JP2006193230A - Stock management method, stock management system, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To change storage place in response to costs to be required to deliver commodities. <P>SOLUTION: Commodity specifying information corresponding to the first storage place specifying information and the first delivery costs are read out from a memory, and the number of delivery is decided on the basis of the number of delivery deciding information corresponding to the commodity specifying information, and the first total costs is computed by multiplying the first delivery costs by the number of delivery. The second storage place specifying information about a storage place, in which commodities are not stored, and the first delivery costs are read out of the memory, and transportation costs corresponding to the first and the second storage place specifying information is read out of the memory, and the second total costs is computed by multiplying the second delivery costs by the number of delivery and adding the transportation costs. In the case wherein the second total costs is smaller than the first total costs, a message, which instructs to move the commodity stored in the first storage place to the second storage place, is output to an output device. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an inventory management method, an inventory management system, and a program.

There has been proposed a system that shortens the lead time from order receipt to delivery. For example, Patent Document 1 proposes a system that optimizes the combination of product orders and shortens the work time.
JP 2002-154615 A

  By the way, for example, seasonal products and special sale products have a large bias in the frequency of shipment depending on the time. However, in a conventional distribution center or the like, a storage location for goods is fixedly determined in advance regardless of the frequency of shipment. Therefore, work efficiency may deteriorate depending on the time. Even in the system described in Patent Document 1, although the storage position of the product is considered as one factor affecting the working time, changing the storage position of the product is not considered.

  The present invention has been made in view of such a background, and provides an inventory management method, an inventory management system, and a program capable of changing a storage location according to the cost of shipping goods. The purpose is to do.

  A first invention of the present invention for solving the above problem is an inventory management method, wherein a computer including a CPU, a memory, and an output device stores storage location specifying information for specifying a storage location of goods. , Product specifying information for specifying the product stored in the storage location, inventory information indicating whether or not the product is stored in the storage location, and the cost of issuing the product from the storage location The storage cost is associated with and stored in the memory, and the product specifying information and the number of times of delivery determination information for determining the number of times of delivery of the product are associated and stored in the memory, and the two storage locations The movement cost, which is the cost for one movement of the product between the first storage location specifying information for specifying the storage location as the transfer source and the second storage cost for specifying the storage location as the transfer destination. The product specifying information and the first shipping cost corresponding to the first storage location specifying information are stored in the memory in association with the location specifying information, and read from the memory, and the read product specifying information is stored in the read product specifying information. Read the corresponding number of times of leaving the store from the memory, determine the number of times of leaving based on the number of times of leaving the store, and calculate a first total cost obtained by multiplying the number of times of leaving the first with the number of times of leaving, The second storage location specifying information and the second shipping cost corresponding to the inventory information indicating that no goods are stored in the storage location are read from the memory, and the first and second storage locations A second value obtained by reading the movement cost corresponding to the specific information from the memory and adding the movement cost to a cost obtained by multiplying the second shipping cost by the number of times of shipping. When the total cost is calculated, and the second total cost is smaller than the first total cost, the goods stored in the storage location specified by the first storage location specifying information are A message instructing to move to the storage location specified by the storage location specifying information is output to the output device.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the inventory management method of the first aspect, the computer associates the storage location specifying information with a storage cost that is a cost required for a single storage at the storage location of the received goods. The input of the product specifying information for specifying the received product is received from the input interface, and the storage location specifying information corresponding to the received product specifying information is used as the first storage location specifying information. Read from the memory, read the warehousing cost corresponding to the first storage location specifying information from the memory, multiply the second warehousing cost by the number of warehousing times, the movement cost and the warehousing cost The second total cost is calculated by addition.

  In a third aspect based on the second aspect, the computer outputs the first message, which is the message, to the output device when the second total cost is smaller than the first total cost. At the same time, a second message is output to the output device for instructing the goods received in the storage location specified by the second storage location specifying information.

  In a fourth aspect based on the first aspect, the computer receives an input of the product specifying information for specifying a product to be issued from an input interface, and the storage location specifying information corresponding to the received product specifying information Is read from the memory as the first storage location specifying information, and when the second total cost is smaller than the first total cost, the first message as the message is output to the output device. At the same time, a second message for instructing to take out the product to be delivered is output to the output device.

  A fifth invention is an inventory management method, wherein a computer including a CPU, a memory, and an output device stores storage location specifying information for specifying a storage location of a product, and a product stored in the storage location. The product specification information for specifying and the output cost, which is the cost for the output of the product from the storage location, are stored in the memory in association with each other, and the product specification information and the number of times of output of the product are determined. And stores in the memory in association with information for determining the number of times to leave, and specifies the storage location that is the source of movement, which is the cost required to move the goods once between the two storage locations. The first storage location specifying information and the second storage location specifying information specifying the storage location to be moved are stored in the memory in association with each other, and the first storage location specifying information corresponds to the first storage location specifying information. in front The product specifying information and the first shipping cost are read from the memory, the first shipping count determination information corresponding to the first product specifying information is read from the memory, and the first shipping count determination information is stored in the first shipping count determination information. Based on the first storage location identification information, the second storage location identification information as the destination and the first movement cost are read from the memory, The second product specifying information and the second shipping cost corresponding to the second storage location specifying information are read from the memory, and the second number of times of shipping corresponding to the second product specifying information is determined. Information is read from the memory, the second delivery number is determined based on the second delivery number determination information, and the first delivery cost is multiplied by the first delivery number; and the second Out of A first total cost obtained by adding a cost obtained by multiplying the cost by the second number of times of delivery is calculated, the second storage location specifying information is used as a transfer source, and the first storage location specifying information is set as a transfer destination. The second movement cost is read from the memory, the first shipping cost is multiplied by the second shipping count, and the second shipping cost is multiplied by the first shipping count. , Calculating a second total cost obtained by adding the first movement cost and the second movement cost, and when the second total cost is smaller than the first total cost, The product stored in the first storage location specified by the storage location specifying information is moved to the second storage location specified by the second storage location specifying information, and the second The goods stored in the storage location are A message instructing to move to one storage location is output to the output device.

