CN117546109A

CN117546109A - Electronic component manufacturing system and electronic component manufacturing method

Info

Publication number: CN117546109A
Application number: CN202280043016.3A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 入江常雅; 三上和宏; 酒井哲生
Original assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co Ltd
Current assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co Ltd
Priority date: 2021-06-22
Filing date: 2022-03-16
Publication date: 2024-02-09
Also published as: JPWO2022270052A1; WO2022270052A1; KR20240009499A

Abstract

The invention provides a manufacturing system of electronic components, which can efficiently distribute the electronic components according to the processing conditions of the electronic components. A manufacturing system (1) for manufacturing an electronic component (10) performs a plurality of manufacturing steps to manufacture the electronic component (10), and includes: the electronic component manufacturing apparatus includes a plurality of manufacturing apparatuses (20) that execute different processes corresponding to the plurality of manufacturing steps, a distribution mechanism (30) that distributes the electronic components (10) to the manufacturing apparatuses (20), and a control unit (100), wherein the control unit (100) registers the plurality of electronic components (10) as a lot, associates the lot identification information of the registered lot with process information indicating the processes executed by the manufacturing apparatuses (20) to generate status information of the lot, and outputs an instruction signal to the distribution mechanism (30) to distribute the registered lot to a given manufacturing apparatus (20) based on the status information of the generated lot.

Description

Electronic component manufacturing system and electronic component manufacturing method

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a manufacturing system for electronic components.

Background

Conventionally, an automatic conveying apparatus is known. For example, patent document 1 discloses an automatic conveyance device incorporating a barcode reader that reads a barcode while holding a wafer carrier to which the barcode is attached. Patent document 1 discloses that control information for controlling the operation of the stocker and the cleaning device, wafer carrier tracking information of the AGV, and the like are input to the host computer system in advance.

Prior art literature

Patent literature

Patent document 1: japanese patent laid-open No. 6-216216

Disclosure of Invention

Problems to be solved by the invention

According to the automatic conveying device of patent document 1, the current position information of the wafer carrier can be grasped during the conveyance of the wafer carrier. However, the automatic transfer device of patent document 1 can reduce the displacement between the current position information of the wafer carrier and the position based on the tracking information of the wafer carrier, but fails to perform efficient distribution of the manufacturing object according to the processing condition of the manufacturing object.

The present invention provides a system for manufacturing electronic components, which can efficiently distribute electronic components according to the processing conditions of the electronic components.

Technical scheme for solving problems

The present invention relates to a manufacturing system for manufacturing an electronic component by performing a plurality of manufacturing processes, wherein the manufacturing system for manufacturing an electronic component comprises: a plurality of manufacturing apparatuses that execute different processes corresponding to the plurality of manufacturing steps, respectively, on the electronic component; a dispensing mechanism that dispenses the electronic component to the manufacturing apparatus; and a control unit that registers a plurality of electronic components as a lot, generates status information of the lot based on the lot identification information of the registered lot, and outputs an instruction signal for distributing the registered lot to a given manufacturing apparatus to the distribution mechanism based on the generated status information of the lot.

Effects of the invention

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a system for manufacturing electronic components, which can efficiently distribute electronic components according to the processing conditions of the electronic components.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a diagram schematically showing an outline of a manufacturing system of an electronic component according to the present embodiment.

Fig. 2 is an external perspective view of an electronic component manufactured by the manufacturing system.

Fig. 3 is an external perspective view of the dispensing box accommodating a plurality of electronic components.

Fig. 4 is a diagram schematically showing an outline of the manufacturing apparatus.

Fig. 5 is an external perspective view of the automated guided vehicle with the delivery box mounted thereon.

Fig. 6 is a block diagram of the control unit according to the above embodiment.

Fig. 7 is a flowchart showing the flow of the processing of the above embodiment.

Detailed Description

Hereinafter, a manufacturing system 1 for electronic components according to an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described. Fig. 1 is a diagram schematically showing an outline of a manufacturing system 1 for electronic components according to the present embodiment. Fig. 2 is an external perspective view of the electronic component 10 manufactured by the manufacturing system 1. Fig. 3 is an external perspective view of the dispensing box 40 accommodating a plurality of electronic components 10. Fig. 4 is a diagram schematically showing an outline of the manufacturing apparatus 20. Fig. 5 is an external perspective view of the automated guided vehicle 31 on which the delivery box 40 is mounted.

The electronic component manufacturing system 1 is, for example, a manufacturing system for manufacturing an electronic component 10 such as a laminated ceramic electronic component. The electronic component 10 may also be a chip electronic component. For example, the laminated ceramic electronic component may be a sheet-like laminated ceramic electronic component having a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape or a substantially cubic shape as shown in fig. 2.

The manufacturing system 1 performs a plurality of manufacturing processes to manufacture the electronic component 10. The manufacturing system 1 includes a plurality of manufacturing facilities 20, a distribution mechanism 30 that distributes electronic components to the manufacturing facilities, and a control unit 100. The manufacturing system 1 of the present embodiment includes a distribution box 40 that accommodates a plurality of electronic components 10 and a storage rack 50 that stores the distribution box 40 that accommodates the plurality of electronic components 10.

First, the electronic component 10 manufactured by the manufacturing system 1 of the present embodiment will be described. The electronic component 10 is, for example, a laminated ceramic electronic component such as a laminated ceramic capacitor shown in fig. 2. For example, the laminated ceramic electronic component of the present embodiment has a laminate 11, and the laminate 11 includes a plurality of ceramic layers and a plurality of inner conductor layers laminated, and has a 1 st main surface TS1 and a 2 nd main surface TS2 opposed in a height direction T, a 1 st side surface WS1 and a 2 nd side surface WS2 opposed in a width direction W orthogonal to the height direction T, and a 1 st end surface LS1 and a 2 nd end surface LS2 opposed in a length direction L orthogonal to the height direction T and the width direction W. The laminated ceramic electronic component of the present embodiment further includes: a 1 st external electrode 12 disposed on the 1 st end surface LS1 side of the laminate 11 and connected to the internal conductor layer; and a 2 nd external electrode 13 disposed on the 2 nd end surface LS2 side of the laminate 11 and connected to the internal conductor layer.

When the dimension in the longitudinal direction of the laminated ceramic electronic component including the laminated body 11 and the 1 st and 2 nd external electrodes 12 and 13 is L-sized, the L-sized may be 0.1mm or more and 10mm or less. Further, when the dimension in the height direction of the laminated ceramic electronic component is set to be a T dimension, the T dimension may be 0.05mm or more and 10mm or less. Further, when the dimension in the width direction of the laminated ceramic electronic component is set to be W, the W dimension may be 0.1mm or more and 10mm or less. That is, the maximum size of the electronic component 10 may be 10mm or less. However, it is not limited thereto.

The electronic component 10 is dispensed by the dispensing mechanism 30 in a state of being accommodated in the dispensing box 40. The electronic component 10 is stored in the storage rack 50 in a state of being accommodated in the distribution box 40.

As shown in fig. 3, the distribution box 40 includes a box body 41 and an identification information holding medium 42 that holds identification information.

The plurality of electronic components 10 accommodated in the case main body 41 of the dispensing case 40 are all the same batch of electronic components 10. The number of sheet-like laminated ceramic electronic components accommodated in one dispensing box 40 may be 1000 or more. After the dicing process of dicing the laminate block into laminate chips of a given size, many electronic components 10 are housed in a random state in the dispensing box 40. Here, it is assumed that a workpiece in a manufacturing process, which is a workpiece to be the electronic component 10, is also included and referred to as the electronic component 10. The dispensing box 40 may be provided with a cover, not shown, at an upper opening.

A plurality of electronic components 10 constituting one lot are accommodated in one or more distribution boxes. That is, depending on the size and number of the chips, a plurality of electronic components 10 constituting one lot may be stored in only one distribution box or may be distributed to a plurality of distribution boxes for storage. In addition, the same lot of electronic components 10 are the same variety of electronic components 10. Thus, the same lot of electronic components 10 are manufactured by the same manufacturing process. In addition, the plurality of electronic components 10 accommodated in one dispenser box are all the same batch of electronic components. Basically, the same processing is performed in each manufacturing apparatus 20 for the same lot of electronic components 10. Accordingly, the plurality of electronic components 10 accommodated in one distribution box are subjected to the same process in each manufacturing apparatus 20.

The identification information holding medium 42 may be an RFID tag, for example. The identification information holding medium 42 holds identification information.

The identification information held by the identification information holding medium 42 may directly include lot identification information of the electronic component. Alternatively, the identification information may be identification information associated with lot identification information of the electronic component.

For example, the identification information may be a dispenser box ID assigned to each dispenser box 40 in association with the lot identification information of the electronic component. In this case, for example, the electronic component 10 may be stored in the dispenser box 40 in a storage step, and the dispenser box ID may be associated with lot identification information of the electronic component. In this way, in the subsequent steps, the lot identification information of the electronic components 10 stored in the dispenser box 40 can be determined based on the dispenser box ID. The operation of establishing the association of the identification information may be performed by the control unit 100, which will be described later, for example.

In addition, the identification information holding medium 42 is not limited to an RFID tag. For example, the identification information holding medium 42 may be a bar code, a two-dimensional code, or an AR mark.

Each of the manufacturing apparatuses 20, the distribution mechanism 30, and the holder 50 described later preferably has an identification information acquisition unit for reading the identification information held by the identification information holding medium 42. The identification information acquiring unit may appropriately select according to the kind of the identification information holding medium 42. For example, in the case where the identification information holding medium 42 is an RFID tag, the identification information acquiring means may be a handheld RFID reader/writer, a stationary RFID reader such as an RFID antenna, or the like. In the case where the identification information holding medium 42 is a bar code, a two-dimensional code, or an AR mark, a reader corresponding to them can be used as the identification information acquisition unit. Thus, the identification information can be read at high speed and accurately.

