Management control system for forming glassware

Abstract

The present invention is a computer control system for a glass factory having a plurality of individual section glassware forming machines. The glass factory control system preferably comprises four microprocessor systems, respectively responsible for overall factory control, overall shop control, individual shop control and individual section control. At the most general level, a microprocessor called the factory supervisory computer performs such functions as scheduling jobs, controlling inventory, forecasting sales, determining fuel availability and cost, performing IS machine simulation and providing maintenance information. At the next level, another microprocessor called the console computer stores and manages all job history files, provides shop status information on demand and collects selected production data. Each shop computer performs such functions as controlling a stacker motor, monitoring temperatures, storing section status information and storing job timing information in nonvolatile storage. At the most specific level, each section computer controls the glassware forming mechanism of the associated individual section. In organization, the supervisory computer is connected to the console computer and to the various production support and monitoring systems common to the factory. The console computer is connected to each of the shop computers and also to the various production support and monitoring systems common to the factory. Each shop computer is connected to a plurality of section computers under its auspices and to the monitoring systems of the associated shop. Each section computer is connected to its associated individual section and to monitoring systems specific to the associated section.