METHOD AND SYSTEM OF MANUFACTURING AN INSULATED MEMBER

Abstract

Described herein is a system and method of manufacturing an insulated member (500). The method includes the steps of: providing, to a computing cloud (310), geometric data of at least a section of a raw part (501) having at least one application section to be applied with an insulation material (502), determining, using the computing cloud (310), a movement data for a relative movement between an manufacturing-site applicator (410), determining, using the computing cloud (310), an amount of the insulation material (502) for applying onto the application section, generating, using the computing cloud (310), a control data set at least comprising the movement data and the amount of insulation material (502), and providing the control data set to a manufacturing site control computer (420) site (400) that is remote to the computing cloud (310) and/or a planning site where the geometric data is generated.

Claims

1. A method of manufacturing an insulated member (500), comprising the steps of: providing, to a computing cloud (310), geometric data of at least a section of a raw part (501) having at least one application section to be applied with an insulation material (502), determining, using the computing cloud (310), on the basis of the geometric data, a movement data for a relative movement between a manufacturing site applicator (410), adapted to apply the insulation material (502) onto the application section of the raw part (501), determining, using the computing cloud (310), an amount of the insulation material (502) for applying onto the application section, generating, using the computing cloud (310), a control data set at least comprising the movement data and the amount of insulation material (502), and providing the control data set to a manufacturing site (400) that is remote to the computing cloud (310) and/or a planning site where said geometric data is generated.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of: controlling, by the control computer (420), the relative movement between the manufacturing site applicator (410) and the raw part (501) and of the application of the insulation material (502) on basis of the control data set.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein, using the computing cloud (310), the required amount of insulation material (502) is determined based on a desired insulation value of the finalized insulated member (500).

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein, via at least one user interface associated with the computing cloud (310), the insulation value and/or an insulation material type is input, and wherein the computing cloud (310) determines an insulation material thickness on the basis of the input insulation value and/or insulation material type.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the control data set is queued in the computing cloud (310), and wherein, via a user interface associated with the computing cloud (310), an order and/or content of the queue comprising at least one further data set is changeable.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein, using the computing cloud (310), a total amount of insulation material (502) required is estimated or determined on basis of the queue.

7. The method according to claim 5, wherein, using the computing cloud (310), a total processing time of at least applying the insulation material (502) onto the application section is estimated or determined on the basis of the queue.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein during application of the insulation material (502) process data is collected in a process data (451) set by a manufacturing site process monitoring means (450).

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein an amount of the insulation material (502) already applied onto the application section is determined dynamically on the basis of the process data set (451).

10. The method according to claim 8, wherein utilization and/or costs of the insulation material (502) applied to the application section is determined dynamically on the basis of the process data set (451).

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein, using the computing cloud (310), a material logistics system is triggered to order a stock quantity of material.

12. The method according to claim 1, wherein the computing cloud (310) comprises an artificial-intelligence-module (314), AI-module, and wherein the AI-module (314) performs at least determination tasks and/or estimation tasks of the computing cloud.

13. The method according to claim 1, wherein the computing cloud (310) and at least the control computer are operated in a first operating mode, in which there is a data connection between the first and the second data processing means and an application robot is at least controlled via the computing cloud (310) and the control computer, or in a second operating mode, in which a data connection between the first and the second data processing means is interrupted, at least the controlling data set is cached at the control computer and the application robot is controlled on the basis of the cached control data set.

14. A computing cloud (310) for manufacturing an insulated member (500), comprising: a first data interface adapted to at least obtain data associated with the insulated member, provided by at least one user interface of a manufacturing planning site, a first data processing unit adapted to process the obtained data associated with the insulated member to determine geometric data of a raw part to be applied with an insulation material, to determine a movement data associated with the application of the insulation material onto at least a section of the raw part and to determine an amount of the insulation material to be applied onto the application section, and adapted to generate a control data set, and a second data interface adapted to at least provide the control data set to a manufacturing site applicator adapted to process the control data set to apply the insulation material onto the application section.

15. A manufacturing-site applicator (410) for manufacturing an insulated member (500), comprising: a control computer (420) having a third data interface adapted to at least obtain a control data set by a computing cloud, and a second data processing unit adapted to process the obtained control data set comprising at least geometric data of a raw part to be applied with a insulation material, movement data associated with the application of the insulation material onto at least a section of the raw part and amount data of the insulation material to be applied onto the application section, and an application robot (430) adapted to be controlled by the control computer on the basis of the control data set and to apply the insulation material onto the application section.

