Abstract: A manufacturing process is migrated from an existing operation to a configure-to-order (CTO) system. As the CTO operation will eliminate the “machine-type model” (MTM) inventory of the existing operation, the emphasis is shifted to the components, or “building blocks”, which will still follow the build-to-stock scheme, due to their long leadtimes, and hence still require inventory. The solution involves an inventory-service trade-off of the new CTO system, resulting in performance gains, in terms of reduced inventory cost and increased service level. Other benefits include better forecast accuracy through parts commonality and risk-pooling, and increased customer demand, as orders will no longer be confined within a restricted set of pre-configured MTMs.

Abstract: A system for managing an inventory of process control devices in a process plant includes a computer workstation, a database storing instrument specification data for one or more process control devices used for controlling a process performed in the process plant environment, a wireless gateway adapted to wirelessly communicate with wireless enabled process control devices in the process plant environment, a communication bus interconnecting the wireless gateway, the computer workstation, and the database, an inventory control application executed by the computer workstation. The inventory control application is adapted to interrogate a received process control device via the wireless gateway to receive device data from the received process control device identifying and describing the received process control device.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus, including systems and computer program products, for a services architecture design that provides enterprise services having foundation layer functionality at the level of an enterprise application. The design includes a set of service operations, process components, and optionally deployment units. Suitable business objects are also described.

Abstract: Techniques to manage position information of parts such that, if discrepancy of the parts occurs, the discrepancy can be detected and corrected while the advantages of using the constraint conditions can be offered. In one embodiment, when an input unit receives information of an icon click, a receiving section receives the information of the click, and a saving section saves the position and the angle of geographic data indicating the three-dimensional geometry of the part as absolute-position information calculated with reference to the absolute origin into the storage unit.

Abstract: A design management device for managing data has a unit design storage section for storing unit design data with corresponding part design data, a product design storage unit for storing product design data together with the corresponding unit design data, a data transmission unit for sending the product design data to the production management device together with the unit design data and the part design data, a transmission determination unit for determining whether or not the unit design data was transmitted in the past, and a transmission control unit that does not transmit corresponding part design data when the unit design data determined to have been transmitted in the past is sent.

Abstract: Engineering requirements are defined in an electronic environment. In one embodiment, a method includes providing at least one of a set of master requirements and a set of version requirements to be applied to the electronic product definition, and referencing an electronic reference document from at least one of the set of master requirements and the set of version requirements, the electronic reference document including one or more particular engineering requirements to be applied to the electronic product definition. Alternately, a method includes defining a callout linked to the at least one of the set of master requirements and the set of version requirements, the callout being adapted to supersede a conflicting engineering requirement set forth in at least one of the set of master requirements and the set of version requirements.

Abstract: Systems and methods associated with digitized and automated product management provide for a holistic representation of a product throughout its lifecycle, including physical and non-physical components thereof. More particular features include generation of unit bills of material and application of non-physical components, eg., control parameters, to product units. Features for managing bills of material involve providing a pre-established mapping of technical feature rules that relate commercial feature options for a product to different combinations of technical functions and parts for potential use in a product. Pre-established manufacturing templates are also provided and combined with the mapping to generate an order-specific bill-of-materials, after which point a unit bill-of-materials can be created. Features for digitizing and applying non-physical components, e.g. control parameters, involve establishing a plurality of non-physical components, e.g.

