Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080256541 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR OPTIMAL BATCHING IN A PRODUCTION ENVIRONMENT - A method for processing a plurality of jobs in a production environment may include receiving a plurality of Jobs and receiving one or more instructions into a workflow management system to process the plurality of jobs. The one or more instructions may include a setup characteristic. The method may also include clustering, by the workflow management system, the plurality of jobs into super-groups based on the setup characteristic, determining, by the workflow management system, a processing sequence based on the clustering and processing the jobs according to the determined processing sequence. | 10-16-2008 |
20080285067 | System and Method for Improving Throughput In a Print Production Environment - Systems and methods for increasing throughput of print jobs in a print shop environment are disclosed. A system may include a plurality of resources, a print job workflow management system that coordinates a flow of print jobs with respect to the plurality of resources, and a processor-readable storage medium in communication with the print job workflow management system. The processor-readable storage medium may contain one or more programming instructions that, when executed, direct the print job workflow management system to receive print job characteristics pertaining to a plurality of print jobs processed in the print shop environment. Data determined based on the received print job characteristics, including a form type utilized in the print shop environment for each job and a print volume associated with each form type, may be provided. The plurality of resources may then be assigned based on the print volume associated with each form type. | 11-20-2008 |
20080285068 | System and Method for Assigning Print Jobs To Autonomous Cells In a Transaction Printing Environment - Methods and systems for assigning a plurality of print jobs in a transaction printing environment are disclosed. A print job workflow management system receives a plurality of print jobs each having a job size and selects a first threshold based on at least the job sizes for the plurality of print jobs. A print job is assigned to a first autonomous cell if the job size for the print job is greater than the first threshold. The print job is assigned to a second autonomous cell if the job size for the print job is less than a second threshold. Otherwise, the print job is assigned to a third autonomous cell. | 11-20-2008 |
20080313635 | JOB ALLOCATION METHOD FOR DOCUMENT PRODUCTION - Methods and systems of processing print jobs are disclosed. A feasible route for processing each of a plurality of jobs is determined- For each feasible route, the time to process the job via the feasible route is determined. Each job is assigned to a first feasible route. A first objective function value is determined using a time to process each job assigned to each autonomous cell. A job is selected. A second feasible route is selected for the selected job. A second objective function value is determined by substituting the second feasible route for the first feasible route for the selected job. If the first value plus a threshold exceeds the second value, the second value replaces the first value, and the second feasible route replaces the first feasible route. Selection and substitution are repeated for each job. The jobs are then processed. | 12-18-2008 |
20090021773 | SYSTEM AND METHODS FOR EFFICIENT AND ADEQUATE DATA COLLECTION IN DOCUMENT PRODUCTION ENVIRONMENTS - A production process performance reporting system may include a plurality of print job processing resources and a computer-readable storage medium containing programming instructions for performing a method of providing a report of performance metrics in a document production environment. The method may include receiving job size information for print jobs and identifying a print job size distribution for the print jobs. Performance metrics such as, job turnaround time and inter-arrival time may be determined. It may be determined whether the print job size distribution exhibits a heavy-tail characteristic and a performance report may be prepared. If the print job size distribution does not exhibit a heavy-tail characteristic, the plurality of jobs may be processed with the print job processing resources based on the performance report. | 01-22-2009 |
20090021774 | WORKFLOW PARTITIONING METHOD AND SYSTEM - A system and method for routing and processing jobs in a production environment considers the setup characteristics of each print job. Each set of jobs may be classified as a first job processing speed set, a second job processing speed set, or another job processing speed set based on the corresponding setup characteristics. First job processing speed sets are routed to a first group of job processing resources, while second job processing speed sets are routed to a second group of job processing speed resources. Each resource group may include an autonomous cell. | 01-22-2009 |
20090021775 | WORKFLOW SCHEDULING METHOD AND SYSTEM - A system of scheduling a plurality of jobs in a production environment may include a plurality of resources and a computer-readable storage medium comprising programming instructions for performing a method of processing a plurality of jobs. The method may include receiving a plurality of jobs and setup characteristics corresponding to each job. The method may also include grouping each job having a job size that exceeds a job size threshold into a large job subgroup and grouping each job having a job size that does not exceed the job size threshold into a small job subgroup. The large job subgroup may be classified as a high setup subgroup or a low setup subgroup based on the setup characteristics corresponding to each job in the large job subgroup. The large job subgroup may be routed to a large job autonomous cell. | 01-22-2009 |
