The invention relates to production planning systems and methods. A production optimization system is provided which has the following: a production environment with at least one first machine, a second machine, a distribution unit configured to be connected to the first machine and the second machine via a communication network and to ascertain the machine state thereof, and an optimization unit configured to generate a production plan where at least one task for producing a product is separated into machine-specific sub-tasks for the first machine or the second machine, said sub-tasks being provided with a sequence for the first machine or the second machine. The distribution unit ascertains the next occurring sub-task for the first machine or the second machine from the optimization unit while taking into consideration the respective machine state, to remove the sub-task from the production plan, and to assign the sub-task to the respective machine.

A Multi-Purpose Dynamic Simulation and run-time Control platform includes a virtual process environment coupled to a physical process environment, where components/nodes of the virtual and physical process environments cooperate to dynamically perform run-time process control of an industrial process plant and/or simulations thereof. Virtual components may include virtual run-time nodes and/or simulated nodes. The MPDSC includes an I/O Switch which delivers I/O data between virtual and/or physical nodes, e.g., by using publish/subscribe mechanisms, thereby virtualizing physical I/O process data delivery. Nodes serviced by the I/O Switch may include respective component behavior modules that are unaware as to whether or not they are being utilized on a virtual or physical node. Simulations may be performed in real-time and even in conjunction with run-time operations of the plant, and/or simulations may be manipulated as desired (speed, values, administration, etc.). The platform simultaneously supports simulation and run-time operations and interactions/intersections therebetween.

A production line scheduling method, adapted to a plurality of jobs passing a bottleneck station having at least one manufacturing machine, the jobs respectively correspond to a plurality of job conditions, and the method includes: performing a plurality of times of a schedule simulation algorithm on the jobs to sequentially establish a plurality of schedule simulation trees, and obtaining a job schedule and a simulated finishing period of each job based on the schedule simulation trees; and calculating a plurality of expected feeding times of each job at a plurality of stations including the bottleneck station, each schedule simulation tree includes at least one scheduling route, and each scheduling route is generated from one schedule simulation algorithm, the schedule simulation algorithm includes: performing a node expansion step based on at least one node expansion condition and the job conditions to obtain the scheduling route.

Methods, systems, computer program products, and articles of manufacture for managing a manufacturing environment are described. An optimized schedule for operators is generated based on an optimization data structure, the optimization data structure comprising one or more manufacturing objectives and one or more resource constraints. The manufacturing activity is simulated based on the generated optimized schedule and an initial state data structure, the initial state data structure comprising a representation of an initial state of the manufacturing environment. The simulation results are analyzed to, for example, determine if the manufacturing objectives are satisfied.

A process design and management system for batch manufacturing of pharmaceuticals products. The system permits a user to create a chemical process design based on the user's input data and retrieved process library data which includes material data, process data, and equipment data. The system includes software objects defining operations sequences, and processing operation parameters including materials flows and balances, cycle time, constraints, equipment, generic equipment capability requirements, specific equipment capability requirements, and actual capacity analysis. A graphical user interface allowing multiple views of the chemical process design, including one or more of a design view, process flow view, time cycle view, and instructions view.

A system for operating or designing building equipment is configured to provide a user interface comprising a workspace with selectable symbols representing multiple devices of building equipment, evaluate a user input defining a connection between at least two of the selectable symbols on the workspace according to a set of rules to determine whether the connection is valid or invalid, prevent the user from making the connection in response to determining that the connection is invalid, generate a valid model of a system comprising the multiple devices of building equipment in response to determining that the connection is valid, execute a model-based control process or simulation using the valid model to generate control decisions or design decisions for the multiple devices of building equipment, and operate or design the multiple devices of building equipment in accordance with the control decisions or the design decisions.

A Multi-Purpose Dynamic Simulation and run-time Control platform includes a virtual process environment coupled to a physical process environment, where components/nodes of the virtual and physical process environments cooperate to dynamically perform run-time process control of an industrial process plant and/or simulations thereof. Virtual components may include virtual run-time nodes and/or simulated nodes. The MPDSC includes an I/O Switch which delivers I/O data between virtual and/or physical nodes, e.g., by using publish/subscribe mechanisms, thereby virtualizing physical I/O process data delivery. Nodes serviced by the I/O Switch may include respective component behavior modules that are unaware as to whether or not they are being utilized on a virtual or physical node. Simulations may be performed in real-time and even in conjunction with run-time operations of the plant, and/or simulations may be manipulated as desired (speed, values, administration, etc.). The platform simultaneously supports simulation and run-time operations and interactions/intersections therebetween.

The present invention optimizes the configuration of production lines in a facility, e.g., a factory or industrial facility, through, for example, analyzing scheduling, human factors and other operational information related to the production line and/or facility. In embodiments of the invention described here, facility configuration information is obtained. The configuration information includes an electronic model describing a configuration of machines in a production line. Order information is obtained for a product to be produced by the production line. Operational information related to operation of the production line is obtained. The facility configuration information, a demand information, and the operational information are analyzed to produce an optimal schedule for a usage of the production line. The schedule is applied to the production line.

A system and method monitor and/or diagnose the operation of a production line of an industrial plant which is controlled by an automation system. The system includes a remote data processing server, which is installed outside of the industrial plant. The remote data processing server is configured to receive a digital input signal reflecting at least one control input signal and a digital output signal reflecting a second operational state, to determine at least first and second modeled states corresponding to the at least first and second operational states, respectively, by inputting the digital input and the digital output signals to a digital observer model of the production line and the automation system and by processing the digital observer model, and to forward the first and second modeled states to an output interface from where they can be accessed by modeling and/or diagnosing modules.

A Multi-Purpose Dynamic Simulation and run-time Control platform includes a virtual process environment coupled to a physical process environment, where components/nodes of the virtual and physical process environments cooperate to dynamically perform run-time process control of an industrial process plant and/or simulations thereof. Virtual components may include virtual run-time nodes and/or simulated nodes. The MPDSC includes an I/O Switch which delivers I/O data between virtual and/or physical nodes, e.g., by using publish/subscribe mechanisms, thereby virtualizing physical I/O process data delivery. Nodes serviced by the I/O Switch may include respective component behavior modules that are unaware as to whether or not they are being utilized on a virtual or physical node. Simulations may be performed in real-time and even in conjunction with run-time operations of the plant, and/or simulations may be manipulated as desired (speed, values, administration, etc.). The platform simultaneously supports simulation and run-time operations and interactions/intersections therebetween.