Abstract: A PLM system, method, and computer readable medium. A method includes constructing an engineering design structure of a product that corresponds to physical parts of the product as designed. The method includes constructing an as-built design structure of the product that corresponds to physical parts of the product as built. The method includes displaying a bill of materials (BOM) window view that includes representations of both the engineering design structure and the as-built design structure.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for recommending one or more materials used in designing and manufacturing parts may include receiving data from at least three data sources. The data sources may include a sourcing, manufacturing, and design data source. The data source data may be standardized to obtain a collection of data including a dataset of materials for consideration in recommending one or more materials for use in one or more parts. The method may also include receiving optimization metrics and constraints for the dataset of materials. Optimization values for each material based on the dataset of materials and the one or more optimization metrics may be determined. An optimization algorithm on each material may be performed based at least on the optimization values and the constraints to obtain one or more recommended materials from the dataset of materials for use in a design of one or more parts.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for re-calculating low level codes for a plurality of bill of materials that receives a list of a plurality of materials connected by a first set of edges that represent a component subcomponent relationship and a second set of edges that represent a co-product relationship. The same low level code may be assigned to each material connected by the second set of edges, the assigning includes forming at least one equal group. Each equal group may include the number of nodes in the equal group, a list of nodes in the at least one equal group that have been processed, and the low level code for the equal group. The results of the low level code assignment may be displayed to allow the user to receive the materials in the equal group at the same time.

Abstract: One embodiment of the invention is a method for composing a computer-aided design (CAD) drawing that includes modeled components and non-modeled components. The method includes receiving a selection of properties for a non-modeled component to include in the CAD drawing, where the non-modeled component defines an element of an object modeled in the CAD drawing that is not included in a display representation of the object including an instance of the non-modeled component in the CAD drawing. Although not shown in display representations, the non-modeled elements may be displayed in a browse view showing the elements included in a CAD drawing, and in a bill of materials generated from the CAD drawing.

Abstract: The method provides a planning system where production plans and safety stocks are determined simultaneously, thus resulting in coupled target stock calculation and production plan. The closer the manufacturing process gets to the next production event, the lower the safety stock needs to be. In this approach, assumptions on the average production lead time—which might be wrong—do not need to be made. Indeed, if the production plan and the safety stock are simultaneously computed, it is clear when the next production is going to occur. As a result, production variability only needs to be considered in relation to the probability of unexpected events in manufacturing (e.g. a machine breakdown) as opposed to taking provision for variability of the production cycle due to situations that can be anticipated at the planning step.

Abstract: A method for computer aided design of conduit comprising: creating a library of specification information and a library of drawing characteristics related to a plurality of element types and bundles. An element type is selected, and an identification key is calculated for the selected element type, forming a graphics object. The selecting of element types and the calculating of identification keys is repeated, forming an updated graphics object. Specification information and drawing characteristics are retrieved from the libraries and stored in association with each selected element type. At least two element types are selected to form a bundle. An identification bundle key is calculated for the bundle. Selection of element types to form additional bundles is repeated, calculating identification bundle keys or each additional bundle, forming an updated bundle graphics object. Specification information and drawing characteristics for the bundles are retrieved and stored in association with the bundles.

Abstract: Order information is received for an order executable using a computer system to assemble a product from a plurality of components at a manufacturing location. A real-time record associated with the manufacturing location and being kept updated substantially in real time with order changes is updated with the order information, the real-time record associating the order with the plurality of components. For each of the plurality of components, it is determined whether a component change due to the order information meets a component-specific change criterion associated with the component. A static record is updated with the component change for any of the plurality of components required for the order where the component-specific change criterion is met. After the static record is updated, a management process configured to manage supply of at least one of the plurality of components according to the static record is initiated for the manufacturing location.

Abstract: Provided is a statistical inventory management system that optimizes inventory investment using historical usage and/or consumption of an inventory component. Generally, the system determines an target inventory level. Once actual inventory is below the replenishment level, an additional supply of an inventory component is ordered. The target inventory level is determined based at least in part on the usage variability of the component. In one arrangement, the usage of the component over periods of time that correspond to a supplier lead-time of that component are utilized. The usage groups generally include several days (or other time periods) of usage data and typically haw a reduced variance compared to, for example, day-to-day usage. These reduced variance usage groups may be utilized to more accurately calculate future inventory levels for an inventory component. Further, all information is based on actual historical usage data as opposed to unsupported forecasts (e.g., sales growth forecasts).

