Bill Of Material Patents (Class 700/107)
  • Publication number: 20110054654
    Abstract: Creating genetic devices for use in micro-organisms or other biological systems is described. In an embodiment a computer system receives at a program editor, input specifying a plurality of part designs, at least some of which comprise part properties expressed as logical variables; and the input also specifies constraints on the logical variables. For example, the input is a computer program which specifies constraints on the logical variables which, for example, relate to properties of the DNA sequences such as reactions and biological behaviors. In an example, a compiler resolves the constraints using a database of genetic parts in order to generate candidate parts for the proposed genetic device. In examples the sequences of genetic parts are translated into reactions and simulated using an automated simulator and/or implemented in a living cell or other biological system. In embodiments the compiler also uses a database of reactions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2009
    Publication date: March 3, 2011
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Andrew Nicholas John Brojer Phillips, Michael David Pedersen
  • Patent number: 7894922
    Abstract: Computer-implemented methods, and associated computer program products and systems, are disclosed for generating electronic data for use in planning the execution of a manufacturing process. The methods, generally, are used in the structural transformation of execution-level routings for manufacturing processes into planning-level routings. The methods applies various transformation techniques when a planning-level routing includes alternative paths, and different transformation techniques when a planning-level routing includes parallel paths. Planning modes are created in the case of alternative paths, and parallel paths generally do not cause multiple modes to be created. Parallel and alternative paths in a planning-level operation also has impacts on how the a planned duration formula is determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Assignee: SAP AG
    Inventors: Jochen Steinbach, Jaakob Kind
  • Patent number: 7890208
    Abstract: A mailing list is created including destination addresses for mailpieces to be submitted to a carrier service for delivery. A unique mailpiece identifier associated with mailpieces on the mailing list is generated by the carrier or other trusted third party. The unique mailpiece identifier is printed on the mailpiece with which it is associated. The mailpieces with the printed unique identifier are submitted to the carrier service. The carrier service obtains the printed unique identifier from the mailpiece. The obtained unique identifier from each said mailpiece is utilized to verify that data associated with the mailpiece has been processed by the carrier or trusted third party. When the unique number has been obtained from the mailpieces, the carrier service, if desired, may note this fact in the carrier records to prevent reuse of the unique identifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2011
    Inventors: Leon A. Pintsov, Robert A. Cordery
  • Publication number: 20110029120
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2009
    Publication date: February 3, 2011
    Inventor: Stefan Kienzle
  • Publication number: 20110029345
    Abstract: Component planning for a product manufacturing enterprise having a central computer device and respective local manufacturing computer devices. A BOM for product types manufactured at the multiple manufacturing plants is maintained in the central computer device, defining that each of the product types belongs to a platform design and includes at least (i) a first component common to all of the products types and (ii) a second component not common to all of the product types. First-component data and second-component data from the BOM are forwarded to a central planning unit in the central computer device for generating a central plan for the first component, and to local planning units in the manufacturing computer devices configured to generate a local plan for the second component used by the corresponding manufacturing plant, respectively. The components are purchased according to the central plan and the local plan.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2009
    Publication date: February 3, 2011
    Inventor: Stefan Kienzle
  • Publication number: 20100332350
    Abstract: Systems and methods for building a product that has a plurality of components. A product builder receives the user request to build the product and communicates with one or more APIs that identify a category of the product, a plurality of components associated with the category of the product, and relationships between the plurality of components. The product builder then displays a first list of components in the category of the product. The product builder receives a user selection of one of components in the first list, and then displays a second list of components that are compatible with the first selected component. The user then selects one of the components in the second list, and so on, until the product is ready to be built. The product builder can then be used to purchase the built product that is specific to the user or direct the user to websites that sell each of the components necessary to build the product.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2009
    Publication date: December 30, 2010
    Applicant: CBS INTERACTIVE,INC.
