SE545051C2 - Modification of input data - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a computer-controlled method for modifying process parameters based on optimum operation performance criteria for a metal working process, said method comprising the steps of inputting desired process parameters for at least one product to be machined and generating resulting operational data based on the desired process parameters. Resulting operational data is compared with optimized operation performance criteria and is presented to a decision-making entity. This entity is configured to modify the process parameters so as to improve operation of the metal working process.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a method, an industrial machine system, a computer program product and a non-transient computer-readable medium for modifying process parameters based on optimum operation performance criteria for an industrial machining operation, such as a metal working process.

BACKGROUND ART Industrial machine systems of today typically consist of a machine with an actuator system for providing relative motion between a machine part or operating device and a workpiece. State of the art industrial machine systems are highly specialised to perform operations like for instance beam cutting, milling, turning, drilling, boring, punching, punch pressing, press- breaking, bending, welding and assembly operations. The machine system is a substantial investment to most potential customers, in particular to smaller or medium-sized workshops, why the versatility and productivity that the machine system is to contribute with to the business is a key factor when making investment decisions.

The industrial machine systems are controlled by means of a CNC (Computerized Numerical Control) unit, an NC (Numerical Control) unit, a PLC (Programmable Logical Control) unit and/or related sensing and processing equipment that together serve to provide instructions to an actuator system to perform required movements in order to execute intended industrial operations. The machine system further comprises a machine controller, which is essentially a computer having a processor and a conventional operating system such as Windows or Linux configured to give instructions to the CNC/NC/PLC unit based on machine controller instructions, such as G-code or XI\/|L. The machine controller includes or is connected to an HMI (Human-Machine Interface), and is configured to read programs and to gather process parameters so as to yield complete instructions to the CNC/NC/PLC unit for execution by the actuator system comprised in the machine. Conventionally, both the CNC/NC/PLC unit and the 2 machine controller are physically included in the industrial machine, and the industrial machine forms an independent and self-contained industrial machine system wherein the machine controller forms an essential and physically connected part ofthe machine.

A CNC system may be defined so as to comprise a machine tool, herein referred to as a machine, a part program, which is a detailed set of commands followed by the machine, and a machine controller (or machine control unit), which is a computer that stores the program and executes its commands into actions by the machine tool.

I\/lanagement, control and monitoring of operations performed by an industrial machine need expertise and experience from a machine operator as well as software-based support systems to work out. To generate a program for the operation of for example manufacturing a particular metal product, the program needs to be based both on a set of predetermined principles, such as the calculation of operating sequences based on optimization techniques or shortest path principles, but also an operator's know-how ofwhat will be the best sequence from a more practical point of view. Variables to consider and control may be related to materials properties, logistics and of course to the actual geometries, shapes, dimensions and order in which products are to be produced.

I\/lanufacturing processes according to prior art are based on a more or less linear sequence involving the steps of constructing and designing a product, followed by purchasing of required production materials, reservation of production capacity and allocation of resources. Products are then manufactured and delivered to stock or to a customer. Traditional manufacturing processes tend to be rather rigid and therefore fail to utilise production means to their full capacity and potential. Hence, full efficiency and productivity will not be achieved throughout the sequence as steps in the process cannot be synchronized and lacking transparency of information will prevent exchange of valuable process-related parameters.

As mentioned, industrial machining operations, but also related design- and construction processes (including the option of parametric design), selection of material, purchasing, logistics etc., are based on large amounts of dynamic variables and varying prerequisites, all influencing the result of an industrial or business-oriented operation. A human operator or client will consequently be exposed to significant complexity when trying to optimize an operation involving large amounts of variables. One may know what is actually desired, but 3 would need assistance with determining the most efficient way of obtaining the desired result, an assistance, or preferably automated service, that is unfortunately nowhere to be found.

