JP2017017342A - Manufacturing processing system and manufacturing efficiency improving method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make it possible to reduce energy consumption of a transfer device.SOLUTION: A manufacturing processing system comprises: a manufacturing efficiency improving device including a device state acquisition unit for acquiring a state of a processing device for processing an object to be processed, and a transfer instruction transmission unit for transmitting a transfer instruction for performing transfer from a predetermined position to the processing device; and a transfer control device that, according to the transfer instruction from the transfer instruction transmission unit, moves a transfer device for transferring the object to be processed along an intra-bay transfer route from the predetermined position to a standby position in the vicinity of the processing device, stops the transfer device at the standby position, and, then when the device state acquisition unit has acquired the state of the processing device having been a state capable of mounting the object to be processed, moves the transfer device along the intra-bay transfer route from the standby position to the processing device.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a production processing system and a production efficiency improving method for efficiently controlling a conveying apparatus that conveys an object to be processed to a processing apparatus.

  A semiconductor production factory is provided with a plurality of processing apparatuses that perform various processes on an object to be processed. In recent years, semiconductor manufacturing factories are becoming large-scale, and it is required to suppress energy consumption of the whole factories.

  For example, in Patent Document 1, energy saving is achieved by automatically shifting from the normal state to the idle state when the standby time of the processing device exceeds a predetermined period. Patent Document 2 discloses a technique for switching the operation mode in consideration of the recovery time required when the processing device switches the operation mode. Thus, various techniques have been proposed to reduce the energy consumption of the processing apparatus.

  By the way, the object to be processed is transferred to each processing apparatus by the transfer apparatus. In large semiconductor production factories, the transfer equipment can reach thousands. Therefore, it is necessary to suppress not only the processing apparatus but also the energy consumption of the transfer apparatus.

  Patent Document 3 discloses a technique for selecting an appropriate conveyance vehicle using an estimated time until an article can be loaded on the conveyance vehicle and an arrival time of the conveyance vehicle at a station.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2004-200485 JP 2007-242854 A JP 2004-281622 A

  Generally, when an object to be processed is carried into a processing apparatus, the conveying apparatus circulates on the conveying path, and measures the unloading timing to the processing apparatus until the processing apparatus can mount the object to be processed. . While the transport device is circulating, the transport device consumes energy, but this energy is wasted energy that does not contribute to the manufacture of semiconductor products.

  Moreover, in patent document 3 mentioned above, it does not consider selecting an appropriate processing apparatus only from the several processing apparatus only by selecting an appropriate conveyance trolley | bogie. For this reason, the transport path becomes long, and there is a possibility that useless energy is consumed for transport.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a production processing system and a production efficiency improving method capable of reducing the energy consumption of the transfer device.

According to one aspect of the present invention, a production efficiency improving apparatus that selects a processing apparatus that should process a target object in consideration of each position of a plurality of processing apparatuses;
There is provided a production efficiency improvement system comprising: a transfer control device that moves a transfer device that transfers the object to be processed from a predetermined position to the selected processing device.

Moreover, according to one aspect of the present invention, an apparatus state acquisition unit that acquires the state of a processing apparatus that processes an object to be processed, and a transport instruction transmission unit that transmits a transport instruction for transporting the processing apparatus from a predetermined position to the processing apparatus. And a production efficiency improvement device comprising:
In response to a transport instruction from the transport instruction transmission unit, the transport device that transports the object to be processed is moved from the predetermined position to a standby position near the processing device, and the transport device is stopped at the standby position. Then, a transfer control device that moves the transfer device from the standby position to the processing device when the device state acquisition unit acquires that the processing device is ready to mount the object to be processed. A production efficiency improvement system characterized by comprising the above is provided.

  According to the present invention, the energy consumption of the transport device can be reduced.