A sixth invention is an inventory management system for managing the inventory of goods,
Storage location specifying information for specifying the storage location of the product, product specifying information specifying the product stored in the storage location, inventory information indicating whether or not the product is stored in the storage location, A storage location information storage unit that associates and stores a delivery cost that is a cost required for delivery of a product from the storage location, the product specifying information, and a delivery count determination information for determining the number of times the product is delivered. A first issue of identifying a storage location that is a source of movement, and a movement cost, which is a cost required to move a product between two storage locations, A storage cost storage unit that stores the storage location specifying information in association with the second storage location specifying information that specifies the storage location that is the destination, and the product characteristics that correspond to the first storage location specifying information. The storage location information acquisition unit that reads the information and the first delivery cost from the storage location information storage unit, and the number-of-times determination information that corresponds to the read product identification information is read from the delivery number determination information storage unit and read. A delivery number determination unit for determining the number of deliverys based on the delivery number determination information, a first total cost calculation unit for calculating a first total cost obtained by multiplying the first delivery cost by the number of deliverys, An empty storage location search unit for reading out the second storage location specifying information and the second delivery cost from the storage location information storage unit corresponding to the inventory information indicating that no goods are stored in the storage location; The travel cost corresponding to the first and second storage location specifying information is read from the travel cost storage unit, and the second delivery cost is multiplied by the number of times of delivery. A second total cost calculating unit that calculates a second total cost obtained by adding the moving cost to the calculated cost, and the first storage when the second total cost is smaller than the first total cost. Message output that outputs a message instructing the product stored in the storage location specified by the location specifying information to move to the storage location specified by the second storage location specifying information to the output device A part.

  7th invention is a program, Comprising: The storage location specification information for specifying the storage place of goods for the computer provided with CPU, memory, and an output device, and the goods currently stored in the said storage place are specified Storing in the memory the product specifying information for storing, the inventory information indicating whether or not the product is stored in the storage location, and the delivery cost, which is a cost for delivery of the product from the storage location, in association with each other And the step of storing the product specifying information and the number-of-departure determination information for determining the number of times of delivery of the product in the memory in association with each other and the product of one time between the two storage locations Storing a movement cost, which is a cost for movement, in the memory in association with the storage location specifying information of the transfer source and the storage location specifying information of the transfer destination; Reading the product specifying information and the first shipping cost corresponding to the first storage location specifying information from the memory; reading out the number of times of delivery determination information corresponding to the read product specifying information from the memory; The product is stored in the storage location, the step of determining the number of times of leaving based on the number of times of issuing the goods, the step of calculating the first total cost obtained by multiplying the number of times of leaving the first shipping cost, and the storage location Reading the second storage location specifying information and the second shipping cost corresponding to the inventory information indicating that there is no data from the memory, and the movement corresponding to the first and second storage location specifying information A second total cost is calculated by reading the cost from the memory and adding the moving cost to the cost obtained by multiplying the second shipping cost by the number of times of shipping. A product stored in the storage location specified by the first storage location specifying information when the second total cost is smaller than the first total cost, And a step of outputting a message instructing to move to the storage location specified by the second storage location specifying information to the output device.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to change the storage location according to the cost of shipping the product.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an overall configuration of an inventory management system according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the inventory management system of this embodiment includes an order management server 10 that manages orders for products from customers and an inventory management server 20 that manages inventory of products. The order management server 10 is installed in, for example, the data center 1 operated by a retailer who sells products, and the inventory management server 20 is set in the distribution delivery center 2 that performs inventory and delivery of products. The order management server 10 and the inventory management server 20 are communicably connected via a communication network 30. The communication network 30 is, for example, a WAN (Wide Are Network) such as the Internet, a LAN (Local Area Network), a public telephone network, a mobile phone network, a wireless network, a dedicated line, or the like.

  In the present embodiment, it is assumed that the order information of the product managed by the order management server 10 is transmitted to the inventory management server 20 and the distribution product center 2 ships the stock product according to the order information. Yes. FIG. 2 shows a flow of work performed in the distribution delivery center 2. The operations performed at the distribution center 2 include an arrival / storage phase in which received products are stored on a shelf, and a shipping phase in which in-stock products are shipped.