16. A system (100) for manufacturing an insulated member (500), comprising: a computing cloud (310) according to claim 14 and a manufacturing site applicator (410) for manufacturing an insulated member (500), comprising: a control computer (420) having a third data interface adapted to at least obtain a control data set by a computing cloud, and a second data processing unit adapted to process the obtained control data set comprising at least geometric data of a raw part to be applied with a insulation material, movement data associated with the application of the insulation material onto at least a section of the raw part and amount data of the insulation material to be applied onto the application section, and an application robot (430) adapted to be controlled by the control computer on the basis of the control data set and to apply the insulation material onto the application section, which is at least temporarily connectable to the computing cloud (310).

17. A computer program element for manufacturing an insulated member (500), the program, when being executed by a processing unit, is adapted for carrying out the method according to claim 1.

Description

[0116] Exemplary embodiments of the invention will be described in the following with reference to the following figures.

[0117] FIG. 1 shows a schematic block diagram of a system for manufacturing a product, according to an embodiment of the invention.

[0118] FIG. 2 shows a schematic block diagram of a CAD design function module, which may comprise a processing unit, a computer device, and/or computer program instructions that perform a technical function when processed by a processor of a computer device, associated with a planning site of a system for manufacturing a product, according to an embodiment of the invention.

[0119] FIG. 3 shows a schematic block diagram of a robot operation function module, which may comprise a processing unit, a computer device, and/or computer program instructions that perform a technical function when processed by a processor of a computer device, associated with a planning site of a system for manufacturing a product, according to an embodiment of the invention.

[0120] FIG. 4 shows a schematic block diagram of a plant manager function module, which may comprise a processing unit, a computer device, and/or computer program instructions that perform a technical function when processed by a processor of a computer device, associated with a planning site of a system for manufacturing an insulated member, according to an embodiment of the invention.

[0121] FIG. 5 shows a flow chart of a method for manufacturing a product, according to an embodiment of the invention.

[0122] FIG. 6 shows a flow chart of a method for manufacturing a product, according to an embodiment of the invention.

[0123] FIG. 7 shows a flow chart of a method for manufacturing a product, according to an embodiment of the invention.

[0124] The figures are merely schematic representations and serve only to illustrate the invention. Identical or equivalent elements are consistently provided with the same reference signs.

[0125] FIG. 1 shows in a schematic block diagram a system 100 for manufacturing a specific product 500. Although system 100 is described below in relation to an exemplary product designed as an insulated member (as an example of product 500), the system 100 can of course also be used to manufacture other products. Exemplary applications of system 100 may be 3D printing, various products in the automotive industry, etc.

[0126] Accordingly, in some embodiments, product 500 may be an insulated member, such as a construction panel used for panelized buildings, in the prefabricated building industry, or the like. In some embodiments, product 500 may be manufactured from one or more production materials, such as a raw part 501 having at least one material application section, e.g. a surface, a cavity or the like, a further material 502 applied thereon, etc. If the product 500 to be manufactured is an insulated member, the further material 502 may be an insulation material. In some embodiments, the further material 502 may be a foamable insulation material, such as polyurethane or the like.

[0127] Still referring to FIG. 1, system 100 can be divided into different sites, namely at least into one or more planning sites 200, a central site 300, which may be a computing cloud site, and a manufacturing site 400, where the actual manufacturing of product 500 may be carried out. In FIG. 1, the different sites are indicated by dashed lines or a cloud representation, respectively. The sites 200, 300, 400 may be arranged remote from each other and may be connectable or connected via a data line or a network communication system, such as the Internet. It is noted that the central site 300 may serve as a kind of central data exchange between the sites 200 and 400.

