JP2024001741A - Wiring harness supply system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To realize a novel supply form of wiring harness, that is useful for improving convenience for a user of a vehicle, and to enable a flexible change in the supply form.

SOLUTION: Only a common element of a wiring harness W/H is configured as a main harness, and an option element is configured as an option harness independent of the main harness. A vehicle sales base 30 can transmit order information i30 of a vehicle and order information i32 of the option harness using a third management unit 31. A vehicle production base 20 can transmit order information i21 and i22 of the main harness and the option harness from a second management unit 21 regarding a vehicle ordered by the second management unit 21. A W/H production base 10 produces a main harness and an option harness ordered by a first management unit 11, and sends the produced main harness and option harness to an ordering party. The vehicle sales base 30 can assemble the option harness acquired from the W/H production base 10 onto a vehicle at a vehicle maintenance factory 32, and then sell the acquired option harness to a user.

SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

COPYRIGHT: (C)2024,JPO&INPIT

Description

The present invention relates to a wire harness supply system.

A wire harness mounted on a vehicle needs to electrically connect a large number of electrical components arranged at various locations on the vehicle to ensure a power supply route and a signal transmission route. Therefore, in the wire harness, for example, approximately several hundred electric wires must be wired, bundled, and integrated so that each wire passes through a predetermined route. Further, the wire harness is constructed by attaching terminals attached to the ends of each electric wire to a predetermined part of a predetermined connector, and attaching an exterior material such as tape to the outside of the wire bundle. Therefore, wire harnesses are generally complex in shape and structure.

The configuration and specifications of such wire harnesses usually differ depending on the type, grade, destination, presence or absence of various options, etc. of the vehicle. Therefore, when each vehicle purchaser purchases a specific vehicle at a vehicle dealer, the wiring harness installed in the vehicle is determined based on the type of vehicle specified by the user, the presence or absence of various options, etc. The product number is determined. When the vehicle manufacturer receives the user's order from the vehicle dealer, it orders a wire harness with a part number corresponding to the user's order from a parts manufacturer that manufactures wire harnesses. The parts manufacturer produces the wire harness of the ordered part number and delivers it to the vehicle manufacturer. A vehicle manufacturer completes a target vehicle by assembling a wire harness with a specific part number delivered from a parts manufacturer into a specific vehicle. The vehicle dealer receives the ordered vehicle from the vehicle manufacturer and sells it to the user.

For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a wiring system that allows a plurality of wiring members to be easily installed in a vehicle and also allows for partial replacement or deletion of the plurality of wiring members. are doing. Specifically, it includes a control unit, a plurality of devices connected to the control unit, a plurality of wiring members forming at least a part of a wiring path connecting the control unit and the plurality of devices, and a plurality of protection units. The plurality of protection parts protect the plurality of wiring members by dividing them into a plurality of groups, and the plurality of protection parts are connected in a separable manner.

JP2021-9816A

If wire harnesses are manufactured individually according to the vehicle type, grade, destination, presence or absence of various options, etc., the number of wire harness product numbers will increase, the manufacturing process for wire harnesses and vehicles will become complicated, and it will be difficult to manage product numbers. Costs also increase.

On the other hand, if extra circuits that are not used according to the specifications are installed in the wiring harness in advance, such as optional circuits that are not implemented depending on the type of vehicle, a common wiring harness can be used for vehicles with different configurations and specifications. It can be assembled and the number of wire harness parts can be reduced. However, mounting the redundant circuit increases the weight of the wire harness and the cost of parts.

Further, normally, the entire wire harness is delivered in an integrated state from a parts manufacturer to a vehicle manufacturer, and the vehicle manufacturer assembles the wire harness into the vehicle as one component. Further, at the stage when a user who purchases a vehicle decides on specifications such as the type of vehicle to be ordered and the presence or absence of options, the product number of the wire harness to be installed in the corresponding vehicle is determined. Therefore, conventionally, unless a surplus circuit is installed in the wire harness in advance, a user cannot instruct the addition or change of an optional circuit after ordering a vehicle.

In addition, the wire harness has a very complicated shape and is assembled with each part of the wire harness routed to various parts of the vehicle. It is almost impossible to replace the entire wiring harness with a wiring harness of a different part number.

On the other hand, vehicle manufacturers may partially improve vehicles of already sold models, add new equipment to the vehicle as optional equipment, and change the specifications of the optional equipment. In addition, the specifications and product number of the wire harness may also change as the vehicle changes. However, if the product number of the wire harness is changed, it will no longer be compatible with existing vehicles.
Therefore, users who have already purchased a vehicle can add new optional equipment prepared by the vehicle manufacturer to the purchased vehicle, or replace optional equipment already installed in the current vehicle with one with changed specifications. I couldn't.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned circumstances, and its purpose is to realize a new supply form of wire harnesses that is useful for improving convenience for vehicle users, and to enable flexible changes in the supply form. Our objective is to provide a wire harness supply system.

