JP2002321829A - Physical distribution system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To efficiently perform shipment work in a physical distribution center 1 and provide an additional service for a purchaser 7 and a forwarding agent 8 from a service center 6. SOLUTION: In the physical distribution center 1, a physical distribution volume simulation device 4 performs simulation of shipment work from an actual load flow in a physical distribution facility 5 and a scheduled truck arrival time reported by the service center 6 and collects working data in the physical distribution facility 5 for a rational cargo flow, and a physical distribution on-line controller performs preparation and modification of work schedule through the data and the order information from the purchaser 7 and controls the physical distribution facility 5. The forwarding agent 8 signs a lease on an apparatus for advertisement with the service center 6 via a network and receives the advertisement displaying cost from the service center. The purchaser 7 has a truck display his/her advertisement.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a distribution system, and more particularly to a distribution center, a purchaser who purchases goods from the center, a transporter who transports the goods, and services related to the purchaser and the transporter. The present invention relates to a logistics system configured by connecting a provided service center with a network.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A distribution center is composed of automatic warehouse equipment, transport conveyor equipment, equipment for controlling them, and a computer for managing ordering data from customers. Preparations for unloading goods and loading them into trucks. For this,
Based on the order data, the schedule of the unloading work, the operation control of the automatic warehouse and the conveyor system based on the schedule, and the dispatch of trucks and the like to the transport company are performed.

[0003] In the operation of such a distribution center,
Due to recent traffic conditions, trucks often cannot be operated as scheduled. In this case, the work flow has been stagnant due to the time lag between the logistics center and the arrival of the trucks. This results in reduced efficiency and increased driver burden. To solve these problems,
Using a GPS, ground detection device, and onboard equipment to grasp the position of a running truck at a delivery base, predict the expected arrival time at a delivery point (distribution center) or delivery destination, and manage deviations from the schedule. A "delivery management system" is disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. Hei 5-233365.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 7-111669 does not merely provide a service of only physical distribution in a physical distribution business, but also discloses an electronic display device on a truck, a memory storing a group of messages to be displayed thereon, and a pager system ( P
An "electric light display device" is equipped with a communication control device utilizing HS), reads out a message corresponding to a code transmitted via a pager system from a memory, and displays an advertisement or news on an electric light display device. It has been disclosed.

[0005]

Problems such as the stagnation of work at the distribution center and the reduction of truck allocation efficiency caused by the deviation of the scheduled operation time of trucks are caused by the fact that each part of the work in the distribution center requires preparation of a plurality of products. It also occurs when the building does not proceed according to the schedule due to congestion or a change in the equipment state. Accordingly, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 5-233653
When the truck operation status is ascertained by a method such as the “delivery management system”, the schedule in the distribution center is adjusted accordingly. It is desirable to give priority to the preparation of necessary products and the like. However, no specific means is shown in the above-mentioned known examples. Also, the purchaser simply ordered the product and waited for its arrival, and provided no additional benefits. Further, the transporter can obtain additional income such as advertisements by the technique of Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 7-111669, but has nothing to do with the transportation of goods in the distribution system.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to enable prediction of packing time in a distribution center and optimization of various operations for packing in conjunction with truck position data.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a logistics system capable of providing a service to a purchaser and a service to a carrier in an integrated manner.

[0007]

