(51) Int Cl.: G06Q 10/00 ( )

Transcription

1 (19) (11) EP B1 (12) EUROPEAN PATENT SPECIFICATION (4) Date of publication and mention of the grant of the patent: Bulletin 09/13 (21) Application number: (22) Date of filing: (1) Int Cl.: G06Q /00 (06.01) (86) International application number: PCT/EP04/01313 (87) International publication number: WO 0/09784 (.06.0 Gazette 0/26) (4) DATA PROCESSING SYSTEM AND METHOD DATENVERARBEITUNGSSYSTEM UND -VERFAHREN SYSTEME ET PROCEDE DE TRAITEMENT DE DONNEES (84) Designated Contracting States: AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HU IE IS IT LI LU MC NL PL PT RO SE SI SK TR () Priority: EP (43) Date of publication of application: Bulletin 06/3 (73) Proprietor: SAP AG Walldorf (DE) (72) Inventors: LAUB, Udo Hambrücken (DE) KÜHNER, Ralf 6767 Kaiserslautern (DE) METZ, Manfred Karlsruhe (DE) (74) Representative: Richardt, Markus Albert Richardt Patents & Trademarks Leergasse Eltville am Rhein (DE) (6) References cited: US-A US-A US-A US-B EP B1 Note: Within nine months of the publication of the mention of the grant of the European patent in the European Patent Bulletin, any person may give notice to the European Patent Office of opposition to that patent, in accordance with the Implementing Regulations. Notice of opposition shall not be deemed to have been filed until the opposition fee has been paid. (Art. 99(1) European Patent Convention). Printed by Jouve, 7001 PARIS (FR)

2 Description Field of the invention [0001] The present invention generally relates to the field of data processing, and more particularly without limitation, to online transactional processing. Background and prior art [0002] Supply chain planning, which comprises the logistical plan of an in-house supply chain, is essential to the success of many of today s manufacturing firms. Most manufacturing firms rely on supply chain planning in some form to ensure the timely delivery of products in response to customer demands. Typically, supply chain planning is hierarchical in nature, extending from distribution and production planning driven by customer orders, to materials and capacity requirements planning, to shop floor scheduling, manufacturing execution, and deployment of products. Supply chain planning ensures the smooth functioning of different aspects of production, from the ready supply of components to meet production demands to the timely transportation of finished goods from the factory to the customer. [0003] A modern supply chain often encompasses a vast array of data. The planning applications that create and dynamically revise plans in the supply chain in response to changing demands and capacity require rapid access to data concerning the flow of materials through the supply chain. The efficient operation of the supply chain depends upon the ability of the various plans to adjust to changes, and the way in which the required data is stored determines the ease with which it can be accessed. [0004] Operations in a production line of a plant for producing a product are carried out at work centers. In supply chain planning tools work centers are represented by business objects that can e.g. represent the following real work centers: machines or machine groups; production lines; assembly work centers; and employees or groups of employees. [000] Together with bills of material and routings, business objects representing work centers belong to the master data in production planning and control systems. Business objects representing work centers are used in task list operations and work orders. Task lists are for example routings, maintenance task lists, inspection plans and standard networks. Work orders are created for production, quality assurance, plant maintenance and for the project system as networks. [0006] Data in work centers is used for scheduling, costing, capacity planning, and simplifying operation maintenance. For the purpose of scheduling operating times and formulas are entered in the business object representing the work center, so that the duration of an operation can be calculated. For the purpose of costing formulas are entered in the business object representing the work center, so that the costs of the operation can be calculated. Usually a business object representing the work center is also assigned to a cost center. [0007] The available capacity and formulas for calculating capacity requirements are entered into the business object representing a work center for capacity planning. Further, various default values for operations can be entered in the business object representing the work center for simplifying operation maintenance. [0008] A business object representing a work center is created for a plant and is indentified by a key. The work center category that can be defined in customising, determines which data can be maintained in the business object representing the work center. [0009] Supply chain planning and management tools as the SAP R/3 system use routing. Routing is a description of which operations, e.g. process steps, have to be carried out and in which order to produce a product. As well as information about the operations and the order in which they are carried out, routing also contains details about the work centers at which they are carried out as well as about the required production resources and tools. Standard values for the execution of individual operations are also saved in routings. Usually a bill of mat (BOM) is assigned to routing. Individual components of the BOM are assigned to the routing operations. [00] US 03/ A1 shows a system for real-time activity-based accounting. US 6,34,29 B1 and US,70,291 show similar systems. US 03/879 A1 discloses an intelligent production system for manufacturing products from raw materials. A common disadvantage of such prior art systems is a lack of flexibility in view of the changing set-up of the production line and product variations. When the current set-up of the production line is changed for technical reasons or if the design of the product that is produced in the production line is changed this requires a corresponding reprogramming and a new initialization of the system. Summary of the invention [0011] The present invention provides for a data processing system and a method for calculating a value a work in progress as claimed in the independent claims. Preferred embodiments are given in the dependent claims. [0012] In accordance with the invention the data processing system comprises an online transactional processing 2