    Inventors: Tristan G. RINEHART, James LOWRY, Kirill ULYANOV, Malcolm HANSEN, Howard A. BURROWS, Karen SWANSON, Keith Lowell DOHERTY
  • Patent number: 7860594
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method for making an ophthalmic device. In particular, the present invention provides a method for production of a contact lens by means of stereolithography. A preferred stereolithography technique is based on polymerization and solidification of a contact lens forming liquid material by actinic irradiation one layer at a time. In addition, the present invention provides systems and methods for making a contact lens for a specific patient based on the prescription.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2010
    Assignee: Novartis AG
    Inventors: Rafael Victor Andino, Robert Scott Meece, David Rosen, Benay Sager
  • Patent number: 7856346
    Abstract: A test system for data processing circuit design emulates multiple bus masters and provides an arbitration mechanism for coordinating arbitration between those bus masters in the design emulation. The shared bus being tested may be a multi-layer bus and one or more of the bus masters being emulated or bus slaves being emulated may be cut-down emulations modelling the bus interaction itself or full emulations of the intended bus master circuit or bus slave circuit including its operational data processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2010
    Assignee: ARM Limited
    Inventors: Andrew Mark Nightingale, Timothy Charles Mace
  • Patent number: 7856287
    Abstract: A production planning technique inputs demands for products. Each of the demands having multiple due dates, and the multiple due dates having different priorities. An explosion process utilizing linear programming and heuristics is performed to identify demands for components that are used to make the products (the explosion process maintains the multiple due dates and corresponding priorities for the components) and performs an implosion process utilizing linear programming and heuristics to assign resources to the components considering the multiple due dates and corresponding priorities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2010
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Robert J. Milne, Robert A. Orzell, Chi-Tai Wang
  • Patent number: 7853466
    Abstract: Methods, systems and computer program products for supporting supply chain facility performance analysis. Methods include maintaining supply chain facility configuration information for a plurality of supply chain facilities. The method also includes identifying variables that are attributed to performance of the supply chain facilities. Data corresponding to one or more of the variables for selected supply chain facilities in the plurality of supply chain facilities is collected. Performance analysis is performed for the selected supply chain facilities using the data as input. The performance analysis includes executing a data envelope analysis (DEA) based three-stage performance analysis model, executing a statistical analysis and executing a sensitivity analysis. The results of the performance analysis are output. The results include a performance ranking of the selected supply chain facilities, a prescription for performance improvement, a correlation analysis, and a sensitivity analysis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2010
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Peiling Wu, Shang-Tae Yee, Devadatta M. Kulkarni, Jeffrey D. Tew
  • Patent number: 7835813
    Abstract: A method for managing a product manufacturing process is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2010
    Assignees: Hong Fu Jin Precision Industry (ShenZhen) Co., Ltd., Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chi-Chih Wang, Bing-Yu He, Xian-Feng Wu
  • Patent number: 7835812
    Abstract: An apparatus for assisting decisions for improvement of environmental loads has: environmental load per-process collecting means; proportional distributing condition per-parts storing means for storing conditions to proportionally distribute the environmental loads every parts; parts attribute storing means; manufacturing condition storing means; parts attribute calculating condition storing means for storing environmental load calculating conditions to calculate the environmental load per parts; environmental load per-parts calculating means; environmental load per-parts/process storing means for storing the environmental loads every parts/process; bill of materials (BOM) storing means; product manufacturing amount storing means; contribution degree per-product/process evaluating means for collecting the environmental loads per parts/process and calculating a contribution degree of each product to the environmental load amount of each process by multiplying the collected environmental load amount by the numb
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2010
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Miyako Hotta, Norito Watanabe, Hiroyasu Kato, Tomoyo Aoyagi
  • Publication number: 20100280875
    Abstract: A vehicle seat component selection system includes a showroom having a vehicle seat component display and a touch screen terminal for input of customer data such as vehicle identification, vehicle assembly location and vehicle assembly volume. The terminal has access to a vehicle seat component database which defines characteristics of each component, such as sourcing location, cost, and compatibility with other components. A customer seat selection report is created by selecting components from the database, with a signal provided in the event incompatible components are selected. The terminal graphically displays the components as they are selected, and indicates a price range for the seat assembly as it is being proposed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2009
    Publication date: November 4, 2010
    Applicant: LEAR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jeffrey Joseph Frelich, Terri L. Tahnoose, Lisa Samartino, James J. Ryan
  • Publication number: 20100274612
    Abstract: An industrial control system is provided. The system includes a processor to analyze one or more sustainability factors and a scoring component to assign a weight to the sustainability factors. An optimizer automatically adjusts a production process in view of the sustainability factors, the weight, and at least one of a recycling requirement, a carbon footprint, a procurement process, a shipping process, or a regulatory requirement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2009
    Publication date: October 28, 2010
    Applicant: ROCKWELL AUTOMATION TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Marcia Elaine Walker, Philip John Kaufman
  • Publication number: 20100274377
