JP2006076758A - Article management system and article management method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To increase working efficiency and reliability in article management for managing a physical distribution from the time when articles are stored in an article managing area to the time when they are delivered based on information on articles specific to the articles. <P>SOLUTION: An RFID tag 11 comprises an IC chip 15 maintained in the fitted state to an article Wp in a period from a time when it is stored in the article managing area 100 to a time when it is delivered, in which the information on the article is stored, and formed writable and a tag antenna 14. A terminal device 12 can read the information on the articles stored in the RFID tag 11 by radio communication through the tag antenna 14 and write new information on articles in the RFID tag 11. A managing device 13 is communicable with the terminal device 12, and manages the physical distribution in the article managing area 100 based on the information on articles transmitted to and received from the terminal device 12. The information on articles is the information belonging to each article in a period between a storage time and a delivery time, and indicates the state of articles which may vary in the period between the storage time and the delivery time. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  According to the present invention, in an article management area including an article storage unit having a plurality of storage spaces capable of storing articles, the distribution from the arrival of an article to the shipment is managed based on the article information unique to each article. It relates to goods management.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in an article management area provided with an article storage means having a plurality of storage spaces capable of storing articles, there is known a technique that uses barcodes to manage specific information among article information unique to each received article. (See Patent Document 1). That is, the sorting facility described in Patent Document 1 issues a label printed with a barcode, which is an identification code for identifying the article and the expiration date of the article, based on the sorting information formed by the terminal device. The label is attached to a case for storing articles. Then, the barcode is read by a handy terminal with a barcode reader, and the expiration date of the article is determined by the terminal device.
In addition, as a method of managing articles using means other than barcodes, it is known to manage an automobile (article) manufacturing process to a disposal process using an RFID (Radio Frequency Identification system) tag fixed to the automobile. (See Patent Document 2).

JP 2002-347909 A (page 4, FIG. 2) Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-169858 (page 3-4, FIG. 1)

  However, the sorting facility described in Patent Document 1 manages articles using a barcode, and only reads limited information about the article through the barcode. For this reason, it is still sufficient from the viewpoint of improving work efficiency and improving the reliability of goods management regarding the management of logistics from the arrival of goods to the goods management area. Absent. Further, the article management method described in Patent Document 2 uses a RFID tag fixed to an article to widely manage the manufacturing process to the disposal process of the article. For this reason, regarding the management of physical distribution from the arrival of an article to the article management area until it is shipped, it does not appropriately correspond to the characteristics of the article information unique to each article during the receipt and shipment. From the viewpoints of improving work efficiency between receipt and shipment in the management area and improving the reliability of article management, it is not yet sufficient.

  In view of the above circumstances, the present invention relates to an article management that manages logistics from the arrival of an article to the article management area until it is shipped based on article information unique to each article, and improves work efficiency. In addition, an object of the present invention is to provide an article management system and an article management method capable of improving the reliability of article management.

Means and effects for solving the problems

In the article management system of the present invention, in an article management area including an article storage means having a plurality of storage spaces capable of storing articles, the physical distribution from the arrival of an article to the shipment is made into article information unique to each article. It relates to what is managed based on.
And the article management system of this invention has the following some features, respectively in order to achieve the said objective. That is, the article management system of the present invention is provided with the following features individually or in combination as appropriate.

  The first feature of the article management system of the present invention for achieving the above object is that the article information is maintained in a state of being attached to the article from when it is received in the article management area until it is shipped. An RFID tag having an IC chip that is stored and writable, and a tag antenna; reading of the article information stored in the RFID tag by wireless communication via the tag antenna; and the RFID tag The terminal device capable of writing new article information to the terminal device and the terminal device that is communicable with the terminal device, and distributes the goods in the article management area based on the article information transmitted to and received from the terminal device. A management device for managing the article information, and the article information is stored in each article during a period from the arrival in the article management area to the shipment. A accompanying information Re respectively, is that the information that indicates the state of potential articles varying in between to shipment from stock.

