JP2014156299A - Product management system, method, device and program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To facilitate determination of a product to be picked up or to be stored next for an operator.SOLUTION: The device comprises: a master database 111 storing information about storage place of a product for each product with association; a target product storage part 112 storing a list of products to be stored or to be dispensed; a target product specification part 113 specifying the product associated with the nearest place to a place where an operator presents by the master database 111, among products stored in the target product storage part 112; and a display part 122 displaying a place where the product specified by the target product specification part 113 is stored.

Description

  The present invention relates to an article management system, an article management method, an article management apparatus, and a program for managing articles stored in a warehouse.

2. Description of the Related Art An article management system that manages articles to be dispensed or stored when an article such as a product or a part is dispensed from a warehouse or when an article is stored in a warehouse is used.
Patent Document 1 discloses a technique for determining the position of an article and causing a stacker crane to pay out the articles in the order from the closest to the article.
Patent Document 2 discloses a technique for calculating a picking route of an article to be paid out and outputting it to a form.
Patent Document 3 discloses a technique for acquiring inventory information and storage locations of articles using a portable PC.

JP-A-5-147717 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-167427 JP 2011-20431 A

However, the method described in Patent Document 1 controls the operation of the stacker crane, and has a problem that it cannot be applied when an operator pays out or stores an article. In addition, the method described in Patent Document 2 has a problem that when an operator picks up an article in an order different from the order in which it is output on a form, the article to be picked up next is not known. In addition, when using the method described in Patent Document 3, it is necessary to consider a route in which an operator efficiently pays out or stores articles based on the acquired inventory information and storage location.
An object of the present invention is to provide an article management system, an article management method, an article management apparatus, and a program that solve the above-described problems.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and stores a master database that stores information on the location where the article is stored in association with each article, and a list of articles to be paid out or stored. A target article storage unit; a target article specification unit that specifies a product associated with a place closest to an operator's position in the master database among articles stored in the target article storage unit; and the target article specification unit. A display unit that displays a location where the specified article is stored, and the display unit is provided in a portable terminal carried by an operator.

  In the present invention, the master database stores a code indicating the article in association with an article indicated by the code and a location where the article is stored, and a reading unit provided in the portable terminal that reads the code And a target article deletion unit that deletes an article associated with the code read by the reading unit from a list of articles stored in the target article storage unit, and the reading unit reads the target article specifying unit. The article is specified by using the place associated with the code as the position of the worker.

  In the present invention, the target article specifying unit may store the article stored in the target article storage unit when there are a plurality of articles associated with the location closest to the worker's position in the master database. The item having the shortest distance from the place to the article existing at the nearest place is specified.

  In the present invention, the master database stores, as information on a place where the article is stored, a position of the area including the place when the warehouse storing the article is filled with a polygonal area. The target article specifying unit stores the article stored in the master database by tracing the adjacent area from the area including the position of the worker among the articles stored in the target article storage unit. When moving to an area, an article having the minimum number of areas that need to be traced is specified.

  Further, in the present invention, the master database stores whether or not each adjacent area is movable in association with the area, and the target article specifying unit is configured to store the worker's item among the articles stored in the target article storage unit. When moving from the area including the position to the area where the article stored in the master database is stored by tracing the adjacent movable area, the article having the minimum number of areas to be traced is identified. It is characterized by doing.

  In addition, the present invention includes a target article adding unit that adds a new article to the list of articles stored in the target article storage unit.

  In the present invention, the master database stores a code indicating a predetermined location in association with the location in addition to the code indicating the article.

  Further, in the present invention, the target article specifying unit specifies an article stored in the master article database that is associated with a place closest to the worker's position among the articles stored in the target article storage unit. The position of the worker is used as the position of the worker, the articles that are not specified among the articles stored in the target article storage unit are sequentially specified, and the display unit is the location where the article specified by the target article specification unit is stored. The display is performed in association with the specified order.

  The present invention is also an article management method using an article management system including a portable terminal carried by an operator, wherein the target article specifying unit is a target article storage unit that stores a list of articles to be paid out or stored. Among the articles to be stored, the article associated with the place closest to the worker's position is specified in the master database that stores the information of the place where the article is stored for each article, and the display unit of the portable terminal Is characterized by displaying the location where the article specified by the target article specifying unit is stored.

  In addition, the present invention provides a master database that stores, in association with each item, information on a place where the article is stored, a target article storage unit that stores a list of articles to be paid out or stored, and the target article storage unit Among the articles stored in the master database, the target article specifying unit for specifying the item associated with the place closest to the worker's position in the master database, and the location where the article specified by the target article specifying unit is stored. A display information output unit to be displayed on a portable terminal carried by the product.