According to the present invention, there is provided a logistics system comprising a distribution center, a service center, a purchaser, and a carrier connected via a network. The center is a logistics facility equipped with automatic and manual transfer facilities for carrying out the work of storing stored goods, and the logistics facility using order information from a purchaser via a network and correction information from simulation means. A delivery work scheduling means for creating a delivery work schedule in, a distribution facility control means for controlling individual processes of the logistics facility based on the schedule created by this means, and collecting the flow rate of each process as a result of the control. Simulation conditions set by the operator, steps collected by the logistics facility control means A simulation for obtaining the correction information for preventing a logistics stagnation between the respective steps of the logistics facility and reducing the play of the equipment by using the scheduled time when the article flow rate and the expected truck arrival time are received. Means, and first communication means for notifying the service center via a network of the ordering information and the scheduled shipping work completion time obtained by the delivery work scheduling means, and receiving the scheduled truck arrival time from the service center. A service center for receiving a scheduled completion time of the shipping work notified from the distribution center, and based on the time, instructing a carrier to depart the truck via a network; Expected truck arrival time at which the truck arrives at the distribution center after receiving the location information A third communication means for notifying the distribution center via the network, and a purchaser having a fourth communication means for notifying the order information to the distribution center via the network. Discloses a logistics system comprising: a fifth communication unit for receiving the truck departure instruction from a service center via a network and transmitting information on a running truck position to the service center.

Further, the present invention provides the physical distribution system, wherein the service center communicates contract information for lending advertising equipment to the carrier with the carrier via a network, and Seventh communication means for transmitting the advertisement content requested by the buyer to the carrier via the network, and eighth communication means for paying the carrier with the advertisement fee and the product delivery fee. A ninth communication means for communicating with the service center via the network contract information for renting an advertising device from the service center by communicating with the sixth communication means via the network, The tenth communication means for receiving the contents of the advertisement from the service center, the advertisement fee and the product delivery fee, and the buyer can carry out the transportation of the ordered product during transportation. It discloses a distribution system characterized by comprising an eleventh communication means for transmitting over the network the advertising content to be displayed on the advertising device mounted to the track to perform the transportation service center.

Further, according to the present invention, in the above-mentioned physical distribution system, the service center notifies the purchaser of the scheduled arrival time of the cargo in accordance with the departure of the truck to the purchaser.
And a purchaser having a thirteenth communication means for receiving the expected arrival time of the cargo.

[0010]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a configuration example of a distribution system according to the present invention, in which a distribution center 1, a service center 6, a purchaser 7, and a transporter 8 as system components are shown.
Are provided with communication terminals (not shown), respectively, and are connected via a network 9. The distribution center 1 includes a host computer 2, a distribution online control device 3,
It comprises a material flow prediction simulation device 4 and a distribution facility 5. The network 9 may be one of the Internet, a public line network, a dedicated line, etc., or a mixture thereof, and each component, that is, the communication terminals of the distribution center 1, the service center 6, the purchaser 7, and the carrier 8 correspond. What is necessary is just to have a communication function.

FIG. 2 is an example of a data file possessed by the above-mentioned system components, and FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the flow of information between the components in the system of FIG. FIG.
FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the operation of each component when a purchaser 7 purchases a product. Hereinafter, the operation will be described with reference to these drawings.

First, in the service center 6, a lease contract for an advertising device (such as an electric bulletin board) mounted on a truck is made in advance with the carrier 8 (steps 801 and 601). Next, when the purchaser 7 desires to display an advertisement on a truck-mounted device during the transportation of the product upon ordering the product, the advertisement content and the like are notified to the service center 6 (steps 701 and 60).
2). This can be performed using a screen as shown in FIG. 5A on the terminal of the purchaser 7. This advertisement data is stored in the advertisement data file F6 of the service center 6.
5 is stored.

Next, when the purchaser 7 performs a product purchase operation on a product purchase procedure screen as shown in FIG. 5B, the purchase information is transmitted to the distribution center 1 and the distribution center 1 transmits the purchase information to the host computer. The information is received by the system 2 as order information (steps 702 and 101). The order information is transferred to the service center 6, and the service center 6 stores the information in the purchaser data file F61 (step 603).

In the distribution center 1 that has received the order information from the host computer 2, the distribution online controller 3 instructs the distribution facility 5 to carry the goods. The physical distribution equipment 5 performs loading and unloading of the load from the automatic warehouse equipment based on the shipping and transport instructions from the physical distribution online control device 3. The cargo discharged from the automatic warehouse is collected by a picking operation by an operator, transported to a shipping location (Step 102), and loaded on a truck (Step 103).