1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a production efficiency improvement system according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The figure which shows an example of the conveyance path | route of the conveying apparatus. The block diagram which showed an example of the structure of the processing apparatus. The block diagram which shows an example of the internal structure of the production efficiency improvement apparatus 4 which concerns on 1st Embodiment. The flowchart which shows an example of the processing operation of the production efficiency improvement apparatus 4. The block diagram which shows an example of the internal structure of the production efficiency improvement apparatus 4a which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. The block diagram which shows an example of an internal structure of the conveyance control apparatus 8 which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. The sequence diagram which shows an example of processing operation of the production efficiency improvement apparatus 4a and the conveyance control apparatus 8. FIG. The figure which shows the example of a waiting | standby path | route. The block diagram which shows the internal structure of the production efficiency improvement apparatus 4b which concerns on 3rd Embodiment.

  Embodiments according to the present invention will be specifically described below with reference to the drawings.

(First embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a production efficiency improvement system according to the first embodiment of the present invention. 1 includes a scheduler 2, a dispatcher 3, a production efficiency device 4, a plurality of processing devices 5, a plurality of processing device controllers 6, a plurality of transport devices 7, and a transport control device. 8 and.

  The scheduler 2 creates a production plan for an object to be processed (for example, a semiconductor device) in a production factory (for example, a semiconductor manufacturing factory). This production plan is sequentially updated based on the production progress plan.

  Based on the production plan created by the scheduler 2, the dispatcher 3 gives operation instructions to the plurality of processing devices 5 that process the object to be processed.

  The scheduler 2 and the dispatcher 3 together constitute a production execution control device (MES: Manufacturing Execution System) 9 and can actually be realized by, for example, one or a plurality of computers.

  The production efficiency improving device 4 controls the plurality of processing devices 5 based on the processing results in the scheduler 2 and the dispatcher 3. As will be described later, the production efficiency device 4 of the present embodiment has a device location map (not shown) indicating the position information of each processing device 5.

  The plurality of processing apparatuses 5 include, for example, a plasma CVD apparatus, a plasma etching apparatus, a sputtering apparatus, and a PVD apparatus that process an object to be processed such as a glass substrate for manufacturing an organic EL device or a silicon wafer for manufacturing a semiconductor device or the like. The specific processing content is not questioned.

  In addition, the plurality of processing devices 5 may be classified into a plurality of groups in which two or more processing devices 5 that perform the same processing are included in one group and each perform different processing. Or when performing one process process continuously with the some processing apparatus 5, you may provide several groups which perform the same process process by making these processing apparatuses 5 into one group.

  A processing device controller 6 is provided in association with each of the plurality of processing devices 5. Upon receiving an instruction from the production efficiency improving device 4, these processing device controllers 6 control the operation of the corresponding processing device 5 and detect signals from various sensors (not shown) connected to the processing device 5. The type of the sensor is not particularly limited. For example, the temperature, humidity, gas flow rate, and degree of vacuum in the chamber in the processing apparatus 5 are measured.

  The transport device 7 is, for example, a transport shuttle that travels on a track installed on a ceiling or a floor, an automatic guided vehicle that travels on a predetermined route, and the like, and transports a transport container (carrier). The transfer device 7 moves between the plurality of processing devices 5 and the stocker storing the carrier based on an instruction given from the transfer control device 8 and transfers the object to be processed accommodated in the carrier. .

  The transport control device 8 constitutes a so-called MCS (Material Control System), and controls the operation of the transport device 7 based on the transport plan created by the scheduler 2.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a conveyance path of the conveyance device 7. FIG. 2 shows a conveyance path in one process of the object to be processed. As shown in the figure, an inter-process (Inter-Bay) transport path 11 for transporting each process is provided in the central portion, and an intra-process (Intra-Bay) transport path 12 is provided on both sides thereof. Yes.

  The left and right in-process conveyance paths 12 are substantially U-shaped, and the inter-process conveyance paths 11 are connected to the entrances at both ends. A stocker 13 for temporarily storing an object to be processed such as a wafer is provided at the entrance / exit of both ends of the in-process transfer path 12. The object to be processed conveyed from the inter-process conveyance path 11 is temporarily stored in the stocker 13 and then taken out at a desired timing and conveyed on the intra-process conveyance path 12. As described above, the stocker 13 is provided to absorb the difference between the processing completion timing in each processing apparatus 5 and the conveyance timing in the previous process or the next process.