    Abstract: An industrial control system is provided. The system includes tagged data that is collected from a plurality of sustainability factor-associated data sources across an industrial automation environment, where the tagged data is associated with a portion of a process that is attributed to the sustainability factor data sources. A manufacturing model is associated with the tagged data, where the manufacturing model is employed to enhance the efficiencies of the process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2009
    Publication date: October 28, 2010
    Applicant: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Philip John Kaufman, Marcia Elaine Walker, Steven Anthony Lombardi
  • Patent number: 7822783
    Abstract: The present invention is a method of obtaining information regarding an individual's environment using a programmable device. The first step of the method is sensing a psychomotor behavioral element of an activity engaged by the individual. The type of activity engaged by the individual can be any sensible activity under the sun, including breathing, thinking, generating heat, etc. The next step in the inventive method is determining the preferred modalities of the individual based on the psychomotor behavioral element of the activity engaged by the individual. Provided herein are calculations used for determining the preferred modalities of the individual based on the psychomotor behavioral element of the activity. In the present context, the preferred modalities are the semi-conscious or nonconscious desires of the individual, indicated by nonconscious actions, to experience her environment in a specific manner. The information obtained by the inventive method can be used in several ways.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2010
    Inventor: Joseph Carrabis
  • Publication number: 20100241263
    Abstract: A system and a method of multi-objective capacity planning in the TFT-LCD panel manufacturing industry are provided. The system includes a capacity planning module and a multi-objective planning module. In the present method, a capacity planning plan corresponding to different objective is evaluated by the capacity planning module. A set of constraints of each objective is established by the multi-objective planning module according to characteristic parameters, so as to optimize the objective. Then, the optimized objectives are drawn into a graph to select an appropriate capacity planning plan.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2009
    Publication date: September 23, 2010
    Applicant: National Taiwan University of Science and Technology
    Inventors: Kung-Jeng Wang, Shih-Min Wang, Chin-Min Lin
  • Publication number: 20100241471
    Abstract: The disclosed inventions and embodiments relate to the propagation of information among workflow applications used by a design project such as a construction design project and the creation and use of dimensioned and animated models for such projects. The workflow applications may be extended to enable participation in the information sharing or the system may provide functionality external to the tools that facilitates the participation of the tools. Information from various sources, including the workflow applications and third party sources, can be represented and modeled in an animation system. Sometimes the propagation is enabled in part by a store of information that also enabled reuse and reporting. Information used and generated by the various workflow applications is kept consistent among the different workflow applications and among the different representations of that information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2009
    Publication date: September 23, 2010
    Applicant: SCENARIO DESIGN, LLC
    Inventors: Paul Nylander, Gerry Rey, Sanford Damasco, Ryan Trinidad, Paul Buckley, Paolo Hilario
  • Publication number: 20100241477
    Abstract: The disclosed inventions and embodiments relate to the propagation of information among workflow applications used by a design project such as a construction design project and the creation and use of dimensioned and animated models for such projects. The workflow applications may be extended to enable participation in the information sharing or the system may provide functionality external to the tools that facilitates the participation of the tools. Information from various sources, including the workflow applications and third party sources, can be represented and modeled in an animation system. Sometimes the propagation is enabled in part by a store of information that also enabled reuse and reporting. Information used and generated by the various workflow applications is kept consistent among the different workflow applications and among the different representations of that information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2009
    Publication date: September 23, 2010
    Applicant: SCENARIO DESIGN, LLC
    Inventors: Paul Nylander, Gerry Rey, Sanford Damasco, Ryan Trinidad, Paul Buckley, Paolo Hilario
  • Publication number: 20100217422
    Abstract: A design management device for managing data for the design of a final produced product has a unit design storage section for storing unit design data for a unit of assembled parts produced using a plurality of minimum unit parts together with corresponding part design data for the minimum unit parts, a product design storage unit for storing product design data for the final produced product produced using a plurality of units of assembled parts together with the corresponding unit design data, a data transmission unit for sending the product design data to the production management device for managing data for the production of the final produced product together with the unit design data and the part design data, a transmission determination unit for determining whether or not the unit design data for the product design data sent to the production management device was transmitted in the past; and a transmission control unit that does not transmit corresponding part design data when the unit design data de
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2008
    Publication date: August 26, 2010
    Inventor: Hiroki Takahashi
  • Publication number: 20100191360
    Abstract: A system and methods for solid freeform fabrication of an object is disclosed. The system comprises a solid freeform fabrication apparatus having a plurality of dispensing heads, a building material supply apparatus configured to supply a plurality of building materials to the fabrication apparatus, and a control unit configured for controlling the fabrication apparatus and the supply apparatus based on an operation mode selected from a plurality of predetermined operation modes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2010
    Publication date: July 29, 2010
    Applicant: Object Geometries Ltd.