Therefore, a related problem that needs to be considered when setting up and performing an industrial machining operation or related business-oriented operation is to manage this complexity and large amount of influencing parameters. lf not properly managed, it may adversely affect the efficiency, precision, quality and productivity of the industrial machining or business-oriented operation, whether the variables are related to logistics, materials properties, production quality, presently used tooling, available tooling or operators' needs. lf properly managed, a significant improvement of productivity and efficiency is to be expected.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION lt is therefore an object ofthe present invention to alleviate the mentioned problems associated with prior art technology by providing a cornputeræoiitroiied method, an industrial machine system, a computer program product and a non-transient computer-readable medium for modifying process parameters based on optimum operation performance criteria for a metal working process, said method comprising the steps of: inputtfirig ríesired proitesza paraineteris for at ieast one iirodiiitt to be iitachiried, »vhereiri the desired rarocess pararrieterzs are iiararriefters such as r>roríuc:tir:ri order tiatcn voiurries, product eornetry, predetined toierances, required rnetai »working operations. required tooiirig configuration, automation configuration for grip and/or pick and piece andjoi' stacitihw produced parts stackirirf pattern of produced iterns ancijor* process pararneter data from previous operations generating restiiting operationai data based on the desired process parameters, seiecting at least one :Jptiniizatioiri tecnriidue to ctetirie a ftinction said furictiori comprising the desired process pararrieters, generatint: a iiinctiori for optimization by using tfhe tziesired process parameters as a basis 'to define rarigeza tor perforniariiïe variatiies aiorifl with ranges for process iššiiffštäiifâïïeïifšs.. appiying the generated function tor optimization to the function cornprising process parameters. whereby optirnuin operation performance criteria are determined for the 4 process rnodel iimïšttdšng rarocess paranteters and performance tfaršables to obtain a set of operational eiata for controšišrtg the rnetal vvorking process cornparirtg the generated operational data vvitn the optimurrt otveratšon performance cršteria. and in case the cc-mparin šndicates a difference and the optimurtt operation performance criteria provides a performance ativantaee to the operator, presentirtee (SSOl the Optimum operation performance criteria to a computerised decšsioremaking entitv that is confšgured to modify the desired precess parameters based or: the presented raptimurn operatiran performance criteria for the rnetaš »anarkister raroctess." as-a-era-aia-te-denree--eraregea-fer--gaerferanareee-varia-ialea-aien-g--with-ea-nges--fer--preeesfse -parai-"efretereï- 4- crf-Å; s :ni-Enn uuifx ~ :ru fl ÉQ ÜKÄÜ ÉÉI; U Li y This has the advantage of allowing a decision~_-_making entity, such as a human operator or computerised means to use all available data to gain efficiency and productivity. By using the invention as a supervising service that collects information from various sources, of which the machine may be one, all ofthe desired process parameters that have been input may be modified by using all available information. Examples of other sources of information may be elements in connection with the machine or machine controller via Internet of Things (loT), an enterprise resource planning system (ERP), a manufacturing execution system (MES), a customer relation management system (CRM), a sourcing management system (SMS), a computer aided design/manufacturing systems (CAD/CAM) and related databases.

According to embodiments ofthe present invention, all relevant information is made available via the industrial machine system and/or other systems like the mentioned |oT, etc. This makes it possible to use agile iterative processes to optimize each step, either in advance or while carrying out the process according to actual settings and circumstances. The optimization process can also be used for design, purchasing, ordering and planning, e.g. production planning. As a few examples among many others, product design may be modified with available tools, materials may be modified according to present stock, delivery time may be modified with machine availability and product design may be modified to achieve a certain quality, preferably a quality even higher than originally desired.

Further examples of process parameters that may be modified using means and methods according to the present intention will follow: A production process may be modified from an integrated combination machine, such as punch/bending to a combination of separate processes, such as laser cutting and press breaking. This would for example be a modification aiming at reducing production costs. Beam cutting of free-form shapes like individual units may be modified to cutting of free-form shapes as clusters with only one single cut from the cutting beam in-between. A part geometry segment and/or part tangential segments could be modified by interchanging or changing their relative positions and/or shapes, preferably leading to an improvement in part quality when cutting parts out of sheet metal.

Material thickness as well as material type and/or quality could be modified in order to reduce weight and cost of products produced. Alternatively, product geometry could be modified in order to reduce material waste and decrease cost. Material size, shape and dimensions could be reduced for the same or similar reasons as above.

