JP2017068429A - Workload evaluation device, workload evaluation method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable: worker's workload for each step to be recognized, not by a sensory evaluation, but by an objective value; and information for step optimization to be provided.SOLUTION: A workload evaluation device obtains, for each of a plurality of workers who respectively perform a plurality of steps to be measured, information on body conditions of each of the workers at each point of time, in a state where the plurality of steps to be measured are modelled in a simplified way by detection points corresponding to s plurality of body sites and by lines connecting the detection points. The workload evaluation device determines postures or actions of each of the workers on the basis of changes in the detection points or lines in the obtained information, and calculates workload values respectively on the basis of the determined postures or actions of each of the workers. Then, based on a calculation result of the workload values, the workload evaluation device presents workload evaluation information. Furthermore, the workload evaluation device performs leveling calculation of step contents using the workload values calculated for the plurality of steps to perform control for presenting result information of the leveling calculation.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 9

Description

  The present invention relates to a work load evaluation apparatus and a work load evaluation method, and relates to a technique for evaluating a work load for each process or work in a manufacturing factory or the like.

JP 2001-101422 A JP 2003-10157 A

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-228561 discloses a technique that associates the state of a human body and work object being worked with the burden on the human body, monitors the state of the human body and work object, and provides data effective for work improvement.
Patent Document 2 discloses a technique that can quantify the degree of fatigue of the waist and feet in a standing posture work and create a work form that minimizes fatigue.

Many parts are assembled by workers in the automobile manufacturing process. By continuing this work for a long time, the work burden increases, and there are many cases where work efficiency decreases with time.
This work burden is usually taken up as an operator's sensory voice. For example, the operator's feeling is subjective such as “the second step is more tired than the first step”. In addition, the impression and fatigue of the process differ depending on the weakness of the operator.
Actually, at the production site, the veteran such as the team leader visually judges the conventional work burden. However, unfairness may occur due to subjective judgments rather than objective evaluations, which may reduce worker motivation.

Therefore, to design a production line that includes a large number of processes and a large number of operations, and to manage the personnel assignment to each process, the objective workload is not the subjective impression but the objective of each process. And quantitative evaluation is required. Based on the objective evaluation results, it is desired to create a line design, line improvement and personnel arrangement that can reduce the burden.
Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a system that can obtain information useful for line design and line management.

The work load evaluation device according to the present invention provides a simple model for each of a plurality of workers who respectively execute a plurality of steps to be measured at each time point by using detection points corresponding to a plurality of body parts and lines connecting the detection points. The detection information acquisition unit that acquires information on the physical state of each worker in a state of being converted to the information, and the posture or action of each worker is determined based on the change in the detection point or line in the information obtained by the detection information acquisition unit An operation determination unit, a load calculation unit that calculates a work load value based on the posture or movement of each worker determined by the operation determination unit, and work load evaluation information based on the calculation result of the load calculation unit An output control unit that performs control for presenting, performs leveling calculation of process contents using work burden values calculated for a plurality of processes, and performs control for presenting leveling calculation result information.
That is, the body state of the worker in each process is detected by a simple model, and the posture and motion of the process work process are detected by the detection point and the position and change (movement vector) of each body part, for example, a joint part. . Then, the work burden value is calculated based on the posture or motion of the worker. Based on the work load value, process work load evaluation information and leveling calculation result information are generated and presented.

In the work load evaluation device, the detection information acquisition unit may acquire the three-dimensional positions of the plurality of detection points for each worker from the analysis result of image data obtained by imaging each worker. It is done.
If each worker is imaged and the captured image is analyzed, the three-dimensional position of each worker's detection point can be specified.

In the work load evaluation apparatus, the output control unit may perform one of a plurality of operations in the process so that the load values for the plurality of processes to be measured are within a set equal range as the leveling calculation. It is conceivable to perform an operation to transfer the part to another process.
In order to level the work load of each process, it is an effective technique to transfer a part of a plurality of works in each process. Therefore, leveling calculation is performed in consideration of work transfer.

In the work load evaluation apparatus, it is conceivable that the output control unit performs control to present work transfer information obtained by the leveling calculation as leveling calculation result information.
The information of the work transfer as a simulation result is effective information for improving the production line and managing personnel.

In the above-described work load evaluation apparatus, the output control unit may perform control to present a plurality of processes in which load values are determined to be substantially equal as work load evaluation information or leveling calculation result information.
By presenting a process in which the burden value is substantially equal, for example, within a predetermined burden value range, the process contents can be evaluated for the administrator.