The manufacturing system 1 has a plurality of manufacturing apparatuses 20. The plurality of manufacturing apparatuses 20 perform different processes on the electronic component 10, respectively.

For example, in the case of manufacturing a laminated ceramic electronic component such as a laminated ceramic capacitor as the electronic component 10, a very large number of manufacturing steps are performed until completion. The manufacturing system 1 includes a plurality of manufacturing facilities 20 corresponding to a plurality of manufacturing steps, respectively. The plurality of manufacturing apparatuses 20 perform different processes corresponding to the plurality of manufacturing processes on the electronic component 10, respectively.

For example, the plurality of manufacturing apparatuses 20 includes: a cutting device 20A for cutting a laminate block including a dielectric sheet and a conductive paste into laminate pieces of a predetermined size; a firing device 20B for firing the stacked chips to produce a stacked body; a coating device 20C for coating the material of the base electrode layer of the external electrode at a given position of the laminate; a firing device 20D for firing the material of the coated base electrode layer; a plating device 20E for forming a plating layer on the outer surface side of the base electrode layer; a characteristic inspection device 20F for inspecting characteristics of the laminated ceramic electronic component in which the external electrode including the base electrode layer and the plating layer is formed on the laminate; and an appearance screening inspection device 20G for performing an appearance screening inspection of the laminated ceramic electronic component in which the external electrode including the base electrode layer and the plating layer is formed on the laminate.

The plurality of manufacturing apparatuses 20 may include manufacturing apparatuses other than the above. For example, a roll polishing apparatus or the like for polishing the surface of the laminate may be included. The manufacturing system 1 may include at least 4 or more manufacturing facilities 20 among the plurality of manufacturing facilities 20. In addition, the present invention may include a device for producing a dielectric sheet, a device for producing a dielectric paste for producing the dielectric sheet, a device for printing an electroconductive paste on the dielectric sheet to print an internal electrode, or a device for producing a laminate by laminating the dielectric sheets.

Here, the processing performed by each manufacturing apparatus 20 corresponds to one manufacturing process among the entire manufacturing processes of the electronic component 10. For example, the process performed by the dicing device 20A performing the dicing step is a dicing process of dicing a laminate block including a dielectric sheet and a conductive paste into laminate pieces of a predetermined size. The firing equipment 20B performing the firing step performs a firing process of firing the stacked chips. The process performed by the coating apparatus 20C performing the coating process is a coating process of coating a material of the base electrode layer of the external electrode at a given position of the laminate. The firing equipment 20D performing the firing step performs a firing process of firing the material of the coated base electrode layer. The plating process performed by the plating apparatus 20E performing the plating process is a plating process of forming a plating layer on the outer surface side of the base electrode layer. The process performed by the characteristic inspection apparatus 20F performing the characteristic inspection process is a characteristic inspection process of inspecting characteristics of a laminated ceramic electronic component in which external electrodes including a base electrode layer and a plating layer are formed on a laminate. The process performed by the appearance screening inspection apparatus that performs the appearance screening inspection process is an appearance screening inspection process of a laminated ceramic electronic component in which external electrodes including a base electrode layer and a plating layer are formed on a laminate. The process performed by the apparatus for producing a dielectric sheet is a process for producing a dielectric sheet. The process performed by the apparatus for producing a dielectric paste is a process for producing a dielectric paste. The process performed by the apparatus for printing the internal electrodes is a process of printing the internal electrodes by printing a conductive paste on the dielectric sheet. The process performed by the manufacturing equipment for manufacturing the laminated body is a process for manufacturing the laminated body by laminating dielectric sheets.

Depending on the type of the electronic component 10, some of the manufacturing steps may be skipped. Depending on the type of electronic component 10, an additional manufacturing process may be added in the middle of the standard manufacturing process.

Although one manufacturing apparatus 20 performing the same kind of processing is shown in each of fig. 1, there may be a plurality of manufacturing apparatuses 20 performing the same kind of processing. For example, the number of firing equipment 20B for performing the firing step may be one or two or more. In this case, it is assumed that the 1 st station is called machine 1 and the 2 nd station is called machine 2. The number of manufacturing apparatuses 20 performing the same kind of processing may be set according to the scale of the throughput of the entire manufacturing system 1, the preparation time of each manufacturing apparatus 20, and the like.

Fig. 4 is a diagram schematically showing an outline of one manufacturing apparatus 20. Each manufacturing apparatus 20 includes a carry-in portion 21, a processing portion 22, and a carry-out portion 23. Further, each manufacturing apparatus 20 has a 1 st identification information acquisition unit 24.

The carry-in section 21 is a section for carrying in the electronic component 10 dispensed by the dispensing mechanism 30 described later to the manufacturing apparatus 20. The electronic component 10 may be dispensed to the loading unit 21 after being dispensed to a start rack 25 described later. The electronic component 10 is accommodated in the dispensing box 40 and then dispensed to the carry-in section 21.

The manufacturing apparatus 20 has a 1 st identification information acquisition unit 24. The 1 st identification information acquiring means 24 is preferably provided at or near the carry-in section 21. The 1 st identification information acquiring unit 24 acquires lot identification information of a lot of electronic components 10 carried into the manufacturing apparatus 20 or identification information associated with the lot identification information. The 1 st identification information acquiring unit 24 is preferably a reader that reads the identification information held by the identification information holding medium 42 provided in the dispenser box 40. For example, when the identification information holding medium 42 provided in the distribution box 40 is an RFID tag, the 1 st identification information acquiring unit 24 may be an RFID antenna. In the case of a combination of an RFID tag and an RFID antenna, the RFID antenna can automatically acquire the identification information held by the identification information holding medium 42 when the dispenser box 40 accommodating the electronic component 10 approaches the carry-in section 21 or passes through the carry-in section 21. The 1 st identification information acquiring unit 24 may be an input unit that can input lot identification information or identification information that is associated with the lot identification information.

The processing unit 22 is a portion that performs a predetermined process on the electronic component 10. For example, the processing unit of the firing equipment 20B performs a firing process of firing a laminate sheet including a dielectric sheet and a conductive paste. In the processing unit 22, the electronic component 10 is generally processed in a state of being taken out from the dispenser box 40.

The carry-out section 23 is a section for carrying out the electronic component 10 processed by the processing section 22. The electronic component 10 processed by the processing unit 22 may be stored in the dispensing box 40 again, but may be stored in another dispensing box and carried out. However, it is preferable to store the container in the dispensing box 40 again after the container is carried out. In this case, the electronic component 10 is preferably accommodated in the same dispenser box 40 as the dispenser box 40 at the time of carrying in by an electronic component accommodation mechanism not shown. Thus, the correspondence relationship between the dispenser box 40 and the lot of the electronic component 10 accommodated in the dispenser box 40 is continued. Therefore, it becomes unnecessary to perform a rewriting operation of the identification information, a re-registration operation of the identification information, or the like with respect to the identification information holding medium 42 provided in the distribution box 40.

Further, it is preferable that each manufacturing apparatus 20 is provided with a start rack 25 and a finish rack 26. Alternatively, a common start rack 25 and completion rack 26 may be provided simultaneously for a plurality of manufacturing facilities performing the same kind of processing. The start rack 25 and the finish rack 26 may be a common rack. The start rack 25 and the finish rack 26 temporarily store the electronic components 10 stored in the distribution box 40.

The electronic components 10 before processing, which are to be processed next by the manufacturing facility 20, are carried into the start rack 25 by a dispensing mechanism 30 described later. The start rack 25 temporarily stores the electronic components 10 before being processed by the manufacturing facility 20 in a state of being accommodated in the distribution box 40. Then, the electronic component 10 temporarily stored in the rack 25 before the processing is started is carried into the carry-in section 21. The transfer from the start rack 25 to the loading unit 21 may be performed by a dispensing mechanism such as an automated guided vehicle or an automated guided robot.

The processed electronic components 10 processed by the manufacturing equipment 20 are carried out from the carrying-out section 23 of the manufacturing equipment 20 and placed on the finishing rack 26. The transfer from the carry-out section 23 to the completion rack 26 may be performed by a dispensing mechanism such as an automated guided vehicle or an automated guided robot. The completion rack 26 temporarily stores the processed electronic components 10 after being processed by the manufacturing equipment 20 in a state of being accommodated in the distribution box 40. The electronic components 10 that have been temporarily stored in the completed rack are then carried out by a dispensing mechanism 30 described later.

The dispensing mechanism 30 dispenses the electronic component 10 to the manufacturing apparatus 20. The dispensing mechanism 30 dispenses the electronic component 10 to the holder 50. The delivery mechanism 30 includes, for example, an AGV (Automatic Guided Vehicle), an automated guided vehicle. The AGV may also be an automated guided vehicle 31. The delivery mechanism 30 may include an unmanned transfer robot. The dispensing mechanism 30 is preferably an unmanned dispensing mechanism.

Fig. 5 is an external perspective view of the automated guided vehicle 31 as the delivery mechanism 30. The automated guided vehicle 31 automatically travels along a guide line, not shown, such as a traveling tape laid on the factory floor.

The automated guided vehicle 31 includes a vehicle body 32, a shelf 33 provided at an upper portion of the vehicle body 32 and capable of mounting the electronic component 10, wheels 34 provided at the vehicle body 32, and a 2 nd identification information acquiring unit 35. Although not shown, the automated guided vehicle 31 includes a magnetic sensor that senses a traveling magnetic tape and a traveling control unit. The travel control unit performs travel control based on a control signal transmitted wirelessly from the control unit 100 and a detection signal from a magnetic sensor.