The above object according to the present invention is achieved by the following configuration.

A first management department that can be used by equipment belonging to the wire harness production base or by the first administrator;
a second management department that can be used by equipment belonging to the vehicle production base or by a second manager;
equipment belonging to a sales base that can provide vehicles or their parts to vehicle users, or a third management department that can be used by a third administrator;
The wire harness production base produces main harnesses that are commonly installed in multiple types of vehicles among wire harness components, and optional harnesses that are selectively used in some vehicles among multiple types of vehicles. We have the first production facility possible,
The vehicle production base has a second production facility capable of assembling the main harness and the optional harness to each vehicle produced,
The sales base has a work process capable of assembling the optional harness acquired from the wire harness production base to each vehicle acquired from the vehicle production base,
The third management unit has a function of transmitting order information instructing production of the optional harness to the wire harness production base via the first management unit,
The second management unit has a function of transmitting order information instructing the production of each of the main harness and the optional harness to the wire harness production base via the first management unit,
When the first management unit acquires the order information from either the second management unit or the third management unit, the first management unit stores the order information in association with the ordering source of the order information. Harness supply system.

The wire harness supply system of the present invention can be used to realize a new supply form of wire harnesses and to flexibly change the supply form. As a result, for example, for a vehicle ordered by a user, both the main harness and optional harness can be assembled by the vehicle manufacturer, or only the main harness can be assembled by the vehicle manufacturer, and the optional harness can be assembled by the vehicle dealer. can.

The present invention has been briefly described above. Furthermore, the details of the present invention will be further clarified by reading the mode for carrying out the invention (hereinafter referred to as "embodiment") described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. .

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing examples of the shapes of a modeled main harness and two types of optional harnesses. FIG. 2 is a plan view showing an example of two types of wire harnesses configured by connecting an optional harness to a main harness. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a wire harness supply system in an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a sequence diagram showing an overview of operations in the wire harness supply system. FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration example of order information. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the first management section. FIG. 7 is a plan view showing an example of a connection state between the board joint connector, the main harness, and the optional harness. FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing the appearance of the board joint connector.

Specific embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to each figure.

<Description of wire harness W/H>
FIG. 1 is a plan view showing an example of the shape of a modeled main harness MH1 and two types of optional harnesses OH1 and OH2. FIG. 2 is a plan view showing an example of two types of wire harnesses configured by connecting optional harnesses OH1 and OH2 to the main harness MH1.

A typical wire harness W/H is a bundle of a large number of electric wires, which is integrated with parts such as terminals, connectors, and exterior materials, and is shipped as a single product from an automobile parts manufacturer to a vehicle manufacturer. The configuration and product number of such a wire harness W/H differ depending on the model, grade, destination, presence or absence of optional equipment, etc. of the vehicle in which it is installed.

On the other hand, in this embodiment, the automobile parts manufacturer prepares only a portion including all the basic (common) components of the wire harness W/H as an independent main harness MH1 product. This main harness MH1 is configured to include only circuit elements that can be commonly used in as many vehicles as possible, regardless of differences in vehicle type, grade, destination, presence or absence of optional equipment, etc.

Optional equipment refers to equipment whose presence or absence can be selected by the user who purchases the vehicle. For example, the user may be able to select the presence or absence of audio equipment, the presence or absence of various driving support functions, the presence or absence of an automatic driving function, etc. for each vehicle as optional equipment at the time of ordering.

In addition, in this embodiment, circuit parts whose configurations may change depending on the user's selection, such as optional equipment, are provided as optional harnesses OH1 or OH2 that are separate from the main harness MH1. It is assumed that auto parts manufacturers will prepare them. A plurality of types of optional harnesses OH1 and OH2 are prepared in correspondence with optional equipment of different systems, or according to the specifications of optional equipment of the same system before and after functional improvement.

In the example shown in FIG. 1, the connector C11 at one end of the optional harness OH1 or the connector C21 at one end of the optional harness OH2 is connected to the joint connector JC1 located on the main harness MH1. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 2, optional harness OH1 is connected to joint connector JC1 of main harness MH1 to configure wire harness WH1, or option harness OH2 is connected to joint connector JC1 of main harness MH1 to configure wire harness WH2. Can be configured.

For example, if the user selects no options and orders a vehicle through a vehicle dealer, the vehicle manufacturer will produce and ship a vehicle with only the main harness MH1 assembled. Furthermore, when the user selects options and orders a vehicle, the vehicle manufacturer produces and ships a vehicle in which both the main harness MH1 and the optional harness OH1 or OH2 are assembled.