The work load evaluation method according to the present invention corresponds to a plurality of body parts for each of a plurality of workers who respectively execute a plurality of steps to be measured at each time point as a work load evaluation method executed by the information processing apparatus. Information on the physical state of each worker is obtained in a state that is simply modeled by a detection point and a line connecting the detection points, and the posture or movement of each worker is determined based on the change of the detection point or line in the obtained information. Then, based on the determined posture or action of each worker, the work burden value is calculated, and based on the calculation result of the work burden value, control for presenting the work burden evaluation information is performed, and calculation is performed for a plurality of processes. The leveling calculation of the process content is performed using the work burden value thus performed, and control for presenting leveling calculation result information is performed.
Thereby, a work burden evaluation apparatus can be realized using the information processing apparatus.

  According to the present invention, a burden value as an objective value is provided for a process or an operation in the process, and information for leveling the burden value of each process is provided. Information useful for line design and line management can be obtained for a manager, a line manager, and the like.

It is a block diagram of the work burden evaluation system of an embodiment of the invention. It is explanatory drawing of the simple model of the worker's physical condition of embodiment. It is explanatory drawing of the attitude | position and motion detection by the simple model of embodiment. It is explanatory drawing of the three-dimensional position information and process of each detection point detected in embodiment. It is explanatory drawing of the calculated value about each process calculated | required by embodiment. It is a flowchart of the process of the calculating part of embodiment. It is explanatory drawing of the work burden evaluation information of embodiment. It is explanatory drawing of the work burden evaluation information of embodiment. It is explanatory drawing of the workload evaluation information according to process of embodiment, and leveling calculation result information. It is a flowchart of the equalization calculation of embodiment.

<System configuration>
Hereinafter, an embodiment of the work burden evaluation apparatus will be described. 1 is an embodiment of the work load evaluation apparatus of the present invention. FIG. 1 shows an example of a work load evaluation system including a calculation unit 1.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the workload evaluation system includes a calculation unit 1, a database unit 2, a storage unit 3, a display unit 4, a communication unit 5, a printing unit 6, an imaging unit 10, a driving unit 11, a sensor 20, and a receiving unit 21. The detection value generation unit 22 is included.

The imaging unit 10 is a video camera installed on a production line, and images a worker who performs a process operation. In the figure, two imaging units 10 are shown, but not limited to two, but three or more are assumed. This indicates that a plurality of workers are arranged so that each worker can be imaged in each process of the production line.
In the present embodiment, a process for measuring a plurality of workers at the same time and obtaining a process burden value is performed. For this purpose, for example, when two or more workers in adjacent processes are targeted, if each worker can be imaged simultaneously by one camera, even if there is only one imaging unit. Good.
The one or a plurality of imaging units 10 supply the calculation unit 1 with captured image data of each frame captured as a moving image.
Note that the imaging unit 10 performs stereo imaging, and the captured image signal obtained by stereo imaging can also obtain information in the depth direction by using the principle of triangulation in image analysis.
The driving unit 11 provided for each imaging unit 10 is a device for displacing the imaging direction of the imaging unit 10, and includes, for example, a pan / tilt mechanism and its driving motor.

As the sensor 20, for example, a sensor that each worker wears at various positions of the body, a sensor that is installed at a work position and detects the movement of the worker, and the like are assumed. Specifically, an angular velocity sensor, an acceleration sensor, an infrared sensor, a position sensor, and the like.
The detection signal of each sensor 20 is supplied to the reception unit 21 by wire or wirelessly, and the detection signal received by the reception unit is decoded into a detection value by the detection value generation unit 22 and supplied to the calculation unit 1.

  In the system shown in FIG. 1, the captured image signal of the worker by the imaging unit 10 and the detection value by the sensor 20 are information for detecting the posture and motion of the target worker. For this reason, at least one of the imaging unit 10 and the sensor 20 may be used. Of course, both may be used to supplement or correct each other's information.

The computing unit 1 is constituted by a computer device, for example. In other words, the calculation unit 1 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory), an interface unit, and the like, and the CPU executes various processes according to programs stored in the ROM. To do. The RAM appropriately stores data necessary for the CPU to execute various processes.
Note that the information processing apparatus as the computing unit 1 may be realized by a single computer apparatus, or may be realized in cooperation with a plurality of computer apparatuses.
The calculation unit 1 includes an image analysis unit 1a, a camera control unit 1b, a detection information acquisition unit 1c, an operation determination unit 1d, a load calculation unit 1e, and an output control unit 1f as processing functions for the system. Each of these units is a block diagram of processing functions executed by software.