20090025000 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR PROCESSING HEAVY-TAILED JOB DISTRIBUTIONS IN A DOCUMENT PRODUCTION ENVIRONMENT - A production printing system for processing a plurality of print jobs may include a plurality of print job processing resources and a computer-readable storage medium including one or more programming instructions for performing a method of processing a plurality of print jobs in a document production environment. The method may include identifying a print job size distribution for a plurality of print jobs in a document production environment and determining whether the print job size distribution exhibits a heavy-tail characteristic. For each print job size distribution that exhibits a heavy-tail characteristic, the plurality of print jobs may be grouped into a plurality of subgroups such that at least one of the plurality of subgroups exhibits a non-heavy-tail characteristic, and each job in the at least one of the plurality of subgroups exhibiting the non-heavy-tail characteristic may be processed by one or more print job processing resources. | 01-22-2009 |
20090025001 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR PROCESSING A SET OF PRINT JOBS IN A PRINT PRODUCTION ENVIRONMENT - A system and method for routing and processing print jobs within a print job set considers the setup characteristics of each print job. Each print job set may be classified as a first job processing speed set, a second job processing speed set, or another job processing speed set based on the corresponding setup characteristics. First job processing speed sets are routed to a first group of print job processing resources, while second job processing speed sets are routed to a second group of print job processing speed resources. Each resource group may include an autonomous cell. | 01-22-2009 |
20090025002 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR ROUTING LARGE, HIGH-VOLUME, HIGH-VARIABILITY PRINT JOBS IN A DOCUMENT PRODUCTION ENVIRONMENT - A system of scheduling a plurality of print jobs in a document production environment may include a plurality of print job processing resources and a computer-readable storage medium including programming instructions for performing a method of processing a plurality of print jobs. The method may include receiving a plurality of print jobs and setup characteristics corresponding to each print job, grouping each print job having a job size that exceeds a job size threshold into a large job subgroup and grouping each print job having a job size that does not exceed the job size threshold into a small job subgroup. The large job subgroup may be classified as a high setup subgroup or a low setup subgroup based on the setup characteristics corresponding to each print job in the large job subgroup. The large job subgroup may be routed to a large job autonomous cell. | 01-22-2009 |
20090025003 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR SCHEDULING JOB SETS IN A PRODUCTION ENVIRONMENT - A system of scheduling a plurality of print jobs in a document production environment may include resources and a computer-readable storage medium including programming instructions for performing a method of processing print jobs. The method may include receiving print jobs and setup characteristics corresponding to each print job. Each print job may have a corresponding job size. The print jobs may be grouped into sets based on a common characteristic and each set may be identified as a fast job set or a slow job set based on setup characteristics associated with the set and the job sizes of the print jobs in the set. The fast job set may be routed to a fast job autonomous cell and the slow job set may be routed to a slow job autonomous cell. | 01-22-2009 |
20090033996 | SYSTEM AND METHOD OF EVALUATING PRINT SHOP CONSOLIDATION OPTIONS IN AN ENTERPRISE - A print shop consolidation system including a print shop consolidation management system with an application is provided. The application is used to (1) evaluate, with a set of information, an operational capacity of a first print shop to process both a first group of print jobs and a second group of print jobs, (2) evaluate, with the set of information, an operational capacity of the second print shop to process both the first and second groups of print jobs, and (3) use the evaluations of )1) and (2) to consolidate processing of the first and second groups of print jobs at one of first and second print shops. | 02-05-2009 |
20090070763 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR CHARACTERIZING ELEMENTS OF A PRINT PRODUCTION QUEUING MODEL - Methods and systems for characterizing performance of resources in a production environment are disclosed. Timing information for a plurality of print jobs may be received at a resource characterization system from one or more resources. A service time distribution may be determined based on the timing information. Resource performance for the one or more resources may be characterized based on the service time distribution using a queuing model. One or more performance characteristics may be provided for the one or more resources based on the characterized resource performance. | 03-12-2009 |
20090094094 | SYSTEM AND METHOD OF FORECASTING PRINT JOB RELATED DEMAND - A print demand forecasting system is provided for use with a print production system in which print demand data is collected for each print job processed during a selected time interval. The print demand data is processed with a computer implemented service manager to obtain a first demand series with two or more demand components and a second demand series with one demand component. Each one of the two or more demand components is less than a selected variability level and the one demand component is greater than the selected variability level. The computer implemented service manager is adapted to (1) generate a first demand related forecast with a combination of the two or more demand components, and (2) generate a second demand related forecast with the one demand component if convergent forecasting results are obtainable for the second demand series. | 04-09-2009 |
