JP2002308409A - Stock control method of warehouse and warehouse - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To rationally manage cargo handling work in a physical distribution warehouse and especially to rationally manage the cargo handling work by carrying out precise working instruction to a worker in charge of the cargo handling work. SOLUTION: The cargo handling work is specified as a series of working units which are the units of the working instruction by classifying processes of the cargo handling work and the cargo handling work is allotted to the worker and carried out by the worker for each of the working units. The working units are specified so that a moving range of the worker is limited to a constant range. The work is carried out so that a data about starting and completion of the work is input to a host control device at the time of starting and completing the work, and the control device carries out allotment of the cargo handling work while grasping a flow of stock.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to management of distribution work in a distribution warehouse. The present invention relates to management of a group of articles handled in a warehouse, and more particularly to a method and apparatus for managing a cargo operation of an operator. For example, the present invention relates to a technique that manages a load operation such as picking, packing, moving goods, and packing of a group of discrete articles in a rational and efficient manner.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a loading operation in a distribution warehouse that picks, sorts, and sorts incoming goods for each delivery destination and then ships the goods, there is a method in which storage, picking, sorting, and sorting of loads are performed in an automatic warehouse. . The management by this automatic warehouse,
When standardized individual articles or standardized article groups are handled in pallet units, there is an advantage that labor can be saved. However, a distribution warehouse handles not only articles of standardized size but also articles of various sizes and types at the same time. For example, various articles must be handled according to the purpose of delivering the articles. For this reason, loading operations such as picking, moving, packing, and packing of articles by a person are performed together with the operations of the automatic warehouse. In particular, in some cases, all the work of picking loose articles that are not packed, moving them as a group of articles, and arranging the goods must be performed manually. There are also cases where there are laws and regulations, such as dangerous goods, which need to be managed by hand, in parallel with other goods.

[0003]

Various algorithms and management methods have been proposed for an article management technique in an automatic warehouse. However, for manual loading,
Only empirical management methods are implemented, work management in distribution warehouses that handle various types of articles simultaneously and in parallel,
Proposal of a rational management method of article management is desired.

[0004] It is an object of the present invention to provide a management method and apparatus capable of rationally managing the load operation by an operator and efficiently managing the load operation. It is another object of the present invention to provide a management method and apparatus capable of rationally managing the flow of articles in a distribution warehouse and managing cargo operations by information processing in a higher-level device. In addition, the present invention can issue a necessary work instruction to a worker engaged in a cargo operation each time,
It is an object of the present invention to provide a management method and apparatus capable of performing a cargo operation and article management along a flow of articles in a warehouse.

[0005]

According to the present invention, work steps are divided along a flow of goods in a warehouse, and a work unit is defined as a target of a work instruction. For example, the operation of taking out a specified number of designated articles from a storage unit in which loose articles are stored, placing the designated articles on a cart or a cart, and moving them to a place where a load on the same floor is delivered is defined as one work unit. The loading work in the warehouse is grasped as a flow in which such work units are linked, and work management is performed by assigning an identification number of the work unit to each work unit. The upper management device that performs work management allocates workers in units of work in work assignment (scheduling). Then, a group of articles handled in this work unit is managed by assigning one identification number to one group of articles or a cart or pallet storing the group of articles. The work instruction is given by giving an instruction of a work unit and its work details to a portable wireless terminal carried by the worker,
The worker performs a work in accordance with a specific instruction for the work unit displayed on the wireless terminal, for example, an instruction such as which article is picked up where and how much, and when the work is completed, inputs that fact from the wireless terminal. The upper management device is
From the start of work to the end of work according to a work instruction, the work and logistics in the warehouse are managed as one work unit.

This work unit is defined so that the movement of the worker is within one floor. For example, the operation of placing a group of articles collected by picking in a designated place on the same floor is defined as one operation unit, and the movement of the group of articles to another floor is defined as another operation unit. The worker performs the work in accordance with the instruction from the wireless terminal, inputs the fact to the wireless terminal every time the work is completed, reports it to the upper management device, and attaches a label printed by the wireless terminal at that time. . In this way, the worker is instructed to perform the work in the work unit to manage the loading work and also manage the movement of the goods in the warehouse.

That is, according to the present invention, in a warehouse article management method for storing received articles based on work instructions and collecting and delivering the goods for each delivery destination, a group of load works that can be performed by one worker is defined as a unit of work assignment. And assigns one identification code (ID) to a group of articles handled in this unit of work or a moving means for storing the group of articles, and gives a worker a work instruction in the unit of work. It is characterized by performing.

