Patent ID: 6865432

Claim:
A method for optimizing equipment utilization and capacity within a batch manufacturing facility, comprising: (1) determining a unit operation sequence for production of a product, wherein said unit operation sequence is a series of unit operations that are required to produce said product; (2) determining an associated duration for each unit operation in said unit operation sequence; (3) determining the longest unit operation duration (UODmax) among said unit operations forming said unit operation sequence; (4) setting a batch cycle offset (BCO) parameter equal to UODmax; (5) determining a maximum length of time said product can be held at any given unit operation before completing said given unit operation; (6) if said BCO is less than or equal to said maximum length of time for a given unit operation, then the number of unit operation cycles for that unit operation is increased until a cumulative duration of these multiple unit operation cycles (UODcum) is as close to said BCO as possible without exceeding said BCO; and (7) If said BCO is greater than said maximum length of time for a given unit operation then the number of unit operation cycles for that unit operation is increased until UODcum is as close as said maximum length of time as possible without exceeding said maximum length of time.