Here, the detailed configuration and operation of the physical distribution online control device 3, physical distribution forecast simulation device 4, and physical distribution equipment 5 of the physical distribution center 1 will be described. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the configuration of the physical distribution online control device 3 and the physical distribution equipment 5, both of which are connected by a transmission line L. The order information received by the host computer 2 and stored in the order information data file F13 is sent to the shipping schedule information totaling device 301,
The device 301 creates the product purchaser data file F11, the product data file F12, the order information data file F13, the packing data file F14, etc. shown in FIG. The unloading work deployment scheduling device 302 creates a shipping work plan in the distribution center 1 based on these data, and calculates a scheduled shipping work completion time based on the result of prediction by the material flow prediction simulation device 4 described later. The information on the shipping work completion time is transmitted to the service center 6 (step 604).

The outgoing work deployment scheduling device uses 30
2 uses the work data from the shipping schedule totaling device 301 as input information, and executes a product outgoing allocation process based on stock information of storage facilities in the distribution facility 5. Further, the material flow rate 302a for each transport process obtained by the unloading work deployment scheduling apparatus 302 is the material flow rate prediction data linkage apparatus 30.
The data signal 303b is converted into a data signal 303b via the data flow 3 and transmitted to the material flow rate prediction simulation device 4.

Subsequently, the distribution center 1 carries out the shipping and unpacking operations of the goods based on the aforementioned shipping plan.
In the course of this work, the logistics online controller 3
Controls on-line the transport balance (the so-called flow rate) between the automatic transport facilities in the physical distribution facility 5 or between the automatic transport facilities and the manual transport facility. In FIG. 6, the transport balance or the flow velocity is indicated by arrows AR1 to AR4. However, in order to prevent transport congestion or transport stop between the physical distribution equipment blocks of the physical distribution equipment 5,
This transfer balance or flow velocity is generally smaller toward the upstream of the logistics facility 5,

(Equation 1) It is necessary to maintain the transfer condition of

For this purpose, the physical distribution equipment control device 304 of the physical distribution online control device 3 transmits the material flow rate 302a for each transport process obtained by the above-mentioned delivery work deployment scheduling device 302.
Is used as the input information, the automatic warehouse equipment 501 which is the automatic transport equipment in the distribution equipment 5, the controller 5 of the automatic guided vehicle 502
05, 506 is determined, and the determined order of outgoing work instructions 304a is converted by the physical distribution equipment data linkage device 308 and transferred to the automatic transfer equipment in the physical distribution equipment 5 via the transmission circuit L. Output as an instruction. On the other hand, the transport result data signal from the automatic transport equipment in the physical distribution equipment 5 is also converted in data by the physical distribution equipment data linkage device 308 and is taken into the physical distribution equipment tracking device 305 as the transport performance data 308a. The logistics equipment tracking device 305 sends the transfer result information 305a to the above-mentioned logistics equipment control device 304, takes the timing of outputting the next conveyed goods outgoing work, and repeats and continues this processing to perform automatic transfer control. Is carried out. Further, the physical distribution equipment tracking device 305 is capable of storing the transport result data 3
The data 05b is transmitted to the material flow prediction simulation device 4 described later via the material flow prediction data linkage device 303.

The manual work output device 306 of the physical distribution online control device 3 uses the material flow rate 302b for each transfer process from the above-mentioned delivery work deployment scheduling device 302 as input information, and uses a manual transfer facility (for example, a manual picking work 503 or a cargo arranging / loading process). A shipping work instruction order 306a for the shipping equipment 504, etc.) is determined, and the determined shipping work instruction order 306a is determined by the distribution terminal device data linkage device 309.
The data is converted by the transmission line L, the terminal devices 507 and 50
8 is output as a work instruction to the site operator. On the other hand, on-line and real-time manual transfer equipment (manual picking work 503, loading / shipping equipment 5
04) is also converted by the physical distribution terminal device data linkage device 309 and taken into the manual work picking device 307 as work result data 309a. Manual tracking device 307
Sends the manual transfer result information 307a to the manual transfer work instruction output device 306, takes the timing to output the next work unloading work instruction, and repeats and continues this processing, whereby the manual transfer in the transfer equipment 5 is performed. Carry out online work for transfer equipment. In addition, the manual work tracking device 307 transmits the accumulated work result data 307b at regular intervals to the below-described material flow prediction simulation device 4 via the material flow prediction data linkage device 303 as the material flow for each transport process. .