The work unit is defined so that the movement range of the worker is limited to movement within one floor, and the worker has a portable terminal to which a work instruction is given from a management device. be able to.

[0009] Further, after executing a predetermined work unit instructed from the terminal, at the end of the work, the worker uses the terminal to identify the means for storing the article group for each article group or the article. Information for identifying the position of the group can be input.

The terminal is a wireless terminal including a display unit, a reading unit, and a printing unit that prints a label. The operator performs a work according to a work instruction displayed on the display unit, The reading means inputs the identification information of the article group and the identification information of the moving means for storing the article group or the information for identifying the position by reading, and upon completion of the operation, stores the label printed by the printing means. It can be affixed to the means.

[0011] Further, the present invention provides a management device for instructing a worker's cargo work and managing the worker's cargo work in a warehouse that stores received articles based on work instructions and collects and delivers them for each delivery destination. A portable terminal that is carried by a worker and a work instruction is issued from the management device, wherein the management device is a unit of work that is a unit of work assignment, and a group of load work that can be performed by one worker; The management device includes means for giving the work instruction in the work unit, and the management device assigns one identification code (ID) to the group of articles handled in the work unit or a moving unit for storing the group of articles and manages the group. It is characterized by including means.

[0012]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining the general flow of articles in a warehouse and the operation thereof. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a flow of storing and storing in the warehouse. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a flow of shipping an article to a delivery destination in packing units, FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a work flow of picking loose articles and shipping the delivery destination, and FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating movement of the article. FIG. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the configuration of a higher-level management system that controls the loading operation in this warehouse. FIG. 7 shows N29, N39 and N4 of FIG.
9 is a diagram illustrating an example of a storage operation such as No. 9; FIG. FIG. 8 is a view for explaining an example of the packing / shipping picking / sorting work indicated by the work unit of K90 in FIG. FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining an example of the total amount picking work indicated by the work unit B20 (B30, B40) in FIG.

First, a description will be given of the flow of goods in a warehouse and the operation thereof according to the present embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 1, articles received from a factory or the like are first inspected for arrival and stored in a predetermined storage location based on the inspection. The storage places include an automatic warehouse, a dangerous goods warehouse, an SA frontage, each floor frontage, and the like, and are transported to and stored in the respective storage places by the received articles. In the stored articles, necessary articles are picked based on a shipping plan, sorted for each delivery destination, inspected, and then packed.
The finished goods are loaded on each delivery vehicle and delivered to the destination store or terminal. It should be noted that the work of shipping inspection does not necessarily have to be performed after sorting, and can be performed at the same time as or after loading, and sorting, shipping inspection, and packing can be grasped as simultaneous operations.

Next, referring to FIG. 2, a flow of storing and receiving goods in the warehouse will be described. In FIG. 2, the part where the number is given to N indicates the identification number of the work unit instructed to the worker.

First, when an article-laden vehicle arrives from a factory or the like, an arrival vehicle arrival registration is performed (N00). Inspection is performed based on the arrival schedule, and a label indicating the storage location is attached (N10). In addition, the expiration date-managed products and the lot-managed products that are specially handled are temporarily placed in stock, and a storage destination label is affixed according to a separate storage instruction (N10). Further, unscheduled items such as excess quantities are returned (N10).

The storage locations in the warehouse include an automatic warehouse, an SA frontage, a dangerous goods warehouse, each floor frontage, and another warehouse, and are sent to the respective storage locations by the attached storage destination label (N01, N01). N50, N60, N7
0, N20). When stored in a car, a car cart label is attached to each car. Also, no storage destination label is issued for articles stored in the automatic warehouse.

The frontage means a place where articles are laid flat, and in the frontage on the second to fourth floors, the articles are stored in a cart or in a palletized state. The articles stored at each floor entrance are stored on a pallet or a cart and transported to each floor entrance by the vertical transport facility, where they are temporarily stored at each floor entrance and stored at each frontage (N29, N39, N
49). The SA frontage is a place where articles are stored in units of pallets, and a forklift is used for the work at this time.

Next, the operation of picking and sorting the stored articles, sorting the goods, and shipping them will be described with reference to FIG. The work shown in FIG. 3 is an example of a work flow in the case where shipment is performed in a packing unit for each delivery destination.