Abstract: An assembly model is identified including a plurality of part models. Each part model is a predefined, selectable model corresponding to at least one part in a plurality of assembly parts. The assembly model is presented and a sequence of user selections identifying part models in the assembly model are received through a user interface. User selections can correspond to designations of parts to be removed from the modeled assembly during a disassembly of the assembly. Selected part models are removed from the displayed presentation in response to corresponding user selections. A disassembly order is generated including an ordered grouping of disassembly steps, each disassembly step corresponding to a user selection of a part model in the sequence of user selections. The disassembly steps are ordered based on an order of selection of the corresponding part models. The order of the disassembly order is reversed and an assembly order is generated for the assembly from the reversed disassembly order.

Abstract: Approximating cycle times within a material flow network is disclosed. One embodiment includes assigning an approximate cycle time for completion of a part number PN within the material flow network by using a model that rounds the approximate cycle time to a nearest aggregate time period and adjusting the assigned approximate cycle time based on a mathematical function representing an aggregate accuracy of an aggregation of cycle times throughout the material flow network.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided that utilize measured isotopic abundance data to correlate a product to the synthesis process by which it was made. By utilizing the principles described herein, isotopic process profiles for synthetic products can be constructed, products of unknown origin can be inferentially identified to the processes by which they were made, and synthesis processes can be monitored for consistency of process parameters.

Abstract: A method, and corresponding computer program product and system, defines and uses marker points within a modeled manufacturing process routing that includes multiple sequenced operations. The method includes receiving user input that defines one or more marker points within the modeled manufacturing process routing and between sequential ones of the operations. The marker points define a user-defined point within a manufacturing process and include one of multiple defined types that each define a different use to be made by the marker point. The method also includes detecting if any marker points of a specified one of the defined types have been defined in the manufacturing process routing. If a marker point having the specified one of the defined types is detected, a predefined computing function is executed that uses the detected marker point.

Abstract: A method and system for integrating a restriction object with a material object is provided. A reference is generated between a material object and a restriction object. A restriction note is received from a supplier having a material restriction for a material in the material object. A material position is searched in the material object using a material number of the material. A selection condition is determined based on which the material is chosen from the material position. A restriction condition is generated in the restriction object based on the material restriction and the selection condition.

Abstract: A property of connection relationship information for identifying an internal/external connection of each point is registered in a part DB 1. When the part is one basic part representing a standard configuration article, an anchor ID is registered in the part DB 1 or a product DB 2. Part group extracting unit 4 extracts parts constituting a system from a design drawing generated by drawing generating unit 3 and a group of parts connected at the connection point for each basic part assigned with the anchor ID.

Abstract: A method, system, apparatus and article of manufacture for producing a customized application. In a preferred method of the invention, a selection of components can be identified which are to be deployed to form the customized application. Within the selection of components, points of variability can be specified which can be assigned values when deploying the selection of components. The identified selection of components and the specified points of variability can be persisted in a template. Subsequently, the template can be processed to deploy the identified selection of components, to prompt for values to be assigned to the points of variability, and to configure the identified selection of components with the values at the points of variability thereby producing the customized application.

Abstract: A design change range determining apparatus assigns a link between the one and another elements to generate link information table regarding the assigned link, and when the element is specified through an input unit, retrieves link information table to obtain the parent node associated with the specified element, obtains a child node associated with the parent node, and further obtains a child node which is a parent node of the obtain child node; and display the obtained parent nodes and child nodes on a display.

Abstract: A computerized system and method for generating a delivery bill of materials (BOM) for use at a production facility. Input includes parts data identifying the parts used in the production process, delivery/process location data identifying areas on the production line where parts are delivered, and packaging data related to containers in which parts are delivered. Each delivery BOM has a code for an associated product and data that defines a relationship between a trailer loaded with case packs of parts, a delivery process code, and a tugger for delivering the packs to line locations. Each trailer holds multiple packs assigned to different delivery process codes. The delivery process code ties the case packs on the trailer to the tuggers and is associated with one or more assembly processes. Each delivery process code is assigned to an associate that coordinates case pack and tugger staging according to supported production processes.

