JP2024057957A - Information processing device, information processing method, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

[Problem] To improve the technology for creating a process schedule for a product. [Solution] An information processing device 10 includes an input unit 11 that accepts input of the product name of a target product, and process information including the process name, equipment and staff to which the process can be assigned, and work time for each process that produces the target product, a control unit 14 that creates a process schedule for the target product based on the information input via the input unit 11, and a storage unit 13 that stores the created process schedule. [Selected Figure] Figure 1

Description

The present disclosure relates to an information processing device, an information processing method, and a program.

In recent years, a technology has become known that uses a production scheduler to create a process chart used to plan a product production schedule. For example, Non-Patent Document 1 discloses a production scheduler that creates a product production schedule with the theoretically shortest manufacturing lead time.

"What is a production scheduler?", [online], [searched September 22, 2022], Internet <URL: https://www.asprova.jp/products/overview.html>

However, in order for the production scheduler to automatically create a production schedule, not only the order data, but also the master data for equipment, staff, processes, products, etc., and the various related data that links them all had to be organized in a format specified by the production scheduler and input with consistency ensured. In addition, when deleting or changing input data, it was necessary to set it individually while considering consistency with related data.

The input screen for the production scheduler disclosed in Non-Patent Document 1 has an Excel table format, and data can be entered directly or by using the copy and paste function, as in Excel. However, multiple pieces of data must be set individually based on a dedicated format, which can make corrections difficult or make it difficult to grasp the entire process after setting.

Furthermore, in workplaces where DX (Digital Transformation) has not progressed, or where digitized data with different definitions already exists, the hurdle of introducing a production scheduler was high. DX refers to a company responding to rapid changes in the business environment, utilizing data and digital technology to transform products, services, or business models based on the needs of customers and society, while also transforming the work itself, organization, processes, or corporate culture and climate, and establishing a competitive advantage.

However, even if DX has not yet progressed and production instructions are given by hand, the "sequence of processes to produce a certain product" is the production instruction itself, and can be verbalized at any work site. With this in mind, there was a need for an information processing device that could set process information such as "what processes are used to manufacture a certain product," "how long each process takes," or "what production resources (equipment and staff) are needed" using a versatile user interface.

Therefore, there was room for improvement in the technology for creating product schedules.

In light of these circumstances, the purpose of this disclosure is to improve the technology for creating product schedules.

An information processing device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is an information processing device that creates a process schedule for a product, and includes an input unit that accepts input of the product name of a target product, and process information including the process name, equipment and staff to which the process can be assigned, and working time for each process that produces the target product, a control unit that creates a process schedule for the target product based on the information input via the input unit, and a storage unit that stores the created process schedule.

An information processing method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is an information processing method for creating a process schedule for a product, which performs the following operations: accepting input of the product name of a target product and, for each process for producing the target product, process information including the process name, equipment and staff to which the process can be assigned, and working time; creating a process schedule for the target product based on the input information; and storing the created process schedule.

A program according to an embodiment of the present disclosure causes an information processing device that creates a process schedule for a product to receive input of the product name of a target product and, for each process that produces the target product, process information including the process name, equipment and staff to which the process can be assigned, and working time, create a process schedule for the target product based on the input information, and store the created process schedule.

According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, a technique for creating a product schedule is improved.

1 is a block diagram showing an example of a schematic configuration of an information processing system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 13 is a flow diagram illustrating an information processing method for creating a process chart for a product. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a process block having an input field for process information. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a screen including a process block. 1 is a flow diagram illustrating an information processing method for determining a production plan for a product.

The following describes an embodiment of the present disclosure.

(Overview of the embodiment)
An overview of an information processing system 1 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to Fig. 1. The information processing system 1 includes at least one information processing device 10 (10A, 10B, 10C, . . . 10N) communicatively connected to a network 2.

