JP2004199476A - Terminal device of process control system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a terminal device which easily manages an article in each process by effectively utilizing a terminal used in a process control system. <P>SOLUTION: The terminal device 10C comprises: a bar code reader 33 for reading a bar code attached to a box housing a part/product; a display input device 32 having an LCD 322 and a touch panel 321; and a display control means 316 for displaying a carrying-in display picture on the LCD when the read bar code shows a box for carrying in the article to a process concerned, and displaying a carrying-out display picture on the LCD when the bar code shows a box for carrying out the article from the process concerned. A destination display button included in the carrying-in or carrying-out display picture displayed on the LCD is touched, whereby information for updating a database on a server 1, which shows in which of a plurality of stages included in the process the article stored in the box is, is transmitted (S12). <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an improvement of a terminal device that is included in a process management system that manages a plurality of processes connected to each other and that is used to manage individual processes.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Generally, products manufactured by various production facilities are composed of a plurality of parts. These parts are manufactured retroactively as products in other production facilities. Here, if a functional unit that receives parts and manufactures a product is called a process, the final product is obtained only by connecting these processes in a predetermined order.
[0003]
Patent Literature 1 discloses that in order to manage an operation including a plurality of processes as described above, data transfer between terminal devices provided for each of the plurality of processes, actual movement of articles, and There is disclosed a process management system including a means for coordinating with the movement of a process. Paragraph 0004 of Patent Document 1 states that the display of the terminal device includes "a plurality of buttons, that is, a carry-in button, a use button, a production start button, a production end button, and a carry-out button." There is.
[0004]
[Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-56706 (paragraph 0032)
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, the above-mentioned Patent Document 1 discloses an invention about updating data mainly in accordance with movement of an article between steps, and manages articles in each step, and is provided for each step. The processing in the terminal device is not disclosed in detail. For this reason, there is a problem that it is not possible to effectively use the terminal in each process to manage the articles.
[0006]
An object of the present invention is to provide a terminal device that can easily manage articles in each process by effectively using a terminal device used in a process management system.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The terminal device of the process management system according to the present invention is used in a process management system that manages a plurality of processes connected to each other, and after the articles are stored in a storage body as an input object and carried in, processes the articles. It is for managing a process until the processed article is stored in a different storage body as an output material and carried out, and in order to solve the above-described problem, reading means for reading identification information attached to each of the storage bodies, A display input means having a screen for displaying information, and a touch panel capable of inputting information by touching the displayed screen; and the identification information read by the reading means carries the article into the process. When indicating that it is a storage body, the display screen for loading is displayed on the display means, and when the identification information indicates that the storage body is to carry out the article from the process, Display control means for displaying the display screen for unloading on the display means, and by touching a destination display button included in the display screen for loading or the display screen for unloading displayed on the display means, the entire process management system Is transmitted to the server that manages the information, and the information in the server indicating which of the plurality of stages included in the process the article stored in the storage is in is updated.
[0008]
According to the above configuration, by reading the identification information attached to the storage body storing the articles, it is determined whether the storage body is to carry in the parts of the process or to carry out the product. , A corresponding operation screen can be displayed. Note that a barcode can be used as the identification information.
[0009]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. First, an overall configuration of a process management system to which the terminal device according to the present embodiment is applied will be described, and then details of the terminal device will be described.
[0010]
The process here is a predetermined processing unit in production, and has a function of manufacturing a product using the received parts. That is, the process refers to various production facilities such as machine tools installed in a predetermined area in a production facility such as a factory, various warehouses for storing parts and products, and the use of these production facilities and warehouses. Is a functional unit realized by a worker who performs production activities.
[0011]
In the embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, four steps A, B, C, and D are assumed. The article processed in step A and carried out as a product and the article processed in step B and carried out as a product are parts to be carried into step C and are carried out as a product through processing in step C. . The product processed in the process C is sent to the process D as a part. Actually, the present invention is not limited to the four steps described above, and may include a step before the steps A and B and a step after the step D.