Abstract: Techniques are presented for rescheduling manufacturing releases. A plurality of release information elements are identified based on a first run of a first advanced planning system. The release information elements comprise dates of planned manufacturing release and quantity. The plurality of release information elements are sorted based on associated demand-likelihood factors and a plurality of sorting criteria. Swapping candidates are selected and swaps are performed based on the demand-likelihood factors and at least one swapping constraint. The plurality of release information elements are then fixed and output as results. A second run of an advanced planning system is optionally performed before output and may include stability features.

Abstract: A computer-implemented automated building mechanical systems design and modeling is described. The system provides a central source for all of the design and construction information for systems in a construction project in a coordinated two-dimensional and three-dimensional spatial database that is accessible as a means to produce automatically coordinated design development and construction document information of the mechanical systems. The system acquires and stores all of the appropriate design, engineering, and construction expertise information available for any building type for use in automatically assembling and coordinating the design, cost-estimating, and scheduling for the mechanical systems of the construction project. The system output model enables automatic generation of drawings and cost, manufacturing and scheduling information.

Abstract: A computer aided design system is provided that includes a display, an input unit for inputting a circuit search-range narrowing condition, and a processing unit for, when a circuit topology of a circuit to be designed is changed, finding recommended circuits by searching a database, which stores part data and circuit data, based on the circuit search-range narrowing condition, and displaying a list of the recommended circuits on the display.

Abstract: The present inventors devised, among other things, systems, methods, and software that radically simplify and reduce the time necessary to specify, design, manufacture, and document control panels and wiring harnesses for semi-custom and custom equipment, such as HVAC equipment. One exemplary system includes a computerized product configuration module that defines product family parameters from user input and outputs a product family data structure, for example, a coded character string, to a technical design module. The technical design module, which incorporates engineering design rules for control panels and wiring modules, automatically processes the coded character string, outputting detailed engineering drawings, component listings, and even assembly instructions to robotic manufacturing equipment.

Abstract: Order handling apparatus of the present invention stores assembly standard information that at least one component is managed for each assembly and component standard information which is basic information of a component to be mapped with each other. Order handling apparatus duplicates component standard information together with assembly standard information to generate individual assembly information for arranging an assembly, assigns arranging formation representing whether a component is arranged or not to generate individual component information and stores them. Order handling apparatus determines whether to reflect an update of component standard information in component standard information contained in individual assembly information based on arranging information when component standard information stored in standard assembly storing unit is updated.

Abstract: A method of producing a product composed of a set of components generally consisting of providing certain raw materials suitable to produce such components; providing a CNC machine operable upon suitable programming to produce the components from the raw materials; providing programming for the machine suitable for forming the components from the raw materials; soliciting the sale of the components to a prospective customer intended for assembly by the customer in producing the product; producing the components from the raw materials, utilizing the machine suitably programmed upon the sale of the components to the customer; and delivering the components to the customer for assembly thereof by the customer to produce the product composed of the components.

Abstract: A method of managing work-in-process (WIP) inventory includes receiving inputs, via a user interface of a computer processing device. The inputs correspond to variables defined for modules. Each of the modules includes a set of instructions for determining and quantifying a corresponding WIP inventory driver. The method also includes executing instructions on the inputs by one or more of the modules. The inputs are applied to corresponding modules based on respective variables defined for the modules. The method further includes deriving a quantified WIP inventory resulting from execution of the instructions categorized by corresponding WIP inventory drivers.

Abstract: A method and system for design and development of financial instruments which enables businesses to benefit from the economic value of risk management. First the system develops a methodology, for specific sector, to extract root products. A database is designed to continually update the technical specifications of root products to ensure the uniformity of defined generic specification. Next the system database continually monitors, stores and analyzes the market intelligence required for determining the products relative market strength. Finally, a flexible contract product is designed transforming these products to financial instruments. Such financial instruments are continuously updated, added and deleted as the technical and market conditions change.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method and system for receiving a product parts list containing parts for creating a product variant of a product and updating a bill of material with the parts and a selection condition to identify a part of the product variant. The method includes determining a characteristic and a characteristic value of the parts of the product variant and generating a variant demand object for the product variant.

