JP2005071149A - Process management system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a process management system capable of reading all information without omission and utilizing them in a succeeding process even if a plurality of bar-codes are attached to a container box. <P>SOLUTION: The process management device separates identification information of the bar-code (S.4) when the bar-code attached to the container box is read and the information is input (S.2), and determines whether or not the number of bar-code information is included in the bar-code from the identification information (S.6). If it is not, the next bar-code is input (S.2), and if it is, the number of bar-code information M is set (S.7), then it is compared with a counter N (S.9). Warning urging to input is displayed if the number of bar-codes is less than the number of times indicated in the number of bar-code information M. The warning is cleared (S.11) and the process proceeds to the next (S.12) if the number of read bar-codes reaches the number of times M. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a process management system that manages a plurality of processes connected to each other, and more particularly, to improvement of setting and input of barcode information.

  Generally, a product manufactured by various production facilities is composed of a plurality of parts. Each of these parts can be traced back as a product in another production facility. Here, if a functional unit for receiving a part and manufacturing a product is called a process, the final product is obtained only by connecting these processes in a predetermined order.

In Patent Literature 1, parts and products are transported in a storage box between a plurality of processes as described above, between the flow of actual articles in a storage box unit and the process management apparatus provided for each of the plurality of processes. A process management system that manages the data transfer in association with each other is disclosed. In the system described in Patent Document 1, each storage box is recognized by reading a barcode indicating a unique box number attached to the storage box with a barcode reader of the process management apparatus. The connection information between processes is managed by the database of the server that monitors the entire process. The storage box is read by reading the barcode of the storage box that has been loaded and searching the database of the server using the box number as a key. It is possible to confirm that the storage box has moved from one process to another by determining the process from which the article is stored and registering the article in the database.
JP 2001-56706 A

  In the conventional process management system described in Patent Document 1, since the bar code includes only information relating to the box number, the manufacturing process of the article stored in the storage box when the storage box moves between processes. Information on parts processes, which are destinations of articles, can be transmitted only by accessing a server via a network or exchanging data between process management apparatuses. Therefore, when a server or network goes down due to some trouble, even if a storage box is carried into a certain process from the previous process, it cannot be determined as a system whether or not it is suitable as a part of the process. Also, when sending defective products to a process that is not connected to the network, for example, to a process outside the factory, the number of defective products that occurred at the receiving process and how many are there. Etc. cannot be determined as a system.

  In order to eliminate the above problems, not only the box number but also the manufacturing process for manufacturing the article stored in the storage box, the part used as a part in the barcode attached to the storage box For a storage box for storing information on processes or the like, or for storing defective products, it is desirable to include information on which process the defect has occurred and information on the number of defective products. Since the number of pieces of information to be displayed by the bar code varies from case to case, if the bar code is to be represented by one bar code, the bar code must have a variable length. However, since it is difficult to read a plurality of pieces of information in a variable-length barcode, it is practical to attach a plurality of barcodes to a storage box.

  However, if a plurality of barcodes are attached to the storage box in this way, some barcodes may be missed in a later process. For example, when multiple barcodes are attached to different sides of the storage box, only the barcode attached to one side is read, and the next process is executed without reading the barcode on the other side. There is a possibility to try. If some of the plurality of bar codes are read out, for example, if the information is related to the product process and the part process, it is impossible to determine whether or not the part stored in the storage box is appropriate in the part process. In addition, if the process is related to a defect generation process, it is impossible to specify in which process the defect has occurred, and it becomes impossible to track the defective product.

  The present invention has been made in view of such problems of the prior art, and even when a plurality of barcodes are attached to the storage box, by always reading all the barcodes, It is an object of the present invention to provide a process management system that can reliably use passed information in subsequent processes.

  The process management system according to the present invention is configured by connecting a plurality of processes for processing an article stored and carried in a storage box as an input object, and storing and carrying out the processed article in a different storage box as an output object. A plurality of barcodes each including content information related to the storage box and identification information indicating the type of the content information. In addition to the content information and the identification information, one barcode includes barcode number information indicating the number of barcodes attached to the storage box, and the process management apparatus provided for each process includes: A number that matches the number represented by the barcode number information based on the barcode reader that reads the barcode and the barcode number information obtained by reading the barcode including the barcode number information Until the bar code is read by the bar code reader, characterized in that it comprises a notifying means for prompting a reading operation of the bar code to the operator.

  Further, the notification means may prompt the input of the barcode by prohibiting the next processing until the barcode reader reads the number of barcodes that matches the number represented by the barcode number information.

  According to the process management system according to the present invention, the number of barcodes attached to the storage box is included in one of the plurality of barcodes, and the process management apparatus is required according to the number of barcodes. Since the operator is prompted to read as many times as possible, reading of the barcode is prevented, and all the information contained in the barcode can be used effectively in the subsequent process.

