JP4782933B2

JP4782933B2 - Development support method, development support system, and computer program for development support

Info

Publication number: JP4782933B2
Application number: JP2001072908A
Authority: JP
Inventors: 康範時吉; 文衛古宅
Original assignee: Japan Research Institute Ltd
Current assignee: Japan Research Institute Ltd
Priority date: 2001-03-14
Filing date: 2001-03-14
Publication date: 2011-09-28
Anticipated expiration: 2021-03-14
Also published as: JP2002269403A

Description

【０００１】
【産業上の技術分野】
本発明は、製品等の開発を支援するシステムに関し、より詳細には、提携している複数の企業が協働して製品等を開発することを支援するシステムに関する。
【０００２】
【従来の技術】
従来、需要側において新たな製品が必要な場合に、この製品を同様の製品を開発製造している企業に依頼することが良く行われている。たとえば、自動車会社において新たな部品が必要となる場合には、供給側つまり部品を製造する企業に対して、部品の仕様、コスト、数量および納期等を指定して、開発を依頼する。
ここでは、従前、需要側の企業の開発／購買拠点と、供給側の企業の販売拠点とが情報交換をし、供給側の企業において、販売拠点から開発拠点と、内容を調整する手法がとられていた。また、需要側の企業の開発拠点が供給側の開発拠点と協議をしつつ製品を共同開発する手法も採用されていた。
【０００３】
【発明が解決しようとする課題】
しかしながら、近年、企業間の提携関係が複雑化し、需要側の単一の企業が、予め定めた単一の供給側の企業に対して、部品などの製品開発を依頼するような商取引形態を採用することが困難となっている。
また、提携関係にある供給側の複数の企業に、ある企業が製品開発を依頼する場合に、何れかの企業が主導権を握ることで、恣意的な判断がとられ、結果として、提携関係を生かすことができず、また、需要側の企業にとっても、満足のいく製品が開発できないという問題点も考えられる。
【０００４】
さらに、多数の企業が提携している場合には、拠点数の増大により、意思決定の速度はより遅くなる。これは、提携関係にありながらも、拠点ごとの情報の共有化や役割分担ができていないことに起因している。
本発明は、上記問題点を解決するために、一定の提携関係にある供給側企業に一定の競争関係も保持しつつ、迅速な製品開発を可能とする開発支援システムを提供することを目的とする。
【０００５】
【課題を解決するための手段】
本発明の目的は、需要側企業の要求にしたがって製品を供給する供給側企業群において、協働して製品仕様を、前記供給側企業群における製造工程ごとに段階的に確定して、最終的な製品仕様を決定する開発支援方法であって、少なくとも、製造工程において上流に位置する開発から、下流に位置する生産に至るまでの工程を複数の段階に分類し、前記供給側企業群における拠点を前記段階の何れに属するかを決定するステップと、前記最上流に位置する段階において、前記供給側企業群の拠点群のうち、当該段階に属する第1の群を構成する拠点に、需要側企業の要求に基づく製品の粗い仕様を、ネットワークを介して伝達するステップと、粗い仕様が伝達された、第１の群を構成する拠点の各々において、前記粗い仕様に基づき、当該段階における第1の仕様案を生成するステップと、前記第1の仕様案の各々をネットワークを介して受理して、当該仕様案から少なくとも１つの第1の仕様を確定するステップと、前記第1の段階より下流であって当該第1の段階に隣接した第２の段階において、前記供給側企業群の拠点群のうち、当該段階に属する第２の群を構成する拠点に、前記第１の仕様を、ネットワークを介して伝達するステップと、前記第１の仕様が伝達された、第２の群を構成する拠点の各々において、前記第１の仕様に基づき、当該段階における第２の仕様案を生成するステップと、前記第２の仕様案の各々を、ネットワークを介して受理して、当該仕様案から少なくとも１つの第２の仕様を確定するステップと、上記ステップ以降、処理対象となっていた段階より下流にあって当該処理対象となっていた段階に隣接した段階において、前記供給側企業群のうち、当該段階に属する群を構成する拠点に、前記上流の処理にて取得された仕様群を、ネットワークを介して伝達するステップ、当該仕様群が伝達された群を構成する拠点の各々において、前記仕様群に関連して、当該段階における仕様案をネットワークを介して伝達するステップ、および、前記段階における仕様案の各々を受理して、当該仕様案から少なくとも１つの、前記段階における仕様を確定するステップを、最下流の段階についてまで繰り返すステップとを備え、最下流の段階における仕様が確定することにより、開発から生産に至るまでの基本製品設計仕様が確定されることを特徴とする開発支援方法により達成される。
【０００６】
本発明によれば、複数の供給側企業における拠点を、開発から生産にいたるまでの複数の段階の何れかに属するかを分類し、段階ごとに必要な情報を、当該段階に属する拠点に伝達することを繰り返して、最終的な基本製品設計仕様を確定するまでの作業を進める。したがって、複数の供給側企業に対する製品の開発依頼に基づく仕様の作成を、円滑にかつ迅速に進めることが可能となる。
【０００７】
また、各段階において、拠点より、当該段階にて決定されるべき仕様（たとえば、開発段階における設計仕様、生産段階における生産仕様など）の案が出され、自動競りやパラメータを用いた最適化などの手法により、これらのうちの少なくとも１つを当該段階における仕様とする。したがって、提携関係にあっても一定の競争を保持しつつ、仕様を決定していくことが可能となる。
【０００８】
好ましい実施態様においては、段階が、設計の仕様を生成するための開発段階、原材料の仕様を生成するための調達段階、および、生産仕様を生成するための生産段階に分類され、第１の仕様案を生成するステップにおいて、第１の群を構成する開発拠点により設計仕様案が生成され、第１の仕様を伝達するステップにおいて、第２の群を構成する調達拠点に、設計仕様が伝達され、前記第２の仕様案を生成するステップにおいて、第２の群を構成する調達拠点により原材料仕様案が生成され、第１の仕様および第２の仕様を伝達するステップにおいて第３の群を構成する生産拠点に、設計仕様および原材料仕様が伝達され、さらに、前記第２の段階である調達段階の下流に位置する第３の段階である生産段階に属する第３の群を構成する生産拠点に、前記設計仕様および原材料仕様が伝達され、前記設計仕様および原材料仕様が伝達された、第３の群を構成する生産拠点の各々において、前記設計仕様および原材料仕様に基づき、生産仕様案を生成するステップと、前記生産仕様案の各々を受理して、当該仕様案から少なくとも１つの生産仕様を確定するステップと、前記設計仕様、原材料仕様および生産仕様から、可能な組み合わせを見出して、最終的な製品設計仕様を確定するステップとを備えている。
【０００９】
各段階において、当該段階に属する群を構成する全ての拠点に、仕様を伝達するように構成しても良いし、各段階において、当該段階に属する群を構成する拠点のうち、選択されたものに対して、仕様を伝達しても良い。
【００１０】
本発明のより好ましい実施態様においては、さらに、前記製品設計仕様を、需要側に提示して、前記需要側からの修正依頼を、前記ネットワークを介して受理するステップと、前記修正依頼に基づき、修正にかかる段階を特定するステップと、前記修正にかかる段階に属する群を構成する拠点に、前記修正依頼を、ネットワークを介して伝達するステップとを備え、修正にかかる段階およびそれ以下の段階に関して、仕様案の作成、仕様の確定を繰り返すことにより、再度、基本製品設計仕様を確定させる。
この実施態様によれば、修正があった場合でも、修正にかかる段階およびその下流側における処理のやり直しで足りるため、修正による開発の遅れを最小限とすることが可能となる。
【００１１】
また、本発明の目的は、需要側企業の要求にしたがって製品を供給する供給側企業群において、製品設計仕様に基づき、販売にいたるまでの過程を段階的に確定させる開発支援方法であって、少なくとも、流通過程において上流に位置する製造された製品の保管から、下流に位置する販売にいたるまでの過程を、複数の段階に分類し、前記供給側企業群における拠点を、前記段階の何れに属するか決定するステップと、前記最上流に位置する段階において、前記供給側企業群の拠点群のうち、当該段階に属する第1の群を構成する拠点に、製品設計仕様を伝達するステップと、製品設計仕様が伝達された、第１の群を構成する拠点の各々において、前記製品設計仕様に基づき、当該段階における第1の条件案を生成するステップと、前記第1の条件案の各々を受理して、当該条件案から少なくとも１つの第1の条件を確定するステップと、前記第1の段階より下流であって当該第1の段階に隣接した第２の段階において、前記供給側企業群の拠点群のうち、当該段階に属する第２の群を構成する拠点に、前記製品設計仕様および第１の条件を伝達するステップと、前記製品設計仕様および第１の条件が伝達された、第２の群を構成する拠点の各々において、これら仕様および条件に基づき、当該段階における第２の条件案を生成するステップと、前記第２の条件案の各々を受理して、当該条件案から少なくとも１つの第２の条件を確定するステップと、上記ステップ以降、処理対象となっていた段階より下流にあって当該処理対象となっていた段階に隣接した段階において、前記供給側企業群のうち、当該段階に属する群を構成する拠点に、製品設計仕様、および、前記上流の処理にて取得された条件群を伝達するステップ、当該条件群が伝達された群を構成する拠点の各々において、前記条件群に関連して、当該段階における条件案を伝達するステップ、および、前記段階における条件案の各々を受理して、当該条件案から少なくとも１つの、前記段階における条件を確定するステップを、最下流の段階についてまで繰り返すステップとを備え、最下流の段階における条件が確定することにより、販売にいたるまでの製品の流通条件が確定されることを特徴とする開発支援方法により達成される。
【００１２】
すなわち、製品が製造される工程において仕様を確定させるための処理手順を、製品を流通させる過程における条件を確定させるためにも応用することが可能である。
【００１３】
好ましい実施態様においては、前記段階が、製品を保管するための在庫段階、販売拠点まで当該製品を流通させるための物流段階、および、製品を需要側企業に引き渡す販売段階に分類され、第１の条件案を生成するステップにおいて、第１の群を構成する在庫拠点により在庫条件が生成され、第１の条件を伝達するステップにおいて、第２の群を構成する物流拠点に、製品設計仕様および在庫条件が伝達され、前記第２の仕様案を生成するステップにおいて、第２の群を構成する物流拠点により物流条件が生成され、製品設計仕様、第１の条件および第２の条件を伝達するステップにおいて第３の群を構成する販売拠点に、製品設計仕様、在庫条件および物流条件が伝達され、さらに、前記第２の段階である物流段階の下流に位置する第３の段階である販売段階に属する第３の群を構成する販売拠点に、前記製品設計仕様、在庫条件および物流条件が伝達され、前記仕様および条件が伝達された、第３の群を構成する販売拠点の各々において、前記仕様および条件に基づき、販売条件案を生成するステップと、前記販売条件案の各々を受理して、当該販売条件案から少なくとも１つの販売条件を確定するステップと、前記在庫条件、物流条件および販売条件から、可能な組み合わせを見出して、最終的な流通条件を確定するステップとを備えている。