  According to this configuration, unique article information attached to each article can be communicated wirelessly with the RFID tag attached to the article and the RFID tag between the arrival of the article in the article management area and the shipment. Management is performed using a terminal device and a management device capable of communicating with the terminal device. Since the article information stored in the RFID tag can be read and written to the RFID tag through the terminal device, according to this article management system, the article fluctuates between the arrival of the article and the shipment. Management that flexibly corresponds to the characteristics of information is possible for each article. It is also possible to manage traceability from arrival to shipment. In addition, since the article information can be managed by being attached to the article itself, confirmation with the actual product becomes easy. The information stored in the RFID tag can be checked and written by an operator at any time, so that variable data (article information) such as the quantity cannot be written as in the case of a barcode. It is possible to prevent the occurrence of human error, and to more reliably prevent erroneous shipment. As described above, according to this article management system, article information that fluctuates from arrival to shipment can be quickly and accurately grasped for each article. Accordingly, with respect to the article management for managing the distribution from the arrival of the article to the article management area based on the article information unique to each article, the work efficiency is improved and the reliability of the article management is improved. be able to. Further, since the article information is stored not only in the management apparatus but also in the RFID tag, even if the management apparatus is down due to a failure or the like, the article information is confirmed by the RFID tag attached to the article itself. Can be shipped. That is, even if the management device is down, the work can be continued. Further, if the product is shipped with the RFID tag attached, the article information stored in the RFID tag can be used even at the shipping destination, and the traceability of the supply chain can be managed.

  A second feature of the article management system according to the present invention is that the article information includes information indicating the quantity of the load in an article that can be transported in a state where one or a plurality of loads are gathered. is there.

  According to this configuration, when the form of an article is a form in which a plurality of loads are integrally conveyed, such as a pallet or a case, the change in the quantity of loads in the article from arrival to shipment Can be grasped quickly and accurately. Therefore, the stock status can be managed with high accuracy.

  A third feature of the article management system according to the present invention is that the article information includes information for identifying an operator who is in charge of the article transport operation.

  According to this configuration, it is possible to quickly and accurately grasp and manage the worker who is in charge of the conveyance work for each article. Then, when there is an article that is inappropriate for the transportation work, it can be used for the guidance of the worker in charge of the transportation work of the article.

  A fourth feature of the article management system according to the present invention is that the article information includes history information of a process that the article has passed from arrival to shipment in the article management area.

  According to this configuration, for each article, it is possible to quickly and accurately grasp and manage the history of the process that the article has passed from arrival to shipment. In other words, it is possible to accurately manage traceability from arrival to shipment.

  According to a fifth feature of the article management system of the present invention, in the history information of the process, the article is stored in a predetermined storage space in the article storage means, and the article is stored in the predetermined space of the article storage means. It is that the log | history information of the process of at least any one of the delivery processes to be delivered is included.

  According to this configuration, it is possible to quickly and accurately grasp and manage the history of the warehousing process or the leaving process performed in the article management area for each article. That is, the status of entering or leaving can be managed easily and accurately for each article.

  A sixth feature of the article management system of the present invention is that the history information of the process includes information related to time for specifying the timing at which the article has completed each process.

  According to this configuration, it is possible to quickly and accurately grasp and manage the completion timing of each process for each article. In addition, the residence time of articles in each process can be easily and accurately managed for each article.

  A seventh feature of the article management system of the present invention is that the article management area includes a plurality of the article storage means, and the history information of the process includes information corresponding to each of the article storage means. It is.

  According to this configuration, even if a plurality of article storage means are provided in the article management area, it is possible to quickly and accurately grasp and manage the history of each process relating to each article storage means for each article. .

  An eighth feature of the article management system of the present invention is that the article information includes shipping destination information.

  According to this configuration, it is possible to quickly and accurately grasp and manage the shipping destination for each article. For this reason, the worker in charge of each process can make an accurate determination while grasping the shipping destination during the period from arrival to shipping.

  A ninth feature of the article management system of the present invention is that the article information includes information relating to a time for specifying a timing at which an article is scheduled to be shipped from the article management area.

  According to this configuration, it is possible to quickly and accurately grasp and manage the shipping schedule timing for each article. For this reason, in the state before shipment, the worker in charge of each process can make an accurate determination while grasping the scheduled shipment timing.

  A tenth feature of the article management system of the present invention is that the terminal device is provided in a conveying means that moves and conveys an article.

  According to this configuration, when an operator conveys an article by the conveying means, it is possible to quickly and accurately grasp the article information of the article for each article, improving work efficiency and improving the reliability of article management. Can be planned.

  An eleventh feature of the article management system of the present invention is that the terminal device is portable by an operator who is in charge of the article transport operation.

  According to this configuration, when an operator conveys an article, the article information of the article can be quickly and accurately grasped for each article by using a portable terminal device, thereby improving work efficiency and article management. The reliability can be improved.

  A twelfth feature of the article management system of the present invention is that a plurality of the terminal devices are provided.

  According to this configuration, even when work is individually performed by an operator who operates a plurality of terminal devices, communication is performed between each terminal device and the RFID tag in a batch by the management device. Product information can be grasped.