[0128] System 100 comprises, at the planning site 200, one or more function modules 210, 220, 230, 240, 2nn which may be provided by one or more computing devices, which may also be arranged remote from each other. For example, the function modules 210, 220, 230, 240, 2nn may comprise a processing unit, a computer device, and/or computer program instructions that perform a technical function when processed by a processor of a computer device. The function modules 210, 220, 230, 240 may be associated with CAD design (e.g. function module 210), plant management (e.g. function module 220), robot operation (e.g. function module 230) and/or administration tasks (e.g. function module 240). The function modules 210, 220, 230, 24 may be associated with graphical display means and/or data manipulation means associated with corresponding control means adapted to be data connected to the computing cloud site 300, in particular the computing cloud 310. The CAD design function module 210 is, for example, adapted to provide means for creating geometric data associated with the product 500. In some embodiments, these geometric data may be related to e.g. the raw part 501. The plant manager function module 220 is, for example, adapted to provide a job planer or job scheduler, respectively. Further, the plant manager function module 220 is adapted to process data associated with utilization of the manufacturing site 400. The robot operation function module 230 is, for example, adapted to execute the jobs of the plant manager function module 220 by use of the manufacturing site 400. It is noted that the function modules 210, 220, 230, 240, 2nn are adapted to use computer system resources and/or services of the computing cloud site 300. It may also be contemplated that, in some embodiments, the function modules 210, 230, 240, 2nn are provided by and/or processed on a local computer system. Accordingly, the planning site comprises a data interface 201 connectable or connected to the cloud computing site 300.

[0129] The system 100 comprises, at the computing cloud site 300, a computing cloud 310 which is adapted to provide computer system resources and services via a network communication system, such as the Internet. Accordingly, the computing cloud 310 comprises first data processing means 311, which comprises one or more processors, data storage etc.

[0130] The computing cloud 310 comprises a first data interface 311, via which the computing cloud is connectable or connected to the planning site 200. Accordingly, the computing cloud 310 is adapted to at least obtain data associated with the product 500, which data is at least partly provided by the planning site 200. These data may be provided via the data interfaces 201, 311 by the e.g. function modules 210, 220, 230, 240, 2nn of the planning site 200. The computing cloud 310 further comprises a first data processing unit 312 adapted to process the obtained data associated with the product 500 to determine geometric data of the product, such as a raw part 501 to be applied with an insulation material 502. The geometric data may be generated by use of the CAD design function module 210. Further, the first data processing unit 311 is adapted to determine a movement data associated with manufacturing the product 500, such as a movement associated with the application of the insulation material 502 onto at least a section of the raw part 501, and to determine an amount or quantity of the production material, such as an amount or quantity of the insulation material 502 to be applied onto the application section, and adapted to generate a control data set. The computing cloud 310 further comprises a second data interface 313 adapted to at least provide the control data set to the manufacturing site 400 which is adapted to process the control data set to apply the insulation material 502 onto the application section of the raw part 501. The computing cloud 310 further comprises an artificial-intelligence module 314, comprising e.g. machine learning means, an artificial neural network, or the like.

[0131] The system 100 comprises, at the manufacturing site 400, an applicator 410, and in particular a control computer 420 having a third data interface 421 adapted to at least obtain the control data set provided by the computing cloud 310, and a second data processing unit 422 adapted to process the obtained control data set comprising at least the geometric data of the product 500, such as geometric data of the raw part 501 to be applied with the insulation material 502, the movement data associated with the application of the insulation material 502 onto the application section of the raw part 501 and data associated with the quantity or amount data of production material, such as the insulation material 502 to be applied onto the application section. Further, the manufacturing site 400 comprises an application robot 430 adapted to be controlled by the control computer 420 on basis of the control data set. If the product 500 is the insulating member, the application robot 430 may be adapted to apply the insulation material 502 onto the application section of the raw part 501. In some embodiments, the application robot 430 is an industrial robot having six or more degrees of freedom, wherein other type of robots are conceivable. In addition, the application robot 430 is adapted to handle the production material, such as moving the raw part 501 and/or moving, applying etc. the insulation material 502 by grasping, spraying, pouring, or the like. For this purpose, the applicator 410, and in particular the application robot 430 comprises, for example, a tool, such as a spraying gun, a spraying head or the like. Further, the manufacturing site 400 comprises an insulation material supply device or, respectively, a manufacturing-site material container 440, adapted to provide, and in particular hold, feed and/or convey, the material, such as the raw part 501, the insulation material 502, or the like, to the application robot 430. In some embodiments, the manufacturing-site material container 440 itself or means interacting with it may further comprise a foam reactor, proportioner, etc., comprising a pump etc. Further, the manufacturing-site material container 440 may comprise one or more containers of production material, one or more pallets, or the like. The manufacturing site 400 further comprises a manufacturing site process monitoring means 450, which may comprise one or more detection or monitoring means, such as a camera, a barcode scanner, a RFID reader, a flow sensor, a level sensor, or the like. The manufacturing site process monitoring means 450 is connected to the control computer 420 to generate a process data set and/or data associated with the manufacturing-site material container 440. In some embodiments, the data comprise e.g. process data associated with the production material already used, e.g. the insulation material 502 already applied to the application section of the raw part 501, or the like. Further, the manufacturing site process monitoring means 450 and/or the control computer 420 is adapted to provide the process data set 451 (see FIG. 4) to the computing cloud 310.