  In the arrival / storage phase, the goods are received (S21), the received goods are inspected (S22), and when the inspection is completed, the received goods are received on a shelf as a storage location in the distribution center 2 ( S23). The inventory management server 20 outputs an instruction of a shelf to which the received goods are stored, as will be described later.

  In the shipping phase, the inventory management server 20 outputs a message (hereinafter referred to as “shipping instruction”) for specifying the shelf storing the product and issuing the product from the shelf (S24). The merchandise that has been taken out is picked up by the worker and transported (shipped) to a place (hereinafter referred to as “shipping place”) where sorting or loading onto a truck or the like is performed (S25), and the goods are delivered to the shipping place. The goods are shipped after being sorted and loaded (S26). In addition, as described later, together with the above-mentioned exit instruction, when a message instructing to move the stocked product to the optimal shelf according to the cost related to storage or delivery, is output from the inventory management server 20, The worker moves (rearranges) the inventory items (S27).

  In the present embodiment, time is used as the cost for entering and leaving. In other words, the inventory management server 20 determines a shelf to which the product is to be moved so that the time required for entering and leaving is shortened.

  FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of the physical distribution center 2. As shown in FIG. 3, on the first floor of the distribution center 2 of the present embodiment, a place 301 where unloaded goods are unloaded (hereinafter referred to as “arrival place”) and a shipping place 302 for stock goods. Is provided. The goods received at the arrival place 301 are conveyed (received) to a predetermined shelf. For example, when the shelf on which the received product is to be stored is the shelf 303 on the third floor, the product received at the arrival place 301 is conveyed to the shelf 303 through the vertical conveyance device 311 (S321). Stored in. In addition, the products stored in each shelf are transported to the shipping place 302, where they are sorted and loaded for shipment. For example, when a product stored in the shelf 304 on the second floor is shipped, the product is transported (shipped) from the shelf 304 to the shipping location 302 through the vertical transport device 311 (S322).

  Here, the shelf 304 is an empty shelf, the shipping frequency of the product stored in the shelf 303 is high, and the product is moved to the shelf 304 (S323) in consideration of the time required for the movement. However, the time required for delivery may be shortened as a whole. This will be described with reference to FIG. 4 for explaining the time taken from the arrival of goods to the shipment. As shown in FIG. 4, the goods stored in the shelf 303 take a transportation time 331 from the arrival place 301 to the shelf 303 at the time of arrival, and at the time of shipment, the goods are delivered from the shelf 303 to the delivery place 302 for each delivery of the goods. It takes time 332. When this product is moved from the shelf 303 to the shelf 304, it takes a movement time 333 for each movement, but at the time of shipment after the movement, the time required for one delivery becomes a conveyance time 334. Therefore, for example, when the transport time 334 is shorter than the transport time 332 and the number of times the product is issued increases, the product stored on the shelf 303 is stored in the shelf 304 even if the travel time 333 is taken. It is better to move it.

  As described above, the inventory management server 20 according to the present embodiment determines whether or not the time required for delivery is shortened by moving, and if it is shortened, a message (hereinafter referred to as a message) that instructs to move the product. , Referred to as “movement instruction”). Details of the process in which the inventory management server 20 outputs a movement instruction will be described later.

=== Inventory management server 20 ===
FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of the inventory management server 20. As shown in FIG. 5, the inventory management server 20 includes a CPU 201, a memory 202, a storage device 203, a recording medium reading device 204, an input device 205, an output device 206, and a communication interface 207.

  The storage device 203 is, for example, a hard disk drive that stores programs and data. The recording medium reading device 204 reads programs and data recorded on the recording medium 208 to the storage device 203. As the recording medium 208, for example, a CD-ROM, a DVD-ROM, a memory card, a magnetic tape, or the like can be used. As the recording medium reader 204, for example, a CD-ROM drive, a DVD-ROM drive, a memory card reader, a magnetic tape drive, or the like can be used in accordance with the recording medium 208. The CPU 201 implements various functions by reading the program stored in the storage device 203 into the memory 202 and executing it.

  The input device 205 is an input device that receives input of data from an operator, such as a keyboard, a mouse, a touch panel, and a microphone. The output device 206 is a device that outputs data such as a display, an electric bulletin board, and a speaker. The communication interface 207 is an interface connected to the communication network 30. As the communication interface 207, for example, a modem connected to a telephone line or an Ethernet (registered trademark) adapter connected to a LAN can be used.

  The inventory management server 20 is communicably connected to a terminal operated by an operator, the input device 206 is a receiving device that receives data from the terminal, and the output device 206 is a transmitting device that transmits data to the terminal. You may do it. In this case, for example, the terminal can be a portable terminal such as a PDA, and wireless communication can be performed with the inventory management server 20 using infrared rays or radio waves.

  FIG. 6 is a functional block diagram of the inventory management server 20. As shown in FIG. 6, the inventory management server 20 includes an order information receiving unit 211, a shipping instruction output request receiving unit 212, a message output unit 213, a number of shipping times determination unit 214, an empty shelf search unit 215, and a total work time calculation unit 216. , Each function unit of the arrival information input unit 217, and each storage unit of the order information storage unit 251, the shelf information storage unit 252, and the travel time information storage unit 253.