3 (OLTP) system for receiving of reporting data from a set of reporting points of work centers of a production line for producing a product. The production line is logically divided into shop areas where each shop area comprises one or more work centers. Each shop area corresponds to an intermediate production step for producing an intermediate product. The intermediate production step of the shop area is completed at the exit point of the shop area. An exit point is a special reporting point that serves to report when an intermediate production step is completed. [0013] The reporting data from the reporting points including the exit points is received by the OLTP system and stored in a database. For example the reporting data is received in the form of documents, where each document contains data indicating a quantity of an intermediate product that has been completed in the corresponding intermediate production step and/or a scrap quantity. Scrap is reported when the intermediate product does not conform to quality standards. [0014] On the basis of the reporting data stored in the database a table is generated that comprises aggregated quantities of intermediate products and/or scrap at the exit points. This way one aggregated quantity of intermediate product and/or scrap is obtained per shop area. The table is locally stored by the OLTP system. [00] The OLTP system is coupled to a server computer that has storage for a second table with value increments per shop area. Preferably the server computer is a financial data server that can calculate the value increments of the individual shop areas based on master data stored in a master data server. [0016] The server computer has a processor for running a program to calculate a total value of the work in process by means of the table comprising the aggregated quantities and by means of the table with the value increments per shop area. The server computer is coupled to a master data server that stores a bill of materials (BOM) of the product that is produced and other master data, such as routing data and data descriptive of the division of the production line into work centers and shop areas. The server computer uses the bill of material to value the intermediate products of the production line, such as for the purposes of accounting, asset management, book keeping, financial planning and/or company valuation and financial reporting. [0017] The present invention is particularly advantageous in that the OLTP system locally generates a table with the aggregated quantities of the intermediate products and/or scrap per shop area as reported from the exit points. This way a dramatic data compression is accomplished - comparing the resulting table size with the reporting data stored in the database. The table comprising the aggregated quantities is transferred from the OLTP system to the server computer when the total value of the work in process is to be calculated. [0018] Further, the present invention is particularly advantageous as the master data server is used for storage of the master data, including the bill of material. This enables to enter or modify master data independently from the operation of the OLTP and the server computer. The master data server does also store the master data that is required by the OLTP for the aggregation. [0019] When new or modified master data needs to be entered, e.g. if the current production line needs to be reconfigured for technical reasons or when the design of the product is changed, this can be done without interrupting the data processing of the OLTP and the server computer. Once the new or modified master data becomes available it is used by the OLTP and the server computer. Preferably the server computer read the master data, in particular the bill of material, each time a new valuation is to be calculated to ensure that the most up-to date master data is used for the calculation. [00] It is to be noted that only the table comprising the aggregated quantities needs to be transmitted to the server computer in order to calculate this total value but not the complete reporting data stored in the database. This has the advantage that the transfer of the aggregated reporting data required to calculate the total value only minimally loads the network. [0021] Another advantage is that only a small portion of the capacity of the server computer s processor is required to perform the calculation of the total value. This is due to the fact that the table comprising the value increments is only calculated once and then stored for future reference. Further this is due to the fact that only a limited number of calculations needs to be performed to obtain the total value of the work in process based on the table comprising the aggregated quantities and the table comprising the value increments. [0022] Further the present invention is particularly advantageous as it facilitates to calculate the total value of work in process even when the routing is changed. In a real life plant the routing is changed quite frequently. This is reflected in the routing data stored in the master data server. When the routing data and/or the bill of materials is changed the financial data server recalculates the table comprising the value increment per shop area. Other than that no change is required as the processing logic is not affected by the modification of the master data. [0023] In accordance with a further preferred embodiment of the invention the calculation of the value of the work in process is initiated by a push-service of the OLTP system. For example, the OLTP system has a timer; each time the timer expires the OLTP system triggers the push-service in order to transfer the table with the aggregated quantities to the financial data server. This transfer triggers the calculation of the total value of the work in process by the financial data server. [0024] Alternatively the calculation of the total value of the work in process is implemented as a pull-service, i.e. the financial data server pulls the table comprising the aggregated quantities from the OLTP system at regular and/or pre- 3

