Patent ID: 7490027
Filing Date: 2009-02-10
Classification: G05B

Abstract:
1. A method for satisfying a selected objective function by optimizing the production resources and production schedule of continuous and semi-continuous manufacturing facilities comprising: providing a customizable software application and computerized system to perform the following steps: configure a mathematical model of a manufacturing facility in terms of its major process departments, utilities and raw materials; configure a mathematical model of major process departments in terms of their major process equipment; configure a mathematical model of major process equipment; configure a mathematical model of flows between major process departments and between major process equipment; configure a mathematical model of purchased utility contracts; configure the mathematical models into a matrix to provide an optimized solution to an objective function; enter default attributes for major process departments and major process equipment; create a data transfer interface between said customizable software application and the facility's Management Information System (MIS); enter current material and utility costs, department operating rates, inventory levels, and temporary process constraints into said customizable software application; run a mathematical equation matrix solver software to generate optimized production decisions; execute a gap analysis of the optimized production decisions and actual production operation of said manufacturing facility to generate a comparison gap; store the optimized production decisions from the solver software and the comparison gap; and electronically export the optimized production decisions, the comparison gap and recommended corrective actions to the facility's MIS and/or print these as hard copy reports.