20090128856 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MODELING PRINT JOBS - A system and method for modeling print jobs provides a central server that is accessible to remotely located print shops. The remote print shops are able to communicate with the central server to forward print job parameters and to receive the output from a modeling program to enable the print shop to run “what-if” scenarios to maximize print shop efficiency. The central server is also provided with various other print shop tools to assist with print shop design and organization. | 05-21-2009 |
20090147294 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR ASSESSING RESOURCE UTILIZATION IN A PRINT PRODUCTION ENVIRONMENT - A method of assessing resource utilization in a print production environment may include receiving a plurality of utilization profiles where each utilization profile corresponds to a utilization of a resource in an enterprise. For at least one resource in the enterprise, a computing device may determine a distance between a utilization profile for the resource and a utilization profile for one or more other resources in the enterprise. The computing device may convert one or more distances into at least one visualization, and a report management system may generate a report comprising the visualization. | 06-11-2009 |
20090157351 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR IMPROVING PRINT SHOP OPERABILITY - A computer implemented system for segmenting data collected from a document production environment is provided. The system includes determining, with a computer implemented data processing platform, that a set of document production related data should be represented as a non-normal distribution. A first test is performed and it is determined that the non-normal distribution should not be analyzed pursuant to a first analytic category. A second test is performed and when it is determined that the non-normal distribution should be analyzed pursuant to a second analytic category, an output, indicating that the non-normal distribution should be analyzed pursuant to the second analytic category is provided. | 06-18-2009 |
20090157579 | SYSTEM AND METHOD OF FORECASTING PRINT JOB RELATED DEMAND - A print demand forecasting system is provided for use with a print production system in which print demand data is collected for each print job processed during a selected time interval. The print demand data is processed with a computer implemented service manager to obtain a first demand series with two or more demand components and a second demand series with one demand component. Each one of the two or more demand components is less than a selected variability level and the one demand component is greater than the selected variability level. The computer implemented service manager is adapted to (1) generate a first demand related forecast with a combination of the two or more demand components, and (2) use a neural network to generate a second demand related forecast with the one demand component. | 06-18-2009 |
20090268230 | COMPENSATION SYSTEM FOR PRODUCTION PRINTING ENVIRONMENT - A system is provided for planning compensation for a document processing arrangement including a plurality of document processing related cells with each document processing related cell including a plurality of document processing related devices functioning cooperatively to create a cell throughput. In practice, a processor may be instructed to read both a stored functional description of each device in at least one of the plurality of document processing related cells and a set of job processing related information. Responsive to such reading, the processor performs a simulation with the simulation being used to generate a simulated throughput value representative of a predicted output of the at least one of the plurality of document processing related cells within a time interval. In turn, compensation for an operator responsible for operating the at least one of the plurality of document processing related cells is varied on the basis of the simulated throughput representative of the predicted output of the at least one of the plurality of document processing related cells within the time interval. | 10-29-2009 |
20090313061 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR EVALUATING THE IMPACT OF CONSOLIDATING PRINT SHOPS ON INVENTORY LEVELS - In an embodiment, a system of evaluating an impact of consolidating a plurality of print shops on inventory levels may include a processor and a processor-readable storage medium in communication with the processor. The processor-readable storage medium may include one or more programming instructions for performing a method of evaluating an impact of consolidating a plurality of print shops on inventory levels. The method may include identifying a plurality of print shops to consolidate from an enterprise, identifying an inventory policy, receiving corresponding job demand information and determining a plurality of total inventory requirements for the identified print shops. The total inventory requirements may include a total average inventory level and a total order-up-to level. The method may also include determining, a plurality of consolidated inventory requirements for a consolidated print shop and displaying statistics pertaining to the job demand information, the total inventory requirements and the consolidated inventory requirements. | 12-17-2009 |
20090313063 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR EVALUATING THE IMPACT OF MIGRATING TO A DYNAMIC PROCESSING ENVIRONMENT - In an embodiment, a method of evaluating an impact on inventory levels of migrating from a pre-processing environment to a dynamic processing environment may include identifying a plurality of form types to migrate from a pre-processing environment to a dynamic processing environment and identifying an inventory policy. For each identified form type, corresponding job demand information may be received. A computing device may determine a plurality of total inventory requirements for the identified form types based on the identified inventory policy. The computing device may determine a plurality of migrated inventory requirements for the dynamic processing environment based on the identified inventory policy. One or more statistics pertaining to one or more of the job demand information, the total inventory requirements and the migrated inventory requirements may be displayed to a user. | 12-17-2009 |