  Further, the present invention relates to a master that stores information associated with a location where the article is stored for each article among articles stored in a target article storage unit that stores a list of articles to be paid out or stored. Display information for displaying on the portable terminal carried by the worker the target article specifying unit for specifying the article associated with the place closest to the worker's position in the database, and the location where the article specified by the target article specifying unit is stored This is a program for functioning as an output unit.

  According to the present invention, since the article closest to the worker's position is sequentially displayed on the portable terminal, the worker can easily determine the article to be picked up or stored next.

It is a figure which shows an example of a structure of the warehouse used as the management object of the article | item management system which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the information which the master database which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention memorize | stores. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of the article | item management system which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of the target article search process which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of the area master table which the master database which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention memorize | stores. It is a figure which shows the example of the display information which the display information output part which concerns on the 3rd Embodiment of this invention produces | generates.

<< First Embodiment >>
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
The article management system 100 according to the first embodiment of the present invention presents an operator with an order of articles to be picked up or stored when paying out articles stored in a warehouse.

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of a warehouse that is a management target of the article management system 100 according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
The article management system 100 includes an article management apparatus 110 and a portable terminal 120 carried by an operator. The article management device 110 manages articles stored in the warehouse. The portable terminal 120 is a handy terminal that functions as an input / output interface for workers when paying out or storing articles, and includes a small display such as an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display). Note that there may be one portable terminal 120 or a plurality of portable terminals 120.

The article management apparatus 110 includes a master database 111, a target article storage unit 112, a target article specifying unit 113, a display information output unit 114, an identification information input unit 115, a target article deletion unit 116, and a target article addition unit 117.
The master database 111 stores master information of articles in the warehouse. Specifically, the master database 111 stores, for each article, identification information of the article, the location of the article stored in the warehouse, and the shelf number of the shelf in which the article is stored.
The target article storage unit 112 stores a list of articles to be paid out or stored.

Based on the position of the worker and the master database 111, the target article specifying unit 113 specifies the article that the worker should next pay out or store from the list stored in the target article storage unit 112.
The display information output unit 114 outputs the location of the article specified by the target article specifying unit 113 as display information to the portable terminal 120 by wireless communication.

The identification information input unit 115 receives input of identification information from the mobile terminal 120 by wireless communication.
When the target article storage unit 112 stores the article indicated by the identification information received by the identification information input unit 115, the target article deletion unit 116 deletes the article from the target article storage unit 112.
When an article to be paid out or stored is added, the target article adding unit 117 adds the article to the list stored in the target article storage unit 112.

The portable terminal 120 includes a display information input unit 121, a display unit 122, a reading unit 123, and an identification information output unit 124.
The display information input unit 121 receives input of display information from the article management apparatus 110 by wireless communication.
The display unit 122 displays the display information received by the display information input unit 121.
The reading unit 123 reads the identification information of the article from the two-dimensional code (identifier) attached to the article in the warehouse. In the present embodiment, a case where a two-dimensional code is used as an identifier for reading identification information will be described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and other identifiers such as an RFID (Radio Frequency IDentification) tag may be used.
The identification information output unit 124 outputs the identification information read by the reading unit 123 to the article management apparatus 110 by wireless communication.

  In the present embodiment, the two-dimensional code indicating the identification information of the article is affixed to the article in the warehouse, and when the operator picks up or stores the article, the two-dimensional code affixed to the article on the portable terminal 120. An example in which identification information is read from a code will be described. However, the embodiment is not limited to this, and the list of all articles to be paid out or stored by the operator and the paper on which the two-dimensional code is printed are carried around, picked up or stored from the two-dimensional code of the article. The identification information may be read.

  In the present embodiment, the two-dimensional code is not limited to an article, and is also attached to, for example, a warehouse entrance, a pillar, a shelf, or the like. The master database 111 stores the location where the two-dimensional code is attached in association with the identification information indicated by the two-dimensional code attached to something other than the article. That is, the master database 111 stores identification information indicating a location.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of information stored in the master database 111 according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
The master database 111 stores an article master table for storing article information and an area master table for storing warehouse location information.
As shown in FIG. 2A, the article master table includes, for each article and each place where the two-dimensional code is attached, identification information indicating the article or place, and a shelf of a storage shelf in which the article is stored. Stores a number.