  The in-process transfer path 12 is, for example, a U-shaped rail installed on the ceiling or floor, and a transfer device 7 (OHT: Overhead Hoist Transfer) having a hoist mechanism that moves up and down by belt driving on the rail travels. . When the transfer device 7 reaches directly above the processing device 5 to be processed, the transport device 7 is lowered by the hoist mechanism to mount the processing object on the processing device 5.

  The plurality of processing apparatuses 5 are arranged on both sides of the in-process conveyance path 12. As described above, the processing devices 5 that perform the same processing may be arranged close to each other as one group, and when one process process is shared by a plurality of processing devices 5, a plurality of processing devices 5 are arranged in the processing order. The processing devices 5 may be arranged side by side.

  In the following description, it is assumed that the processing apparatus 5 provided along one in-process conveyance path 12 constitutes one group 20. For example, in the group 20 of FIG. 2, the devices 5 a to 5 f constitute one group 20. A stocker 13 is provided corresponding to each of the groups 20.

  In FIG. 2, there are two types of transfer devices 7. That is, the inter-process transport apparatus 7 a that moves on the inter-process transport path 11 and the intra-process transport apparatus 7 b that moves on the intra-process transport path 12. The transport apparatus 7a temporarily stores the object to be processed in the stocker 13 corresponding to the group 20 including the processing apparatus 5 that processes the object. The transport device 7 b transports the target object stored in the stocker 13 to the processing device 5. In the present embodiment, the energy of the transfer device 7b is reduced.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of the processing device 5. The processing apparatus 5 is, for example, a multi-chamber type substrate processing system. The processing apparatus 5 includes a load module (LM: Load) provided with first and second load ports (LP: Load Port) 22a and 22b on which carriers are placed in order to deliver a carrier that accommodates the workpiece W. Module) 23. A transfer module (TM: Transfer Module) 25 is connected to the load module 23 via load lock modules (LLM) 241, 24b. A vacuum robot (not shown) included in the transfer module 25 transports the workpiece W loaded through the load lock modules 241 and 24b to process modules (PM) 26a to 26d. The process modules 26a to 26d perform a predetermined process on the workpiece W based on the recipe. The processed object W is collected on a carrier placed on the first load port 22a or the second load port 22b along a path opposite to the carry-in, and is carried out in units of carriers.

  In the multi-chamber type substrate processing system shown in FIG. 3, the process modules 26a to 26d and the transfer module 25 are always kept in a vacuum state, and the load lock modules 241 and 24b and the transfer module 25 are gate valves (not shown). ). The gate valve is opened in a state where the load lock modules 241 and 24b are in a vacuum, and the workpiece W is transported between the process modules 26a to 26d and the load lock modules 241 and 24b. A vacuum pump evacuates the load lock modules 241 and 24b.

  FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating an example of an internal configuration of the production efficiency improvement device 4 according to the first embodiment. The production efficiency improving apparatus 4 in FIG. 4 includes an apparatus location map 41, a first apparatus selecting unit 42, a second apparatus selecting unit 43, and an apparatus answering unit 44. The processing operations of the first device selection unit 42, the second device selection unit 43, and the device response unit 44 may be performed by hardware or software. If the production efficiency improvement device 4 is configured by a computer, a program (software) for performing processing operations of each part of the production efficiency improvement device 4 is executed by the computer, so that all or part of the processing of the production efficiency improvement device 4 can be performed by software. Can be realized.

  The device location map 41 indicates position information regarding each of the plurality of processing devices 5, and holds, for example, the position of each processing device 5 as coordinates. In FIG. 2, by referring to the apparatus location map 41, the transfer distance from the stocker 13 to each processing apparatus is the processing apparatuses 5 a, 5 b, 5 c when the object to be processed is transferred counterclockwise with reference to the stocker 13. , 5d, 5e, and 5f, and when the workpiece is conveyed clockwise with reference to the stocker 13, the processing devices 5f, 5e, 5d, 5c, 5b, and 5a are short in that order.