  In addition, the article management method of the present invention for achieving the above-described object uses any one of the above-described article management systems, and distributes the goods from the arrival of the article to the shipment in the article management area. It is related with the article management method managed based on. The article management method includes a reading step of reading the article information stored in the RFID tag by the terminal device, and a transmission / reception step of transmitting and receiving the article information between the terminal device and the management device. And a writing step of storing the article information by writing to add or rewrite the article information to the RFID tag by the terminal device.

  According to this configuration, the same effects as those of the article management system of the present invention described above can be obtained.

  Hereinafter, the best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. An article management system and an article management method according to an embodiment of the present invention are applied to an article management area including an article storage unit having a plurality of storage spaces capable of storing articles. And it is used for the article management which manages the physical distribution from the arrival of the article until it is shipped based on the article information unique to each article. In the present embodiment, a case where the article management area is a distribution center (warehouse) in which a rack yard, a lot number yard, an automatic warehouse yard, and the like are arranged will be described as an example.

  FIG. 1 is a plan view illustrating a distribution center 100. The distribution center 100 includes an arrival area 101 and a shipping area 102. Then, from the arrival place 101, for example, the load delivered by the truck 108 is received (the load is carried in through the arrival place 101). On the other hand, the cargo managed in the distribution center 100 is shipped from the shipping site 102 (the cargo is unloaded through the shipping site 102) and delivered to the next shipping destination by the truck 108.

  In the distribution center 100, a rack yard 103, a lot number yard 104, an automatic warehouse yard 105, a management room 106, and the like are arranged. The rack yard 103 is provided with a plurality of racks 109 (which may be either fixed racks or movable racks) as article storage means. In the rack 109, a plurality of storage spaces in which articles can be stored are formed as sections having respective fronts for receiving articles and partitioned as individual shelves (see FIG. 5). The lot number yard 104 is provided with a group of flat place numbers (article storage means) 110 in which articles are arranged in a flat place, and each place number constitutes a storage space in which articles can be stored. In the automatic warehouse yard, an automatic warehouse 111 that is an article storage means is arranged, and the automatic warehouse 111 is configured to include, for example, a stacker crane and a rack. Further, between the arrival place 101, the shipping place 102, the rack 109, the flat place number group 110, and the automatic warehouse 111, for example, the article is conveyed by a forklift 107 which is a conveying means that moves and conveys the article.

  Here, the physical distribution from when an article is received at the physical distribution center 100 until it is shipped will be described. FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating a process from arrival to shipment. As shown in FIG. 2, first, in step 101 (hereinafter referred to as S101, the same applies to other steps), an arrival process (S101) in which the load delivered on the truck 108 is received from the arrival place 101 is performed. In this arrival process, as shown in FIG. 3, the load W1 unloaded from the truck 108 is placed on the pallet P so that, for example, a plurality of loads W1 can be transported in a single state. The Thus, in the distribution center 100, it is handled as a pallet load Wp in a packaged state in a state of being placed on the pallet P. In the following description, the case where the state of the pallet load Wp is handled as an article in the present embodiment will be described, but the load W1 itself may be handled as an article.

  When the arrival process (S101) is completed, a transport process (S102) for transporting the pallet load Wp is performed (see FIG. 2). In this transporting step (S102), the pallet load Wp is lifted by the lift of the forklift 107 and is directly moved to a predetermined article storage means (any one of the rack 109, the flat place number group 110, and the automatic warehouse 111). (Refer to FIG. 4). Then, when the operator operates the forklift 107 to reach a predetermined article storage means, a warehousing step (S103) for receiving the pallet load Wp into a predetermined storage space of the article storage means is performed (see FIG. 2). ). FIG. 5 illustrates a state in which the pallet load Wp is received and stored in the storage space 112 in the predetermined rack 109.

  When the warehousing step (S103) is completed and the pallet load Wp needs to be unloaded from the article storage means in which the pallet load Wp is stored, the unloading step of unloading the pallet load Wp from a predetermined storage space ( S104) is performed (see FIG. 2). FIG. 6 illustrates a state in which the pallet load Wp is about to be unloaded by the forklift 107 from the storage space 112 in the predetermined rack 109. When the unloading process (S104) is completed, the inspection process (S105) for confirming that the load W1 in the pallet load Wp is a shipment target through the transport process (S105) in which the pallet load Wp is transported to the shipping place 102 by the forklift 107. S106) is performed. The load W1 for which the inspection process (S106) has been completed undergoes a final shipping process (S107), and is shipped from the shipping place 102 to a predetermined shipping destination by the truck 108. Note that the flow diagram shown in FIG. 2 is merely an example, and the warehousing process and the warehousing process are repeated among a plurality of article storage means, or the pallet load Wp is handled in the state of the load W1. This is done as appropriate.