As shown in FIG. 2B, the area master table stores the shelf number of the storage shelf existing in the area and the identification information indicated by the two-dimensional code attached to the area in association with the warehouse area.
The warehouse area is information indicating each area when the warehouse is divided into square areas filling the warehouse, as shown in FIG. The square area is obtained by dividing the warehouse by a straight line parallel to the orthogonal X axis and Y axis. In the present embodiment, the square filling the warehouse as an area has been described as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and other polygons may be used as long as the polygon fills a plane such as a regular triangle, a regular hexagon, or a rectangle. .

  Next, the operation of the article management system 100 according to the first embodiment will be described. In the present embodiment, the operation when paying out an article will be described, but the same operation is performed when storing.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the article management system 100 according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
When the worker carries the portable terminal 120 and starts paying out the articles in the warehouse, the worker causes the portable terminal 120 to read a two-dimensional code existing near the current location. Thereby, the reading part 123 of the portable terminal 120 reads identification information from a two-dimensional code (step S1).

  When the reading unit 123 reads the identification information, the identification information output unit 124 outputs the identification information to the article management apparatus 110. When the identification information input unit 115 of the article management device 110 receives the input of identification information, the target article deletion unit 116 determines whether or not the list indicated by the identification information is included in the list stored in the target article storage unit 112. Determine (step S2). When it is determined that the product indicated by the identification information is included in the list stored in the target product storage unit 112 (step S2: YES), the target product deletion unit 116 deletes the product from the list (step S3).

  When the product indicated by the identification information is not included in the list stored in the target article storage unit 112 (step S2: NO), or when the product is deleted in step S3, the target article specifying unit 113 displays the master database 111. Whether or not there is a warehouse area associated with the identification information is determined from the area master table stored in (step S4). When it is determined that there is a warehouse area associated with the identification information (step S4: YES), the target article specifying unit 113 reads the warehouse area from the area master table (step S5).

  On the other hand, when the target article specifying unit 113 determines that there is no warehouse area associated with the identification information (step S4: NO), the shelf associated with the identification information from the article master table stored in the master database 111. The number is read, and the warehouse area associated with the shelf number is read from the area master table (step S6).

  When the target article specifying unit 113 reads the warehouse area in step S5 or step S6, the target article specifying unit 113 executes target article search processing starting from the warehouse area, that is, the position of the worker (step S7). The target article search process is a process of searching for articles associated with the place closest to the warehouse area among the articles stored in the target article storage unit 112.

Here, a detailed operation of the target article search process will be described.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of the target article search process according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
First, the target article specifying unit 113 determines whether there is a shelf number associated with the warehouse area specified in the area master table (step S71). When it is determined that there is a shelf number associated with the warehouse area (step S71: YES), the target article identification unit 113 reads the article associated with the shelf number from the article master table (step S72). Next, the target article specifying unit 113 determines whether or not there is a read article in the list stored in the target article storage unit 112 (step S73).

When the target article specifying unit 113 determines that the read article is not in the list (step S73: NO) or when it is determined that there is no shelf number associated with the warehouse area in step S71 (step S71: NO), A warehouse area adjacent to the warehouse area is designated (step S74). Then, the process returns to step S71, and determination processing is performed for each designated warehouse area.
On the other hand, when the target article specifying unit 113 determines in step S73 that the read article is in the list (step S73: YES), the article is specified as the target article, and the process returns to the original flow.

  In other words, by executing the target article search process, the target article specifying unit 113 stores the article by tracing the adjacent area from the designated area among the articles stored in the target article storage unit 112. When moving to an area, it is possible to identify an article that minimizes the number of areas that need to be traced.

  The target article specifying unit 113 determines whether or not the articles specified by the target article search process in step S7 are stored in different areas (step S8). When the target article specifying unit 113 determines that the articles in the list are stored in the same area (step S8: NO), the target article specifying unit 113 specifies an article existing in the area as an article to be paid out (step S9). .

  On the other hand, when it is determined that the articles in the list are stored in different areas (step S8: YES), the target article specifying unit 113 executes the target article search process starting from each of the areas where the articles are stored. (Step S10). Then, the target article specifying unit 113 pays out the article having the smaller number of warehouse areas that pass from the warehouse area that is the starting point in step S10 to the warehouse area in which the article specified by the target article search process is stored. Is identified as the target article (step S11).

