JP2007164344A - Product management system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a product management system for production line allowing optimum production management. <P>SOLUTION: This product management system 10 comprises the production line for manufacturing a product 1 in accordance with processes, components constituting the product 1 flowing on the production line, a terminal 3 reading information stored in a wireless tag 2, and a computer 4 having a three-dimensional simulator. The wireless tag 2 is attached to each of the components constituting the product 1. In the computer 4, a tag information receiving part 401 receives the information stored in the wireless tag 2 read via the terminal 3, and using the three-dimensional simulator, a simulation part 402 simulates production plan, based on the information received by the tag information receiving part 401. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a product management system for a production line.

  Conventionally, there has been a demand for optimization, speeding-up of production plans for production lines, improvement of the quality of products produced, and enhancement of quality control. Conventionally, when making a production plan for a production line, the person in charge at the site builds on the past experience based on the products scheduled for production on that day and the status of the products remaining during the previous day's production. In product quality control, parts missing items depend on visual confirmation by workers in each process. In addition, the capacity of each assembly worker is not grasped and the production facilities of the assembly line are not sufficiently managed.

However, a production plan planned based on past experience is not necessarily a correct plan. Also, missing parts may not be noticed because they depend on the visual inspection of the worker, and may be noticed in a considerably later process. Also, accurate education and management for each worker by grasping the defect occurrence rate for each worker is not performed.
As a conventional production management technique, there is a technique for performing production management by attaching a tag to a component (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2). There is also a technique for confirming component leakage of a finished product by reading material information from a tag attached to the component and acquiring a manufacturing history (see, for example, Patent Document 3).
JP 2002-41116 A JP-A-9-141542 JP 2003-271216 A (paragraph 0056)

However, the techniques described in Patent Documents 1 and 2 cannot perform a production plan simulation and cannot be used to make an optimum production plan.
Further, with the technique described in Patent Document 3, a history can be acquired, but a shortage status cannot be grasped instantaneously during the manufacturing process of the product, and optimal production management cannot be performed.
The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a product management system for a production line that enables optimum production management.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the invention according to claim 1 is recorded in a manufacturing line for manufacturing a product according to a process, each component constituting the product flowing on the manufacturing line, and a wireless tag. A product management system including a terminal for reading information and a computer including a simulator, wherein the wireless tag is attached to each component, and the wireless tag is read by the terminal. Tag information receiving means for receiving the information recorded in the recording medium, and simulation means for simulating a production plan based on the information received by the tag information receiving means using the simulator. Provide product management system.
According to the present invention, since a production plan can be simulated in a production management system, optimal production management can be performed.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the product management system according to the first aspect, the computer has a parts list information storage means for storing list information of parts to be assembled in each process, and the parts list information storage. Collating the component list information stored in the means with the information recorded on the wireless tag attached to the component assembled in each step, received from the terminal by the tag information receiving means. And a missing part judging means for judging whether or not there is a missing part.
According to the present invention, in the assembly work of parts in each process, if a missing part of a part due to forgetting assembly occurs, the wireless tag attached to the part is not recognized by the terminal. Automatic detection can be instantaneously performed, and the time required to find a missing part can be reduced.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the product management system according to the second aspect, when the computer determines that there is a missing part, the tag information receiving unit Based on information received from the terminal, a missing item display means for displaying the location of the missing component on the simulator is provided.
According to the present invention, the operator can easily confirm where the missing part is located on the production line.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the product management system according to any one of the first to third aspects, worker information is recorded in the wireless tag, and the wireless tag is stored in the worker. And the terminal writes worker information reading means for reading worker information from the wireless tag and worker information read by the worker information reading means to the wireless tag attached to the component. And a worker information writing means.
According to the present invention, it is possible to clarify the name of the person in charge of the work based on the worker information written in the wireless tag attached to each part when a product defect is found, It is possible to accurately perform education and management for each worker.

The invention according to claim 5 is the product management system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising a sensor for measuring predetermined information in the production facility, wherein the terminal is measured by the sensor. Measurement information writing means is provided for writing the measured sensor measurement information to the wireless tag attached to each component.
According to the present invention, for example, when a defect in a product is found in an inspection process performed after a painting process or the like, based on sensor measurement information written on a wireless tag attached to each component, Measurement information such as temperature in the product assembly process can be confirmed.