  Embodiments of a process management system according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. First, the overall configuration of the process management system according to the present embodiment will be described, and then details of the process management apparatus and the barcode will be described.

  Here, the process is a predetermined processing unit in production, and has a function of manufacturing a product (output product) using received parts (input product). 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 these production facilities and warehouses. It is a functional unit realized by workers who perform production activities.

  In the embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, six processes A, B, C, D, E, and F are assumed. The article processed in the process A and carried out as a product and the article processed in the process B and carried out as a product become a part carried into the process C, and are carried out as a product after being processed in the process C. . The product processed in the process C is sent to the process D and the process E as parts. In addition, the defective product generated during the manufacturing in Step C is sent to Step F. Actually, it is not limited to the above six steps, and there may be a pre-step of steps A and B and a post-step of steps D and E.

  In each process of A, B, C, D, and E, process management devices 10A, 10B, 10C, 10D, and 10E are arranged as shown in FIG. These process management apparatuses are connected to each other via a network and to a server 1 that manages the entire process. In the process F, the process management apparatus 10F is arranged, but this apparatus is outside a factory where other processes are executed, and is not connected by a network.

  The flow of articles in each process is also shown in FIG. For example, taking the process C as an example, after the articles carried out as products from the previous processes A and B enter the storage boxes a1 and b1, respectively, and are processed, they are then stored in the separate storage boxes d1 and d1 as products. It is stored in e1 and carried out as a part to the next processes D and E. The defective product generated in the process C is stored in the storage box f1 and carried into the process F. The server 1 stores process connection information 1a as shown in FIG. 2 indicating how the processes are connected to form a line.

Articles (parts / products) are transported in lots in storage boxes. That is, the parts / products are handled in a state in which a quantity such as 50 or 300 is stored in the storage box. At least the following three types of bar codes are attached to each storage box for storing parts / products.
(1) Product process name indicating the process in which the goods stored in the storage box are manufactured as products
(2) Unique box number for distinguishing the storage box from other storage boxes
(3) Part process name indicating process in which article stored in storage box is used as part FIG. 3 shows examples of the above three types of barcodes. Here, a bar code represented by Code 39 is shown. FIG. 3 shows three types of storage boxes a1 (storage boxes for storing non-defective non-defective products) that are used when storing the goods shipped as products in the process A and carrying them into the process C as parts. Indicates the basic barcode. (1) represents “APROCESSA”, (2) represents “B300000000001”, and (3) represents “CPROCESSC”. Among these barcodes, the first digit alphabet is identification information indicating what the content information of each barcode represents, “A” indicates that the content information is a product process name, and “B” indicates The content information is a box number, and “C” indicates that the content information is a part process name.

  The barcodes of (1) and (3) are composed of content information and identification information. The barcode of (2) is the barcode of the barcode attached to the storage box in addition to the content information and identification information. Contains barcode number information representing numbers. That is, the second and subsequent digits of the barcodes of (1) and (3) are content information indicating the product process and the part process, respectively, (1) is “PROCESS”, that is, the process is “A”, ( 3) indicates that “PROCESS”, that is, the process is “C”. On the other hand, in the barcode (2), the second digit is barcode number information, and the third and subsequent digits are content information. That is, the bar code number information is “3” and the box number is “00000000001”.

  Which identification information has a barcode number information is determined at the time of system design. As shown in this example, when the barcode indicating the box number as the content information has the barcode number information, the program of the process management apparatus reads the barcode containing “B” in the first digit. In such a case, it may be designed to read the number of barcodes indicated in the barcode number information represented by the second digit.

  FIG. 4 shows four types of barcodes attached to the storage box into which the defective part is placed when the part used in the process X is defective, although there is no example in FIG. (1) represents “APROCESSX”, (2) represents “B400000000002”, (3) represents “CPROCESSY”, and (4) represents “DPROCESSZ”. The meaning of the alphabet of the first digit of the barcodes (1) to (3) is the same as in the example of FIG. Moreover, the point that the barcode of (2) includes the barcode number information in the second digit is the same as in FIG. However, since the total number of barcodes is 4, the second digit of the barcode in (2) is “4”, and the box number, which is the content information after the third digit, is “00000000002.” In the barcode of (4), “D” in the first digit is identification information, which indicates that the content information is a defective process name. The defective process name is a process name in which a part that has been put into the storage box as a defective product is carried out as a product. The second and subsequent digits are content information indicating the defective process name, and indicate “PROCESS”, that is, the process is “Z”.

