IP Library Granted Patent US 7,305,278
Granted Patent B2
US 7,305,278 · App. 10/904,536 · Granted Dec 4, 2007

Enterprise factory control method and system

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,305,278
App. No.
10/904,536
Granted
Dec 4, 2007
Kind
B2
Abstract

A system, method, service and media for managing both supplier-owned and non-owned manufacturing asset types utilizing a supplier model of a product which goes across the manufacturing asset types. The invention maps the model to instances of the asset types and uses a network to control and monitor the assets. The monitoring and control occur according to the model, rules and services and does not require the vendors of non-owned manufacturing asset types to change their manufacturing execution systems.

Claims (16)

1. A method for a supplier to manage the manufacture of a product using both supplier-owned and non-owned manufacturing asset types associated with different manufacturing facilities, comprising;

creating a model for the product build process based on the asset types;

using the model to provide routing from a node to instances of the asset types;

instantiating a codified framework of rules and services at each instance of the asset types;

controlling the product build process from the node according to the rules and services;

grouping the asset types into manufacturing stages;

segmenting the manufacturing stages by operation;

defining a set of attributes for lots to be carried with the lots through the manufacturing stages and transition points;

converting the set of attributes for transmission to a vendor's MES;

defining a lot label for the product;

determining whether the vendor is able to carry the lot label on its MES; and

operating in an alias or non-alias mode based on the determination.

2. A system for controlling the manufacture of a product using both supplier-owned and non-owned manufacturing asset types associated with different manufacturing facilities, which comprises:

a control node at a suppliers site, wherein the control node comprises a MES of the supplier; a network infrastructure that links to non-owned manufacturing asset types; a receiver linked to the non-owner manufacturing asset types through the network; an instance of a rules engine and services that provides data and commands to non-owned manufacturing asset types;

a server operating at a manufacturing site which comprises an instantiation of an instance of a rules engine and services; a monitor engine that is linked to the manufacturing asset types through a channel in which WIP information can flow; and

the server, in response to the rules engine and services, dispositioning the product during manufacturing stages.

Assignments (3)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 1, 2016
From: MIDWAY TECHNOLOGY COMPANY LLC
To: SERVICENOW, INC.
Reel/Frame 038324/0816 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 5, 2016
From: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
To: MIDWAY TECHNOLOGY COMPANY LLC
Reel/Frame 037704/0257 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 15, 2004
From: ENRIGHT, KERRY J.; FURLAND, THOMAS D.; LUTTON, II, DAVID B.; MASLACK, MICHAEL J.; PIKE, STEVEN R.
To: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 015360/0083 →