Part and/or product geometry could be modified so as to minimize set-up time and cost, a reduction which can be achieved in that the need to change tooling is reduced or even eliminated. Material size, shape and dimensions may be modified also to require less amounts of material in stock. Batch sizes could be adjusted to reduce costs, an adjustment that may lead to a possible alteration in machine configurations depending on the batch size, and the 6 machine configuration as such may also be modified so as to obtain various gains and simplifications in the production process.

By process parameters relating to the metal working process are here meant parameters such as production order, batch volumes, product geometry, predefined tolerances, required metal working operations, required tooling configuration, automation configuration for grip and/or pick and place and/or stacking produced parts, stacking pattern of produced items and/or process parameter data from previous operations. By performance variables relating to the metal working process are here meant variables such as determined tolerances of produced items, process time, tooling availability, tooling lifetime, material removal rate, operator working environment, order stock, delivery time, required pressing position and/or performance variable data from previous operations. Predefined and/or determined tolerances of produced items include any of the following performance variables: material properties, such as hardness, toughness, size and thickness, product geometries, such as radii, angles and dimensions and production defects, such as bulges, bending lines, pressure deformations, leadin marks, micro joint marks and other visual attributes.

The invention also includes that modified data may further be used in different applications, such as CAD, CAM, ERP, I\/IES, CRM, Sourcing management etc. The invention is also applicable within areas such as purchasing and optimization of machine performance criteria, criteria which may be defined as instructions and/or a program of instructions for the control an industrial machine, such as a CNC machine tool.

The present invention as claimed in the appended claims thereby differs from traditional, linear scheduling of tasks. As an example could be mentioned the typical task ofwhether to produce a first type of punch or a second type of punch. That task could as well be solved by a traditional scheduling systems or manufacturing execution system. As another example could be mentioned that a certain piece needs to be punched out of a material before being bent, which is also a decision typically being made in a linear flow management system. As another example could be mentioned is to use one or several cutting heads in beam cutting, which is a linear decision based on the default number of cutting heads on the machine through number parts to produce. That task could be solved by a traditional scheduling system or manufacturing execution system. The present invention instead uses information availablefrom a number of sources in order to determine, as an example, that a certain product ought to be produced by laser cutting technique and press-breaking technique instead of combination punching and bending technique, in order to reduce production costs and simultaneously enable enhanced quality of the product, and therefore suggests modification of desired process parameters based on the presented optimum operation performance criteria for the metal working process.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Various embodiments and examples related to the present invention will now be described with reference to the appended drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a flow chart that depicts an optimization of an operational sequence of an industrial machine system or the like by inputting desired parameters followed by modifying and presenting the optimum performance criteria. Figure 2 graphically illustrates an industrial machine system according to one embodiment.

Figure 3 displays another embodiment of an industrial machine system according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Both the detailed description and the drawings to which it refers are given by way of example only. Same reference numerals from different figures refer to the same element.

Figure 1 is a flow chart that depicts an optimization of an operational sequence in an industrial machine system or a manufacturing support system, possibly remote, a system configured to provide support for business operations relating to design- and construction processes (including the option of parametric design), selection of material, purchasing, logistics etc., by inputting desired parameters followed by modifying and presenting the optimum performance criteria.The sequence starts (S10) in that an operator or client either manually or automatically inputs (S20) desired parameters relating to a product to be machined or evaluated. This input of desired product parameters can be made at any location. One example is that an application (app) developed for a mobile terminal, such a so-called smartphone, is used as a tool for realizing the input of desired parameters. This app may then be provided to all stakeholders along the value chain, for example designers, purchasers, logistics professionals, manufacturing specialists etc. ln a next step, the computing system according to the invention generates (S30) resulting operational data based on the desired process parameters. ln parallel with the generation of operational data, the computing system according to the invention selects (S40) at least one optimization technique to define a function, a function which comprising the desired process parameters. This is followed by generation (S50) of a function for optimization by using the desired process parameters as a basis to define ranges for performance variables along with ranges for process parameters.

