Product release control into time-sensitive processing environments

US8452437B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• International Business Machines Corporation · US

Inventors

• Richard G. Burda · Pleasant Valley, US
• John T. Federico · Wappingers Falls, US
• Oliver Liao · Charlottesville, US
• Thomas D. Stahlecker · Pleasantville, US
• Jonathan Levy · Great Neck, US
• Benjamin Wheeler · Beacon, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Nov 10, 2009
• Grant date: May 28, 2013
• Expiry date: Jan 2, 2032

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y02P90/30
• WIPO field: IT methods for management
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

A method identifies time sensitive processing sequences within a production environment using a computerized device. The processing sequences perform operations utilizing one or more tools. The method also identifies non-committed work in process items that are grouped in non-committed lots for release into one or more of the time sensitive processing sequences, and identifies committed work in process items that are being processed in committed lots within the time sensitive processing sequences, using the computerized device. The method sorts the non-committed lots by a predetermined priority, again using the computerized device. Starting with the highest priority non-committed lot (and continuing with others of the non-committed lots in priority order) the method determines whether there is available tool capacity to process a non-committed lot through each corresponding time sensitive processing sequence using the computerized device. If the tool capacity is available for the non-committed lot, the method releases the non-committed lot to begin the corresponding time sensitive processing sequences, using the computerized device.