【００１４】
各段階においては、当該段階に属する群を構成する全ての拠点に、仕様および／または条件を伝達しても良いし、当該段階に属する群を構成する拠点のうち、選択されたものに対して、仕様および／または条件を伝達するように構成しても良い。
【００１５】
より好ましい実施態様においては、さらに、前記流通条件を、需要側に提示して、前記需要側からの修正依頼を、前記ネットワークを介して受理するステップと、前記修正依頼に基づき、修正にかかる段階を特定するステップと、前記修正にかかる段階に属する群を構成する拠点に、前記修正依頼を、ネットワークを介して伝達するステップとを備え、前記修正にかかる段階およびそれ以下の段階に関して、条件案の作成、条件の確定を繰り返すことにより、再度、流通条件を確定させる。
【００１６】
本発明の別の実施態様において、需要側企業の要求にしたがって製品を供給する供給側企業群において、協働して製品仕様を、前記供給側企業群における製造工程ごとに段階的に確定して、最終的な製品仕様を決定する開発支援システムは、前記供給側企業群の拠点を、製造工程において上流から下流に向けて、開発段階、調達段階および生産段階に分類し、各拠点が属する段階を把握する拠点分類手段と、前記拠点分類手段による分類にしたがって、前記供給側企業群の拠点群のうち、当該開発段階に属する第1の群を構成する拠点に、需要側企業の要求に基づく製品の粗い仕様を、ネットワークを介して伝達する第１の伝達手段と、第１の群を構成する拠点の各々において、前記粗い仕様に基づき生成された、当該段階における設計仕様案を、ネットワークを介して受理して、当該設計仕様案から少なくとも１つの設計仕様を確定する第１の仕様確定手段と、前記拠点分類手段による分類にしたがって、前記供給側企業群の拠点群のうち、当該調達段階に属する第２の群を構成する拠点に、前記設計仕様を、ネットワークを介して伝達する第２の伝達手段と、第２の群を構成する拠点の各々において、前記設計仕様に基づき生成された、当該段階における原材料仕様案を、ネットワークを介して受理して、当該原材料仕様案から少なくとも１つの原材料仕様を確定する第２の仕様確定手段と、前記拠点分類手段による分類にしたがって、前記供給側企業群の拠点群のうち、当該生産段階に属する第３の群を構成する拠点に、前記設計仕様および原材料仕様を、ネットワークを介して伝達する第３の伝達手段と、第３の群を構成する拠点の各々において、前記設計仕様および原材料仕様に基づき生成された、当該段階における生産仕様案を、ネットワークを介して受理して、当該生産仕様案から少なくとも１つの生産仕様を確定する第３の仕様確定手段と、前記設計仕様、原材料仕様および生産仕様から、可能な組み合わせを見出して、最終的な製品設計仕様を確定する製品設計仕様確定手段とを備えている。
【００１７】
好ましくは、開発支援システムは、各段階において、当該段階に属する群を構成する拠点のうち、仕様を伝達すべき拠点を選択する拠点選択手段を備えている。
より好ましくは、開発支援システムは、前記製品設計仕様を、需要側に提示して、前記需要側からの修正依頼を、前記ネットワークを介して受理する修正依頼受理手段と、前記修正依頼に基づき、修正にかかる段階を特定して、特定された段階にかかる伝達手段に、当該修正依頼を伝達する修正段階特定手段とを備えている。
【００１８】
本発明のさらに別の実施態様において、需要側企業の要求にしたがって製品を供給する供給側企業群において、製品設計仕様に基づき、在庫から販売にいたるまでの過程を段階的に確定させる開発支援システムは、前記供給側企業群の拠点を、流通過程における上流から下流に向けて、在庫段階、物流段階および販売段階に分類し、各拠点が属する段階を把握する拠点分類手段と、前記拠点分類手段による分類にしたがって、前記供給側企業群の拠点群のうち、前記在庫段階に属する第１の群を構成する拠点に、前記製品設計仕様を、ネットワークを介して伝達する第１の伝達手段と、第１の群を構成する拠点の各々において、前記製品設計仕様に基づき生成された、当該在庫段階における在庫条件案を、ネットワークを介して受理して、当該在庫条件案から少なくとも１つの在庫条件を確定する第１の条件確定手段と、前記拠点分類手段による分類にしたがって、前記供給側企業群の拠点群のうち、前記物流段階に属する第２の群を構成する拠点に、製品設計仕様および前記在庫条件を、ネットワークを介して伝達する第２の伝達手段と、第２の群を構成する拠点の各々において、前記製品設計仕様および在庫条件に基づき生成された、当該物流段階における物流条件案を、ネットワークを介して受理して、当該物流条件案から少なくとも１つの物流条件を確定する第２の条件確定手段と、前記拠点分類手段による分類にしたがって、前記供給側企業群の拠点群のうち、前記販売段階に属する第３の群を構成する拠点に、製品設計仕様、在庫条件および物流条件を、ネットワークを介して伝達する第３の伝達手段と、第３の群を構成する拠点の各々において、前記製品設計仕様、在庫条件および物流条件に基づき生成された、当該販売段階における販売条件案を、ネットワークを介して受理して、当該販売条件案から少なくとも１つの販売条件を確定する第３の条件確定手段と、前記在庫条件、物流条件および販売条件から、可能な組み合わせを見出して、最終的な製品流通条件を確定する流通条件確定手段とを備えている。
さらに、本発明の目的は、前記システムにおける手段としてコンピュータとして機能させるためのコンピュータプログラムによっても達成される。
【００１９】
【発明の実施の形態】
以下、添付図面を参照して、本発明の実施の形態につき説明を加える。図１は、本発明の実施の形態にかかるネットワークコンピュータシステムの概略を示すブロックダイヤグラムである。図１に示すように、本実施の形態においては、供給側企業ごとにシステムが構築されている。たとえば、「Ａ社」においては、システム１０Ａが設けられ、「Ｂ社」においてはシステム１０Ｂが設けられている。このような各社のシステムにおいては、開発拠点、調達拠点、生産拠点、在庫拠点、物流拠点、販売拠点などの拠点ごとに、ＬＡＮ１４に接続された種々のマシン１２Ａ−１、１２Ａ−２、・・・等を備えている。拠点ごとにＬＡＮ１４にて接続されたマシン群は、さらに、ルータ１６を介してイントラネット１８に接続されている。これにより、各拠点間のデータ授受が可能となっている。
【００２０】
また、企業内のマシン１２のうち所定のものは、インターネット２０などのネットワークを介して外部との通信が可能となっている。インターネット２０には、本実施の形態にかかる開発支援システム２２や、需要者側企業のシステム２４Ａ、２４Ｂ、・・・が接続されている。
【００２１】
本実施の形態においては、上記供給側企業が一定の提携関係にあるという前提の下で、供給側企業の対応する拠点が協働して、一定の仕様を生成し、最終的な製品の仕様を纏め上げるように構成されている。
図２は、本実施の形態における開発支援システムを利用した製品仕様等の決定の概略を示すフローチャートである。この例では、供給側において「Ａ社」〜「Ｅ社」の５社が提携関係にある。また、「Ａ社」および「Ｂ社」においては、開発拠点、調達拠点、生産拠点、在庫拠点、物流拠点および販売拠点が設けられ、それぞれの拠点において、システムが稼動している。また、「Ｃ社」においては、開発拠点、調達拠点および生産拠点が設けられ、「Ｄ社」、「Ｅ社」においては、それぞれ、物流拠点および販売拠点、並びに、開発拠点が設けられている。
【００２２】
本実施の形態においては、まず、需要側企業から与えられた要求に基づく新製品の粗い仕様を示すデータ２０１が、提携関係にある企業の各開発拠点のシステムに伝達される。各開発拠点において、設計仕様書が作成されて、開発支援システム２２に伝達される。これら設計仕様書に基づき、後述する手順ないし処理が施されて、製品設計仕様書が確定する（符号２０２参照）。本実施の形態において、この製品設計仕様書は、各社の設計仕様書に基づき開発支援システム２２にて確定されるものであり、これ以降の原材料調達等は、この製品設計仕様書に基づくものとなる。製品設計仕様書は、需要側企業からのある要求に対して単一の場合もあり、或いは、複数の場合もあり得る。
【００２３】
次いで、この製品設計仕様書（符号２０２参照）は、各供給側企業の調達拠点のシステムに伝達される。調達拠点の各々においても、設計仕様書に基づく仕様書（原材料仕様書）が作成されて、これらが開発支援システム２２に伝達される。開発支援システム２２においては、これら各調達拠点にて作成された原材料仕様書（原材料仕様書提案書）に基づき、所定の処理を実行することにより、原材料仕様書（符号２０３参照）が確定される。
【００２４】
製品設計仕様書２０２および原材料仕様書２０３は、生産拠点のシステムに伝達され、同様の手順により、各生産拠点において作成された生産仕様書（生産仕様書提案書）に基づき、開発支援システム２２において、生産仕様書（符号２０４参照）が確定する。このような処理手順の後に、仮製品仕様書が得られる。仮製品仕様書は、需要側の企業に提示され、了承が得られると、在庫、物流および販売のための必要な処理に移行する。
【００２５】
ここでも、仮製品仕様書（演算結果）が、供給側企業の在庫拠点のシステムに伝達され、拠点ごとの在庫条件（在庫条件提案書）が開発支援システム２２に伝達される。開発支援システム２２は、これら在庫条件提案書に基づき、必要な処理を実行して在庫条件（符号２０５参照）を確定する。仮製品仕様書および在庫条件は、物流拠点のシステムに伝達され、各物流拠点において、同様に、物流条件提案書が作成され、これらが開発支援システム２２に伝達される。開発支援システム２２においては、物流条件（符号２０６参照）を確定して、仮製品仕様書、在庫条件および物流条件を、各販売拠点のシステムに伝達する。
【００２６】
各販売拠点においては、受理した条件等に基づき、販売条件（販売条件提案書）を作成して、これらを開発支援システム２２に伝達する。開発支援システム２２は、これら販売条件提案書に基づき、必要な処理を実行して販売条件（符号２０７参照）を確定する。これら在庫条件、物流条件および販売条件により、仮製品に対する各種条件が関連付けられる。このようにして、最終的に得られた仮製品仕様および各種条件は、需要側企業に提示され、需要側企業による承認の下、これに基づく製品の開発が供給側の各企業にて開始される。
【００２７】
このように、本実施の形態においては、一定の提携関係にある企業群の、開発拠点、調達拠点、生産拠点が、それぞれ協働することにより、製品設計仕様書、原材料仕様書、生産仕様書が確定して、これにより、一定の仮製品仕様書が作成される。この仮製品仕様書は、需要側企業に提示されて、その承認を経ることになる。仮製品仕様書のまま承認がなされて、以下、在庫拠点、物流拠点および販売拠点の処理が続行される。その一方、仮製品仕様書に対して、一定の変更要請があった場合には、対応する拠点の処理が再度実行されることになる。