Abstract: A bill of material and a design layout are aligned to generate a configuration for a virtual vehicle. The bill of material includes a part number and usage associated with a part. The design layout includes a CAD model of the part. CAD models in vehicle position are generated from the design layout. Logical positions are identified based on the usage and the CAD models in vehicle position are associated with the logical positions. Feature conditions are applied to the CAD models in vehicle position representing content and position configuration.

Abstract: A generic, integrated, parametric, automated product configuration system for parametric configuration of products such as offices on a building space plan. The system can produce bills of materials, costings and manufacturing drawings in real-time at the request of a user as the user specifies and configures the product components and parameters values. The system provides for real time three-dimensional visualization and editing of the product as it is configured. It also includes a rule engine for validating the product and automatically incorporating missing necessary components in a configuration in real-time as the user configures a product.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for the automatic configuration of digital utility meters. One embodiment provides for pre-producing digital devices, the digital devices comprising integrated module components, configured for communication with a data management system via a wireless network and further configured for monitoring capability, producing a list file associated with the digital devices and including identities for each integrated module component, activating a digital devices using the wireless network, and distributing deployment information to the digital device from at least one configuration server via the wireless network, including customer data for configuring the digital device and for registering the digital device with a transaction management system.

Abstract: The present inventors devised, among other things, systems, methods, and software that radically simplify and reduce the time necessary to specify, design, manufacture, and document control panels and wiring harnesses for semi-custom and custom equipment, such as HVAC equipment. One exemplary system includes a computerized product configuration module that defines product family parameters from user input and outputs a product family data structure, for example, a coded character string, to a technical design module. The technical design module, which incorporates engineering design rules for control panels and wiring modules, automatically processes the coded character string, outputting detailed engineering drawings, component listings, and even assembly instructions to robotic manufacturing equipment.

Abstract: A system for processing material includes a computer connected to a saw. A pusher is used to convey material along a processing path. The computer is programmed to control optimal processing of material to satisfy a cut list.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are directed to manufacturing a medical device in a way that minimizes the possibility of defects. Because of the general increasing desire to eliminate lead from the environment, electronic producers are removing lead from their manufacturing processes. The lead had beneficial qualities, however, in that it prevented other metals, in particular tin, from developing “whiskers,” believed to be caused from thermal and mechanical stress of the tin parts or components. Removing the lead has caused an increasing incidence of failure in electronic devices. Many vendors, believing that lead-free devices are universally desirable, routinely substitute lead-free components for components that previously contained lead. Oftentimes these substitutions are made without knowledge of the buyer. Some devices, in particular life-saving devices, may be adversely affected by such a substitution.

Abstract: A system and method of synchronizing recipes and bills of materials (BOM). An approved recipe is parameterized in a planning interface. A BOM is synchronized with the parameterized recipe. The BOM is then displayed in a graphical user interface to allow a user to modify by a resolve conflict present during synchronization.

Abstract: A method and corresponding CAD system and computer-readable medium. The method includes receiving a part definition for a first part model, the part definition including intelligent part manufacturing information (IPMI) data that defines requirements for at least one second part model in an assembly model. The method also includes placing the first part model in the assembly model. The method also includes processing the IPMI data, including transferring at least one requirement from the first part model to the second part model. The method can also include loading the IMPI from the second part model, wherein the IPMI loaded from the second part model is used for manufacturing a physical part corresponding to the second part model.

Abstract: A material management system and method for utilizing components from an existing manufacturing line to configure a predetermined manufacturing line is provided. The system and method includes an inventory, and an interface. The inventory is stored in a database and includes a list of components of existing manufacturing lines. A first processor is in communication with the database. The interface is operable to transmit information relating to the predetermined manufacturing line to the first processor so as to generate a list having all of the components needed to configure the predetermined manufacturing line. The first processor is further operable to process the inventory and identify all components in the inventory which are compatible for use in the predetermined manufacturing line and generate a list of compatible components. The interface is operable to selectively choose any component from the list of compatible components for use in the predetermined manufacturing line.