The generated function for optimization is applied (S60) whereby optimum operation performance criteria can be determined for the process model including process parameters and performance variables to obtain a set of requirements to be used for controlling the metal working process.

As soon as the optimum performance criteria have been determined, the resulting operational data is compared (S70) with the optimum operation performance criteria, and in case there is a difference, and the optimum performance criteria seems to provides a performance advantage to the operator or client, the result is presented (S80) to a decision-making entity. This decision-making entity, whether being a human operator, a computerised, fully or semi- automated service layer, is allowed to modify (S90) the desired process parameters based on the presented optimum operation performance criteria for the metal working process. The decision-making entity may also be realized in the form of an application (app) for a smartphone, preferably the same or an app similar to the one mentioned in connection with the step of inputting desired parameters. lf the decision-making entity decides to modify process parameters comprised in the presented information (Yes), the proposed operational sequence is adopted by the industrial machine system. ln case the decision-making system decides not to accept the proposal (No),the sequence continues in that the originally generated operational data is applied (S100). Whichever decision is made, the sequence continues to the starting point (S10) or end point (S110). I\/|odified data may further be used in different applications such as CAD, CAM, ERP, I\/IES, CRM, Sourcing management etc. The present invention is also applicable within areas such as purchasing and optimization of machine performance criteria, criteria which may be defined as instructions and/or a program of instructions for the control an industrial machine, such as a CNC machine tool.

Figure 2 graphically illustrates a first embodiment of the invention. The system comprises a machine 1, which may be a machine for beam cutting (2- or 3-dimensional), punching, punch pressing, press-breaking, bending, gluing, sewing, tape and fibre placement, milling, drilling, turning, routing, picking and placing and combinations of such machines. Beam cutting includes techniques such as laser, welding, friction stir welding, ultrasonic welding, flame and plasma cutting, pinning and sawing.

The machine comprises an actuator system 2 for performing an industrial operation. The actuator system comprises at least one actuator, i.e. a motor for linear or rotational movement. Typically, the actuator system is configured for performing two-dimensional or three-dimensional movements of an operational part ofthe machine and a workpiece relative to each other.

The actuator system is controlled by an actuator controller 3 in the form of a CNC/NC/PLC unit and/or related sensing and processing equipment. The actuator controller controls the actuator on a low level, i.e. by sending low level control commands for the actuation of the actuator system. The actuator system is connected to the actuator controller via a machine internal communication network 4, e.g. including a communication bus.

The machine optionally comprises other systems, such as a sensor system 10 for sensing various processing parameters ofthe machine and other controllers 11 for processors, networks, communication links or other computing devices for transmitting data and making decisions. These systems may also be connected to a machine common internal communication network 4 and to the computing system in connection with the machine, such that the machine controller is connected to the sensor system to receive sensor data. The machine controller may be further configured to remotely control the actuator system ofthe machine in response to the sensor data.

As an alternative configuration, the CNC/NC/PLC unit and/or related sensing and processing equipment as well as the mentioned machine controller may be physically attached to or otherwise included in the industrial machine. The industrial machine then forms an independent and self-contained industrial machine system, wherein the machine controller forms an essential and physically connected part of the machine. Both of the two alternative embodiments of industrial machine systems have their respective advantages, and for the purpose of the present invention, integrated or remote configurations of sensor system and actuator controller are both equally applicable.

The machine may also comprise a communication client 5 connected to the actuator controller 3 for establishing communication with a computing system 6 in connection with the machine, when configured according to the remote alternative. The communication client is then a functional unit which enables the machine or any sub-component ofthe machine to communicate with the machine controller. The computing system in connection with the machine may be a cloud-based computing system connected to the internet. The communication client 5 and the computing system in connection with the machine may be configured to establish secure communication 7 with each other over the internet, for instance by initiating encrypted communication by HTTPS/TSL or by establishing a VPN (virtual private network). Alternatively, the communication may be established over a firewall or a proxy server 8. As a further alternative, any sub-component of the machine, such as the actuator controller 3, may be configured to connect to the computing system 6 in itself, but as mentioned both remote and integrated configurations are equally applicable for this purpose.