【００２８】
同様に、上記企業群の在庫拠点、物流拠点および販売拠点が、それぞれ協働することにより、在庫条件、物流条件および販売条件が確定して、これにより、製品の最終的な条件が決定される。ここでも、最終的な条件が需要側企業に提示され、その承認を経ることになる。一定の変更要請があった場合には、対応する拠点に情報が伝達され、再度、拠点における処理が実行される。
【００２９】
このような製品開発の流れを実現するために、開発支援システム２２は、図３に示すような概略的な構成を備えている。図３に示すように、開発支援システム２２は、供給側企業の拠点のシステムとの通信を処理する対供給者通信処理部３０と、需要側企業のシステムとの通信を処理する対需要者通信処理部３２と、製品設計仕様書の作成を支援する製品設計仕様作成支援部３４と、原材料仕様書の作成を支援する原材料仕様作成支援部３６と、生産仕様書の作成を支援する生産仕様作成支援部３８と、仮製品仕様書を作成するための必要な処理を実行する仮製品仕様作成処理部４０と、在庫条件を確定するための処理を実行する在庫条件処理部４２と、物流条件を確定するための処理を実行する物流条件処理部４４と、販売条件を確定するための処理を実行する販売条件処理部４６と、最終的な製品仕様を確定するための処理を実行する製品仕様確定処理部４８とを備えている。
【００３０】
たとえば、製品設計仕様作成支援部３４は、たとえば、図４に示すように、需要者企業からの対需要者通信処理部３２を介して与えられた製品需要を示す情報を受け付ける需要受付部４０２と、提携している各社の製品に関する種々の情報を蓄積した製品データベース（ＤＢ）４０４と、製品需要に基づいて、それに近似する製品を製品ＤＢ４０４から抽出する近似製品抽出部４０６と、製品需要に基づく粗い製品仕様である粗仕様を作成して、当該粗仕様および近似製品を示す情報を対供給者通信処理部３０を介して、供給側企業の開発拠点のシステムに伝達する粗仕様作成処理部４０８とを有している。これら需要受付部４０２〜粗仕様作成処理部４０８は、需要側企業からの需要を、供給側企業に伝達するために機能する。
【００３１】
また、製品設計使用作成支援部３４は、さらに、各開発拠点のシステムにて作成された設計仕様提案書を受理する設計仕様書受付部４１０と、これら設計使用提案書および最終的な製品設計仕様書を蓄積する設計仕様書データベース（ＤＢ）４１２と、供給側企業の種々の拠点のシステムからの要求に応じて、設計仕様書ＤＢ４１２中のデータを読み出して伝達する仕様書参照処理部４１４と、各社の提案した設計使用提案書に基づき、必要な処理を実行して製品設計仕様書を確定する設計仕様書確定処理部４１６とを有している。
【００３２】
図３に示す原材料仕様作成支援部３６、生産仕様作成支援部３８、在庫条件処理部４２、物流条件処理部４４および販売条件処理部４６の各々においても、設計仕様書受付部４１０〜製品仕様書確定処理部４１６に対応する部材が設けられている。すなわち、供給側企業からの提案書を受理し、蓄積し、必要に応じて、蓄積された情報を供給側企業に提示し、また、蓄積された情報に基づき仕様や条件を確定させることができるようになっている。
【００３３】
このように構成された開発支援システム２２を利用した供給側企業における製品開発のフローにつき以下に説明を加える。図５は、開発支援システム２２および提携している供給側企業による製品設計仕様書の確定までの手順の例を、概略的に示す図である。図５に示すように、ネットワーク等を介して、製品需要を示す情報（需要情報）５００が開発支援システム２２に与えられると（符号５１０参照）、当該需要情報５００に基づく粗い仕様（符号２０１参照）および近似製品を示す情報とが、各社（１０Ａ〜１０Ｅ参照）の開発拠点のシステム５０３Ａ〜５０３Ｅにそれぞれ伝達される（符号５０２参照）。
【００３４】
開発拠点のシステム５０３Ａ〜５０３Ｅのそれぞれにおいては、粗い仕様（粗仕様）にしたがって、自社にて開発・製造する場合の設計仕様の案を作成する。この案は、単独で作成しても良いし、或いは、提携している社のうち複数の社（たとえば、Ａ社およびＢ社が協働して一つのものを作成しても良い。これらは、開発支援システム２２に伝達され、幾つかの手順を経た後に、一以上の製品設計仕様５０５が確定する。
【００３５】
図６は、設計仕様提案書の送信およびこれに関連する処理手順を示すフローチャートである。図６に示すように、各社開発拠点のシステムから、それぞれ、設計仕様提案書が開発支援システム２２に伝達され（ステップ６０１、６０３、６０５）、これらは、それぞれ設計仕様書ＤＢ４１２に記憶される（ステップ６０２、６０４、６０６）。この設計仕様書提案書においては、たとえば、原材料、生産方法（生産工程）、開発コスト等が記述されている。
【００３６】
また、開発拠点（たとえば、Ａ社開発拠点）のシステムは、必要に応じて他社の設計仕様提案書を求めて（ステップ６０７）、これに応じて、設計仕様書ＤＢ４１２から必要な提案書が読み出され（ステップ６０８）、開発拠点のシステムに伝達される（ステップ６０９）。
【００３７】
Ａ社の開発拠点では、必要に応じて他の開発拠点（たとえば、Ｂ社開発拠点）との協議を行うことも可能である（ステップ６１０）。これにより、互いに共通した提案書を作成することもできる。たとえば、このようにして変更された提案書（変更設計仕様提案書）が作られた場合には、これが開発支援システム２２に伝達され（ステップ６１１）、設計仕様書ＤＢ４１２が更新される（ステップ６１２）。
【００３８】
開発支援システム２２の設計仕様書確定処理部４１６は、設計仕様書ＤＢ４１２に蓄積された各社の設計仕様提案書に基づき、各種パラメータ（たとえば、材料コスト、開発コスト、部品点数、生産工程数など）を利用した最適化により、採用すべき提案書を決定する。ここでは、最適化処理によるものであっても良いし、パラメータに重み付けを加えて、提案書に対する指標を作成し、一定レベル以上の指標値を持つものを採用しても良い。或いは、自動競りなどを利用しても良い。ここでは、一以上の提案書が決定され、これが製品設計仕様（図５の符号５０５参照）となる。
【００３９】
図７に示すように、製品設計仕様７０２（５０５）は、供給側企業各社の調達拠点のシステムに伝達される（符号７０１参照）。各調達拠点のシステム７０３Ａ〜７０３Ｃにおいては、それぞれ、原材料、購入先、原材料コスト、納期等を含む原材料仕様提案書が作成され、これらが開発支援システム２２に伝達される（符号７０４参照）。これら原材料仕様提案書は、開発支援システム２２の原材料仕様作成支援部３６中の原材料仕様書ＤＢ（図示せず）に記憶される。
【００４０】
調達拠点に関しても、提案書の作成・伝達、他社の拠点にて作成された提案書の参照、他社の拠点との協議は、図６の開発拠点に関して例示したものと略同様に実行され得る。開発支援システム２２の原材料仕様作成支援部３６は、原材料仕様書ＤＢ（図示せず）に蓄積された原材料仕様提案書に基づき、各種パラメータを利用した最適化等の手法により、採用すべき提案書を決定する。ここでも、決定するために種々の手法を利用することが可能である。このようにして、一以上の原材料仕様書が確定する（図７の符号７０５参照）。
【００４１】
図８に示すように、製品設計仕様８０２（５０５）および原材料仕様８０３（６０５）は、供給側企業各社の生産拠点のシステムに伝達される（符号８０１参照）。各生産拠点のシステム８０４Ａ〜８０４Ｃにおいては、それぞれ、設備、必要な式設備、投資金額、生産要員、生産日数、原材料所要量等を含む生産仕様提案書が作成され、これらが開発支援システム２２に伝達される（符号８０５参照）。これら生産仕様提案書は、開発支援システム２２の生産仕様作成支援部３８中の生産仕様書ＤＢ（図示せず）に記憶される。
【００４２】
生産拠点に関しても、提案書の作成・伝達、他社の拠点にて作成された提案書の参照、他社の拠点との協議は、図６の開発拠点に関して例示したものと略同様に実行され得る。開発支援システム２２の生産仕様開発支援部３８は、生産仕様書ＤＢ（図示せず）に蓄積された生産仕様提案書に基づき、各種パラメータを利用した最適化等の手法により、採用すべき提案書を決定する。ここでも、上記決定のために種々の手法を利用可能である。このようにして、一以上の生産仕様書が確定する（図８の符号８０６参照）。
【００４３】
このようにして、一以上の製品設計仕様書、一以上の原材料仕様書および一以上の生産仕様書が確定すると、開発支援システム２２の仮製品仕様作成処理部４０は、これらの組み合わせを作り、仮の製品（仮製品）の仕様書を確定させる。
【００４４】
たとえば、図９（ａ）に示すように、開発拠点において３つの設計仕様提案書（設計仕様Ａ〜設計仕様Ｃ：符号９０１参照）が作られ、そのうち、設計仕様Ａおよび設計仕様Ｃが採用され、また、調達拠点において３つの原材料仕様提案書（原材料仕様Ａ〜原材料仕様Ｃ：符号９０２参照）が作られ、これらのうち、原材料仕様Ａおよび原材料仕様Ｃが採用され、さらに、２つの生産仕様提案書（生産仕様Ａ、生産仕様Ｂ：符号９０３参照）が作られ、これら双方が生産仕様書として採用されたと考える。仮製品仕様作成処理部４０は、これら製品設計仕様書、原材料仕様書および生産仕様書の適切な組み合わせを生成する。
【００４５】
図１０は、仮製品仕様作成処理部４０にて実行される処理例を示すフローチャートである。図１０に示すように、仮製品仕様作成処理部４０は、まず、製品設計仕様作成支援部３４の設計仕様書ＤＢ４１２に記憶された製品設計仕様書を取得し（ステップ１００１）、当該製品設計仕様に基づき作成された原材料仕様が存在するか否かを判断する（ステップ１００２）。対応する原材料仕様が存在すれば、これらが関連付けられる（ステップ１００３）。このような関連付けが全ての製品設計仕様書に対して実行される（ステップ１００４）。これにより、ある製品設計仕様書およびこれに基づく原材料仕様書の対が生成される。
【００４６】
次いで、ステップ１００３にて関連付けのなされた原材料仕様が、原材料仕様書ＤＢ（図示せず）を読み出すことにより取得される（ステップ１００５）。仮製品使用作成処理部４０は、当該原材料仕様に基づき作成された生産仕様が存在するか否かを判断する（ステップ１００６）。対応する生産仕様が存在すれば、これらが関連付けられる（ステップ１００７）。このような関連付けが、ステップ１００３において関連付けがなされた全ての原材料仕様について実行される（ステップ１００８）。これにより、製品製品設計仕様書、原材料仕様書および生産仕様書が関連付けられ、これら関連付けられた一連の仕様書を仮製品仕様書とする（ステップ１００９）。図９（ｂ）は、図９（ａ）のそれぞれの仕様書の関連付けに基づいて得られた仮製品仕様書の例を示す。たとえば、第１の仮製品仕様書９１１は、生産仕様Ａ、原材料仕様Ａおよび設計仕様Ａから構成され、その一方、第２の仮製品仕様書９１２は、生産仕様Ｂ、原材料仕様Ｂおよび設計仕様Ｃから構成されている。
【００４７】
このようにして一以上の仮製品仕様書が作成されると、一旦、これが需要側企業のシステムに伝達され、需要側企業による検討に供される。たとえば、仮製品仕様の一部に変更の要望がある場合には、これが開発支援システム２２に伝達される。開発支援システム２２は、変更にかかる仕様を判断し、当該仕様を作成した拠点に対して、仕様の変更の要望を通知する。たとえば、製品設計仕様自体に変更があれば、供給側企業各社の開発拠点のシステム（図５の符号５０３Ａ〜５０３Ｃ参照）にこれを伝達し、或いは、原材料仕様に関する変更の要望があれば、供給側企業各社の調達拠点（図７の符号７０３Ａ〜７０３Ｃ参照）にこれを伝達する。