4 scheduled times or time intervals and/or on a user s request. Brief description of the drawings [002] In the following preferred embodiments of the invention will be described in greater detail by making reference to drawings in which: Figure 1 Figure 2 is a schematic block diagram of a production plant coupled to a computer system, is a block diagram of the computer system having an OLTP system and a financial data server, Figure 3 is a flow chart being illustrative of the calculation of value increments per shop area of the plant by the financial data server, Figure 4 is a flow chart illustrating the provision of aggregated reporting data from the OLTP system to the financial data server, Figure is a flow chart illustrating the calculation of the value of work in process by the financial data server, Figure 6 shows a detailed level (logistics) view of a production plant as well as a logical level view in order to illustrate the logically division of the production plant into shop areas, Figure 7 shows the schematic block diagram of figure 6 after changing the logistics of the production plant Detailed description [0026] Figure 1 shows plant 0 that has at least one production line for producing product 2. The production line is constituted by a number of work centers W. Each work center W has a reporting point 4 coupled to network 6. This way reporting points 4 are coupled to computer system 8. [0027] The reporting points 4 serve for the purpose of plant data collection. A reporting point 4 can be implemented as a sensor, e.g. a bar code reader, or it can be a personal computer for manually entering reporting data. [0028] The production line is logically divided into shop areas 1, 2,... N. Each one of the shop areas 1, 2,...N corresponds to an intermediate production step, i.e. at the exit of a shop area an intermediate product is obtained. When the intermediate product does not meet quality standards scrap is obtained instead. [0029] Each one of the shop areas 1, 2,...N comprises at least one work center W. For example shop area 1 has a number of n work centers W 11, W 12, W 13,... [00] W 1n. In the work center W 1n the intermediate production step performed in shop area 1 is completed. Hence reporting point 4 of work center W 1n is defined as the exit point for reporting quantities of the intermediate products completed in shop area 1. Likewise scrap produced in shop area 1 is reported from the exit point implemented by reporting point 4 of work center W 1n. [0031] Likewise shop area 2 that follows shop area 1 has a number of m work centers W 21, W 22,..., W 2m. [0032] A plurality of other shop areas may subsequently follow after shop area 2 in the production line. The last shop area N of the production line has a number of o work centers, i.e. work centers W N1, W N2,..., W No. [0033] In operation reporting data is acquired at the reporting points 4 in order to reflect the status of the ongoing production. Corresponding report documents 1 are sent from the reporting points 4, including the exit points at the boundaries of the shop areas, to computer system 8 via network 6. [0034] Figure 2 shows a detailed block diagram of computer system 8. Computer system 8 has OLTP system 112. OLTP system 112 has interface 114 for receiving report documents 1 of network 6. Further OLTP system 112 has database 116 for storing report documents 1 received from plant 0. [003] OLTP system 112 has at least one processor 118 for running computer program 1 and timer 122. [0036] Storage 124 of OLTP system 112 serves to store table 126. As the size of table 126 is quite limited in comparison to the amount of data contained in the report documents 1 it can either be held in the working memory of OLTP system 112 as an alternative to storage on a primary storage device, such as a hard disk. [0037] Table 126 has two entries for each one of the shop areas 1, 2,... N. One entry is for the aggregated quantity of the intermediate products completed in the respective shop area and the other entry is for the scrap reported from that shop area at its exit point. For example table 126 has entry PQ 1 for the aggregated quantity of intermediate product produced in shop area 1 and reported from the exit point of shop area 1. Likewise entry SQ 1 shows the aggregated scrap quantity reported from the exit point of shop area 1. 4

5 2 [0038] In general terms table 126 has entries PQ i and SQ i for the aggregated intermediate product quantity and the aggregated scrap quantity reported from the exit point of shop area i. Further table 126 may contain an entry CQ for indicating the aggregated quantity of completed product 2 (cf. figure 1) that has left the production line. Usually the aggregated completed product quantity CQ is identical to the aggregated quantity PQ N reported from the last exit point of the last shop area N of the production line. [0039] OLTP system 112 is coupled to master data server 128, financial data server 1 and material management server 132. [00] OLTP system 112, master data server 128, financial data server 1 and/or material management server 132 can be implemented on separate server computers being interconnected by a network. Alternatively OLTP system 112, master data server 128, financial data server 1 and/or material management server 132 are implemented as separate logical servers on a common physical unit, such as a parallel processing computer system or a blade computer system. [0041] Master data server 128 has storage 134 for storing of master data, such as bill of materials (BOM) 136, routing data 138, and work center objects 1, i.e. business objects representing the work centers W of the production line of plant 0 (cf. figure 1). Further master data server 128 stores master data in order to define shop areas 1, 2,... N (cf. figure 1). Shop areas can be defined by storing a table listing all work centers belonging to a given shop area or by other suitable shop area objects 142. [0042] Financial data server 1 has at least one processor 144 for running program modules 146, 148, and 0. Program module 146 serves to calculate the value increments per shop area on the basis of the master data stored by master data server 128. The resulting table 2 containing the value increments V i per shop area i is stored in storage 4 of financial data server 1. [0043] Program module 148 serves to calculate the value V CP of the completed product 2 (cf. figure 1). The value V CP obtained from program module 148 is also stored in storage 4. [0044] Program module 0 serves to calculate the total value V of the work in progress, i.e. the accumulated values of the completed intermediate products being processed in the production line of plant 0 (cf. figure 1). This calculation also considers scrap and subtracts the value of the completed product as completed products is no longer work in process by definition. The corresponding formula is given below Where N is the total number of shop areas, PQ i is the aggregated quantity of intermediate product reported from the exit point of shop area i, V i is the value increment of the production step performed in shop area i, SQ i is the aggregated quantity of scrap reported from shop area i, CQ is the quantity of completed product that leaves the production line, and V CP is the value of the completed product [004] The value V of the work in progress which is thus obtained from program module 0 can be posted in ledger 6 stored in storage 4. The value V C of the completed product obtained from program module 148 is stored on storage location 8 of storage 4. [0046] Personal computer 160 is coupled to master data server 128 for entering and updating of master data stored in storage 134. [0047] Material management server 132 can be implemented as the SAP R/3 component materials management (MM) for managing the supply of materials to the production line plant 0 (cf. figure1). [0048] In operation computer system 8 receives report documents 1 from plant 0 that reflect the ongoing production. The data contained in the report documents 1 is stored in relational database 116. When timer 122 expires computer program 1 is triggered. Computer program 1 has instructions for reading of master data from master data server 128, including shop area objects 142. [0049] Further computer program 1 has instructions for performing a database query of database 116 in order to retrieve report documents 1 that originate from exit points. On this basis computer program 1 calculates the entries PQ i and SQ i for each shop area i. This way table 126 is generated and stored in storage 124. [000] Next table 126 is transferred from OLTP system 112 to financial data server 1. Program module 146 reads master data from master data server 128, in particular bill of materials 136, routing data 138, work center objects 1 and shop area objects 142 in order to calculate the value increment at the various intermediate production steps corresponding to the shop areas. For example the value increment an intermediate product experiences going through a particular shop area is calculated by determining the production costs of the production steps performed in the shop