  The order information storage unit 251 (corresponding to the “departure number determination information storage unit” of the present invention) stores product order information. FIG. 7 shows the configuration of the order information stored in the order information storage unit 251. As shown in FIG. 7, the order information includes information specifying a product (hereinafter referred to as “product ID”, which corresponds to “product specification information” of the present invention), the number of orders received for the product, and the delivery destination of the product. It is included.

  The shelf information storage unit 252 (corresponding to the “storage location information storage unit” of the present invention) stores information related to the shelf in which the products are stored (hereinafter referred to as “shelf information”). FIG. 8 shows the configuration of the shelf information stored in the shelf information storage unit 252. As shown in FIG. 8, the shelf information includes information for specifying a shelf (hereinafter referred to as “shelf number”, which corresponds to “storage location specifying information” of the present invention), and products that can be stored in the shelf. , The maximum number of items stored in the shelf (hereinafter referred to as “inventory number”, which corresponds to “inventory information” of the present invention), the item ID of the stored item, The time required to transport the product from the arrival place 304 to this shelf (hereinafter referred to as “reception time”), and the time required to transport the product from this shelf to the shipping location 301 (hereinafter referred to as “delivery time”). )It is included. In the present embodiment, the products managed in the distribution center 2 are stored on the shelves in units (lots), such as pallets and containers, which are grouped in a uniform size, and are different products. However, the number stored on the shelf can be counted in the same way.

  The travel time information storage unit 253 (corresponding to the “travel cost storage unit” of the present invention) stores travel time information including travel time required for the movement of products between shelves. FIG. 9 shows a configuration of travel time information stored in the travel time information storage unit 253. As shown in FIG. 9, the movement time information includes the shelf number of the shelf as the movement source (movement source shelf number), the shelf number of the shelf as the movement destination (movement destination shelf number), and the movement source shelf. The travel time required when the product is moved to the destination shelf is included.

  The order information reception unit 211 receives the order information transmitted from the order management server 10 and registers the received reception information in the reception information storage unit 251. The order information receiving unit 211 may transmit a request for instructing the order management server 10 to transmit the order information.

  The warehousing instruction output request receiving unit 212 receives an input to the effect that the worker requests the warehousing instruction to be output (hereinafter referred to as “shipping instruction output request”). The exit instruction output request reception unit 212 may receive the above input from an input device such as a button, a keyboard, a mouse, or a microphone, or issue a command for acquiring the exit instruction from the portable terminal of the worker. You may make it receive.

  The arrival information input unit 217 receives input of arrival information including the item ID and the number of items that have arrived.

  The message output unit 213 reads one piece of order information stored in the order information storage unit 251 and instructs to output a product (hereinafter referred to as an order product) specified by the product ID of the read order information. A shipping instruction is output to the output device 206. Further, the message output unit 213 outputs a message (hereinafter referred to as “receipt instruction”) for instructing the goods to be received into the shelf where the goods are to be received in response to the input of the arrival information. .

  Also, when a warehousing instruction output request is input, the message output unit 213 stores the ordered product in accordance with the total work time of the product calculated by the total work time calculation unit 216, as will be described later. A message to instruct to move the ordered product to another shelf when it is determined that it should be moved from one shelf to another shelf. Are also output to the output device 206. Similarly, when the arrival information is input, the message output unit 213 outputs a movement instruction for the received commodity to the output device 206. Note that details of the above-described determination processing and movement instruction output processing by the message output unit 213 will be described later.

  The delivery number determination unit 214 determines the number of times the product is delivered. In the present embodiment, the number-of-issues determination unit 214 determines, as the number of times of issue, the number obtained by counting the order information stored in the order information storage unit 251 using the product ID as a key. Note that the number of times of delivery determination unit 214 may determine the number of times of delivery according to the delivery destination and the number of orders received, for example.

  The empty shelf search unit 215 (corresponding to the “empty storage location search unit” of the present invention) searches for shelves in which products are not stored. Specifically, the empty shelf search unit 214 searches the shelf information storage unit 252 for shelf information in which the number of products stored in the shelf is equal to or less than the maximum stored number and the stock quantity is “0 (zero)”. To do.

  The total work time calculation unit 216 (corresponding to the “first total cost calculation unit” and the “second total cost calculation unit” of the present invention) is based on the product delivery time and the number of product delivery times. Calculate the total work time by summing up the work time required for delivery. The total work time calculation unit 216 also calculates the total work time according to the goods arrival time, the movement time between the shelves of the goods, and the like in addition to the delivery time and the number of times of delivery. The details of the process in which the total work time calculation unit 216 calculates the total work time will be described later.

  Each of the functional units 211 to 217 is realized by the CPU 201 of the inventory management server 20 reading out the program stored in the storage device 203 to the memory 202 and executing it. Further, each of the storage units 251 to 253 is realized as a storage area provided by the memory 202 or the storage device 203 of the inventory management server 20. Each of the storage units 251 to 253 may be realized in a storage area on a database server separate from the inventory management server 20, for example. In this case, the inventory management server 20 and the database server are connected to each other through a communication path such as a LAN or a SAN, and the inventory management server 20 communicates with the database server, thereby each of the storage units 251 described above. ˜253 is accessed.