【００４８】
製品設計仕様の変更の要望であれば、図５、図７および図８に関連して説明したような処理が再度実行され、原材料仕様に関する変更の要望であれば、図７および図８に関連して説明したような処理が再度実行される。すなわち、変更があった仕様に関する拠点およびその下流側の拠点に関する処理が再度実行され、新たな仮製品仕様書が作成され、これが需要側企業に提示される。
【００４９】
仮製品仕様書が確定すると、これに対する在庫条件、物流条件および販売条件に関する処理が実行される。これらの処理も、製品設計仕様書、原材料仕様書および生産仕様書の作成と略同様の処理となる。
すなわち、図１１において、仮製品仕様書（演算結果）１１０１が供給側企業の各在庫拠点のシステムに伝達され（符号１１０２参照）、各拠点のシステム１１０３Ａおよび１１０３Ｂにおいて、価格、数量、納期、保管条件等を含む在庫条件提案書が作成され、開発支援システム２２に伝達される（符号１１０４参照）。開発支援システム２２においては、在庫条件処理部４２が、最適化や自動競りなどの手法を利用して、一以上の在庫条件を確定させる（符号１１０５参照）。
【００５０】
次いで、図１２に示すように、仮製品仕様書（演算結果）１１０１および確定された在庫条件１１０５が、供給側企業の各物流拠点のシステムに伝達され（符号１２０１参照）、各拠点のシステム１２０２Ａ〜１２０２Ｄにおいて、価格、数量、納期、運送条件等をを含む物流条件提案書が作成され、開発支援システム２２に伝達される（符号１２０３参照）。開発支援システム２２においては、物流条件処理部４４が、最適化や自動競りなどの手法を利用して、一以上の物流条件を確定される（符号１２０４参照）。
【００５１】
さらに、図１３に示すように、仮製品仕様書（演算結果）１１０１、在庫条件１１０５および確定された物流条件１２０４が、供給側企業の各販売拠点のシステムに伝達され（符号１３０１参照）、各拠点のシステム１３０２Ａ〜１３０２Ｄにおいて、価格、数量、需要側企業の支払条件を含む販売条件提案書が作成され、開発支援システム２２に伝達される（符号１３０３参照）。開発支援システム２２においては、最適化や自動競りなどの手法を利用して、一以上の販売条件を確定させる（符号１３０４参照）。これら図１１ないし図１３に関連した処理においても、各拠点による提案書の伝達、他の拠点が作成した提案書の参照、拠点間の協議などが可能であることは言うまでもない。また、条件の決定手法についても種々の手法を採用可能であることは明らかである。
【００５２】
このようにして、仮製品に関する在庫条件、物流条件および販売条件が確定されると、これらの組み合わせを作成し、仮製品に関する条件を確定させる。ここでも、製品使用確定処理部４８は、図１０に示すものと略同様の処理を実行させて、関連する在庫条件、物流条件および販売条件の組み合わせを見出す。たとえば、図１４（ａ）に示すように、第１の仮製品（仮製品Ａ）に関して、在庫条件Ａおよび在庫条件Ｃ（符号１４０１参照）、物流条件Ａおよび物流条件Ｂ（符号１４０２参照）、並びに、物流条件Ｂ（符号１４０３）がそれぞれ採用されている場合に、これらの関連性を見出す。第２の仮製品（仮製品Ｂ）に関して、在庫条件Ａ（符号１４１１参照）、物流条件Ａ（符号１４１２参照）および販売条件Ａ（符号１４１３）が参照されている場合には、この組み合わせが採用されることになる。
【００５３】
図１５は、このようにして仮製品Ａおよび仮製品Ｂに関する各種条件の組み合わせに基づいた最終的な製品仕様を示す図である。第１の仮製品（仮製品Ａ）に関連した製品仕様Ａ−１（符号１５０１参照）においては、在庫条件Ａ、物流条件Ａおよび販売条件Ｂの組み合わせを含み、製品仕様Ａ−２（符号１５０２参照）においては、在庫条件Ｃ、物流条件Ｂおよび販売条件Ｂの組み合わせを含む。また、第２の仮製品（仮製品Ｂ）に関する製品使用Ｂ（符号１５１１参照）においては、在庫条件Ａ、物流条件Ａおよび販売条件Ａを含む。なお、図１５において、図示はしていないが、製品仕様においては、仮製品仕様を構成する製品設計仕様、原材料仕様および生産仕様を含む。
【００５４】
このようにして一以上の製品仕様書が作成されると、これが需要側企業のシステムに伝達され、需要側企業による検討に供される。たとえば、ある条件に関して変更の要望がある場合には、これが開発支援システム２２に伝達される。開発支援システム２２は、変更にかかる条件を判断し、関連する拠点に対して、仕様の変更の要望を通知する。これに応答して、当該拠点およびその下流の拠点について、図１１〜図１３に関連して説明した処理が再度実行される。
需要側企業からの承認が得られた場合には、その製品仕様が最終的に確定する。この情報は、供給側企業の各拠点のシステムに伝達される。これにより、当該製品の開発等が開始される。
【００５５】
本実施の形態によれば、提携している供給側企業の開発、調達、生産、在庫、物流および販売の各拠点を一単位として、当該拠点において仕様書や条件を決定している。この決定に際しては、拠点間の協議、競り、最適化などが行われ、ある程度の競争を確保しつつ、需要者のニーズに応えた仕様や条件が決定できるようになっている。したがって、このように複数企業間において一定の提携関係がある場合に、意思決定のスピードを遅らせることなく、需要者のニーズに応えた製品を提供することが可能となる。なお、実際の製品の製造等の際には、製品設計仕様および各種条件を受け入れ可能な拠点が携わればよい。
【００５６】
本発明は、以上の実施の形態に限定されることなく、特許請求の範囲に記載された発明の範囲内で、種々の変更が可能であり、それらも本発明の範囲内に包含されるものであることは言うまでもない。
たとえば、前記実施の形態においては、供給側の各企業における全ての拠点に対して、仕様や条件を伝達しているが、これに限定されるものではなく、需要側企業の要求により或いは開発支援システムの判断により、選択された企業の拠点に仕様や条件を伝達し、或いは、処理の段階ごとに選択された拠点に仕様や条件を伝達するように構成しても良い。
【００５７】
また、前記実施の形態において、製品設計仕様の作成のために、製造工程を考慮して、開発、調達および生産の３つの段階に分類し、各段階に属する拠点に、これより上流で決定された仕様を伝達している。しかしながら、上記分類に限定されるものではない。たとえば、開発および生産の２つの段階であっても良いし、４つ以上の段階に分類しても良い。また、条件の決定のための在庫、物流、販売という３つの段階の分類も同様である。
【００５８】
さらに、本実施の形態においては、開発から販売までを一貫として担う企業について、６段階で製品設計仕様および各種条件を決定している。しかしながら、開発から生産までの製品設計仕様のみを確定させるような構成であっても良いし、或いは、これ以降の在庫から販売までの条件のみを確定させるような構成であっても良い。
なお、本明細書において、一つの手段の機能が、二つ以上の物理的手段により実現されても、若しくは、二つ以上の手段の機能が、一つの物理的手段により実現されてもよい。
【００５９】
【発明の効果】
本発明によれば、一定の提携関係にある供給側企業に一定の競争関係も保持しつつ、迅速な製品開発を可能とする開発支援システムを提供することが可能となる。
【図面の簡単な説明】
【図１】図１は、本発明の実施の形態にかかるネットワークコンピュータシステムの概略を示すブロックダイヤグラムである。
【図２】図２は、本実施の形態における開発支援システムを利用した製品仕様等の決定の概略を示すフローチャートである。
【図３】図３は、本実施の形態にかかる開発支援システムの概略を示すブロックダイヤグラムである。
【図４】図４は、本実施の形態にかかる製品設計仕様作成支援部の構成を示すブロックダイヤグラムである。
【図５】図５は、本実施の形態において、開発支援システムおよび提携している供給側企業による設計仕様書の確定までの手順の例を、概略的に示す図である。
【図６】図６は、本実施の形態における設計仕様提案書の送信およびこれに関連する処理手順を示すフローチャートである。
【図７】図７は、本実施の形態において、開発支援システムおよび提携している供給側企業による原材料仕様書の確定までの手順の例を、概略的に示す図である。
【図８】図８は、本実施の形態において、開発支援システムおよび提携している供給側企業による生産仕様書の確定までの手順の例を、概略的に示す図である。
【図９】図９は、本発明の実施の形態にかかる設計仕様書の組み合わせを説明するための図である。
【図１０】図１０は、本実施の形態にかかる仮製品仕様作成処理部にて実行される処理例を示すフローチャートである。
【図１１】図１１は、本実施の形態において在庫条件が確定するまでの処理手順の例を、概略的に示す図である。
【図１２】図１２は、本実施の形態において物流条件が確定するまでの処理手順の例を、概略的に示す図である。
【図１３】図１３は、本実施の形態において販売条件が確定するまでの処理手順の例を、概略的に示す図である。
【図１４】図１４は、本実施の形態において確定した各条件の組み合わせを選択する処理を説明するための図である。
【図１５】図１５は、本実施の形態にかかる最終的な製品仕様を示す図である。
【符号の説明】
１０システム
１２マシン
２２開発支援システム
３０対供給者通信処理部
３２対需要者通信処理部
３４製品設計仕様作成支援部
３６原材料仕様作成支援部
３８生産仕様作成支援部
４０仮製品仕様作成処理部
４２在庫条件処理部
４４物流条件処理部
４６販売条件処理部
４８製品仕様確定処理部[0001]
[Industrial technical field]
The present invention relates to a system that supports the development of products and the like, and more particularly, to a system that supports the development of products and the like by a plurality of affiliated companies collaborating.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, when a new product is required on the demand side, it is often performed to request a company that develops and manufactures a similar product for this product. For example, when a new part is required in an automobile company, the supply side, that is, the company that manufactures the part, specifies the specification, cost, quantity, delivery date, etc. of the part and requests development.