6 2 3 area considered, i.e. the cost of materials, components, energy costs, etc. This way table 2 is obtained and stored in storage 4. On this basis program module 148 calculates the value V CP and stores it in storage location 8. [001] When financial data server 1 receives table 126 from OLTP system 112 this invokes program module 0. On the basis of the data contained in table 126 and table 2 program 0 calculates the value V of work in progress. The value V is then posted in ledger 6. [002] Figure 3 shows the steps performed by the financial data server in order to generate table 2 and to calculate V CP. In step 0 the financial data server reads the required master data, e.g. bill of materials, routing data and shop area objects. In step 2 the financial data server calculates the value increment per shop area on the basis of the master data obtained in step 0. The resulting table (cf. table 2 of figure 2) with the value increments per shop area is stored in step 4. In step 6 the financial data server calculates the value V CP of the completed product by calculating the total of all value increments. [003] Figure 4 shows the method performed by the OLTP system. In step 0 the OLTP system receives and stores report documents in its database. After a user defined period of time a database query is performed in order to retrieve the reports obtained from the exit points from the database (step 2). In step 4 table 126 (cf. figure 2) with the aggregated quantity data is generated on the basis of the retrieved report documents. In step 6 the table which is thus obtained in step 4 is pushed to the financial data server in order to trigger the calculation of the value V of work in progress. This procedure can be performed repetitively. [004] Alternatively table 126 is pulled from financial data server. In this case timer 122 is implemented in financial data server in order to trigger the pull of table 126. [00] Figure illustrates the method performed by the financial data server in order to calculate value V of work in progress and to update the electronic ledger. In step 00 the financial data server receives table 126 from OLTP system; this may be implemented as "push" or "pull". In step 02 the financial data server reads table 2 with the value increments per shop area and the total of the value increments V CP. In step 04 the financial data server calculates the value V of the work in progress on the basis of tables 126, 2 and value V CP. In step 06 the value V of work in progress is posted in the electronic ledger of the financial data server (step 06). Again this procedure can be performed repeatedly. [006] Figure 6 shows another example for an manufacturing plant. Elements of figure 6 that correspond to elements of figure 1 and 2 are designated by the same reference numerals. [007] On the left side figure 6 shows a detailed level logistics view of plant 0. Plant 0 has a number of work centers that are logically grouped into shop areas. For ease of explanation the last three shop areas N-2, N-1 and N of the total of N shop areas is shown in figures 6. Like in the embodiment of figure 1 each one of the shop areas has an exit point at its boundary, i.e. a special reporting point for reporting of data relating to the completion of an intermediate production step to be performed in a particular shop area. [008] On the right side figure 6 shows a logical level view of plant 0. In the logical view each one of the shop areas is reduced to its respective exit point from where the data is reported to the computer system. [009] Figure 7 shows plant 0 of figure 6 after a parallel logistic branch of work centers has been added to the shop area N-1. As illustrated in figure 7 this does not affect the logical level view of production plant 0. This has the advantage that the logistics of plant 0 can be modified without affecting the logical view. Thus the data processing load for performing evaluation remains substantially unchanged when changes are made to the logistical structure as complex loops or parallel logistical structures do not need to be resolved for the purpose of valuation. List of Reference Numerals [0060] shop area 2 shop area 0 Plant 2 Product 4 reporting point 6 Network 8 computer system 1 report document 112 OLTP system 114 interface 116 database 118 processor 1 computer program 122 timer 6

