing units based on the policies. The method further includes processing the readings to generate a list of actions, and resolving the conflicts in the list of actions based on a multi-phase queue. The method also includes executing the actions.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed including a planner having a processor and memory. The planner models a supply chain network over a planning horizon having one or more time buckets and a production line to produce one or more products using one or more campaign operations and one or more campaignable resources. The planner further formulates a supply chain master planning problem comprising a hierarchy of objective functions and one or more constraints and segments a campaign planning problem into three stages. The planner solves a first stage to determine prioritized production demands on campaignable buffers, solves a second stage to determine a timing and a sequence for allocating campaignable resources to campaignable buffers, and solves a third stage to determine a quantity of products to produce on campaignable resources.

Abstract: Execution systems using unstructured data include one or more processors performing steps including accessing a workflow document; identifying, from the workflow document, an action and one or more first mappings between the action and data in the working document; identifying an API function for performing the action; executing one or more first SQL queries specified in the first mappings; extracting, from results of the first SQL queries, input data for the action; preparing one or more parameters to pass to the API function based on the input data; executing the API function to perform one or more tasks; receiving result data from the API function; retrieving, from the workflow document, one or more second mappings between the action and the data in the working document; and writing, using the query module using one or more second SQL queries specified in the second mappings, the result data into the working document.

Abstract: A system for generating product label changes is described. The system includes a product labeling platform executable on a network enabled computing device and a database of at least one selectable master label and at least one selectable jurisdiction label associated with a labeled product. The platform associates at least one selected descriptor from a first pre-defined descriptor set to each change made to a selected master label, and further associates at least one selected descriptor from a second pre-defined descriptor set to each change made to a selected jurisdiction label. The platform further associates a report including the selected descriptors from the first and second pre-defined descriptor sets with the changed label. A system for generating and managing product labels for a product across multiple jurisdictions is also disclosed.

Abstract: A computing system accesses one or more data sources to determine maintenance optimization data associated with an asset within a set of assets. The maintenance optimization data may include one or more of: upcoming maintenance events for the asset, such as may be predicted based on analysis of historical maintenance information of the asset, a time series of predicted value of the asset over a time period around the upcoming maintenance event, such as within a few days or hours of the maintenance event, and/or a recommended window of time to initiate and/or perform upcoming maintenance events, which may be based on a combination of the expected upcoming maintenance events, and the time series of predicted value of the particular asset, for example.

Abstract: The invention relates to the field of industrial automation and process control systems. More specifically, the invention provides methods, systems and computer program products that optimize scheduling of parameter data retrieval from devices that are coupled with and controlled by a control system. In a particular embodiment, the invention provides methods, systems and computer programs for scheduled parameter data retrieval from one or more field devices implemented within a process control environment. In other embodiments, the invention additionally provides methods, systems and computer programs for retrievably storing a scheduling map for enabling scheduled parameter data retrieval from one or more field devices implemented within a process control environment.

Abstract: There is provided an information processing apparatus for efficiently processing various products. The information processing apparatus includes a determiner that receives signals from sensors respectively provided in a plurality of machine tools, determines operation statuses of the plurality of machine tools, and derives a plurality of usable machine tools, a receiver that receives product specifying data for specifying a product to be manufactured, a decider that decides, based on the product specifying data, a necessary machine tool required to process the product, and a presenter that searches for the necessary machine tool from the plurality of usable machine tools, and presents information concerning a use machine tool as a search result.

Abstract: In one implementation, a method for providing a user with an assessment of website quality includes receiving, at a computer system, identification of a website; retrieving, by the computer system, content that comprises the website; and automatically analyzing, by the computer system, the content. The method can further include determining, by the computer system, (i) a search engine optimization (SEO) sub-score for the website, (ii) an accessibility sub-score for the website, and (iii) a quality assurance score for the website based on the analysis of the content. The method can additionally include determining, by the computer system, a quality score for the website based on a combination of the SEO sub-score, the accessibility sub-score, and the quality assurance sub-score; and transmitting, by the computer system, the quality score to a client computing device for presentation in a user interface.

Abstract: Systems and methods for making a flexo plate, and plates, machines, readers, and computer readable media for use therewith. In the system, a plurality of processing machines, each configured to perform one or more process steps in a workflow, includes a controller, a variable operating parameter controlled by the controller, and a reader configured to read machine-readable indicia on the flexo plate. The machine-readable indicia (e.g. bar code, RFID tag, text) is configured for persistent readability downstream of washing (and cutting) steps, without printing in the printing step. The indicia may embody information including at least a plate identifier and instructions corresponding to the at least one variable operating parameter for each of the processing machines or information corresponding to an address in computer storage where the information resides.