  When the first device selection unit 42 receives an inquiry from the scheduler 2 to the dispatcher 3 about the processing device 5 that sets an arbitrary product lot, the first device selection unit 42, based on the object to be processed and the product produced using the object to be processed, Among the plurality of processing devices 5 in the group 20, one or a plurality of devices 5 capable of processing the object to be processed are selected. For example, the processing device generated by the scheduler 2 is used to exclude the processing device 5 that is in use or maintenance, and the first device is considered in consideration of the processing required for the product to be produced and the required accuracy. The selection unit 42 selects the processing device 5.

  The second device selection unit 43 selects one of the processing devices 5 selected by the first device selection unit 42 in consideration of the device location map 41. More specifically, the second device selection unit 43 is, for example, a stocker among the processing devices 5 selected by the first device selection unit 42 so that the energy for transporting the object to be processed to the processing device 5 is reduced. The processing device 5 with the shortest transport distance from 13 is selected.

  The device answering unit 44 replies to the scheduler 2 to the dispatcher 3 with the processing device 5 selected by the second device selection unit 43 as a candidate for the processing device 5 that processes the object to be processed.

  As described above, one of the features of the present embodiment is that a candidate for the processing device 5 is selected in consideration of the device location map 41. If the apparatus location map 41 is not taken into consideration, there is a possibility that a distant processing apparatus 5 may be selected even when the processing apparatus 5 close to the stocker 13 can be used. In this case, the transport distance from the stocker 13 to the processing device 5 becomes long, and energy is wasted. On the other hand, in this embodiment, since the processing apparatus 5 close to the stocker 13 is selected, energy consumption can be reduced.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an example of the processing operation of the production efficiency system. First, the scheduler 2 to the dispatcher 3 transmit an inquiry of the processing device 5 for setting an arbitrary product lot (step S11). When the production efficiency improvement device 4 receives the inquiry (step S21), the first device selection unit 42 of the production efficiency improvement device 4 selects one or a plurality of processing devices 5 capable of processing the object to be processed (step S22). Next, the second device selection unit 43 selects the processing device 5 having the shortest transport distance from the stocker 13 among the processing devices 5 selected by the first device selection unit 42 (step S23). The device answering unit 44 replies to the dispatcher 3 with the processing device 5 selected by the second device selection unit 43 as a candidate for the processing device 5 that processes the object to be processed (step S24).

  When the scheduler 2 to the dispatcher 3 receive the candidate for the processing device 5 (step S12), the scheduler 2 to the dispatcher 3 finally determines the candidate for the processing device 5 that has been answered (step S13). Then, the scheduler 2 to the dispatcher 3 instruct the transfer control device 8 to transfer the target object stored in the stocker 13 to the finally determined processing device 5 (step S14).

  When receiving the conveyance instruction (step S31), the conveyance control device 8 inquires the production efficiency improving device 4 about the time at which the workpiece can be conveyed to the finally determined processing device 5 (step S32). In response to this inquiry, the production efficiency improving device 4 replies to the transport control device 8 with a time when the workpiece can be transported to the processing device 5 (steps S25 and S26). When the transport control device 8 receives a transportable time (step S33), a transport plan to the processing device 5 is created using this time as a transport scheduled time (step S34).

  Based on the created transfer plan, the transfer control device 8 determines an optimal transfer route for transferring the object to be processed from the stocker 13 to the processing device 5 (step S35), and the transfer control device 8 determines the transfer device 7b. By controlling, the object to be processed stored in the stocker 13 is transported to the processing device 5 through the determined transport path.

  As described above, in the first embodiment, since the processing device 5 that performs processing is selected in consideration of the arrangement of the processing devices 5, the transport distance of the transport device 7b can be shortened, and as a result, energy consumption can be reduced.