The articles stored in each frontage are picked according to a work instruction. As this picking,
The operation of picking articles according to the total number of sorts in units of varieties (K20, K30, K40), and the operation of picking articles specified for each sort destination by the indicated amount (K21, K31, K41). Transported to a temporary delivery place with a vertical transport facility. Separately from this, according to a shipping plan, articles designated respectively from the automatic warehouse, the SA frontage, and the dangerous goods warehouse are picked (K50, K10, K60, and K).
70).

The sorting is expressed as "seed sowing" in FIG. 3, and the picked articles are sorted and put together. At the time of seeding, shipment inspection is performed at the same time (work units here are K90, K80, K60, K50, and K10). Here, when the packing is completed for each packing location, a packing completion label is attached. The articles that are packed and delivered directly to each store are sorted by the direct delivery car unit by pseudo shop, linked to the direct delivery car and loaded (E
90). In addition, items to be delivered to a terminal or the like are packed in units of bases for relays, tied to relay vehicles and loaded (E90).

FIG. 4 shows a work flow (herein referred to as "total bulk picking") of picking articles by car type in a cart unit until the car is full, and transporting the articles to a cart sorting room for sorting by delivery destination unit. ing. In the cart sorting room, the second floor, the third floor, like B20, B30, B40,
Picking up the goods stored in the 4th floor frontage, taking out the goods from the loaded cart, sorting them into stores by cart, temporarily storing them in the temporary storage place, and then leaving the storage place and delivering them in the order of delivery destination by delivery car unit, Pallet stacking (oricon stacking). Then, it is placed at a predetermined location in the cargo assortment area, loaded into a delivery vehicle together with the package shipment, and delivered. The work unit in this work flow is provided with an identification number in which a number is added to B, such as B20 and B30.

FIG. 5 shows a transport mode in which a movement instruction is given while focusing on the movement of an article. For example, an article stored in another warehouse is moved to each floor entrance, an automatic warehouse, an SA entrance, and a dangerous goods warehouse via vertical transport equipment. These are M29, M39, M49, M51, M61, M71
It is shown in the work unit. In addition, the respective work units are also shown for the return area, the frontage temporary storage, and the transfer from the automatic warehouse.

The above is an example of the work flow in the warehouse.

FIG. 6 shows an example of the configuration of a higher-level management system that manages the loading work in this warehouse. A picking CPU 61 for performing picking management of articles, a work management CPU 62 for performing work management by performing work instructions to workers and scheduling workers, and wirelessly outputting work instructions and other data to each worker; A wireless CPU 63 that performs data input processing from a user is connected by a bus 64. The wireless CPU 63 is connected to a wireless communication network 65 provided in the warehouse.
5 is connected to a wireless handy terminal (hereinafter referred to as a wireless HT) 66 possessed by the worker, and work instructions, data input / output, and the like are performed using a wireless line. Wireless HT
66 is provided with a display unit, a printing unit, and a barcode reading unit, and the display unit displays work instructions and the like from a higher-level management device. The printing unit prints a storage destination label, a cart label, a packing completion label, and the like. The bar code reading unit reads a bar code indicating the identification of various labels and the like attached to the article and the cart. This wireless HT 66 is carried by each worker, and work instructions and data are input / output for each worker.

The bus is connected as a separate system with a physical distribution CPU for managing the receipt / shipment plan and a CPU for managing the articles.

Next, the operation of one operation unit indicated by a numeral in the alphabet will be specifically described with reference to an example.

FIG. 7 shows the storage operation indicated by N01, N50, etc., the user moves to the work place designated by the wireless HT, and scans the storage destination label No. affixed to the article group by the bar code reading unit. Then, the data is stored in the storage location designated by the wireless HT.

This storage operation is performed by using N0 as a unit of operation.
1, N50, N60, N70, N29, N39, N4
9, K29, K39, K49, B29, B39, B4
9, B61, M29, M39, M49, M59, M7
9, M51, M61, M69, and M71.

FIG. 8 shows the contents of the packing / shipping picking / sorting work indicated by the work unit K90. K90
Is to sort the items moved from the vertical transport equipment and other places, and it is the seeding, shipping, inspection and packing work on the first floor. First, in response to a work instruction, the user moves to the first floor packing area and reads the barcode of the picking label affixed to the cart by the barcode reading unit, and the packing location is displayed. Move according to the instruction and read the packing location number. Pallets are placed at the loading location in advance, where each I / O code of the goods is scanned,
Check the quantity and place the specified items on the pallet. The loading location number is read again, and when the loading at the location is completed, a loading completion label is output from the printing unit.
90 work is completed.

