Method and system for setting rates and targets in a range management system

Abstract

A method and apparatus comprises determining a number of planned starts of a product during a predetermined time period for future processing, averaging the number of planned starts for the predetermined time period, and setting a production rate for a first range based on the average number of planned starts.

1 . A method, comprising: 
 determining a number of planned starts of a product during a predetermined time period for future processing;    averaging the number of planned starts for the predetermined time period; and    setting a production rate for a first range based on the average number of planned starts.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising setting a second production rate for a second range based in the average number of planned starts.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising propagating the production rate of the first range to a second production rate for a second range.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising repeating the determining, averaging, and setting steps for a second predetermined time period in the future.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the second predetermined time period is a same amount of time as the predetermined time period.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the predetermined time period is one week.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the second production rate of the second range is based on the first production rate within a previous time period.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising dynamically adjusting the production rate for the first range based on the average number of planned starts.  
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the adjusting is provided on a predetermined schedule.  
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising manually overriding the production rate as provided in the setting step.  
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the steps of  claim 1  are implemented on computer readable medium.  
   
   
       12 . A system comprising at least one device is configured to: 
 store current range matrix data;    determine results based on the current range matrix data; and    update a production rate for at least a first range based on the results.    
   
   
       13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the current range matrix data comprises current work in progress and current targets.  
   
   
       14 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the device determines results by comparing current work in progress to current targets in order to determine how much work is to be produced in a future time period based on the current range matrix data.  
   
   
       15 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the steps of  claim 12  are implemented on computer readable medium.  
   
   
       16 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the at least one device is configured to: 
 index to an nth range;    determine whether an existing target is zero;    determine whether the existing target should be greater than zero; and    update the target based on the results of whether the existing target should be greater than zero.    
   
   
       17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the at least one device is configured to: 
 determine whether the existing target is greater than zero;    determine whether the existing target should zero; and    update the target based on the results of the whether the existing target should zero.    
   
   
       18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the at least one device is configured to: 
 determine whether the nth range is the last range;    index to (n+1) range;    determine whether the existing target is zero;    determine whether the existing target should be greater than zero; and    update the target based on the results of the whether the existing target should be greater than zero.    
   
   
       19 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the at least one device is configured to output the updated targets.  
   
   
       20 . A computer program product comprising a computer useable medium including a computer readable program, wherein the computer readable program, when executed on a computer, causes the computer to: 
 determine a number of planned starts of a product during a predetermined future time period;    average the number of planned starts for the predetermined future time period; and    set a production rate for a first range based on the average number of planned starts.