[0132] Further, in some embodiments, the manufacturing site 400 comprises a holding device 460 adapted to hold, feed and/or move e.g. the raw part 501. The holding device 460 is connectable or connected to the control computer 420 to be controlled based on the control data set provided by the computing cloud 310. It is noted that the raw part 501 and the application robot 430 may be moved relative to each other by either only controlling the application robot 430 to be moved with respect to raw part 501, or only controlling the holding device 460 to be moved with respect to the application robot 430, or by both controlling the application robot 430 and the holding device 460 to be moved with respect to each other.

[0133] Still referring to FIG. 1, the manufacturing site 400 comprises a material stock 470. The material stock 470 is adapted to store a stock quantity of the production material as used in or as the manufacturing-site material container 440. For example, in the material stock 470, one or more of the manufacturing-site material containers 440, e.g. barrels, containing the production material may be stored. The material stock 470 may comprise means, such as a data interface, a communication interface, detection means etc. to exchange data with any one of the other sites, and in particular with the planning site 200 and/or the central site 300.

[0134] FIG. 2 shows a schematic block diagram of the planning site 200. The CAD design function module 210 provides a graphical CAD design user interface 211 associated with the computing cloud 310. The CAD design user interface 211 is adapted to allow a user to load a CAD file 212 (e.g. a .dwg, .dxf, .ehx file) to be displayed and cached or stored to the computing cloud 310. It is noted that the CAD design function module 210 uses computer resources provided by the computing cloud 310. For example, in this way, geometric data of the product, e.g. a stack of raw parts 501 or a single raw part 501, may be loaded into the in the CAD design function module 210. By way of example, geometric data (e.g. names) and properties are automatically recognised by the software CAD design function module 210, in particular by use of computer resources of the computing cloud 310. In some embodiments, the application section of the raw part 501, e.g. cavities, are automatically preselected for a robotic path. Geometric data of the raw part 501 not fitting to selected parameters, are graphically highlighted. CAD design function module 210 compares geometric dimensions of the raw part 501 to a spacing, padding etc. of the robotic path and graphically highlights the same if the former is too small for the latter. In at least some embodiments, via the CAD design user interface 211, manipulating of the geometric data is possible. The CAD design user interface 211 is adapted to generate an output signal comprising the manipulated geometric data.

[0135] Further, the CAD design function module 210 is adapted to, via the graphical CAD design user interface 211 associated with the computing cloud 310, input further product-relating information, such as a desired insulation value, e.g. a so-called R-value, of the finalized insulated member 500. In some embodiments, on basis of the input desired insulation value, the CAD design function module 210, using computer resources of the computing cloud 310, determines a required thickness of one or more layers of the insulation material 502 and an overshoot of the insulation material 502 with respect to the geometric data obtained from the CAD file 212. The CAD design user interface 211 is adapted to generate an output signal comprising the input desired insulation value.

[0136] The CAD design function module 210 further allows, via the graphical CAD design user interface 211 associated with the computing cloud 310, to input a general application direction for applying the insulation material 502 to the application section of the raw part 501, such as vertical and horizontal. The CAD design function module 210 may be adapted to automatically apply the selected application direction to all raw parts in the stack. Further, the CAD design function module 210 allows, via the graphical CAD design user interface 211 associated with the computing cloud 310, to adjust the application parameters used for application the insulation material 502 to the application section of the raw part 501, such as speed, padding, spacing, direction to be performed by the application robot 430 and/or the material supply device 440.

[0137] In some embodiments, the CAD design function module 210 allows, via the graphical CAD design user interface 211 associated with the computing cloud 310, to select a “picture frame” option. In this process, the application robot 430 starts with applying the insulation material 502 to all four edges of the raw part 501, in particular of a cavity of the same, and only then applies the insulation material 502 in a normal pattern, in which normal pattern the insulation material 502 is applied to a surface enclosed by the four edges.