Further, the vehicle dealer can also order the optional harness OH1 or OH2 from an automobile parts manufacturer and assemble it into the vehicle without going through the vehicle manufacturer. Therefore, even if the user selects no option and orders the vehicle, the vehicle dealer can retrofit the optional harness OH1 or OH2 to the vehicle delivered from the vehicle manufacturer to the vehicle dealer.

In addition, in cases where the option harness OH1 installed in the vehicle is changed to an update option harness OH2 with a different part number due to a change in vehicle specifications, in accordance with the wishes of the user who has already purchased the vehicle, A vehicle dealer can order an optional harness OH2 with new specifications from an automobile parts manufacturer. A vehicle dealer removes the option harness OH1 built into the vehicle owned by the user and installs an update option harness OH2 in its place.

<Configuration of wire harness supply system>
FIG. 3 shows a configuration example of a wire harness supply system 100 in an embodiment of the present invention.

The wire harness supply system 100 shown in FIG. 3 interconnects a W/H production base 10 of an automobile parts manufacturer 13, a vehicle production base 20 of a vehicle manufacturer 23, and a vehicle sales base 30 of a vehicle dealer 33. By doing so, a flexible wiring harness supply format can be realized.

As shown in FIG. 3, a server for managing orders for wire harnesses W/H at an automobile parts manufacturer 13 is provided as a first management section 11 at a predetermined location (for example, in a data center). A manager of the automobile parts manufacturer 13 having the W/H production equipment 12 or the W/H production equipment 12 can access the first management section 11 and use its functions.

Further, a server for managing orders for vehicles and wire harnesses W/H at the vehicle manufacturer 23 is provided as the second management section 21 at a predetermined location (for example, in a data center). The administrator of the vehicle manufacturer 23 having the vehicle production facility 22 or the vehicle production facility 22 can access the second management section 21 and use its functions.

Further, a server for managing orders for vehicles and wire harnesses W/H at the vehicle dealer 33 is provided as the third management section 31 at a predetermined location (for example, in a data center). A manager of a vehicle dealer 33 having a vehicle repair shop 32 can access the second management section 21 and use its functions.

The first management section 11, the second management section 21, and the third management section 31 are connected to each other so as to be able to communicate with each other via a communication network such as the Internet, for example. Note that it is also possible to accommodate all the functions of the first management section 11, the second management section 21, and the third management section 31 in one server.

For example, a vehicle user 40 who intends to purchase a new vehicle orders the vehicle to be purchased at the vehicle sales base 30 of the vehicle dealer 33. A person in charge at the vehicle dealer 33 can access the third management section 31 and input the details of the vehicle user's 40 order. The third management unit 31 generates vehicle order information i30 according to the order details of the vehicle user 40, and transmits it to the second management unit 21.

When the second management unit 21 receives the vehicle order information i30 from the third management unit 31, it creates a vehicle production plan according to the contents and instructs the vehicle production facility 22 to produce the vehicle. Further, the second management unit 21 transmits to the first management unit 11 order information i21 or i22 instructing the ordering of the wire harness W/H to be mounted on each vehicle to be produced.

When the first management unit 11 receives the order information i21 or i22 from the second management unit 21, it creates a production plan or delivery schedule for the corresponding main harness MH1 and optional harness OH1 or OH2 according to the contents, and Accordingly, the W/H production equipment 12 is instructed to produce the wire harness W/H.

The first management unit 11 ships each of the produced main harness MH1, optional harness OH1, or OH2 to the vehicle production base 20 that has placed the order, on the shipping date scheduled for delivery created in advance, and via the scheduled delivery route. instruct them to do so. When the vehicle manufacturer 23 completes production of the vehicle 41 ordered from the vehicle dealer 33, the vehicle maker 23 delivers the vehicle 41 to the vehicle sales base 30 and delivers it to the vehicle dealer 33.

When the vehicle user 40 selects a vehicle with optional equipment and orders the vehicle from the vehicle dealer 33, the vehicle 41 with the main harness MH1 and the optional harness OH1 or OH2 installed is delivered to the vehicle dealer 33 according to the order information i30. The car will be delivered.

On the other hand, when the vehicle user 40 selects a vehicle without optional equipment and orders the vehicle from the vehicle dealer 33, only the main harness MH1 is assembled and the vehicle 41 without the optional harnesses OH1 and OH2 is installed according to the order information i30. The vehicle is delivered to a vehicle dealer 33.

Further, even if the vehicle user 40 selects a vehicle without optional equipment and orders the vehicle from the vehicle dealer 33, after placing the order, the vehicle user 40 orders the addition of optional equipment from the vehicle dealer 33. can do. In that case, the person in charge of the vehicle dealer 33 who has received the order for the addition of optional equipment from the vehicle user 40 sends the information necessary to obtain the optional harness OH1 or OH2 corresponding to the optional equipment to be added to the third management unit 31. input.