The automated guided vehicle 31 serving as the dispensing mechanism 30 conveys the electronic component 10 to the manufacturing facility 20. More specifically, the automated guided vehicle 31 conveys the delivery box 40 accommodating the electronic component 10 from the warehouse-out section 53 of the rack 50 described later to the carry-in section 21 of the manufacturing facility 20 or to the start rack 25 provided in the manufacturing facility 20.

The automated guided vehicle 31 as the dispensing mechanism 30 conveys the electronic component 10 to a storage rack 50 described later. More specifically, the automated guided vehicle 31 conveys the delivery box 40 accommodating the electronic component 10 from the carry-out section 23 of the manufacturing facility 20 or the completion rack 26 provided in the manufacturing facility 20 to the warehouse-in section 51 of the rack 50.

The automated guided vehicle 31 serving as the dispensing mechanism 30 may be configured to be capable of transporting the dispensing box 40 accommodating the electronic component 10 from the manufacturing facility 20 to another manufacturing facility 20. That is, the automated guided vehicle 31 may be configured to be capable of transporting the distribution box 40 containing the electronic component 10 from the carry-out section 23 of the manufacturing facility 20 or the completion rack 26 provided in the manufacturing facility 20 to the carry-in section 21 of the other manufacturing facility 20 or the start rack 25 provided in the other manufacturing facility 20.

The dispensing mechanism 30 may be configured to be capable of being carried again from the carry-out section 23 of the manufacturing facility 20 or the completion rack 26 provided in the manufacturing facility 20 to the carry-in section 21 of the same manufacturing facility 20 or the start rack 25 provided in the same manufacturing facility 20.

The 2 nd identification information acquiring unit 35 acquires lot identification information of a lot of electronic components 10 accommodated in the distribution box 40 mounted on the automated guided vehicle 31 or identification information associated with the lot identification information. The 2 nd identification information acquiring unit 35 is preferably disposed at a position where the identification information held by the identification information holding medium 42 provided in the distribution box 40 can be read when the distribution box 40 is mounted on the rack 33 of the automated guided vehicle 31. The 2 nd identification information acquiring unit 35 is preferably a reader that reads information held by the identification information holding medium 42 provided in the dispenser box 40. For example, in the case where the identification information holding medium 42 provided in the distribution box 40 is an RFID tag, the 2 nd identification information acquiring unit 35 may be an RFID antenna. In the case of a combination of an RFID tag and an RFID antenna, the RFID antenna can automatically acquire the identification information held by the identification information holding medium 42 when the dispenser box 40 containing the electronic component 10 is mounted on the shelf 33 of the automated guided vehicle 31.

Preferably, an automated guided vehicle 31 dispenses a dispensing box 40. That is, the automated guided vehicle 31 may have a rack 33 on which only one distribution box 40 can be mounted at most. Further, one dispenser box 40 may be capable of accommodating 1000 or more electronic components. Thus, a very large number of electronic components 10 can be efficiently dispensed by the smallest dispensing unit. Further, since one distribution box 40 and one automated guided vehicle 31 are in one-to-one relationship, the complexity of control can be reduced. Further, the relationship between the identification information holding medium 42 of the distribution box 40 and the 2 nd identification information acquiring unit 35 of the automated guided vehicle 31 is also one-to-one, and thus, a reading error of the identification information by the 2 nd identification information acquiring unit 35 is less likely to occur.

The rack 50 stores a plurality of batches of electronic components 10 in a state of being accommodated in the distribution box 40. The rack 50 is, for example, an automated warehouse.

The rack 50 includes a warehouse-in section 51, a storage area 52, and a warehouse-out section 53. The storage rack 50 further includes a 3 rd identification information acquisition unit 54 and a 4 th identification information acquisition unit 55.

The warehouse-in section 51 is a section in which the electronic component 10 dispensed by the dispensing mechanism 30 is warehouse-in. The electronic component 10 is stored in the storage unit 51 in a state of being accommodated in the dispensing box 40. The warehouse-in section 51 includes a conveyor or the like for warehouse-in, not shown. The conveyor conveys the delivery boxes 40 stocked from the stocker 51 to the stocker area 52.

The storage area 52 stores a plurality of batches of electronic components 10 in a state of being accommodated in the dispensing box 40. The holding area 52 is formed of a plurality of stages of shelves. The storage area 52 includes an automatic conveying mechanism such as a conveyor, stacker crane, pickup crane, or the like, which are not shown. The locations in the storage area are managed by address information. The delivery box 40, which has acquired the identification information at the time of warehouse entry, is transported to a designated place to which address information is given based on a control signal of the control unit 100. The carried delivery box 40 is stored at a predetermined place. On the other hand, at the time of shipment, information associated with identification information at the time of shipment, for example, lot numbers of electronic components, is designated, whereby the shipment box 40 is designated. The designated dispenser box 40 is carried out from the designated place based on the address information.

The discharging unit 53 is a unit for discharging the electronic component 10 from the storage rack 50. The electronic components 10 stored in the storage area 52 are carried out while being stored in the dispensing box 40, and are taken out of the storage. The delivery unit 53 includes a delivery conveyor or the like, not shown. The conveyor transports the distribution box 40 from the storage area 52 to the outside of the rack 50.

The holder 50 has a 3 rd identification information acquisition unit 54. The 3 rd identification information acquisition unit 54 is preferably provided in the vicinity of the warehouse-in section 51. The 3 rd identification information acquisition unit 54 acquires lot identification information of the lot of the electronic component 10 carried into the storage rack 50 or identification information associated with the lot identification information. The 3 rd identification information acquiring unit 54 is preferably a reader that reads information held by the identification information holding medium 42 provided in the dispenser box 40. For example, in the case where the identification information holding medium 42 provided in the distribution box 40 is an RFID tag, the 3 rd identification information acquiring unit 54 may be an RFID antenna. In the case of a combination of an RFID tag and an RFID antenna, the RFID antenna can automatically acquire the identification information held by the identification information holding medium 42 when the dispenser box 40 accommodating the electronic component 10 approaches the warehouse-in part 51 or passes through the warehouse-in part 51. The 3 rd identification information acquisition unit 54 may be an input unit that can input lot identification information or identification information associated with the lot identification information.

The holder 50 has a 4 th identification information acquisition unit 55. The 4 th identification information acquisition unit 55 is preferably provided in the vicinity of the delivery unit 53. The 4 th identification information acquisition unit 55 acquires lot identification information of the lot of the electronic component 10 carried out from the storage rack 50 or identification information associated with the lot identification information. The 4 th identification information acquiring unit 55 is preferably a reader that reads information held by the identification information holding medium 42 provided in the dispenser box 40. For example, when the identification information holding medium 42 provided in the distribution box 40 is an RFID tag, the 4 th identification information acquiring unit 55 may be an RFID antenna. In the case of a combination of an RFID tag and an RFID antenna, the RFID antenna can automatically acquire the identification information held by the identification information holding medium 42 when the dispenser box 40 accommodating the electronic component 10 approaches the delivery unit 53 or when the electronic component passes through the delivery unit 53. The 4 th identification information acquisition unit 55 may be an input unit that can input lot identification information or identification information that is associated with the lot identification information.

Fig. 6 is a block diagram of the control unit 100 according to the present embodiment.

The control unit 100 includes a lot registration unit 110, a lot determination unit 120, a process information acquisition unit 130, a lot status information generation unit 140, a device information acquisition unit 150, a location information acquisition unit 160, an evaluation information acquisition unit 170, a distribution destination determination unit 180, a lot selection unit 190, an instruction signal output unit 200, and a storage unit 210.

The control unit 100 may be a server. The control unit 100 is configured by a plurality of functional blocks as described above, but the functional blocks do not necessarily need to be physically separated, and the functions of the plurality of functional blocks may be realized by one CPU. The control unit 100 may be disposed at two or more locations separately in consideration of the arrangement of the control target units and the like. For example, the lot registration unit 110 and the lot status information generation unit 140 may be provided in a server, while the lot identification unit 120 may be provided in a control unit such as the manufacturing facility 20 or the holder 50. Further, one functional block may be separated from two or more places to perform distributed control. The storage unit 210 is configured by a recording medium such as a ROM (Read Only Memory), an HDD (Hard Disk Drive), an SSD (Solid State Drive), or a removable Memory card. The recording medium may be a nonvolatile tangible medium (non-transitory tangible media). The control unit 100 includes an arithmetic processor such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit ), DSP (Digital Signal Processor, digital signal processor), FPGA (Field-Programmable Gate Array, field programmable gate array), and the like. The various functions of the control unit 100 can be realized by, for example, executing a program (application program) stored in the storage unit 210. The program (application program) may be provided via a network, or may be provided on a computer-readable recording medium (computer readable storage medium) such as a CD-ROM (Compact Disc Read only memory ) or DVD (Digital Versatile Disc, digital versatile disc). The functions of the control unit 100 may be realized by cooperation of hardware and software, or may be realized by hardware (electronic circuit) alone.

The lot registration section 110 registers a plurality of electronic components as a given lot. The lot registration unit 110 registers, for example, a 1 st lot of electronic component groups, which are manufactured in the same manufacturing process in the previous process, among the electronic components of the same type a as a lot of the lot number a 001. The lot registration unit 110 registers, for example, the 2 nd lot of electronic component groups, which are manufactured in the same manufacturing process in the previous process, among the electronic components of the same type a as the lot of the lot number a 002. Here, the lot number a001 and the lot number a002 are lot identification information of registered lots. The registration operation may be performed by an input of an operator, or by control of a higher-level system. In addition, a plurality of electronic components 10 registered as a lot of one lot number, for example, lot number a001, are accommodated in one or more distribution boxes 40.

After the batch registration by the batch registration unit 110, a batch number as batch identification information may be set as a primary key (primary key), and various information may be associated therewith. That is, a database may be formed in which lot identification information is used as a primary key. However, information other than the lot identification information may be set as the primary key. Information such as a database is stored in the storage unit 210.