The information processing device 10 is, for example, a server device or a general-purpose personal computer (PC: Personal Computer). The information processing device 10 is connected to a network 2, which may include, for example, the Internet and an intranet (internal network), so that they can communicate with each other. Also, as shown in FIG. 1, when multiple information processing devices 10 (for example, three devices) are installed, the information processing devices 10A, 10B, and 10C are each connected to the network 2 so that they can communicate with each other.

First, an overview of this embodiment will be described, and details will be described later. The information processing device 10 accepts input, via a versatile user interface, of the product name of the target product and, for each process of producing the target product, process information including the process name, equipment and staff to which the process can be assigned, and working time. Then, the information processing device 10 creates a process schedule for the target product based on the input process information.

Thus, according to this embodiment, the information processing device 10 creates a process schedule when it receives input from the user, via a versatile user interface, of the product name of the target product and process information for each process in which the target product is produced. Therefore, even a user who does not have the specialized knowledge to set multiple pieces of data individually based on a dedicated format that requires information processing description can use the function of creating a process schedule by inputting the specified process information as requested by the information processing device 10. Therefore, the technology for creating a product process schedule is improved in that the likelihood that users will use this function is increased.

Next, each component of the information processing system 1 will be described in detail.

(Configuration of information processing device)
As shown in FIG. 1, the information processing device 10 includes an input unit 11, a communication unit 12, a storage unit 13, and a control unit 14.

The input unit 11 displays a screen having an information input field. For example, the input unit 11 has an input interface such as an LCD or an organic EL display, and accepts information input into the input field displayed on the screen. The input interface provided in the input unit 11 may be a touch screen that detects user operations, or a display that accepts character input from a keyboard and clicks with a mouse. However, the method of information input accepted by the input unit 11 is not limited to this.

The communication unit 12 includes one or more communication interfaces that connect to the network 2. The communication interfaces correspond to, for example, a mobile communication standard, a wired LAN (Local Area Network) standard, or a wireless LAN standard, but are not limited to these and may correspond to any communication standard.

The storage unit 13 includes one or more memories. Each memory included in the storage unit 13 may function, for example, as a main storage device, an auxiliary storage device, or a cache memory. The storage unit 13 stores any information used in the operation of the information processing device 10. For example, the storage unit 13 may store a system program, an application program, and a database (for example, a database in which the production resource master described below is stored), etc. The information stored in the storage unit 13 may be updatable, for example, with information obtained from the network 2 via the communication unit 12.

The control unit 14 includes one or more processors, one or more programmable circuits, one or more dedicated circuits, or a combination of these. The control unit 14 controls the operation of the entire information processing device 10.

(Operation flow of information processing device)
The operation of the information processing device 10 according to the present embodiment for creating a process chart for a product will be described with reference to FIG.

Step S101: The input unit 11 of the information processing device 10 accepts input of the product name of the target product.

Figure 3 is a diagram showing an example of a process block pb having an input field for process information. Figure 4 is a diagram showing an example of a screen including a process block pb. A process block pb is a representation of the process of producing a target product, with one block for each process. In Figure 3, the area from the input field for the process name to the input field for the follow-up work corresponds to the process block pb for each process. Hereinafter, the flow of operation of the information processing device 10 will be explained with reference to Figures 3 and 4. The following steps S102 to S105 are steps for creating a process block pb for each process, and accept input of process information in a specified input field.

Step S102: The input unit 11 of the information processing device 10 accepts input of the process name for each process in which the target product is produced.

When the input unit 11 receives the input of the product name of the target product, it displays a screen including a process block pb having an input field for process information for each process that produces the target product. On this screen, the process block pb corresponding to each process that produces the target product is displayed as a node (vertex) of a directed graph. A directed graph is a figure consisting of nodes (vertices) and edges Ed with directions. For example, when the creation of a process block pb (corresponding to a node) of process α is completed, the process moves on to the creation of the process block pb (corresponding to a node) of the next process β in the order of the production processes. The input unit 11 receives the input of a "process name" in the input field displayed in Figures 3 and 4. Process information refers to information including the process name for each process that produces the target product, the equipment and staff to which the process can be assigned, and the working time. For the sake of convenience, the process name will be described as process α below.