7 124 storage 126 table 128 master data server 1 financial data server 132 material management server 134 storage 136 bill of materials 138 routing data 1 work center objects 142 shop area objects 144 processor 146 program module 148 program module 0 program module 2 table 4 storage 6 ledger 8 storage location 160 personal computer Claims A data processing system (8) for a production plant comprising: - a master data server (128) being coupled to an online transactional processing system (112) and a server computer (1), the master data server (128) storing routing data and master data (142), the master data being descriptive of shop areas,exit points and of a bill of material of a product, - the online transactional processing system (112) being coupled to a set of reporting points (4) of work centers (W) of a production line (0) for producing the product (2), the production line being logically divided into the shop areas (1, 2,..., N), one reporting point of each shop area being an exit point corresponding to an intermediate production step, the online transactional processing system having: a) a database (116) adapted to store reporting data (1) acquired at the reporting points (4), b) first processing means (118) comprising a program module (1) operable to compress the reporting data (1) and to generate a first table (126) with aggregated quantities of intermediate products at the exit points on the basis of the reporting data stored in the database and by using the data (142) being descriptive of the shop areas and the exit points read from the master data server (128), c) first storage means (124) in operative connection with the first processing means (118) adapted to store the first table (126), - the server computer (1) in operative connection with the online transactional processing system (112), said server computer having 4 0 a) second storage means (4), b) a second table (2) comprising value increments per shop area, said second table being stored in the second storage means (4), c) second processing means (144) comprising a first program module (146) operable to read the routing data, the data being descriptive of the shop areas and exit points and to read data (136) being descriptive of a bill of material of the product, and comprising a second program module (0) operable to calculate a total value (V) of the work in process by means of the first and second tables (126, 2) and by means of the routing data, the data descriptive of the shop areas and exit points and the data (136) being descriptive of a bill of material of the product, wherein the online transactional processing system (112) further comprises timer means (122) operable to trigger a transfer of the first table (126) from the first storage means (124) of the online transactional processing system (112) to the second processing means (144) of the server computer (1). 2. The data processing system of claim 1, the reporting data comprising data indicative of an originating reporting point 7

8 and of a quantity of an intermediate product. 3. The data processing system of claim 1 or 2, the database being a relational database. 4. The data processing system of claim 1, 2 or 3, the online transactional processing system having means (1) for querying the database in order to retrieve quantities of the intermediate products reported from the exit points.. The data processing system of any one of claims 1 to 4, the online transactional processing system having timer means (122) for initiating the generation of the first table. 6. The data processing system of any one of claims 1 to, the server computer having anelectronic ledger (6) coupled to the second processing means. 7. The data processing system of claim 1, the master data server (128) being coupled to a computer (160) for a user s entry of the data (136) being descriptive of the bill of material of the product and/or the routing data (138) and/or the data (142) descriptive of the shop areas and exit points. 8. A method for calculating a value of work in progress on the basis of reporting data received from a set of reporting points of work centers of a production line for producing a product, the production line being logically divided into shop areas, one reporting point of each shop area being an exit point corresponding to an intermediate production step, the method comprising the steps of: storing routing data and master data (142), the master data being descriptive of shop areas,exit points and of a bill of material of a product by a master data server, the master data server (128) being coupled to an online transactional processing system and a server computer, - receiving of the reporting data by the online transactional processing system, - storing of the reporting data in a database of the online transactional processing system, - compressing by the online transactional processing system the reporting data in a first table comprising aggregated quantities of intermediate products and aggregated scrap quantities reported from the exit points on the basis of the reporting data stored in the database and by using the data (142) being descriptive of the shop areas and the exit points read from the master data server (128), - storing the first table in first storage means of the online transactional processing system, - transferring of the first table from the first storage means to the server computer, - reading by the server computer the routing data, the data being descriptive of the shop areas and exit points and to read the data (136) being descriptive of a bill of material of the product from the master data server (128), - calculating a second table comprising value increments per shop area and storing the second table in second storage means of the server computer, - calculating a total value of the work in progress by means of the first and second tables, by means of the routing data, the data descriptive of the shop areas and exit points and the data (136) being descriptive of a bill of material of the product by the server computer. 9. The method of claim 8, wherein the second table is calculated at a predetermined time and stored in the second storage means for subsequent use by the server computer The method of claim 8 or 9 further comprising performing a database query in order to retrieve quantities of the intermediate products and scrap quantities reported from the exit points from the database. 11. The method of any one of claims 8 to, further comprising initiating the transfer of the first table from the first storage means of the online transactional processing system to the server computer at pre-scheduled time intervals or in response to a request received from the server computer. 12. A computer program product comprising computer executable instructions to perform the method steps as claimed in any of the previous claims 8 to A production plant, comprising: Main Request 8