(Second Embodiment)
In the second embodiment, the transport device 7b is efficiently moved to reduce energy consumption. A schematic configuration of a production efficiency improvement system 1 according to the second embodiment of the present invention is represented by a block diagram similar to FIG.

  FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing an example of the internal configuration of the production efficiency improvement device 4a according to the second embodiment. The production efficiency improving apparatus 4a in the figure includes an apparatus state acquisition unit 45 and a conveyance instruction transmission unit 46.

  The apparatus state acquisition unit 45 acquires the state of each processing apparatus 5, more specifically, whether or not the processing apparatus 5 can mount the object to be processed from the processing apparatus controller 6.

  The conveyance instruction transmission unit 46 sends a conveyance instruction to the conveyance control device 8 and moves the conveyance device 7b to the processing device 5 in two stages. First, the conveyance instruction transmission unit 46 instructs to move the conveyance device 7 b from the stocker 13 to a standby position near the processing device 5. Thereafter, when the apparatus state acquisition unit 45 acquires that the processing apparatus 5 to which the object to be processed is carried is ready to mount the object to be processed, the conveyance instruction transmission unit 46 processes the conveyance apparatus 7b from the standby position. Instruct to move to the device 5.

  FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating an example of an internal configuration of the transport control device 8 according to the second embodiment. The conveyance control device 8 in the figure includes a conveyance instruction receiving unit 81 and a control unit 82. The conveyance instruction receiving unit 81 receives a conveyance instruction from the production efficiency improving device 4a. The controller 82 moves the transport device 7b based on the transport instruction.

  The processing operation of each part of the production efficiency improving device 4a in FIG. 6 and the conveyance control device 8 in FIG. 7 may also be performed by hardware or software.

  FIG. 8 is a sequence diagram showing an example of processing operations of the production efficiency improving device 4a and the transfer control device 8. Here, it is assumed that the processing apparatus 5 for processing the object to be processed has already been determined. The method for determining the processing device 5 is not particularly limited, and may be determined based on the device location map 41 as described in the first embodiment, or may be determined without considering the position of each processing device 5. May be. In addition, it is assumed that the transfer plan and the optimal transfer route have already been determined by the transfer control device 8.

  In the present embodiment, a conveyance instruction is issued from the scheduler 2 to the dispatcher 3 to the conveyance control device 8 via the production efficiency improving device 4a. When the scheduler 2 to the dispatcher 3 transmit a transport instruction based on the transport plan, the transport instruction transmission unit 46 of the production efficiency improving device 4a moves the transport device 7b from the stocker 13 based on the processing plan of the plurality of processing devices 5. Then, a conveyance instruction for moving to a standby position in the vicinity of the processing apparatus 5 that performs the process is transmitted to the conveyance control apparatus 8 (step S41).

  When the transport instruction receiving unit 81 of the transport control device 8 receives this transport instruction (step S51), the control unit 82 moves the transport device 7b from the stocker 13 to the standby position on the determined transport path based on the transport instruction. The workpiece is moved to the standby position (step S52). And the control part 82 stops the energy supply to the conveying apparatus 7b in a stand-by position, and stops a movement once. Thereby, the conveying apparatus 7b will be in a state with low energy consumption.

  The reason why the object to be processed is not immediately brought into the processing apparatus 5 is that the processing apparatus 5 is performing a process on another object to be processed or is in a sleep state, so that the object to be processed is not necessarily mounted. Because there is no limit. Before the processing apparatus 5 can mount the object to be processed, the object to be processed is transported to a standby position in the vicinity thereof in advance, thereby improving the processing efficiency.

  The standby position is provided at least at a position where the transport distance from the standby position to the processing device 5 is shorter than the transport distance from the stocker 13 to the processing device 5. The standby position may be provided on the in-process transfer path 11 of FIG. 2, but a standby path for temporarily retracting the transfer apparatus 7b may be provided. The standby path is provided by branching from the intra-process transport path 11, and may be, for example, a path 12a branched from the intra-process transport path 11 in a T shape as shown in FIG. As shown in b), it may be a bypass path 12b of the in-process transport path 11. By providing such a standby path, the transfer device 7b can be put on standby without hindering the movement of the other transfer device 7b.