    Inventors: Eduardo NAPADENSKY, Slava Shtilerman, Chaim Kleinhendler
  • Patent number: 7747479
    Abstract: A device for managing inventory, such as tools and equipment, includes a user interface in operable communication with a processor and a storage medium; a transceiver in operable communication with an antenna and the processor, the transceiver operable for communicating with a tool or a piece of equipment; and a notification device in operable communication with the processor. The processor determines if the tool or the piece of equipment is within a specified range of the device for managing tool and equipment inventory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2010
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property, I, L.P.
    Inventor: Joseph E. Page, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20100145492
    Abstract: A method includes obtaining a custom specification that describes at least one option for the product, obtaining predefined configuration data that includes a commodity feature definition that describes a plurality of commodities associated with the product, a commodity interface definition that describes interface requirements among said plurality of commodities, a design table that associates said commodity feature definition and said commodity interface definition for a commodity; and a hierarchy of said plurality of commodities, generating the design configuration as a function of said custom specification and said predefined configuration data, wherein said hierarchy of said plurality of commodities controls order in which said plurality of commodities are applied to said product for automatic generation of the design configuration and said commodity interface definition with said design table ensure coordination among said plurality of commodities.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2008
    Publication date: June 10, 2010
    Applicant: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: Jeffrey Craig Russell
  • Publication number: 20100131091
    Abstract: There is described a method for managing information to actively support the definition of new process flows, in particular in the field of micro- and nanotechnology devices typically developed in cleanroom laboratories where one or more production batches can be executed according to one reference process flow. With the use of this method it is possible to store information suited to trace the reliability and the evolution of technological recipes used into one or more production batches based on a given reference process flow. Thanks to these storing and tracing capabilities, the method addresses the selection of appropriate and reliable recipes while designing new process flows, thus favoring the definition of highly reliable new processes. The method is general and transparent with respect to different recipe types, recipe structures and technologies.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2008
    Publication date: May 27, 2010
    Inventor: Lorenza Ferrario
  • Publication number: 20100114355
    Abstract: To allow flexible determination of a manufacturing method, based upon the know-how accumulated at a manufacturing department, and to realize management of adopted manufacturing BOM data. A screen-displayed design BOM is edited by dividing one part into a plurality of subparts or connecting a plurality of parts to one subassembly, depending upon a command entered from an input device, and the edited BOM is stored into a database. At the same time, a link node that represents a part-to-part connection association pertaining to the plural subparts or the subassembly is created and then displayed on the display screen, with data of the link node being stored into the database. The subparts or subassembly connection relationship pertaining to the displayed link node is entered from the input device, then associated to the data of the link node, and stored as attribute data of the link node into another database.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2009
    Publication date: May 6, 2010
    Inventors: Ichiro Harashima, Koji Shiroyama
  • Publication number: 20100106280
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus reduce the complexity of the design of product platforms, of the design of product lines and of variant management. A product is broken down into systems, which are subdivided into modules. In any given product, each module is realized by one concrete module variant out of a set of possible module variants, where unwanted combinations are avoided. Packaging is supported across one or more systems. Variant management manages the set of all variants as a whole. The introduced method and the apparatus holds the advantage, that products, which comprise common module variants and variable module variants, can be designed more efficiently.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 26, 2009
    Publication date: April 29, 2010
    Applicant: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Thorbjorn Hansen, Christian Staner
  • Publication number: 20100076581
    Abstract: Methods and systems for producing customized dental restoration and prosthesis, particularly denture prescriptions using a computer software program are provided. In this system, digital photographs of the patient to be fitted with the denture are taken, and the photographs are transferred to the software program. Based on these photographs, the program makes certain calculations. The program then prompts the dental professional to select the desired materials and structure for the denture. Based on this input, the program automatically produces a prescription for the denture. The digital prescription is sent to a dental laboratory for making the denture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2009
    Publication date: March 25, 2010
    Inventors: Kimberly L. Violante, Arlo King
  • Publication number: 20100057238
