Patent ID: 7698177

Claim:
A device for displaying a current status during order processing in a production plant, comprising: an interface to a data processing system for obtaining current information from the data processing system about a source, a make and a deliver process of the production plant; a processing unit for processing the current information into a graphic representation selectable by a user, the graphic representation comprising graphic displays of an allocation of a material supply area relevant to the source process, of an allocation of a production area relevant to the make process, and of status information about packing and delivery relevant for the deliver process; and an output unit having a screen for displaying the graphic representation selected by the user, wherein (a) the graphic display of the allocation of the material supply area relevant to the source process comprises: a plurality of orders in the source process wherein each order is graphically represented as a chain of separate screen areas for representing an order number, a supply area and a first color-coded status wherein each order comprises a corresponding order number recorded in a first screen area representing the order number, and the allocation of the material supply area recorded in a second screen area representing the supply area, and status information about a material supply for the material supply area representing the first color-coded status that reflects a current status of each order in the source process with respect to a completeness, defective material components, and a compliance with a time schedule of the source process using a first color code; (b) lithe graphic display of the allocation of the production area relevant to the make process comprises: a Source window and a Make window, wherein each supply area is graphically represented in the Source window along with its corresponding first color-coded status for orders still in the source process, and wherein each production area is graphically represented in the Make window as a plurality of further separate screen areas corresponding to the number of production areas of the plant, with the allocation of the production area recorded in one of the further separate screen areas by displaying information about a related order, and a second color coded status representing status information about the make process reflecting malfunctions which influence finishing the make process using a second color code; and (c) the graphic display of status information about packaging and delivery relevant for the deliver process comprises: a plurality of orders in the deliver process wherein each order is graphically represented as a further chain of separate screen areas for representing the order number and a third color-coded status that reflects a current status of each order in the deliver process with respect to disassembly time using a third color code.