  FIG. 5 is an example of five types of barcodes attached to the storage box f1 into which defective products generated during the process in the process C are input. (1) indicates “APROCESSC”, (2) indicates “B500000000003”, (3) indicates “CPROCESSF”, (4) indicates “DPROCESSA”, and (5) indicates “E00000000150”. The meaning of the alphabet of the first digit of the barcodes (1) to (4) is the same as in the example of FIG. The point that the barcode of (2) includes barcode number information in the second digit is the same as in FIG. However, since the total number of barcodes is 5, the second digit of the barcode of (2) is “5”, and the box number which is the content information after the third digit is “00000000003”. The last digits of the barcodes (1), (3), and (4) are “C”, “F”, and “A”, respectively, the product process is the process C, the component process is the process F, and the defective process is It is shown that it is process A. In the barcode of (5), “E” in the first digit is identification information, and this indicates that the content information is the number of defective products in the box. The second and subsequent digits are content information indicating the number of defective products, and indicate “00000000150”, that is, the number is 150.

  Next, the configuration of the process management apparatuses 10A to 10D will be described. Each process management apparatus has the same configuration. Here, the process management apparatus 10C arranged in the process C will be described as an example. As shown in FIG. 6, the process management apparatus 10 </ b> C includes a programmable logic controller (hereinafter referred to as PLC) 31, a display input device 32, a barcode reader 33, and a printer 34. 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, a display control circuit 316, and a print control circuit 317 that are connected to each other via a bus. Based on the barcode number information acquired by reading the barcode including the barcode number information, the CPU 311 determines that the number of barcodes that matches the number represented by the barcode number information is read by the barcode reader. It functions as a notification means for causing the display input device 32 to display a display prompting the operator to read the code. In the storage means 312, various programs such as a database program are stored in advance.

  The display input device 32 includes 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. A barcode reader 33 as a reading unit is connected to the input control circuit 315 of the PLC 31. The bar code reader 33 is connected to the input control circuit 315 and is used to read a bar code attached to a storage box storing parts / products. The printer 34 is controlled via the print control circuit 317 and is used for printing a barcode in each process.

  The display input device 32 of the process management apparatus 10C displays a screen as shown in FIG. In FIG. 7, a display area for simply displaying information is indicated by a broken line, and a button area that functions as a button in combination with the touch panel 321 is indicated by a solid line. The screen shown in FIG. 7 has a process name display area 101 for displaying its own process name as a display area, and barcode reading is performed until the number of barcodes matching the number represented by the barcode number information is read by the barcode reader. A warning display area 102 for prompting the operator to perform an operation is included.

Further, as a button area, a barcode input button 103 that is touched when the barcode is read by the barcode reader 33, a box use start button 104 that is touched when the use of the prepared storage box is started, A box use end button 105 that is touched when the use is finished, a bar code print button 106 that is touched when printing a bar code, and a touch that is touched when the processed product is a non-defective product to increment the number of passes. A pass button 107, a failure button 108 that is touched when the processed product is a defective product, and a hold button 109 that is touched when the processed product cannot be determined as a non-defective product or a defective product are provided. In the button area, an item name indicating the content of the operation is displayed. When the signal indicating the touched position is input from the touch panel 321 and is included in any one of the button areas, the input control device 315 generates a signal corresponding to the corresponding operation content.

  When a part is processed in a certain process to produce a product, it is stored in a storage box and transported to the next process. At this time, each process management apparatus touches the barcode printing button 106 to print at least three types of basic barcodes and attach them to the storage box. For example, when a product is stored in the storage box in process A, information indicating the box number of the storage box, information indicating that the product process is process A, and information indicating that the part process is process C are attached as a barcode. Is done. The three types of barcodes shown in FIG. 3 correspond to this. The information that the part process is C can be known from the process connection information 1 a stored in the server 1.

  In the process of accepting the parts, the barcode input button 103 is touched to read all the barcodes attached to the storage box. By judging whether or not the name of the accepted process matches the part process name read from the barcode, the network or server can determine whether the imported part is compatible with the process. It can be determined as a system even if it is present. Further, even when the storage box is carried into a process away from the network as in the process F, by attaching a plurality of barcodes as shown in FIG. Information such as the number of defects can be obtained from these barcodes.

  Each process management apparatus is controlled according to the program shown in FIG. 1 so that some barcodes are not missed in the process of loading the storage box. Hereinafter, a program relating to reading of the barcode will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  When the barcode input button 103 is touched, the barcode input program shown in FIG. 1 is executed. The process management device resets both the counter N and the flag F to “0” (S.1), and waits for the operator to operate the barcode reader 33 to read one barcode among a plurality of barcodes. . When the barcode is read, barcode information is input (S.2). When reading a plurality of barcodes, the reading order is arbitrary. Subsequently, the process management apparatus 10C increments the counter N by “1” (S.3). The counter N indicates the number of input barcodes.