The image analysis unit 1a performs a process of analyzing each frame data as captured image data supplied from the imaging unit 20.
In the case of this example, the worker is mainly detected as a simplified model that is simplified based on information about detection points such as joints and lines connecting the detection points.
FIG. 2 shows an example of a simple model. Detection points P are set for various parts of the human body. In the figure, detection points P0 to P20 are shown as an example. For example, a detection point P is a place that is displaced mainly according to the posture, such as a waist, a head, a neck, and joint portions of limbs.
Each detection point P is connected to another specific detection point P by a line.
For example, the detection point P1 is connected to the detection points P2, P3, and P6 by lines.
The detection point P2 is connected to the detection point P1 only by a line.
The detection point P3 is connected to the detection points P1 and P4 by a line.
As described above, each of the detection points P1 to P20 defines a detection point that is connected by a line, thereby forming a simple model that represents the human body by the point and the line.

  FIG. 3 shows an example in which the posture of the worker is represented by a simple model. 3A is an XY plane, FIG. 3B is a ZY plane, and FIG. 3C is an XZ plane, showing the position of each detection point, and showing a line between the detection points. That is, by detecting the three-dimensional coordinate position for each of the detection points P0 to P20, the posture of the worker at that time can be detected.

In order to detect the posture of the worker using such a simple model, the image analysis unit 1a in FIG. 1 detects the positions (x, y, and z three-dimensional coordinate values of the detection points P0 to P20 from the worker's image. ) Is detected.
In order to accurately detect the worker's body from the captured image data, it is preferable to register the colors of the work clothes (uniforms) and hats in advance so that they can be clearly distinguished from the colors of the factory equipment and products. It is.
Alternatively, it may be possible to determine each detection point P in the human body constituent part by pattern matching.
Further, when the operator attaches the sensor 20 to the wrist, ankle or the like so that the position information thereof can be detected, the three-dimensional position information of the detection point P extracted from the captured image data is used as the position information by the sensor 20. It is possible to correct it.

The camera control unit 1b controls the driving unit 11 to displace the imaging direction of the imaging unit 10. For example, a worker who is working on a process moves the position for the work. The camera control unit 1b performs control so that the follow-up operation of the imaging unit 10 is performed so that the worker does not frame out of the captured image data due to such movement of the worker.
Specifically, the drive unit 11 is driven in accordance with the movement of the worker position recognized by the image analysis unit 1a (change in worker position in each frame).

  At each time point, the detection information acquisition unit 1c is simply modeled with lines connecting the detection points P corresponding to a plurality of body parts of the worker who executes the process to be measured and the detection points P. Get physical condition information. That is, the detection result of the image analysis unit 1a or the detection value by the sensor 20 is acquired and managed as worker information. Specifically, three-dimensional position information of each detection point P0 to P20 is acquired at each measurement timing and stored as a detection result.

FIG. 4A shows an example of worker information acquired and stored by the detection information acquisition unit 1c.
For example, the image analysis unit 1a detects each of the detection points P0 to P (n) (n = 20 in the example of FIG. 2) at a sample timing t (t0, t1, t2,...) That is a predetermined frame interval of the captured image data. Suppose that three-dimensional position information is detected. The detection information acquisition unit 1c acquires the three-dimensional coordinate values of the detection points P0 to P (n) for each sample timing t and stores them. The information as shown in FIG. 4A is acquired for each process, for each worker, and stored and managed.

For example, in the production line, there are processes A, B, C,..., And one worker is in charge of one process. Each process has a plurality of operations. For example, it is assumed that the process A includes operations a1 to a5. As a specific example, for example, one process is a process of attaching a tire to a vehicle body, and each operation is an individual operation such as setting, mounting, and confirmation of a tire.
Assuming that the process A has five operations a1 to a5 as shown in FIG. 4B, the worker WM1 in charge repeats the process A (operations a1 to a5) for the vehicle body on the line. Become.
The three-dimensional position information of the detection points P0 to P20 as shown in FIG. 4A is acquired and stored at each sample timing t, so that the three-dimensional position information of the detection points P0 to P20 in the repeated process is time-series. It will be collected above.
In FIG. 4B, one time of the process A is completed at the sample timings t0 to t99 and t100 to t199, but this is only an example for explanation. For example, even when the same worker performs the same process, it is not always completed in the same time every time. Which sample timing t the information as each operation a1 to a5 in the process A is can be determined by the posture determined by each three-dimensional coordinate value, a change in posture, a change in motion, or the like.

  The motion determination unit 1d determines the posture or motion of the worker based on a change in the detection point P or line in the body state obtained by the detection information acquisition unit 1c. The change of the detection point P or line is represented by the change of the three-dimensional coordinate value of the detection points P0 to P (n) acquired as shown in FIG. 4A. In FIG. 4A, the information on the detection points P is stored. However, since the information on the lines connects the detection points P, the information on the lines can be grasped from the detection points P. Then, the motion determination unit 1d determines the posture and motion of the worker based on the time series change of the information in FIG. 4A.

