JPWO2005110896A1 - Warehouse management system - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention prevents the forklift from performing wrong loading / unloading work, and confirms that the article-related data called from the IC tag is different from the loading / unloading instruction due to theft of the article, input error of the operator, etc. Provide a warehouse management system that can be prevented. The invention of the present application is achieved by providing the information management means for the warehouse management server to confirm whether or not the article related data stored in the IC tag matches the article related data stored in the database. Is done.

Description

  The present invention relates to a warehouse management system. More specifically, the present invention relates to a warehouse management system in which IC tag information (Integrated Circuit Tag information) of articles in each rack of the warehouse is associated with database information of the warehouse management server. According to the warehouse management system of the present invention, it is possible to instantly check forklift work mistakes, IC tag information input mistakes, etc. by combining both pieces of information. Furthermore, according to the warehouse management system of the present invention, when warehousing goods to be managed, efficient warehousing management can be performed, and warehousing management can be performed based on date information regarding the contents of the goods.

  In order to pick up a predetermined number of articles from the rack, there is a picking system that displays picking information on a display device according to the current position of the carriage and picks the worker according to the displayed picking information. It is known (see Patent Document 1).

  This system arranges IC tags at the entrance and exit of each passage between each rack, detects the position information of the carriage and the rotation of the carriage wheel by the antenna provided on the carriage, and uses the travel distance information, The picking of an article is performed. In this system, when the goods are loaded and unloaded from the rack, the information is not precise, so the goods are managed based on erroneous information, and it is actually difficult to use this system.

  Meanwhile, JR Freight Railway Company attaches IC tags to 90,000 containers and 8,000 freight cars / goods waggon, and attaches IC tag readers to forklifts that carry containers. The forklift is also equipped with a global positioning system (GPS) and a wireless local area network (LAN), and a mechanism that can grasp the position of the container in real time is known (see Non-Patent Document 1).

  In this mechanism, when the forklift carries the container, the position information acquired by GPS and the information of the IC tag attached to the container are transmitted to the server via the wireless LAN. Furthermore, by combining the information of the IC tag attached to the freight car, it is possible to know which side of which car is on which side. With these mechanisms, information such as the container destination and location is managed on the server. By referring to the server, the headquarters can accurately grasp the situation such as which container is loaded on the freight car and how many more can be loaded. In other words, it is possible to know what side and which side the container is on from the information on the IC tag attached to the container, the information on the IC tag attached to the freight car, and the position information acquired by GPS.

  However, this mechanism performs the work of loading or unloading the container on the freight car, the capacity of the container is the same, and information on the contents loaded in the container is There is no need. Since the articles targeted by the present invention are intended for large and small capacities, efficient warehousing management is required at the time of warehousing, and management related to the contents of the article at the time of warehousing. It is necessary to manage the delivery based on the information on the date to be.

  As described above, in the above-described mechanism, when entering or leaving an article having a date to be managed which is the subject of the present invention, efficient warehousing management cannot be performed, and the date to be managed regarding the contents of the article It was not possible to manage the delivery based on the information. In addition, since the position information is acquired by GPS, not only a system different from the IC tag is required, but there is an error due to the accuracy of GPS, and as a method for managing racks in a warehouse, especially racks stacked in multiple stages, It was inappropriate.

  In addition, when the forklift performs the wrong loading / unloading work when the forklift performs the loading / unloading operation using the IC tag installed in the rack of the warehouse, the IC tag may be stolen due to theft of the item, the operator's input error, etc. It has been found that there are cases where the article-related data called from is different from the entry or exit instruction.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 8-12031 Nikkei Information Strategy, March 2004, pages 66-71

  Therefore, the problem of the present invention is that the forklift prevents the wrong loading / unloading work, and the article-related data called from the IC tag due to theft of the article, an input error of the operator, etc. is different from the loading / unloading instruction. It is to provide a warehouse management system capable of confirming and preventing the problem, and a multistage rack warehouse to which an IC tag is attached in order for the warehouse management system to function effectively (hereinafter referred to as “Problem 1”). ).