20090327033 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR FORECASTING INVENTORY LEVELS IN A PRODUCTION ENVIRONMENT - A method of maintaining an inventory of a consumable in a production environment may include identifying a demand distribution for a consumable in a production environment, identifying a lead time period for replenishing the consumable and selecting, from a plurality of candidate parameters, a control parameter that is a function of total inventory management cost so that the selected control parameter corresponds to a lowest determined total inventory management cost. The method may also include using a forecasting model to automatically forecast a total future demand value for the consumable based on the demand distribution, the lead time period and a standard error of forecasting adjusted by the selected control parameter, determining whether additional inventory is needed based on at least the total forecasted future demand value and an inventory position and, if additional inventory is needed, generating an order for the consumable. | 12-31-2009 |
20100097653 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MODELING PRINT JOBS - A system and method for modeling print jobs provides a central server that is accessible to remotely located print shops. The remote print shops are able to communicate with the central server to forward print job parameters and to receive the output from a modeling program to enable the print shop to run “what-if” scenarios to maximize print shop efficiency. The central server is also provided with various other print shop tools to assist with print shop design and organization. | 04-22-2010 |
20100290079 | CAPACITY PLANNING INCORPORATING JOB SIZE DISTRIBUTION - Methods and systems for determining print capacity are disclosed. A maximum job speed for a document processing device and information pertaining to a plurality of jobs performed by the document processing device may be received. The information may include a job speed and a job size for each job. Sets of first and second jobs may be identified from the plurality of jobs. Each first job may have a job speed greater than a percentage of the maximum job speed. Each second job may have a job speed less than the percentage of the maximum job speed. A job size threshold may be determined based on the job sizes for the first and second jobs. In response to such determination, a linear function based on the one or more second jobs may be obtained. The linear function may be a function of job speed based on job size. | 11-18-2010 |
20110002004 | METHOD AND SYSTEM OF DETERMINING BATCH SIZES FOR PRINT JOBS IN A PRINT PRODUCTION ENVIRONMENT - A system for determining batch sizes for a print job may include a computing device and a computer-readable storage medium in communication with the computing device. The computer-readable storage medium may include one or more programming instructions for receiving a print job having a job size, receiving speed information for each of a plurality of document production devices in a production line, identifying a plurality of batches associated with the print job, performing a discrete event simulation to model a makespan for the print job in processing each of the plurality of batches on the plurality of document production devices using the speed information and repeating the identifying and performing until a plurality of final batches is determined, each having a unique final batch size. | 01-06-2011 |
20110058212 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR ASSIGNING OPERATORS TO PRINT PRODUCTION CELLS BASED ON RELATIONSHIPS - A system of assigning operators to cells in a document production environment may include a computing device and a computer-readable storage medium in communication with the computing device. The computer-readable storage medium may include one or more programming instructions for identifying a first plurality of cell operators, where each cell operator may be associated with one or more skills, identifying a cell to be staffed, where the cell may be associated with one or more functions, identifying, from the first plurality of cell operators, a subset of cell operators including one or more cell operators who each possess the skills necessary to perform the one or more functions associated with the cell, selecting, from the subset, a second plurality of cell operators based on at least one relationship amongst the second plurality of cell operators, and assigning the second plurality of cell operators to the cell. | 03-10-2011 |
20110060625 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR ASSIGNING OPERATORS TO PRINT PRODUCTION CELLS BASED ON RELATIONSHIPS - A system of assigning operators to cells in a document production environment may include a computing device and a computer-readable storage medium in communication with the computing device. The computer-readable storage medium may include one or more programming instructions for identifying a first plurality of cell operators, where each cell operator is associated with one or more skills, identifying a cell to be staffed, wherein the cell is associated with one or more functions, identifying, from the first plurality of cell operators, a subset of cell operators comprising a group of cell operators who collectively possess the skills necessary to perform the one or more functions associated with the cell, selecting, from the subset, a second plurality of cell operators based on at least one relationship amongst the second plurality of cell operators, and assigning the second plurality of cell operators to the cell. | 03-10-2011 |
20110066269 | SYSTEM AND METHODS FOR DYNAMIC SCHEDULING IN CELLULAR MANUFACTURING WITH BATCH-SPLITTING - The present application a new and improved system and method of enhanced Lean Document Production (LDP), which applies cellular manufacturing to document printing operations. The LDP process incorporates process friendly cells and, a push model to order to improve efficiency, reduce work in progress and smooth out the “frictions” in production environments. The current application presents an earliest-completion-time strategy for assigning jobs to cells and a dynamic-priority-based-batch-scheduling algorithm. | 03-17-2011 |
