METHOD AND INSTALLATION FOR PRODUCING OBJECTS, AND TELECOMMUNICATION METHOD AND COMPUTER PROGRAM THEREFOR

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for producing objects, in particular motor vehicles, in an industrial production process, wherein a plurality of work processes is coordinated by a process control system, wherein the process control system exchanges data with at least one electronic communication device via a communication path, which electronic communication device is operated autonomously and independently of the process control system, wherein a user can enter data at the electronic communication device, which are then transmitted to the process control system as a change data set, and the process control system coordinates the production process anew on the basis of the received change data. The invention further relates to an installation for producing objects, in particular motor vehicles, to a telecommunication method, and to a computer program.

Claims

1. A method for producing objects in an industrial production process, the method comprising the steps of: coordinating a multiplicity of workflows using a process control system, using a communication path to bidirectionally interchange data between the process control system and at least one electronic communication device that is operated separately and independently from the process control system, inputting data on the at least one electronic communication device transmitting the data to the process control system as a change data record, and the process control system recoordinates a production process on the basis of the change data record obtained.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the production process comprises a multiplicity of workflows firmly defined in the ongoing production process and at least one configuration workflow that is used to implement at least one configuration parameter on an object, wherein the at least one configuration workflow can be modified, replaced, added or omitted until a PNR time associated with the at least one configuration parameter is reached when the at least one configuration parameter changes before this PNR time is reached, wherein the at least one configuration parameter defines a changeable selection configuration parameter before the PNR time is reached and, when the PNR time is reached, becomes an unalterable fixed configuration parameter; wherein a) a production data record is generated that reflects at least one available selection configuration parameter; b) the production data record is transmitted to the at least one electronic communication device automatically or on request; c) the production data record is reproduced and the at least one selection configuration parameter is changed by a user; d) the change data record reflects changes of the at least one selection configuration parameter.

3. The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the production data record reflects multiple available selection configuration parameters and at least one of the selection configuration parameters is changed by the user.

4. The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the production data record reflects a production status and/or available fixed configuration parameters.

5. The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the production data record reflects the PNR time for an available selection configuration parameter.

6. The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the production data record reflects information about selection options for an available selection configuration parameter.

7. The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein at least one selection configuration parameter is an individual configuration parameter that the user can use to individualize the object.

8. An installation for producing objects comprising: a process control system for an industrial production process for objects, wherein the process control system cooperates with an interface by means of which data are bidirectionally interchangeable between the process control system and at least one electronic communication device that is operable separately and independently from the process system controller.

9. The installation as claimed in claim 8, wherein a work server connected to the interface is provided that is set up such that data are interchangeable between the work server and the at least one electronic communication device and the work server can receive a change data record for the process control system.

10. The installation as claimed in claim 9, wherein the work server is operable separately and independently from the process control system.

11. The installation as claimed in claim 9, wherein the interface and the work server have a data security device provided between them.

12. A telecommunication method for electronic communication devices that are connected to a work server via a wired or wireless network comprising: a) receiving a production data record at a work server that reflects at least one available selection configuration parameter, which is a configuration parameter that is implemented, during the production of an object in a configuration workflow on the object and can be changed until a PNR time associated with the at least one configuration parameter is reached; b) receiving communication data associated with the production data record at the work server that define a communication partner to which the production data record or information based thereon is transmittable to an electronic communication device; c) transmitting the production data record or information based thereon from the work server to the communication partner automatically or on request; d) receiving a change data record at the work server from the communication partner that reflects a change made for the at least one selection configuration parameter; and e) transmitting the changed data record from the work server to a process control system.

13. The telecommunication method as claimed in claim 12, wherein the production data record reflects multiple available selection configuration parameters and at least one of the selection configuration parameters is changeable by a user.

14. The telecommunication method as claimed in claim 12, wherein the production data record reflects the production status and/or available fixed configuration parameters.

15. The telecommunication method as claimed in claim 12, wherein the production data record reflects the PNR time for an available selection configuration parameter.

16. The telecommunication method as claimed in claim 12, wherein the production data record reflects information about selection options for an available selection configuration parameter.

17. The telecommunication method as claimed in claim 12, wherein at least one selection configuration parameter is an individual configuration parameter that the user can use to individualize the object.

18. A computer program that is configured such that, when executed on a computer it prompts the computer to perform steps comprising: a) loading a production data record from a communication partner, wherein the production data record reflects at least one available selection configuration parameter, which is a configuration parameter that is implemented, during the production of an object in a configuration workflow on the object and can be changed until a PNR time associated with the at least one configuration parameter is reached; b) reproducing information usable by a user on the basis of the production data record; c) allowing a user to change one or more selection configuration parameters; c) generating a change data record that reflects changes of one or more selection configuration parameters; d) transmitting the change data record to the communication partner.