The load calculation unit 1e calculates a work load value based on the posture or motion of the worker determined by the motion determination unit 1d.
The burden value can be calculated in advance for human postures and movements ergonomically. For example, the burden values for the burden of the posture in which both hands are raised, the burden of the squatting posture, the posture of bending down, the lateral movement operation, the motion of twisting the body, and the like can be calculated in advance. Although the burden varies depending on the duration of each posture and operation, a burden value corresponding to the duration can be set in advance. For example, the posture of raising both hands is not so burdened for a moment, but it is considerably burdensome when it is continuously raised.
These postures and movements, and the burden values according to the time are calculated in advance according to ergonomics, systematized, and registered in the database unit 2.
And the burden calculation part 1e calculates the work burden value about each operation | work in a process or a process based on a series of operation | movement and attitude | positions of an operator in the process determined in the operation | movement determination part 1d and each work, and its duration. To do. For example, a burden value for the motion or posture determined from the detection point P or the amount of movement of the line, its duration, etc. is obtained, and these are added or weighted and added to obtain a series of motions (postures) in the work or process. The work burden value is calculated. Specifically, burden values are individually assigned to the determined posture during work, the angle of a joint such as an arm, and a movement amount, and the work burden value of one work or process is calculated using these.
Further, for example, it is possible to calculate the work burden value through to the end of the work, and to obtain the peak of fatigue and the influence degree (fatigue prediction) when the work is extended.

For example, the burden calculation unit 1e stores calculated values related to processes and operations as shown in FIG.
Various calculated values are assumed. For example, the calculated value MA1 for the process A may be the total burden value of the workload in the process A, MA2 may be the burden value for the shoulder of the worker, MA3 (not shown) may be the burden value for the legs, and the like.
Also, the calculated values for each work (for example, the calculated values Ma1-1, Ma2-2,... For the work a1) may be the total burden value, the burden value of each part, and the like.
The calculation example of the burden value (work load) about a process or a work is shown.

Here, Dis is a movement load in each joint 1 frame, Kdis is a weight of each joint movement amount with respect to the fatigue degree, Pos is a posture load, and Kpos is a weight of each joint angle with respect to the fatigue degree.
Dis is obtained by (Expression 2).

Here, X1, Y1, and Z1 are the coordinates of each joint, and X0, Y0, and Z0 are the coordinates of one frame before each joint.
Pos is obtained by, for example, (Equation 3).

Where U is the weight of the body above each joint, Ku is the weight of the body weight above each joint with respect to the work load, F is the total external force set for each process, and Kf is the external force above each joint with respect to the work load. Weight, θ is a calculated angle of each joint, and P is a constant indicating the posture of a human being.
The above calculation example of the burden value (work load) is only an example.

The output control unit 1 f performs control to present work load evaluation information in the process to be measured based on the calculation result of the load calculation unit 1 e. That is, work load evaluation information is generated, and the work load evaluation information is stored in the storage unit 3, displayed on the display unit 4, transmitted to an external device through the communication unit 5, or printed out by the printing unit 6. Perform control processing.
Further, the output control unit 1f performs leveling calculation of process contents using work burden values calculated for a plurality of processes, and performs control for presenting leveling calculation result information. The leveling calculation result information is, for example, information on the result of a simulation that equalizes the burden on each process. The output control unit 1 f stores such leveling calculation result information in the storage unit 3, displays it on the display unit 4, transmits it to an external device by the communication unit 5, and prints it out by the printing unit 6. Perform control processing.

The database unit 2 stores, for example, a burden value for each posture and motion as described above, and the calculation unit 1 can be referred to sequentially for calculation of a work burden value.
The storage unit 3 stores detection information as shown in FIG. 4A and information of calculated values as shown in FIG. In addition, a program for the calculation unit 1 to execute the above functions is stored.
The display unit 4 is a display device connected to the calculation unit 1 and displays various user interface images and images indicating work load evaluation information.
The communication unit 5 performs communication with an external device by wire or wireless, or performs communication via a communication path such as a LAN (Local Area Network). The computing unit 1 can provide, for example, work load evaluation information to another information processing apparatus or the like through the communication unit 5.
The printing unit 6 is a printer or the like connected to the calculation unit 1 and performs a printing operation in accordance with an instruction from the calculation unit 1.

