Automated system for checking proposed human adjustments to operational or planning parameters at a plant

Abstract

A method () for automatically checking proposed adjustments by an individual to at least one parameter at a manufacturing plant includes () creating a proposed vector including at least one proposed entry from the individual. The proposed vector represents a proposed adjustment to the parameter. A database of historical vectors including the parameter is searched relative to the proposed vector, wherein a number ≧0 of similar stored vectors is identified in the searching based on respective distances (d) relative to the proposed vector (). If the number ≧1, a distance measure R is calculated from the (d) for the similar stored vector(s) to indicate of how far or close the said proposed vector is to the similar stored vector (). An alert is provided if the number=0 or R is above a predetermined threshold value (). The method can be used for validation of proposed production planning parameters or process control parameters.