  Thereafter, when the apparatus state acquisition unit 45 of the production efficiency improving apparatus 4a acquires that the processing apparatus 5 that is the destination of the object to be processed is ready to mount the object to be processed (YES in step S42), a conveyance instruction The transmission unit 46 transmits a conveyance instruction for moving the conveyance device 7b from the standby position to the processing device 5 to the conveyance control device 8 (step S43).

  When the conveyance instruction receiving unit 81 of the conveyance control device 8 receives this conveyance instruction (step S53), the control unit 82 supplies energy to the conveyance device 7b based on the conveyance instruction, and the conveyance device from the standby position to the processing device 5 is supplied. 7b is moved. Thereby, the to-be-processed object is conveyed to the processing apparatus 5, and is mounted in the processing apparatus 5 (step S54).

  If the transfer control device 8 cannot receive a carry-in instruction from the production efficiency improving device 4a to the processing device 5, the transfer control device 8 does not know when the transfer device 7b may be moved to the processing device 5. . For this reason, the transfer device 7b must circulate on the in-process transfer path 11 until the processing device 5 can be mounted, which wastes energy.

  On the other hand, in this embodiment, the conveyance control apparatus 8 cooperates with the production efficiency improvement apparatus 4a. Therefore, it can be stopped at the standby position until it can be mounted on the processing device 5, and energy consumption can be reduced compared to the case where the transport device 7b goes around. Further, since the standby position is provided in the vicinity of the processing apparatus 5, when the mountable state is reached, the object to be processed can be quickly conveyed to the processing apparatus 5 and the processing efficiency is improved.

  As described above, in the second embodiment, first, the object to be processed is conveyed to the vicinity of the processing apparatus 5 to temporarily stop the conveying apparatus 7b, and then the object to be processed is mounted when the processing apparatus 5 is mountable. It is carried into the processing device 5. Therefore, the transfer device 7b can be moved efficiently and energy consumption can be reduced. Further, hardware such as a temporary storage such as a buffer provided in the vicinity of the apparatus can be minimized.

(Third embodiment)
In the third embodiment, adjustment is made so that the total amount of energy consumed by the plurality of processing devices 5 and the transfer device 7 does not exceed the maximum amount of energy consumed.

  A schematic configuration of a production efficiency improvement system 1 according to the third embodiment of the present invention is represented by a block diagram similar to FIG. In the present embodiment, it is assumed that the maximum energy consumption consumed in the production efficiency improvement system 1 is determined in advance by a contract with an electric power company, etc. The device 7 is operated.

  The production efficiency improvement system 1 according to the third embodiment is premised on processing the object to be processed for each lot. In one lot, a plurality of objects to be processed are processed by one or a plurality of processing apparatuses 5. The plurality of processing devices 5 are classified into a plurality of groups, with two or more processing devices 5 performing the same processing as a group. In one group, a plurality of objects in the same lot can be processed using a plurality of processing devices 5 belonging to the group.

  In different lots, the same object to be processed may be processed, or different objects to be processed may be processed. Further, the number of objects to be processed in each lot may be the same or different. Information on how many types of objects to be processed in each lot is included in the processing plan of the processing device 5 created by the scheduler 2.

  The processing device controller (consumption energy management unit) 6 connected to each processing device 5 detects the energy consumption amount of the corresponding processing device 5 for each lot. The energy consumption amount of each processing device 5 detected by each processing device controller 6 is sent to the production efficiency improvement device 4 for each lot and totalized. The production efficiency improving device 4 determines in advance the energy consumed by the entire plurality of processing devices based on the energy consumption of each processing device managed by each processing device controller 6 and the processing results of the scheduler 2 and the dispatcher 3 in advance. Whether or not to process the object to be processed by each of the plurality of processing devices is determined for each lot so that the specified maximum energy consumption is not exceeded, and is consumed by the plurality of processing devices as a whole during the processing of each lot. The processing timing of each processing apparatus operating in each lot is individually adjusted so that the energy consumption does not exceed the maximum energy consumption. That is, the production efficiency improving device 4 manages the lot information, the type of processing device to be processed in each lot, and the timing for operating each processing device in each lot.

  FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of the production efficiency improvement device 4b according to the third embodiment. The production efficiency improvement device 4b of FIG. 10 includes an energy consumption totaling unit 61 that totalizes the energy consumption supplied from each processing device controller 6, a table creation unit 62 that tabulates the total energy consumption for each lot, A processing device determination unit 63 that determines a processing device 5 that is to process the next lot, and a transport timing determination unit 64 that determines the timing of transporting the object to be processed to each processing device 5 that is determined to be processed. .

  Based on the processing results of the scheduler 2 and the dispatcher 3, the processing device determination unit 63 grasps the type and number of objects to be processed in the next lot, and refers to the table creation unit 62 to determine in advance. In addition, the maximum number of processing devices 5 that can be operated within a range that does not exceed the maximum energy consumption amount is obtained, and the next lot can be reliably processed within a given time. In addition, the processing device determination unit 43 individually adjusts the processing timing of each processing device operating in each lot so that the energy consumption consumed by the entire plurality of processing devices does not exceed the maximum energy consumption during the processing of each lot. .

  For each processing device 5 determined by the processing device determination unit 63, a processing command is issued via the processing device controller 6 at a predetermined timing. In accordance with this, the production efficiency improving device 4b instructs the transfer control device 8 to transfer the workpiece to each processing device 5 according to the transfer timing determined by the transfer timing determination unit 64.

  In the above description, the example in which the total energy consumed by the plurality of processing devices 5 is controlled so as not to exceed the predetermined maximum energy consumption has been described. However, the energy consumed when transported by the transport device 7 is also described. In consideration, the maximum energy consumption may not be controlled.

  In this case, it is desirable to register in advance in the table creating unit 62 the energy consumption required for the transport device 7 to transport the object to be processed by a unit distance. The production efficiency improving device 4 determines, for each lot, the processing device 5 that processes the object to be processed, and also determines the timing at which the object to be processed is transported to each determined processing device 5, and each determined processing device The total amount of energy consumed in step 5 and the amount of consumed energy required to transport the object to be processed to each processing apparatus 5 are prevented from exceeding the maximum amount of energy consumed.

  More specifically, in order to maximize the processing efficiency of the lot, the number of processing apparatuses 5 that process each object to be processed belonging to the lot is increased to the maximum, and the objects to be processed are connected to each processing apparatus 5 through the shortest path. So that the transfer timing of the transfer device 7 is scheduled. Thereby, it is possible to transport the objects to be processed at the shortest distance to as many processing apparatuses 5 as possible, and to perform processing of a plurality of objects to be processed at these processing apparatuses 5 almost simultaneously, while suppressing the total energy consumption, The production efficiency can be maximized.

  Note that scheduling may be performed so as not to exceed the maximum energy consumption amount in consideration of the energy consumption amounts of devices other than the processing device 5 and the transfer device 7 included in the production efficiency improvement system 1 of FIG.

Note that this embodiment may be combined with the first embodiment described above. That is, the processing device determination unit 63 may determine the processing device 5 that processes the object to be processed in consideration of the arrangement of the processing devices 5 with reference to the device location map 41.
Further, this embodiment may be combined with the above-described second embodiment. That is, the production efficiency improving apparatus 4b in FIG. 10 is further provided with the apparatus state acquisition unit 45 and the conveyance instruction transmission unit 46 in FIG. 6, and the object to be processed is processed to the processing apparatus 5 according to the conveyance path determined by the conveyance timing determination unit 64. When transporting, the object to be processed may be temporarily stopped at the standby position until the processing apparatus 5 is ready to mount the object to be processed.