<Processing procedure>
The processing procedure of the calculation unit 1 will be described with reference to FIG. The calculation unit 1 executes the following processing using the functions (1a to 1f) shown in FIG.
FIG. 6 shows a process for measuring a workload for one worker and process. The calculation unit 1 performs such processing corresponding to each process. Of course, a plurality of computer devices may perform the processing in parallel.

  The calculation unit 1 reads basic information in step S101. For example, the process number, information on the work in the process, information on the worker, various parameter settings in the measurement, and the like are read according to the operation or automatic setting by the operator.

In step S102, the calculation unit 1 starts imaging and / or sensing. That is, the capturing of captured image data from the imaging unit 10 is started. Also, the capturing of the detection value of the sensor 20 is started.
In step S103, the calculation unit 1 performs worker recognition. That is, the operator is recognized by image analysis of the captured image data that has been started. For example, a person wearing work clothes of a specific color is recognized as a worker, and the body position of the worker is grasped.
In step S104, the calculation unit 1 starts worker tracking. That is, the tracking control for controlling the drive unit 11 is started so that the worker recognized on the image does not go out of the frame.

In step S105, the calculation unit 1 stands by for the start of measurement. That is, the worker waits for a trigger to start measurement as soon as the actual process operation starts. The trigger may be an operator instruction, a specific time, or a synchronization signal from the production line management system.
In response to the measurement start trigger, operation unit 1 proceeds to step S106.

In step S106, the calculation unit 1 acquires measurement data. That is, the function of the detection information acquisition unit 1c acquires the analysis result of the image analysis unit 1a and the information from the sensor 20, and stores and manages the information as, for example, information of one sample timing t (x) in FIG. 4A.
In step S107, the calculation unit 1 performs posture data modeling. That is, by the function of the motion determination unit 1d, the posture and motion of the worker are determined from the simple model of the worker expressed by the three-dimensional coordinate value of each detection point P acquired in step S106.
In step S <b> 108, the calculation unit 1 performs work load digitization. That is, the calculation unit 1 calculates various work loads by the function of the additional calculation unit 1e and stores the calculated values.
The processes in steps S106 to S108 are repeated until it is determined in step S109 that the measurement is finished.
During this time, the calculated values in step S108 may be stored as data as shown in FIG. 5 at each time point, or the data as shown in FIG. 5 is updated as an integrated value of the calculated values at each sample timing t. You may do it.

After the measurement is completed, the calculation unit 1 generates burden evaluation information in step S110, and performs leveling calculation in step S111. In step S112, load evaluation information and leveling calculation result information are displayed on the display unit 4.
For example, when performing the above measurement for each process on the production line, burden evaluation information on the burden on the worker for the day is generated, and as a simulation calculation for equalizing the burden of each process The leveling calculation is performed, and the leveling calculation result information is generated and displayed.
In step S112, the burden evaluation information and the leveling calculation result information may be stored in the storage unit 3, printed out by the printing unit 6, or transmitted to an external device by the communication unit 5.
Further, the leveling calculation in step S111 may be executed when a line manager or the like performs an operation for a simulation request, and the leveling calculation result information may be displayed and output after the calculation. That is, the leveling operation can be performed at any time because it can be performed at any time as long as past measurement information and a burden value calculation result exist.

<Presentation of workload evaluation information>
A specific example of the workload evaluation information created in step S110 and displayed in step S112 is shown.

FIG. 7A is an example in which the work burden calculated for each process is quantified. For example, the work burden values at each sample timing t are integrated for each process, and the value of the burden given to the worker by working for one day is obtained and presented so that the processes can be compared.
For one process, the worker's physical condition at each sample timing t can be acquired in step S106 as shown in FIG. 4A, for example, and the burden value is calculated for each unit period in steps S107 and S108. If these burden values are integrated and held until the end of measurement, the calculated values (for example, MA1, MA2,...) Held in each step as shown in FIG. Value. For example, it becomes the burden value of the process in the day work. Therefore, by collecting the integrated values obtained in this way for each process and using it as burden evaluation information, it is possible to display as shown in FIG. 7A.

FIG. 7B is an example in which the work load calculated for each work in a certain process is quantified. For example, for each work in one process, the work burden values at each sample timing t are integrated, the value of the burden given to the worker in one day's work is obtained, and presented so that the work can be compared.
The degree of burden of each work can be seen in one process.
For each work in the process, if an operation pattern or the like by each work is registered in advance, it is possible to determine which work is being performed during the period of each sample timing t by image analysis. Therefore, the calculation of the burden value in step S108 can be executed separately for each work unit, and if the calculated values for each work are integrated, the stored calculated value is the process from the start to the end of the measurement. It becomes the burden value of. For example, the calculated values Ma1-1, Ma2-1... Ma5-1) in FIG. 5 are the burden values of the operations a1 to a5 in the process A from the start to the end of measurement. For example, it becomes a burden value of each work in a day work. Therefore, by collecting the integrated values obtained in this way for each process and using it as load evaluation information, a display as shown in FIG. 7B can be performed.