  Another object of the present invention is to provide a warehouse management system that can perform efficient warehousing management when warehousing goods to be managed, and can perform warehousing management based on date information related to the contents of the goods (hereinafter, referred to as “warehouse management system”). "Problem 2").

  A first aspect of the present invention for achieving the above object is a warehouse management server comprising a database storing warehousing or evacuation request data and article-related data, an IC tag reader / writer attached to a forklift, and an in-vehicle terminal A warehouse management system comprising: a forklift provided with an IC tag installed in a rack of a warehouse, wherein the warehouse management server, the reader / writer of the IC tag, and the in-vehicle terminal are connected via a local area network The warehouse management server includes information confirmation means for determining whether or not the article related data stored in the IC tag matches the article related data stored in the database.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, the warehouse management server retrieves work forklift information and rack information to be received from the database based on the warehousing request data and creates information for instructing the warehousing operation. It is determined whether the article-related data stored in the creation means and the IC tag matches the article-related data stored in the database. If they match, the warehousing operation is performed. Upon receipt of the work end information, there is provided warehousing instruction updating means for updating the information stored in the database and the IC tag to information including new article related data.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, the warehouse management server searches the database for the work forklift information and the article information to be delivered based on the delivery request data, and creates a delivery instruction for instructing the delivery work. It is determined whether the article-related data stored in the creation means and the IC tag matches the article-related data stored in the database. When the work end information is received, there is provided a delivery instruction update means for updating the information stored in the database and the IC tag to information including new article related data.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the warehousing instruction creating means searches for an empty space of an article based on the warehousing request data from the database, selects location information of a rack to be warehousing, and issues a warehousing instruction to a forklift. Has the ability to create.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, the delivery instruction creating means lists the items to be delivered from the database based on the delivery request data in order from the oldest date, assigns the delivery number of the items from the top of the list, It has the function to select the location information of the rack to be used and create a delivery instruction to the forklift.

  The sixth aspect of the present invention is characterized in that, in the case of a flat warehouse, the rack is a section of an article storage area.

  In a seventh aspect of the present invention, the article-related data includes location information, date information, article quantity information, and article specifying information.

  The eighth aspect of the present invention is characterized in that a handy terminal is used instead of the in-vehicle terminal.

  A ninth aspect of the present invention is characterized in that a plurality of articles are stored in the rack when the empty space of the articles is in a rack of articles already stored and is larger than the amount of articles to be stored. And

  According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, in a multi-level rack warehouse, an IC tag is attached to a position where the IC tag reader / writer attached to a forklift is not hidden by an article in accordance with the characteristics of the IC tag reader / writer. It is characterized by that.

  According to the present invention, when receiving an article to be managed, efficient receipt management can be performed, and delivery management can be performed based on date information regarding the contents of the article. In addition, according to the present invention, the article-related data of the IC tag installed in the rack is automatically input via the reader / writer attached to the forklift, so that the forklift performs wrong loading / unloading work. It is possible to prevent and instantly confirm that the article related data called from the IC tag due to theft of the article, an input error of the operator, etc. is different from the article related data in the database.

FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram illustrating various devices related to a warehouse management system. FIG. 2 is an image diagram of a multi-stage rack warehouse. FIG. 3 is an image diagram of a flat warehouse. FIG. 4 is a view showing the attachment position of the IC tag to the rack. FIG. 5 is a view showing a position where the reader / writer is attached to the forklift. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the structure of an article file. FIG. 7 shows the warehousing request data transmitted from the host SCM management system server, the article list before warehousing of the rack to be garmented from now on, and the article list of the rack after warehousing. FIG. 8 shows the unloading request data transmitted from the higher-level SCM management system server, the list of items before unloading of the rack to be unloaded, and the list of items of the rack after unloading. FIG. 9 shows a functional block diagram of the warehouse management system. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a flowchart of the warehousing instruction creating means. FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a flowchart of the warehousing instruction update means. FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating a flowchart of the delivery instruction creation unit. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a flowchart of the delivery instruction update means. FIG. 14A is a diagram illustrating a flowchart of the information confirmation unit. FIG. 14B is a diagram illustrating a flowchart of the information confirmation unit.