The mentioned computing system 6 in connection with the machine comprises a machine controller 9, wherein the machine controller may be remotely connected to the machine, and wherein the machine controller may be configured to control the actuator system ofthe machine remotely via the actuator controller by modifying operational parameters of the actuator controller.

The machine controller 9 is hosted in a virtual machine in the remote computing system 6. ln that way the machine controller resource may be exploited in an efficient way. The machinecontroller may e.g. be configured to read and execute machine program code, control machine parameters, allow manual control or adjustments of machine parameters, and function as an interface to associated systems. The machine controller is connected to a HMI (Human-Machine Interface) unit 12 which may be remotely connected to the machine controller via an internet connection 13 and in another embodiment is integrated with the machine. Either way, an operator of the machine may supervise and control the operation of the machine from a remote location, e.g. connected to the internet. The HMI unit 12 and/or remote computing system 6 may be configured to require user identification of an operator, e.g. by requiring passwords or other identification means.

One alternative embodiment of the invention as illustrated in figure 2. Locally on the machine 1 an actuator system 2 comprising actuators for performing machining operations is included. An actuator controller 3 is part of or connected to the actuator system 2. The actuator controller is configured to receive instructions from the remote machine controller and execute instructions block by block in a closed loop system. Each task performed by an actuator is hence monitored and after a completed sub-operation, the actuator will perform the next sub-operation until a whole operation is completed. This means that the operation of the actuators of the machine is controlled by the actuator controller on a low level. The actuator controller typically includes a memory and a processor in order to save and execute instructions and to log data. The actuator system does not involve a conventional machine controller or HMI. The actuator system of the machine is hence dependent on receiving instructions from the remote machine controller. Once a complete set of work instructions or a defined sub-set thereof have been received and verified it may however be executed without further instructions from the machine controller. A sub-set of work instructions may be a part of a complete machine operation, but at least involves enough information for the actuator system to perform a part of a complete operation. The operation is preferably performed step by step in a closed loop system within the machine. The machine is only furnished with simple functions such as an emergency stop button and an on/off button. Other than that the machine is dependent on commands from the remote machine controller tO Opefate.

The machine controller is physically located remote from the machine, typically in the cloud.

The monitoring of an ongoing process, loading of instructions, modification of instructions and 12 creating new instruction may only be made at the remote machine controller. Hence, the inventive machine controller corresponds to a conventional machine controller, only it is not a physical part ofthe machine but remote connected to the machine. The instructions monitored and controlled by the machine controller and the interconnected HMI include operational parameters such as cutting velocity, cutting depth, pressure and so on.

The machine controller is not part of the closed loop system ofthe actuator controller. Hence, unless new instructions are sent from the machine controller, the actuator system at the machine will conclude a fully received operation instruction without awaiting further instructions, unless specific instructions to conclude or alter the operation are received from the machine controller. Typically though, instructions are only provided for a full operation and new instruction will therefore only count for subsequent operations, not ongoing operations. This may be set as a safety arrangement but is up to the operator to decide which type of operational security should be implemented.

The machine controller is configured to send instructions, instruction per instruction, or several instructions in a batch system. Any conventional manner of sending information may be utilized. The machine controller is further configured to receive information and make decisions based on said information. For example, the machine controller may act on feedback data and make decisions and/or send new instructions based on said feedback.

The inventive system provides for a possibility of remote controlling of an industrial machine, without risking that commands are lost as a consequence of bad communication due to for instance latency in the internet connection. This is made sure e.g. because an operation is received and acknowledged in full at the actuator controller. ln order to facilitate surveillance, the machine comprises a surveillance unit 14, such as a camera, video camera or other image capturing means, for monitoring operations by the machine. The surveillance unit is connected to the remote computing system 6 via the communication client 5 and configured to provide operational information to the remote computing system. The operational information is processed and transmitted to the HMI The machine controller is configured to receive a machine program from a CAD/CAM system or by manual entry from an operator, e.g. via the HMI unitln one embodiment the remote computing system is configured to monitor an operational parameter ofthe machine, and disable the remote control of the actuator system ofthe machine by the machine controller when the operational parameter exceeds a threshold value. Such an operational parameter may be the operating time, the number of operational cycles performed by the machine etc. Thus the operational costs and the use ofthe machine may be controlled and limited by limiting access to the machine controller.