=== Instruction to leave ===
The inventory management server 20 according to the present embodiment outputs a delivery instruction when receiving a delivery instruction output request from the worker. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a flow of processing in which the inventory management server 20 outputs a leaving instruction.

  The message output unit 213 reads one piece of order information stored in the order information storage unit 251 (S401), and the number-of-issues determination unit 214 receives the order information (hereinafter referred to as “shipping target order information”) read by the message output unit 213. ”) Is used as a key to determine the number of times of delivery by counting the order information stored in the order information storage unit 251 (S402). The total work time calculation unit 216 reads shelf information (hereinafter referred to as “storage shelf information”) corresponding to the order product ID from the shelf information storage unit 252 (storage location information acquisition unit), and issues the read storage shelf information. Total work time (hereinafter referred to as “first total work time”) obtained by multiplying the time (hereinafter referred to as “first shipping time”, which corresponds to “first shipping cost” of the present invention) by the number of times of shipping described above. (Corresponding to “first total cost” of the present invention) is calculated (S403).

  Next, the empty shelf search unit 215 receives shelf information (hereinafter referred to as “empty”) from the shelf information storage unit 252 where the maximum storage number is equal to or larger than the stock number of the storage shelf information and the stock number is “0 (zero)”. It is referred to as “shelf information.” The shelf number of the empty shelf information corresponds to “second shelf number in which products are not stored” in the present invention (S404). When there is empty shelf information (S405: YES), the total work time calculation unit 216, from the movement time information storage unit 253, the order product ID is the movement source shelf number, and the product ID of the empty shelf information is the movement destination shelf number. Read travel time information. The total shipping time calculation unit 216 multiplies the shipping time of the empty shelf information (hereinafter referred to as “second shipping time”, which corresponds to the “second shipping cost” of the present invention) by the number of shipping times described above. Then, the total work time obtained by adding the travel time of the travel time information (hereinafter referred to as “second total work time”, which corresponds to “second total cost” of the present invention) is calculated (S406). If there are a plurality of empty shelf information, the empty shelf information that minimizes the second total work time is used.

  When the second total work time is shorter than the first total work time (S407: YES), the message output unit 213 replaces the product stored in the shelf specified by the shelf number of the storage shelf information with an empty shelf. A movement instruction for instructing to move to the shelf specified by the shelf number of the information is output (S408), and an instruction for instructing to release the ordered product from the shelf specified by the empty shelf information as the movement destination An instruction is output (S409).

  On the other hand, when there is no empty shelf (S405: NO), or when the second total work time is equal to or longer than the first total work time (S407: NO), the message output unit 213 displays the shelf of the storage shelf information. A delivery instruction for instructing delivery of the ordered product from the shelf specified by the number is output (S410).

  As described above, in the inventory management system according to the present embodiment, the empty destination that is the destination when the product is moved is larger than the total work time obtained by multiplying the time required for delivery from the storage shelf in which the product is stored by the number of times of delivery. In the case where the total work time obtained by adding the movement time by multiplying the time required to issue the product from the shelf by the number of times of delivery is short, the product is moved from the storage shelf to the empty shelf. That is, the shelf in which the products are stored is changed according to the delivery time, the number of times of delivery, and the travel time. Thereby, according to the goods delivery frequency (number of times), goods come to be arranged so that the time taken to issue the goods may be shortened. Therefore, the operational efficiency of the distribution delivery center 2 is improved, and the lead time from the order of the product to the delivery of the product can be shortened.

  In addition, since the inventory management server 20 of the present embodiment also outputs an instruction to move the product together with the exit instruction, the worker conveys the product related to the movement and the product related to the shipment according to the output. Can do. Therefore, more efficient goods can be transported at the distribution center 2, and the lead time can be further shortened.

  In addition, since the inventory management server 20 determines the number of times of delivery based on the order information received from the order management server 10, it is possible to calculate the total work time according to the actual order frequency. Therefore, it is not necessary to use another resource, such as storing the number of goods delivered, in order to check the delivery frequency. Therefore, the inventory management server 20 can be realized at low cost.

=== Goods receipt instruction ===
The inventory management server 20 of the present embodiment outputs a warehousing instruction in response to the input of commodity arrival information. FIG. 11 shows a flow of processing in which the inventory management server 20 outputs a warehousing instruction.

  When the arrival information is input to the arrival information input unit 217 (S421), the message output unit 213 replaces the reading of the order information with the product ID included in the arrival information (hereinafter referred to as “receipt product ID”). ) Is read out from the shelf information storage unit 252 as storage shelf information (S422).

  Next, the inventory management server 20 performs the processing of (S402) to (S405) in the same manner as the processing of FIG. 10 described above, and when there is empty shelf information (S405: YES), the total work time calculation unit 216 The second total work time is calculated by multiplying the second delivery time by the number of times of delivery, adding the travel time, and further adding the storage time of the storage shelf information (S423).

  When the second total work time is shorter than the first total work time (S407: YES), the message output unit 213 outputs the movement instruction described above (S408) and is specified by the empty shelf information. A warehousing instruction for instructing the warehousing to be received is output to the destination shelf (S424).