9 - a production line (0) for producing a product (2), the production line being logically divided into shop areas (1, 2,..., N), - a set of reporting points (4) of work centers (W) of the production line (0), one reporting point (4) of each shop area (1, 2,..., N) being an exit point corresponding to an intermediate production step of the product (2), and - a data processing system (8) according to any one of claims 1 to Patentansprüche 1. Datenverarbeitungssystem (8) für eine Produktionsanlage, umfassend: - einen Master-Datenserver (128), der mit einem Online-Transaktionsverarbeitungssystem (112) und einem Servercomputer (1) gekoppelt ist, wobei der Master-Datenserver (128) Routing-Daten und Master-Daten (142) speichert, wobei die Master-Daten Werkstättenbereiche, Ausgangspunkte und eine Materialaufstellung eines Produkts beschreiben, - wobei das Online-Transaktionsverarbeitungssystem (112) mit einer Menge von Meldepunkten (4) von Arbeitszentralen (W) einer Produktionslinie (0) zum Produzieren des Produkts (2) gekoppelt ist, wobei die Produktionslinie logisch in die Werkstättenbereiche (1, 2,..., N) unterteilt ist, wobei ein Meldepunkt jedes Werkstättenbereichs ein Ausgangspunkt ist, der einem Zwischenproduktionsschritt entspricht, wobei das Online- Transaktionsverarbeitungssystem folgendes aufweist: a) eine Datenbank (116), die dafür ausgelegt ist, an den Meldepunkten (4) beschaffte Meldedaten (1) zu speichern, b) ein erstes Verarbeitungsmittel (118), das ein Programmodul (1) umfaßt, das betreibbar ist, um die Meldedaten (1) zu komprimieren und eine erste Tabelle (126) mit aggregierten Mengen von Zwischenprodukten an den Ausgangspunkten auf der Basis der in der Datenbank gespeicherten Meldedaten und durch Verwendung der Daten (142), die die Werkstättenbereiche und die Ausgangspunkte beschreiben, die aus dem Master-Datenserver (128) gelesen werden, zu erzeugen, c) ein erstes Speichermittel (124) in wirksamer Verbindung mit dem ersten Verarbeitungsmittel (118), das dafür ausgelegt ist, die erste Tabelle (126) zu speichern, - wobei sich der Servercomputer (1) in wirksamer Verbindung mit dem Online-Transaktionsverarbeitungssystem (112) befindet, wobei der Servercomputer folgendes aufweist: a) ein zweites Speichermittel (4), b) eine zweite Tabelle (2), die Wertinkremente pro Werkstättenbereich umfaßt, wobei die zweite Tabelle in dem zweiten Speichermittel (4) gespeichert wird, c) ein zweites Verarbeitungsmittel (144), das ein erstes Programmodul (146) umfaßt, das betreibbar ist, um die Routing-Daten zu lesen, wobei die Daten die Werkstättenbereiche und Ausgangspunkte beschreiben, und Daten (136) zu lesen, die eine Materialaufstellung des Produkts beschreiben, und ein zweites Programmodul (0) umfaßt, das betreibbar ist, um einen Gesamtwert (V) der Arbeit im Prozeß mittels der ersten und der zweiten Tabelle (126, 2) und mittels der Routing-Daten zu berechnen, wobei die Daten die Werkstättenbereiche und Ausgangspunkte beschreiben und die Daten (136) eine Materialaufstellung des Produkts beschreiben, wobei das Online-Transaktionsverarbeitungssystem (112) ferner ein Timer- Mittel (122) umfaßt, das betreibbar ist, um einen Transfer der ersten Tabelle (126) aus dem ersten Speichermittel (124) des Online-Transaktionsverarbeitungssystems (112) zu dem zweiten Verarbeitungsmittel (144) des Servercomputers (1) auszulösen. 2. Datenverarbeitungssystem nach Anspruch 1, wobei die Meldedaten Daten umfassen, die einen Ursprungs-Meldepunkt und eine Menge eines Zwischenprodukts angeben. 3. Datenverarbeitungssystem nach Anspruch 1 oder 2, wobei die Datenbank eine relationale Datenbank ist. 4. Datenverarbeitungssystem nach Anspruch 1, 2 oder 3, wobei das Online-Transaktionsverarbeitungssystem ein Mittel (1) zum Abfragen der Datenbank aufweist, um von den Ausgangspunkten gemeldete Mengen der Zwi- 9