  According to the present invention, the product management system can perform optimal production management by simulating a production plan and managing information recorded in the wireless tag.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
(First embodiment)
First, the first embodiment will be described. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a product management system for a production line in cooperation with a simulator according to a first embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes a product in the middle of production that flows on the belt conveyor of the production line, and is composed of a plurality of parts.

  Reference numeral 2 denotes a wireless tag, which is affixed to each component constituting the product 1. The wireless tag 2 has a part number indicating what the part is, a product type indicating what part the product is, information on a worker in charge of assembling the part, and information when the part is assembled. Measurement value information of production equipment is stored. Here, the part number uses the drawing number of the part, and the product model uses the product model number as it is.

A terminal 3 is a device that reads information stored in the wireless tag 2 and writes information in the wireless tag 2. The terminals 3 are installed at the entrance and exit of the work area and the work area in each process of the production line.
Reference numeral 4 denotes a computer that captures information on the wireless tag 2 and simulates it with a three-dimensional simulator, and information such as on which position on the production line each component to which the wireless tag 2 is attached exists. Is output. A display is provided in the vicinity of the work area of each process, and is a device that displays information when a part shortage occurs. The parts shelf is several types of stylized boxes made of metal or plastic cases.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a functional configuration of the computer 4 according to the present embodiment. The computer 4 includes a tag information receiving unit 401 and a simulation unit 402.
The tag information receiving unit 401 receives information recorded on the wireless tag 2 read by the terminal 3.
The simulation unit 402 performs a production plan simulation based on the information received by the tag information reception unit 401 using a three-dimensional simulator.

Next, the operation according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.
First, the terminal 3 arranged in each process of the production line reads information indicating a part number and a product model stored in the wireless tag 2 attached to a part existing in each process (step S101). The information is transmitted to the computer 4 (step S102). Depending on the position of the terminal 3 that transmits the information, the position information of the component is also taken into the computer 4.

The simulation unit 402 of the computer 4 captures the transmitted information into a three-dimensional simulator provided in the computer 4, determines the corresponding product from the product type, and specifies the process in which the product is placed according to the position information. Then, the product is displayed on a virtual production line that is built in advance on the three-dimensional simulator.
As a result, the person in charge at the site can instantly grasp the status of the previous day's production line. Furthermore, by using a 3D simulator to simulate the state transition of the production line when the production line is operated from that state, it is possible to make a production plan in the virtual space that takes into account the products scheduled for production on the day. This makes it possible to reduce the time required to make a production plan and to establish a reliable schedule.

(Second Embodiment)
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a functional configuration of the computer 4 according to the second embodiment. As shown in the figure, the computer 4 according to the second embodiment includes a parts list information storage unit 403, a missing part determination unit 404, in addition to the functions of the computer 4 according to the first embodiment. The shortage display unit 405 is provided.

  The parts list information storage unit 403 stores list information of parts to be assembled in each process in the parts list table. FIG. 4 shows an example of component list information stored in the component list table. In the parts list table, the vertical axis indicates the product type, and the horizontal axis indicates each process number in which the work is divided on the production line. The part list information is a table in which product types and part names (part drawing numbers) of parts used in each process are summarized.

The shortage determination unit 404 includes a component list information stored in the component list information storage unit 403 and a wireless tag attached to the component assembled in each process, received from the terminal 3 by the tag information reception unit 401. 2 is collated with the information recorded in 2 to determine whether or not there is a missing part in each process.
The missing item display unit 405, based on information received from the terminal 3 by the tag information receiving unit 401 when the missing item determining unit 404 determines that there is a missing component, is a missing item. Is displayed on the 3D simulator.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a procedure for finding missing parts in the product management system 10 of the production line in cooperation with the simulator according to the present invention. A procedure for finding missing parts will be described with reference to this flowchart.
First, before starting assembly work in each process, part information (part number and product type) is written in advance in the wireless tag 2 attached to each part (step S201).