FIG. 9 shows the work units B20, B30,
It shows the contents of the total amount picking work indicated by B40.

Here, B20, B3
When the operations of 0 and B40 are instructed, the user moves to the instructed frontage and scans the I / O code of the article with the barcode reading unit. Count the products to make sure they match the rest. Upon completion of this confirmation, the number of articles specified by the wireless HT is picked into the cart. Count the items after picking and check if they match the rest. Then, the batch number label is printed from the printing unit by exchanging the car, and the batch number label is attached to the car. Also, since an I / O label is printed on the article (group), the I / O label is attached to the article.

One example of the work unit is as described above. When the work units are summarized for each work process of the work classification, the work unit number (No.), the process name, and the contents of the work process are as follows.

Storage of received inspection product (N) Operation unit No. process Operation process definition (inspection) N00 Receiving vehicle arrival registration Input by driver. N10 which is the push condition of the arrival inspection N10 arrival inspection Inspect and put the storage destination label (including unloading from the truck) N20 minutes loading the cart by floor N11 arrival inspection The storage destination label is put on the temporary storage goods Make it ready for pasting. N20 minutes loading cars by floor

(Storing) N50 Receiving storage To automatic warehouse N10, N11 of inspection place to automatic warehouse N20 Receiving storage to each floor N10, N11 of inspection place Each level transporting carts to elevators → Each floor N29 Receiving storage 2nd floor The frontage N20 is stored in the frontage of the elevator → frontage of the 2nd floor. The inspection and storage of other N-numbers are the same as N20, N50 and N29.

Package (K) (Picking Sorting) K10 Package Shipping Temporary Placement Take out the temporary storage of the incoming shipment, sow the cargo at the loading location, and transport the rest to the elevator → Go to each floor K50 Automatic Shipping Warehouse Automatic Warehouse Warehouse Product Take out the (or unsettled offset cargo), sow it to the loading location, and transport the rest to the elevator (frontage temporary storage) → go to each floor K60 and K80 are similar to K10 and K50.

(Picking) K70 Bundled Shipment Dangerous Goods Warehouse Picking the total amount of varieties by loading area and packing to the loading area K20 Packing and shipping 2F frontage (Total gross amount) Picking the total amount of varieties and transporting it to the elevator → K21 Packing to the first floor Shipment Picking up at the 2nd floor frontage (pick-up) load assortment location unit and carrying it to the elevator → Go to the 1st floor K30, K31, K40 and K41 are the same as K20 and K21.

(Sorting) K90 Bundled shipment Frontage picking 1F loading arrangement Seeding to K70, K20, K21, K30, K31, K40, K41 loading location

(Post-processing) K29 Bundled storage / Second floor entrance The remaining after seeding of K50 and K10 is stored in the second floor entrance (elevator → frontage) K39 and K49 are the same as K29.

Total Picking of Bulk (B) (Pre-processing) B60 Bulk Rose SA Emergency Replenishment (1st floor) Take out the load at the SA frontage, carry it to the elevator, and raise it to the 2nd floor. B61 Bulk Rose Mass SA Emergency Refill (2nd floor) SA Emergency replenishment is stored in elevators → frontage B50 Bulk automatic storage of bulk goods Take out goods from automatic warehouse and transport to elevators → go to the second floor B80 Bulk total weight frontage temporary storage Load out temporary storage for frontage and transport to elevators → to the second floor

(Picking) B21 Total amount of bulk 2F receiving Picking of total volume of B50 and B80, and transporting the remaining storage PL (pallet) to temporary storage → Go to each floor B70 Total volume of dangerous goods Dangerous goods warehouse Picking of total volume, elevator Transport to the second floor B30, B40 and B20 are almost the same as B70.

(Movement) B22 Bulk Cargo Carriage Car Carry B70, B30, B40 (from the elevator) and B21 car to the bulk storage area

(Post-Processing) B29 Total Rose Storage / Second Floor Entry Stored PL after picking the total rose of B21 in the second floor B39 and B49 are almost the same as B29.