  In S.4, the identification information of the first digit is separated from the input barcode information. In S.5, it is determined whether or not the flag F is “0”. If it is “0”, whether or not the barcode number information is included in the barcode input from the identification information separated in S.6. Determine. In this example, it is determined whether or not the identification information is “B”. If the identification information is not “B”, that is, if the barcode number information is not included, the process returns to S.2 and waits for the input of the next barcode.

  On the other hand, if it is determined that the entered barcode information includes barcode number information (S.6, YES), the barcode number information M is acquired (S.7), and the flag F is set. “1” is set (S.8), and the value of the counter N is compared with the barcode number information M (S.9). If the counter N is less than the barcode number information M, there is a barcode that has not yet been read, and prompts the user to input “Please read the next barcode” in the warning display area 102 of the screen. The display, the number of barcodes read, and the value of the barcode number information M are displayed as, for example, “number of barcodes = 3, number of readings = 1” (S.10). After this display, return to S.2 and wait for the next barcode. If the counter N is equal to or greater than the barcode number information M, all barcodes have been read, so the warning display is cleared (S.11) and the process proceeds to the next process (S.12).

  Before the bar code including the bar code number information M is input, the value of M is indefinite and cannot be compared with the counter N. Therefore, it is determined as NO in the determination of S.6 without making a comparison, and the next barcode is input. When a barcode including the barcode number information M is input, the value of M is fixed, but if there is no determination of S.5, when a barcode that does not include the barcode number information is read after M determination, Returning from S.6 to S.2, the comparison cannot be judged. Therefore, the flag F is used, and once the value of M is determined, the determination of S.6 is skipped and the comparison of S.9 is performed.

  Next, the operation when the basic barcode shown in FIG. 3 is read in the order of (1), (2), (3) will be described. Counter N and flag F are reset (S.1), information of barcode (1) is input (S.2), counter N is incremented (N = 1), and identification information “A” is separated. (S.4). Since the flag F is 0 at this stage, the process proceeds to S.6. Since the identification information “A” does not mean that the barcode has barcode number information, the process returns from S.6 to S.2.

  Subsequently, the information of the barcode (2) is input (S.2), the counter N is incremented (N = 2), and the identification information “B” is separated (S.4). At this stage, since the flag F is 0, the process proceeds to S.6. Since the identification information “B” means a barcode having barcode number information, the process proceeds from S.6 to S.7, S.8, and “3” is set in the barcode number information M. In addition, “1” is set in the flag F. At this stage, since the counter N is smaller than the barcode number information M, the process returns from S.9 to S.10 to S.2. In S.10, the warning display area 102 displays “Please read the next barcode. Number of barcodes = 3 Number of readings = 2”.

  Then, the barcode (3) information is input (S.2), the counter N is incremented (N = 3), and the identification information “C” is separated (S.4). Since the flag F is “1” at this stage, the process skips S.6 to S.8 and proceeds to S.9. At this stage, since the counter N becomes equal to the barcode number information M, the warning display is cleared in S.11, and the process proceeds to S.12.

  In this way, by including the barcode number information in one of a plurality of barcodes, all barcodes can be input without being read over.

  The process management system of the present invention is applicable to comprehensive quality management, production management, tracking management of defective products, and inventory management in a production site where manufacturing processes are divided into a plurality of parts.

It is a flowchart which shows the outline | summary of the program of the process management apparatus concerning embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the outline of the process management system in which the process management apparatus of embodiment is utilized. It is explanatory drawing which shows the barcode example attached | subjected to the good quality storage box of embodiment. It is explanatory drawing which shows the example of a barcode attached | subjected to the storage box of the inferior goods of embodiment. It is explanatory drawing which shows the example of a barcode attached | subjected to the storage box of the inferior goods of embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the process management apparatus of embodiment. It is a screen display example of the process management apparatus of the embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

10C Process control device 31 PLC
32 Display Input Device 33 Barcode Reader 34 Printer 321 Touch Panel 322 LCD
311 CPU
312 Storage means 314 Communication control circuit 315 Input control circuit 316 Display control circuit 317 Print control circuit

Claims (2)

Process management for managing a process group configured by connecting a plurality of processes for processing articles stored in a storage box as input items and storing the processed articles in different storage boxes as output objects. In the system,
A plurality of barcodes each including content information relating to the storage box and identification information indicating the type of the content information are attached to the storage box, and the content information is included in one barcode in the plurality of barcodes In addition to the identification information, include barcode number information indicating the number of barcodes attached to the storage box,
A process management device provided for each process includes a barcode reader for reading the barcode, and the barcode number information acquired by reading the barcode including the barcode number information. A process management system comprising: notifying means for prompting an operator to read a barcode until the number of barcodes corresponding to the number represented by the code number information is read by the barcode reader. The notification means prompts the input of a barcode by prohibiting the next processing until the barcode reader reads the number of barcodes that matches the number represented by the barcode number information. The process management system according to 1.

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