FIG. 7C is an example in which the momentum load and the posture load are obtained and presented for each part of the body regarding a certain process or work. From such information, it is possible to know where the load is applied to the worker in the process or operation.
The burden value itself relating to each part of the body can be processed to be acquired from, for example, the database unit 2 by determining posture and movement, for example. For example, when a certain posture is determined in step S107, the burden value of the right hand, the burden value of the left hand, the burden value of the waist, the burden value of the right foot, the burden value of the left foot, and the like are acquired from the database unit 2. In step S108, the burden value of each unit may be integrated during the period from the start to the end of measurement. Then, the burden value of each part of the body is obtained at the end of measurement. By collecting such integrated values as the load evaluation information, a display as shown in FIG. 7C can be performed.

FIG. 8A is an example in which a burden value is displayed for each detection point P0 to P20 regarding a certain process or operation. As in the case of FIG. 7C, the burden value is accumulated for each of the detection points P0 to P20 set corresponding to the posture and movement, for example, the burden value of each of the detection points P0 to P20 in the day work. Can be calculated. By collecting such integrated values as the burden evaluation information, a display as shown in FIG. 8A can be performed.
With such information, an administrator, a line engineer, or the like can know in more detail where the load is applied to the worker in the process or operation.

FIG. 8B is an example of presenting information that can be compared for each worker regarding a certain process (or work). By associating the detection information as shown in FIG. 4A with the worker code, for example, with respect to one process, the burden value and the time required for the process can be obtained for each worker. The required time can be measured by the posture / motion determined at each sample timing t. For example, since the start / end of each work and the start / end timing of the process can be determined by the posture and movement, it can be determined by the number of sample timings between them.
Therefore, burden evaluation information that can compare the burden values for each worker for the same process or work is generated and displayed as shown in the figure. As a result, the manager can determine the proficiency level and orientation / non-suitability of each worker for each process and work.

  FIGS. 7 and 8 are examples of the burden evaluation information. Various other information presentations can be considered. In any case, since the burden value is calculated by determining the posture and motion of each worker in the process and work, various burden evaluation information can be generated and displayed based on the information. it can. For example, it is possible to present a burden value for each time zone, and to present a predicted burden value when the work is extended.

<Presentation of leveling calculation and leveling calculation result information>
Next, an example of leveling calculation processing in step S111 of FIG. 6 and a presentation example of leveling calculation result information will be described.

First, FIG. 9A is an example of load evaluation information that is a premise of leveling calculation. 7A and 7B show an example of presenting a list of work burden values for each process and work, but FIG. 9A presents a list of work burden values for each process and each work in the process in more detail. This is an example.
In addition, in the present situation, a process in which the burden value is substantially equal is also presented. For example, in the case of FIG. 9A, the process A and the process E are determined to be substantially equal with the load values “251” and “257”, respectively, and are represented by the uniform presentation line L on the display.
By this display, the line manager or the like can confirm whether or not each process is properly allocated to the worker. For example, it can be determined that the processes B and C that are not indicated by the uniform presentation line L have a large burden, and the process D has an excessively small burden.

For example, as the standardization calculation performed at step S111 in FIG. 6 or at an arbitrary time, a simulation calculation for equalizing such an unequal process is performed.
FIG. 10 shows an example of leveling calculation.
The calculation unit 1 acquires a burden value for each process or each work in step S201. That is, information as shown in FIG. 9A is acquired as a value used for the simulation.
In step S202, the calculation unit 1 sets an equal range. For example, an average value of burden values of each process is obtained, and a range of ± α from the average value is set as an equal range. Speaking according to the numerical example of FIG. 9, the average value of the work burden values for the processes A to E is “260”. For example, when α = 10, “250” to “270” are set to an equal range. This is a range setting in which each process becomes an almost equal load for the operator if the burden value of each process is within an equal range.

  In step S <b> 203, the calculation unit 1 confirms the work order condition for the process and each work in the process. The calculation is performed with a view to changing the assignment of work as a simulation. For example, it is appropriate that a certain work and a certain work are performed in order by the same person, or a certain work is incorporated into the next step. There are characteristics for each work. These are conditioned in advance and stored in the database unit 2. The calculation unit 1 performs a simulation calculation after confirming such a work order condition for each work.