The transmission line and the terminal equipment used in the transfer equipment 5 to output work instructions to the transfer equipment and humans and to exchange data of the work results may be of a wired type or a wireless type. It is most suitable as a terminal device for realizing the present invention because of recent performance factories, economy and ease of use.

Next, details of the material flow rate prediction simulation apparatus 4 of FIG. 1 will be described. FIG. 7 is a detailed configuration diagram of the material flow rate prediction simulation device 4, in which the man-machine terminal device 44 performs an offline simulation mode,
Therefore, various simulation execution conditions (so-called transfer operation specifications including logistics equipment layout, equipment specifications, control specifications, transfer operation conditions, transfer operation flow, and the like) are set, and registered in the simulation execution condition setting device 46 as data 44b. Then, the physical quantity prediction pattern creating device 42 executes an offline physical quantity prediction simulation with reference to the set execution condition 46a, and outputs the physical quantity prediction pattern initial value. This initial value is a shipping plan based on order information from the purchaser,
The simulation is performed as an off-line simulation before the shipping work is started. The simulation execution result data 42b is converted into data in the man-machine processing device 43, displayed on the output device of the man-machine terminal device 44 as a three-dimensional graphic or a statistical graph, and can be confirmed by an operator or the like.

On the other hand, when the man-machine terminal sets the online simulation mode, the material flow prediction time zone, the simulation execution time interval, and the like, and registers the setting results as data 44a in the online control condition setting device 45, the material flow The prediction online control device 41 uses the set control conditions 45a and, in addition, the material flow amount for each transport process sent as the data 303b from the physical distribution online control device 3 as input information, a material flow amount prediction pattern for online control. Create At this time, the initial value of the physical quantity prediction pattern created by the physical quantity prediction online control device 41 is the result of executing the offline simulation of the physical quantity prediction pattern creation simulation device 42. Further, based on the created material flow prediction pattern for each transport process, the material flow prediction online controller 41 uses the transport equipment control device 304 or the manual transport work instruction output device 306 to output the transfer instruction and the work instruction to transfer balance of the entire system. The transport instruction interval and the work instruction interval that satisfy the condition of (Equation 1) for maintaining the (flow velocity) are calculated, and the result is used as the signal 41a as the signal 41a, and the distribution online control device via the material flow prediction data linkage device 303. Data is transmitted to 3. On the basis of this data, the physical distribution online control device 3 makes a shipping plan by the physical distribution equipment 5 by the delivery work deployment scheduling device 302, and
04, shipping work is performed by the manual work instruction output device 306.

The material flow prediction online controller 41
Uses the actual transport data and the actual transport data transmitted at regular time intervals in the data 303b from the physical distribution online controller 3 as input information, executes a re-simulation of the actual flow rate, and performs the physical distribution for a certain time. Calculate the quantity prediction value. As a result, when a difference occurs between the actual product flow rate and the predicted product flow rate, the prediction pattern of the physical flow rate is optimized. That is, a physical flow deviation between the actual product flow and the physical flow prediction pattern is calculated, and an optimum physical flow prediction pattern is obtained by simulation. Further, from the result, the optimal solution of the transport instruction interval and the work instruction interval of the physical distribution online control device 3 is calculated, and the calculated optimal solution 41a of the transport instruction interval and the work instruction interval is transmitted to the material flow rate prediction data linkage device 303. The data is transmitted to the physical distribution online control device 3 via the electronic mail.