20110102866 | AUTOMATED SOURCING FOR MULTIPLE PRINTING PRESS, MULTIPLE WEB PRINTING - A machine-implemented process determines web press printing capabilities and costs of different printing organizations using a processor. The printing capabilities comprise a number of printing units and a number of supply roll stands supplying continuous print media to the printing units. A printing request is received from a print customer through a graphic user interface. The printing request is evaluated using the processor to determine printing request requirements. A comparator compares the printing request requirements with the printing capabilities and costs to identify capable printing organizations of the different printing organizations that have abilities to process the printing request. The processor calculates different print choices and costs based on the printing capabilities and costs of the capable printing organizations and outputs the different print choices and costs to the print customer through the graphic user interface. | 05-05-2011 |
20110125546 | SYSTEM, METHOD AND COMPUTER-USABLE MEDIUM FOR GENERATING FINANCIAL DATA BASED ON LONG TERM DEMAND DATA - A method and system for generating a multi-year variable priced outsourcing contract based on a long term demand forecast utilizing a diffusion model. Historical data comprising print requirements associated with a business process can be determined. The Bass diffusion model can be developed from such historical data in order to forecast a future print demand by estimating a number of customers migrated to an electronic presentment process. A capacity planning approach can be invoked to determine a capacity requirement that matches a projected estimate of the future print demand based on the diffusion model when the outsourcing contract is being developed. An outsourced operation cost can then be developed utilizing the capacity requirement and incorporated into the outsourcing contract. Such an approach can lead to a more optimal contract and therefore improve competitiveness of a vendor associated with such contract. | 05-26-2011 |
20110145085 | SYSTEM FOR ASSESSING ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF PROCESSING PRINT JOBS - A system for assessing environmental impact of processing print jobs includes a processor and a computer-readable storage medium. The computer-readable storage medium in communication with the processor and comprises one or more programming instructions for: electronically receiving a campaign specification data structure including at least one job specification; operatively selecting a plurality of vendors from a database. Each of the selected vendors is capable of performing a job as operatively specified by the at least one job specification of the campaign specification data structure. The computer-readable storage medium in communication with the processor and also includes one or more programming instructions for generating a plurality of environmental impact assessments corresponding to the campaign specification data structure. Each of the plurality of environmental impact assessments is operatively associated with one of the selected capable vendors. | 06-16-2011 |
20110149334 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR PROCESSING A PRINT JOB IN A PRINT SHOP - A system for processing a print job in a print production environment may include a plurality of print production devices in a production line, a computing device in communication with the one or more print production devices and a computer readable storage medium in communication with the computing device. The computer readable storage medium may include one or more programming instructions for identifying a processing rate and a buffer size for a first upstream print production device in the production line, and determining an effect on a second upstream print production device in the production line if a downstream print production device associated with a downstream function exhibits a delay condition. The computer readable storage medium may include one or more programming instructions for performing a modification to the production line such that implementation of the modification reduces the effect. | 06-23-2011 |
20110196718 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR FORECASTING IN THE PRESENCE OF MULTIPLE SEASONAL PATTERNS IN PRINT DEMAND - A system for forecasting an inventory level for a consumable in a print production environment may include a computing device and a computer-readable storage medium in communication with the computing device. The computer-readable storage medium may include one or more programming instructions for identifying a demand distribution for a print product resource consumable, identifying a first seasonal period in the demand distribution, creating a seasonally adjusted demand distribution, identifying a second seasonal period in the seasonally adjusted demand distribution, creating an updated seasonally adjusted demand distribution, using a forecasting model to automatically forecast a predicted future demand value for the consumable, updating the predicted future demand value using, determining whether additional inventory is needed based on at least the updated predicted future demand value, and in response to a need for additional inventory, generating an order for the print product resource consumable. | 08-11-2011 |
20110218938 | SYSTEM FOR SELECTING AN OPTIMAL SAMPLE SET OF JOBS FOR DETERMINING PRICE MODELS FOR A PRINT MARKET PORT - A system for determining price models of a print market port including a processor and a computer-readable storage medium in communication with said processor, wherein the computer-readable storage medium comprises one or more programming instructions for: partitioning a job dataset into a plurality of categories, each of the plurality of categories having a pricing model; determining one or more factors within the job dataset that influence a price of each job; developing an input/output model for each job in the job dataset that influences the price of the job; performing an iteration to compute a prediction error for each job in the job dataset that influences the price of the job; removing one or more jobs from a subsequent iteration that include prediction errors that exceed a prediction error threshold; and performing a plurality of iterations on remaining jobs until a predetermined average error prediction is reached. | 09-08-2011 |
