Patent ID: 7107113
Filing Date: 2006-09-12
Classification: G06Q,Y02P

Abstract:
1. A method for enhancing efficiency of a manufacturing operation based on variable demand and supply, comprising the steps of: selecting a number of bins for transferring material between a supplier and a consumer; determining a production rate of said supplier and a consumption rate of said consumer; determining a delivery time for delivering a bin from said supplier to said consumer; determining a signal time, wherein said signal time includes an amount of time required for said consumer to create a signal notifying said supplier that said consumer requires another filled bin and an amount of time required for said signal to be received by said supplier; determining an amount of material to include in each bin based on a relationship between said consumption rate, said production rate, said delivery time, said signal time, and said number of bins; and filling said each bin with said determined amount of material.