10 schenprodukte abzurufen.. Datenverarbeitungssystem nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 4, wobei das Online-Transaktionsverarbeitungssystem ein Timer-Mittel (122) zum Einleiten der Erzeugung der ersten Tabelle aufweist. 6. Datenverarbeitungssystem nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis, wobei der Servercomputer ein mit dem zweiten Verarbeitungsmittel gekoppeltes elektronisches Geschäftsbuch (6) aufweist. 7. Datenverarbeitungssystem nach Anspruch 1, wobei der Master-Datenserver (128) mit einem Computer (160) für die Eingabe eines Benutzers der Daten (136), die die Materialaufstellung des Produkts beschreiben, und/oder der Routing-Daten (138) und/oder der Daten (142), die die Werkstättenbereiche und Ausgangspunkte beschreiben, gekoppelt ist Verfahren zum Berechnen eines Werts für ablaufende Arbeit auf der Basis von Meldedaten, die aus einer Menge von Meldepunkten von Arbeitszentralen einer Produktionslinie zum Produzieren eines Produkts empfangen werden, wobei die Produktionslinie logisch in Werkstättenbereiche unterteilt ist, wobei ein Meldepunkt jedes Werkstättenbereichs ein Ausgangspunkt ist, der einem Zwischenproduktionsschritt entspricht, wobei das Verfahren die folgenden Schritte umfaßt: - Speichern von Routing-Daten und Master-Daten (142), wobei die Master-Daten Werkstättenbereiche, Ausgangspunkte und eine Materialaufstellung eines Produkts durch einen Master-Datenserver beschreiben, wobei der Master-Datenserver (128) mit einem Online-Transaktionsverarbeitungssystem und einem Servercomputer gekoppelt ist, - Empfangen der Meldedaten durch das Online-Transaktionsverarbeitungssystem, - Speichern der Meldedaten in einer Datenbank des Online-Transaktionsverarbeitungssystems, - Komprimieren der Meldedaten in einer ersten Tabelle, die aggregierte Mengen von Zwischenprodukten und aggregierte Abfallmengen, die von den Ausgangspunkten gemeldet werden, umfaßt, auf der Basis der in der Datenbank gespeicherten Meldedaten und durch Verwenden der Daten (142), die die Werkstättenbereiche und Ausgangspunkte beschreiben, die aus dem Master-Datenserver (128) gelesen werden, durch das Online-Transaktionsverarbeitungssystem, - Speichern der ersten Tabelle in einem ersten Speichermittel des Online-Transaktionsverarbeitungssystems, - Transferieren der ersten Tabelle aus dem ersten Speichermittel zu dem Servercomputer, - Lesen der Routing-Daten, wobei die Daten die Werkstättenbereiche und Ausgangspunkte beschreiben, durch den Servercomputer, und Lesen der Daten (136), die eine Materialaufstellung des Produkts beschreiben, aus dem Master-Datenserver (128), - Berechnen einer zweiten Tabelle, die Wertinkremente pro Werkstättenbereich umfaßt, und Speichern der zweiten Tabelle in einem zweiten Speichermittel des Servercomputers, - Berechnen eines Gesamtwerts der ablaufenden Arbeit mittels der ersten und zweiten Tabelle, mittels der Routing-Daten, wobei die Daten die Werkstättenbereiche und Ausgangspunkte beschreiben und die Daten (136) die Materialaufstellung des Produkts durch den Servercomputer beschreiben. 9. Verfahren nach Anspruch 8, wobei die zweite Tabelle zu einem vorbestimmten Zeitpunkt berechnet und zur nachfolgenden Verwendung durch den Servercomputer in dem zweiten Speichermittel gespeichert wird. 0. Verfahren nach Anspruch 8 oder 9, ferner mit dem Schritt des Ausführens einer Datenbankanfrage, um Mengen der Zwischenprodukte und Abfallmengen, die von den Ausgangspunkten gemeldet werden, von der Datenbank abzurufen. 11. Verfahren nach einem der Ansprüche 8 bis, ferner mit dem Schritt des Einleitens des Transfers der ersten Tabelle von dem ersten Speichermittel des Online-Transaktionsverarbeitungssystems zu dem Servercomputer in vorgeplanten Zeitintervallen oder als Reaktion auf eine aus dem Servercomputer empfangene Anforderung. 12. Computerprogrammprodukt mit computerausführbaren Anweisungen zum Ausführen der Verfahrensschritte nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche 8 bis Produktionsanlage, umfassend:

11 - eine Produktionslinie (0) zum Produzieren eines Produkts (2), wobei die Produktionslinie logisch in Werkstättenbereiche (1, 2,..., N) unterteilt ist, - eine Menge von Meldepunkten (4) von Arbeitszentralen (W) der Produktionslinie (0), wobei ein Meldepunkt (4) jedes Werkstättenbereichs (1, 2,..., N) ein Ausgangspunkt ist, der einem Zwischenproduktionsschritt des Produkts (2) entspricht, und - ein Datenverarbeitungssystem (8) nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 7. Revendications 1. Système de traitement de données (8) pour une usine de production comprenant : - un serveur de données maîtresses (128) étant couplé à un système de traitement transactionnel en ligne (112) et un ordinateur serveur (1), le serveur de données maîtresses (128) stockant des données d acheminement et des données maîtresses (142), les données maîtresses étant descriptives de surfaces de magasin, de points de sortie et d une nomenclature d un produit, - le système de traitement transactionnel en ligne (112) étant couplé à un ensemble de points de compte-rendu (4) de postes de travail (W) d une ligne de production (0) destinée à produire le produit (2), la ligne de production étant divisée logiquement en surfaces de magasin (1, 2,..., N), un point de compte-rendu de chaque surface de magasin étant un point de sortie correspondant à une étape de production intermédiaire, le système de traitement transactionnel en ligne ayant : 2 a) une base de données (116) apte à stocker les données de compte-rendu (1) acquises au niveau des points de compte-rendu (4), b) des premiers moyens de traitement (118) comprenant un module de programme (1) opérationnel pour compresser les données de compte-rendu (1) et générer une première table (126) avec des quantités cumulées de produits intermédiaires au niveau des points de sortie sur la base des données de compterendu stockées dans la base de données et par l utilisation des données (142) étant descriptives des surfaces de magasin et des points de sortie lues sur le serveur de données maîtresses (128), c) des premiers moyens de stockage (124) en liaison opérationnelle avec les premiers moyens de traitement (118) aptes à stocker la première table (126), l ordinateur serveur (1) étant en liaison opérationnelle avec le système de traitement transactionnel en ligne (112), ledit ordinateur serveur ayant a) des seconds moyens de stockage (4), b) une seconde table (2) comprenant des incréments de valeur par surface de magasin, ladite seconde table étant stockée dans les seconds moyens de stockage (4), c) des seconds moyens de traitement (144) comprenant un premier module de programme (146) opérationnel pour lire les données d acheminement, les données étant descriptives des surfaces de magasin et des points de sortie et lire des données (136) étant descriptives d une nomenclature du produit, et comprenant un second module de programme (0) opérationnel pour calculer une valeur totale (V) du travail en cours au moyen des première et seconde tables (126, 2) et au moyen des données d acheminement, des données descriptives des surfaces de magasin et des points de sortie et des données (136) étant descriptives d une nomenclature du produit, dans lequel le système de traitement transactionnel en ligne (112) comprend en outre des moyens de temporisateur (122) opérationnels pour déclencher un transfert de la première table (126) des premiers moyens de stockage (124) du système de traitement transactionnel en ligne (112) aux seconds moyens de traitement (144) de l ordinateur serveur (1). 2. Système de traitement de données selon la revendication 1, les données de compte-rendu comprenant des données indicatives d un point de compte-rendu d origine et d une quantité d un produit intermédiaire. 3. Système de traitement de données selon la revendication 1 ou 2, la base de données étant une base de données relationnelle. 4. Système de traitement de données selon la revendication 1, 2 ou 3, le système de traitement transactionnel en ligne ayant des moyens (1) destinés à interroger la base de données pour récupérer des quantités des produits intermédiaires signalées depuis les points de sortie. 11