The best mode of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram illustrating various devices related to the warehouse management system of the present invention. A host SCM (supply chain management) management system server 1 is a server that manages and manages a plurality of physical distribution centers owned by the manufacturer A. Each distribution center includes a warehouse management server 2. . The warehouse management server 2 is connected to the upper SCM management system server 1 via the Internet or a dedicated line. Each warehouse management server 2 that has received the information sent from the host SCM management system server 1 controls the forklift 4 via the wireless LAN 3 to manage the entry / exit of articles. An in-vehicle terminal 5 that receives and displays information from the warehouse management server 2 is mounted on the forklift, and the handy terminal 6 may be used instead of the in-vehicle terminal 5. A multi-stage rack warehouse 7 or a flat storage warehouse is used as a shelf for placing articles.

  FIG. 2 is an image diagram of the multi-stage rack warehouse 7. An RFID tag (Radio Frequency IDentification tag), that is, an IC tag is attached to a predetermined position of each rack of the multistage rack. The mounting position of the IC tag will be described in detail with reference to FIG. At a predetermined position of the forklift 4, a reader / writer that receives and reads information from the IC tag is attached.

  FIG. 3 is an image diagram of a flat warehouse. Unlike a multistage rack, a flat warehouse rack does not have a vertical frame, so the IC tag is attached to the lower part of each section or the ground near the section.

  FIG. 4 is a view showing the attachment position of the IC tag to the rack. The IC tag has a size of 3 to 15 cm and is attached in the vicinity of each rack. However, when the communication of the IC tag reader / writer attached to the fork is directional, it faces each other depending on its characteristics. It is desirable to attach to the position and angle. For example, a position indicated by a one-dot chain line in FIG. 4 is a candidate.

  FIG. 5 is a view showing a position where the reader / writer is attached to the forklift 4. The reader / writer has a side of 10 to 30 cm in size, and is attached in the vicinity of the movable part of the fork. The movable part of the fork is a body that moves up and down and changes the angle including the claws of the fork. It refers to the incidental part. For example, a position indicated by a one-dot chain line in FIG. 5 is a candidate.

  Here, the RFID tag is defined by JIS (Japanese Industrial Standard) as Radio Frequency IDentification, and includes an IC tag, an RF tag, a wireless tag, a wireless IC tag, a wireless IC chip, a smart tag, an intelligent tag, Includes names such as auto tags and global tags. Here, these are collectively referred to as an IC tag.

  The IC tag reader / writer attached to the forklift can read the information transmitted by the IC tag and store the information. The IC tag and the reader / writer are appropriately connected to avoid malfunction with the adjacent rack. Just choose. The GPS has a function for reading position information, but has no function for storing other information.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the structure of an article file. The warehouse management server 2 shown in FIG. 1 includes a database, and as items of the article file stored in the database, for example, location information (column-number-stage) of multi-stage racks, expiration date, number of cases , Warehousing date, manufacturing date, worker code, product name, manufacturer, etc. The date to be managed can be appropriately determined according to the properties of the article such as the date of manufacture and the date of receipt for general articles, and the expiration date and expiry date for foods.

  The upper part of FIG. 7 shows that the warehouse management server 2 identifies an empty place from the location information, the number of cases, and the like based on the article information transmitted from the host SCM management system server 1 when the article is received in the warehouse. Shows the order of goods receipt. The middle part of FIG. 7 shows a package list before warehousing of a rack to be garmented. The lower part of FIG. 7 shows a luggage list of the rack after being received. The exterior code, the expiration date, and the number of cases are essential information, and the warehousing date, the worker code, the product name, and the manufacturer are optional information.

  The upper part of FIG. 8 shows the location of the location where the warehouse management server 2 issues based on the location information, the number of cases, etc., based on the information on the items transmitted from the host SCM management system server 1 when the items are delivered from the warehouse. , A shipping instruction representing information such as the number of cases. The middle part of FIG. 8 shows an article list before leaving the rack to be delivered. The lower part of FIG. 8 shows an article list of the rack after being delivered. In the case of delivery, as in the case of warehousing, the exterior code, the expiration date, and the number of cases are essential information, and the warehousing date, worker code, product name, and manufacturer are optional information.