The operation of holding the lot identification information by the identification information holding medium 42 of the dispenser box 40 may be performed in accordance with the lot registration operation in the lot registration unit 110. For example, when the identification information holding medium 42 is an RFID tag, the identification information directly including the lot identification information may be written to the RFID tag using an RFID reader/writer. For example, in the case where the identification information holding medium 42 is a bar code, a bar code having identification information directly including lot identification information may be attached to the distribution box 40.

The identification information held by the identification information holding medium 42 of the distribution box 40 may be identification information associated with lot identification information of the electronic component. For example, when the identification information holding medium 42 of each dispenser box 40 holds the dispenser box ID, the dispenser box ID may be linked to the lot identification information of the electronic component at the time of the accommodating step of accommodating the electronic component 10 in the dispenser box 40. In this way, in the subsequent steps, the lot identification information of the electronic components stored in the dispenser box 40 can be determined based on the dispenser box ID.

The lot registered by the lot registration unit 110 is basically put into each manufacturing facility 20 based on the input operation table. The operation table may be optimized in the initial stage according to the variety of the electronic components 10, the number of the manufacturing facilities 20, and the like flowing in the production process. The input operation table can be rewritten as needed according to the overall situation of the manufacturing system 1. The input operation table is stored in the storage unit 210. The following processing performed on the lot is determined based on the input operation table and the state.

The lot discriminating unit 120 discriminates the lot number of the lot of the electronic component 10 accommodated in the dispensing box 40 based on the identification information acquired by the identification information acquiring unit. For example, the 1 st identification information acquiring unit 24 of each manufacturing apparatus 20 acquires the identification information held by the identification information holding medium 42 of the dispenser box 40 when the lot of the electronic component 10 is carried in. Then, the lot discriminating unit 120 discriminates the lot number of the lot of the electronic component 10 accommodated in the dispenser box 40 based on the identification information read by the 1 st identification information acquiring unit 24. The lot discriminating unit 120 discriminates the lot number of the lot of the electronic component 10 stored in the dispenser box 40 whose identification information is acquired by the 2 nd identification information acquiring means 35, the 3 rd identification information acquiring means 54, and the 4 th identification information acquiring means 55, based on the identification information of the dispenser box 40 acquired by the identification information acquiring means.

The process information acquisition unit 130 acquires process information indicating a process performed by each manufacturing apparatus 20 on a lot carried into the manufacturing apparatus 20. For example, in the case where the cutting device 20A performs the cutting process on the lot of the lot number a001, the process information acquisition section 130 acquires process information indicating that the cutting process is performed on the lot of the lot number a 001. Further, when the baking apparatus 20B performs the baking process on the lot of the lot number a001, the process information acquisition unit 130 acquires process information indicating that the baking process is performed on the lot of the lot number a 001. Further, when the coating apparatus 20C performs the coating process on the lot of the lot number a001, the process information acquisition unit 130 acquires process information indicating that the coating process is performed on the lot of the lot number a 001. The lot number of the lot carried into the manufacturing facility 20 is determined by the lot determining unit 120. The lot number of the lot carried into each manufacturing apparatus 20 and information indicating that each manufacturing apparatus 20 has performed the process may be linked by a control unit in each manufacturing apparatus 20, and may be generated as the process information in each manufacturing apparatus 20.

The lot status information generating unit 140 generates lot status information by associating the lot identification information of the registered lot with processing information indicating the processing performed on the registered lot. For example, the status information generating unit 140 associates the lot number a001 of the registered lot with the processing information executed for the lot of the lot number a 001.

For example, a case will be described in which the lot registration unit 110 registers the lot of the lot number a001, and the process information acquisition unit 130 acquires process information indicating that the dicing device 20A performs the dicing process on the lot of the lot number a001, process information indicating that the baking device 20B performs the baking process on the lot of the lot number a001, and process information indicating that the coating device 20C performs the coating process on the lot of the lot number a 001. In this case, the status information generating unit 140 generates, as the status information of the lot, information indicating that the lot of the lot number a001 has been cut by the lot-to-be-cut device 20A, the lot of the lot-to-be-baked device 20B has been baked, and the lot-to-be-coated device 20C has been coated, that is, information indicating that the cutting process, the baking process, and the coating process have been completed. As described above, the status information of the lot includes information indicating which manufacturing process the lot registered by the lot registration unit 110 has completed, that is, information indicating which manufacturing equipment 20 has performed the process. The status information of the lot includes processing progress information of the lot.

The status information of the lot may be information indicating which manufacturing process the given lot registered next should be put into, that is, information indicating which manufacturing equipment 20 should be put into.

For example, it is considered that information indicating that the lot of the lot number a001 registered by the lot registration unit 110 has ended the dicing step, the baking step, and the coating step is generated as status information of the lot. In this case, it can be said that the status information of the lot indicates that the lot of lot number a001 should be put into the burning facility 20D. In other words, it can be said that the status information of the lot indicates that the lot of the lot number a001 can be put into the burning facility 20D.

The instruction signal output unit 200 outputs an instruction signal for distributing the registered lot to the predetermined manufacturing facility 20 to the distribution mechanism 30 based on the status information of the generated lot. For example, when the status information of the lot indicates that the lot of lot number a001 has completed the baking process and the coating process in the lot process, the instruction signal output unit 200 outputs an instruction signal for transferring the lot of lot number a001 to the baking equipment 20D to the transfer mechanism 30. The processing may be performed at the timing of planned batch input or at an arbitrary timing.

As described above, the lot registered by the lot registration unit 110 is continuously put into each manufacturing apparatus 20 based on the input operation table. However, due to occurrence of a failure or the like, there are also cases where lots are not properly processed in accordance with a predetermined schedule. According to the present embodiment, the registered lot can be distributed to the appropriate manufacturing equipment 20 based on the information of the input operation table and the status information of the lot.

In addition, when the electronic components 10 constituting one lot are distributed to the plurality of distribution boxes 40 and stored, the instruction signal output unit 200 may output an instruction signal for distributing the electronic components 10 constituting one lot to the same manufacturing equipment 20 to the distribution mechanism 30. Thus, even when the electronic components 10 constituting one lot are distributed to the plurality of distribution boxes 40 to be accommodated, the electronic components 10 constituting one lot are handled by the same manufacturing apparatus 20. Thus, the processing within the batch can be made uniform. In this case, the branch number may be given to the lot number in the form of a001-1 or a 001-2.

In this case, the instruction signal output unit 200 outputs an instruction signal to the number of automated guided vehicles 31 corresponding to the number of the distribution boxes 40 constituting one batch, based on the number. For example, when the number of distribution boxes 40 constituting one batch is two, instruction signals for distributing the corresponding distribution boxes 40 to the same manufacturing facility 20 are output to the two automated guided vehicles 31.

The control unit 100 of the present embodiment may further include a device information acquisition unit 150. The equipment information acquisition unit 150 acquires manufacturing equipment information indicating the state of each manufacturing equipment 20. Here, the manufacturing equipment information may include failure information of the manufacturing equipment. The manufacturing equipment information may include information indicating that the manufacturing equipment 20 is in batch processing, information indicating that batch processing by the manufacturing equipment 20 is completed, information indicating that the manufacturing equipment 20 is in an equipment standby state for waiting for a batch, and the like. The manufacturing equipment information may also contain information indicating whether the manufacturing equipment is in an available state.

The instruction signal output unit 200 may output an instruction signal for delivering the registered lot to the predetermined manufacturing facility 20 to the delivery mechanism 30 based on the status information of the lot and the manufacturing facility information.

For example, a case where there are two coating apparatuses 20C of machine No. 1 and machine No. 2 will be described. As an example, it is assumed that the status information generating unit 140 generates information indicating that the lot of the lot number a001 has completed the dicing step and the baking step. Further, it is assumed that the equipment information acquisition unit 150 acquires, as the manufacturing equipment information, failure information indicating that, for example, the machine 1 of the coating equipment 20C is in an abnormal state. In this case, the instruction signal output unit 200 outputs an instruction signal for transferring the lot of the lot number a001 to the machine No. 2 of the coating apparatus 20C in the usable state to the dispensing mechanism 30. This enables efficient distribution.

In this way, the control unit 100 manages the lot status information and the manufacturing equipment information by associating them. In more detail, the control unit 100 establishes a connection between the manufacturing facility 20 in the available state and the lot in the available state, and outputs an instruction signal for delivering the established connection lot to the manufacturing facility 20 to be established to the delivery mechanism 30.

The control unit 100 of the present embodiment may further include a location information acquisition unit 160. The place information acquiring unit 160 acquires place information of a lot, which is the position information of the lot, based on the read information of the identification information held by the identification information holding medium 42 of the dispenser box 40. Specifically, the place information acquiring unit 160 acquires place information of the lot based on the identification information held by the identification information holding medium 42 of the distribution box 40, which is read by the 1 st identification information acquiring unit 24, the 2 nd identification information acquiring unit 35, the 3 rd identification information acquiring unit 54, the 4 th identification information acquiring unit 55, and the like, which are arranged in the manufacturing system 1.

The 1 st identification information acquiring unit 24 provided in each manufacturing facility 20 reads the identification information held by the identification information holding medium 42 provided in the distribution box 40. The location information acquisition unit 160 acquires the location information of the lot based on the read information of the identification information. Specifically, the lot discriminating section 120 discriminates the lot number of the lot of the electronic component 10 accommodated in the dispenser box 40 based on the identification information acquired by the 1 st identification information acquiring unit 24. Then, the place information acquiring unit 160 acquires, as place information of the lot, information that the discriminated lot exists at the manufacturing apparatus 20 that has read the identification information.