As described above, during the operation of the distribution center 1, the optimal transfer instruction interval and work instruction interval are simulated on-line based on the actual information, and the distribution center 1 is simulated.
Optimize operations at The online simulation is performed at regular intervals during the operation of the distribution center 1, and the delivery work schedule is updated based on the results of the online simulation. For example, as shown in a retrieval instruction screen of FIG. 8, a “reservation time” set based on a previously scheduled arrival time of a truck.
And the logistics facility 5 set based on the “reservation time”
The "delivery time" is reviewed and corrected by feedback from online simulations performed at regular intervals, and control is performed so that the distribution center can be operated optimally.

Further, as will be described later, the scheduled arrival time of the truck is sent from the service center 6, which is also used as the input data of the simulation apparatus for predicting the quantity of goods 4 and the time of the completion of the packing is adjusted to the expected arrival time of the truck. In this way, the physical distribution online controller 3 controls the material flow and the physical distribution equipment 5 to perform the optimal operation of the physical distribution center 1.
For example, in a truck berth or the like, the allocation position and location of the truck berth are changed in accordance with the expected arrival time of the truck, or the shipping work order is changed. As described above, if the online simulation is performed using the operation results in the distribution center and the scheduled arrival time of the truck as input conditions, the shipping schedule can be reviewed and the distribution center can be operated more rationally.

Returning to the flow of FIG. 4, the distribution center 1 receives an order and carries out the work of packing, while
The service center 6 receives the order information from the distribution center 1 in step 603, and stores the order information in the data file at the purchaser data screen (FIG. 9A) as shown in FIG. Confirm on the screen (FIG. 9B). Next, when the estimated work completion time based on the shipping plan is received from the distribution center 1 (step 604), the estimated arrival time of the truck at the distribution center is estimated, and the carrier 8
To the truck and an instruction to display the advertisement content from the purchaser (step 605), and the transporter 8 receives the request and starts the truck (step 80).
2). After departure, the truck transmits the position information of its own vehicle to the service center 6 by GPS or the like (steps 803 and 803).
06), the service center 6 manages this information in the track information data file F63, and allows it to be confirmed on the screen of FIG. 9C. Further, the arrival time of the truck to the distribution center 1 is predicted from this information and transmitted to the distribution center 1 (step 607).

When the truck arrives at the distribution center 1, the luggage is loaded and the truck leaves for the purchaser 7 (steps 804, 103, 805). Eventually, when the goods reach the buyer 7 and are received (step 704), the buyer 7
Performs the operation of confirming the receipt of the product on the screen of FIG. 5C (step 705), and when the service center 6 receives and confirms it, notifies the distribution center 1 of the reception (step 608). In the distribution center 1, the product receipt confirmation notification from the service center 6 and the payment from the purchaser (step 706) are confirmed on the terminal screen as shown in FIG. 10 (step 104), and the payment from the purchaser to the advertisement fee, Send the delivery fee to the service center 6 (steps 105 and 60)
9). Upon receiving this, the service center pays the advertising fee and the shipping fee to the carrier (steps 610, 611, 80).
6, 807) and, if necessary, pay a lease fee for the advertising equipment from the carrier (step 80).
8, 612). The payment status from the service center is confirmed on the payment confirmation screen shown in FIG. 9B, and the information is managed by a payment status data file F66.

In the service center 6, when the truck arrives, the goods are loaded, and the truck departs, the buyer is notified of the scheduled arrival time of the goods, so that the buyer can accept the goods. Preparation can be planned.

[0029]

According to the present invention, in the distribution center, the order quantity can be increased by the service center function, the express order can be handled by the simulation function, the waiting time of the truck can be reduced, and the arrangement plan of the workers can be optimized. In addition, the simulation result has an effect that a facility layout change plan according to customer needs can be easily performed. Carriers can also efficiently distribute trucks and earn advertising revenue. Further, there is an effect that the purchaser can improve the efficiency of the preparation for reception based on the commodity arrival time data and can receive the advertisement display service.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration example of an entire distribution system of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a data file configuration of each unit in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a flow of information and the like of each unit of the system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an operation flow of the system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen of a purchaser terminal.