19. The computer program as claimed in claim 18, wherein the production data record is used as a basis for reproducing one or more of the following details as usable information: a) one, multiple or all available selection configuration parameters; b) the production status of the object; c) one, multiple or all available fixed configuration parameters; d) one, multiple or all PNR times for available selection configuration parameters; e) given selection options for one, multiple or all available selection configuration parameters.

20. The computer program as claimed in claim 18, wherein the computer is a mobile communication device.

21. An electronic data processing system having at least one computer on which a computer program as claimed in claim 18 is installed.

22. A data storage medium on which a computer program as claimed in claim 18 is stored.

Description

[0088] The invention will now be explained in more detail below with reference to the drawings, in which:

[0089] FIG. 1 schematically shows a design of a communication infrastructure for communication between a process control system for an industrial production process and electronic communication devices;

[0090] FIG. 2 shows a flowchart that illustrates the essential aspects of the data and communication processing of the process control system;

[0091] FIG. 3 shows a flowchart that illustrates the essential aspects of the data and communication processing of an electronic communication device.

[0092] First of all, reference is once again made to FIG. 1. This shows the already explained production control system 10 and the manufacturing and production level 20 as part of an installation 24, indicated only in dashes, for producing objects 26, which are illustrated as motor vehicles 28 within the manufacturing and production level 20.

[0093] The manufacturing and production level 20 is an exemplary representation of all workflows that need to be performed for producing a motor vehicle 28 and that are coordinated by the process control system 10.

[0094] The process control system 10 uses a bidirectional communication path 30 to interchange data with electronic communication devices 32, communication channels in the direction of the communication devices 32 being illustrated by means of a solid line and associated arrows and communication channels in the direction of the process controller 10 being illustrated by means of dashed lines and associated arrows. The communication devices 32 are operated separately and independently from the process control system 10, as explained above.

[0095] FIG. 1 shows, highly schematically and as an example of such communication devices 32, a desktop computer 34, a smart phone 36 and a tablet computer 38, which is subsequently referred to only as a tablet 38 for the sake of simplicity. All electronic communication devices 32 form computers with the capability of storing, processing and performing data and programs. The smart phone 36 and the tablet 38 represent mobile electronic communication devices 32 by way of example.

[0096] The communication path 30 comprises an interface 40 that cooperates with the process control system 10. The interface 40 for its part communicates with a work server 42, which is usually used as a mediator between two communicating electronic units. The work server 42 therefore defines a communication partner for the electronic communication units 32 and for the process control system 10. In practice, the communication with the interface 40 is effected at the MES level 14. Alternatively or additionally, the communication can also be effected from the ERP level 12. In principle, any level 12 to 18 and also the manufacturing and production level 20 can communicate via the interface 40. Preferably, however, the customer is not meant to be permitted to influence the production level 20 directly, but rather is meant to be permitted to influence it only indirectly via the configuration parameters and the communication with one or more of the levels 12 to 18. As such, the process control system 10 can still perform a final check to ascertain whether the configuration requirement can actually be met, for example.

[0097] It may be desirable for the communication by the customer to take place not with the manufacturer directly but rather with a dealer. In this case, in a variation that is not shown specifically, the process control system 10 can also first of all communicate with this dealer, which for its part forwards data to the work server 42 and in this way to the customer and the electronic communication device 32 thereof.

[0098] The interface 40 and the work server 42 have a data security device 44 set up between them in the form of a firewall 46, through which at least the data that are transmitted from the work server 42 to the interface 40 must pass.

[0099] The work server 42 is connected to the electronic communication devices 32 via a network 48. The connection between network 48 and the electronic communication devices can be provided in wired or wireless form. Particularly in the case of mobile communication devices 32, the connection will be provided in wireless form in a manner known per se.

[0100] The communication between the communication partners takes place likewise in the manner known per se using established transport protocols such as TCP, HTTP, HTTPS or the like. The computer program explained above may be installed as such on an electronic communication device 32. The work server 42 may alternatively have a web server set up on it, for example, which serves as a user interface for the user, so that in this case the computer on which the computer program explained above runs is the work server 42. The production data record is then not transmitted as such to the electronic communication device 32, but rather communication takes place in completely browser-based fashion. The communication partner for the work server 42, from which the latter receives the production data records, is then the interface 40 or, in the broader sense, the process control system 10. In such a case, the communication device 32 serves as a display and input device. In this case, the work server 42 does not transmit the production data record to the communication device 32, but rather only information based on said production data record.