Step S103: The input unit 11 of the information processing device 10 accepts input of equipment to which a process can be assigned for each process that produces the target product.

The storage unit 13 of the information processing device 10 is assumed to have registered in advance in a database, for each product to be ordered, the product, and the equipment and staff (operators) to which the process for producing the product can be assigned, as a production resource master. The production resource master information stored in the database of the storage unit 13 may be updated, for example, with information obtained from the network 2 via the communication unit 12.

When a check is detected in the "Assign to equipment" input field displayed under "Process name" in FIG. 3 and one or more equipment names (e.g., A, B, C, D, E) are entered, the input unit 11 accepts one or more of equipment A, B, C, D, or E as equipment to which process α can be assigned.

Step S104: The input unit 11 of the information processing device 10 accepts input of staff members to whom processes can be assigned for each process in producing the target product.

The table displayed under "Equipment Name" in Figure 3 shows the correspondence between the equipment to which process α can be assigned and the staff (e.g., workers on the manufacturing floor) who can operate each piece of equipment. For example, Suzuki can operate equipment B, Sato can operate equipment C, D, and E, Ishii can operate equipment B, and Ueda can operate equipment A.

When a check is detected in the "Assign to staff" input field displayed under "Equipment name" in FIG. 3 and one or more staff members who can operate each of the above equipment names (e.g. Suzuki-san, Sato-san, Ishii-san, Ueda-san, Abe-san) are input, the input unit 11 accepts one or more of Suzuki-san, Sato-san, Ishii-san, Ueda-san, or Abe-san in combination with the above equipment name as staff members to whom process α can be assigned.

Step S105: The input unit 11 of the information processing device 10 accepts input of the work time for each process in producing the target product.

As shown in Figures 3 and 4, pre-operation, main operation, and post-operation can be set for operations in the same process that produces the target product. Main operation is an essential operation for producing the target product. Pre-operation is any operation that is performed before the production of the target product begins, and includes cleaning of the equipment and the removal (dispatch) of materials or molds used in each process. Post-operation is any operation that is performed after the production of the target product is completed, and includes cleaning of the equipment or storage of molds in a warehouse. In this step, the operation time is set in the input field for "Operation time calculation method" displayed in Figures 3 and 4 for each pre-operation, main operation, and post-operation. Note that pre-operation and post-operation can be additionally set as necessary. Note that in the "fixed" input field, for example, when the operation time is constant regardless of the quantity of the target product, such as cleaning of the equipment, "fixed" is selected from the pull-down menu.

The process information also includes the option of whether or not to continue work across non-operating hours. As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the detailed settings for pre-work, main work, and post-work have an input field for checking whether or not to "cross over non-operating hours." Non-operating hours are the hours when the factory is not operating. Checking "cross over non-operating hours" allows work time to be secured over the total of multiple time periods. In this case, it may result in work being temporarily suspended during non-operating hours and then resumed the next day. On the other hand, if "cross over non-operating hours" is not checked, work time is secured over a single, consolidated time period.

Step S106: The input unit 11 of the information processing device 10 accepts the addition of a process for producing the target product. If a process is to be added, the process returns to step S102; if not, the process proceeds to step S107.

When the input unit 11 detects a user operation to add a process for the target product, it adds a new process block pb on the screen. When "+Add Process" shown in Figures 3 and 4 is selected, the process block pb required to produce the target product is additionally displayed in the order of the processes. When a process is added, the input unit 11 further accepts input to steps S102 to S105.

Step S107: The input unit 11 of the information processing device 10 accepts the deletion of a process for producing the target product. If the process is to be deleted, proceed to S108; if the process is not to be deleted, proceed to step S109.

When the input unit 11 detects a user operation to delete a process of the target product, it deletes the process block pb corresponding to the process to be deleted from the screen.

Step S108: The input unit 11 of the information processing device 10 deletes the process block pb.

When "Delete this process" shown in Figures 3 and 4 is selected, the input unit 11 deletes the process block pb of the process to be deleted.