For example, the 1 st identification information acquiring unit 24 of the machine No. 2 provided in the coating apparatus 20C reads the identification information held by the identification information holding medium 42 provided in the dispenser box 40. The lot of the electronic component 10 stored in the dispenser box 40 is determined to be, for example, the lot of the lot number a001 based on the read identification information. In this case, the spot information acquiring unit 160 acquires, as spot information of the lot, information that the lot of the lot number a001 exists in the machine No. 2 of the coating apparatus 20C.

The 2 nd identification information acquiring unit 35 provided in the automated guided vehicle 31 as the delivery mechanism 30 reads the identification information held by the identification information holding medium 42 provided in the delivery box 40 when the delivery box 40 is mounted on the shelf 33 of the automated guided vehicle 31. The location information acquisition unit 160 acquires the location information of the lot based on the read information of the identification information. Specifically, the lot discriminating section 120 discriminates the lot of the electronic component 10 accommodated in the dispenser box 40 based on the identification information acquired by the 2 nd identification information acquiring unit 35. Then, the location information acquisition unit 160 acquires, as location information of the lot, information that the determined lot is mounted on the automated guided vehicle 31.

For example, the 2 nd identification information acquiring unit 35 of the automated guided vehicle 31 reads the identification information held by the identification information holding medium 42 provided in the delivery box 40. The lot of the electronic component 10 stored in the dispenser box 40 is determined to be, for example, the lot of the lot number a001 based on the read identification information. In this case, the location information acquisition unit 160 acquires, as location information of the lot, information on which the lot of the lot number a001 is mounted on the automated guided vehicle 31.

In addition, when movement information of the automated guided vehicle 31 is acquired along with movement of the automated guided vehicle 31, movement information of the lot can be acquired as lot location information. During the period determined by the 2 nd identification information acquisition unit 35 that a given lot, for example, the lot of lot number a001 is mounted on the automated guided vehicle 31, the movement information of the lot of lot number a001 matches the movement information of the automated guided vehicle 31. Thereby, more detailed lot location information including real-time position information of the moving lot and movement track information of the lot can be acquired.

The 3 rd identification information acquisition unit 54 provided in the warehouse-in section 51 of the rack 50 reads the identification information held by the identification information holding medium 42 provided in the distribution box 40 at the time of warehouse-in of the distribution box 40. The location information acquisition unit 160 acquires the location information of the lot based on the read information of the identification information. Specifically, the lot discriminating section 120 discriminates the lot of the electronic component 10 accommodated in the dispenser box 40 based on the identification information acquired by the 3 rd identification information acquiring unit 54. Then, the place information acquiring unit 160 acquires, as place information of the lot, information that the discriminated lot currently exists in the warehouse-in unit 51 of the rack 50 and is then placed in the storage area 52.

For example, the 3 rd identification information acquiring unit 54 reads the identification information held by the identification information holding medium 42 provided in the distribution box 40. The lot of the electronic component 10 stored in the dispenser box 40 is determined to be, for example, the lot of the lot number a001 based on the read identification information. In this case, the place information acquiring unit 160 acquires, as place information of the lot, information that the lot of lot number a001 currently exists in the warehouse-in unit 51 of the rack 50 and is then placed in the storage area 52.

The 4 th identification information acquiring unit 55 provided in the delivery unit 53 of the holding rack 50 reads the identification information held by the identification information holding medium 42 provided in the delivery box 40 at the time of delivery of the delivery box 40. The location information acquisition unit 160 acquires the location information of the lot based on the read information of the identification information. Specifically, the lot discriminating section 120 discriminates the lot of the electronic component 10 accommodated in the dispenser box 40 based on the identification information acquired by the 4 th identification information acquiring unit 55. Then, the place information acquiring unit 160 acquires, as place information of the lot, information that the discriminated lot currently exists at the warehouse-out unit 53 of the holding rack 50 and then comes out of the holding area 52.

For example, the 4 th identification information acquiring unit 55 reads the identification information held by the identification information holding medium 42 provided in the distribution box 40. The lot of the electronic component 10 stored in the dispenser box 40 is determined to be, for example, the lot of the lot number a001 based on the read identification information. In this case, the place information acquiring unit 160 acquires, as place information of the lot, information that the lot of the lot number a001 currently exists at the warehouse-out unit 53 of the holding rack 50 and then comes out of the holding area 52.

The identification information acquisition unit may be disposed at another position of the manufacturing system 1. In this case, the location information acquisition unit 160 acquires, as the location information of the lot, information that a lot grasped based on the identification information read by the identification information acquisition unit exists at a position corresponding to the arrangement position of the identification information acquisition unit.

The instruction signal output unit 200 may output an instruction signal for delivering the registered lot to the predetermined manufacturing facility 20 to the delivery mechanism 30 based on the status information of the lot and the place information of the lot.

For example, as the status information of the lot, information indicating that the lot of lot number a001 and the lot of lot number a002 have completed the dicing step, the baking step, and the coating step is generated. At this time, it is assumed that the lot for which the lot number a001 is acquired as the place information of the lot remains in the coating apparatus 20C. On the other hand, it is assumed that the lot number a002 is acquired as the lot location information and is disposed in the storage area 52 of the rack 50. In this case, the instruction signal output unit 200 outputs an instruction signal for transferring the lot of the lot number a002 in which the rack 50 is in a state of waiting for transfer to the burn-in apparatus 20D to the transfer mechanism. This enables efficient distribution.

The instruction signal output unit 200 may output an instruction signal for distributing the registered lot to the predetermined manufacturing facility 20 to the distribution mechanism 30 based on the status information of the lot, the place information of the lot, and the manufacturing facility information.

For example, it is assumed that the information indicating that the batch of the batch number a001 and the batch of the batch number a002 have ended the dicing step, the baking step, and the coating step is generated as the state information of the batch. At this time, it is assumed that the lot for which the lot number a001 is acquired as the place information of the lot remains in the coating apparatus 20C. On the other hand, it is assumed that the lot number a002 is acquired as the lot location information and is disposed in the storage area 52 of the rack 50. Further, it is assumed that failure information indicating that the burn-in device 20D of the No. 1 machine out of the two burn-in devices 20D, i.e., the No. 1 machine and the No. 2 machine, is in an abnormal state is acquired as the manufacturing device information. In this case, the instruction signal output unit 200 outputs an instruction signal for transferring the lot of the lot number a002, which is in a state where the rack 50 is waiting for the dispensing, to the No. 2 machine of the burning facility 20D, which is in a usable state, to the dispensing mechanism 30. This enables efficient distribution.

In addition, the distribution destination determining unit 180 determines the distribution destination of the registered lot based on the status information of the lot, the manufacturing equipment information, and the lot location information, as needed, in addition to the instruction signal.

The distribution destination determining unit 180 may determine whether to distribute the registered lot from the given manufacturing facility 20 to the holder 50 or to distribute the registered lot from the given manufacturing facility 20 to another manufacturing facility 20 based on the status information of the lot and the manufacturing facility information. In this case, the instruction signal output unit 200 outputs an instruction signal for causing the registered lot to be distributed to the holding rack 50 or the other manufacturing facility 20 to the distribution mechanism 30 based on the determination content. In addition, this control can be adopted in a case where the automated guided vehicle 31 can directly travel to and from the manufacturing facility without passing through the holding rack 50.

For example, the equipment information acquisition unit 150 acquires the manufacturing equipment information of the burning equipment 20D at the timing when the state information generation unit 140 acquires, as the state information of the lot, the processing information indicating that the coating process is performed on the lot of the lot number a001 by the coating equipment 20C.

At this time, it is assumed that the equipment information acquisition unit 150 acquires information indicating that the burning equipment 20D is in batch processing as manufacturing equipment information. In this case, the distribution destination determining unit 180 determines to distribute the lot of the lot number a001 from the coating apparatus 20C to the holder 50. In this case, the instruction signal output unit 200 outputs an instruction signal for dispensing the lot of the lot number a001 from the coating apparatus 20C to the holding rack 50 to the dispensing mechanism 30.

On the other hand, it is assumed that the equipment information acquisition unit 150 acquires, as the manufacturing equipment information, information indicating that the burning equipment 20D is in an equipment standby state for waiting for a lot. In this case, the distribution destination determining unit 180 determines to directly distribute the lot of the lot number a001 from the coating apparatus 20C to the burning apparatus 20D. In this case, the instruction signal output unit 200 outputs an instruction signal for directly dispensing the lot of the lot number a001 from the coating apparatus 20C to the burning apparatus 20D to the dispensing mechanism 30.

Further, it is assumed that the equipment information acquisition unit 150 acquires, as the manufacturing equipment information, failure information indicating that the burning equipment 20D is in an abnormal state. In this case, the distribution destination determining unit 180 determines to distribute the lot of the lot number a001 from the coating apparatus 20C to the holder 50. In this case, the instruction signal output unit 200 outputs an instruction signal for dispensing the lot of the lot number a001 from the coating apparatus 20C to the holding rack 50 to the dispensing mechanism 30. This enables efficient distribution.

The lot selecting unit 190 selects a predetermined lot from among the lots stored in the storage rack 50 based on the status information of the lot. The instruction signal output unit 200 outputs an instruction signal for causing the lot selected by the lot selection unit 190 to be dispensed from the storage rack 50 to the predetermined manufacturing facility 20 to the dispensing mechanism 30.

For example, it is assumed that the lot of lot number a001 and the lot of lot number a002 are stored in the storage rack 50. It is assumed that information indicating that the batch of the batch number a001 has ended the dicing step and the baking step but has not ended the coating step is generated as state information of the batch. On the other hand, it is assumed that information indicating that the batch of the batch number a002 has ended the dicing step, the baking step, and the coating step is generated as the status information of the batch. In this case, when the lot of the lot a is to be placed in the baking equipment 20D based on the placement operation table, the lot selecting unit 190 selects the lot with the lot number a002, which is placed in a state where the lot can be placed in the baking process, from among the lots stored in the storage rack 50. The instruction signal output unit 200 outputs an instruction signal for causing the lot of the lot number a002 selected by the lot selection unit 190 to be transferred from the storage rack 50 to the baking apparatus 20D to the transfer mechanism 30. This enables efficient distribution.