[0101] It is subsequently assumed by way of example that the process control system 10 communicates with the tablet 38. For the latter, the manufacturer of the motor vehicle or a dealer provides the user with a computer program in the form of what is known as an App that the user can use to communicate with the work server 42, which therefore serves as a communication platform. In this context, the term App is intended to be understood to mean all types of computer programs, regardless of the programming language used.

[0102] FIG. 2 now uses an exemplary embodiment to illustrate the essential aspects of the communication and data processing of the process control system 10 in view of the data interchange with a work server 42. In this case, it is presupposed that an order for the production of a motor vehicle 28 has already been placed, for which a configuration data record that reflects the configuration parameters selected by the customer has been transmitted to the manufacturer. It goes without saying that the communication and data processing also include further tests and/or implementation steps that are not shown specifically. The process control system 10 executes a process 100 in which the process control system 10, particularly using the MES level 14, ascertains data pertaining to the individual workflows internally in a step 101 and correlates said data to a production data record in a step 102. This also involves the PNR times for individual configuration parameters being determined.

[0103] The production data record contains information about the status of the production and information regarding whether individual configuration parameters are still selection configuration parameters or are already fixed configuration parameters. Furthermore, the process control system 10 senses or computes the PNR time for each selection configuration parameter still available. The PNR time for a particular configuration parameter can change over the course of the production process. This may be due, by way of example, to changing inventories, internal changes in the process cycle, or alternatively change requests from the customer that have been taken into consideration beforehand.

[0104] In a step 103, a test is then performed to determine whether or not the transmission of the production data record is meant to take place automatically. This has been prescribed beforehand by the user. If so, the production data record is transmitted to the work server 42 in a step 104. This step 104 furthermore involves communication data associated with the production data record being transmitted to the work server 42, which communication data define a communication partner to which the production data record is then intended to be transmitted from the work server 42 to an electronic device 32. After step 104, the sequence begins afresh in step 101.

[0105] The communication data can also provide a stipulation about the type of communication and the communication path. As such, a user can be informed, for example via email or SMS, that a change of configuration parameters is possible. The user can then perform this using the relevant computer program. On the other hand, the communication can also take place directly via the computer program.

[0106] If the transmission is not meant to take place automatically, then it is ascertained in a step 105 whether a request for retrieval of the production data record has been received. If this is not the case, the sequence begins afresh with step 101. If there is a request for retrieval of the production data record, step 104 is performed, following the performance of which the sequence begins afresh with step 101.

[0107] A process 200 is executed in parallel, said process involving a test being performed in a step 201 to determine whether a change data record has been received from the communication partner indicating a change of the configuration of the motor vehicle 28 to be manufactured to the process control system 10.

[0108] While a change data record has not been received, step 201 is performed in parallel with the program 100 in a loop. If a change data record has been received, then the production process is recoordinated in a step 202, with the desired changes being taken into account.

[0109] After the recoordination of the production process has taken place, the program sequence 100 is performed again beginning with step 101.

[0110] FIG. 3 now uses an exemplary embodiment to illustrate the essential aspects of the communication and data processing of the computer program that is installed on the communication device 32. In this case, it is assumed that step 104 in the process 100 of the process control system 10 has been performed and a production data record has been transmitted to the communication device 32. In this case too, it goes without saying that the communication and data processing also include further tests and/or implementation steps that are not shown specifically in this case.

[0111] The computer program then executes a process 300. Said process involves the production data record received being loaded in a step 301. This is followed by a step 302, in which the production data record is taken as a basis for computing the information contained therein. This information is then reproduced in usable form in a step 303, as has been explained above.

[0112] In a step 304, a test is performed in a loop to determine whether an input and consequently a change is made or has been made for the configuration parameters. If so, the input and the change made are taken as a basis for computing a change data record in a step 305. There are various approaches for this. By way of example, the whole production data record received can be modified. Alternatively, it is also possible for only the specifically input parameter to be contained as information in the change data record. The alteration in comparison with the parameter originally contained in the production data record can then be ascertained by the process control system 10 by virtue of the data records being correlated to one another.

[0113] The change data record generated is then transmitted to the communication partner in a step 306. Thereafter, a test is performed in a step 307 to determine whether a production data record has been transmitted. This test takes place in parallel with the described operations in a loop, even if a transmitted production data record is worked on. If a new production data record has been transmitted, the process 300 is performed again beginning with step 301.

[0114] Overall, an electronic data processing system is formed with at least one computer on which a computer program as explained above is installed.

[0115] Data storage media are made available that have such a computer program stored on them.