| US 7,587,804 B2 | ||
| System and method for optimization of product throughput | ||
| Eric A. Steinhilper, Harrison Township, Macomb County, Mich. (US); James N. Nickolaou, Clarkston, Mich. (US); Henry W. Baker, Novi, Mich. (US); and Norman Ellis Hovis, Jr., Linden, Mich. (US) | ||
| Assigned to General Motors Corporation, Detroit, Mich. (US) | ||
| Filed on Dec. 20, 2004, as Appl. No. 11/17,413. | ||
| Prior Publication US 2006/0136085 A1, Jun. 22, 2006 | ||
| Int. Cl. B21D 39/03 (2006.01) | ||
| U.S. Cl. 29—430 | 18 Claims |
| 1. A method for production line optimization, comprising:
monitoring and recording for a period of time the number of units of production in a buffer upstream of a machine;
monitoring and recording for a period of time the number of units of production in a buffer downstream of a machine;
monitoring and recording for a period of time the amount of throughput by a machine;
determining an amount of throughput as a function of the number of units of production in the upstream buffer and the number
of units of production in the downstream buffer; and
outputting a visual representation of the amount of throughput as a function of the units of production in the upstream buffer
and the number of units of production in the downstream buffer.
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