20110286032 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR IDENTIFYING A CAUSE OF LATENESS OF A PRINT JOB IN A PRINT PRODUCTION ENVIRONMENT - A system for determining a cause of lateness of a print job may include a computing device and a computer-readable storage medium in communication with the computing device. The computer-readable storage medium may include one or more programming instructions for identifying a late print job, identifying a plurality of document production stations that processed at least a portion of the late print job, determining an associated contribution value representing a contribution of the document production station to the lateness, determining sources of the lateness, displaying a first visual depiction that visually depicts a measure of a contribution of each of the identified document production stations to a collective lateness of the print shop, receiving a user selection of one of the document production stations and a time period, and displaying a second visual depiction of one or more print jobs processed by the document production station during the time period. | 11-24-2011 |
20120010742 | WORKFLOW PARTITIONING METHOD AND SYSTEM - A system and method for routing and processing jobs in a production environment considers the setup characteristics of each print job. Each set of jobs may be classified as a first job processing speed set, a second job processing speed set, or another job processing speed set based on the corresponding setup characteristics. First job processing speed sets are routed to a first group of job processing resources, while second job processing speed sets are routed to a second group of job processing speed resources. Each resource group may include an autonomous cell. | 01-12-2012 |
20120099139 | SYSTEM AND METHODS FOR ADAPTIVE LOT SIZING IN CELLULAR MANUFACTURING - The present application presents a new and improved system and method of enhanced Lean Document Production (LDP), which employs cellular manufacturing concepts. The LDP process incorporates an auto-splitting algorithm and/or an earliest completion route algorithm to generate an operation schedule. | 04-26-2012 |
20120154850 | SYSTEM AND METHOD OF ESTIMATING THE COST OF A PRINT JOB - A method of estimating the cost of a target print job may include identifying a target print job having a document type and one or more attributes, for each attribute of the target print job, determining a correlation between the attribute and a cost of the target print job using a plurality of historical print jobs associated with the document type, and identifying one or more of the attributes as cost drivers based on the correlation of the attribute to the cost of the target print job. The method may include identifying one or more relevant historical print jobs from the plurality of historical print jobs based on values for the identified cost drivers, estimating a cost of the target print job using the one or more relevant historical print jobs, and displaying the estimated cost associated with the target print job. | 06-21-2012 |
20120188591 | SYSTEM AND METHOD OF MODELING CUSTOMER DEMAND IN A PRINT PRODUCTION ENVIRONMENT - A method of determining one or more performance metrics associated with a print shop may include identifying one or more historical print jobs from a historical print job database. Each historical print job may include a historical print job type and historical job content information. The method may include generating, by a computing device, one or more synthetic print jobs based on the historical job type and historical job content information associated with the identified historical print jobs, and determining, by the computing device, one or more performance metrics associated with processing the one or more synthetic print jobs by a print shop. | 07-26-2012 |
20120303406 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR THE DYNAMIC ALLOCATION OF RESOURCES - A system and method for dynamically allocating resources in a process. A demand pattern change detection unit, a future demand forecasting unit and a process optimization engine can be employed to constantly adjust resource allocation and assist in maintaining processes in a state of peak performance. An initial resource allocation unit generates an initial resource allocation plan based on past experience with respect to the process. The change detection unit detects a shift in the job demand pattern utilizing a statistical data when a change occurs in process requirements. The future demand generation unit accurately generates future demand data based on current job data and the outlook of future demand. The optimization engine acts as a surrogate process expert and provides recommendations to the process owner regarding potential possible resource allocation policies for new job demand data utilizing a simulation process to predict the result of variable staffing configurations. | 11-29-2012 |
20120314248 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MULTI-SITE CELLULAR MANUFACTURING WITH TRANSPORTATION DELAYS - A system and method is used to manage scheduling of a plurality of print jobs in a multi-site print shop environment. The multi-site environment includes a plurality of print shops each having resources and equipment to complete at least one type of print job. Also included is a multi-site scheduler configuration arranged to assign and schedule print jobs to one of a home shop and a non-home shop. The assigning and scheduling is based on a fastest completion time, wherein a completion time of a print job in a home shop is defined as the actual time taken to complete the print job and a completion time of a print job in a non-home shop is defined as the actual time taken to complete the print job and a transportation delay. | 12-13-2012 |