  Next, the worker assembles the parts into the product 1 (step S202). When the assembly is completed, the terminal 3 installed at the exit of the work area in each process reads the part information (part number, product type) written in the wireless tag 2 of each part (step S203). The terminal 3 transmits the read information to the computer 4 (step S204). The missing part determination unit 404 of the computer 4 collates the received part number and product model with the part list table (step S205). As a result of collation with the parts list table, the missing part determination unit 404 checks whether or not a missing part has occurred in the assembly work (step S206). If no shortage has occurred, “good” is displayed on the display provided near the work area of each process (step S207). When it is confirmed that there is no shortage, the name of the worker in charge of the assembly and the work contents are pasted to each part at the terminal 3 installed at the exit of the work area in each process. Write to the tag 2 and send to the next process (step S208).

  If there is a missing item, the missing item display unit 405 of the computer 4 displays the missing component number on the display (step S209). On the other hand, the missing item display unit 405 is a three-dimensional simulator provided in the computer 4 where the missing item part is located on the production line based on the part name, product model, and three-dimensional position information of the missing item. Is displayed (step S210). The worker obtains the missing parts and assembles them into the product 1 (step S211).

  As described above, in the present embodiment, the part number and the product model are written in advance on the wireless tag 2 attached to each part, and the terminal 3 is installed at the exit of the work area in each process. , And sent to the computer 4, and by comparing the part number and product model read from the wireless tag 2 with the parts list table, it is possible to instantly grasp the presence or absence of missing parts in the assembly work. Checking for missing parts is also ensured. Further, since the position information of each part is also transmitted from the terminal 3, it is easy to determine where the missing part is located on the production line by taking this position information into a three-dimensional simulator provided in the computer 4. The time it takes to find out that a missing part has occurred, and the time it takes to find where the missing part is on the production line. I can plan.

(Third embodiment)
Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described.
FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of a product management system 10 on a production line in cooperation with a simulator according to the third embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes a product in the middle of production that flows on the belt conveyor of the production line, and is composed of a plurality of parts. Reference numeral 2 denotes a wireless tag, which is affixed to each component constituting the product 1. The wireless tag 2 stores a part number indicating what the part is, a product type indicating what the product is, and information on a worker in charge of assembling the part. In the present embodiment, the wireless tag 2a is also attached to the person in charge of assembly work in each process. The wireless tag 2a to be attached to the worker is attached to a name tag or the like that the employee must wear, and the worker name and work contents are stored beforehand. A terminal 3 is a device that reads information stored in the wireless tag 2 and writes information in the wireless tag 2. The terminal 3 is installed in the work area entrance, exit, and work area in each process of the production line.
Reference numeral 4 denotes a computer, which is information such as a result of taking in information of the wireless tag 2 and simulating with a three-dimensional simulator, and a position on the production line where each component to which the wireless tag 2 is attached exists. Is output.

FIG. 7 shows a functional configuration of the terminal 3 according to the present embodiment. As shown in the figure, the terminal 3 includes a worker information reading unit 301 and a worker information writing unit 302.
The worker information reading unit 301 reads worker information from the wireless tag 2a attached to the worker. The worker information writing unit 302 writes the worker information read by the worker information reading unit 301 to each component.
Next, the operation of the product management system 10 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. The name of the worker in charge of the assembly, the contents of the assembly work, etc. are written in advance on the wireless tag 2a attached to the assembly worker in each process, and this is installed in the in-process work area of each process. Is read by the worker information reading unit 301 (step S301). The worker information writing unit 302 of the terminal 3 transmits the information read by the worker information reading unit 301 to the wireless tag 2 attached to each component (step S302).

  As a result, when an assembly failure is detected in the inspection process after the assembly is completed, if the worker information stored in the wireless tag 2 attached to the component is confirmed, the assembly of the defective component was performed. The operator name can be confirmed instantly. Moreover, it becomes possible to calculate the defect occurrence rate for each worker and each process, and it is possible to grasp the work that each worker is good at and the work that is not good at each worker. This total information can be used for evaluation of each person. In addition, it is possible to perform appropriate management for each worker, such as training for unskilled work, and it is possible to improve the ability of each worker and increase the efficiency of management.