The input unit 11 may be able to change the order and arrangement of each process block. When a change in the process is required, the order of each process block can be changed, making it possible to create a flexible process chart.

Step S109: The control unit 14 of the information processing device 10 creates a process schedule for the target product based on the information input via the input unit 11.

The control unit serially connects one or more process blocks pb for which input has been accepted, to create a process chart for the target product. Through the input unit 11, which is equipped with a user interface that employs such a configuration, the user can input the process chart that they normally create onto the screen.

Step S110: The memory unit 13 of the information processing device 10 stores the created schedule.

The schedule is stored as a directly editable CSV file. A CSV (comma-separated values) file is a data format file in which text data is divided into several fields and separated by the delimiter comma ",". The file extension is ".csv," and a major feature of this file is that it can be opened with a variety of software.

The CSV file for a process in a process schedule holds data such as the process name, process ID, product (ID on the product master), process order, calculation method for pre-work processing time, pre-work time (seconds), selection of whether the pre-work spans non-operating time, calculation method for main work processing time, main work time (seconds), selection of whether the main work spans non-operating time, calculation method for post-work processing time, post-work time (seconds), selection of whether the post-work spans non-operating time, and assignment target (equipment, staff). In addition, the CSV file for the combination of staff and equipment in a process schedule holds data such as staff (staff master ID), equipment (equipment master ID), and process (process ID).

Next, referring to FIG. 5, the operation of the information processing device 10 according to this embodiment for determining a production plan for a product will be described.

Step S201: The input unit 11 of the information processing device 10 further acquires order information including production conditions for one or more target products.

The input unit 11 accepts the input of order information from the user. Production conditions refer to the quantity and delivery date for each product indicated in the order information.

Step S202: The control unit 14 of the information processing device 10 extracts the process schedule for each target product indicated in the order information from the memory unit 13.

As described above, the process schedule for the target product is stored (registered) as a CSV file in the memory unit 13 for each target product, and one or more process schedules for producing one or more target products are extracted from the registered process schedules.

Step S203: The control unit 14 of the information processing device 10 checks whether all of the target products are indicated in the order information.

Since the order information contains one or more target products, it is checked whether there are any target products for which a process chart has not been extracted.

Step S204: The control unit 14 of the information processing device 10 creates a production plan for one or more target products based on the extracted one or more process charts.

When creating a production plan for one or more target products, the control unit 14 may set constraints that include (i) production conditions (quantity and delivery date) for each target product, (ii) an allocation condition that does not assign one piece of equipment or one worker to two or more processes in the same time period, and (iii) a continuation condition that ensures working time in one consolidated time period for processes that do not have "straddle non-operating time" checked.

Step S205: The control unit 14 of the information processing device 10 checks whether the production conditions for all of the one or more target products are met.

Specifically, the control unit 14 checks whether the production conditions (quantity and delivery date) of all target products indicated in the order information are met. If the production conditions of all target products are met, the process proceeds to step S206, and if the production conditions of at least one product are not met, the process returns to step S204 and the created production plan is revised. Specifically, the input unit 11 accepts input of changes to delivery dates, changes to processes, and resetting, and the control unit 14 once again creates production plans for all target products.

Step S206: The control unit 14 of the information processing device 10 determines a production plan for one or more target products.

When the control unit 14 confirms that the production conditions for all target products are met, it ends the production plan decision flow for the target products.

As described above, the information processing device 10 according to this embodiment accepts input of the product name of the target product and, for each process of producing the target product, process information including the process name, the equipment and staff to which the process can be assigned, and working time via a versatile user interface. Then, the information processing device 10 creates a process schedule for the target product based on the input process information.

According to this configuration, the information processing device 10 creates a process schedule when it receives input from a user, via a versatile user interface, of the product name of the target product and process information for each process for producing the target product. Therefore, even a user who does not have the specialized knowledge to set multiple pieces of data individually based on a dedicated format that requires information processing descriptions can use the function of creating a process schedule by inputting the specified process information as requested by the information processing device 10. Therefore, the technology for creating a product process schedule is improved in that the likelihood that users will use this function is increased.

