System and method for dynamically reconfiguring one or more autonomous cells in a print shop environment

摘要

A method and system for processing jobs in a print shop is provided. The print shop includes at least two autonomous cells, and each autonomous cell includes a resource for performing an operation relative to at least one of the jobs. In one approach, the number of jobs requiring an operation at each one of the two autonomous cells is monitored. When the number of jobs requiring at least one operation at each one of the two autonomous cells exceeds a selected number, a reconfiguration mode is simulated for at least one of the two autonomous cells to obtain a reconfiguration desirability value. The at least one of the two autonomous cells is reconfigured when the reconfiguration desirability value differs from a selected reference value.

主权项

1. A system for processing jobs progressing through a print shop, the system comprising a server computer including a processor configured to:
characterize the print shop by a linked graph of process steps that the print shop supports; acquire over a network production related data for at least one production related resource from one of an RF reader and handheld in communication with the server computer, the production related data corresponding with a processing of current print jobs at the at least one production related resource as the current print jobs flow through the print shop; analyze the production related data by characterizing a trajectory of each current print job through the print shop by a linked graph of production steps; represent the current print jobs into equivalence classes; describe the print shop by a collection of the equivalence classes of topologically equivalent directed acyclic graphs; acquire data of future print jobs from a main console of the server computer including production steps required to process the future print jobs; represent the future print jobs into the equivalence classes; map a workflow for each equivalence class onto a layout diagram of a shop floor; identify the future print jobs requiring intercellular flow for processing in more than one cell of the print shop; identify equipment missing within a cell causing the intercellular flow; generate potential cell reconfigurations including different equipment combinations; identify a performance improvement for each combination; for the each combination, determine a reconfiguration desirability value associated with the performance improvement; select the combination with a greatest reconfiguration desirability value; and, output the a configuration corresponding to the selected combination to a graphic user interface of the main console.