International Business Machines Corporation

Sreekanth Ramakrishnan

Christopher Thomas Foltz

Warren Boldrin

Faisal Aqlan

Eric Allen Stegner

Jason Hirst

Kanayo Okonji

Juan F Garzon

Alex R Jorge-Ortiz

Eduardo M Koster Abad

Michael V Teslani

Nosaiba Dar Mousa

A component testing plan considers both distinguishable components and undistinguishable components for each of the distinguishable components. In addition to distinguishable and undistinguishable components, inputs to the system include a level of customer demand, using component-based demand forecasting, and what test types are to be performed. The system then determines a set of combinatorial test options for each of the test types and a cycle time for each combinatorial test option. The system then cognitively develops a component testing plan including a listing of combinatorial test(s) of the set of combinatorial test options for each test type to be performed and how many times to perform each combinatorial test(s) on a testing machine with a known capacity in order to minimize a total cycle time for all of the test types and a number of the testing machine needed; and implementing the component testing plan on a set of test components on a production line.

Component testing plan considering distinguishable and undistinguishable components

Technical solutions are described to for assigning a team to resolve a defect during a manufacturing process. The method includes identifying a root cause of a defect from a root cause database by generating a reference code. The method also includes generating a defect score based on characteristics of the defect and the root cause, and identifying a set of solutions for the defect based on the defect score. The method also includes selecting a first solution from the set of solutions to implement and determining a candidate skill for the implementation. The method also includes identifying, from an employee database, a candidate employee that has the candidate skill and assigning the candidate employee to the team to resolve the defect.

Defect management

A method, data processing system and computer program product for managing inventory used in a manufacturing operation to manufacture a product. The method includes a processor communicating with at least one database containing manufacturing operation data. Several inventory locations and components are identified within the manufacturing operation data. A current component inventory and space data, historical component usage data and a demand forecast are retrieved. A statistical analysis is performed upon the current component inventory and space data, the historical component usage data and the demand forecast to obtain a target inventory level range for each of the components at each of the inventory locations. An inventory level control chart is generated, based on the statistical analysis, for selected components associated with at least one inventory location.

Performing hierarchical data-driven inventory and warehouse management in manufacturing environments

A method and system are disclosed for determining the locations of parts in a warehouse. The method comprises the step of generating for each part an associated designator having first and second components, including the steps of, for each of the parts, (i) determining the first component of the associated designator based on physical dimensions of the part, and (ii) determining the second component of the associated designator based on a pick velocity of the part. These designators are used to identify locations in the warehouse for the parts. In a preferred embodiment, the first components of the designators are used to determine the distances of the identified locations for the parts from an entrance/exit of the warehouse, and the second components of the designators are used to determine the heights of the identified locations for the parts in the warehouse.

Warehouse management system based on pick velocity

An embodiment of the invention provides a method for storing a cable, including receiving one or more cables on an adjustable central coil. An RFID chip connected to the cable is read via a RFID reader proximate the central coil. The cable is routed from the central coil to one or more adjustable middle coils, and routed from the middle coil to an adjustable outer coil. The cable is dispensed from the outer coil; and, the RFID chip is read via a RFID reader proximate the outer coil. The method modifies the distance between the central coil and the middle coil, the central coil and the outer coil, and/or the middle coil and the outer coil. Specifically, the diameter of the central coil, the middle coil, and/or the outer coil is adjusted. The modification accommodates for the arc limit and/or head size of the cable.

Cable storage and dispensing system

A computer-automated method for analyzing an organizational floorplan layout, and making recommendations for modifying the layout to optimize productivity, and efficiency of operations conducted within the modified layout includes the following method steps. Gathering raw performance measure date comprising performance measures known to quantify the floorplan layout productivity and efficiency of operations, performing statistical analyses on the raw performance measure data and comparing different areas in the floorplan layout using results of the statistical analyses, and generating proximity data as a result of the comparing. The method includes comparing different resources needed to carry out planned operations, including using results of the statistical analyses, and their interdependencies, calculating and evaluating costs associated with operating in accordance with floorplan layout, including using the resources allocation data, and transportation methods and by generating cost data as a result calculating and evaluating. As a result, opportunities for modifying the layout are identified and recommended, which may be used in their entirety or in part to improve operation efficiencies and effectiveness.

Growing community of inventors

Salem, MA, United States of America

Sreekanth Ramakrishnan