[0012]
In each process of A, B, C, and D, terminal devices 10A, 10B, 10C, and 10D are arranged as shown in FIG. Further, each process includes a parts loading warehouse 11, a parts inventory warehouse 12, a product inventory warehouse 13, and a product unloading warehouse 14, respectively. The terminal devices are connected to each other by a network and to a server 1 that manages the entire process.
[0013]
Articles (parts / products) are handled in lot units. That is, the parts / products are handled in a state in which a large quantity such as 50 pieces or 300 pieces is stored in a box (storage body). A bar code indicating identification information for distinguishing the box from other boxes is attached to each box storing parts / products. Boxes are used to deliver goods between specific steps. The barcode information is stored in the server 1, and by checking the barcode, it is possible to specify which process the product stores in the box and conveys as a component of which process.
[0014]
The flow of the article in each step is shown in FIG. For example, taking the process C as an example, the articles carried out as products from the preceding processes A and B enter the boxes a1 and b1, respectively, are carried in, and are first stored in the parts loading warehouse 11. From here, if necessary, it is moved to the parts inventory warehouse 12 while being stored in the boxes a1 and b1, where the parts stored in the box a1 and the parts stored in the box b1 are combined and processed to form another box as a product. Stored in c1. When all parts have been processed, the product is stored in the product stock warehouse 13 in a state of being stored in the box c1. From here, it is transported to the product unloading warehouse 14 while being stored in the box c1 as necessary, and is unloaded as a part of the next process D.
[0015]
Next, the configuration of the terminal devices 10A to 10D will be described. Each terminal device has the same configuration. Here, the terminal device 10C arranged in the process C will be described as an example. As shown in FIG. 4, the terminal device 10C includes a programmable logic controller (hereinafter, referred to as a PLC) 31, a display input device 32, and a barcode reader 33. The PLC 31 includes a CPU 311, a storage unit 312 such as a memory, a communication control circuit 314, an input control circuit 315, and a display control circuit 316 interconnected by a bus. The CPU 311 has a built-in clock, and can obtain time (year, month, day, hour, minute, and second) with the clock. Various programs such as a database program are stored in the storage unit 312 in advance.
[0016]
The display input device 32 has a touch panel 321 and a liquid crystal panel (hereinafter, referred to as LCD) 322. The touch panel 321 is arranged on the screen of the LCD 322 and is connected to the input control circuit 315 of the PLC 31. The LCD 322 is connected to the display control circuit 316 of the PLC 31. The barcode reader 33 as a reading unit is connected to the input control circuit 315 of the PLC 31. The barcode reader 33 is used to read a barcode attached to a box storing parts / products.
[0017]
The screen displayed on the LCD 322 of the terminal device 10C has a hierarchical structure as shown in FIG. That is, the main screen 100, which is normally displayed when the system is operating, and a component warehouse displayed when a bar code of a box is read and the box is a box for transporting components in the process (for example, process C in this case). Selection screen 200, product warehouse display screen 210 displayed when the product is a transport box, defective component displayed by touching a predetermined button on main screen 100 when a part being processed has a defect A process selection screen 220, a process A defect item selection screen 230, and a process B defect item selection screen 240, which are displayed corresponding to the process selected on the defective component process selection screen 220, are prepared. .
[0018]
Next, the contents of each screen displayed on the LCD 322 will be described. As shown in FIG. 6, the main screen 100 includes, as display areas, an area 101 for displaying a process name, an area 102 for displaying a daily production target number which is a production unit, and a target operation for achieving the production target number. An area 103 for displaying time, an area 104 for displaying the actual work accumulated time in the process, an area 105 for displaying the achievement rate at the present time, an area 106 for displaying the number of passes, an area 107 for displaying the number of defects, and a defect rate And an area 109 for displaying the number of reservations, and as operation areas, a bar code input button 110, a pass button 111, a failure button 112, and a reservation button 113 are provided. In the display area, each item name and the result counted or calculated in the terminal device are displayed. An item name indicating the content of the operation is displayed in the operation area. The input control device 315 receives a signal indicating the touched position from the touch panel 321 and, when the signal is included in any of the operation areas, generates a signal corresponding to the corresponding operation content.