20130063764 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PERFORMING STATISTICAL THROUGHPUT CONTROL IN A PRINT SHOP - A method of determining a probability of a set of print jobs being completed within a time period may include receiving a schedule associated with a set of print jobs. The schedule may include a sequence in which the set of print jobs is to be processed, a mean processing time associated with each print job in the set, and a standard deviation of a processing time associated with each print job in the set. The method may include determining a probability that a print shop will complete processing of the set of print jobs within a time period based on the mean processing time and standard deviation associated with each of the print jobs in the set that has not been processed and displaying the probability on a display device. | 03-14-2013 |
20130073298 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR RECOMMENDING VENDORS TO SUBMIT BIDS FOR A PRINT JOB - A method of recommending vendors to bid on a print job may include identifying a print job for which a recommendation of vendors to bid on the print job is desired and identifying one or more vendors as potential bidders for the print job. The method may include, for each identified vendor, determining, by a computing device, a bidding probability associated with the vendor, a winning probability associated with the vendor, a recommendation probability associated with the vendor, and identifying the vendor as a recommended vendor based on the associated recommendation probability. The method may include notifying a user of the recommended vendors. | 03-21-2013 |
20130128302 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR DETERMINING CAPACITY ALLOCATION AND JOB SIZE THRESHOLDS FOR PRINT JOBS HAVING HEAVY-TAILED DISTRIBUTIONS - A method of identifying a cell configuration for a print shop may include determining a print job size distribution for a plurality of print jobs. The method may include identifying one or more print device requirements associated with a cell in a print shop, identifying a plurality of available print devices associated with the print shop and determining, by a computing device, a plurality of different configurations of the available print devices that satisfy the one or more print device requirements. The method may include, for each configuration, determining a print job size threshold value, and determining, by the computing device, a processing time associated with processing the plurality of print jobs by a cell having the configuration and the determined print job size threshold value. The method may include selecting, by the computing device, the cell having the configuration associated with the smallest processing time. | 05-23-2013 |
20130128303 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR DETERMINING SUSTAINABILITY METRICS IN A PRINT PRODUCTION ENVIRONMENT - A method of determining a print shop sustainability metric over a period of time may include, for each of a plurality of print devices in a print shop, determining a low-activity state sustainability metric value associated with the print device operating in one or more low-activity states over a period of time, determining a print shop low-activity state sustainability metric value associated with the print shop, and determining a processing state sustainability metric value associated with the print device operating in a processing state over the period of time, determining a print shop processing state sustainability metric value associated with the print shop, determining a print shop sustainability metric value and displaying one or more of the low-activity state sustainability metric values, the processing state sustainability metric values, the print shop sustainability metric value, the print shop processing state sustainability metric value and the print shop sustainability metric value. | 05-23-2013 |
20130131871 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR DETERMINING HEATING AND AIR CONDITIONING DEMANDS ON A PRINT SHOP - A method of estimating heat emissions for a print shop may include determining a total heat generation value associated with a print shop over the period of time by summing a non-print production heat generation value associated with the print shop over the period of time and a print production heat generation value associated with the print shop over the period of time, determining, by a computing device, a net heat emission value associated with the print shop over the period of time by reducing the total heat generation value by a heat loss rate, and displaying one or more of the non-print production heat generation value, the print production heat generation value, the total heat generation value, and the net heat emission value. | 05-23-2013 |
20130195381 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CAPTURING PRODUCTION WORKFLOW INFORMATION - A workflow information capture system uses a digital pen to capture handwritten information about a production process resource. The pen captures the handwritten markings from a worksheet, identifies the position of the marking, based on the position determines one or more process parameters for the marking, and saves the handwritten markings and their corresponding process parameter in a memory. The system may then use this information to generate recommendations for improving a workflow that is implemented by the process resource. | 08-01-2013 |
20130346138 | CREATION OF PRODUCTION PROCESS WORKFLOW DIAGRAMS - A method and system for creating production process workflow diagrams are disclosed. The system stores a graphic representation of a production facility. When a user request for a workflow diagram is received, and the request includes a time frame, a route is determined between all resources having at least one time stamp that is within the time frame. The graphic representation of the facility may be displayed, along with a graphic representation of the determined route. | 12-26-2013 |