  FIG. 9 shows a functional block diagram of the warehouse management server 2. The warehousing instruction creating means has a function of selecting a rack location and assigning a forklift 4 in charge based on the warehousing request data sent from the host SCM management system server 1, and generating and issuing a warehousing instruction. The delivery order creation means arranges the list of rack locations in order of the oldest date to be managed based on the delivery request data sent from the host SCM management system server 1, assigns the rack locations, and assigns the forklift 4 in charge. It has a function to generate and issue allocation and delivery instructions. The information confirmation means has a function of confirming whether or not the article related data stored in the IC tag matches the article related data stored in the database. The entry / exit instruction updating means has a function of updating old information stored in the database and IC tag of the warehouse management server 2 and rewriting it with new information.

  FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a flowchart of the warehousing instruction creating means. The warehouse management server 2 receives the article information transmitted from the higher-level SCM management system server 1, for example, the warehousing request data of “b pieces of luggage X”, and the server is a free space where b pieces of the luggage X enter. Are extracted from the article file in the database (step S1). It is determined whether or not the operation spans a plurality of rack operations (step S2). For example, there may be a case where the number of b pieces is so large that the number of b pieces does not fit in one place of the rack, and in this case, it is necessary to select a plurality of places. If NO, the location of the rack found first is selected (step S3), and the location of the rack in which b pieces of the package X fit, for example, A-2-14 is assigned (step S4). For example, if the location A-2-14 belongs to the K zone, the forklift 4 in charge of the K zone including the A column is assigned (step S5), and a warehousing instruction is generated and issued via the wireless LAN 3. It transmits to the vehicle-mounted terminal 5 and displays it on the screen (step S6). If YES in step S2, the case where the man-hour is determined and minimized is selected (step S7), and the locations of racks in which b pieces of luggage X are stored are, for example, A-2-14 (b1 pieces) and A-2- 15 (b2) are allocated (b = b1 + b2) (step S8).

  FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a flowchart of the warehousing instruction update means. It is performed by pressing the end button displayed on the screen that the b work of the package X has been completed from the in-vehicle terminal 5 (step S11). The warehouse management server 2 that has received the work end information determines whether or not it has spanned a plurality of rack work (step S12). If NO, the package list information of the location A-2-14 of the article file on the database. The b pieces of luggage X are added to (step S13), and the process is terminated. If YES, b1 of package X is added to the package list information at location A-2-14 of the article file in the database, and b2 of package X is added to the package list information of A-2-15 (step S14). The process ends.

  FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating a flowchart of the delivery instruction creation unit. The warehouse management server 2 receives the article information transmitted from the host SCM management system server 1, for example, “e pieces of luggage Y”, and the server receives the goods Y of the article file on the database. The list of the locations of the included racks is rearranged in the order of oldest date to be managed (step S21). E pieces of luggage Y are allocated from the top of the list (step S22), and it is determined whether or not the rack work spans a plurality (step S23). If NO, the location B-4-25 of the rack in which e pieces of the luggage Y are accommodated is assigned (step S24). If the location B-4-25 belongs to the L zone, the forklift 4 in charge of the L zone including the B row is allocated (step S25), a shipping instruction is generated and issued, and the in-vehicle terminal is connected via the wireless LAN 3. 5 and displayed on the screen (step S26). If YES in step S23, for example, B-4-25 (e1) and B-4-26 (e2) are allocated as rack locations in which e pieces of luggage Y can be accommodated (note that e = e1 + e2). (Step S27).

  FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a flowchart of the delivery instruction update means. The completion of e work of the luggage Y from the in-vehicle terminal 5 is performed by pressing an end button displayed on the screen (step S31). The warehouse management server 2 that has received the work end information determines whether or not a plurality of rack work has been performed (step S32), and if NO, the package list information of the location B-4-25 of the article file on the database. The number e of packages Y is subtracted (step S33), and the process is terminated. If YES, e1 of package Y is subtracted from the package list information at location B-4-25 of the article file in the database, and e2 of package Y is subtracted from the package list information of B-4-26 (step S34). The process ends.