Here, there is a method in which the development / purchasing base of the demand side company and the sales base of the supply side company exchange information, and the supply side company adjusts the contents from the sales base to the development base. It was done. In addition, a method was adopted in which a development base of a demand-side company co-develops a product in consultation with a development base on the supply side.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in recent years, partnerships between companies have become more complex, and a single business company on the demand side has adopted a commercial transaction form in which a single company on the supply side has been requested to develop products such as parts. It has become difficult to do.
In addition, when a company requests product development from multiple companies on the partnering side, any company can take the initiative to make an arbitrary decision. There is also a problem that a satisfactory product cannot be developed for a demand side company.
[0004]
Furthermore, when a large number of companies are affiliated with each other, the speed of decision-making becomes slower due to the increase in the number of bases. This is due to the fact that although there is a partnership, information sharing and role sharing for each site is not possible.
In order to solve the above problems, the present invention aims to provide a development support system that enables rapid product development while maintaining a certain competitive relationship with a supplier company in a certain partnership. To do.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
It is an object of the present invention to collaborate with a supplier company group that supplies products in accordance with a demand from a demand company, and to determine product specifications step by step for each manufacturing process in the supplier company group. A development support method for determining a specific product specification, at least a process from upstream development to production downstream is classified into a plurality of stages, and the base in the supplier company group Among the base group of the supply-side company group in the base group constituting the first group belonging to the stage in the step of determining to which of the stages belong to the demand side A step of transmitting a rough specification of a product based on a request of a company through a network, and a step of transmitting the rough specification at each of the bases constituting the first group based on the rough specification. Generating a first specification proposal in step S, receiving each of the first specification proposals via a network, and determining at least one first specification from the specification proposal; In the second stage that is downstream from the stage and adjacent to the first stage, out of the base group of the supplier company group, the first specification is assigned to the base that constitutes the second group belonging to the stage. And transmitting the second specification proposal at the stage based on the first specification at each of the bases constituting the second group to which the first specification has been transmitted. A step of generating, a step of accepting each of the second specification proposals via a network, and determining at least one second specification from the specification proposals; Downstream from the stage In a stage adjacent to the stage that was the target of processing, the specification group acquired in the upstream process is transferred to the base that constitutes the group belonging to the stage among the supplier-side company group. A step of transmitting through the network, a step of transmitting a specification plan at the relevant stage via a network in relation to the specification group at each of the bases constituting the group to which the relevant specification group has been communicated, and a specification at the stage. Receiving each of the proposals and repeating at least one of the specifications from the specification proposal to determine the specifications at the stage until the stage at the most downstream stage, and by determining the specifications at the downstream stage, This is achieved by a development support method characterized in that basic product design specifications from development to production are determined.
[0006]
According to the present invention, bases in a plurality of suppliers are classified as belonging to any of a plurality of stages from development to production, and necessary information for each stage is transmitted to the bases belonging to that stage. Repeat the process until the final basic product design specifications are finalized. Accordingly, it is possible to smoothly and quickly create specifications based on product development requests from a plurality of suppliers.
[0007]
In addition, at each stage, the site proposes specifications to be determined at that stage (for example, design specifications at the development stage, production specifications at the production stage, etc.), and automatic bidding and optimization using parameters, etc. According to the method, at least one of these is used as the specification at the stage. Therefore, it is possible to determine specifications while maintaining a certain level of competition even in partnerships.
[0008]
In a preferred embodiment, the stages are classified into a development stage for generating a design specification, a procurement stage for generating a raw material specification, and a production stage for generating a production specification, wherein the first specification In the step of generating a plan, a design specification plan is generated by the development bases constituting the first group, and in the step of transmitting the first specifications, the design specifications are transmitted to the procurement bases constituting the second group. In the step of generating the second specification draft, the raw material specification draft is generated by the procurement bases constituting the second group, and the third group is configured in the step of transmitting the first specification and the second specification. The design specifications and raw material specifications are transmitted to the production bases, and the third group belonging to the production stage, which is the third stage located downstream of the procurement stage, which is the second stage, is formed. The design specifications and raw material specifications are communicated to the bases, and the production specifications are drafted based on the design specifications and raw material specifications at each of the production bases constituting the third group where the design specifications and raw material specifications are transmitted. A step of generating, a step of accepting each of the proposed production specifications, determining at least one production specification from the proposed specification, and finding a possible combination from the design specification, raw material specification and production specification, and finally Determining a typical product design specification.
[0009]
At each stage, the specification may be transmitted to all the bases constituting the group belonging to the stage, or at each stage, one selected from the bases constituting the group belonging to the stage. In contrast, the specification may be transmitted.
[0010]
In a more preferred embodiment of the present invention, the step of presenting the product design specification to the demand side and receiving the correction request from the demand side via the network, and based on the correction request, A step of specifying a stage related to correction, and a step of transmitting the correction request to a base constituting a group belonging to the stage related to correction via a network. The basic product design specification is determined again by repeating the creation of the specification draft and the specification determination.
According to this embodiment, even when there is a correction, it is only necessary to redo the stage involved in the correction and the processing on the downstream side thereof, so that the development delay due to the correction can be minimized.
[0011]
Further, an object of the present invention is a development support method for gradually determining a process leading to sales based on a product design specification in a supply side company group that supplies products according to a demand side company's request, At least the process from storage of the manufactured product located upstream in the distribution process to sales located downstream is classified into a plurality of stages, and the base in the supplier company group is any of the above stages. Determining whether it belongs, and in the stage located at the most upstream, out of the base group of the supplier side company group, transmitting the product design specifications to the bases constituting the first group belonging to the stage; A step of generating a first draft condition at the relevant stage based on the product design specification at each of the bases constituting the first group to which the product design specification has been transmitted; Receiving each of the proposals and determining at least one first condition from the proposed proposal; and in a second stage downstream of the first stage and adjacent to the first stage, The step of transmitting the product design specification and the first condition to the base constituting the second group belonging to the stage among the base group of the supplier side company group, and the product design specification and the first condition are transmitted. In each of the bases constituting the second group, based on these specifications and conditions, a step of generating the second condition draft at the stage and receiving each of the second condition draft, In the step of determining at least one second condition from the proposed condition, and in the stage after the above step and downstream of the stage that was the processing target and adjacent to the stage that was the processing target, the supplier company Step of transmitting the product design specifications and the condition group acquired in the upstream processing to the bases constituting the group belonging to the stage, and each of the bases constituting the group to which the condition group is transmitted The step of communicating the condition plan at the stage in relation to the condition group, and the step of accepting each of the condition plans at the stage and determining at least one condition at the stage from the condition plan Is achieved by a development support method characterized in that the distribution conditions of the product up to the sale are determined by determining the conditions in the downstream stage. The
[0012]
That is, it is possible to apply the processing procedure for determining the specifications in the process of manufacturing the product to determine the conditions in the process of distributing the product.
[0013]
In a preferred embodiment, the stage is classified into an inventory stage for storing a product, a logistics stage for distributing the product to a sales base, and a sales stage for delivering the product to a demanding company. In the step of generating the proposed condition, the inventory conditions are generated by the inventory bases constituting the first group, and in the step of transmitting the first conditions, the product design specifications and the inventory are sent to the logistics bases constituting the second group. A condition is transmitted, and in the step of generating the second specification draft, a distribution condition is generated by a distribution base constituting the second group, and the product design specification, the first condition, and the second condition are transmitted Product design specifications, inventory conditions, and distribution conditions are transmitted to the sales bases that constitute the third group in the third group, and the third stage located downstream of the distribution stage that is the second stage. The sales bases constituting the third group to which the product design specifications, inventory conditions and physical distribution conditions are transmitted to the sales bases constituting the third group belonging to the sales stage which is the stage, and the specifications and conditions are transmitted to the sales bases. Generating a sales condition plan based on the specifications and conditions, receiving each of the sales condition plan and determining at least one sales condition from the sales condition plan, and the inventory condition And finding a possible combination from the distribution condition and the sales condition and determining the final distribution condition.
[0014]
At each stage, the specifications and / or conditions may be transmitted to all the bases constituting the group belonging to the stage, or the selected base among the bases constituting the group belonging to the stage. It may be configured to communicate specifications and / or conditions.
[0015]
In a more preferred embodiment, the step of presenting the distribution conditions to the demand side, accepting the correction request from the demand side via the network, and the stage of correction based on the correction request And a step of transmitting the correction request to a base constituting a group belonging to the stage related to the correction via a network. By repeating the creation and the confirmation of the conditions, the distribution conditions are confirmed again.
[0016]
In another embodiment of the present invention, in the supply enterprise group supplying products according to the demand of the demand enterprise, the product specifications are determined in a stepwise manner for each manufacturing process in the supply enterprise group. The development support system for determining the final product specifications categorizes the bases of the supplier company group from the upstream to the downstream in the manufacturing process, from the development stage, the procurement stage, and the production stage. Based on the demand of the demand-side company, the base constituting the first group belonging to the development stage out of the base group of the supply-side company group according to the classification by the base classifying means and the base classifying means A design specification draft at the relevant stage generated based on the rough specification at each of the first transmission means for transmitting the rough specification of the product via the network and the bases constituting the first group. Of the base group of the supply-side company group according to the classification by the first specification determination means for receiving at least one design specification from the design specification draft and the classification by the base classification means The design specification is transmitted to the bases constituting the second group belonging to the procurement stage by the second transmission means for transmitting the design specifications via the network and the bases constituting the second group. The raw material specification draft generated at the stage is received via the network, and at least one raw material specification is confirmed from the raw material specification draft, according to the classification by the base classifying means. The design specifications and the raw material specifications are transferred to the bases constituting the third group belonging to the production stage among the bases of the supplier company group via a network. In each of the third transmission means for transmission and the bases constituting the third group, the production specification draft at the stage generated based on the design specification and the raw material specification is received via the network, and the Third specification determination means for determining at least one production specification from the production specification proposal, and a product design specification for determining a final product design specification by finding possible combinations from the design specification, raw material specification and production specification. And a confirmation means.
[0017]
Preferably, the development support system includes a base selection unit that selects a base to which the specification should be transmitted among the bases constituting the group belonging to the stage at each stage.
More preferably, the development support system presents the product design specification to the demand side, and receives a correction request from the demand side via the network, and a correction request receiving unit, based on the correction request, A stage for correction is specified, and a correction stage specifying means for transmitting the correction request to the transmission means for the specified stage is provided.