Abstract: A system for solving an event-dependent multicriteria optimization problem of at least one cyber-physical system, comprising a control device for controlling the at least one cyber-physical system, the control device controlling the cyber-physical system in dependence on a list of prioritized objectives by solving at least one event-dependent suboptimization problem is characterized in that each objective from the list of prioritized objectives is captured as an objective function, each objective function consisting of at least two parts, a first part of which relates to directly capturing the objective and a second part of which describes a condition under which each result of one of the preceding objectives of each of the preceding suboptimization problems is substantially not negatively affected.

Abstract: A system for sorting and transporting inventory items from a warehouse environment to a packing station. A sorting device receives the inventory item and transports the item to a sort location. The item is transferred to an inventory transport and transported to a packing station for further processing.

Abstract: The present teaching relates to method and system for generating a stream of content items. A plurality of entities associated with a time-window are obtained, wherein each entity of the plurality of entities is associated with at least one content item. For each entity, a first parameter with respect to the time-window, a second parameter with respect to previous time-windows, and a trendiness score based on a function of the first parameter and the second parameter are respectively calculated. A graph based on one or more entity-pairs is generated, wherein each entity-pair of the one or more entity-pairs satisfies a first criterion. A stream of content items is generated based on the graph, wherein each content item in the stream of content items corresponds to at least one of the one or more entity pairs.

Abstract: The production management support system analyzes, on the basis of one or more attentional perspectives on a plurality of different models of products, past record information that includes information as a past record which shows, for each product loaded in a production system in which the plurality of different models of products are loaded and a sequential order of two or more of a plurality of steps is different depending on the model, an execution time of each of the steps and that serves as a basis for a production management chart showing a production situation, to detect, among display objects displayed in the production management chart, a display object satisfying one or more requirements associated with the one or more attentional perspectives. The system performs accentuated display on at least one of the detected display objects.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus includes circuitry configured to receive an input to select a scheduled maintenance activity for an image forming apparatus, identify an executable date on which the scheduled maintenance activity is executable based on setting information and information of the scheduled maintenance activity including a maintenance executable period, stored in a memory. The circuitry is configured to search the memory for another scheduled maintenance activity for the image forming apparatus, having an executable date identical to the identified executable date, and reschedule, on the identified executable date, the scheduled maintenance activity and another scheduled maintenance activity.

Abstract: Vehicle operations management systems can facilitate maintenance of commercial passenger vehicles. An operations management system includes a server and a maintenance computer. The server is configured to receive a message that indicates a maintenance performed on a device located in a commercial passenger vehicle or that indicates a performance status of the device located in the commercial passenger vehicle, generate, based on the message, a predictive maintenance list that recommends maintenance to be performed on one or more devices that belong to a category of devices that is the same as the category of devices to which the device indicated in the received message belongs, and send the predictive maintenance list to a maintenance computer. The maintenance computer is configured to receive and display the predictive maintenance list on a graphical user interface (GUI).

Abstract: Example implementations described herein estimate parameters for equipment that cannot be sensed directly, including determining if such equipment is running or stopping. Example implementations determine the standard throughput per equipment and product, based on history of equipment production data, extract previous and next equipment of robotic arms on the line by using physical topology information of robot arms and equipment, senses and determines throughput of associated robot arms and compares the robot arm throughput with the standard throughputs of the previous and next equipment, which help determine whether the previous/next equipment have stopped.

Abstract: Provided is a technique for executing production planning having appropriate responsiveness even when the number of participating companies accommodating resources is increased. A resource accommodation device includes: a resource registration receiving unit that stores a resource registration request including a type of an available resource and an available date and time in a schedule storage unit of a predetermined resource upon receiving the resource registration request; and a resource candidate presentation unit that searches through resources stored in the schedule storage unit upon receiving a type of a requested resource and a date and time of using the resource, selects a resource satisfying a predetermined criterion, and presents the resource as a resource candidate having been selected.

Abstract: The disclosed embodiments include systems and methods to provide customized product information for display. In one embodiment, the system includes a sensor positioned proximate a production line, where the production line is operable to transport an optical product and a product label along the production line, and where the sensor is operable to obtain identification information of the optical product from the product label. The system also includes a storage medium containing product information of the optical product and business rules for providing the product information of the optical product for display. The system further includes a processor operable to determine the identification of the optical product, obtain business rules based on the identification of the optical product, dynamically customize the product information of the optical product based on the business rules, and provide the customized product information for display on an electronic display positioned along the production line.

