Importance

Loading Importance Indicators...

Abstract

A method and apparatus for the interactive modification of a production schedule using a graphical user interface. Each production task is represented by one or more primitive tasks. A primitive task is defined as that part of a production task for which the production amount or load remains unchanged. The primitive tasks are shown graphically on a display device as rectangular objects and are assigned attributes that are used to establish modification rules governing the way in which the graphical shapes change in response to the user's manipulation of the rectangular object representing one primitive task. A user can manipulate any primitive task through the graphical interface, and thereby modify the shapes of other primitive tasks which belong to the same production task in accordance with the modification rules. After manipulation of one or more primitive tasks, a graphical representation of a production schedule for a plurality of tasks is displayed which can be further optimized to achieve production load balancing.

Loading the Abstract Image...

First Claim