(Fourth embodiment)
Next, a fourth embodiment will be described. FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of a product management system 10 on a production line linked with a simulator according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes a product in the middle of production that flows on the belt conveyor of the production line, and is composed of a plurality of parts. Reference numeral 2 denotes a wireless tag, which is affixed to each component constituting the product 1. The wireless tag 2 stores a part number indicating what the part is, a product type indicating what product part, equipment information of a production facility in which the part is assembled, and the like. A terminal 3 is a device that reads information stored in the wireless tag 2 and writes information in the wireless tag 2. The terminal 3 is installed in the work area entrance, exit, and work area of each process of the production line. Reference numeral 4 denotes a computer, which is a result of taking in information stored in the wireless tag 2 and simulating with a three-dimensional simulator, and in which position on the production line each component to which the wireless tag 2 is attached exists. Etc. are output. Reference numeral 5 denotes a sensor that measures various pieces of information on the production facility. In the present embodiment, the production facility is described as a painting line (electric furnace), and the sensor 5 is described as a temperature sensor. A temperature sensor 5 is attached to the painting line, and temperature information of the painting equipment is measured.
FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a functional configuration of the terminal 3 according to the present embodiment. The terminal 3 according to the present embodiment includes a measurement information writing unit 303. The measurement information writing unit 303 writes the sensor measurement information measured by the sensor 5 to the wireless tag 2 attached to the component.

  Next, the operation of the product management system 10 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. First, the temperature sensor 5 attached to the painting line measures the temperature in the painting furnace at each point in the painting process. The measured temperature measurement value is written to the wireless tag 2 attached to each component by the measurement information writing unit 303 of the terminal 3 installed in the process work area (step S401).

  As a result, when a coating failure is detected in the inspection process after the completion of painting, the temperature measurement value in the painting furnace stored in the wireless tag 2 attached to the component constituting the product 1 is confirmed. For example, it is possible to check the temperature in the coating furnace when a coating failure occurs. The product 1 before and after the defective coating is likely to be defective in the same way, and it can be applied without reading the inspection process by reading the temperature measured in the painting furnace of the subsequent product 1 Defects can be detected, and labor saving in the inspection process can be achieved. Moreover, it can be applied not only to the painting process but also to any process such as a welding process.

  As described above, since a production plan can be simulated in the product management system 10, optimum production management can be performed. Further, optimal production management is performed by writing component information, worker information, sensor measurement information, and the like on the wireless tag 2 and reading information recorded on the wireless tag 2 by the terminal 3 and managing it by the computer 4. Is possible.

  Specifically, the above-described first embodiment of the present invention is for improving the accuracy of production planning and shortening the time required for production planning. In the conventional production plan based on past experience by the person in charge at the site, it may be impossible to make an accurate production plan.In addition, it takes time to grasp the status of the production line on the previous day. Cost. In the first embodiment, the wireless tag 2 attached to each part notifies the terminal of product information of the part and reads it into the computer 4, and based on the information, the three-dimensional provided in the computer 4 Check the production line status of the previous day instantly on the simulator. The person in charge at the site makes a production plan for the production line for the day in the virtual space by performing a 3D simulation that takes into account the status of the production line on the previous day and the product information scheduled for production on the day. This makes it possible to reduce the time required for production planning and to establish a reliable schedule. Thus, it is an effective means to store product information in the wireless tag 2 affixed to each component, and to take the information into a three-dimensional simulator and make a production plan.

  The second embodiment of the present invention improves product quality control, shortens the time taken to find missing parts, and finds where the missing parts exist on the production line. This is to shorten the time. In the conventional method of finding a missing part of a part that relies on the visual inspection of the worker, it takes time to identify the missing part check of the worker and the location of the part when the missing part is found. In the second embodiment, the wireless tag 2 attached to each component notifies the terminal 3 of product information of the component. Since the terminal 3 is provided in each process, it becomes possible to immediately find out if there is a missing part. Even if the missing part is missed, the product information and the three-dimensional position information of the missing part written on the wireless tag 2 are read into the computer 4 via the terminal 3 to the computer 4. The location of the part can be displayed instantaneously on the provided three-dimensional simulator. In this way, the product information and the three-dimensional position information are stored in the wireless tag 2 attached to each part, and the information is taken into the three-dimensional simulator to detect the missing part of the part and the location of the missing part. Specifying is an effective means.