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a technique to easily establish a supply plan which optimizes multiple evaluation indexes on the basis of the priorities of the multiple evaluation indexes. When the number of evaluation indexes stored in the evaluation index storage area is larger than a predetermined threshold, a processing is repeated for specifying two evaluation indexes from those stored in the evaluation index storage area, and synthesizing the specified evaluation indexes by using a weighing factor, until the number of evaluation indexes becomes equal to or less than the threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2009
    Publication date: March 4, 2010
    Inventors: Tazu NOMOTO, Ken IGARASHI, Katsunari IKEZAWA, Takaaki KOMURA
  • Publication number: 20100036516
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method of simulating an electronic circuit, represented in the form of masks and connections, comprising: a) the definition of the circuit in the form of a first list (140) of electrical components and their interconnections, b) the separation of the data of this first list into a first sub-assembly (170) of components to be modified by a filtering step, and into a second sub-assembly (160) of components not to be modified by this filtering step, c) the filtering of the data of the first sub-assembly (170) of components, d) the definition of the circuit in the form of a second list (190) of electrical components and their interconnections, from the data of the second sub-assembly (160) and the data resulting from step c), e) the simulation (195) of the circuit by means of this second list, f) if the result of the simulation is satisfactory, the manufacture of the circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2009
    Publication date: February 11, 2010
    Applicant: EDXACT
    Inventors: Francois CHARLET, Mathias Silvant
  • Publication number: 20100024318
    Abstract: A computerized prefab architect design system (CPAD) and method for the fabrication of frame-structured buildings with all functions, including an integrating device for integrating building design elements including customer acknowledged floor plans, plumbing layouts, electricity wiring layouts and structure/strength parameters into an assembly drawing; a dividing device for forming segments and layouts of wall panels, floor/ceiling panels and roof panels, layouts of roof trusses, and segments and layouts of plumbing, wiring and jointers in accordance with a segmentation rule for buildings comprising a local building specification, segmentation based on a loading size of a shipping container, strength and structural requirements of buildings, requirements for convenient on-site work and flexible assembly lines at factories; a generating device for generating a polygon stencil for components of the prefab architect based on said segments and layouts, said stencil including building frames, functional boards t
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2007
    Publication date: February 4, 2010
    Applicant: SHANGHAI PRECISION HOUSES MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yueyue Zhang, Xiaoyue Ding, Tianwen Xu
  • Patent number: 7653452
    Abstract: Methods and computer systems are provided for reducing the runtime of a material requirements planning run. In one embodiment, a computer system loads a plurality of bills of materials into a data structure. The computer system may analyze parent-child relationships between components of the plurality of bills of materials in the data structure and set for each component in the data structure a counter value that indicates the number of parent components for each component. The counter value of a specific child component may be decremented when the planning of a parent component of the specific child component is completed. The computer system may then proceed with the planning of the specific child component if the associated counter value indicates that the planning of all parent components of the specific child component is completed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2010
    Assignee: SAP AG
    Inventors: Volker Sauermann, Axel Von Bergen, Arne Schwarz, Bernhard Lokowandt
  • Patent number: 7650437
    Abstract: A system and method manages configuration data within a hardware component of a device to support hardware component changes during development or manufacture of the device. A Standardized Virtual Part (SVP) file is formed as a binary file and includes a SVP header that comprises metadata of one of at least schema version, revision numbers, part numbers, creator and description. The SVP file also includes hardware configuration data and a SVP trailer that includes error checking data for data authentication. The SVP file is loaded onto the device during development or manufacture for configuring the hardware component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2010
    Assignee: Research In Motion Limited
    Inventors: Conrad Kreek, Jerry Mailloux
  • Publication number: 20090326697
    Abstract: A semiconductor manufacturing automation system for automatically manufacturing a plurality of semiconductor products by using a plurality of tools is provided. The system comprises a database, a receiver module, a data retriever and a data loading module. The database stores a plurality of manufacturing recipes with respect to the semiconductor products respectively. Each of the manufacturing recipes records at least one of the tools for manufacturing the corresponding semiconductor product and a plurality of parameters for controlling each of the tools for manufacturing the corresponding semiconductor product. The receiver module is used for receiving a request for manufacturing one of the semiconductor products. The data retriever is used for retrieving one of the recipes from the database according to the request. The data loading module is used for automatically loading the retrieved recipe to the corresponding tools.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2009
    Publication date: December 31, 2009
    Applicant: HEJIAN TECHNOLOGY (SUZHOU) CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Zhe Xu, Ming-Chun Peng
  • Publication number: 20090312860