Move (M) (Move instruction) M40 Move Return area → Elevator Elevated goods are returned in the return area and sorted for each floor and sent to the elevator M49 Move Elevator → Fourth floor entrance M40 , M10 and M80 are received by the elevator and stored in the frontage. M39, M29, M79, M59 and M69 are almost the same as M49. M10 Transfer Separate warehouse → Elevator Pick up another warehouse item on the 1st floor, sort it to each floor, and transport it to the elevator → Go to the 2nd to 4th floor. Or transport to temporary storage → M10, M71, M51, M61 M71 transfer Separate warehouse → Dangerous goods warehouse M10 sorted to dangerous goods warehouse Other M51, M61, M80, M50 can be analogized from M71 respectively. In addition, there are E01 oricon inspection and E02 case inspection as inspection work units, and there are work units such as missing chips, inventory, E90 relay, delivery car tying, and E40 non-defective product return input.

The feature of the present invention resides in that the above-mentioned cargo work is defined as a work unit, and a work is assigned to a worker in this work unit to give a work instruction. This work assignment work instruction is based on the wireless HT of each worker.
In addition, since barcode information, which is an identification code for each article and car, is input via the wireless HT, the progress of the work can be grasped at each stage. When the work is completed, a barcode is printed on the label based on the data from the higher-level management device, and a label indicating that the work at that stage has been completed is affixed to an article or cart, so that the work to the next stage can be completed. Delivery is performed smoothly.

[0047]

As described above, according to the present invention, a load operation in a distribution warehouse is decomposed into a group of operations performed by a worker called a work unit, and the work is assigned to each work unit to give a work instruction. As a result, the range of action of the worker can be managed within a reasonable range, so that the cargo work can be reasonably managed. In addition, if the unit of work is
Since the movement range is defined within the floor, the movement range of the worker can be minimized, the burden on the worker can be reduced, and the setup time can be reduced. In addition, since an identification number indicated by a bar code is assigned and managed for each article group, cart, or pallet handled when managing a work unit, logistics management or work scheduling of a worker by a higher management device can be performed. Easy. In addition, the worker has a wireless HT and works based on the instruction, and when the work is changed, the worker can easily be notified of the change in the work, and can cope with a sudden change in the load work. it can.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the flow of goods and the outline of work in a warehouse.

FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining a work flow of storing goods;

FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining a work flow of packing and shipping.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a work flow of bulk shipment.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a work flow of movement.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a configuration of a higher-level work management system.

FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining a storage work unit.

FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining a work unit for packing and arranging packages.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a work unit for picking the total amount of loose pieces.

[Explanation of symbols]

 61 Picking CPU 62 Management CPU 63 Wireless CPU 64 Bus 65 Wireless communication network 66 Wireless HT

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page F term (reference) 3F022 AA15 BB01 MM05 MM35 MM42

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. An article management method for a warehouse that stores received articles based on work instructions and collects and delivers them for each delivery destination, wherein a unit of work that can be performed by one worker is a unit of work assignment. It is characterized by assigning one identification code (ID) to an article group handled in this work unit or a moving means for storing the article group, and giving a work instruction to the worker in the work unit. And warehouse goods management method. 2. The work unit is defined such that the movement range of the worker is limited to movement within one floor, and the worker has a portable terminal to which a work instruction is given from a management device. The article management method for a warehouse according to claim 1. 3. An information identifying a means for storing the article group by using the terminal for each article group at the end of the work after executing a predetermined work unit instructed from the terminal or the article. 3. The warehouse article management method according to claim 2, wherein information for identifying a position where the group is placed is input. 4. The terminal is a wireless terminal including a display unit, a reading unit, and a printing unit that prints a label, wherein an operator performs a work according to a work instruction displayed on the display unit, The reading means inputs the identification information of the article group and the identification information of the moving means for storing the article group or the information for identifying the position by reading, and upon completion of the work, stores the label printed by the printing means. The article management method for a warehouse according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the method is attached to a means. 5. A warehouse for storing received goods based on work instructions and collecting and delivering the goods for each delivery destination, a management device for instructing a worker's cargo work and managing the worker's cargo work, And a portable terminal on which a work instruction is issued from the management device.The management device uses a unit of work, which is a unit of work allocation, as a unit of work assigned to a group of loads that can be performed by one worker. The management device includes a unit that issues the work instruction, and the management apparatus uses one identification code (I) for a group of articles handled in the work unit or a moving unit that stores the group of articles.
D) A warehouse characterized by including means for applying and managing.