The remote computing system is configured to collect machine and/or production data and transfer the data to another system (not shown) for data analysis and/or optimization. The machine data may be used to e.g. optimize the supply chain (purchase, manufacturing, distribution), the demand chain (marketing, sales, service), machine maintenance or for other big data applications.

The surveillance unit may also be configured for monitoring produced items and their various properties, including their tolerances. Computer vision is another term used in the industry for this identification of properties related to geometry. By tolerances is meant material properties, such as hardness, toughness, size, shape, product geometries, such as radii, angles and dimensions, and production defects, such as, bulges, bending lines, pressure deformations and/or other visual attributes. The surveillance unit may further be connected to the computing system 6 in connection with the machine, via the communication client 5 and configured to provide operational information to the computing system. ln one embodiment the computing system in connection with the machine is configured to monitor an operational parameter ofthe machine, and disable the remote control of the actuator system ofthe machine by the machine controller when the operational parameter exceeds a threshold value. Such an operational parameter may be the operating time, the number of operational cycles performed by the machine etc.

The computing system is configured to collect machine and/or production data and transfer the data to another system for data analysis and/or optimization. This system may be an enterprise resource planning system (ERP) of manufacturing execution system (I\/IES) of any kind. The machine data may be used to for example optimize the supply chain, i.e. purchase, manufacturing and distribution; the demand chain i.e. marketing, sales and service; and maintenance of the machine or its integrated or remote parts. I\/|achine data may also be 14 made available for other systems, such as big data applications designed merge data and draw conclusions based on very large amounts of information.

Figure 3 displays an alternative embodiment of an industrial machine system according to the invention. The industrial machine system differs from what is described in relation to figure 1 in that the machine does not comprise an actuator controller. The actuator controller 3' is physically disconnected to the machine and comprised in the computing system 6 in connection with the machine. The computing system is connected to the machine via one or more data lines 7, e.g. over the internet, which may be encrypted. The machine 1 comprises at least one communication client 15 for establishing communication between the machine and the computing system 6 in connection with the machine. This communication client 15 is connected to the actuator system 2 of the machine, and thus called the actuator client. The client is configured to send and receive low level communication from the actuator controller to the actuator system. Similarly, the machine may optionally comprise a sensor communication client 16 for communicating any sensor data from the sensor system 10, and any further controller clients 17 for communicating with other controllers 11 in the machine. Similar to what is shown in relation to figure 2, the communication between the machine and the computing system in connection with the machine may be the established over a firewall or a proxy server.

Claims (2)

1. A computencontrollezj method for modifying process parameters based on optimum operation performance criteria for a metal working process, said method comprising the steps of: inputting (S20) desired process parameters for at least one product to be machined, wherein the desired process parameters are parameters such as production order, batch volumes, product geometry, predefined tolerances, required metal working operations, required tooling configuration, automation configuration for grip and/or pick and place and/or stacking produced parts, stacking pattern of produced items and/or process parameter data from previous operations generating (S30) resulting operational data based on the desired process parameters, selecting (S40) at least one optimization technique to define a function, said function comprising the desired process parameters, generating (S50) a function for optimization by using the desired process parameters as a basis to define ranges for performance variables along with ranges for process pa ra meters, applying (S60) the generated function for optimization to the function comprising process parameters, whereby optimum operation performance criteria are determined for the process model including process parameters and performance variables to obtain a set of operational fíata for controlling the metal working process, comparing (S70) the generated operational data with the optimum operation performance criteria, and in case the comparing indicates a difference and the optimum operation performance criteria provides a performance advantage to the operator, presenting (S80) the optimum operation performance criteria to a computerised decision--¿making entity tliat äs corafšætared to modify the desired process parameters based on the presented optimum operation performance criteria for the metal working pFOCeSS.