The third management section 31 transmits order information i32 for obtaining the optional harness OH1 or OH2 to the first management section 11 in accordance with instructions from the person in charge at the vehicle dealer 33. Upon receiving the ordering information i32 from the third management unit 31, the first management unit 11 creates a production plan and delivery schedule for the corresponding optional harness OH1 or OH2 according to the contents, and according to the schedule, the W/H production equipment 12 to produce the optional harness OH1 or OH2.

The first management unit 11 instructs the produced option harness OH1 or OH2 to be shipped to the vehicle sales base 30 from which the order was placed, on the scheduled shipping date created in advance and via the scheduled delivery route.

When the optional harness OH1 or OH2 is delivered from the W/H production base 10, the vehicle dealer 33 of the vehicle sales base 30 assembles the optional harness OH1 or OH2 to the vehicle 41 at the vehicle maintenance factory 32, and then the completed vehicle is assembled. The vehicle 41 is delivered to the vehicle user 40.

On the other hand, the vehicle manufacturer 23 may update specifications to improve the vehicles it produces, for example, every few years. Furthermore, as the specifications of a vehicle are updated, the specifications of the wire harness W/H installed in the vehicle may also be updated. However, if the wire harness W/H is configured by a combination of the main harness MH1 and the optional harness OH1, the updated part of the specifications can be limited to only the optional harness OH1. In that case, an option harness OH2 with new specifications is produced by the automobile parts manufacturer 13 instead of the option harness OH1.

Further, the vehicle user 40 who has already purchased the vehicle 41 in which the main harness MH1 and the optional harness OH1 are installed may, for example, after several years have passed from the time of purchase, update his/her own vehicle specifications in accordance with the vehicle manufacturer's 23 update. An order is placed to the vehicle dealer 33 to update the functions of the vehicle 41.

In that case, the person in charge at the vehicle dealer 33 who has received an order from the vehicle user 40 to update the functionality of the optional equipment will send the information necessary to obtain the optional harness OH2 corresponding to the updated new optional equipment to the third management department 31. input.

The third management section 31 transmits order information i32 for obtaining the optional harness OH2 to the first management section 11 in accordance with instructions from the person in charge at the vehicle dealer 33.

When the first management section 11 receives the order information i32 from the third management section 31, it creates a production plan and delivery schedule for the corresponding optional harness OH2 according to the contents, and supplies the W/H production equipment 12 with the option according to the schedule. Instruct the production of harness OH2.

The first management unit 11 instructs the produced optional harness OH2 to be shipped to the vehicle sales base 30 from which the order was placed on the scheduled shipping date prepared in advance and via the scheduled delivery route.

When the optional harness OH2 is delivered from the W/H production base 10, the vehicle dealer 33 of the vehicle sales base 30 removes the optional harness from the vehicle 41 when maintaining the vehicle 41 received from the vehicle user 40 at the vehicle maintenance shop 32. Remove OH1 and install the new optional harness OH2 with updated specifications.

Therefore, the vehicle user 40 updates the wire harness W/H of the vehicle 41 to a new state corresponding to the vehicle specification change made by the vehicle manufacturer 23 without having to replace the purchased vehicle 41.

<Wire harness supply system operating procedure>
FIG. 4 is a sequence diagram showing an overview of operations in the wire harness supply system 100. The operation of FIG. 4 will be explained below.

When the vehicle dealer 33 receives an order for a vehicle from the vehicle user 40, order information indicating the vehicle type, grade, presence or absence of options, etc. of the vehicle is input into the third management unit 31 by a person in charge of the vehicle dealer 33 (S11). The third management unit 31 generates vehicle order information i30 according to the order details of the vehicle user 40, and transmits it to the second management unit 21 (S12).

When the second management unit 21 receives the vehicle order information i30 from the third management unit 31 in S13, it creates a vehicle production plan according to the content and instructs the vehicle production equipment 22 to produce the vehicle (S14). . Further, the second management section 21 transmits order information i21 or i22 instructing the ordering of the wire harness W/H to be installed in the vehicle to be produced to the first management section 11 (S15).

When the first management unit 11 receives the order information i21 or i22 from the second management unit 21 in S16, it creates a production plan and delivery schedule for the corresponding main harness MH1 and optional harness OH1 or OH2 according to the contents. , instructs the W/H production equipment 12 to produce the wire harness W/H according to the schedule (S17).

The first management unit 11 instructs the produced main harness MH1 to be shipped to the vehicle production base 20 from which the order was placed on the scheduled shipping date created in advance and via the scheduled delivery route (S18).

The vehicle manufacturer 23 produces the vehicle 41 ordered from the vehicle dealer 33 (S22), and when the production is completed, the vehicle 41 is delivered to the vehicle sales base 30 and delivered to the vehicle dealer 33.