[0019]
As shown in FIG. 7, the parts warehouse selection screen 200 includes an area 201 for displaying a barcode number as a display area, and a parts loading warehouse button 202, a parts stock warehouse button 203, and a parts use start button 204 as operation areas. , A component use end button 205.
[0020]
As shown in FIG. 8, the product warehouse display screen 210 includes, as a display area, an area 211 for displaying a barcode number, and as operation areas, a product box setting button 212, a product production start button 213, and a product production end button 214. , A product inventory warehouse button 215, and a product unloading warehouse button 216.
[0021]
When the defective button 112 on the main screen 100 is touched during manufacturing, a defective component process selection screen 220 shown in FIG. 9 is displayed. The defective part process selection screen 220 includes a region 221 for displaying a title as a display region, and a component process A button 222 and a component process B button 223 as operation regions. In the operation area, a number of buttons corresponding to all the processes for providing components to the target process are displayed. In this example, two parts corresponding to these two steps are displayed because the parts are provided to the target step C in the steps A and B.
[0022]
Furthermore, the A process defect item selection screen 230 displayed when the component process A button 222 is touched on the defective component process selection screen 220 displays a title as a display area as shown in FIG. An area 231, a plurality of areas 232 for displaying failure items registered in advance in accordance with the process A, and an area 233 for displaying the number of failures corresponding to the items are provided. And a next page button 235 for displaying a next page item. In this example, “defective appearance”, “glass break”, “poor contact”, “crack”, and “scratch” are displayed as the defective items. Although not shown, the defect item selection screen 240 for process B is also configured in the same manner as in FIG. However, the displayed defective items have contents corresponding to the process B.
[0023]
Here, box information managed by the database of the server 1 will be described. The box stores the product of the previous process and is carried into the use process. Therefore, one box is used from the stage of delivering a product in the previous process to the stage of supplying parts in the next process. One box information database record is created for each box based on barcode information when an empty box is prepared to store products. Parts or products are stored while updating this record information. It manages in which process the box is located and the state of the stored parts or products. The record is excluded from the search when the stored articles are all used as parts and the box becomes empty.
[0024]
The configuration of the record is as shown in FIG. 11, and a barcode information field indicating information of a barcode which is an identifier of the box, a process name for manufacturing an article stored in the box as a product, that is, a manufacturing process name , A field indicating the process name of using the article stored in the box as a part, i.e., a field indicating a use process name, a first start time and a finish time field indicating a start time and a manufacture end time of the manufacturing process, First stock time field indicating the time stored in the inventory warehouse in the process, unload time field indicating the time when the product was unloaded from the manufacturing process, import time field indicating the time when the product was loaded in the use process, and stored in the inventory warehouse in the use process And a second stock time field indicating the start time and an end time of the use process. ing.
[0025]
At the stage where the articles have entered the boxes a1 and b1 as products from the preceding processes A and B, respectively, and are carried out, the records corresponding to the boxes a1 and b1 in the database include, for example, those shown in FIGS. The data has been entered as shown. That is, in the record corresponding to the box a1, a code for identifying "a1" is recorded as barcode information, "A" as a manufacturing process, "C" as a use process, and "T11" as a first start time. In addition, “T12” is recorded as the first end time, “T13” is recorded as the first stock time, and “T14” is recorded as the unloading time. On the other hand, in the record corresponding to the box b1, "b1", "B", "C", "T21", "T22", "T23", and "T24" are similarly recorded. At this stage, since the carry-in time field is blank, the boxes a1 and b1 store the products of the processes A and B, leave each process, and are still carried in to the next process C. It turns out that there is no state.