  Next, the display information output unit 114 generates display information indicating the location where the article specified by the target article specifying unit 113 is stored, and outputs the display information to the mobile terminal 120. The display information may include, for example, an article number, a name, and a shelf number of a storage shelf (a place where the article is stored). When the display information input unit 121 of the portable terminal 120 receives the input of display information, the display unit 122 displays the display information (step S12).

  When the worker moves to the storage shelf displayed on the portable terminal 120 and picks up the article, the worker causes the portable terminal 120 to read the two-dimensional code attached to the article. Thereby, the process of the said step S1-step S12 is performed again, and the place of the next article | item is displayed on the portable terminal 120. FIG.

  Further, according to the present embodiment, when the number of articles to be paid out newly increases while the worker is paying out the goods, the administrator sends information on the targeted articles to the article management apparatus 110. input. As a result, the target article adding unit 117 of the article management apparatus 110 adds the article to the list stored in the target article storage unit 112. Also in this case, when the portable terminal 120 next reads the two-dimensional code, the article management apparatus 110 generates display information based on a list in which new articles are added. Thereby, the article management system 100 can present the shortest pickup path to the worker including the added article.

  In addition, according to the present embodiment, even when an operator picks up an article that is not displayed on the mobile terminal 120 among the articles stored in the list stored in the target article storage unit 112, the target article deletion unit 116 deletes the article from the list and searches for a new route. Accordingly, the article management system 100 can present the shortest pickup route to the worker even when the worker picks up an article that is not displayed on the mobile terminal 120.

  Further, according to the present embodiment, the two-dimensional code is affixed in addition to the article, and the identification information indicated by the two-dimensional code is associated with the affixed location. Thereby, even when the worker who has taken a break resumes work from a place where there is no storage shelf, the article management system 100 allows the portable terminal 120 to read the two-dimensional code affixed to the place, An appropriate route can be presented to the worker.

<< Second Embodiment >>
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described.
The article management system 100 according to the second embodiment is different from the first embodiment in the configuration of the area master table stored in the master database 111 and the operation of the target article specifying unit 113.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of an area master table stored in the master database 111 according to the second embodiment of the present invention.
The area master table according to the second embodiment stores a moving condition to an adjacent area in addition to a warehouse area, a shelf number, and identification information. According to FIG. 5, the area master table stores whether or not the warehouse area can be moved to the plus side and minus side in the X-axis direction, and whether the warehouse area can be moved to the plus side and minus side in the Y-axis direction. In FIG. 5, the area master table stores 1 as a movement condition if it can move, and 0 if it cannot move. Note that the area is designated as immovable when adjacent to a wall or when straddling a storage shelf.

Then, in step S74 of the target article search process, the target article specifying unit 113 specifies a movable area among areas adjacent to the designated area as the next search target.
Thereby, the article management system 100 according to the second embodiment can calculate a more strict movement distance in consideration of the arrangement of storage shelves and the like as compared with the first embodiment.

  In the present embodiment, the case where the master database 111 stores the movement condition as a flag indicating whether or not each adjacent area can be moved has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, only the movable area may be stored in association with each area, or only the non-movable area may be stored.

<< Third Embodiment >>
Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described.
The article management system 100 according to the third embodiment of the present invention includes a tablet terminal (portable terminal) having a screen larger than the handy terminal in addition to the handy terminal type portable terminal 120.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of display information generated by the display information output unit 114 according to the third embodiment of the present invention.
Further, the target article specifying unit 113 according to the third embodiment of the present invention specifies the target article by the above-described processing of Step S1 to Step S11, and then uses the position of the specified article as the worker's position. The articles not specified among the articles stored in the target article storage unit 112 are sequentially specified. Then, as shown in FIG. 6, the display information output unit 114 generates display information indicating a route connecting the articles in the order specified by the target article specifying unit 113 on the warehouse map, and displays the display information on the tablet terminal. To display.

  As a result, the article management system 100 according to the third embodiment can output an instruction of the pickup route more specifically to the worker, and thus can prevent the operator from making a mistake. Information can be appropriately provided to inexperienced workers.

  Note that the tablet-type mobile terminal 120 may receive display information by directly communicating with the article management apparatus 110, or may receive display information via the handy terminal-type mobile terminal 120. Further, when the tablet terminal includes the reading unit 123, a configuration without the handy terminal type portable terminal 120 may be employed.

Although several embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail with reference to the drawings, the specific configuration is not limited to that described above, and various designs can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. It is possible to make changes.
For example, in the above-described embodiment, the case where the article management system 100 includes the article management apparatus 110 and the mobile terminal 120 has been described. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and for example, each processing unit of the article management apparatus 110 described above. The structure provided with may be sufficient.

