Manufacturing systems that employ intelligent sensing and methods for processing workpieces using such manufacturing systems, including methods of batch processing workpieces. The manufacturing systems may include a holding device to receive work order documents, where each work order document includes an identification tag, and each work order document corresponds with a specific manufacturing step. A scanner may be proximate to the holding device and associated with a workstation, where the scanner is configured to detect the identification tag of the work order documents held by the holding device. A control system may interpret the detected identification tag, identify the work order document associated with the interpreted identification tag, identify the specific manufacturing step corresponding with the identified work order document, and generate an output that includes an instruction for carrying out the manufacturing step at the workstation.

A production management system includes a plurality of production facilities, a first operation instruction provider, and a management device. The first operation instruction provider gives a first operator an instruction to deliver workpiece into and out of a predetermined one of the production facilities in accordance with a production plan and operating statuses of the production facilities and acquires an operation status of each of the first operators. The management device transmits, to the production facility into which the workpiece has been delivered, process data for activation of the production facility in accordance with the status of delivery of the workpiece into and out of each of the production facilities. The management device stores the process data, operating status information on the production facilities, and operation status information on each of the first operators acquired from the first operation instruction provider, such that these pieces of information are stored in association with each other.

A production management system includes a plurality of production facilities, a first operation instruction provider, and a management device. The first operation instruction provider gives a first operator an instruction to deliver workpiece into and out of a predetermined one of the production facilities in accordance with a production plan and operating statuses of the production facilities and acquires an operation status of each of the first operators. The management device transmits, to the production facility into which the workpiece has been delivered, process data for activation of the production facility in accordance with the status of delivery of the workpiece into and out of each of the production facilities. The management device stores the process data, operating status information on the production facilities, and operation status information on each of the first operators acquired from the first operation instruction provider, such that these pieces of information are stored in association with each other.

Manufacturing systems that employ intelligent sensing and methods for processing workpieces using such manufacturing systems, including methods of batch processing workpieces. The manufacturing systems may include a holding device to receive work order documents, where each work order document includes an identification tag, and each work order document corresponds with a specific manufacturing step. A scanner may be proximate to the holding device and associated with a workstation, where the scanner is configured to detect the identification tag of the work order documents held by the holding device. A control system may interpret the detected identification tag, identify the work order document associated with the interpreted identification tag, identify the specific manufacturing step corresponding with the identified work order document, and generate an output that includes an instruction for carrying out the manufacturing step at the workstation.