[0026]
When the boxes a1 and b1 are carried into the process C and use as parts is started, data is input to each of the records as shown in FIGS. 13A and 13B, for example. In each case, the data indicating the manufacturing process is the same as that shown in FIGS. The difference is that “T31” and “T41” are recorded as the carry-in time, “T32” and “T42” as the second stock time, and “T33” as the second start time. That is, it can be seen that the boxes a1 and b1 have advanced to the parts inventory warehouse in the process C, and the use of the articles stored in the boxes as the parts has been started at the time T33. Further, since the second end time is blank, it can be known that the use has not been completed, that is, the use is in progress.
[0027]
FIG. 14 shows a record corresponding to the box c1 that stores the product manufactured in the process C. Here, a code for identifying "c1" is recorded as barcode information, "T33" as a first start time, "T34" as a first end time, "T35" as a stock time, and "T36" as a carry-out time. Is recorded. Since the carry-out time is recorded and the carry-in time field is blank, the box c1 stores the product of the process C, leaves the process C, and has not yet been carried into the next process D. It can be seen that it is.
[0028]
Next, the program of the terminal device will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. 1 and the process chart shown in FIG.
[0029]
When the system operates, the terminal device 10C displays the main screen 100 shown in FIG. 6 on the LCD 322 (S.1), and sets the bar code input button 110, the pass button 111, and the failure button 112 set on the main screen 100. Then, it waits until one of the hold buttons 113 is touched (S.2-S.5).
[0030]
The operator touches the barcode input button 110 when loading a box into the process C, moving between warehouses in the process C, starting and ending processing, or removing the box from the process C. Then, the barcode attached to the box is read by the barcode reader 33 of the terminal device 10C. When the barcode input button 110 is touched and the barcode is read (S.6), the terminal device 10C queries the server 1 for the input barcode information (S.7). The queried server 1 searches for a record in which the barcode information matches the read barcode and any of the fields where the time is recorded is blank. Then, when there is a corresponding record, the server 1 transmits the content of the record to the terminal device 10C, and when there is no corresponding record, the server 1 transmits the fact to the terminal device 10C. The terminal device 10C receiving any of the responses from the server 1 determines whether or not the box information relating to the barcode information is consistent, that is, whether or not the box is a box to be used in the corresponding process (S .8). Specifically, when a response indicating that a record exists is received from the server 1, information on the manufacturing process name field and the use process name field is read from the queried record, and one of the processes, here the process “ C "is determined. If neither the manufacturing process name nor the utilization process name is the process C, it means that an incorrect box has been carried in, so that error processing is started and a warning is issued to the operator. If a response indicating that no record exists is received from the server 1, it is determined that the box is empty and has been prepared for storing the product, and that the box information is consistent.
[0031]
When the consistency of the box information is confirmed, it is determined from the read barcode information whether or not the box stores the component of the process C (S.9). Specifically, if the manufacturing process name of the record queried in S.7 is “A” or “B” and the use process name is “C”, it is determined that the box is for storing parts. If the manufacturing process name is "C" or if there is no corresponding record, it is determined that the box is for storing products. If it is determined that the box is a box for storing parts, the terminal device 10C displays the parts warehouse selection screen 200 shown in FIG. 7 on the LCD 322 (S.10), and one of the buttons is touched. (S.11). When any valid button is touched, data is sent to the server 1 according to the type of the touched button (S.12). Then, the server 1 updates the record registered in the database based on the received data. Step S.12 corresponds to a step of transmitting information for updating information indicating which of the plurality of steps included in the process C the article stored in the box is.
[0032]
However, when the parts warehouse selection screen 200 is displayed, the terminal device 10C limits the items that can be selected from the display screen to the items that should be theoretically selected based on the information of the record queried in S.7. More specifically, the information of the carry-in time field is read from the queried record, and if this field is blank, it is determined that it has been carried in to the process C, and is displayed on the parts warehouse selection screen 200. Of the buttons, only the parts loading warehouse button 202 is enabled (operable). Similarly, when the time is input in the carry-in time field and the second stock time field is blank, only the parts stock warehouse button 203 is enabled (operable). If the time is entered in the second stock time field, the second start and end time fields are checked. If both are blank, only the component use start button 204 is enabled and the second start time is set. If the start time is entered in the field, only the component use end button 205 is enabled.
