Patent ID: 7561988

Claim:
A method for centrally monitoring a plurality of sheet metal manufacturing machines installed at remote customer sites and providing customers with support, the method comprising: collecting machine operating data on the processing of a workpiece for each stage in the processing of a workpiece at a customer site of a customer, the machine operating data being individually collected for each of the individual stages in the processing of a workpiece; analyzing, at a central location, the collected machine operating data for one of the plurality of machines; proposing to the customer a solution based upon the analysis; implementing the solution using a computer; continuously collecting data to check effectiveness of the installed machines in processing workpieces and to verify that the implemented solution works; comparing the data associated with individual process stages of newly upgraded or installed machines to a target value; and providing an input to reduce the difference between the target value and the data associated with individual process stages of newly upgraded or installed machines to a target value, wherein the target value is derived from a time study algorithm and time study data, wherein the target value is derived from at least one of the following: a consultant estimate of production capacities of the newly upgraded or installed machines, a fixed value derived from the time study algorithm, and a manufacturing time associated with similar workpieces manufactured by the newly upgraded or installed machines, wherein the time study data is derived from a simulation which verifies process stages employed in a manufacturing process, wherein the time study data derived from the simulation is based upon the duration of the individual process stages, and wherein the machine operating data comprises data on the operation of the installed machines and the effectiveness of the installed machines in processing workpieces.