INTELLIGENT SYSTEM AND PROCESS FOR AUTOMATED MONITORING OF MICROINGREDIENT INVENTORY USED IN THE MANUFACTURE OF MEDICATED FEED RATIONS

摘要

A computer-based microingredient inventoryaccounting system and process for use with programmablemicroingredient dispensing and mixing machinery. In theillustrative embodiment, the computer-based microingredientinventory accounting system is coupled with a programmablemicroingredient dispensing and mixing system. Theprogrammable microingredient dispensing and mixing systemincludes weight measuring mechanisms that are interfaced witha computer system programmed to continuously monitor theweight of microingredients stored on a plurality of inventorystorage scales, as well as in a plurality of dispensing binsand tanks. The computer-based microingredient inventoryaccounting system is programmed to perform a number ofinventory monitoring functions including: automated detectionof microingredient loss (e. g., spillage) after each inventoryreceiving operation and each dispensing bin and tankrefilling operation; automated detection of microingredient-usage errors after each micro-batch production run; automatedproduction of inventory reports when arbitrarily requested;and automated tracking of microingredients using the lotnumbers of the microingredient supplier. In the preferredembodiment, the computer-based microingredient inventoryaccounting system cooperates with a portable auxiliarycomputer and bar code symbol reader in order executeinteractive routines which facilitate system configuration,inventory receiving operations, and dispensing bin and tankrefilling operations.