METHOD FOR PRODUCING A PRODUCT AND TECHNICAL PLANT

Abstract

In a method for producing a product in a technical plant, after receipt of an order for producing the product, components necessary for producing the product are identified, and work steps necessary for producing the product are identified. Identified components and work steps are entered in a product file stored on a transport system. The components entered in the product file are acquired by the transport system, which is documented in the product file, and the work steps entered in the product file are executed, which is documented in the product file. The product file remains on the transport system until the acquisition of each component and the execution of each work step are documented in the product file. A technical plant for producing a product, is adapted to execute the method and includes a transport system having a digital data memory for storing the product file.

Claims

1-13. (canceled)

14. A method for producing a product in a technical plant, comprising: after receiving an order for producing the product, identifying components and work steps necessary for producing the product; entering the identified components and work steps into a product file; storing the product file on a transport system; acquiring, by the transport system, the components entered into the product file; documenting, in the product file, the acquisition of each component; executing the work steps entered into the product file; and documenting, in the product file, the execution of each work step; wherein the product file remains on the transport system until the acquisition of each component entered in the product file is documented in the product file, and until the execution of each work step entered in the product file is documented in the product file.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein, after identifying the components and work steps that are necessary for producing the product, a fixed sequence for acquiring the identified components and for executing the identified work steps is specified once, and the fixed sequence is entered in the product file; and wherein, the acquisition of the components entered in the product file and the execution of the work steps entered in the product file are performed in the fixed sequence until the acquisition of each component entered in the product file is documented in the product file, and until the execution of each work step entered in the product file is documented in the product file.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein the identifying of the components that are necessary for producing the product includes determining at least one storage location at which at least one identified component is available, the method further comprising documenting, in the product file, the at least one determined storage location, moving the transport system to the at least one determined storage location, and acquiring the at least one identified component at the at least one determined storage location.

17. The method according to claim 15, wherein the identifying of the work steps necessary for producing the product includes determining at least one work station at which at least one work step to be executed is able to be executed and documenting, in the product file, the at least one identified work station, the method further comprising moving the transport system to the at least one identified work station and executing the at least one identified work step at the at least one identified work station.

18. The method according to claim 14, wherein, after the product file is stored on the transport system, a digital computer of the transport system creates a temporary sequence for acquiring the identified components and to execute the identified work steps, and wherein the component to be acquired next according to the temporary sequence is acquired by the transport system and/or the work step to be executed next according to the temporary sequence is executed.

19. The method according to claim 18, wherein the creation of the temporary sequence and the acquisition of the component to be acquired next according to the temporary sequence and/or the execution of the work step to be executed next according to the temporary sequence are repeated until the acquisition of each component entered in the product file is documented in the product file and until the execution of each work step entered in the product file is documented in the product file.

20. The method according to claim 18, wherein the digital computer of the transport system, when creating the temporary sequence, determines a storage location at which the next component to be acquired according to the temporary sequence is available, the determined storage location is documented in the product file, the method further comprising moving the transport system to the determined storage location acquiring, at the determined storage location, the component to be acquired next according to the temporary sequence.

21. The method according to claim 18, wherein the digital computer of the transport system, when creating the temporary sequence, determines the work station at which the next work step according to the temporary sequence is able to be executed, the determined work station is documented in the product file, the method further comprising moving the transport system to the determined work station and executing, at the determined work station, the work step to be executed next according to the temporary sequence.

22. The method according to claim 18, wherein the digital computer of the transport system creates the temporary sequence to minimize a travel path of the transport system during the production of the product and/or to minimize a period of time to produce the product.

23. A technical plant for producing a product, comprising: at least one transport system including a digital memory adapted to store a product file; wherein the technical plant is adapted to perform the method recited in claim 14.

24. The technical plant according to claim 23, wherein the transport system is arranged as an autonomously driving vehicle including a drive device and a control unit adapted to control the drive device.

25. The technical plant according to claim 23, wherein the transport system includes a digital computer adapted to create a temporary sequence for acquiring the identified components and for executing the identified work steps.

26. The technical plant according to claim 23, further comprising at least one storage location at which at least one identified component is available; and at least one work station at which at least one identified work step is executable.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0028] FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a technical plant.

[0029] FIG. 2 is a schematic view of a transport system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0030] FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a technical plant 5. For example, the technical plant 5 is an industrial application, e.g., a production plant. The technical plant 5 is used to produce products, for example, to produce transmissions for electric motors. The technical plant 5 includes a central server 30 which, for example, receives and processes orders for the production of products.

[0031] The technical plant 5 includes a first storage location 41 and a second storage location 42. Components that are required for the production of a product are available at the first storage location 41 and at the second storage location 42. The components are, for example, gearbox housings, gears, shafts, or screws.

[0032] The technical plant 5 includes a first work station 51 and a second work station 52. Work steps which are necessary for the production of a product can be executed at the first work station 51 and at the second work station 52. The work steps mentioned are cutting of threads into gear housings or inserting gear wheels and shafts in a gear housing, for example.

[0033] The technical plant 5 also includes multiple transport systems 10. The transport systems 10 are autonomous vehicles, which are also referred to as driverless transport vehicles. The transport systems 10 are moved, for example, to the storage locations 41, 42 and to the work stations 51, 52. The transport systems 10 communicate with the server 30 via a wireless network.

[0034] FIG. 2 is a schematic view of a transport system 10. The transport system 10 is, for example, adapted to transport a partially produced product and a fully produced product. The product can thus be produced entirely on the transport system 10.

[0035] The transport system 10 includes a digital data memory 12 for storing electronic files. The data memory 12 is used, for example, for storing product files 20. For example, a product file 20 is stored in the data memory 20, in which identified components and identified work steps are entered.

[0036] The transport system 10 includes a digital computer 14, which is used, for example, to create temporary sequences for acquiring identified components and for executing identified work steps. For this purpose, the digital computer 14 accesses the data memory 12, e.g., the product file 20. Furthermore, the digital computer 14 is used to document the execution of each work step in the product file 20 and to document the acquisition of each component in the product file 20.

[0037] The transport system 10 includes a wireless communication interface 16, which is used, for example, for communication with the server 30 via the wireless network. The transport system 10 receives the product file 20 prepared by the server 30, for example, via the communication interface 16. The transport system 10 also reports to the server 30 via the communication interface 16 when the acquisition of each component entered in the product file 20 is documented in the product file 20, and when the execution of each work step entered in the product file 20 is documented in the product file 20. The transport system 10 thus reports to the server 30 via the communication interface 16 when the production of the product is complete.

[0038] The transport system 10 includes a drive device, which has an electric energy store, an electric motor, a transmission, and drive wheels. The transport system 10 also includes a control unit for controlling the drive device. The control unit is integrated into the digital computer 14, for example.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0039] 5 technical plant [0040] 10 transport system [0041] 12 data storage [0042] 14 digital calculator [0043] 16 communication interface [0044] 20 product file [0045] 30 servers [0046] 41 first storage location [0047] 42 second storage location [0048] 51 first work station [0049] 52 second work station