[0138] On basis of some or all of the above data, the CAD design function module 210 allows to generate the control data set, which is at least temporarily stored to the computing cloud 310.

[0139] FIG. 3 shows a further schematic block diagram of the planning site 200. The robot operation function module 230 provides a graphical robot operation user interface 231 associated with the computing cloud 310. In the robot operation user interface 231 one or more control data sets provided by the the CAD design function module 210 are queued and displayed. In other words, all of these jobs to be done are graphically represented to be listed. The graphical robot operation user interface 231 allows the control data sets to be manipulated, so as to be rearranged, deleted etc. Further, the robot operation user interface 231 allows to display a predicted, estimated or determined job duration time, an estimated finish time, a predicted, estimated or determined amount of foam per job to be displayed, wherein the underlying data is obtained from the computing cloud 310, which provides the computer resources and services required. In other words, the computing cloud 310 summarizes this information to allow the graphical robot operation user interface 231 displaying when most likely the queued jobs will be finished and which quantity or amount of the product material, e.g. the insulation material 501, will be required.

[0140] Further, the robot operation user interface 231 allows an operator to select one or more of the jobs queued, which jobs are associated to one or more control data sets, and to provide, e.g. to load, the same to the control computer 420. Accordingly, the application robot 430 and/or the manufacturing-site material container 440 and/or the holding device 460 is then controlled to automatically process the computer instructions included in the control data set to manufacture the product 500, e.g. to apply the insulated material 502 onto the application section of the raw part 501. During the application, process monitoring means 450 monitors one or more parameters associated with the manufacturing of the product 500, such as the manufacturing-site material container 440, the application of the insulation material 502, etc. Further, the process monitoring means 450 provides a process data set 451 (see FIG. 4) including these data to the computing cloud 310.

[0141] FIG. 4 shows a further schematic block diagram of the planning site 200. For example, one of the function modules 210, 220, 230, 240, 2nn of the planning site 200 provides a graphical user interface 221 associated with the computing cloud 310. The graphical user interface 221 allows to display a number of parameters of the process monitoring means 450. Also a dynamically estimated, which is determined by the computing cloud 310, the quantity or amount of the production material, e.g. the insulation material 502, already used is displayed. It is noted that, on basis of these data, additional production material, e.g. the raw part 501 and/or the insulation material 502, may be purchased from a material supplier. In some embodiments, a material logistics system is automatically triggered to order a stock quantity of material on basis of the process data set 451.

[0142] Further, the graphical user interface 221 allows to display job reports, which are automatically generated by the computing cloud 310 and provided to the plant manager function module 220. For this purpose, the plant manager user interface 221 is adapted to process a signal generated by the computing cloud 310 and to display data contained in the signal in a graphically implemented progress bar or other suitable graphical means adapted to highlight relevant information. For example, the signal may be contained in the process data set 451.

[0143] FIG. 5 shows a flow chart of a method of manufacturing an insulated member 500. In a step S1, geometric data of at least a section of a raw part 501 having at least one application section to be applied with an insulation material 502 is provided to the computing cloud 310. In a step S2, on basis of the geometric data, the movement data for the relative movement between a manufacturing-site applicator 410, adapted to apply the insulation material 502 onto the application section of the raw part 501 is determined using the computing cloud 310. In a step S3, the amount of the insulation material 502 for applying onto the application section is determined using the computing cloud 310. In a step S4, the control data set at least comprising the movement data and the amount of insulation material 502 is determined using the computing cloud 310. In a step S5, the control data set to the manufacturing site control computer 420 is provided.

[0144] FIG. 6 shows a flow chart of a computer-implemented method of providing production material, according to an embodiment. In a step S1, data associated with the manufacturing-site material container 440 may be obtained from the manufacturing site 400. For example, these data may be represented or contained in the process data set 451 as described above. In a step S2, the obtained data, e.g. the process data set 451, associated with the manufacturing-site material container 440 is processed by a data processing unit to determine at least a quantity of material available in the manufacturing-site material container 440. The data processing unit used may be at least one of the first data processing unit 312 and the second data processing unit 422 as described above. In a step S3, data at least adapted to trigger replenishment instructions dependent from said determination of the quantity of material available in the manufacturing-site material container 440 is provided to the manufacturing site 400. These data may be provided via the third data interface 421, which may directly or indirectly connected to the manufacturing-site material container 440 and/or the control computer 420. For example, the replenishment instructions may comprise a message like: “Please replenish container no. xxxxxx by container yyyyyy”. Further, a user prompt may comprise: “Is container yyyyyy connected? Please confirm!”. Upon the confirmation the user prompt, respective data may be provided to the respective data processing unit.