In step S204, the calculation unit 1 performs leveling calculation. In other words, the work of each process is rearranged within a range permitted by the confirmed work order condition so that the burden value of each process is leveled.
For example, the burden value of each process is calculated | required for every rearrangement pattern of work, and it is confirmed whether they are in the equal range. Finally, a recombination result is obtained in which the burden values of the most processes, preferably all processes, are within an equal range. Moreover, you may perform the simulation which increases / decreases the number of processes.
Based on the result of the simulation calculation, leveling calculation result information is created in step S205.
Then, the calculation unit 1 causes the display unit 4 to display the leveling calculation result information at an arbitrary time based on step S112 in FIG.

FIG. 9B shows an example of presentation of leveling calculation result information.
The optimum solution obtained as a result of the work reassignment simulation is displayed using the process / work burden value obtained as shown in FIG. 9A above. In this case, it is shown that the operations A1 to E are all within the equal range “250” to “270” by incorporating the operation b1 into the step A and the operation c4 into the step D. It is also shown by the uniform presentation line L that the burden of the process A to the process E is substantially equal.
Such leveling calculation result information is information that a production line manager and a line design engineer should greatly refer to improvement of process contents and personnel allocation.

The example of FIG. 9 is an example.
For example, for a process with a high burden value, it is possible to increase the number of persons in charge or shorten the work time of one person. For example, it is conceivable to change personnel on the way between a process with a small burden and a process with a large burden. In particular, when the work content in one process cannot be changed, it may be necessary to equalize the burden on each worker in terms of the number of personnel and time schedule.
Therefore, as a result of the simulation calculation, it is assumed that information on the optimum number of personnel is presented for each process or schedule information for personnel change between processes is presented.

<Summary>
The calculation unit 1 serving as the work load evaluation apparatus according to the above-described embodiment has detection points P corresponding to a plurality of body parts for each of a plurality of workers who respectively execute a plurality of measurement target processes at each sample timing t. And a detection information acquisition unit 1c that acquires information on the physical state of each worker in a state modeled by a line connecting the detection point P and the detection point P, and the posture or motion of each worker by the change of the detection point P or the line. The operation determining unit 1d for determining, the load calculating unit 1e for calculating the work load value based on the determined posture or action of each worker, and the control for presenting the work load evaluation information based on the calculation result are performed. The output control unit 1f performs control for leveling the process contents using the work burden values calculated for a plurality of processes and presenting the leveling calculation result information.
In other words, the body state of the worker is detected by a simple model, and the posture and motion of the process work process are detected from the detection points and line positions and changes (movement vectors) of each body part, for example, a joint. Then, the work burden value is calculated based on the posture or motion of the worker. Based on this work load value, work load evaluation information for the process is generated and displayed.
Thereby, the burden value of the work can be obtained by an objective numerical value, and information that can accurately recognize the burden of the worker in the process can be obtained as the work burden evaluation information. Since it is not subjective information, it is possible to make a fair judgment, and it is possible to obtain very significant information for production line design, maintenance, management such as personnel assignment, and line improvement.
When detecting the movement of a person, if the entire body is detected / recognized, the amount of information is large, there is a malfunction, and the processing load on the computing unit 1 increases. On the other hand, in this embodiment, since the load is calculated by using the detection point P and the line, and the angle and the amount of movement are calculated, the processing is facilitated, and a relatively small arithmetic system is used. Ease of implementation can be obtained.

  Further, based on the burden value calculated as an objective value for the process and the work in the process, information (leveling calculation result information) for leveling the burden value of each process is provided (FIG. 9, (See FIG. 10). This is very useful information for line design and line management for design engineers, line managers and the like of the production line, and can promote desirable process design and personnel assignment for each worker.

The detection information acquisition unit 1c acquires the three-dimensional positions of the plurality of detection points P0 to P (n) for each worker from the analysis result of the image data obtained by imaging each worker. That is, an operator is imaged with a camera, and converted into simplified data into a plurality of points mainly imitating joints of humans to be imaged and lines connecting them. The calculation unit 1 is a system that identifies human movement from the detection result of such a point or line movement vector.
In this case, the operator can eliminate the need to attach a sensor or the like to the body, and can prevent a sense of incongruity or deterioration in workability due to sensor attachment.

In addition, the output control unit 1 f uses, as the leveling calculation result information, a part of the plurality of operations in the process so that the burden value for the plurality of processes to be measured falls within the set equal range as the leveling calculation. Is performed to transfer the process to another process (see FIG. 10).
In order to level the work load of each process, it is an effective technique to transfer a part of a plurality of works in each process to another process. Therefore, leveling calculation is performed in consideration of work transfer. This makes it possible to equalize the process by a relatively simple method of changing work sharing on the production line.
Further, the output control unit 1f performs control to present information of work transfer obtained by the leveling calculation as leveling calculation result information (see FIG. 9B). The information of the work transfer as such a simulation result is effective information for manufacturing line improvement and personnel management.