When the vehicle user 40 selects a vehicle with optional equipment from the beginning and orders the vehicle from the vehicle dealer 33, the auto parts manufacturer 13 also installs the optional harness OH1 or OH2 according to the instructions from the first management section 11. The vehicle is produced and delivered to the vehicle production base 20 of the ordering source according to the delivery schedule (S21).

In addition, if the vehicle user 40 selects a vehicle without optional equipment and orders the vehicle, and then orders the addition of optional equipment to the vehicle dealer 33, the third management unit 31 determines that the person in charge at the vehicle dealer 33 According to the input information, order information i32 for the optional harness OH1 or OH2 is transmitted to the first management unit 11 (S24).

A vehicle 41 corresponding to the vehicle order information i30 is delivered from the vehicle manufacturer 23 to the vehicle dealer 33. If the order includes no optional equipment, a vehicle 41 with only the main harness MH1 assembled is delivered to the vehicle sales base 30, and if the order includes optional equipment, the vehicle 41 with the main harness MH1 and optional harness OH1 or OH2 assembled is delivered to the vehicle sales base 30. is delivered to the vehicle sales base 30.

If the vehicle user 40 desires to add optional equipment after the third management unit 31 transmits the vehicle order information i30, the vehicle dealer 33 processes this optional equipment as a retrofit (S25, S26). That is, the optional harness OH1 or OH2 ordered by the vehicle dealer 33 from the vehicle parts manufacturer 13 is obtained from the vehicle parts manufacturer 13, and assembled into the vehicle 41 delivered from the vehicle manufacturer 23 at the vehicle maintenance shop 32.

The vehicle dealer 33 delivers the vehicle 41 ordered by the vehicle user 40 to the vehicle user 40 (S27). That is, if the vehicle user 40 orders no optional equipment, the vehicle 41 with only the main harness MH1 assembled is delivered to the vehicle user 40 from the vehicle dealer 33. Further, if the vehicle user 40 orders the optional equipment, the vehicle 41 with the main harness MH1 and the optional harness OH1 or OH2 assembled is delivered to the vehicle user 40 from the vehicle dealer 33. Also, when the vehicle user 40 selects to add optional equipment after ordering the vehicle, the vehicle 41 with the main harness MH1 and the optional harness OH1 or OH2 assembled is delivered to the vehicle user 40 from the vehicle dealer 33.

<Order information structure>
FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration example of order information i21, i22, and i32.

In the example shown in FIG. 5, each order information i21, i22, i32 includes information on the ordering source of the wire harness W/H, the product number of the wire harness W/H, the delivery date of the wire harness W/H, and the address of the delivery destination. Contains.

The ordering source information for each of the ordering information i21 and i22 is, for example, an ID representing the vehicle manufacturer 23, and the ordering source information for the ordering information i32 is, for example, an ID representing the vehicle dealer 33.

The part number of the wire harness W/H in order information i21 is the part number information representing the applicable main harness MH1, and the part number of the wire harness W/H in order information i22 is the part number representing the applicable optional harness OH1 or OH2. This is the information. Further, the product number of the wire harness W/H in the ordering information i32 is information on the product number representing the corresponding optional harness OH1 or OH2.

In the example shown in FIG. 5, the delivery date (delivery date A) of the wire harness W/H in the ordering information i21 is the same as the delivery date of the optional harnesses OH1 and OH2 in the ordering information i22. However, these can also be specified individually and independently. Further, the delivery date (delivery date B) of the optional harnesses OH1 and OH2 in the ordering information i32 is different from the other ordering information i21 and i22 because the ordering source is the vehicle dealer 33.

Therefore, based on the ordering information i21, i22, i32 as shown in FIG. and produce the corresponding wire harness W/H. Furthermore, based on the ordering information i21, i22, and i32, the automobile parts manufacturer 13 determines the timing to start production of the wire harness W/H, the route for delivering the produced wire harness W/H, and the produced wire harness W/H. Decide on the shipping date for H.

Generally, an automobile parts manufacturer 13 has W/H production equipment 12 for producing the entire wire harness W/H and its intermediate parts at various bases both domestically and overseas. Furthermore, when transporting the wire harness W/H from overseas to Japan by sea or the like, it takes a considerable number of days for transport. In addition, by selectively using bases in various locations, it is possible to reduce manufacturing costs and component costs of wire harness W/H and improve production efficiency.

Therefore, the automobile parts manufacturer 13 can appropriately select the W/H production equipment 12 in various locations based on the type of wire harness W/H to be produced, delivery date, number of days required for production, number of days required for transportation, etc. The production efficiency of the target wire harness W/H increases. In addition, based on the type of wire harness W/H to be produced, delivery date, number of days required for production, number of days required for transportation, etc., we will decide the timing to start producing the wire harness W/H and the delivery of the produced wire harness W/H. It is necessary to appropriately decide the route, shipping date of the produced wire harness W/H, etc.