[0018]
In yet another embodiment of the present invention, a development support system for gradually determining a process from inventory to sales based on a product design specification in a group of supply companies that supply products in accordance with demands of a demand side company Categorizes the bases of the supply-side company group from upstream to downstream in the distribution process into an inventory stage, a distribution stage and a sales stage, and grasps the stage to which each base belongs; and the base classification means According to the classification by the first transmission means for transmitting the product design specifications to the bases constituting the first group belonging to the inventory stage among the base groups of the supplier-side company group via a network; At each of the bases constituting the first group, a stock condition proposal at the stock stage generated based on the product design specifications is received via the network, and A first condition determining means for determining at least one inventory condition from the proposed inventory condition and a second group belonging to the logistics stage among the base groups of the supplier company group according to the classification by the base classifying means. The product design specifications and the inventory conditions are generated based on the product design specifications and the inventory conditions in each of the second transmission means for transmitting the product design specifications and the inventory conditions to the bases constituting the second group and the bases constituting the second group. According to the classification by the base classifying means, the second condition determining means for accepting the distribution condition proposal in the distribution stage via the network and determining at least one distribution condition from the distribution condition proposal. A network of product design specifications, inventory conditions, and logistics conditions for the base group that constitutes the third group belonging to the sales stage among the base group of the supplier side company group The sales condition proposal at the sales stage generated based on the product design specifications, inventory conditions and physical distribution conditions at each of the third transmission means and the bases constituting the third group via the network And a third condition determining means for determining at least one sales condition from the proposed sales condition, and finding a possible combination from the inventory condition, the distribution condition and the sales condition, and finally distributing the product. Distribution condition determining means for determining the conditions.
Furthermore, the object of the present invention is also achieved by a computer program for causing a computer to function as means in the system.
[0019]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an outline of a network computer system according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, in the present embodiment, a system is constructed for each supplier company. For example, “Company A” is provided with a system 10A, and “Company B” is provided with a system 10B. In such a system of each company, various machines 12A-1, 12A-2 connected to the LAN 14 are provided for each base such as a development base, a procurement base, a production base, an inventory base, a distribution base, and a sales base.・ Equipped with etc. A group of machines connected by LAN 14 at each site is further connected to an intranet 18 via a router 16. Thereby, data exchange between each base is possible.
[0020]
In addition, predetermined ones of the machines 12 in the company can communicate with the outside via a network such as the Internet 20. The Internet 20 is connected to a development support system 22 according to the present embodiment and systems 24A, 24B,...
[0021]
In this embodiment, based on the premise that the supplier company has a certain partnership, the bases corresponding to the supplier company collaborate to generate a certain specification and a final product specification. It is comprised so that it may gather up.
FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an outline of determination of product specifications and the like using the development support system in the present embodiment. In this example, five companies, “Company A” to “Company E”, are on the supply side. In “Company A” and “Company B”, a development base, a procurement base, a production base, an inventory base, a distribution base, and a sales base are provided, and the system is operating at each base. “Company C” has a development base, a procurement base, and a production base, and “Company D” and “E Company” have a distribution base, a sales base, and a development base, respectively. .
[0022]
In the present embodiment, first, data 201 indicating a rough specification of a new product based on a request given from a demand side company is transmitted to the system of each development base of the company in the partnership. At each development site, a design specification is created and transmitted to the development support system 22. Based on these design specifications, a procedure or process to be described later is performed, and a product design specification is determined (see reference numeral 202). In the present embodiment, this product design specification is determined by the development support system 22 based on the design specification of each company, and the subsequent procurement of raw materials is based on this product design specification. Become. The product design specification may be single for a certain request from a demand side company, or may be plural.
[0023]
Next, this product design specification (see reference numeral 202) is transmitted to the system at the procurement base of each supplier company. At each of the procurement bases, specifications (raw material specifications) based on the design specifications are created and transmitted to the development support system 22. In the development support system 22, a raw material specification (see reference numeral 203) is determined by executing predetermined processing based on the raw material specification (raw material specification proposal) created at each of these procurement bases. .
[0024]
The product design specification 202 and the raw material specification 203 are transmitted to the production site system, and in the development support system 22 based on the production specification (production specification proposal) created at each production site by the same procedure. The production specification (see reference numeral 204) is finalized. After such a processing procedure, a provisional product specification is obtained. The provisional product specification is presented to the demand side company, and when approval is obtained, the process proceeds to necessary processing for inventory, logistics and sales.
[0025]
Also here, the provisional product specifications (calculation results) are transmitted to the system of the stock base of the supplier company, and the stock conditions (stock condition proposal) for each base are transmitted to the development support system 22. Based on these inventory condition proposals, the development support system 22 executes necessary processing to determine the inventory conditions (see reference numeral 205). The provisional product specifications and the inventory conditions are transmitted to the system of the distribution base, and similarly at each distribution base, a distribution condition proposal is created and transmitted to the development support system 22. In the development support system 22, the distribution conditions (see reference numeral 206) are determined, and the provisional product specifications, the inventory conditions, and the distribution conditions are transmitted to the system at each sales base.
[0026]
Each sales base creates sales conditions (sales condition proposal) based on the accepted conditions and transmits them to the development support system 22. Based on these sales condition proposals, the development support system 22 executes necessary processing to determine the sales conditions (see reference numeral 207). Various conditions for temporary products are associated with these inventory conditions, distribution conditions, and sales conditions. In this way, the provisional product specifications and various conditions finally obtained are presented to the demand side company, and after the demand side company approves, the development of the product based on this is started at each company on the supply side. The
[0027]
As described above, in this embodiment, the development base, procurement base, and production base of a group of companies that have a certain partnership relationship cooperate with each other, so that the product design specification, the raw material specification, the production specification As a result, a certain provisional product specification is created. This provisional product specification is presented to the demand side company and approved. The provisional product specification is approved and the processing of the inventory base, the distribution base and the sales base is continued. On the other hand, when there is a certain change request for the provisional product specification, the processing of the corresponding base is executed again.
[0028]
Similarly, the inventory conditions, distribution conditions and sales conditions of the above enterprise group cooperate to determine the inventory conditions, distribution conditions and sales conditions, thereby determining the final conditions of the product. . Again, the final conditions are presented to the demand side company and approved. When there is a certain change request, the information is transmitted to the corresponding base, and the processing at the base is executed again.
[0029]
In order to realize such a product development flow, the development support system 22 has a schematic configuration as shown in FIG. As illustrated in FIG. 3, the development support system 22 includes a communication with a supplier processing unit 30 that processes communication with a system at a base of a supplier company, and communication with a customer that processes communication with a system of a demand side company. Processing unit 32, product design specification creation support unit 34 that supports creation of product design specifications, raw material specification creation support unit 36 that supports creation of raw material specifications, and production specification creation that supports creation of production specifications A support unit 38, a temporary product specification creation processing unit 40 that executes a necessary process for creating a temporary product specification, an inventory condition processing unit 42 that executes a process for determining inventory conditions, and a distribution condition Distribution condition processing unit 44 that executes processing for determining, sales condition processing unit 46 that executes processing for determining sales conditions, and product specification determination that executes processing for determining final product specifications Processing unit 4 It is equipped with a door.
[0030]
For example, as shown in FIG. 4, the product design specification creation support unit 34 includes a demand reception unit 402 that receives information indicating a product demand given via a consumer communication processing unit 32 from a consumer company. Based on product demand, a product database (DB) 404 that stores various information related to products of affiliated companies, an approximate product extraction unit 406 that extracts a product similar to the product database from the product DB 404 based on the product demand A rough specification creation processing unit 408 that creates a rough specification that is a rough product specification and transmits information indicating the rough specification and the approximate product to the system of the development base of the supplier company via the supplier communication processing unit 30. And have. These demand reception units 402 to coarse specification creation processing unit 408 function to transmit the demand from the demand side company to the supply side company.
[0031]
The product design use creation support unit 34 further includes a design specification reception unit 410 that receives a design specification proposal created by the system at each development base, and the design use proposal and final product design specifications. A design specification database (DB) 412 for accumulating documents, a specification reference processing unit 414 for reading and transmitting data in the design specification DB 412 in response to requests from systems at various bases of the supplier company, It has a design specification finalizing unit 416 for executing a necessary process and finalizing a product design specification based on a design use proposal proposed by each company.
[0032]
In each of the raw material specification creation support unit 36, the production specification creation support unit 38, the inventory condition processing unit 42, the physical distribution condition processing unit 44, and the sales condition processing unit 46 shown in FIG. A member corresponding to the confirmation processing unit 416 is provided. In other words, proposals from suppliers can be received and stored, and the stored information can be presented to suppliers as needed, and specifications and conditions can be determined based on the stored information. It is like that.
[0033]
A product development flow in the supplier company using the development support system 22 configured as described above will be described below. FIG. 5 is a diagram schematically illustrating an example of a procedure up to confirmation of a product design specification by the development support system 22 and a tie-up supplier company. As shown in FIG. 5, when information (demand information) 500 indicating product demand is given to the development support system 22 via a network or the like (see reference numeral 510), a rough specification based on the demand information 500 (see reference numeral 201). ) And information indicating the approximate product are transmitted to the development base systems 503A to 503E of the respective companies (see 10A to 10E) (see reference numeral 502).
[0034]
In each of the development base systems 503A to 503E, a draft of a design specification in the case of development / manufacturing in-house is created according to a rough specification (coarse specification). This proposal may be created independently, or a plurality of companies (for example, Company A and Company B in cooperation with each other) may create one. After being transmitted to the development support system 22 and passing through several procedures, one or more product design specifications 505 are determined.
[0035]
FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the transmission of the design specification proposal and the processing procedure related thereto. As shown in FIG. 6, the design specification proposals are transmitted from the systems of the development bases of the respective companies to the development support system 22 (steps 601, 603, 605), and these are respectively stored in the design specification DB 412 ( Steps 602, 604, 606). In this design specification proposal, raw materials, production methods (production processes), development costs, and the like are described, for example.
[0036]
In addition, the system at the development base (for example, the development base of Company A) seeks a design specification proposal from another company as necessary (step 607), and the necessary proposal is read from the design specification DB 412 accordingly. (Step 608) and transmitted to the development base system (Step 609).
[0037]
In the development base of company A, it is also possible to hold a discussion with another development base (for example, the development base of company B) as necessary (step 610). This makes it possible to create proposals that are common to each other. For example, when a proposal (changed design specification proposal) changed in this way is created, this is transmitted to the development support system 22 (step 611), and the design specification DB 412 is updated (step 612). ).
[0038]
The design specification confirmation processing unit 416 of the development support system 22 is based on the design specification proposals of each company accumulated in the design specification DB 412 (for example, material cost, development cost, number of parts, number of production processes, etc.) The proposal to be adopted is determined by optimization using. Here, it may be based on an optimization process, or an index for a proposal may be created by adding a weight to a parameter, and an index having a certain level or more may be employed. Alternatively, automatic bidding may be used. Here, one or more proposals are determined, and this is the product design specification (see reference numeral 505 in FIG. 5).
[0039]
As shown in FIG. 7, the product design specification 702 (505) is transmitted to the system at the procurement base of each supplier company (see reference numeral 701). In each of the procurement base systems 703A to 703C, raw material specification proposals including raw materials, suppliers, raw material costs, delivery dates, and the like are created and transmitted to the development support system 22 (see reference numeral 704). These raw material specification proposals are stored in a raw material specification DB (not shown) in the raw material specification creation support unit 36 of the development support system 22.