In addition, the output control unit 1f performs control to present a plurality of processes in which the burden value is determined to be substantially equal as the work burden evaluation information or the leveling calculation result information. For example, in FIG. 10A and FIG. 10B, a process in which the burden is substantially equal is shown by the uniform presentation line L. Of course, the uniform presentation line L is an example in the description, and various modes of presenting substantially equal processes can be considered.
Then, the process contents can be evaluated for the manager by presenting a process in which the burden value is substantially equal, for example, within a predetermined burden value range.

Further, as work load evaluation information, control is performed to display work load values for each of a plurality of processes in a set target period or for each of a plurality of works in a process (see FIGS. 7A and 7B). For example, in a set target period such as 8 hours, work burden values are presented in a list or the like for a plurality of processes or a plurality of operations in the processes.
This indicates objective information that clarifies the difference in work burdens for each process, each work in the process, etc., and presents information useful for the production line design engineer and factory manager.
For example, at the initial stage of production line design or operation start, it is useful for making improvements such as equalizing the burden of each process based on such information.
It is also useful information for improving daily operation lines. For example, the work load evaluation information can be confirmed every day, and can be used from the next day to improve the work in the process or rationally allocate personnel.

In the embodiment, the burden evaluation information is displayed after the measurement is finished. However, for example, the burden value of each process or operation may be displayed in real time during the measurement. Then, it is possible to find a worker with a heavy load during the work, or to perform a personnel rearrangement accordingly.
Furthermore, it is possible to cope with a case where the burden value of work increases according to mixed flow production or quality conditions. For example, there are cases where the production load changes during the day, the quality changes depending on the situation and environment of the day, and some modifications are made. is there.

In addition, the output control unit 1f performs control to display a burden value for each worker or a time required for the process for one process as work burden evaluation information (see FIG. 8B).
Even in the same process, the work load value and the time required for one cycle of the process differ depending on the worker due to different postures and movements. Therefore, these are presented so that they can be compared for each worker. This is objective information that can determine the proficiency level, fitness level, and orientation failure of each worker about the process. Therefore, it is possible to present information useful for the site manager and factory manager.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Operation part, 1a ... Image analysis part, 1b ... Camera control part, 1c ... Detection information acquisition part, 1d ... Motion determination part, 1e ... Load calculation part, 1f ... Output control part, 2 ... Database part, 3 ... Memory | storage , 4 ... display unit, 5 ... communication unit, 6 ... printing unit, 10 ... imaging unit, 20 ... sensor

Claims (6)

At each time point, for each of a plurality of workers who respectively execute a plurality of processes to be measured, the body of each worker in a state of simple modeling with detection points corresponding to a plurality of body parts and lines connecting the detection points A detection information acquisition unit for acquiring state information;
An operation determination unit that determines the posture or operation of each worker based on a change in the detection point or line in the information obtained by the detection information acquisition unit;
A load calculation unit that calculates a work load value based on the posture or motion of each worker determined by the motion determination unit;
Based on the calculation result of the load calculation unit, the control for presenting the work load evaluation information is performed, and the process content leveling operation is performed using the work load values calculated for a plurality of processes, and the leveling operation result information An output control unit that performs control for presenting a work load. The work load evaluation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the detection information acquisition unit acquires a three-dimensional position of the plurality of detection points for each worker from an analysis result of image data obtained by imaging each worker. The output control unit is an operation for transferring a part of a plurality of operations in a process to another process so that a burden value for a plurality of processes to be measured falls within a set equal range as the leveling operation. The work load evaluation device according to claim 1. The work load evaluation apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the output control unit performs control to present information of work transfer obtained by the leveling calculation as leveling calculation result information. The work load evaluation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the output control unit performs control to present a plurality of processes in which the load values are determined to be substantially equal as work load evaluation information or leveling calculation result information. As a workload evaluation method executed by the information processing device,
At each time point, for each of a plurality of workers who respectively execute a plurality of processes to be measured, the body of each worker in a state of simple modeling with detection points corresponding to a plurality of body parts and lines connecting the detection points Get status information,
Determine the posture or motion of each worker by the change of the detection point or line in the acquired information,
Calculate the work burden value based on the determined posture or movement of each worker,
Based on the calculation result of the work load value, control for presenting work load evaluation information is performed, and the process content leveling operation is performed using the work load values calculated for a plurality of processes, and the leveling operation result information Work load evaluation method that performs control to present.

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