    Abstract: A method for updating manufacturing documents with changes in bill of materials information includes generating and storing the manufacturing documents including wiring diagrams and the like in a standard format, such as a PDF document, but without including the bill of materials information in the manufacturing document. The bill of materials information is generated and stored separately, either as a document or as a master list, for example. The manufacturing document and bill of materials information is linked. Updates to the bill of materials information is entered without requiring changes in the corresponding manufacturing document or creation of new PDF documents showing the wiring diagrams and the like. The linked documents are displayed on a screen on a manufacturing floor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2009
    Publication date: December 17, 2009
    Inventors: Roland Beucker, Giorgi Ediberidze, Sarah Nadine Eigner
  • Publication number: 20090308324
    Abstract: A method for diagnosing susceptibility to diabetes in a dog, the method comprising: (a) (i) detecting in a sample from the dog the presence or absence of a genotype in any one of the following immune system genes: CTLA-4, IGF-2, IL-1?, IL-4, IL-6, IL-1O, IL-12?, IFN?, PTPN3, PTPN15, PTPN22, TNF, or RANTES; and/or (ii) determining in a sample from the dog whether a genotype identified in Table 1 or 3A, or a genotype in linkage disequilibrium with said genotype identified in Table 1 or 3 A, is present in an insulin or IGF gene of the dog; and/or (iii) determining in a sample from the dog whether a genotype identified in Table 2 or 3B, or a genotype in linkage disequilibrium with said genotype identified in Table 2 or 3B, is absent in an insulin or IGF gene of the dog; and (b) thereby diagnosing whether the dog is susceptible to diabetes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2007
    Publication date: December 17, 2009
    Applicant: MARS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Neale Fretwell, Christopher Andrew Jones, Andrea Dawn Short, William Ernest Royce Ollier, Lorna Jane Kennedy
  • Publication number: 20090299513
    Abstract: A product recovery management system is provided for assisting a worker who lacks professional knowledge or experiences of related products to efficiently, easily perform a product recovery work. The system includes a Device to Ubiquitous (D2U) interface module, a product recovery management system (PRMS) database (DB) that stores product information and various types of information related to product recovery, a product recognizing module that refers to one of the PRMS DB and the product lifecycle information infrastructure for information of a corresponding information using an identification (ID) of the product transmitted from the D2U interface module. The system further includes a recovery plan making module provides a user terminal of a worker with steps and related information necessary for a product recovery process through the user interface module using the product information collected from the product lifecycle information infrastructure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2009
    Publication date: December 3, 2009
    Applicant: POSTECH ACADEMY-INDUSTRY FOUNDATION
    Inventors: Suk-hwan Suh, Ju-myung Um
  • Publication number: 20090281651
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2008
    Publication date: November 12, 2009
    Applicant: FORD MOTOR COMPANY
    Inventors: David Michael Knapp, Alan George David Fisk, Gary Stuart Wallace
  • Publication number: 20090276270
    Abstract: An interface tool is provided. The interface includes an aggregator that collects input data from a user and transforms the input data to a form suitable by a business processing system. A format component receives output data from the business processing system and transforms the output data to a form suitable by a user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2008
    Publication date: November 5, 2009
    Applicant: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Hemant Somani Karnataka
  • Patent number: 7613536
    Abstract: The methodology disclosed herein calculates the dates that product must come to stock for every component in the supply chain as needed to meet exit demands associated with a plurality of due dates and priorities. Every planned product stock is thus associated with multiple stock dates and associated priorities as is every planned manufacturing start and every shipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2009
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Robert A. Orzell
  • Patent number: 7606628
    Abstract: A drawing edit management unit of a design management server manages an E-BOM created from a CAD design drawing by storing the E-BOM in a E-BOM database, and notifies a manufacturing management server of design completion. A design change display processing unit causes design change permitted ranges and forbidden ranges to be displayed, upon design change, in accordance with design change verification information of a design change verification database. A parts order management unit of the manufacturing management server requests confirmation when receiving the design completion notice, and manages a M-BOM, to which preparation information including order instructions and manufacturing instructions of a part is added and which has been created from the E-BOM after confirmation, by storing the M-BOM in a M-BOM database.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2009
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventor: Kiyonori Azuma
  • Publication number: 20090248477
    Abstract: A primary product production system and a method of supplying raw material for the production. The raw material is provided in a manner, inter-alia, that is an improvement in the delivery and/or selection of supplied materials used. In a particular form, the product results from metal making and/or the coal industry. In a generic overall description, a customer specifies a processed product as set out in an order which typically includes quality and quantity of processed product such as pig iron or other product, and places it. Changes may also be made. This information is input to a database/computer which then determines from the order which sources of raw materials to the foundry or refinery to produce a primary product which fulfils customer orders and/or changes. The raw material(s) may be supplied from any asset.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2008