FIG. 6 is a detailed diagram of the distribution online control device and the distribution facility of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a detailed view of the object flow rate prediction simulation device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is a shipping instruction screen.

FIG. 9 is an example of a terminal display screen of a service center.

FIG. 10 is an example of a distribution center terminal display screen.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Logistics center 2 Host computer system 3 Logistics online control device 4 Material flow prediction simulation device 5 Logistics equipment (automatic transport equipment and manual transport equipment) 6 Service center 7 Purchaser 8 Transporter 9 Network 301 Shipment schedule information totaling device 302 Delivery Work deployment scheduling device 303 Physical flow forecast data linkage device 304 Distribution equipment control device 305 Physical distribution equipment tracking device 306 Manual work instruction output device 307 Manual work tracking device 308 Physical distribution equipment data linkage device 309 Distribution terminal equipment data linkage device 41 Physical flow forecast online Control device 42 Material flow prediction pattern creation simulation device 43 Man-machine processing device 44 Man-machine terminal device 45 Online control condition setting device 46 Simulation ® down execution condition setting apparatus 501 automatic warehouse 502 AGV 503 manually picking operation 504 Nisoroe-shipping operation 505 the installation controller 506 AGV controller 507 terminal equipment

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) G06F 19/00 110 G06F 19/00 110 (72) Inventor Yuichi Tokunaga 603, Kandamachi, Tsuchiura-shi, Ibaraki, Inc. Hitachi Industrial Machinery Systems Division

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A distribution system in which a distribution center, a service center, a purchaser, and a carrier are connected via a network, wherein the distribution center has an automatic and manual operation for taking out stored products. A logistics facility equipped with a transport facility, a delivery work scheduling means for creating a delivery work schedule in the logistics facility using order information from a purchaser via a network and correction information from a simulation means, A logistics facility control unit that controls individual processes of the logistics facility based on the created schedule, and collects a flow rate of each process as a result of the control, and a simulation condition set by an operator, collected by the logistics facility control unit. When the received process flow rate and expected truck arrival time are received Simulation means for obtaining the correction information for preventing the logistics from stagnating between the processes of the logistics equipment and reducing the play of the equipment using the scheduled time; and the ordering information and the delivery work scheduling means. First communication means for notifying the service center via the network of the expected completion time of the requested shipping operation and receiving the scheduled truck arrival time from the service center. Receiving the scheduled work completion time and instructing the carrier to depart the truck via the network based on this time;
Communication means, and third communication means for receiving the position information of the running truck, obtaining the expected truck arrival time at which the truck arrives at the distribution center, and notifying the same to the distribution center via a network. Is provided with fourth communication means for notifying the distribution information to the distribution center via a network, and the transporter receives the truck departure instruction from the service center via a network and operates a truck position. A logistics system comprising a fifth communication unit for transmitting information to a service center. 2. The logistics system according to claim 1, wherein the service center communicates contract information for lending advertising equipment to the carrier with the carrier via a network, and Seventh communication means for transmitting the advertisement content requested by the buyer to the carrier via the network, and eighth communication means for paying the carrier with the advertisement fee and the product delivery fee. A ninth communication means for communicating with the service center via the network contract information for renting advertising equipment from the service center by communicating with the sixth communication means via the network; A tenth communication means for receiving the contents of the advertisement from the service center, the advertisement fee, and the product delivery fee, and A logistics system comprising: eleventh communication means for transmitting, via a network, advertising contents to be displayed by an advertising device mounted on a truck for transportation to a service center. 3. The distribution system according to claim 1, wherein the service center includes twelfth communication means for notifying the purchaser of a scheduled arrival time at the time of departure of the truck to the purchaser. A distribution system comprising: a thirteenth communication unit that receives the expected arrival time of the cargo.