The lot selecting unit 190 may select a predetermined lot from among the lots stored in the storage rack 50 based on the status information of the lot and the manufacturing equipment information.

For example, it is assumed that the lot of lot number a001 and the lot of lot number a002 are stored in the storage rack 50. It is assumed that information indicating that the batch of the batch number a001 has ended the dicing step and the baking step but has not ended the coating step is generated as state information of the batch. On the other hand, it is assumed that information indicating that the batch of the batch number a002 has ended the dicing step, the baking step, and the coating step is generated as the status information of the batch. Further, it is assumed that the apparatus information acquisition section 150 acquires, as the manufacturing apparatus information, failure information indicating that the coating apparatus 20C is in an abnormal state. On the other hand, it is assumed that the equipment information acquisition unit 150 acquires, as the manufacturing equipment information, information indicating that the burning equipment 20D is in the equipment standby state of waiting for the lot. In this case, the lot selecting unit 190 selects a lot with the lot number a002 that can be put into the baking process from among the lots stored in the storage rack 50. The instruction signal output unit 200 outputs an instruction signal for causing the lot of the lot number a002 selected by the lot selection unit 190 to be transferred from the storage rack 50 to the baking apparatus 20D to the transfer mechanism 30. This enables efficient distribution.

The lot selection unit 190 may select a predetermined lot from among the lots stored in the storage rack 50 based on the status information of the lot and the place information of the lot. That is, the lot stored in the rack 50 may be determined based on the lot location information, and then a predetermined lot may be selected from among the lots stored in the rack 50.

As described above, the lot registered by the lot registration unit 110 is continuously put into each manufacturing apparatus 20 based on the input operation table. However, due to occurrence of a failure or the like, the lot may not be distributed on a predetermined schedule. Further, depending on the overall situation of the manufacturing system 1, there may be a situation in which more efficient distribution of lots can be achieved. According to the present embodiment, it is possible to select an appropriate lot based on the information of the input operation table and the status information of the lot, and further based on the manufacturing equipment information and the lot location information, as needed, and to efficiently distribute the selected lot to an appropriate distribution destination.

The control unit 100 of the present embodiment may further include an evaluation information acquisition unit 170.

The evaluation information acquisition unit 170 acquires evaluation information indicating the evaluation result of the lot processed by the manufacturing facility 20. Specifically, the evaluation information acquisition unit 170 acquires information such as the number of processing defects in the batch as evaluation information indicating the evaluation result of the processed batch based on the sensing results of various sensors and the like provided in each manufacturing apparatus 20. For example, information of the number of occurrences of cutting failure within a lot in the cutting apparatus 20A is acquired.

The distribution destination determining unit 180 determines the manufacturing facility 20 to which the lot should be distributed based on the evaluation information of the lot acquired by the evaluation information acquiring unit 170. For example, when the number of occurrence of the cutting failure in the batch in the cutting apparatus 20A is greater than a predetermined number, the distribution destination determining unit 180 determines to repeatedly convey the batch to the appearance screening inspection apparatus 20G a plurality of times. Alternatively, the distribution destination determining unit 180 may determine to repeatedly transfer the lot to the characteristic inspection apparatus 20F a plurality of times.

The instruction signal output unit 200 outputs an instruction signal for delivering the lot to the manufacturing facility 20 determined by the delivery destination determining unit 180 to the delivery mechanism 30 based on the evaluation information of the lot. For example, when the number of occurrences of defective cutting in a batch in the cutting apparatus 20A is greater than a given value, the instruction signal output unit 200 outputs an instruction signal for repeatedly carrying the batch to the appearance screening inspection apparatus 20G a plurality of times to the dispensing mechanism 30. Alternatively, the instruction signal output unit 200 may output an instruction signal for repeatedly carrying the lot to the characteristic inspection apparatus 20F to the dispensing mechanism 30. In the manufacturing process until the appearance screening inspection apparatus 20G or the characteristic inspection apparatus 20F is reached, the instruction signal output unit 200 may output an instruction signal to the dispensing mechanism 30 so that the lot may be transported in the order of the normal manufacturing process.

In this way, the instruction signal output unit 200 can output an instruction signal for repeatedly dispensing the lot to the same manufacturing facility 20 to the dispensing mechanism 30 based on the lot evaluation information. This allows more detailed examination of batches that are determined to require attention.

The distribution destination determining unit 180 may determine the number of times of repeated conveyance such that the number of times the lot is conveyed to the inspection apparatus such as the characteristic inspection apparatus 20F or the appearance screening inspection apparatus 20G increases as the number of defects in the lot detected by the manufacturing apparatus 20 increases.

The flow of the present embodiment will be described below. Fig. 7 is a flowchart showing the flow of the processing of the present embodiment.

In the registration step of step S11, the lot registration unit 110 registers a plurality of electronic components as a given lot. For example, the lot registration unit 110 registers, as a lot of the lot number a001, a 1 st lot of electronic component groups among the electronic components of the same type a, which are manufactured in the same manufacturing process in the previous process.

In the process information acquiring step of step S12, the lot discriminating unit 120 discriminates the lot number of the lot of the electronic component 10 accommodated in the distribution box 40 based on the identification information acquired by the identification information acquiring unit when the lot of the electronic component 10 is carried into the manufacturing facility 20. Then, the process information acquisition unit 130 acquires process information indicating the processes performed by each manufacturing apparatus 20 on the lot carried into the manufacturing apparatus 20. For example, in the case where the cutting device 20A performs the cutting process on the lot of the lot number a001, the process information acquisition section 130 acquires process information indicating that the cutting process is performed on the lot of the lot number a 001. Further, when the baking apparatus 20B performs the baking process on the lot of the lot number a001, the process information acquisition unit 130 acquires process information indicating that the baking process is performed on the lot of the lot number a 001. Further, when the coating apparatus 20C performs the coating process on the lot of the lot number a001, the process information acquisition unit 130 acquires process information indicating that the coating process is performed on the lot of the lot number a 001.

In the generating step of step S13, the status information generating unit 140 generates status information of the lot by associating the lot identification information of the registered lot with the process information indicating the process performed on the registered lot. For example, a case will be described in which the lot registration unit 110 registers the lot of the lot number a001, and the process information acquisition unit 130 acquires process information indicating that the dicing device 20A performs the dicing process on the lot of the lot number a001, process information indicating that the baking device 20B performs the baking process on the lot of the lot number a001, and process information indicating that the coating device 20C performs the coating process on the lot of the lot number a 001. In this case, the status information generating unit 140 generates information indicating that the batch of the batch number a001 has ended the dicing step, the baking step, and the coating step as status information of the batch.

In the instruction signal output step of step S14, the instruction signal output unit 200 outputs an instruction signal for distributing the registered lot to the predetermined manufacturing facility 20 to the distribution mechanism 30 based on the status information of the generated lot. For example, when the status information of the lot is information indicating that the lot of lot number a001 has completed the dicing process, the baking process, and the coating process, the instruction signal output unit 200 outputs an instruction signal for transferring the lot of lot number a001 to the baking apparatus 20D to the transfer mechanism 30. The processing may be performed at the timing of planned batch input or at an arbitrary timing.

The given lot to be distributed may be selected by the lot selecting unit 190. In this case, the lot selecting unit 190 selects a predetermined lot from among the lots stored in the storage rack 50 based on the status information of the lot, or the like. The lot selecting unit 190 may select a predetermined lot from among the lots stored in the storage rack 50 based on the status information of the lot and the manufacturing equipment information. The instruction signal output unit 200 outputs an instruction signal for causing the lot selected by the lot selection unit 190 to be dispensed from the storage rack 50 to the predetermined manufacturing facility 20 to the dispensing mechanism 30.

In the dispensing step of step S15, the dispensing mechanism 30 receives the instruction signal output from the instruction signal output unit 200, and dispenses the registered lot to the predetermined manufacturing facility 20 based on the instruction signal. For example, the dispensing mechanism 30 dispenses the lot stored in the rack 50 and having the lot number a001 to the burning facility 20D.

In the case where the control unit 100 includes the equipment information acquisition unit 150, the instruction signal output unit 200 may output an instruction signal to the distribution mechanism 30 to distribute the registered lot to the predetermined manufacturing equipment 20 based on the status information of the lot generated in step S13 and the manufacturing equipment information acquired by the equipment information acquisition unit 150 in step S14.

In the case where the control unit 100 includes the location information acquisition unit 160, the instruction signal output unit 200 may output an instruction signal to the distribution mechanism 30 to distribute the registered lot to the predetermined manufacturing facility 20 based on the status information of the lot generated in step S13 and the location information of the lot acquired by the location information acquisition unit 160 in step S14.

In step S14, the instruction signal output unit 200 may output an instruction signal for distributing the registered lot to the predetermined manufacturing facility 20 to the distribution mechanism 30 based on the status information of the lot, the manufacturing facility information, and the lot location information.

In addition, when a distribution instruction is given to a lot located in the manufacturing facility 20, the distribution destination determining unit 180 may determine whether to distribute the registered lot from the given manufacturing facility 20 to the holder 50 or to distribute the registered lot from the given manufacturing facility 20 to another manufacturing facility 20 based on the status information of the lot and the manufacturing facility information in step S14. Then, based on the determination, the instruction signal output unit 200 may output an instruction signal for causing the registered lot to be distributed to the holding rack 50 or the other manufacturing facility 20 to the distribution mechanism 30.