[0033]
The processing of the server 1 when each button is touched when it is valid is as follows. That is, when the server 1 receives information indicating that the parts loading warehouse button 202 has been touched, the server 1 registers the received time in the loading time field of the record corresponding to the barcode information, and the parts inventory warehouse button 203 has been touched. When the information to the effect is received, the received time is registered in the second stock time field. When the server 1 receives information indicating that the component use start button 204 has been touched, the server 1 registers the received time in the second start time field of the record corresponding to the barcode information, and the component use end button 205 When the information indicating that the touch has been performed is received, the received date and time are registered in the second end time field.
[0034]
On the other hand, if it is determined in S.5 that the box is a box for storing products, or if there is no corresponding record, the terminal device 10C displays the product warehouse selection screen 210 shown in FIG. (S.13), and waits for any button to be touched (S.11). When any valid button is touched, data is sent to the server 1 in accordance with the type of the touched button (S.12), and the above record registered in the database is updated.
[0035]
However, when the product warehouse selection screen 210 is displayed, the items that can be selected from the display screen are limited to those that should theoretically be selected based on the information of the record queried in S.7. Specifically, when it is determined that there is no corresponding record, only the product box setting button 212 among the buttons displayed on the product warehouse selection screen 210 is enabled (operable). If there is a corresponding record and the first start time is blank, only the product manufacturing start button 213 is enabled, and if the first start time is registered and the first end time is blank, the product manufacturing end button Enable only 214. Further, if the first end time is registered, only the product stock button 215 is made valid, and if the first stock time is registered, only the product unloading warehouse button 216 is made valid.
[0036]
The processing of the server 1 when each button is touched when it is valid is as follows. That is, when the server 1 receives the information indicating that the product box setting button 212 has been touched, the server 1 determines that an empty box for storing the product has been prepared, and newly creates a record. When the information indicating that the product manufacturing start button 213 has been touched is received, the received date and time are registered in the first start time field of the record corresponding to the barcode information, and the information indicating that the product manufacturing end button 214 has been touched. Is received, the received date and time are registered in the first end time field. Further, upon receiving the information indicating that the product inventory warehouse button 215 has been touched, the server 1 registers the received time in the first inventory time of the record corresponding to the barcode information, and the product unloading warehouse button 216 has been touched. When the information indicating that the information has been received is received, the received time is registered in the unloading time field.
[0037]
When any button is touched on the parts warehouse selection screen 200 or the product warehouse display screen 210 and the data is updated, the terminal device 10C displays the main screen 100 again.
[0038]
Next, processing when the pass button 111, the hold button 113, and the reject button 112 are touched in S.3-S.5 will be described. One of these buttons is touched each time one product is completed during processing of a product using parts. Therefore, the second start time is registered in the database on the server 1 in the record corresponding to the box that supplies the component to the process C, and is valid only when there is a record in which the second end time is blank, Otherwise, no processing is performed even if touched.
[0039]
If the pass button 111, the hold button 113, and the reject button 112 are valid when the above conditions are satisfied and the pass button 111 is touched (S.3, Yes), the terminal device 10C will "1" is added to the numerical value of the number counter (S.14). Similarly, when the hold button 113 is touched in S.4 (S.4, Yes), the terminal device 10C adds “1” to the numerical value of the built-in hold number counter (S.15). The display values of these counters are updated when the main screen is displayed again in S.1.
[0040]
When the reject button 112 is touched (S.5, Yes), the terminal device 10C displays a defective component process selection screen 220 shown in FIG. 9 on the LCD 322 (S.16), and the failure is determined in either process A or B. (S.17). When the process A is selected (S.17, Yes), the terminal device 10C displays the process A defect item selection screen 230 shown in FIG. 10 (S.18). When the process B is selected (S.17, No), the terminal device 10C displays the B process defect item selection screen 240 (S.19).