  Next, the article management system and the article management method according to the present embodiment will be described in detail. An article management system 1 according to the present embodiment is shown in FIG. 4, FIG. 7, FIG. The article management system 1 includes an RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) tag 11, a terminal device 12, and a management device 13. The RFID tag 11 is kept attached to the article from when it arrives at the distribution center 100 until it is shipped. As shown in FIG. 4, when the target article is a pallet load Wp, for example, it is attached to the pallet P of the pallet load Wp. For example, when the RFID tag 11 is received, the RFID tag 11 is attached to each pallet load Wp (article) as shown in FIG.

  As shown in the block diagram of FIG. 8, the RFID tag 11 includes a tag antenna 14 and an IC chip 15 electrically connected to the tag antenna 14. The tag antenna 14 is configured to be capable of wireless communication with the terminal antenna 19 of the terminal device 12, and the IC chip 15 stores article information unique to the pallet load Wp (article) to which the RFID tag 11 is attached. And is configured to be writable. The IC chip 17 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a memory 17, a control circuit 18, and the like. The memory 17 includes ROM (Read Only Memory), RAM (Random Access Memory), and EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory). The control circuit 18 includes a power supply circuit, a radio frequency circuit, a modulation circuit, and a demodulation circuit. With these configurations, the IC chip 15 can store and write article information.

  The terminal device 12 is provided in the forklift 107 as shown in FIG. Further, a plurality of terminal devices 12 are provided, and are provided for a plurality of forklifts 107, respectively. As illustrated in FIG. 8, the terminal device 12 includes a mobile terminal 20 that is a main body, a terminal antenna 19, and a wireless communication device 21. The terminal antenna 19 is attached, for example, in the vicinity of the lift portion (see FIGS. 4 and 7), is electrically connected to the mobile terminal 20, and is configured to be capable of wireless communication with the tag antenna 14 of the RFID tag 11. .

  The mobile terminal 20 of the terminal device 12 is arrange | positioned in the cab of the forklift 107, for example (refer FIG. 7). As shown in FIG. 8, this mobile terminal 20 includes a display means (display) 22, an operation means 23, a CPU 24, a memory 25 including ROM, RAM, and EEPROM, a power supply circuit, a radio frequency circuit, a modulation circuit, and a demodulation circuit. A control circuit 26 and the like are provided. By providing the terminal antenna 19 and the mobile terminal 20, the terminal device 12 reads the article information stored in the RFID tag 11 by wireless communication via the tag antenna 14 of the RFID tag 11 and sends the information to the RFID tag 11. The reader / writer is configured to be capable of writing new article information. 4 shows a state in which communication is performed between the terminal device 12 and the RFID tag 11, respectively, when the transport process before the warehousing process is performed, and FIG. It is a schematic one. Further, the terminal device 12 includes the wireless communication device 21 so that it can wirelessly communicate with the management device 13 (see FIG. 8).

  For example, the management device 13 is disposed in the management room 106 of the distribution center 100, and includes a computer 27, a wireless communication device 28, and the like, as shown in FIGS. The computer 27 is configured using, for example, a general-purpose personal computer, and includes a display unit (display) 29, an operation unit (keyboard, pointing device, etc.) 30, a CPU 31, a memory 32 including a ROM / RAM, and the like. (See FIG. 8). The wireless communication device 28 is connected to the computer 27 via the hub 33, and the computer 27 can communicate with the terminal device 12 mounted on the forklift 107 via the wireless communication device 28. The management apparatus 13 can centrally manage distribution in the distribution center 100 based on article information transmitted to and received from the terminal apparatus 12.

  In addition, the article management method according to the present embodiment is performed by using the article management system 1 having the above-described configuration and managing logistics from arrival to shipment based on article information. This article management method is configured to include a reading step, a writing step, and a transmission / reception step. In the reading step, the terminal device 12 reads the article information stored in the RFID tag 11. In the writing step, the terminal device 12 stores the article information by writing the RFID tag 11 so as to add or rewrite the article information. In the transmission / reception step, the article information is transmitted / received between the terminal device 12 and the management device 13.

  Next, article information unique to each pallet load Wp (article) will be described. As described above, the article information is stored in the RFID tag 11 attached to the pallet load Wp, and written to the RFID tag 11 by the terminal device 12, and the terminal device 12 and the management device 13 are also stored. Transmission / reception to / from is also performed. This article information is information attached to each pallet load Wp (each article) from when it arrives at the distribution center 100 until it is shipped, and may vary between arrival and shipment. The information indicates the state of the pallet load Wp. Note that this article information includes information attached to each article partially (in some processes) rather than all processes from arrival to shipment.