  In the third embodiment of the present invention, the failure occurrence rate for each worker who performs assembly work on the production line and each process is grasped, and the person in charge of the work when the assembly failure occurs is clarified. It is intended to improve accurate education and management. Conventionally, it takes time to identify a person in charge of a work when an assembly failure occurs, and it is difficult to perform education and management for each worker. In the third embodiment, a wireless tag 2a is attached to each worker who performs assembly work, and the worker name and work contents are stored in advance in the wireless tag 2a. The worker information is written in the wireless tag 2 attached to each component. As a result, when an assembly failure occurs, the name of the person in charge in charge of the work can be confirmed instantaneously. In addition, since the occurrence rate of assembly failures by process and worker can be grasped, it is possible to grasp the work that is good and the work that is not good for each worker. Based on this, it is possible to provide accurate education for each worker. As described above, by storing product information, the name of the worker in charge of assembly, and the like in the wireless tag 2a, it is effective to enable defect management by worker and process and management of workers. It is.

  In the fourth embodiment of the present invention, measurement information of various production facilities on the production line, for example, actual temperature measurement values and the like are written in the wireless tag 2 affixed to each component, so that an inspection process is performed. This is to make it possible to find product defects without undergoing inspection and to save labor in the inspection process. Conventionally, an inspection process must be performed, and it takes time to check for manufacturing defects. In the fourth embodiment, measurement information of various production facilities on the production line, for example, actual coating temperature values are measured one by one, and the measured values are written in the wireless tag 2 attached to each component. . When a defective product 1 is found in the subsequent inspection process, the measurement value of the production facility written in the wireless tag 2 attached to the parts constituting the product 1 is confirmed. At the same time, the production facility measurement value of the product 1 thereafter is also confirmed. This makes it possible to find out whether or not similar defects have occurred without undergoing an inspection process. As in the present invention, the measurement information of various production facilities on the production line is stored in the wireless tag 2 attached to the parts constituting the product 1, thereby enabling labor saving in the inspection process. Is an effective means.

  It can be used for product management of production lines in general product production.

It is the schematic of the product management system of the manufacturing line cooperated with the simulator which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the function structure of the computer which concerns on the same embodiment. It is a figure which shows the function structure of the computer which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the components list information memorize | stored in the components list table which concerns on the embodiment. It is a discovery flowchart of the missing part parts concerning the embodiment. It is the schematic of the product management system of the manufacturing line cooperated with the simulator which concerns on the 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the function structure of the terminal which concerns on the same embodiment. It is the schematic of the product management system of the manufacturing line cooperated with the simulator which concerns on the 4th Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the function structure of the terminal which concerns on the same embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

10 Product management system 1 Product 2, 2a Wireless tag 3 Terminal 4 Computer 5 Sensor (temperature sensor)
301 Worker Information Reading Unit 302 Worker Information Writing Unit 303 Measurement Information Writing Unit 401 Tag Information Receiving Unit 402 Simulation Unit 403 Parts List Information Storage Unit 404 Missing Item Determination Unit 405 Missing Item Display Unit

Claims (5)

A production line for producing products according to the process;
Each component constituting the product flowing on the production line;
A terminal that reads information recorded in the wireless tag;
A product management system including a computer equipped with a simulator,
The wireless tag is attached to each component,
The computer
Tag information receiving means for receiving information recorded in the wireless tag read by the terminal;
A product management system comprising: simulation means for simulating a production plan based on information received by the tag information receiving means using the simulator. The computer
Parts list information storage means for storing list information of parts to be assembled in each process;
Parts list information stored in the parts list information storage means, information recorded on a wireless tag attached to a part assembled in each step, received from the terminal by the tag information receiving means; and The product management system according to claim 1, further comprising: a missing part determination unit that determines whether or not there is a missing part by comparing the parts. The computer
When it is determined by the missing part determination means that a missing part is present, the location of the missing part is displayed on the simulator based on the information received from the terminal by the tag information receiving means. The product management system according to claim 2, further comprising a shortage display unit for displaying. Worker information is recorded on the wireless tag, and the wireless tag is attached to the worker.
The terminal
Worker information reading means for reading worker information from the wireless tag;
The worker information writing means for writing the worker information read by the worker information reading means to a wireless tag attached to the component is provided. Product management system as described. A sensor for measuring predetermined information in the production facility;
The terminal
The product according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising measurement information writing means for writing sensor measurement information measured by the sensor to a wireless tag attached to each of the components. Management system.

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