Abstract: A product lifecycle management system cannot interact with 3D models and data representing a product or process that lacks information for creating a three-dimensional model in a seamless and uniform manner. Such incompatible data includes legacy and conceptual data. Accordingly, a method and corresponding apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention are provided to create from such data, an intermediary representation that is compatible with the three-dimensional model domain but differs from a three-dimensional model that has real-world geometry of the product or process. The intermediary structure is formed in a manner that enables the product lifecycle management system to interact with the intermediary representation and three-dimensional models in a seamless and uniform manner, and is capable of being updated with real-world geometry of the product or process.

Abstract: A product-line managing module includes a code and bill of material (BOM) generator module and a configuration management module. The code and BOM generator module: receives data dictionary entries and interface information; generates a product BOM of at least one of a product based on the data dictionary entries and interface information; and generates autocode for N modules based on the data dictionary entries and interface information, where N is an integer greater than 1. The configuration management module assembles the autocode to generate the product.

Abstract: The present invention is a method and apparatus for automatically generating an optimal configuration of a product having a complex design, using logic implemented on digital computer processing system. A general configuration for the product will be broken down into a hierarchy of subdesigns by a designer of an artifact type, such as a bus. A particular instance of the product type must satisfy a set of external parametric constraints specified by a user. These constraints may take the form of a range of values for some performance characteristic of the product. Constraints may also be imposed for other reasons, such as governmental regulations or business requirements. The hierarchical decomposition facilitates the solution of highly complex problems. Criteria for a best solution may be specified for a given subdesign, for a collection of subdesigns, or globally. The tentative selection of a particular subdesign may impose internally generated parametric constraints upon a subsequent subdesign solution.

Abstract: The method provides a planning system where production plans and safety stocks are determined simultaneously, thus resulting in coupled target stock calculation and production plan. The closer the manufacturing process gets to the next production event, the lower the safety stock needs to be. In this approach, assumptions on the average production lead time—which might be wrong—do not need to be made. Indeed, if the production plan and the safety stock are simultaneously computed, it is clear when the next production is going to occur. As a result, production variability only needs to be considered in relation to the probability of unexpected events in manufacturing (e.g. a machine breakdown) as opposed to taking provision for variability of the production cycle due to situations that can be anticipated at the planning step.

Abstract: In accordance with some embodiments of the invention, an optimal allocation of items to meet a particular order is calculated. The items, then, may be allocated to the order according to the calculated allocation. In one set of embodiments, a procedure may be implemented to allocate items so as to provide an amount of material closest to the ordered amount. In another set of embodiments, a procedure may be implemented to allocate items so as to minimize the number of items chosen while still remaining within a tolerance for the order (which may be established by customer policy, company policy, etc.).

Abstract: According to one embodiment of the invention, a computer implemented system includes an integrated logistics support system and a product integrity analysis system that utilize an integrated database. The product integrity analysis system is operable to retrieve at least a portion of logistics data records from the database, calculate an anticipated integrity value of the product using the portion of logistics data records, and store the anticipated integrity value of the product in the database.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for re-calculating low level codes for a plurality of bill of materials that receives a list of a plurality of materials connected by a first set of edges that represent a component subcomponent relationship and a second set of edges that represent a co-product relationship. The same low level code may be assigned to each material connected by the second set of edges, the assigning includes forming at least one equal group. Each equal group may include the number of nodes in the equal group, a list of nodes in the at least one equal group that have been processed, and the low level code for the equal group. The results of the low level code assignment may be displayed to allow the user to receive the materials in the equal group at the same time.

Abstract: A computer based system is provided that is capable of displaying component and process structures for configurable product classes stored in a data structure. Product classes in the data structure are represented by product nodes. Components, which are abstractions of concrete items used in the product, are represented by component nodes. Component nodes are mapped to each product class with which the component is associated, and are associated with one or more component variants, which are concrete items used in the manufacture of a particular product variant. Process nodes, which are abstractions of actual steps required to produce a product variant, known as process variants, are represented by process nodes. The computer based system can display several alternative views of the data structure. For example, upon receiving a selection for a particular product class, the computer based system converts and can graphically display all component and process nodes associated with that product class.