Patent ID: 7343211
Filing Date: 2008-03-11
Classification: G05B,Y02P

Abstract:
1. A method for simulating and modeling a batch processing manufacturing facility, comprising: (1) selecting a sequence of unit operations, wherein each of said sequence of unit operations has an identifier code, wherein each unit operation includes one or more tasks required to execute a particular unit operation, wherein said tasks include a scheduling calculation for determining the duration of a particular task; (2) selecting a set of scheduling cycles for each of said sequence of unit operations; (3) defining an offset for each of said scheduling cycles; (4) using said identifier code to obtain operational parameters for each of said sequence of unit operations; (5) generating a flow diagram using said sequence of unit operations and said operational parameters; and (6) generating a process time line using said operational parameters, said flow diagram, said set of scheduling cycles, said offsets and said tasks for each of said sequence of unit operations, wherein said tasks include a unit operation set up task, a unit operation execution task, and a unit operation clean up task, and wherein said process time line is primarily impacted by each said unit operation execution task relative to a respective offset, wherein said unit operation set up tasks and said unit operation clean up tasks impact said process time line secondarily in a back calculating and forward calculating manner with respect to corresponding unit operation execution tasks, respectively, whereby said process time line is used as a tool for batch processing, facility design and/or resource planning.