For example, the main harness MH1 is configured to include only circuit elements that can be commonly used in as many vehicles as possible, so even if there are changes in the model or specifications of the vehicles to be produced, It can also be assembled into other parts, making inventory adjustment easier. Therefore, the automobile parts manufacturer 13 produces a large number of main harnesses MH1 in advance at the overseas W/H production facility 12, for example, at the stage of provisional order information before receiving formal order information from the second management section 21, By transporting by sea, costs can be reduced. On the other hand, the optional harness OH1 or OH2 is produced in far fewer quantities than the main harness MH1, so it can be transported in a short period of time using means such as airmail. Therefore, even if the ordering information for the optional harness OH1 or OH2 is later than the ordering information for the main harness MH1, the auto parts manufacturer 13 can deliver the optional harness OH1 or OH2 to the vehicle production base 20 or the vehicle sales base 30 in a short delivery time. Can be delivered.

<Details of the operation of the first management section>
An example of the operation of the first management section 11 is shown in FIG. The operation of FIG. 6 will be explained below.

When the first management section 11 receives any of the ordering information i21, i22, i32 from the second management section 21 or the third management section 31, it proceeds to the processing from S31 to S32. Then, the first management unit 11 individually stores the received order information as order information, and acquires information on the product number and delivery date of the wire harness W/H included in each order information.

The first management unit 11 determines the manufacturing start date of the wire harness W/H based on the information on the product number and delivery date of the wire harness W/H acquired in S32, and the production plan information including this manufacturing start date. (S33).

The first management unit 11 creates delivery schedule information including the shipping date and delivery route information for the corresponding wire harness W/H based on the delivery destination and delivery date specified by the ordering source in the ordering information (S34). . The first management unit 11 instructs the W/H production equipment 12 at the designated base to produce the wire harness W/H of the ordered part number, according to the production plan information created in S33 (S35).

The first management unit 11 confirms in S36 that the production of the wire harness W/H instructed to be produced in S35 has been completed, and further confirms in S37 that the scheduled shipping date of the corresponding wire harness W/H has arrived. After confirmation, the delivery (shipment) of the produced wire harness W/H is instructed in accordance with the delivery schedule information determined in S34 (S38).

<Specific example of connection form of main harness and optional harness>
FIG. 7 shows an example of the connection state between the board joint connector 50, the main harness MH1, and the optional harnesses OHA, OHB, and OHC. Further, an example of the external appearance of the board joint connector 50 is shown in FIG.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 7, the board joint connector 50 is used at a portion that connects the board joint connector 50 to the main harness MH1 and the optional harnesses OHA, OHB, and OHC. This board joint connector 50 has a circuit board 51, one main connection opening 52, and three optional connection openings 53, 54, and 55.

The main connection opening 52 has a structure that can be physically connected to the connector CN1 on the main harness MH1 side and is detachable. Further, the main connection opening 52 has the same number of terminals as the connector CN1 side.

Further, each of the option connection openings 53, 54, and 55 has a structure that allows physical connection with the connectors CN2, CN3, and CN4 on the side of the option harness OHA, OHB, and OHC, respectively, and is detachable. Further, the option connection opening 53 has the same number of terminals as the connector CN2 side, the option connection opening 54 has the same number of terminals as the connector CN3 side, and the option connection opening 55 has the same number of terminals as the connector CN4 side. There is.

On the circuit board 51, a circuit pattern connecting the main connection opening 52 and each of the optional connection openings 53 to 55 is formed using copper foil or the like on the surface thereof.

The main harness MH1 supplies each power source common to multiple systems on the same vehicle to each option side system from each option connection opening 53 to 55 via the circuit pattern on the circuit board 51 of the board joint connector 50. The circuit is connected so that it can be supplied.

Additionally, the "system A" equipment connected to the option connection opening 53 via the option harness OHA, the "system B" equipment connected to the option connection opening 54 via the option harness OHB, and the option connection opening 55 A circuit pattern on the circuit board 51 is formed so that a signal path can be connected to the equipment of "System C" connected to the "System C" via the optional harness OHC.

As described above, the main harness MH1 and the optional harness OH1 having the configurations shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 are adopted as the form of the wire harness W/H mounted on the vehicle, and the wire harness supply system shown in FIG. 3 is constructed. By using 100, convenience for the vehicle user 40 can be improved. That is, after the vehicle manufacturer 23 produces a vehicle incorporating only the main harness MH1, the optional harness OH1 can be assembled to the vehicle at the vehicle dealer 33. Therefore, the vehicle user 40 can request the vehicle dealer 33 to purchase the vehicle as an option. After placing an order without equipment, an additional order can be placed with the vehicle dealer 33 to add optional equipment. Furthermore, when the specification of the wire harness W/H is also changed due to a change in the vehicle specifications by the vehicle manufacturer 23, the vehicle is configured to replace the option harness OH1 with the old specification with the option harness OH2 corresponding to the new specification. An order can be placed from the dealer 33.