In the case where the control unit 100 includes the evaluation information acquisition unit 170, the distribution destination determination unit 180 may determine that the manufacturing facility 20 of the lot should be distributed based on the evaluation information of the lot acquired by the evaluation information acquisition unit 170 in step S14. Then, the instruction signal output unit 200 may output an instruction signal for delivering the lot to the delivery destination determined by the delivery destination determining unit 180 to the delivery mechanism 30.

As described above, the method for manufacturing the electronic component 10 according to the present embodiment manufactures the electronic component 10 using the plurality of manufacturing apparatuses 20 performing a plurality of different manufacturing steps, wherein the method for manufacturing the electronic component 10 includes: a registration step of registering a plurality of electronic components 10 as a batch; a generation step of generating status information of the lot by associating the registered lot information with process information indicating a process performed by the manufacturing apparatus 20; and a distribution step of distributing the registered lot to the given manufacturing apparatus 20 based on the status information of the lot.

In addition, the present disclosure is particularly effective in a manufacturing system of a laminated ceramic electronic component. In the case of such a manufacturing system 1, a very large number of manufacturing steps are performed until the electronic component 10 is completed. Thus, there are many manufacturing apparatuses 20. In addition, many manufacturing apparatuses 20 are separately configured in many cases. Further, the electronic component 10 to be manufactured is also large in number of varieties, and therefore, the manufacturing equipment 20 may be arranged to correspond to each variety. In this case, the manufacturing apparatus 20 is temporarily stopped. In addition, there are also sometimes lots waiting for an indication. Therefore, there are many cases where the lot cannot be distributed according to a predetermined schedule depending on the overall situation of the lot, the manufacturing facility 20, and the like. Further, depending on the overall status of the lot, the manufacturing facility 20, and the like, there may be a situation in which more efficient distribution of the lot can be achieved. According to the manufacturing system 1 of the present embodiment, efficient distribution of the electronic component 10 according to the processing conditions of the electronic component 10 can be performed. Further, the electronic components 10 can be efficiently distributed according to the entire status of the lot, the manufacturing facility 20, and the like. In addition, if a system is intended for a small-sized laminated ceramic electronic component, a large number of electronic components 10 of the same batch can be accommodated in the distribution box 40, and therefore distribution can be efficiently performed in units of distribution boxes according to the condition of the entire system.

In the present embodiment, the electronic component 10 to be processed is not limited to the multilayer ceramic capacitor, and may be a chip-like electronic component such as a piezoelectric component, a thermistor, an inductor, or a resistor, or other electronic components.

According to the electronic component manufacturing system 1 of the present embodiment, the following effects are achieved.

(1) The electronic component manufacturing system 1 according to the present embodiment performs a plurality of manufacturing steps to manufacture the electronic component 10, wherein the electronic component manufacturing system 1 includes a plurality of manufacturing facilities 20 that perform different processes corresponding to the plurality of manufacturing steps on the electronic component 10, a distribution mechanism 30 that distributes the electronic component 10 to the manufacturing facilities 20, and a control unit 100, and the control unit 100 registers the plurality of electronic components 10 as a lot, generates lot status information based on the lot identification information of the registered lot, and outputs an instruction signal to the distribution mechanism 30 to distribute the registered lot to a given manufacturing facility 20 based on the generated lot status information. This enables efficient distribution of lots according to the processing conditions of the electronic components 10. Further, the control unit 100 preferably generates status information of the lot by associating the lot identification information of the registered lot with process information indicating a process performed by the manufacturing apparatus 20. This makes it possible to more efficiently distribute lots corresponding to the processing conditions of the electronic components 10.

(2) The control unit 100 of the present embodiment acquires manufacturing equipment information indicating the state of the manufacturing equipment 20, and outputs an instruction signal for distributing the registered lot to a given manufacturing equipment 20 to the distribution mechanism 30 based on the lot state information and the manufacturing equipment information. This makes it possible to more efficiently distribute lots in consideration of the state of the manufacturing facility.

(3) In the electronic component manufacturing system 1 of the present embodiment, the manufacturing equipment information includes failure information of the manufacturing equipment 20. This allows the lot to be distributed more efficiently in consideration of the failure information of the manufacturing facility 20.

(4) The control unit 100 of the present embodiment acquires evaluation information indicating the evaluation result of the lot processed by the manufacturing apparatus 20, determines the manufacturing apparatus 20 to which the lot should be distributed based on the evaluation information, and outputs an instruction signal for distributing the lot to the determined manufacturing apparatus 20 to the distribution mechanism 30. This makes it possible to perform more appropriate distribution of the lot in accordance with the evaluation result of the lot.

(5) The control unit 100 according to the present embodiment outputs an instruction signal for repeatedly dispensing lots to the same manufacturing facility 20 to the dispensing mechanism 30 based on the evaluation information. This makes it possible to perform more appropriate distribution of the lot in accordance with the evaluation result of the lot.

(6) The dispensing mechanism 30 of the present embodiment is an AGV. This makes it possible to more efficiently distribute batches.

(7) The manufacturing system 1 of the present embodiment further includes a distribution box 40 that accommodates a plurality of electronic components 10, and a plurality of electronic components 10 registered as one lot are accommodated in one or more distribution boxes 40, and the plurality of electronic components 10 accommodated in one distribution box 40 are electronic components 10 of the same lot, and the distribution box 40 includes an identification information holding medium 42 that holds identification information, the identification information including lot identification information or being associated with the lot identification information. This enables the distribution of the lot to be performed more efficiently using the distribution box 40.

(8) In the manufacturing system 1 of the present embodiment, a plurality of electronic components 10 registered as one lot are distributed to and accommodated in a plurality of distribution boxes 40, and the control unit 100 outputs an instruction signal for distributing the electronic components 10, which are distributed to and accommodated in the plurality of distribution boxes 40, to the same manufacturing equipment 20 in one lot. This makes it possible to efficiently distribute the lot while making the processing of the electronic components 10 uniform within the lot.

(9) The delivery mechanism of the present embodiment is an AGV, and one AGV delivers one delivery box 40. Thus, the electronic component group can be efficiently dispensed by the smallest dispensing unit. In addition, one delivery box 40 and one AGV are in one-to-one relationship, so that the complexity of control can be reduced.

(10) In the electronic component manufacturing system 1 of the present embodiment, the electronic components 10 are laminated ceramic electronic components in the form of sheets, and the number of laminated ceramic electronic components in the form of sheets accommodated in one distribution box 40 is 1000 or more. Thus, a very large number of electronic components 10 can be efficiently dispensed by the smallest dispensing unit.

(11) The identification information holding medium 42 of the present embodiment is an RFID tag. Thereby, it becomes easy to acquire the identification information.

(12) The control unit 100 of the present embodiment acquires lot location information based on the read information of the identification information, and outputs an instruction signal for distributing the registered lot to the predetermined manufacturing facility 20 to the distribution mechanism 30 based on the status information of the lot and the lot location information. This makes it possible to more efficiently distribute the lot in view of the lot location information.

(13) The control unit 100 of the present embodiment acquires manufacturing equipment information indicating the state of the manufacturing equipment 20, and outputs an instruction signal for distributing the registered lot to a predetermined manufacturing equipment 20 to the distribution mechanism 30 based on the lot state information, the lot location information, and the manufacturing equipment information. This makes it possible to more efficiently distribute the lot in view of the lot location information and the manufacturing facility information.

(14) The electronic component manufacturing system 1 of the present embodiment further includes a storage rack 50 that stores a plurality of batches of electronic components 10 in a state of being accommodated in the distribution box 40, and the control unit 100 selects a predetermined batch from the plurality of batches stored in the storage rack 50 based on the state information of the batch and outputs an instruction signal to the distribution mechanism 30 to distribute the selected batch from the storage rack 50 to the predetermined manufacturing facility 20. Accordingly, the lot can be appropriately selected, and the lot can be distributed more efficiently.

(15) The control unit 100 of the present embodiment acquires manufacturing equipment information indicating the state of the manufacturing equipment 20, selects a predetermined lot from among the plurality of lots stored in the storage rack 50 based on the lot state information and the manufacturing equipment information, and outputs an instruction signal for distributing the selected lot from the storage rack 50 to the predetermined manufacturing equipment 20 to the distribution mechanism 30. Accordingly, the lot can be selected more appropriately in view of the manufacturing facility information, and the lot can be distributed more efficiently.

(16) The control unit 100 of the present embodiment acquires the lot location information based on the read information of the identification information, selects a predetermined lot from among the lots stored in the storage rack 50 based on the lot status information and the lot location information, and outputs an instruction signal for distributing the selected lot from the storage rack 50 to the predetermined manufacturing facility 20 to the distribution mechanism 30. Accordingly, the lot can be selected more appropriately in view of the lot location information, and the lot can be distributed more efficiently.

(17) The electronic component manufacturing system 1 of the present embodiment further includes a storage rack 50 that stores a plurality of batches of electronic components 10 in a state of being accommodated in the distribution box 40, and the control unit 100 acquires manufacturing equipment information indicating the state of the manufacturing equipment 20, and determines whether to distribute the registered batch from a given manufacturing equipment 20 to the storage rack 50 or to distribute the registered batch from the given manufacturing equipment 20 to another manufacturing equipment 20 based on the batch state information and the manufacturing equipment information. This makes it possible to more efficiently distribute lots in view of manufacturing equipment information.