Abstract: A system for managing physical assets in a manufacturing system includes a plurality of product controllers corresponding to physical assets in the manufacturing system. Each product controller is configured to store a desired product state for a physical asset and collect sensor data received from other digital companions. Furthermore, each product controller determines an actual product state based on the collected sensor data, as well as one or more actions to be performed on one or more physical assets in the manufacture system to yield the desired product state. Once the actions are determined, the product controller transmits control instructions for performing the one or more actions to one or more operation controllers in the manufacturing system.

Abstract: A mounting order determination device for determining a mounting order of multiple electronic components prior to mounting work using a component mounting machine or a component mounting line, the mounting order determination device including a level setting section for setting level information, in which mounting order priorities are ranked, for each component type, the target of which being of at least one of a multilayer mounting component type group, including a component type of multiple electronic components having a possibility of being mounted in the up-down direction in layers, and a close-proximity mounting component type group.

Abstract: A method for managing work orders (WOs) includes: identifying connections between a server and electronic devices, each of the electronic devices corresponding to a work center (WC) of a plurality of WCs, each WC having a WO queue; and controlling production by: storing status information for a subject WC and adjacent WCs that are immediately upstream of the subject WC; identifying a next WO to be authorized for production at one of the upstream adjacent WCs based on a priority-setting rule; determining a need time until the subject WC is available to start work on the next WO; determining an arrival time until the next WO will arrive at the subject WC; and modifying the WO queue of the upstream WC to authorize the next WO at the upstream adjacent WC if the arrival time is greater than or equal to the need time of the subject WC.

Abstract: A base software application and an operation software application are installed in a machine control computer. The base software application includes a first communication unit being a program portion, a second communication unit being a program portion, and an information conversion unit being a program portion. The information conversion unit enables a CPU of the computer to convert first machine information specific to a machine into second machine information specific to the operation software application, based on a data model or the like corresponding to a category of the machine or the like.

Abstract: Embodiments are directed to managing file systems over a network. Jobs may be provided to a storage computer in a file system. Control models may be associated with the jobs. Scores may be generated based on the control models. Each job may be associated with a score provided by its associated control model. And, each job that may be behind its corresponding schedule may be associated with a higher score value than each other job that may be either on its corresponding other schedule or ahead of its corresponding other schedule. Commands may be selected for execution based on the commands being associated with a job that may be associated with the higher score value that may be greater than score values associated with other jobs. The jobs may be ranked based on the updated scores. Subsequent commands may be selected and executed based on the ranking of the jobs.

Abstract: A job shop scheduling method with buffer constraints based on an improved genetic algorithm (IGA) is provided, which specifically includes the following steps: firstly establishing a job shop scheduling mathematical model with buffer constraints; then performing an optimization solution of the improved genetic algorithm, and adopting a job shop scheduling process and a double-layer coding of machines to design a reasonable process adjustment method for decoding; using adaptive crossover mutation probability combined with improved cross operator to improve the algorithm and optimize a solution model. The solution with a higher precision can be obtained under the same buffer capacity, and the efficiency and convergence ability of the algorithm are improved.

Abstract: A method includes receiving a matrix including start times associated with substrate operations in a substrate processing system. The method further includes generating, by a first graphics processing unit (GPU) of one or more GPUs, a plurality of matrices based on the matrix. The method further includes concurrently processing, by a plurality of cores of the one or more GPUs, the plurality of matrices to generate parallel outputs. A schedule for processing substrates in the substrate processing system is to be generated based on the parallel outputs.

Abstract: A base software application and an operation software application are installed in a machine control computer. The base software application includes a first communication unit being a program portion, a second communication unit being a program portion, and an information conversion unit being a program portion. The information conversion unit enables a CPU of the computer to convert first machine information specific to a machine into second machine information specific to the operation software application, based on a data model or the like corresponding to a category of the machine or the like.

Abstract: Various technologies described herein pertain to generating control inputs for a cyber-physical system. A prediction concerning a phenomenon can be generated, utilizing a classifier, based on sensor data acquired by a sensor. The prediction can include a probability distribution over a set of possible values of the phenomenon, where the phenomenon pertains to the cyber-physical system or an environment in which the cyber-physical system operates. Control inputs for the cyber-physical system that satisfy constraints that maintain safe operation of the cyber-physical system in the environment can be synthesized. The constraints can be based on the prediction that includes the probability distribution over the set of possible values of the phenomenon. Further, the cyber-physical system can be caused to operate in the environment based on the control inputs.