  On the other hand, when there is no empty shelf (S405: NO), or when the second total work time is equal to or longer than the first total work time (S407: NO), the message output unit 213 displays the shelf of the storage shelf information. A warehousing instruction for instructing the warehousing to arrive at the shelf specified by the number is output (S425).

  As described above, the inventory management server 20 can instruct optimal stock placement not only at the timing of delivery but also at the timing of receipt of goods. Further, according to the above processing, the inventory management server 20 calculates the total work time in consideration of the time required for warehousing, and therefore can estimate the total work time more accurately. Therefore, since the goods can be moved to a shelf that reduces the total work time required for delivery even if the time required for goods receipt and the time required for movement is added, the work efficiency of the distribution distribution center 2 as a whole is improved. Thus, efficient work can be performed.

=== Replacement instruction for shelves ===
In the above description, the inventory management server 20 determines whether or not to move a product to an empty shelf whose stock quantity is “0 (zero)”, but the product is determined according to the total work time. It is also possible to exchange products between stored shelves. FIG. 12 shows a flow of processing in which the inventory management server 20 outputs a shipping instruction in this case.

  Similarly to (S401) to (S402) in the process shown in FIG. 10 described above, the message output unit 213 reads one piece of shipping order information (S441), and the number-of-delivery times determination unit 214 sets the number of times of delivery (hereinafter, “ (Referred to as “first number of times of delivery”) (S442).

  The empty shelf search unit 215 reads the storage shelf information corresponding to the order product ID from the shelf information storage unit 252, and among the shelf information stored in the shelf information storage unit 252, the inventory number of the shelf information is the storage shelf information. A search is made for items that are not more than the maximum storage number and the maximum storage number of shelf information is not less than the stock number of storage shelf information (hereinafter referred to as “candidate shelf information”) (S443).

  When there is candidate shelf information (S444: YES), the number-of-issues determination unit 214 uses the product ID of the candidate shelf information as a key to count the number of times of delivery (hereinafter referred to as “the number of orders received” stored in the order information storage unit 251). (Referred to as “second delivery number”) (S445). The total work time calculation unit 216 multiplies the storage time of the storage rack information (hereinafter referred to as “first shipping time”) by the number of times of the first shipping, and then the shipping time of candidate shelf information (hereinafter referred to as “the first shipping time”). The first total work time is calculated by adding a time obtained by multiplying the second number of times of delivery by “the second time of delivery”) (S446).

  From the movement time information storage unit 253, the total work time calculation unit 216 moves the movement time information of the movement time information in which the movement source shelf number is the storage shelf information and the movement destination shelf number is the shelf number of the candidate shelf information ( Hereinafter, the movement time (hereinafter referred to as “first movement time”) and the movement time information of the movement time information in which the movement source shelf number is the storage bin number of the candidate shelf information and the movement destination shelf number is the storage bin information of the storage shelf information (hereinafter, “Second movement time”). The total work time calculation unit 216 includes a time obtained by multiplying the second delivery time by the first number of times of delivery, a time obtained by multiplying the first delivery time by the number of times of the second delivery, the first travel time, The second total work time is calculated by adding the travel time of 2 (S447).

  When the second total work time is shorter than the first total work time (S448: YES), the message output unit 213 specifies the shelf specified by the shelf number of the storage shelf information (hereinafter referred to as “storage shelf”). The product stored in the shelf is moved to the shelf specified by the shelf number of the candidate shelf information (hereinafter referred to as “candidate shelf”), and the product stored in the candidate shelf is moved to the storage shelf. A message to be instructed (hereinafter referred to as “replacement instruction”) is output (S449). In addition, the message output unit 213 outputs a delivery instruction that instructs the delivery of the ordered product from the candidate shelf together with the replacement instruction (S450).

  On the other hand, when there is no candidate shelf (S444: NO), or when the second total work time is equal to or longer than the first total work time (S448: NO), the message output unit 213 displays the shelf of the storage shelf information. A delivery instruction for instructing delivery of the ordered product from the shelf specified by the number is output (S451).

  According to the above processing, by replacing the products stored between the two shelves, it is possible to arrange the products so that the total work time required for shipping is reduced according to the shipping frequency of each product. it can. Accordingly, it is possible to further reduce the lead time of the product at the distribution delivery center 2.

  Moreover, since replacement is performed between shelves in which products are stored, the present invention can also be applied to a distribution center 2 having a high operation rate such that there is no empty shelf.

  In this embodiment, time is used as the cost for entering and leaving, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, distance may be used. In addition, the cost required for entering and leaving may be increased or decreased according to financial costs such as equipment required for delivery of goods and labor costs.

  In the present embodiment, the inventory management server 20 performs processing when a shipping instruction output request is input from an operator. For example, the order information is periodically read to issue a shipping instruction or a movement instruction. You may make it output.

  Moreover, in this embodiment, although the movement instruction | indication was output with the warehousing instruction | indication and the warehousing instruction | indication, you may make it output separately.