  FIG. 9 exemplifies the contents of the article information stored in the RFID tag 11. As shown in FIG. 9, the article information includes process history information such as “article number”, “lot number”, “quantity”, “worker code”, “process 1”, “process 2”, etc. , “Scheduled shipping date”, “shipping destination code”, “truck service No.”, and the like.

  The item information of “product number” (“A12” in FIG. 9) is, for example, information obtained by encoding information specifying the type and quality of the load W1 of the pallet load Wp to which the RFID tag 11 is attached. Yes. Further, the item information of “lot No.” (“B111” in FIG. 9) is, for example, information in which information for specifying a lot at the time of arrival is coded.

  The item information of “quantity” (“3” in FIG. 9) is data indicating the quantity of the load W1 placed on the pallet P of the pallet load Wp to which the RFID tag 11 is attached. . In the example of FIG. 9, it is stored as information that three loads W1 are placed on the pallet load Wp to which the RFID tag 11 is attached. Further, since the article information stored in the RFID tag 11 is rewritable, for example, when one load W1 is taken out from the pallet load Wp and the quantity of the load W1 becomes two, the above-described writing is performed. By the step, the item information of “quantity” of the RFID tag 11 can be rewritten to “2”. This rewriting is performed by an operator who operates the forklift 11 operating the operation means 23 of the terminal device 12. Further, for example, the operator can confirm that the “quantity” article information stored in the RFID tag 11 has been rewritten on a predetermined screen displayed on the display unit 22. ing.

  The article information of “operator code” (“311” in FIG. 9) is encoded information that identifies the worker who is in charge of transporting the pallet load Wp to which the RFID tag 11 is attached. ing.

  The process history information is, for example, information that specifies the history of the process that the pallet load Wp has passed from the arrival to the distribution center 100 until the shipment. As history information of this process, history information relating to various processes such as the receiving process, the receiving process, the leaving process, the inspection process, and the shipping process described in the flowchart of FIG. 2 is stored in the RFID tag 11 and written. Can do. Further, as the history information of the process, information regarding the time for specifying the timing when the pallet load Wp completes each process can be stored in the RFID tag 11 and written. Further, as the process history information, information corresponding to each of the plurality of article storage means provided in the distribution center 100 can also be stored and written in the RFID tag 11.

  In the example of FIG. 9, when the pallet load Wp has undergone a plurality of processes, the process history information is stored as “process 1”, “process 2”,. is doing. “Step 1” shows a case where it is stored that the goods are stored in the article storage means specified by the code “L1”. Then, the warehousing timing (stocking date and time) when the goods are stored in the article storage means is 10:00 on September 1 specified by the code “090110”, and the delivery timing (shipping date and time) issued from the goods storage means. ) Shows an example in which it is stored that it is 15:00 on September 1 specified by the code “090115”. Further, in “Step 2”, the case where the goods stored in the article storage means specified by the code “L2” is stored is shown. And it is memorized that the warehousing timing of warehousing to the article storage means is 15:00 on September 1 and the evacuation timing for evacuating from the article storage means is 13:00 on September 3rd. The case is illustrated.

  The article information of “scheduled shipping date” (“090510” in FIG. 9) relates to the time for specifying the timing (shipping date) when the pallet load Wp to which the RFID tag 11 is attached is scheduled to be shipped from the distribution center 100. Information is coded. In this example, the RFID tag 11 stores that the pallet load Wp needs to be shipped by 10:00 on September 5. Therefore, an operator who confirms the scheduled shipping date and time by reading the RFID tag 11 attached to the pallet load Wp through the terminal device 12 works quickly while paying attention to the shipping schedule in time for the scheduled shipping date and time. be able to.

  The item information of “shipping destination code” (“Y” in FIG. 9) is information obtained by encoding information about the shipping destination of the load W1 in the pallet load Wp to which the RFID tag 11 is attached. Further, the item information (“C20” in FIG. 9) of “truck flight No.” is encoded information specifying the truck flight when the load W1 in the pallet load Wp is shipped. .