20140067585 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR DETERMINING LEAN PRICE OPTIMIZATION - Methods and systems for improving a cost determination for a job for a supplier are disclosed. A computing device may receive one or more job parameters for the job and one or more shop characteristics for a shop operated by the supplier. The computing device may determine a cost to perform the job in the shop based on the one or more job parameters and the one or more shop characteristics. The determined cost may be transmitted to the supplier. | 03-06-2014 |
20140071480 | SYSTEM AND METHODS FOR EXCESS CAPACITY IN DYNAMIC PRODUCTION SYSTEMS - The present application presents a new and improved system and method of enhanced Lean Document Production (LDP), which employs cellular manufacturing concepts. The LDP process utilizes a processor to compute a dynamic production algorithm to generate an indication of a manufacturing or print shop excess capacity level. | 03-13-2014 |
20140071481 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR ASSIGNING JOBS TO PRODUCTION DEVICES - A method of assigning a job to a production device may include identifying a queue comprising a plurality of print jobs, identifying a plurality of print production devices capable of processing the plurality of print jobs, determining that one of the identified print production devices is an idle print production device, identifying a top priority print job from the queue, determining a completion time associated with processing the top priority print job by each of the identified print production devices, identifying a fastest print production device, assigning the top priority print job to the fastest print production device, determining whether the fastest print production device is the idle print production device, and in response to determining that the fastest print production device is the idle print production device, sending the top priority print job to the fastest print production device and removing the top priority print job from the queue. | 03-13-2014 |
20140146339 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR ANALYZING THE IMPACT OF MACHINE FAILURE DATA ON A PRINT SHOP - A method of analyzing failures of a print device may include receiving failure information associated with a print device in a print shop. The failure information may pertain to a plurality of failures experienced by the print device over a period of time. The method may include generating, by a computing device, failure distribution information by, for each pair of consecutive failures in the failure information, determining a time to failure between the pair of consecutive failures, determining a repair time associated with each failure in the pair of consecutive failures, and setting the determined times to failure and the determined repair times as the failure distribution information. The method may include performing, by the computing device, a simulation of processing of one or more print jobs by the print device using the failure distribution information, and displaying one or more results of the simulation to a user. | 05-29-2014 |
20140176973 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR SELECTING A LOCATION TO STORE A PRODUCTION CONSUMABLE - A method of determining a location of one or more print production items in a storage facility may include identifying one or more print production items used by one or more autonomous production cells in a print shop, and determining, by a computing device, a demand value associated with each of the identified print production items. The demand value may represent a frequency with which the print production item is used by the autonomous production cells over a period of time. The method may include grouping the identified print production items into one or more groups based on the autonomous production cell that uses the identified print production items, assigning each group to an autonomous storage cell, and determining a location of one or more autonomous storage cells based on the demand values associated with the print production items in the group associated with the autonomous storage cell. | 06-26-2014 |
20140268211 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DISTRIBUTED CELLULAR MANUFACTURING WITH OUTSOURCING GROUP CONSTRAINTS - To preserve job integrity and minimize multi-site coordination overhead such as shipping, a technique to control the amount of outsourcing activities in a distributed manufacturing environment is provided. This approach to multi-site scheduling allows outsourcing control for distributed cellular manufacturing based on scheduling constraints called outsourcing group constraints. | 09-18-2014 |
20140300926 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR AUTOMATIC SELECTION OF A PRODUCTION DEVICE CONFIGURATION IN A PRODUCTION ENVIRONMENT - A method of determining a configuration of production devices in a print production environment may include receiving, by a computing device, one or more production environment characteristics associated with a print production environment, receiving job processing information, identifying, by the computing device, a performance measure, receiving a desired value associated with the identified performance measure, receiving one or more parameters associated with a random search algorithm, and performing, by the computing device, the random search algorithm based on at least the received job processing information and the received parameters to determine a configuration of production devices in the print production environment that satisfies the desired value associated with the performance measure. | 10-09-2014 |
20140372339 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR OPTIMIZING PROFITABILITY OF A PRINT PRODUCTION ENVIRONMENT - A method of determining a maximum profit for a print production environment may include receiving, by a computing device, a flow model associated with a print production environment, applying, by the computing device, a modified Jackson Network analysis to the flow model to generate one more characteristic curves that each characterize a relationship between profit of the print production environment and job inflow rate and that each show a maximum profit value for the print production environment, and presenting, by the computing device, one or more of the generated characteristic curves to a user. | 12-18-2014 |