  Moreover, in this embodiment, when calculating the total work time at the time of warehousing, the warehousing time is added only once, but the warehousing time may be added according to the number of warehousing. In this case, the inventory management server 20 includes an arrival information storage unit that stores arrival information including the number of items to be received. In the process of FIG. 11 (S423), the total work time calculation unit 216 Using the goods ID as a key, the time obtained by multiplying the number of arrival information stored in the arrival information storage unit by the arrival time, the time obtained by multiplying the second delivery time by the number of departures, and the travel time The second shipping time is calculated by adding. Thereby, since the work time concerning the whole warehousing / shipping can be shortened according to both the frequency of warehousing and the frequency of warehousing, the work efficiency of the entire distribution delivery center 2 can be improved.

  In addition, messages such as a leaving instruction, a moving instruction, and a warehousing instruction output by the message output unit 213 of the inventory management server 20 may be displayed on a display, an electric bulletin board, or the like, or transmitted to an operator's mobile terminal. You may make it do. Further, the above message may be output as a command to an automatic conveyance device or the like.

  In addition, although it is assumed that the inventory management server 20 of the present embodiment is realized as a single computer, the present invention is not limited thereto, and for example, the functional units may be distributed to a plurality of computers. For example, it is possible to cause another computer to calculate whether or not the product should be moved by the message output unit 213. Further, the inventory management server 20 may be realized as a cluster of a plurality of computers.

  Although the present embodiment has been described above, the above embodiment is intended to facilitate understanding of the present invention and is not intended to limit the present invention. The present invention can be changed and improved without departing from the gist thereof, and the present invention includes equivalents thereof.

It is a figure showing the whole inventory management system composition by one embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows the flow of work in the distribution delivery center by one Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the schematic diagram of the distribution delivery center 2 by one Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure explaining time which it takes from receipt of goods to shipment by one embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows the hardware constitutions of the inventory management server 20 by one Embodiment of this invention. It is a functional block diagram of the inventory management server 20 by one Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the structure of the order information which the order information storage part 251 has memorize | stored by one Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the structure of the shelf information memorize | stored in the shelf information storage part 252 by one Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the structure of the movement time information memorize | stored in the movement time information storage part 253 by one Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the flow of the process in which the inventory management server 20 outputs the leaving instruction | indication according to one Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the flow of the process which the stock management server 20 outputs a warehousing instruction | indication by one Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the flow of the process in which the inventory management server 20 outputs the leaving instruction | indication according to one Embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Data center 2 Logistics distribution center 10 Order management server 20 Inventory management server 30 Communication network 201 CPU 202 Memory 203 Storage device 204 Recording medium reader 205 Input device 206 Output device 207 Communication interface 208 Recording medium 211 Order information receiving part 212 Delivery instruction Output request reception unit 213 Message output unit 214 Number of times of delivery determination unit 215 Empty shelf search unit 216 Total work time calculation unit 217 Arrival information input unit 251 Order information storage unit 252 Shelf information storage unit 253 Travel time information storage unit

Claims (7)