  Next, an example of the operation of the article management system 1 according to the present embodiment from the shipping process to the shipping process (an example of the article management method according to the present embodiment) will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 10, first, when a delivery target is specified by the management device 13 and delivery is started (S201), the management device 13 communicates with the wireless communication device 21 of the terminal device 12 attached to each forklift 107. Based on the wireless communication, the forklift 107 located near the storage space of the predetermined article storage means in which the pallet cargo Wp to be delivered is stored is searched (S202). When the search for the forklift 107 close to the position of the cargo Wp to be delivered (that is, the search for the worker operating the forklift 107) is completed, the terminal device 12 of the forklift 107 (that is, the forklift lift) is finished. A delivery operation instruction is given to the worker who is driving 107 (S203). The instruction for the delivery work is performed by displaying a predetermined work instruction screen (a screen for displaying information for specifying the cargo Wp to be delivered) on the display means 22 of the terminal device 12 mounted on the forklift 107. Is called.

  When the work instruction (S203) is performed, the worker who is operating the forklift 107 drives and moves the forklift 107 to the front of the storage space of the predetermined article storage means in which the load Wp to be delivered is stored. Let When the pallet cargo Wp to be delivered is reached, a reading step of reading the article information stored in the RFID tag 11 of the pallet cargo Wp by the terminal device 12 is performed (S204). The article information of the RFID tag 11 read by this reading step is displayed as a predetermined screen on the display means 21 of the terminal device 12, for example, so that the worker can output the pallet load Wp to be delivered. (S205).

  When the delivery target confirmation (S205) is completed, the worker operates the forklift 107 to perform the delivery work of the pallet load Wp to be delivered. Then, the operator operates the terminal device 12 at a predetermined timing such as after the shipping operation, thereby specifying a predetermined time such as a shipping time for specifying that the shipping process is completed for the RFID tag 11. Write the information. Thereby, the article information stored in the RFID tag 11 is updated (S206). At this time, the article information of the RFID tag 11 is updated, and the article information (inventory information) of the pallet load Wp stored in the management device 13 based on the communication between the terminal device 12 and the management device 13. ) Is also updated (S206).

  When the article information of the delivered pallet load Wp is updated, the transport destination of the delivered pallet load Wp is then instructed from the management device 12 to the operator (S207). This transport destination instruction is performed by displaying a predetermined transport destination instruction screen on the display means 22 of the terminal device 12. Then, according to the transport destination instruction, the worker transports the target pallet load Wp to the transport destination with the forklift 107. When the transfer operation is completed, the operator performs a predetermined operation on the terminal device 12 to update the transfer result in the article information stored in the management device 13 via wireless communication (S208). The article information of the RFID tag 11 of the pallet load Wp is also written (S209). For example, if the transport destination is the shipping place 102 and the load W1 in the pallet load Wp is a shipment target, the shipment is performed as it is (S210).

  As described above, according to the article management system 1 and the article management method using the article management system 1, the unique article information attached to each article from when the article is received to the distribution center 100 until it is shipped, Management is performed using an RFID tag 11 attached to an article, a terminal device 12 capable of wireless communication with the RFID tag 11, and a management device 13 capable of communicating with the terminal device 12. Since the article information stored in the RFID tag 11 can be read and written to the RFID tag 11 through the terminal device 12, according to the article management system 1 and the article management method using the article management system 1, the article information is received. Management that flexibly corresponds to the characteristics of the article information that fluctuates until shipping is possible for each article. It is also possible to manage traceability from arrival to shipment. In addition, since the article information can be managed by being attached to the article itself, confirmation with the actual product becomes easy. The information stored in the RFID tag 11 can be written by checking by the operator at any time, so that variable data (article information) such as a quantity cannot be written as in the case of a barcode. It is possible to prevent the occurrence of human error due to the above, and to more surely prevent erroneous shipment. As described above, according to the article management system 1 and the article management method using the article management system 1, article information that fluctuates from arrival to shipment can be quickly and accurately grasped for each article. Therefore, with respect to the article management for managing the distribution from the arrival of the article to the distribution center 100 based on the article information unique to each article, the work efficiency is improved and the reliability of the article management is improved. be able to.

  Further, since the article information is stored not only in the management apparatus 13 but also in the RFID tag 11, even if the computer 27 of the management apparatus 13 goes down due to a failure or the like, the RFID tag attached to the article itself Since the article information is stored in 11, the article information can be confirmed through the terminal device 12 and can be shipped. That is, even if the management device 13 is down, the work can be continued (the work can be prevented from being stopped). In this case, after the management device 13 is returned, the article information is transmitted to the management device 13 through the terminal device 12, so that accurate management by the management device 13 can be resumed again without losing the article information. Further, if the RFID tag 11 is shipped with the RFID tag 11 attached, the article information stored in the RFID tag 11 can be used even at the shipping destination, and the traceability of the supply chain can be managed.

