Patent ID: 8769542
Filing Date: 2014-07-01
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
1. A method of balancing workload across multiple cells in a cellular manufacturing environment, the method comprising: compiling a listing of a plurality of jobs and a plurality of cells, wherein the plurality of jobs are to be produced by at least some of the plurality of cells, and each of the cells include at least one production device; and auto-splitting the jobs, wherein the auto-splitting includes: dividing the jobs into smaller sized lots; scheduling the smaller sized lots to various ones of the cells one lot at a time, wherein the scheduling includes assigning the smaller sized lots of the jobs to the cells using an earliest-completion-route algorithm, which includes enumerating a set of feasible routes for each specific job of the plurality of jobs that has a minimum number of inter-cell hops, finding the best schedule by only using those cells identified by the corresponding route and selecting the route and corresponding schedule that finishes the specific job taking into account at least one of production throughput and wait times; determining, once all the smaller sized lots are scheduled, which of the smaller sized lots can be combined with other ones of the scheduled smaller sized lots to form larger lots; and merging together the smaller sized lots determined to be combinable as consecutive lots of the same job, wherein this method is performed by use of at least an electronic processor.