A computer including a CPU, a memory, and an output device
Storage location specifying information for specifying the storage location of the product, product specifying information for specifying the product stored in the storage location, and inventory information indicating whether or not the product is stored in the storage location; , Store in the memory in association with a shipping cost that is the cost of shipping the product from the storage location,
Storing in the memory the product identification information and the number-of-issues determination information for determining the number of times the product is issued;
The first storage location identification information that identifies the storage location that is the source of movement, and the storage location that is the destination of the transfer, which is the cost of moving goods once between the two storage locations Stored in the memory in association with the second storage location specifying information to be
Read the product specifying information and the first shipping cost corresponding to the first storage location specifying information from the memory,
Reading out the number of times of delivery determination information corresponding to the read product specifying information from the memory, determining the number of times of delivery based on the number of times of delivery determination information,
Calculating a first total cost obtained by multiplying the first shipping cost by the number of shipping times;
Reading the second storage location specifying information and the second shipping cost corresponding to the inventory information indicating that no goods are stored in the storage location from the memory;
A second total cost obtained by reading the movement cost corresponding to the first and second storage location specifying information from the memory and adding the movement cost to a cost obtained by multiplying the second shipping cost by the number of times of shipping. Calculate
When the second total cost is smaller than the first total cost, the product stored in the storage location specified by the first storage location specifying information is changed to the second storage location specifying information. Outputting to the output device a message instructing to move to the storage location specified by
An inventory management method characterized by The inventory management method according to claim 1,
The computer
In association with the storage location specifying information, store the storage cost that is the cost required for one storage to the storage location of the received goods in the memory,
Accepting the input of the product specifying information for specifying the received product from the input interface,
Reading the storage location identification information corresponding to the received product identification information from the memory as the first storage location identification information;
Reading the storage cost corresponding to the first storage location specifying information from the memory;
Adding the movement cost and the warehousing cost to the cost obtained by multiplying the second warehousing cost by the number of times of warehousing, to calculate the second total cost,
An inventory management method characterized by The inventory management method according to claim 2,
The computer
When the second total cost is smaller than the first total cost, the first message that is the message is output to the output device, and the received goods are indicated by the second storage location specifying information. Outputting to the output device a second message instructing entry into the identified storage location;
An inventory management method characterized by The inventory management method according to claim 1,
The computer
Accept the input of the product identification information for identifying the product to be issued from the input interface,
Reading the storage location identification information corresponding to the received product identification information from the memory as the first storage location identification information,
When the second total cost is lower than the first total cost, a second message that outputs the first message as the message is output to the output device, and a second instruction is issued to output the product to be output. Output the message to the output device,
An inventory management method characterized by A computer including a CPU, a memory, and an output device
Storage location specifying information for specifying the storage location of the product, product specifying information for specifying the product stored in the storage location, and a delivery cost that is a cost for delivery of the product from the storage location, Are stored in the memory in association with each other,
Storing in the memory the product identification information and the number-of-issues determination information for determining the number of times the product is issued;
The first storage location identification information that identifies the storage location that is the source of movement, and the storage location that is the destination of the transfer, which is the cost of moving goods once between the two storage locations Stored in the memory in association with the second storage location specifying information to be
Reading the first product specifying information and the first shipping cost corresponding to the first storage location specifying information from the memory;
The first delivery number determination information corresponding to the first product specifying information is read from the memory, and the first delivery number is determined based on the first delivery number determination information.
Using the first storage location specifying information as a movement source, reading out the second storage location specifying information as the movement destination and the first movement cost from the memory,
Read the second product specifying information and the second shipping cost corresponding to the second storage location specifying information from the memory,
Read the second delivery number determination information corresponding to the second product identification information from the memory, determine the second delivery number based on the second delivery number determination information,
Calculating a first total cost obtained by adding a cost obtained by multiplying the first delivery cost by the first delivery number and a cost obtained by multiplying the second delivery cost by the second delivery number;
Read the second movement cost from the memory with the second storage location specifying information as the transfer source and the first storage location specifying information as the transfer destination,
The cost obtained by multiplying the first delivery cost by the second delivery number, the cost obtained by multiplying the second delivery cost by the first delivery number, the first movement cost, and the second Calculate the second total cost that is added to the travel cost,
When the second total cost is lower than the first total cost, the second item stored in the first storage location specified by the first storage location specifying information is stored in the second storage location. A message instructing the output device to move to the second storage location specified by the location specifying information and to move the goods stored in the second storage location to the first storage location is sent to the output device. Output,
An inventory management method characterized by An inventory management system for managing product inventory,
Storage location specifying information for specifying the storage location of the product, product specifying information specifying the product stored in the storage location, inventory information indicating whether or not the product is stored in the storage location, A storage location information storage unit that stores and associates a delivery cost that is a cost required for delivery of a product from the storage location;
A delivery number determination information storage unit that stores the product identification information in association with the delivery number determination information for determining the number of times the product is delivered;
The first storage location identification information that identifies the storage location that is the source of movement, and the storage location that is the destination of the transfer, which is the cost of moving goods once between the two storage locations A moving cost storage unit that stores the second storage location specifying information in association with the second storage location specifying information;
A storage location information acquisition unit that reads the product specification information and the first shipping cost corresponding to the first storage location specification information from the storage location information storage unit;
The number-of-times determination information corresponding to the read product identification information is read from the number-of-issues determination information storage unit, and the number-of-exits determination unit determines the number of times of output based on the read number-of-exits determination information
A first total cost calculation unit that calculates a first total cost obtained by multiplying the first shipping cost by the number of times of shipping;
An empty storage location search unit for reading out the second storage location specifying information and the second delivery cost from the storage location information storage unit corresponding to the inventory information indicating that no goods are stored in the storage location; ,
A second value obtained by adding the moving cost to the cost obtained by multiplying the second shipping cost by the number of times of shipping, reading the moving cost corresponding to the first and second storage location specifying information from the moving cost storage unit; A second total cost calculation unit for calculating the total cost;
When the second total cost is smaller than the first total cost, the product stored in the storage location specified by the first storage location specifying information is changed to the second storage location specifying information. A message output unit for outputting to the output device a message instructing to move to the storage location specified by
An inventory management system comprising: In a computer comprising a CPU, a memory and an output device,
Storage location specifying information for specifying the storage location of the product, product specifying information for specifying the product stored in the storage location, and inventory information indicating whether or not the product is stored in the storage location; Storing the memory in association with a shipping cost, which is a cost required for shipping the product from the storage location,
Storing in the memory the product identification information and the number-of-issues determination information for determining the number of times the product is issued;
A movement cost, which is a cost for moving one commodity between the two storage locations, is associated with the storage location specifying information of the transfer source and the storage location specifying information of the transfer destination in the memory. Memorizing step;
Reading the product identification information and the first shipping cost corresponding to the first storage location identification information from the memory;
Reading out the number of times of delivery determination information corresponding to the read product identification information from the memory, and determining the number of times of delivery based on the number of times of delivery determination information;
Calculating a first total cost obtained by multiplying the first shipping cost by the number of shipping times;
Reading the second storage location identification information and the second shipping cost from the memory corresponding to the inventory information indicating that no goods are stored in the storage location;
A second total cost obtained by reading the movement cost corresponding to the first and second storage location specifying information from the memory and adding the movement cost to a cost obtained by multiplying the second shipping cost by the number of times of shipping. A calculating step;
When the second total cost is smaller than the first total cost, the product stored in the storage location specified by the first storage location specifying information is changed to the second storage location specifying information. Outputting to the output device a message instructing to move to the storage location identified by
A program for running

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