  As described above, in the third embodiment, the processing schedule of the processing device 5 is created for each lot so that the predetermined maximum energy consumption is not exceeded. Can be done efficiently. In addition, taking into consideration the energy consumption of the transfer device 7, the processing device 5 and the transfer device 7 are scheduled for each lot so that the energy consumption of the entire production efficiency system 1 does not exceed the maximum energy consumption. It is also possible.

  At least a part of the production efficiency improvement system 1 described in the embodiment described above may be configured by hardware or software. When configured by software, a program for realizing at least a part of the functions of the production efficiency improvement system 1 may be stored in a recording medium such as a flexible disk or a CD-ROM, and read and executed by a computer. The recording medium is not limited to a removable medium such as a magnetic disk or an optical disk, but may be a fixed recording medium such as a hard disk device or a memory.

  Further, a program that realizes at least a part of the functions of the production efficiency improvement system 1 may be distributed via a communication line (including wireless communication) such as the Internet. Further, the program may be distributed in a state where the program is encrypted, modulated or compressed, and stored in a recording medium via a wired line such as the Internet or a wireless line.

  Based on the above description, those skilled in the art may be able to conceive additional effects and various modifications of the present invention, but the aspects of the present invention are not limited to the individual embodiments described above. Absent. Various additions, modifications, and partial deletions can be made without departing from the concept and spirit of the present invention derived from the contents defined in the claims and equivalents thereof.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Production efficiency improvement system 2 Scheduler 3 Dispatcher 4, 4a, 4b Production efficiency improvement apparatus 5 Processing apparatus 6 Processing apparatus controller 7, 7a, 7b Conveyance apparatus 8 Conveyance control apparatus 9 Production execution control apparatus 11 Interprocess conveyance path 12 Intraprocess conveyance Road 13 Stocker 41 Device location map 42 First device selection unit 43 Second device selection unit 44 Device response unit 45 Device state acquisition unit 46 Transport instruction transmission unit 61 Energy consumption totaling unit 62 Table creation unit 63 Processing device determination unit 64 Transport Timing determination unit 81 Conveyance instruction reception unit 82 Control unit

Claims (4)

A production efficiency improving apparatus comprising: an apparatus state acquisition unit that acquires a state of a processing apparatus that processes an object to be processed; and a conveyance instruction transmission unit that transmits a conveyance instruction for conveying the processing object from a predetermined position to the processing apparatus;
In response to a transport instruction from the transport instruction transmitting unit, the transport device that transports the object to be processed is moved along the transport path in the process from the predetermined position to a standby position in the vicinity of the processing device. When the apparatus state acquisition unit acquires that the processing apparatus is ready to mount the object to be processed, the in-process transfer path from the standby position to the processing apparatus. A production control system comprising: a conveyance control device that moves the conveyance device along the line. A main transport path for the transport device to move between the predetermined position and the processing device;
A standby path provided in the vicinity of the processing apparatus and branched from the main transport path,
The production processing system according to claim 1, wherein the standby position is set on the standby path. Provided for each of a plurality of processing devices, comprising a plurality of energy consumption management units for managing the energy consumption of the corresponding processing device,
The production efficiency improving device consumes the whole of the plurality of processing devices and the transport device based on the energy consumption of the processing device managed by the energy consumption management unit and the energy consumption of the transport device. A processing device determination unit that determines a processing device to process the object so that the energy does not exceed a predetermined maximum energy consumption;
The production processing system according to claim 1, wherein the conveyance instruction transmission unit transmits a conveyance instruction from the predetermined position to the determined processing apparatus. The step of moving the transfer device for transferring the object to be processed along the in-process transfer path from a predetermined position to a standby position in the vicinity of the processing device for processing the object to be processed, and stopping the transfer device at the standby position. When,
Obtaining a state of the processing device;
And a step of moving the transfer device from the standby position to the processing device along the in-process transfer path when the processing device is ready to mount the object to be processed. Method.

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