12 . Système de traitement de données selon l une quelconque des revendications 1 à 4, le système de traitement transactionnel en ligne ayant des moyens de temporisateur (122) destinés à déclencher la génération de la première table. 6. Système de traitement de données selon l une quelconque des revendications 1 à, l ordinateur serveur ayant un grand livre électronique (6) couplé aux seconds moyens de traitement. 7. Système de traitement de données selon la revendication 1, le serveur de données maîtresses (128) étant couplé à un ordinateur (160) destiné à une entrée par l utilisateur des données (136) étant descriptives de la nomenclature du produit et/ou des données d acheminement (138) et/ou des données (142) descriptives des surfaces de magasin et des points de sortie. 8. Procédé de calcul d une valeur de travail en cours sur la base des données de compte-rendu reçues d un ensemble de points de compte-rendu de postes de travail d une ligne de production destinée à produire un produit, la ligne de production étant divisée logiquement en surfaces de magasin, un point de compte-rendu de chaque surface de magasin étant un point de sortie correspondant à une étape de production intermédiaire, le procédé comprenant les étapes de : stockage des données d acheminement et des données maîtresses (142), les données maîtresses étant descriptives de surfaces de magasin, de points de sortie et d une nomenclature d un produit par un serveur de données maîtresses, le serveur de données maîtresses (128) étant couplé à un système de traitement transactionnel en ligne et un ordinateur serveur, - réception des données de compte-rendu par le système de traitement transactionnel en ligne, - stockage des données de compte-rendu dans une base de données du système de traitement transactionnel en ligne, - compression par le système de traitement transactionnel en ligne des données de compte-rendu dans une première table comprenant des quantités cumulées de produits intermédiaires et des quantités de rebuts cumulées signalées depuis les points de sortie sur la base des données de compte-rendu stockées dans la base de données et par l utilisation des données (142) étant descriptives des surfaces de magasin et des points de sortie lues sur le serveur de données maîtresses (128), - stockage de la première table dans les premiers moyens de stockage du système de traitement transactionnel en ligne, - transfert de la première table des premiers moyens de stockage à l ordinateur serveur, - lecture par l ordinateur serveur des données d acheminement, des données étant descriptives des surfaces de magasin et des points de sortie et pour lire les données (136) étant descriptives d une nomenclature du produit sur le serveur de données maîtresses (128), - calcul d une seconde table comprenant des incréments de valeur par surface de magasin et stockage de la seconde table dans les seconds moyens de stockage de l ordinateur serveur, - calcul d une valeur totale du travail en cours au moyen des première et seconde tables, au moyen des données d acheminement, des données descriptives des surfaces de magasin et des points de sortie et des données (136) étant descriptives d une nomenclature du produit par l ordinateur serveur Procédé selon la revendication 8, dans lequel la seconde table est calculée à un temps prédéterminé et stockée dans les seconds moyens de stockage pour une utilisation ultérieure par l ordinateur serveur.. Procédé selon la revendication 8 ou 9 comprenant en outre la réalisation d une interrogation de base de données pour récupérer des quantités des produits intermédiaires et des quantités de rebuts signalées depuis les points de sortie sur la base de données. 11. Procédé selon l une quelconque des revendications 8 à, comprenant en outre le déclenchement du transfert de la première table depuis les premiers moyens de stockage du système de traitement transactionnel en ligne à l ordinateur serveur à des intervalles de temps préprogrammés ou en réponse à une demande reçue de l ordinateur serveur. 12. Produit-programme informatique comprenant des instructions exécutables par un ordinateur pour réaliser les étapes du procédé telles que revendiquées dans l une quelconque des revendications précédentes 8 à Usine de production, comprenant 12

13 - une ligne de production (0) destinée à produire un produit (2), la ligne de production étant divisée logiquement en surfaces de magasin (1, 2,..., N), - un ensemble de points de compte-rendu (4) de postes de travail (W) de la ligne de production (0), un point de compte-rendu (4) de chaque surface de magasin (1, 2,..., N) étant un point de sortie correspondant à une étape de production intermédiaire du produit (2), et - un système de traitement de données (8) selon l une quelconque des revendications 1 à

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