(18) In the system 1 for manufacturing an electronic component according to the present embodiment, the electronic component 10 is a laminated ceramic electronic component, and the plurality of manufacturing apparatuses 20 include a dicing apparatus 20A for dicing a laminate block including a dielectric sheet and a conductive paste into laminate pieces of a predetermined size, a firing apparatus 20B for firing the laminate pieces to manufacture a laminate, a coating apparatus 20C for coating a material of a base electrode layer of an external electrode at a predetermined position of the laminate, a firing apparatus 20D for firing the coated material of the base electrode layer, a plating apparatus 20E for forming a plating layer on an outer surface side of the base electrode layer, a characteristic inspection apparatus 20F for inspecting characteristics of the laminated ceramic electronic component in which the external electrode including the base electrode layer and the plating layer is formed in the laminate, and an appearance screening inspection apparatus 20G for performing appearance screening of the laminated ceramic electronic component in which the external electrode including the base electrode layer and the plating layer is formed in the laminate, and include at least 4 manufacturing apparatuses 20. As described above, the effects of the present embodiment can be obtained also in a system for manufacturing a laminated ceramic electronic component having a plurality of manufacturing facilities 20.

(19) The control unit 100 of the present embodiment acquires evaluation information indicating the evaluation result of the lot processed by the manufacturing apparatus 20, and outputs an instruction signal for distributing the lot to the characteristic inspection apparatus 20F or the appearance screening inspection apparatus 20G a plurality of times to the distribution mechanism 30 based on the evaluation information. Thus, the lot to be noted can be thoroughly inspected.

(20) The method for manufacturing an electronic component according to the present embodiment manufactures an electronic component 10 using a plurality of manufacturing apparatuses 20 performing a plurality of different manufacturing steps, and includes: a registration step of registering a plurality of electronic components 10 as a batch; a generation step of generating status information of the lot by associating the registered lot information with process information indicating a process performed by the manufacturing apparatus 20; and a distribution step of distributing the registered lot to the given manufacturing apparatus 20 based on the status information of the lot. This enables efficient distribution of lots according to the processing conditions of the electronic components 10.

The present invention is not limited to the configuration of the above-described embodiment, and can be appropriately modified and applied within a range not changing the gist of the present invention. The present invention also provides a combination of two or more of the preferred structures described in the above embodiments.

Description of the reference numerals

1: a manufacturing system for electronic components;

10: an electronic component;

20: manufacturing equipment;

20A: a cutting device;

20B: firing equipment;

20C: a coating device;

20D: a burning device;

20E: a plating device;

20F: a characteristic inspection device;

20G: appearance screening inspection equipment;

24: a 1 st identification information acquisition unit;

30: a dispensing mechanism;

31: unmanned carrier;

35: a 2 nd identification information acquisition unit;

40: a distribution box;

42: identifying the information holding medium;

50: a pipe protecting frame;

54: a 3 rd identification information acquisition unit;

55: a 4 th identification information acquisition unit;

100: a control unit;

110: a batch registration unit;

120: a batch discriminating unit;

130: a processing information acquisition unit;

140: a status information generation unit;

150: an equipment information acquisition unit;

160: a location information acquisition unit;

170: an evaluation information acquisition unit;

180: a distribution destination determining unit;

190: a batch selecting section;

200: an instruction signal output unit;

210: and a storage unit.

Claims

1. A system for manufacturing an electronic component, which performs a plurality of manufacturing steps to manufacture the electronic component,

the system for manufacturing an electronic component includes:

a plurality of manufacturing apparatuses that execute different processes corresponding to the plurality of manufacturing steps, respectively, on the electronic component;

A dispensing mechanism that dispenses the electronic component to the manufacturing apparatus; and

the control part is used for controlling the control part to control the control part,

the control unit registers a plurality of electronic components as a lot, generates status information of the lot based on lot identification information of the registered lot, and outputs an instruction signal for distributing the registered lot to a predetermined manufacturing apparatus to the distribution mechanism based on the generated status information of the lot.

2. The system for manufacturing electronic components according to claim 1, wherein,

the control unit acquires manufacturing equipment information indicating the status of the manufacturing equipment, and outputs an instruction signal for distributing the registered lot to a given manufacturing equipment to the distribution mechanism based on the status information of the lot and the manufacturing equipment information.

3. The system for manufacturing electronic components according to claim 2, wherein,

the manufacturing equipment information includes fault information of the manufacturing equipment.

4. The system for manufacturing an electronic component according to any one of claim 1 to 3, wherein,

the control unit acquires evaluation information indicating an evaluation result of a lot processed by the manufacturing apparatus, determines a manufacturing apparatus to which the lot should be distributed based on the evaluation information, and outputs an instruction signal for distributing the lot to the determined manufacturing apparatus to the distribution mechanism.

5. The system for manufacturing electronic components according to claim 4, wherein,

the control unit outputs an instruction signal for repeatedly distributing the lot to the same manufacturing facility to the distribution mechanism based on the evaluation information.

6. The system for manufacturing an electronic component according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein,

the dispensing mechanism is an AGV.

7. The system for manufacturing an electronic component according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein,

further comprises a distribution box for accommodating a plurality of electronic components,

a plurality of electronic components registered as one of the batches are accommodated in one or more of the distribution boxes,

the plurality of electronic components accommodated in one of the distribution boxes are the same lot of electronic components,

the delivery box has an identification information holding medium holding identification information,

the identification information contains or is associated with the lot identification information.

8. The system for manufacturing electronic components according to claim 7, wherein,

a plurality of electronic components registered as one lot are distributed to a plurality of the distribution boxes to be accommodated,

the control unit outputs, to the dispensing mechanism, an instruction signal for dispensing electronic components, which constitute one lot, to the same manufacturing apparatus, the electronic components being accommodated in a plurality of dispensing boxes.

9. The system for manufacturing an electronic component according to claim 7 or 8, wherein,

the delivery mechanism is an AGV, and one AGV delivers one delivery box.

10. The system for manufacturing an electronic component according to any one of claims 7 to 9, wherein,

the electronic component is a laminated ceramic electronic component in the form of a sheet,

the number of sheet-like laminated ceramic electronic components accommodated in one of the distribution boxes is 1000 or more.

11. The system for manufacturing an electronic component according to any one of claims 7 to 10, wherein,

the identification information holding medium is an RFID tag.

12. The system for manufacturing an electronic component according to any one of claims 7 to 11, wherein,

the control unit acquires the place information of the lot based on the read information of the identification information, and outputs an instruction signal for distributing the registered lot to a given manufacturing apparatus to the distribution mechanism based on the state information of the lot and the place information of the lot.

13. The system for manufacturing electronic components according to claim 12, wherein,

the control unit acquires manufacturing equipment information indicating the status of the manufacturing equipment, and outputs an instruction signal for distributing the registered lot to a given manufacturing equipment to the distribution mechanism based on the status information of the lot, the place information of the lot, and the manufacturing equipment information.

14. The system for manufacturing an electronic component according to any one of claims 7 to 13, wherein,

the device also comprises: a holder for holding a plurality of batches of electronic components in a state of being accommodated in the distribution box,

the control unit selects a predetermined lot from among the lots stored in the storage rack based on the state information of the lot, and outputs an instruction signal for distributing the selected lot from the storage rack to a predetermined manufacturing facility to the distribution mechanism.

15. The system for manufacturing electronic components of claim 14 wherein,

the control unit acquires manufacturing equipment information indicating the state of the manufacturing equipment, selects a predetermined lot from among the lots stored in the storage rack based on the state information of the lot and the manufacturing equipment information, and outputs an instruction signal for dispensing the selected lot from the storage rack to the predetermined manufacturing equipment to the dispensing mechanism.

16. The system for manufacturing an electronic component according to claim 14 or 15, wherein,

the control unit acquires the place information of the lot based on the read information of the identification information, selects a predetermined lot from among the lots stored in the storage rack based on the state information of the lot and the place information of the lot, and outputs an instruction signal for distributing the selected lot from the storage rack to a predetermined manufacturing facility to the distribution mechanism.

17. The system for manufacturing an electronic component according to any one of claims 7 to 14, wherein,

the control unit acquires manufacturing equipment information indicating the status of the manufacturing equipment, and determines whether to distribute the registered lot from a given manufacturing equipment to the storage rack or from the given manufacturing equipment to other manufacturing equipment based on the status information of the lot and the manufacturing equipment information.

18. The system for manufacturing an electronic component according to any one of claims 1 to 17, wherein,

the electronic component is a laminated ceramic electronic component,

the plurality of manufacturing apparatuses include a dicing apparatus that cuts a laminate block including a dielectric sheet and a conductive paste into laminate pieces of a predetermined size, a firing apparatus that fires the laminate pieces to produce a laminate, a coating apparatus that coats a material of a base electrode layer of an external electrode at a predetermined position of the laminate, a firing apparatus that burns the coated material of the base electrode layer, a plating apparatus that forms a plating layer on an outer surface side of the base electrode layer, a characteristic inspection apparatus that inspects characteristics of a laminated ceramic electronic component in which the base electrode layer and the plating layer are formed on the laminate, and an appearance screening inspection apparatus that performs an appearance screening inspection of a laminated ceramic electronic component in which the base electrode layer and the plating layer are formed on the laminate, and includes at least 4 manufacturing apparatuses.

19. The system for manufacturing electronic components of claim 18 wherein,

the control unit acquires evaluation information indicating an evaluation result of a lot processed by the manufacturing apparatus, and outputs an instruction signal for distributing the lot to the characteristic inspection apparatus or the appearance screening inspection apparatus a plurality of times to the distribution mechanism based on the evaluation information.

20. A method for manufacturing an electronic component, wherein the electronic component is manufactured by using a plurality of manufacturing equipment which performs a plurality of different manufacturing processes,

the method for manufacturing the electronic component comprises the following steps:

a registration step of registering a plurality of electronic components as a batch;

a generation step of generating status information of a lot by associating the registered lot information with process information indicating a process performed by the manufacturing apparatus; and

and a distribution step of distributing the registered lot to a predetermined manufacturing facility based on the status information of the lot.