Patent ID: 6144893
Filing Date: 2000-11-07
Classification: G06Q

Abstract:
A method of controlling a process for producing product, the process being designed to run at an optimum performance, the method comprising the steps of:identifying a problem in the process, which problem causes the process to perform at less than the optimum performance, thereby causing the process to lose processing time;identifying a bottleneck in the process, such that the bottleneck dictates the maximum speed at which the process runs;determining how much processing time the process loses due to the problem by the steps of:determining a slow running time for the problem indicative of how much processing time the process loses due to the problem causing the bottleneck to run at a speed slower than an expected speed;determining a downtime for the problem indicative of how much processing time the process loses due to the problem causing the bottleneck to stop running;determining a bottleneck waste time for the problem indicative of how much processing time the process loses due to the problem causing product to be scrapped at or after the bottleneck;calculating a financial value of the problem based on how much processing time the process loses due to the problem;prioritizing the problem based on the financial value of the problem.