John F Laszcz

US Patent:

54672856, Nov 14, 1995

Filed:

Aug 30, 1994

Appl. No.:

8/299171

Inventors:

Donald R. Flinn - Roswell GA
John F. Laszcz - Marietta GA
David H. Withers - Dayton OH

Assignee:

International Business Machines Corporation - Armonk NY

International Classification:

G06F 1700

US Classification:

364478

Abstract:

A method and system for determining an optimal material movement product path within a computer based manufacturing system is disclosed. A transport matrix is created having multiple rows and columns, each associated with a workstation within a computer based manufacturing system. At each cell within the matrix located at an intersection of a selected row and column, the attributes for all possible methods of transport between the associated workstations are listed. Preferably transport attributes, such as transport type, velocity/distance, travel time, capacity, authorization required, fragility, cost and current status of the transport system are listed within the cell and may thereafter be dynamically updated. After identifying a selected product path an analysis of the transport matrix may be utilized to determine an optimal route based upon user inputs, such as the most rapid, least expensive, or most reliable form of transport, for transporting material between selected workstations.

US Patent:

51345609, Jul 28, 1992

Filed:

Oct 23, 1989

Appl. No.:

7/425786

Inventors:

Kate M. Ferriter - Atlanta GA
Stephen P. Krosner - Marietta GA
John F. Laszcz - Marietta GA
David H. Withers - Roswell GA

Assignee:

International Business Machines Corporation - Armonk NY

International Classification:

G06F 1546

US Classification:

364188

Abstract:

A method and system are disclosed for the efficient generation of manufacturing process plans. A visual image of at least a portion of a selected product is captured or generated and displayed on a portion of the video display of a computer system. A library of iconic representations of manufacturing process steps is also displayed, each having a stored textual instruction associated therewith. By utilizing a graphical pointing device, the operator may select a location within the visual image and thereafter select the iconic representation of the manufacturing step desired. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the operator may selectively alter the textual instruction utilizing a known text editor. In the depicted embodiment of the present invention, the textual instructions are automatically sequentially numbered and stored for later use by a manufacturing technician during the manufacturing process. The visual image of the selected product is also altered to include reference numerals corresponding to each sequentially numbered textual instruction.