  The article management apparatus 110 and the portable terminal 120 described above have a computer system inside. The operation of each processing unit described above is stored in a computer-readable recording medium in the form of a program, and the above processing is performed by the computer reading and executing this program. Here, the computer-readable recording medium means a magnetic disk, a magneto-optical disk, a CD-ROM, a DVD-ROM, a semiconductor memory, or the like. Alternatively, the computer program may be distributed to the computer via a communication line, and the computer that has received the distribution may execute the program.

  The program may be for realizing a part of the functions described above. Furthermore, what can implement | achieve the function mentioned above in combination with the program already recorded on the computer system, and what is called a difference file (difference program) may be sufficient.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 ... Article management system 110 ... Article management apparatus 111 ... Master database 112 ... Target article memory | storage part 113 ... Target article specific | specification part 114 ... Display information output part 115 ... Identification information input part 116 ... Target article deletion part 117 ... Target article addition part DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 120 ... Portable terminal 121 ... Display information input part 122 ... Display part 123 ... Reading part 124 ... Identification information output part

Claims (11)

A master database that stores information related to the location where the article is stored for each article;
A target article storage unit for storing a list of articles to be paid out or stored;
Among the articles stored in the target article storage unit, a target article specifying unit for specifying the item associated with the place closest to the worker's position in the master database;
A display unit for displaying a place where the article specified by the target article specifying unit is stored,
The article management system, wherein the display unit is provided on a portable terminal carried by an operator. The master database stores the identification information of the article in association with the article indicated by the identification information and the location where the article is stored,
A reading unit provided in the portable terminal for reading the identification information;
A target article deletion unit that deletes an article associated with the identification information read by the reading unit from a list of articles stored in the target article storage unit;
The article management system according to claim 1, wherein the target article specifying unit specifies the article using a location associated with the identification information read by the reading unit as the position of the worker. The target article specifying unit is closest to the location of the article when there are a plurality of articles stored in the master article database that are associated with the location closest to the worker's position. The article management system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the article having the shortest distance to the article existing at the place is specified. The master database stores the position of the area including the place when the warehouse storing the article is filled with a polygonal area as information on the place where the article is stored,
The target article specifying unit is an area in which the article stored in the master database is stored by tracing an adjacent area from an area including the position of the worker among the articles stored in the target article storage unit. The article management system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein an article that minimizes the number of areas that need to be traced when moving to a location is identified. The master database stores whether each adjacent area is movable in association with the area,
The target article specifying unit stores the article stored in the master database by tracing an adjacent movable area from the area including the position of the worker among the articles stored in the target article storage unit. 5. The article management system according to claim 4, wherein an article that minimizes the number of areas that need to be traced when moving to a certain area is identified.   The article management system according to any one of claims 1 to 5, further comprising a target article addition unit that newly adds an article to a list of articles stored in the target article storage unit. The article management system according to claim 2, wherein the master database stores identification information indicating a predetermined place in association with the place in addition to the identification information of the article. The target article specifying unit specifies an article stored in the target article storage unit that is associated with a location closest to the worker's position in the master database, and then determines the position of the specified article. As the position, sequentially specify the articles not specified among the articles stored in the target article storage unit,
The article management according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the display unit displays the locations where the articles specified by the target article specifying unit are stored in association with each other in the specified order. system. An article management method using an article management system including a portable terminal carried by an operator,
The target article specifying unit works in a master database that stores information related to the location where the article is stored for each article among the articles stored in the target article storage unit that stores a list of articles to be paid out or stored. Identify the item associated with the location closest to the person ’s location,
The display part of the said portable terminal displays the place where the goods specified by the said target goods specific | specification part were stored. The goods management method characterized by the above-mentioned. A master database that stores information related to the location where the article is stored for each article;
A target article storage unit for storing a list of articles to be paid out or stored;
Among the articles stored in the target article storage unit, a target article specifying unit for specifying the item associated with the place closest to the worker's position in the master database;
An article management apparatus comprising: a display information output unit configured to display a location where an article specified by the target article specifying unit is stored on a portable terminal carried by an operator. Computer
Among the articles stored in the target article storage unit that stores the list of articles to be paid out or stored, the master database that stores the information on the location where the article is stored for each article is the closest to the worker's position. A target article identification unit that identifies an article associated with the place,
The program for functioning as a display information output part which displays the place where the goods specified by the target article specifying part are stored on a portable terminal carried by the worker.

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