Abstract: Techniques are described for workflow management, including automatically deriving characteristics of a user task node in a workflow based on an analysis of other workflow elements such as conditional sequence connectors. In some implementations, elements of a workflow presented in the modeler user interface of a workflow management platform are analyzed, and element(s) of the workflow are automatically and dynamically modified based on the analysis. For example, a workflow may include a first user task that is connected to subsequent node(s) in the workflow, such as other user task(s) downstream from the first user task. The first user task may be connected to each subsequent node by a conditional sequence connector. The condition information for each connector can be extracted from the workflow information and used to automatically modify the first user task to include decision branches for each element of condition information extracted from a respective connector.

Abstract: Data is received that includes a feed of images of a plurality of objects passing in front of an inspection camera module forming part of a quality assurance inspection system. Within each image, it is detected whether an object is present within the image. Instance identifiers are assigned to each object. A single image is identified in which the object is optimally represented for each object using the corresponding instance identifier. These identified images are provided to a consuming application or process for quality assurance analysis.

Abstract: A relay apparatus is connected to a communication apparatus, a service providing apparatus and a browser-equipped apparatus.

Abstract: A deadlock determination method includes constructing a new WRG and determining a deadlock. At least a process step that includes a plurality of resources is selected from process steps in a WRG that supports transporting a single piece of material. The plurality of resources corresponding to the selected process step are combined. A total capacity of each of the process steps is changed according to a combination result to construct the new WRG that supports transporting a plurality of pieces of material. The plurality of resources include apparatuses for performing the process steps. The total capacity is a sum of a number of workstations of resources corresponding to each process step. Determining a deadlock includes determining whether a piece of material scheduling deadlock occurs based on the new WRG. The plurality of resources include apparatuses for performing the process steps.

Abstract: The present application relates to a method and apparatus for estimating throughput of a production line, the method including: a data obtaining step, a bottleneck work station selecting step, a first correcting step, a second correcting step as well as a throughput estimating step.

Abstract: A substrate processing apparatus includes first processors, second processors, a transfer module and a controller. Each of the first processors is configured to perform a first processing on a substrate. Each of the second processors is configured to perform a second processing on the substrate on which the first processing is performed. The transfer module is configured to transfer the substrate to the first processors and the second processors. The controller is configured to control the first processors, the second processors and the transfer module. The controller controls a start timing for a first transfer processing of transferring the substrates to the first processor such that a timing of a second transfer processing of transferring the substrate having a liquid film formed thereon to the second processor from the first processor and a timing when another substrate is transferred by the transfer module are not overlapped with each other.

Abstract: Systems, methods, devices, and other techniques for planning and re-planning robot motions. The techniques can include obtaining a schedule that defines an execution order for a plurality of plans, each plan defining a sequence of tasks; providing instructions to the robotic system to execute plans from the plurality of plans according to the schedule; obtaining measurements for one or more parameters that represent a state of the robotic system or its environment that results from execution of at least one plan from the plurality of plans; determining, based on the measurements, that a particular plan from the plurality of plans, which has not completed execution, is to be revised; generating, using the measurements, a revised version of the particular plan; and adjusting the schedule so as to resolve a conflict between the revised version of the particular plan and at least one other plan in the plurality of plans.

Abstract: Embodiments are directed towards infrastructure benchmarking based on dynamic cost modeling. Raw customer models that represent a customer's business system may be ingested into a benchmarking system and mapped to customer models based on one or more standard models. Benchmarking information that may be generated from one or more community models that are one or more customer models of other customers that may be available to the benchmarking application. Additional third-party information, such as, industry survey information may also be used for generating benchmarking information. The benchmarking information may be used to generate reports that include comparisons between one or more customer models and the one or more community models. The benchmarking information may be continuously updated based on changes to customer models and/or data, community models and/or data, external information.

Abstract: The workforce design method and tool provide answers to basic logistical human resources questions such as how many people need to be staffed, what kinds of qualifications are needed, when is the staffing needed, and how efficiently are employees being utilized. The methodology and tool apply to direct labor, indirect labor and resource allocations. The methodology and tool provide previously unseen levels of staffing granularity and output period forecasting. Staffing requirements can be ascertained at any level of organizational granularity. The methodology and tool can also show staffing demands in different work areas and departments enabling the dynamic staffing of the right number of people, at the right time, with the right qualifications, in the right work areas and job families for efficient allocation. This is a bottom up approach to staffing where headcounts are determined at any desired level of organizational granularity.

Abstract: An intelligent workpiece system includes a workpiece comprising a portion of a product; and an embedded computing system attached to the workpiece. The embedded computing system is configured to communicate with machines in a manufacturing environment to facilitate assembly of the workpiece into the product at a plurality of assembling areas.