[0041]
Since the specific defective items are listed on the defective item selection screen 230 for process A or the defective item selection screen 240 for process B, the operator selects a defective item corresponding to the part from these items. And touch. The terminal device 10C waits for one of the buttons to be touched (S.20), and when touched, adds “1” to the numerical value of the built-in defect counter (S.20), and The data is transferred to the server 1 (S.21), and the main screen 100 is displayed again (S.1).
[0042]
When the main screen 100 is displayed after touching any one of the pass button 111, the hold button 113, and the reject button 112, any of the displayed pass count, defective count, and hold count is updated, and the pass button is updated. When any one of 111 and the reject button 112 is touched, the defect rate calculated by the number of defectives / (the number of passed + the number of defectives) is also updated.
[0043]
Note that the server 1 organizes information on defects sent from each terminal device, and records, as a database, what kind of defect occurred in which process and which process is used as a component in the process C, for example. When a defect occurs in the product of the process A, the information on the defective item is transferred to and displayed on the terminal device 10A of the process A via the server 1, thereby alerting the worker of the process A. . That is, according to the system of the embodiment, it is possible to perform not only production management and inventory management but also quality management.
[0044]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the terminal device of the present invention, by reading the identification information attached to the storage body storing the articles, the storage body unloads the product depending on whether the storage body carries the part of the process. The corresponding operation screen can be displayed by judging whether or not the operation is performed. The operator can update the information in accordance with the flow of the article while checking the operation screen, thereby easily performing inventory management.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a flowchart showing an outline of a program of a terminal device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an overall configuration of a process management system in which the terminal device according to the embodiment is used.
FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a flow of an article in a process C.
FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a terminal device according to the embodiment.
FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a hierarchical structure of a display screen displayed on the terminal device of the embodiment.
FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of a main screen displayed on the terminal device of the embodiment.
FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of a parts warehouse selection screen displayed on the terminal device of the embodiment.
FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of a product warehouse display screen displayed on the terminal device of the embodiment.
FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram of a defective component process selection screen displayed on the terminal device of the embodiment.
FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of a process A defect item selection screen displayed on the terminal device of the embodiment.
FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration of a record of a database constructed in a server of a process management system in which the terminal device of the embodiment is used.
12 is a specific example of the record shown in FIG. 11, and is an explanatory diagram showing the contents of data at the time when the products of steps A and B are stored and carried out.
13 is a specific example of the record shown in FIG. 11 and is an explanatory diagram showing the contents of data when processing as a part is started.
14 is a specific example of the record shown in FIG. 11 and is an explanatory diagram showing the contents of data at the time when the product in the process C is stored and carried out.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 server
10A to 10D terminal device
11 Parts loading warehouse
12 Parts inventory warehouse
13 Product Inventory Warehouse
14 Product unloading warehouse
31 Programmable Logic Controller
32 Display input device
321 touch panel
322 LCD
33 Barcode reader

Claims (2)

Used in a process management system that manages a plurality of processes connected to each other, after an article is stored in a storage as an input object and carried in, the article is processed, and the processed article is output as a different storage object as an output. In the terminal device of the process management system that manages the process until it is stored in and carried out,
Reading means for reading identification information attached to each of the storage bodies,
A display input means comprising a screen for displaying information, and a touch panel capable of inputting information by touching the displayed screen,
When the identification information read by the reading unit indicates that the container is a container for carrying in an article in the process, a display screen for carrying in is displayed on the display unit, and the identification information indicates the article from the process. Display control means for displaying a display screen for unloading on the display means, when indicating that the storage body to be unloaded,
By touching the destination display button included in the carry-in display screen or the carry-out display screen displayed on the display unit, information is transmitted to a server that manages the entire process management system, and the storage is performed. A terminal device for a process management system, which updates information in the server indicating which of a plurality of stages included in the process the article stored in the body is in. The terminal device according to claim 1, wherein the identification information is a barcode.

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