    Publication date: October 1, 2009
    Inventor: Angela Bowles
  • Publication number: 20090234696
    Abstract: Exemplary systems and methods for automated design, fabrication, and construction management. A selection concerning a building shape and a building size is received. A database is consulted to determine what design components are associated with the selected shape and size. A report is generated a building design comprising the determined design components.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2009
    Publication date: September 17, 2009
    Inventor: Eli Attia
  • Patent number: 7590461
    Abstract: A production planning method inputs demands for products. The demands have multiple due dates, and the multiple due dates have different priorities. The method performs an explosion process utilizing linear programming and heuristics to identify demands for components that are used to make the products (the explosion process maintains the multiple due dates and corresponding priorities for the components) and performs an implosion process utilizing linear programming and heuristics to assign resources to the components considering the multiple due dates and corresponding priorities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2009
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Robert J. Milne, Robert A. Orzell, Chi-Tai Wang
  • Publication number: 20090228128
    Abstract: A production planning method inputs demands for products. The demands have multiple due dates, and the multiple due dates have different priorities. The method performs an explosion process utilizing linear programming and heuristics to identify demands for components that are used to make the products (the explosion process maintains the multiple due dates and corresponding priorities for the components) and performs an implosion process utilizing linear programming and heuristics to assign resources to the components considering the multiple due dates and corresponding priorities.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2009
    Publication date: September 10, 2009
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Robert J. Milne, Robert A. Orzell, Chi-Tai Wang
  • Publication number: 20090216357
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing electronic circuits including generating CAD data, a bill of materials and an approved component vendor list for an electronic circuit and employing the CAD data, the bill of materials and the approved component vendor list for automatically generating a pick & place machine-specific component loading specification, a pick & place machine-specific component placement sequence and pick & place machine-specific component data for governing the operation of at least one specific pick & place machine in a manufacturing line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2006
    Publication date: August 27, 2009
    Applicant: Valor Computerized Systems Ldt.
    Inventors: Bini Elhanan, Tovi Yadin, Michael Parker, Henry Jurgens, Nadav Pilnick, Mikko Puranen, Tero Laakso
  • Patent number: 7580769
    Abstract: A system and method for providing tool operators in a manufacturing environment with clear and accurate tooling information increases tool operators' efficiency and reduces possibilities of errors. An output device and an input device are coupled to a processor. A tool operator enters a product option and a line number in the input device. The processor automatically selects a previously-defined build plan based on the entered information. The processor outputs the selected build plan to the output device. The outputted build plan includes tool information based on the entered product option and line number. The system communicates with a manufacturing system and a tool design system over a network. Build plans with product option and line number information are created at the manufacturing system, and the tool design system associates tools with the product option and line number information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2009
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Andrew P. Bowman, Mark E. Van Horne, Geoffrey M. Lindblad, Milton O. Olson, Craig A. Neidig, Allan M. Hansen, Ronald H. Eastman, Lynda L. Tuttle
  • Publication number: 20090210350
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and a system for manufacturing of products whose design and/or price are specified individually by a set of independent customers. A customer profile of at least one customer of the set is registered through inputting customer specific data into a customer database. A manufacturer profile of at least one manufacturer is registered through inputting manufacturer specific data into a manufacturer database. A desired product design is specified through a design interface and stored in a design database. Potentially similar product designs stored in the design database are then clustered according to clustering parameters. A matching of potential manufacturers for manufacturing of the clustered similar products is performed in the manufacturer database according to scoring parameters.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2005
    Publication date: August 20, 2009
    Inventor: Adam Immanuel Orre
  • Publication number: 20090204248
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2008
    Publication date: August 13, 2009
    Inventor: STEFAN KIENZLE
  • Publication number: 20090198364
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2008
    Publication date: August 6, 2009
    Inventor: STEFAN KIENZLE
  • Patent number: RE41476
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2010
    Assignee: SAP Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Peter Muehleck, Adam Polly