Although the present disclosure has been described based on the drawings and examples, it should be noted that a person skilled in the art may make various modifications and alterations based on the present disclosure. Therefore, it should be noted that these modifications and alterations are included in the scope of the present disclosure. For example, the functions included in each component or step can be rearranged so as not to cause logical inconsistencies, and multiple components or steps can be combined into one or divided.

For example, in the above-described embodiment, it is also possible to have an embodiment in which the configuration and operation of the information processing device 10 are distributed among multiple computers that can communicate with each other.

In the above embodiment, the information processing device 10 has been described as creating a process schedule in which one or more process blocks pb are connected in series, but the information processing device 10 may also create a process schedule by accepting input of information in a format that allows one or more process blocks pb to be added and arranged so that they can be executed in parallel. By allowing one or more process blocks pb to be executed in parallel, flexible creation of a process schedule becomes possible when there are processes common to different target products.

In the above-described embodiment, the same production resources (staff) may be set for all pre-work, main work, and post-work within the same process, or different staff may be selected for each task within the same process. This is because, among tasks within the same process, the main work requires staff expertise, while the pre-work and post-work may not necessarily require staff expertise, such as cleaning work.

In the above embodiment, the production resources allocated to the process have been described as equipment and staff, but production resources other than equipment such as molds and staff may be set as the allocation targets depending on the conditions specific to each customer. By making it possible to allocate production resources other than equipment and staff, it becomes possible to flexibly respond to cases unique to many customers.

In the above embodiment, the detailed settings for pre-task, main task, and post-task are provided with an input field for setting whether or not the task "straddles non-working time," but this is not limited to this. The detailed settings for each task may be provided with an input field for setting multiple conditions specific to various customers. By allowing detailed settings other than "straddles non-working time," it becomes possible to flexibly respond to cases specific to many customers.

Reference Signs List 1 Information processing system 2 Network 10, 10A, 10B, 10C Information processing device 11 Input unit 12 Communication unit 13 Storage unit 14 Control unit

Claims (8)

An information processing device for creating a process chart for a product,
an input unit that receives input of a product name of a target product and, for each process for producing the target product, process information including a process name, equipment and staff to which the process can be assigned, and working time;
A control unit that creates a process chart for the target product based on the information input via the input unit;
A storage unit that stores the created process chart;
An information processing device comprising: 2. The information processing device according to claim 1,
The input unit displays a screen including a process block having an input field for process information for each process of producing the target product, and when a user operation to add a process of producing the target product is detected, adds a new process block on the screen, and when a user operation to delete a process of producing the target product is detected, deletes the process block corresponding to the process to be deleted from the screen. 3. The information processing device according to claim 2,
An information processing device, wherein on the screen, process blocks corresponding to each process for producing the target product are displayed as nodes of a directed graph. 2. The information processing device according to claim 1,
The process chart is stored as a directly editable CSV file in the information processing device. 3. The information processing device according to claim 1,
The input unit further acquires order information including production conditions for one or more target products;
The control unit extracts a process schedule for each target product indicated in the order information from the memory unit, and determines a production plan for the one or more target products based on the extracted one or more process schedules so as to satisfy production conditions for all of the one or more target products. 3. The information processing device according to claim 1,
The information processing device, wherein the process information includes a selection of whether or not to continue work across non-operating time. An information processing method for creating a product schedule, comprising:
Receiving input of a product name of a target product and, for each process for producing the target product, process information including a process name, equipment and staff to which the process can be assigned, and working time;
Creating a schedule for the target product based on the input information;
storing the created schedule;
An information processing method. An information processing device that creates a product schedule
Receiving input of a product name of a target product and, for each process for producing the target product, process information including a process name, equipment and staff to which the process can be assigned, and working time;
Creating a schedule for the target product based on the input information;
storing the created schedule;
A program to execute.

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