  Further, according to the article management system 1 and the article management method using the article management system 1, even if the form of the article is a form in which a plurality of loads are integrally conveyed, such as a pallet or a case, It is possible to quickly and accurately grasp the change in the quantity of the load on the article until the shipment. Therefore, the stock status can be managed with high accuracy.

  Further, according to the article management system 1 and the article management method using the article management system 1, it is possible to quickly and accurately grasp and manage the worker who is in charge of the conveyance work for each article. Then, when there is an article that is inappropriate for the transportation work, it can be used for the guidance of the worker in charge of the transportation work of the article.

  In addition, according to the article management system 1 and the article management method using the article management system 1, it is possible to quickly and accurately grasp and manage the history of the process that the article has passed from arrival to shipment. In other words, it is possible to accurately manage traceability from arrival to shipment.

  Further, according to the article management system 1 and the article management method using the article management system 1, it is possible to quickly and accurately grasp and manage the history of the warehousing process or the evacuation process performed in the distribution center 100 for each article. That is, the status of entering or leaving can be managed easily and accurately for each article.

  Further, according to the article management system 1 and the article management method using the article management system 1, it is possible to quickly and accurately grasp and manage the completion timing of each process for each article. In addition, the residence time of articles in each process can be easily and accurately managed for each article.

  Further, according to the article management system 1 and the article management method using the article management system 1, even if the distribution center 100 is provided with a plurality of article storage means, the history of each process related to each article storage means can be quickly and for each article. Accurately grasp and manage.

  Further, according to the article management system 1 and the article management method using the article management system 1, it is possible to quickly and accurately grasp and manage the shipping destination for each article. For this reason, the worker in charge of each process can make an accurate determination while grasping the shipping destination during the period from arrival to shipping.

  Further, according to the article management system 1 and the article management method using the article management system 1, it is possible to quickly and accurately grasp and manage the shipping schedule timing for each article. For this reason, in the state before shipment, the worker in charge of each process can make an accurate determination while grasping the scheduled shipment timing.

  Further, according to the article management system 1 and the article management method using the article management system 1, since the terminal device 12 is provided on the forklift 107, the article information of the article is provided for each article when the operator transports the article using the forklift 107. Can be grasped quickly and accurately, and the work efficiency and the reliability of the article management can be improved.

  In addition, according to the article management system 1 and the article management method using the article management system 1, even if the work is performed individually by an operator who operates the plurality of terminal devices 12, The article information communicated between each terminal device 12 and the RFID tag 11 can be grasped.

  The embodiments of the present invention have been described above. However, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made as long as they are described in the claims. For example, the following modifications may be made.

(1) In this embodiment, the case where the article management area is a distribution center (warehouse) in which a rack yard, lot number yard, and automatic warehouse yard are arranged has been described as an example. Of course, the present invention can be applied. That is, the article management system and the article management method of the present invention can be applied to an article management area provided with article storage means having a plurality of storage spaces capable of storing articles.

(2) In the present embodiment, each process from arrival to shipment has been described by way of example. However, the present invention can be applied even if not all the illustrated processes are provided. In addition, the present invention can be widely applied to physical distribution management that partially includes a part of the steps described in the present embodiment.

(3) In the present embodiment, the case where the article is a pallet load has been described as an example, but the form of the article is not limited to the state in which the load is placed on the pallet, and the present invention is widely applied. be able to. For example, the present invention is widely applied to various types of loads that are not placed on a pallet (either a single load or a plurality of loads may be simply a group). can do. Further, the present invention can be applied even to an article in which a plurality of loads are loaded in a predetermined case. Further, even when there are a plurality of article forms, RFID tags can be arbitrarily attached to the articles of each form for management. Further, as illustrated in FIG. 5, the present invention can be applied even when a plurality of types of loads are mixedly loaded on one article (in FIG. 5, one pallet load corresponds). Can be applied.

(4) Regarding the article information, what is taken up in the present embodiment is an example, and the article information can be arbitrarily selected as long as it is described in the claims. That is, it is information attached to each article from the arrival to the article management area until it is shipped, and is specific to each article that indicates the state of the article that may vary from arrival to shipment. The present invention can be widely applied to product information.

(5) In this embodiment, the case where an article is conveyed by a forklift has been described as an example. However, the article may be obtained by means other than a forklift (such as when conveyed using another type of conveying means or manually conveyed). Of course, the present invention can also be applied to the case of carrying out the above-described conveyance.