2.Amïhe method for modifying process parameters based on optimum operation performance criteria for a metal working process according to c|aim 1, wherein the step of modifying process parameters includes summarising process parameters. A-method for modifying process parameters based on optimum operation performance criteria for a metal working process according to c|aim 1, wherein a proposed order to an external partner is prepared comprising material, tools, spare parts, maintenance, and/or logistics if required to obtaining optimum performance criteria. The method for modifying process parameters based on optimum operation performance criteria for a metal working process according to c|aim 1, wherein resulting operational data comprises at least one of the performance variables quality, time of delivery and total cost. The A-fl-method for modifying process parameters based on optimum operation performance criteria for a metal working process according to c|aim 1, wherein the optimum operation performance criteria determined for the process model comprise at least one ofthe criteria production cost, amount of waste, quality, delivery precision. Eßfimethod for modifying process parameters based on optimum operation performance criteria fora metal working process according to c|aim 1, the metal working process being any industrially applicable cutting technology based on laser, flames, plasma, waterjet, ion, air, bending, pressing, punch pressing, press-breaking, welding, milling, drilling and turning. The A-method for modifying process parameters based on optimum operation performance criteria for a metal working process according to c|aim 1, wherein the metal working process relates to machining of sheet metal. method for modifying process parameters based on optimum operation performance criteria for a metal working process according to c|aim 1, wherein theprocess model is dynamically monitored and controlled, preferably in real time. method for modifying process parameters based on optimum operation performance criteria for a metal working process according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of: retrieving process parameters from different sources relating to the metal working process, such as production order, batch volume, product geometry and predefined tolerances, required metal working operations, required tooling configuration, stacking pattern of produced items, and/or process parameter data from previous operations, retrieving performance variables from different sources relating to the metal working process, such as determined tolerances of produced items, process time, tooling availability, tooling lifetime, material removal rate, operator working environment, order stock, delivery time, required pressing position and/or performance variable data from previous operations, storing the process parameters and performance variables in a consolidated memory in association with a computer system, such as an enterprise resource planning (ERP) or manufacturing execution (I\/IES) system, making the process parameters and or performance variables available for a machine controller or computing system for application of optimization techniques to select optimum operation performance criteria. method for modifying process parameters based on optimum operation performance criteria for a metal working process according to claim 9, wherein tools and/or produced items and/or sources along the production line and/or sources within the logistics flow are embedded with electronics, software, sensors and/or network connectivity, enabling these objects to exchange data, such as process parameters and/or performance variables, with the computer system. The method for modifying process parameters based on optimum operation performance criteria for a metal working process according to claim 9, wherein predefined and/or determined tolerances of produced items include any of the following performance va riables: 4 material properties, such as hardness, toughness, size and thickness, product geometries, such as radii, angles and dimensions, and production defects, such as bulges, bending lines, pressure deformations and other visual attributes. The :iv-method for modifying process parameters based on optimum operation performance criteria for a metal working process according to c|aim 11, wherein product geometries includes data on bending curves, stretch, strain, compensation factors and tooling preferences. mçmA-method for modifying process parameters based on optimum operation performance criteria for a metal working process according to c|aim 9, wherein process parameters in addition to the tooling configuration also includes other enabling requirements, such as spare parts, tools, maintenance, material, shape and/or dimension. The A method for modifying process parameters based on optimum operation performance criteria for a metal working process according to anyone of preceding claims, wherein the method is adapted to be used in a computer numerical control (CNC/NC) or programmable logic controller (PLC) system. An industrial machine system comprising: a machine (1) comprising an actuator system (2) for performing an industrial operation, a computing system (6) in connection with the machine, comprising a machine controller (9), and the machine controller being adapted to carrying out the method according to anyone of claims 1- The industrial machine system according to c|aim 15, wherein the computing system (6) is configured to collect data and use the data for data analysis and/or optimizationand/or transfer the data to another system for data analysis and/or optimization. Computer program product comprising computer program code, which when executed enables a processor in a computer to perform the method according to anyone of c|aims 1- A non-transient computer-readable medium or media comprising data representing coded instruction sets configured for execution by a processor in a computer, the instructions comprising the method according to anyone of c|aims 1-14.