[0145] Optionally, the method may further comprise a step of processing the obtained data associated with the manufacturing-site material container 440 to determine whether a further scheduled job is at least likely to be executable with the available quantity of the material and triggering replenishment instructions if the available quantity of the material is at least likely to be insufficient for executing the further scheduled job. As described above, one or more jobs may be scheduled in the manager function module 220, e.g. the job scheduler. The replenishment instructions may comprise one or more of a message, a user prompt or the like, directed to an operator at the manufacturing site 400, and may be processed by e.g. the control computer 420. Accordingly, these data may be provided via the via the third data interface 421. Further optionally, the method may further comprise a step of triggering, simultaneously or time-delayed, a stop of at least material feed out from the manufacturing-site material container 440 when triggering the replenishment instructions. This may be triggered via e.g. the third data interface 421. Optionally, the method may comprise a step of obtaining, from the manufacturing site 400, data associated with a status of replenishment. For example, these data may be represented or contained in the process data set 451 as described above, and may be generated automatically by the manufacturing site process monitoring means 450 as described above or may be generated upon a manual input by the operator, e.g. by confirming a user prompt.

[0146] Optionally, the data associated with a status of replenishment comprise information whether the material has already been replenished and/or whether the manufacturing-site material container 440 is operational. Optionally, the data associated with a status of replenishment comprise a material identifier of the replenished material, the material identifier at least associated with a type of the replenished material. Optionally, the method may comprise a step of comparing the material identifier with an identifier uniquely assigned to the manufacturing-site material container 440, and using the data associated with a status of replenishment to (i) update material quantity information assigned to the manufacturing-site material container 440 if the identifiers match, or (ii) trigger an alarm signal if the identifiers differ from each other. The alarm signal may be represented by a message etc. directed to e.g. the planning site 200. Optionally, the method may comprise a step of monitoring a quantity of the material taken from the manufacturing-site material container 440. Optionally, the method may comprise a step of predicting the quantity of material expected to be required over a specified or determinable period of time, depending on at least material usage information of one or more further scheduled jobs. Some or all of this information may be obtained from manager function module 220. Optionally, the method may comprise a step of obtaining data associated with a stock quantity of material available in the material stock 470 to be provided to the manufacturing-site material container 440 for replenishment. Optionally, the method may comprise a step of triggering an order of an additional stock quantity of material dependent from the obtained data associated with the available stock quantity of material. This trigger may be done via the third data interface 421, which may be also connected to the material stock 470.

[0147] FIG. 7 shows a flow chart of a computer-implemented method of providing production material, according to an embodiment. In a step S1, data associated with a manufacturing-site material container 440 is provided to a data processing unit. The data processing unit used may be at least one of the first data processing unit 312 and the second data processing unit 422 as described above. For example, these data may be represented or contained in the process data set 451 as described above, and may be generated automatically by the manufacturing site process monitoring means 450 as described above or may be generated upon a manual input by the operator, e.g. by confirming a user prompt. In a step S2, data at least adapted to trigger replenishment instructions dependent from a determination of a quantity of material available in the manufacturing-site material container 440 are obtained in response to the provided data associated with the manufacturing-site material container 440.

[0148] Optionally, the method may comprise a step of capturing data associated with replenishment material to be provided to the manufacturing-site material container 440, the captured data at least associated with a material identifier at least indicating a type of the replenished material and providing the captured data. These data may be captured and/or detected by use of e.g. the manufacturing site process monitoring means 450 or other suitable means.

[0149] Particular examples of embodiments described herein may include, but are not limited to, the following:

[0150] Example 1 may include a computer-implemented method of providing production material 500, 501, 502, comprising: obtaining, from the manufacturing site 400, data associated with the manufacturing-site material container 440, processing, by one or more of the data processing units 312, 422, the obtained data associated with the remote manufacturing-site material container 440 to determine at least a quantity of material available in the manufacturing-site material container 440, and providing, to the manufacturing site, data at least adapted to trigger replenishment instructions dependent from said determination of the quantity of material available in the manufacturing-site material container 440.

