Patent ID: 8285409

Claim:
A system for providing control signals for operation of a plurality of machines in a manufacturing facility, said system comprising a computer and a communication means, wherein said computer is configured to perform the steps of: determining, for each machine within a plurality of machines in a manufacturing facility, an optimal workstation usage allocation for multiple types of products that are manufactured in said manufacturing facility by employing said computer; determining, for each machine within said plurality of machines in said manufacturing facility, a queue of tots to be processed by each workstation under a constraint that, for each type of product in said manufacturing line, a long-term average of usage allocation is within a predetermined range from a corresponding optimal usage allocation by employing said computer; transmitting control signals from said computer to said plurality of machines employing said communication means, wherein said control signals include said queues of lots; and an input means for inputting boundary conditions for determining said optimal usage allocations.