  14A and 14B are diagrams showing a flowchart of the information confirmation unit. The IC tag installed in the rack of the warehouse has the same item information as the article list of FIGS. 7 and 8 described above. The operator of the forklift 4 moves the forklift to the place of the rack where the goods are received from the display screen of the warehousing request data transmitted to the in-vehicle terminal 5 via the wireless LAN 3 based on the location information, exterior code, expiration date, number of cases, etc. However, even if the operator makes a mistake in the location, for example, the information confirming means of the warehouse management server 2 has a function of checking the mistake. When the article is loaded on the rack, the reader / writer receives the article-related data from the IC tag, and the in-vehicle terminal 5 transmits the article-related data to the warehouse management server 2 via the wireless LAN 3. The information confirmation unit of the warehouse management server 2 determines whether the article related data of the IC tag installed in the rack matches the article related data in the database (in the case of warehousing, step S41 (FIG. 14A)) Step S51 (FIG. 14B)), if YES, the process is terminated. If NO, the location information does not match, the warehousing or delivery request data is redisplayed, and if the other information does not match, the log data is searched to correct the mistake (in the case of warehousing, step S42). (FIG. 14A), in the case of delivery, the processing ends (S52 (FIG. 14B)).

  The functions of the warehouse management server have been described so far in the order of warehousing instruction creating means, warehousing instruction creating means, warehousing instruction updating means, warehousing instruction updating means, and information confirmation means. In order to prevent the forklift 4 from performing wrong loading / unloading work and confirm that the article-related data called from the IC tag is different from the loading / unloading request data due to theft of the article, an input error of the operator, etc. Can be achieved only by the function of confirming whether or not the article related data stored in the IC tag of the information confirmation means matches the article related data stored in the database.

Claims (10)

A warehouse management server comprising a database storing incoming / outgoing request data and article-related data; an IC tag reader / writer attached to the forklift; a forklift equipped with an in-vehicle terminal; and an IC tag installed in a warehouse rack A warehouse management system in which the warehouse management server, the IC tag reader / writer, and the in-vehicle terminal are connected by a local area network,
A warehouse characterized in that the warehouse management server comprises information confirmation means for confirming whether or not the article related data stored in the IC tag matches the article related data stored in the database. Management system. The warehouse management server, based on the warehousing request data, forklift information for work, rack information to be warehousing, searching the database to create information for instructing warehousing work;
Judge whether the article related data stored in the IC tag matches the article related data stored in the database.
The warehousing instruction update means for updating the information and the IC tag stored in the database to information including new article-related data when receiving work end information from the in-vehicle terminal. Warehouse management system. The warehouse management server, forklift information for work based on the delivery request data, article information to be delivered, search the database to create information for instructing delivery work;
It is determined whether or not the article related data stored in the IC tag matches the article related data stored in the database. 2. The warehouse management system according to claim 1, further comprising a delivery instruction update means for updating the information and IC tag stored in the database to information including new article-related data when received.   The warehousing instruction creating means has a function of searching for a vacant place of an article based on the warehousing request data from the database, selecting location information of a rack to be warehousing, and creating a warehousing instruction for a forklift. The warehouse management system according to any one of claims 1 to 3.   The delivery instruction creation means lists from the database in order of the date of goods to be delivered based on the delivery request data, assigns the number of goods delivered from the top of the list, and selects the location information of the rack to be delivered The warehouse management system according to claim 1, wherein the warehouse management system has a function of creating a delivery instruction to a forklift.   6. The warehouse management system according to claim 1, wherein in the case of a flat warehouse, the rack is a section of an article storage area.   The warehouse management system according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the article-related data includes location information, date information, article quantity information, and article specifying information.   8. The warehouse management system according to claim 1, wherein a handy terminal is used instead of the in-vehicle terminal.   9. The article according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein a plurality of articles are received in the rack when the empty space of the articles is in a rack of articles already received and is larger than the quantity of articles to be received. The warehouse management system described in Crab.   A multi-stage rack warehouse, wherein an IC tag is attached at a position that is not hidden by an article with respect to the reader / writer of the IC tag attached to the forklift according to the characteristics of the reader / writer of the IC tag.

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