[0040]
With regard to the procurement bases, the creation / transmission of proposals, the reference of proposals created at the bases of other companies, and the discussion with the bases of other companies can be executed in substantially the same manner as illustrated for the development bases in FIG. The raw material specification creation support unit 36 of the development support system 22 proposes a proposal to be adopted by a technique such as optimization using various parameters based on the raw material specification proposal stored in the raw material specification DB (not shown). To decide. Again, various techniques can be used to determine. In this way, one or more raw material specifications are determined (see reference numeral 705 in FIG. 7).
[0041]
As shown in FIG. 8, the product design specification 802 (505) and the raw material specification 803 (605) are transmitted to the system of the production base of each supplier company (see reference numeral 801). In each of the production base systems 804A to 804C, production specification proposals including facilities, necessary formula facilities, investment amount, production personnel, production days, raw material requirements, etc. are created, and these are provided to the development support system 22. Is transmitted (see reference numeral 805). These production specification proposals are stored in a production specification DB (not shown) in the production specification creation support unit 38 of the development support system 22.
[0042]
Regarding production bases, creation / transmission of proposals, reference of proposals created at bases of other companies, and discussions with bases of other companies can be performed in substantially the same manner as illustrated with respect to the development bases of FIG. The production specification development support unit 38 of the development support system 22 proposes a proposal to be adopted by a technique such as optimization using various parameters based on the production specification proposal accumulated in the production specification DB (not shown). To decide. Again, various techniques can be used for the determination. In this way, one or more production specifications are determined (see reference numeral 806 in FIG. 8).
[0043]
In this way, when one or more product design specifications, one or more raw material specifications, and one or more production specifications are determined, the temporary product specification creation processing unit 40 of the development support system 22 creates these combinations, Finalize the specifications of the temporary product (provisional product).
[0044]
For example, as shown in FIG. 9A, three design specification proposals (design specification A to design specification C: refer to reference numeral 901) are made at the development base, among which design specification A and design specification C are adopted. In addition, three raw material specification proposals (raw material specification A to raw material specification C: reference numeral 902) are made at the procurement base, among which raw material specification A and raw material specification C are adopted, and two production specifications It is considered that a proposal (production specification A, production specification B: reference numeral 903) was made, and both of these were adopted as production specifications. The temporary product specification creation processing unit 40 generates an appropriate combination of these product design specifications, raw material specifications, and production specifications.
[0045]
FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example of processing executed by the temporary product specification creation processing unit 40. As shown in FIG. 10, the temporary product specification creation processing unit 40 first acquires the product design specification stored in the design specification DB 412 of the product design specification creation support unit 34 (step 1001), and the product design specification. It is determined whether there is a raw material specification created based on (step 1002). If corresponding raw material specifications exist, they are associated (step 1003). Such association is executed for all product design specifications (step 1004). Thereby, a certain product design specification and a raw material specification pair based thereon are generated.
[0046]
Next, the raw material specification associated in step 1003 is acquired by reading a raw material specification DB (not shown) (step 1005). The temporary product use creation processing unit 40 determines whether or not there is a production specification created based on the raw material specification (step 1006). If corresponding production specifications exist, these are associated (step 1007). Such an association is performed for all raw material specifications associated in step 1003 (step 1008). As a result, the product product design specification, the raw material specification, and the production specification are associated with each other, and a series of the associated specifications is set as a temporary product specification (step 1009). FIG. 9B shows an example of the temporary product specification obtained based on the association of the respective specifications shown in FIG. For example, the first temporary product specification 911 is composed of a production specification A, a raw material specification A, and a design specification A, while the second temporary product specification 912 is a production specification B, a raw material specification B, and a design specification. C.
[0047]
Once one or more provisional product specifications are created in this way, they are once transmitted to the system of the demand side company for consideration by the demand side company. For example, if there is a request to change a part of the provisional product specification, this is transmitted to the development support system 22. The development support system 22 determines the specification related to the change, and notifies the site that created the specification of the request to change the specification. For example, if there is a change in the product design specification itself, this is transmitted to the system at the development base of each supplier company (see reference numerals 503A to 503C in FIG. 5) or supplied if there is a request for a change in the material specifications. This is transmitted to the procurement bases (see reference numerals 703A to 703C in FIG. 7) of each side company.
[0048]
If it is a request to change the product design specification, the processing described with reference to FIGS. 5, 7 and 8 is executed again, and if a change request regarding the raw material specification is required, it relates to FIG. 7 and FIG. Then, the processing as described above is executed again. That is, the process related to the changed base and the downstream base is executed again to create a new temporary product specification, which is presented to the demand side company.
[0049]
When the provisional product specification is finalized, processing relating to inventory conditions, distribution conditions, and sales conditions is executed. These processes are also substantially the same as the creation of product design specifications, raw material specifications, and production specifications.
That is, in FIG. 11, the provisional product specification (calculation result) 1101 is transmitted to the system of each stock base of the supplier company (see reference numeral 1102), and the price, quantity, delivery date, storage in the systems 1103A and 1103B of each base An inventory condition proposal including conditions and the like is created and transmitted to the development support system 22 (see reference numeral 1104). In the development support system 22, the inventory condition processing unit 42 determines one or more inventory conditions using a technique such as optimization or automatic bidding (see reference numeral 1105).
[0050]
Next, as shown in FIG. 12, the provisional product specification (calculation result) 1101 and the confirmed inventory conditions 1105 are transmitted to the system of each distribution base of the supplier company (see reference numeral 1201), and the system 1202A of each base ~ 1202D, a logistics condition proposal including price, quantity, delivery date, transportation conditions, etc. is created and transmitted to the development support system 22 (see reference numeral 1203). In the development support system 22, the distribution condition processing unit 44 determines one or more distribution conditions using a technique such as optimization and automatic bidding (see reference numeral 1204).
[0051]
Further, as shown in FIG. 13, provisional product specifications (calculation results) 1101, inventory conditions 1105, and confirmed logistics conditions 1204 are transmitted to the systems at each sales base of the supplier company (see reference numeral 1301). In the base systems 1302A to 1302D, a sales condition proposal including price, quantity, and payment conditions of the demand side company is created and transmitted to the development support system 22 (see reference numeral 1303). In the development support system 22, one or more sales conditions are determined using a technique such as optimization or automatic bidding (see reference numeral 1304). It goes without saying that in the processes related to FIGS. 11 to 13, it is possible to transmit a proposal from each site, refer to a proposal created by another site, and discuss between sites. In addition, it is obvious that various methods can be adopted as the condition determination method.
[0052]
In this way, when the stock condition, the distribution condition and the sales condition regarding the temporary product are determined, a combination thereof is created and the condition regarding the temporary product is determined. Here again, the product use confirmation processing section 48 executes processing substantially similar to that shown in FIG. 10 to find a combination of related inventory conditions, distribution conditions and sales conditions. For example, as shown in FIG. 14A, regarding the first temporary product (provisional product A), the inventory condition A and the inventory condition C (see reference numeral 1401), the distribution condition A and the distribution condition B (see reference numeral 1402), In addition, when the distribution condition B (reference numeral 1403) is adopted, these relationships are found. For the second temporary product (provisional product B), this combination is adopted when the inventory condition A (see reference numeral 1411), the distribution condition A (see reference numeral 1412), and the sales condition A (reference numeral 1413) are referenced. Will be.
[0053]
FIG. 15 is a diagram showing final product specifications based on combinations of various conditions related to the temporary product A and the temporary product B in this way. The product specification A-1 (see reference numeral 1501) related to the first temporary product (provisional product A) includes a combination of inventory conditions A, distribution conditions A, and sales conditions B, and includes product specification A-2 (reference numeral 1502). Reference) includes a combination of inventory conditions C, distribution conditions B, and sales conditions B. The product use B (see reference numeral 1511) related to the second temporary product (provisional product B) includes inventory conditions A, distribution conditions A, and sales conditions A. Although not shown in FIG. 15, the product specifications include product design specifications, raw material specifications, and production specifications constituting the temporary product specifications.
[0054]
When one or more product specifications are created in this way, this is transmitted to the system of the demand side company for consideration by the demand side company. For example, when there is a request for change regarding a certain condition, this is transmitted to the development support system 22. The development support system 22 determines the conditions related to the change, and notifies the related bases of the request for the specification change. In response to this, the processing described in relation to FIGS. 11 to 13 is executed again for the base and the downstream base.
If approval from the demand side company is obtained, the product specifications are finally finalized. This information is transmitted to the system of each base of the supplier company. Thereby, development of the product is started.
[0055]
According to the present embodiment, the specifications and conditions are determined at each of the development, procurement, production, inventory, distribution and sales bases of the partner supplier as a unit. In making this decision, discussions, competitions, and optimizations are conducted between the bases, and specifications and conditions that meet the needs of consumers can be determined while securing a certain degree of competition. Therefore, when there is a certain partnership between a plurality of companies as described above, it is possible to provide a product that meets the needs of the consumer without delaying the speed of decision making. It should be noted that a base capable of accepting product design specifications and various conditions may be involved in the actual production of products.
[0056]
The present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the invention described in the claims, and these are also included in the scope of the present invention. Needless to say.
For example, in the above embodiment, specifications and conditions are transmitted to all bases in each company on the supply side. However, the present invention is not limited to this. The system may be configured to transmit specifications and conditions to a selected company base, or to transmit specifications and conditions to a selected base at each processing stage.
[0057]
In the above embodiment, in order to create product design specifications, the manufacturing process is taken into consideration and classified into three stages of development, procurement and production, and the bases belonging to each stage are determined upstream from this. The specifications are communicated. However, it is not limited to the above classification. For example, it may be two stages of development and production, or may be classified into four or more stages. The same applies to the classification of the three stages of inventory, logistics, and sales for determining conditions.
[0058]
Furthermore, in the present embodiment, product design specifications and various conditions are determined in six stages for a company that is responsible for the entire process from development to sales. However, the configuration may be such that only the product design specifications from development to production are determined, or only the conditions from the subsequent inventory to sales may be determined.
In the present specification, the function of one means may be realized by two or more physical means, or the function of two or more means may be realized by one physical means.
[0059]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a development support system that enables rapid product development while maintaining a certain competitive relationship with a supplier company in a certain tie-up relationship.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an outline of a network computer system according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an outline of determination of a product specification or the like using the development support system in the present embodiment.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an outline of a development support system according to the present embodiment.
FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a product design specification creation support unit according to the present embodiment.
FIG. 5 is a diagram schematically showing an example of a procedure up to confirmation of a design specification by a development support system and a tie-up supplier company in the present embodiment.
FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing transmission of a design specification proposal and a processing procedure related thereto in the present embodiment.
FIG. 7 is a diagram schematically showing an example of a procedure up to confirmation of a raw material specification by a development support system and a tie-up supplier company in the present embodiment.
FIG. 8 is a diagram schematically showing an example of a procedure up to confirmation of a production specification by a development support system and a tie-up supplier company in the present embodiment.
FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining a combination of design specifications according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example of processing executed by a temporary product specification creation processing unit according to the present embodiment;
FIG. 11 is a diagram schematically showing an example of a processing procedure until inventory conditions are determined in the present embodiment.
FIG. 12 is a diagram schematically showing an example of a processing procedure until distribution conditions are determined in the present embodiment.
FIG. 13 is a diagram schematically showing an example of a processing procedure until sales conditions are determined in the present embodiment.
FIG. 14 is a diagram for explaining processing for selecting a combination of conditions determined in the present embodiment.
FIG. 15 is a diagram showing final product specifications according to the present embodiment.
[Explanation of symbols]
10 system
12 machines
22 Development support system
30 Communication processing department for suppliers
32 Consumer communication processing department
34 Product Design Specification Creation Support Department
36 Raw Material Specification Creation Support Department
38 Production Specification Creation Support Department
40 Temporary product specification creation processing department
42 Inventory Condition Processing Department
44 Logistics condition processing department
46 Sales condition processing department
48 Product Specification Confirmation Processing Unit

Claims

In the supply-side group of companies supplying products according to the requirements of demand-side firm, product specifications cooperate with stepwise determined for each manufacturing step in the supply-side group of companies, determining the final product specification A development support system that
Development from the upstream in the manufacturing process to the downstream, of the base group acquisition stage and fall into the production phase the supply side group of companies, generated in each of the bases constituting the first group belonging to the development , a design specification draft in the development stage, raw material costs, component count, production number, and the design draft specifications include parameters indicating the development cost, and receiving through the network, design specifications accumulated in the database, in addition to weighting parameters included in the design specifications design draft specifications stored in the database to calculate an index value for the design proposal draft, based on the index value, at least from the design specification draft and the design specification determination means for determining the one of the design specification,
Among bases group of the supply-side group of companies, based in constituting the second group belonging to the acquisition stage, the determined design specifications, the design specifications transmission means for transmitting via a network,
In each of the bases constituting the second group, the generated based on the design specification, a raw draft specifications in the step, raw materials, suppliers, raw material costs, raw materials draft specifications include parameters indicating the delivery , Received via the network , accumulated in the raw material specification database, weighted parameters included in the raw material specification draft stored in the raw material specification database to calculate an index value for the raw material specification draft, based on the index value, and raw materials specifications determining means for determining at least one raw material specifications from the raw draft specifications,
Wherein among the base group of the supply-side group of companies, based in constituting the third group belong to the production stage, the determined design specifications and raw material specifications, raw material specifications transmission means for transmitting via a network When,
In each of the bases constituting the third group, the generated based on design specifications and raw material specifications, a production specification draft at that stage, capital investment funds, production personnel, production dates, the raw material requirements The production specification draft including the parameters to be received is received via the network , accumulated in the production specification database, the parameters included in the production specification draft accumulated in the production specification database are weighted, and the production specification draft calculating an index value for, based on the index value, the production specifications determining means for determining at least one production specifications from the producer draft specifications,
Development support system wherein the determined design specification, a combination of raw materials specifications and production specifications for the product design specification determination means for determining a final product design specifications, further comprising a said.

Furthermore, the product design specifications, and present it to the demand-side firm, the correction request from the demand-side firm, and correction request receiving means for receiving via the network,
2. The development according to claim 1 , further comprising: a correction stage specifying unit that specifies a stage related to correction based on the correction request and transmits the correction request to a base related to the specified stage. Support system.

Steps from inventory to sales based on the product design specifications established by the development support system described in claim 1 or 2 in the group of supply companies that supply products according to the demand of the demand side company A second development support system that automatically determines,
From the upstream to the downstream in the distribution process , out of the base group of the supply-side enterprise group classified into the inventory stage, the distribution stage, and the sales stage, the product design is made into a base that constitutes the first group belonging to the inventory stage. specifications, and product design specification transmission means for transmitting via a network,
In each of the bases constituting the first group, the products were generated based on the design specifications, an inventory condition proposed draft in the stock stage, stock containing price, quantity, delivery time, a parameter indicating the storage conditions The draft condition proposal is received via a network, an index value for the draft inventory condition proposal is calculated by weighting parameters included in the accepted draft inventory condition proposal, and the inventory condition is calculated based on the index value. at least one stock condition proposals determination means for determining an inventory condition proposals from proposed draft,
Wherein among the base group of the supply-side group of companies, the the base for forming the second group belonging to the distribution stage, the product design specifications and the finalized inventory condition proposals, proposals inventory condition communicated via the network A communication means;
At each of the sites constituting the second group, a draft distribution condition proposal draft in the distribution stage generated based on the product design specification and the inventory condition proposal , which includes price, quantity, delivery date, and transportation conditions The distribution condition proposal draft including the indicated parameters is received via the network, the parameter value included in the received distribution condition proposal draft is weighted to calculate an index value for the distribution condition proposal draft, and the index value based, and logistics condition proposals determination means for determining at least one distribution conditions proposals from the distribution conditions proposed draft,
Among bases group of the supply-side group of companies, based in constituting the third group belong to the sales stage, the product design specifications, the stock condition proposals and the finalized distribution condition proposals, via a network Logistics condition proposal communication means to communicate,
A sales condition proposal draft at the sales stage generated based on the product design specification, the inventory condition proposal, and the logistics condition proposal at each of the bases constituting the third group , the price, quantity, The sales condition proposal draft including the parameter indicating the payment terms is received via the network, the parameter included in the received sales condition proposal draft is weighted to calculate an index value for the sales condition proposal draft, Sales condition proposal finalizing means for determining at least one sales condition proposal from the sales condition proposal draft based on the index value ;
Distribution condition determination means for determining a final product distribution condition proposal by combining the determined inventory condition proposal , distribution condition proposal, and sales condition proposal ; Development support system.

Furthermore, a correction request receiving means for presenting the distribution conditions to a demand side company and receiving a correction request from the demand side company via the network;
4. The method according to claim 3, further comprising: a correction stage specifying unit that specifies a stage related to correction based on the correction request and transmits the correction request to a base related to the specified stage . 2. Development support system.

In the supply-side enterprise group that supplies products according to the demand of the demand-side enterprise, the product specifications are determined in stages for each manufacturing process in the supply-side enterprise group, and the final product specification is determined. A development support program for a computer,
Generated at each of the bases constituting the first group belonging to the development stage among the base groups of the supply side enterprise group classified into the development stage, the procurement stage and the production stage from the upstream to the downstream in the manufacturing process. The design specification draft at the development stage, including the raw material, material cost, the number of parts, the number of production processes, and the parameters indicating the development cost, is received via the network, and the design specification database And an index value for the design proposal draft is calculated by weighting parameters included in the design specification draft stored in the design specification database, and at least one of the design specification drafts is calculated based on the index value. A design specification determination means for determining the design specification;
A design specification transmission means for transmitting the determined design specification via a network to a base constituting the second group belonging to the procurement stage among the base group of the supplier side company group;
At each of the bases constituting the second group, a draft of the raw material specification at the relevant stage generated based on the design specification, including a raw material, a supplier, a raw material cost, and a parameter indicating delivery date, Accepted via the network, accumulated in the raw material specification database, weighted parameters included in the raw material specification draft stored in the raw material specification database, calculated an index value for the raw material specification draft, A raw material specification determination means for determining at least one raw material specification from the raw material specification draft based on the value;
Raw material specification transmission means for transmitting the determined design specifications and raw material specifications via a network to the bases constituting the third group belonging to the production stage among the base groups of the supplier side company group ,
In each of the bases constituting the third group, a production specification draft at the relevant stage generated based on the design specifications and raw material specifications, indicating equipment, investment money, production personnel, production days, and raw material requirements The production specification draft including the parameters is received via the network and accumulated in the production specification database, and the parameters included in the production specification draft accumulated in the production specification database are weighted to the production specification draft. A production specification determination means for calculating an index value and determining at least one production specification from the production specification draft based on the index value; and
A development support program that functions as product design specification determination means for determining a final product design specification by combining the determined design specification, raw material specification, and production specification .

The computer,
A correction request receiving means for presenting the product design specification to a demand side company and receiving a correction request from the demand side company via the network; and
6. The development according to claim 5, wherein a stage related to the correction is specified based on the correction request, and the function is functioned as a correction stage specifying means for transmitting the correction request to the base related to the specified stage. Support program.

The process from inventory to sales based on the product design specification established by the development support program described in claim 5 or 6 in the group of suppliers that supplies products according to the demand of the supplier Is a second development support program for determining
From the upstream to the downstream in the distribution process, out of the base group of the supply-side enterprise group classified into the inventory stage, the distribution stage, and the sales stage, the product design is made into a base that constitutes the first group belonging to the inventory stage. Product design specification transmission means for transmitting specifications via a network,
In each of the bases constituting the first group, a draft stock condition proposal draft at the stock stage generated based on the product design specifications, including stock conditions including parameters indicating price, quantity, delivery date, and storage condition The proposal draft is received via the network, an index value for the draft inventory condition proposal is calculated by adding a weight to the parameters included in the accepted draft inventory proposal, and the inventory condition proposal is calculated based on the indicator value. Inventory condition proposal finalizing means for determining at least one inventory condition proposal from the draft,
Stock condition proposal for transmitting the product design specification and the confirmed stock condition proposal to a base constituting the second group belonging to the logistics stage out of the base group of the supplier side company group via a network Letter transmission means,
In each of the bases constituting the second group, a distribution condition proposal draft in the distribution stage generated based on the product design specification and the inventory condition proposal, showing the price, quantity, delivery date, and transportation conditions The distribution condition proposal draft including the parameters is received via the network, the parameter value included in the received distribution condition proposal draft is weighted, and an index value for the distribution condition proposal draft is calculated, and based on the index value , Logistics condition proposal confirmation means for confirming at least one logistics condition proposal from the logistics conditions proposal,
The product design specification, the inventory condition proposal, and the confirmed logistics condition proposal are sent to the bases constituting the third group belonging to the sales stage among the bases of the supplier company group via the network. Logistics condition proposal communication means to communicate,
A sales condition proposal draft at the sales stage generated based on the product design specification, the inventory condition proposal, and the distribution condition proposal at each of the bases constituting the third group, and includes price, quantity, payment The sales condition proposal draft including parameters indicating conditions is received via the network, the parameter included in the received sales condition proposal draft is weighted to calculate an index value for the sales condition proposal draft, and the index Sales condition proposal finalizing means for determining at least one sales condition proposal from the sales condition proposal draft based on the value; and
A second development characterized by functioning as distribution condition determination means for determining a final product distribution condition proposal by combining the determined inventory condition proposal, distribution condition proposal, and sales condition proposal Support program.

The computer,
Correction request receiving means for presenting the distribution conditions to a demand side company and receiving a correction request from the demand side company via the network; and
8. The development according to claim 7, wherein a stage for correction is specified based on the correction request and functions as a correction stage specifying means for transmitting the correction request to a base for the specified stage. Support program.