[0151] Example 2 may include the method according to example 1, further comprising: processing the obtained data associated with the manufacturing-site material container 440 to determine whether one or more further scheduled jobs is at least likely to be executable with the available quantity of the material, and triggering replenishment instructions if the available quantity of the material is at least likely to be insufficient for executing the further scheduled jobs.

[0152] Example 3 may include the method according to example 1 or 2, further comprising: triggering, simultaneously or time-delayed, a stop of at least material feed from the manufacturing-site material container 440 when triggering the replenishment instructions.

[0153] Example 4 may include the method according to any one of the preceding examples, further comprising: obtaining, from the manufacturing site 400, data associated with a status of replenishment.

[0154] Example 5 may include the method according to example 4, wherein the data associated with a status of replenishment comprise information whether the material has already been replenished and/or whether the remote manufacturing-site material container 440 is operational.

[0155] Example 6 may include the method according to example 4 or 5, wherein the data associated with a status of replenishment comprise a captured, particularly computer-readable, material identifier of the replenished material, the material identifier at least associated with a type of the replenished material.

[0156] Example 7 may include the method according to example 6, further comprising: comparing the captured material identifier uniquely assigned to one specific manufacturing-site material container 440 with a previously recorded identifier uniquely assigned to the manufacturing-site material container 440, and using the data associated with a status of replenishment to (i) update material quantity information assigned to the manufacturing-site if the identifiers match, or (ii) trigger an alarm signal if the identifiers differ from each other.

[0157] Example 8 may include the method according to any one of the preceding example, further comprising: monitoring a quantity of the material taken from the manufacturing-site material container 440.

[0158] Example 9 may include the method according to any one of the preceding examples, further comprising: predicting the quantity of material expected to be required over a specified or determinable period of time, depending on at least one of: (i) material usage information of one or more further scheduled jobs, (ii) material usage information of past usage of a present user, and/or (iii) material usage information of past usage of at least one reference user.

[0159] Example 10 may include the method according to any one of the preceding examples, further comprising: obtaining data associated with a manufacturing-site stock quantity of material available for replenishment.

[0160] Example 11 may include the method according to example 10, further comprising: triggering an order of an additional stock quantity of manufacturing-site material dependent from the obtained data associated with the stock quantity of material available for replenishment.

[0161] Example 12 may include a computer-implemented method of providing production material, comprising: providing, to one or more of the processing units 312, 422, data associated with a manufacturing-site material container 440, obtaining, in response to the provided data associated with the manufacturing-site material container 440, data at least adapted to trigger replenishment instructions dependent from a determination of a quantity of material available in the manufacturing-site material container 440.

[0162] Example 13 may include the method according to example 12, further comprising: capturing data associated with a replenishment of the manufacturing-site material container 440, the captured data at least associated with a material identifier at least indicating a type of the replenished material, and providing the captured data.

[0163] Example 14 may include a computing device, comprising means for carrying out the method of any one of examples 1 to 11 or 12 to 13.

[0164] Example 15 may include a computer program product comprising instructions, which, when the program is executed by a computing device, cause the computing device to carry out the method of any one of examples 1 to 11 or 12 to 13.

[0165] It is noted that embodiments of the invention are described with reference to different subject-matters. In particular, some embodiments are described with reference to method type claims whereas other embodiments are described with reference to the device type claims. However, a person skilled in the art will gather from the above and the following description that, unless otherwise notified, in addition to any combination of features belonging to one type of subject matter also any combination between features relating to different subject matters is considered to be disclosed with this application. However, all features can be combined providing synergetic effects that are more than the simple summation of the features.

[0166] While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, such illustration and description are to be considered illustrative or exemplary and not restrictive. The invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments. Other variations to the disclosed embodiments can be understood and effected by those skilled in the art in practicing a claimed invention, from a study of the drawings, the disclosure, and the dependent claims.

[0167] In the claims, the word “comprising” does not exclude other elements or steps, and the indefinite article “a” or “an” does not exclude a plurality. A single processor or other unit may fulfil the functions of several items recited in the claims. The mere fact that certain measures are re-cited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these measures cannot be used to advantage. Any reference signs in the claims should not be construed as limiting the scope.