Further, since there is no need to incorporate redundant circuits (option circuits, etc.) other than circuits actually used on the vehicle into the main harness MH1 in advance, the number of components incorporated into the main harness MH1 can be reduced. This reduces the parts cost and weight of the wire harness W/H, which is beneficial for the automobile parts manufacturer 13 and the vehicle manufacturer 23. Furthermore, when the vehicle manufacturer 23 changes the specifications of the vehicle, there is no need to change the specifications of the main harness MH1, so it is possible to reduce the design cost associated with the specification change. Furthermore, since the same main harness MH1 can be used as a common component for a long period of time, if the automobile parts manufacturer 13 has a stock of previously manufactured main harnesses MH1, it can effectively utilize them without discarding them.

Note that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and can be modified, improved, etc. as appropriate. In addition, the material, shape, size, number, arrangement location, etc. of each component in the above-described embodiments are arbitrary as long as the present invention can be achieved, and are not limited.

Here, the features of the wire harness supply system according to the embodiment of the present invention described above will be briefly summarized and listed below in [1] to [5].
[1] Equipment (W/H production equipment 12) belonging to the wire harness production base (10) or a first management department (11) that can be used by the first administrator;
a second management department (21) that can be used by equipment (vehicle production equipment 22) belonging to the vehicle production base (20) or a second manager;
Equipment (vehicle maintenance shop 32) belonging to a sales base (vehicle sales base 30) that can provide vehicles or their parts to vehicle users (40) or a third management department (31) that can be used by a third administrator. ,
Equipped with
The wire harness production base manufactures the main harness (MH1), which is commonly installed in multiple types of vehicles among the components of the wire harness, and the optional harness (MH1), which is selectively used in some vehicles among the multiple types of vehicles. It has a first production facility (W/H production facility 12) capable of producing each of OH1 and OH2),
The vehicle production base has a second production facility (vehicle production facility 22) capable of assembling the main harness and the optional harness to each vehicle produced,
The sales base has a work process capable of assembling the optional harness acquired from the wire harness production base to each vehicle (41) acquired from the vehicle production base,
The third management unit has a function (S24) of transmitting order information (i32) instructing production of the optional harness to the wire harness production base via the first management unit,
The second management unit has a function (S15) of transmitting order information (i21, i22) instructing the production of the main harness and the optional harness to the wire harness production base via the first management unit. ),
When the first management unit acquires the order information (i21, i22, i32) from either the second management unit or the third management unit, the first management unit associates the order information with the ordering source of the order information. having a storing function (S32);
Wire harness supply system (100).

According to the wire harness supply system configured in [1] above, the sales base uses the first management unit 11 to transmit order information of the vehicle ordered by the vehicle user to the vehicle production base via the second management unit 21. Alternatively, order information instructing the production of optional harnesses can be sent to the wire harness production base via the first management section 11. Further, the vehicle production base can use the second management unit 21 to send main harnesses and optional harnesses, which are parts necessary for vehicle production, to the wire harness production base via the first management unit 11. The wire harness production base can produce each of the main harnesses and optional harnesses ordered by the first management section 11 and send them to the ordering source. The vehicle production base can acquire the main harness and optional harnesses ordered by the second management department 21 from the wire harness production base and assemble them into the vehicle. Further, the sales base can acquire optional harnesses ordered from users from the wire harness production base and assemble them into the vehicle. This improves convenience for vehicle users.

[2] The order information includes delivery date information (see Figure 5),
The first management unit separately acquires main order information (order information i21) that instructs production of the main harness, and option order information (order information i22, i32) that instructs production of the optional harness. When the optional ordering information is acquired, the manufacturing start timing of at least the optional harness is determined and stored at a timing independent from the main harness based on the delivery date information of the said ordering information (S33);
The wire harness supply system according to [1] above.

According to the wire harness supply system having the configuration [2] above, the wire harness production base can produce the main harness and the optional harness at appropriate timings in accordance with the delivery date, based on the received order information. Furthermore, if there is time for delivery, wire harnesses produced using overseas bases can be delivered, for example.

[3] The order information includes delivery date information (see Figure 5),
The first management unit separately acquires and stores main order information that instructs production of the main harness and option order information that instructs production of the optional harness, and acquires the option order information, determining and storing at least the shipping date of the optional harness at a timing independent from the main harness based on the delivery date information of the order information (S34);
The wire harness supply system according to [1] above.