(6) In the present embodiment, the case where the terminal device is provided in the transport unit has been described as an example. However, this need not be the case. For example, the terminal device may be a handy terminal (handy terminal), which is a mobile terminal that can be carried by an operator who is in charge of carrying an article. FIG. 11 illustrates an example in which a worker who performs a loading / unloading operation or a conveyance operation carries out a work by carrying a handy terminal 34 as a terminal device. The operator can read and confirm the article information stored in the RFID tag 11 by operating the handy terminal 34, and can rewrite the article information of the RFID tag 11 or write new article information. It can be carried out. Then, a work instruction is given to an operator carrying the handy terminal 34 via communication between the management device 13 and the handy terminal 34, and the changed article information is grasped in the management device 13. be able to.

(7) In the present embodiment, the case where the terminal device having the same form is used throughout the entire process from the arrival of the article to the article management area until the shipment is described as an example, but this is not necessarily the case. Also good. That is, the present invention can be applied even when a plurality of types of terminal devices are used together. For example, the present invention can be applied even when a terminal device mounted on a forklift and a handy terminal carried by an operator are used in combination.

It is a top view which illustrates the distribution center where the article management system of the embodiment of the present invention and the article management method by it are applied. It is the flowchart which illustrated the process from the arrival of goods to shipment in the distribution center shown in FIG. It is a figure explaining a mode that an arrival process is performed in the distribution center shown in FIG. It is a figure explaining a mode that the conveyance process before a receipt process is performed in the distribution center shown in FIG. It is the figure which illustrated the state in which goods were stored and stored in the storage space of a predetermined article storage means in the distribution center shown in FIG. It is a figure explaining a mode that the delivery process is performed in the distribution center shown in FIG. It is a figure explaining an example of the management apparatus and terminal device in the article | item management system of embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram explaining an example of the article management system concerning the embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which illustrates and demonstrates the article information managed in the article management system shown in FIG. It is a flowchart explaining an example of the action | operation of the article | item management system shown in FIG. It is a figure explaining the article | item management system which concerns on the modification of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Inventory management system 11 RFID tag 12 Terminal device 13 Management device 14 Tag antenna 15 IC chip 100 Distribution center (article management area)
101 arrival place 102 shipping place 109 rack (goods storage means)
110 Flat place number (goods storage means)
111 Automatic warehouse (goods storage means)
112 Storage space Wp Pallet cargo (goods)

Claims (13)

An article management system that manages logistics from the arrival of an article to shipment based on article information unique to each article in an article management area having an article storage means having a plurality of storage spaces capable of storing articles. There,
An IC chip that is kept attached to an article from when it arrives in the article management area until it is shipped, stores the article information, and is configured to be writable, and a tag antenna An RFID tag;
A terminal device capable of reading the article information stored in the RFID tag and writing the new article information to the RFID tag by wireless communication via the tag antenna;
A management device that is communicable with the terminal device and manages logistics in the article management area based on the article information transmitted to and received from the terminal device;
With
The article information is information attached to each article from when it arrives in the article management area until it is shipped, and indicates the state of the article that may vary between arrival and shipment. An article management system characterized in that the information is information to be processed.   2. The article management system according to claim 1, wherein the article information includes information indicating a quantity of the load in an article that can be conveyed in a state in which one or a plurality of loads are gathered.   The article management system according to claim 1, wherein the article information includes information for specifying an operator who is in charge of an article transport operation.   The article according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the article information includes history information of a process in which the article has passed from arrival to shipment in the article management area. Management system.   The history information of the process includes at least one of a warehousing process for warehousing an article into a predetermined storage space in the article storage means and an evacuation process for unloading the article from the predetermined space of the article storage means. The article management system according to claim 4, wherein the history information is included.   6. The article management system according to claim 4, wherein the history information of the process includes information related to a time for specifying a timing at which the article has completed each process. In the article management area, a plurality of the article storage means are provided,
The article management system according to any one of claims 4 to 6, wherein the history information of the process includes information corresponding to each of the article storage means.   The article management system according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the article information includes shipping destination information.   9. The information according to claim 1, wherein the item information includes information related to a time for specifying a timing at which an item is scheduled to be shipped from the item management area. Goods management system.   The article management system according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the terminal device is provided in a conveyance unit that moves and conveys an article.   The article management system according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the terminal device is portable by an operator who is in charge of article conveyance work.   The article management system according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein a plurality of the terminal devices are provided. An article management method using the article management system according to any one of claims 1 to 12 to manage physical distribution from the arrival of an article to the shipment in the article management area based on the article information. Because
A reading step of reading the article information stored in the RFID tag by the terminal device;
A writing step of storing the article information by writing to add or rewrite the article information to the RFID tag by the terminal device;
A transmission / reception step of transmitting / receiving the article information between the terminal device and the management device;
The article management method characterized by including.

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