According to the wire harness supply system configured in [3] above, the wire harness production base produces the main harness and optional harness respectively according to the delivery date based on the received order information, and ships them on the appropriate shipping date. be able to. Furthermore, if there is time for delivery, for example, wire harnesses produced using an overseas base can be shipped from the overseas base, taking into consideration the required time for transportation in advance.

[4] The order information includes delivery date information (see Figure 5),
The first management unit separately acquires and stores main order information that instructs production of the main harness and option order information that instructs production of the optional harness, and acquires the option order information, determining and storing at least a delivery route for the optional harness independently of the main harness based on delivery date information of the order information (S34);
The wire harness supply system according to [1] above.

According to the wire harness supply system configured in [4] above, the wire harness production base produces the main harness and the optional harness according to the delivery date based on the received order information, and uses the appropriate delivery route. can be sent. In addition, if there is time for delivery, taking into consideration the required time for transportation, for example, wire harnesses produced at an overseas base may be sent from the overseas base via a route such as sea mail. can. On the other hand, optional harnesses, which are produced in smaller numbers than main harnesses, can be delivered in a short delivery time by airmail or other routes.

[5] The option harness includes a first option harness (option harness OH1) and a second option harness (option harness OH2), each of which can be selectively connected to a predetermined portion of the main harness,
When the sales base acquires the second optional harness from the wire harness production base, the sales base removes the first optional harness installed in the vehicle from the main harness in advance and attaches it to the same location on the main harness. carrying out a replacement work step of installing the second optional harness (S26);
The wire harness supply system according to [1] above.

According to the wire harness supply system configured in [5] above, a user who has already purchased a vehicle may place an order from a sales office to replace the first optional harness installed in the vehicle with the second optional harness. I can do it. This allows vehicle users to adjust the wire harness W/H installed in the existing vehicle to the new specifications when the specifications of the wire harness W/H are changed due to changes in vehicle specifications by the vehicle manufacturer. I can do it.

10 W/H production base 11 1st management department 12 W/H production equipment 13 Auto parts manufacturer 20 Vehicle production base 21 2nd management department 22 Vehicle production equipment 23 Vehicle manufacturer 30 Vehicle sales base 31 3rd management department 32 Vehicle maintenance shop 33 Vehicle dealer 40 Vehicle user 41 Vehicle 100 Wire harness supply system i21, i22, i30, i32 Order information MH1 Main harness OH1, OH2, OHA, OHB, OHC, OHD Option harness W/H, WH1, WH2 Wire harness

Claims (5)

a first management department that can be used by the equipment belonging to the wire harness production base or the first administrator;
a second management department that can be used by equipment belonging to the vehicle production base or by a second manager;
a third management department that can be used by a third manager or equipment belonging to a sales base that can provide vehicles or their parts to vehicle users;
Equipped with
The wire harness production base produces main harnesses that are commonly installed in multiple types of vehicles among wire harness components, and optional harnesses that are selectively used in some vehicles among multiple types of vehicles. We have the first production facility possible,
The vehicle production base has a second production facility capable of assembling the main harness and the optional harness to each vehicle produced,
The sales base has a work process capable of assembling the optional harness acquired from the wire harness production base to each vehicle acquired from the vehicle production base,
The third management unit has a function of transmitting order information instructing production of the optional harness to the wire harness production base via the first management unit,
The second management unit has a function of transmitting order information instructing the production of each of the main harness and the optional harness to the wire harness production base via the first management unit,
The first management unit has a function of, upon acquiring the order information from either the second management unit or the third management unit, storing the order information in association with the ordering source of the order information.
Wire harness supply system. The order information includes delivery date information,
The first management unit separately acquires and stores main order information that instructs production of the main harness and option order information that instructs production of the optional harness, and acquires the option order information, determining and storing a manufacturing start timing of at least the optional harness at a timing independent from the main harness based on delivery date information of the order information;
The wire harness supply system according to claim 1. The order information includes delivery date information,
The first management unit separately acquires and stores main order information that instructs production of the main harness and option order information that instructs production of the optional harness, and acquires the option order information, determining and storing at least a shipping date of the optional harness at a timing independent from the main harness based on delivery date information of the order information;
The wire harness supply system according to claim 1. The order information includes delivery date information,
The first management unit separately acquires and stores main order information that instructs production of the main harness and option order information that instructs production of the optional harness, and acquires the option order information, determining and storing at least a delivery route for the optional harness, independently of the main harness, based on delivery date information in the order information;
The wire harness supply system according to claim 1. The optional harness includes a first optional harness and a second optional harness, each of which can be selectively connected to a predetermined portion of the main harness,
When the sales base acquires the second optional harness from the wire harness production base, the sales base removes the first optional harness installed in the vehicle from the main harness in advance and attaches it to the same location on the main harness. carrying out a replacement work step of installing the second optional harness;
The wire harness supply system according to claim 1.

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