JP6083551B1 - Input interface program, design rule analysis program, database, design rule configuration method, and design rule analysis method - Google Patents

Abstract

Provided is an input interface program for creating and editing a design rule capable of concisely expressing the relationship between a specification factor and a component and configuring it in a database. The input interface program 11 freely groups the specification factor table T1 in which options are defined for each specification factor, the component parts table T2 in which options are defined for each component, and the specification factors. Design composed of an option combination table T3 that defines a combination pattern of options of all specification factors to which it belongs, and an element determination table T4 that specifies options of component parts or options of specification factors that are subordinately determined from each of the combination patterns An editing operation unit 11a that allows a rule R to be created and edited, or a medium operation unit 11b that allows a design rule R created in advance to be read from the storage medium 30 is provided.

Description

  The present invention relates to a computer program and method for configuring and analyzing a design rule applied to a product family in which various individual products can be configured by selecting components from a series of components based on a specification factor. About.

A matrix-type modular bill of materials is known as one of the prior arts for analyzing product development in such a product family. The matrix type modular parts table is usually composed of one specification correspondence table and a part structure table. The specification correspondence table is a matrix for determining detailed internal specification factors from combinations of required specification factors that are important specifications of the product, and the parts configuration table shows the quantity of each component used from the required specification factors or internal specification factors. It is a matrix for determining.
FIGS. 12A and 12B are specific examples of the specification correspondence table and the component configuration table when the product family is a belt conveyor drive module.

  In addition, as one of the prior arts related to product development in the product family, the following patent documents incorporate pre-proven specifications and data that can be combined into this computer and input customer specifications into the computer. A technique for automatically creating a parts table and an assembly table is described.

JP 2002-269402 A

  By the way, the matrix type modular parts table tends to be long because the options of the specification factor and the options of the component parts are expanded in the same table, as can be understood from the examples shown in FIGS. 12 (a) and 12 (b). It is. There were also problems that only simple dependencies could be expressed, and it was difficult to grasp the rules from the table.

  The present invention has been made paying attention to such a problem, and proposes a design rule capable of simply expressing the relationship between a specification factor and a component, and creates and edits the design rule to create a database. It is an object to provide an input interface program and a design rule configuration method.

Input interface program according to the present invention, the process which constitutes the computer, the design rules based on the specification factors that in various individual products to select the components from a series of component groups is applied to a product family can be configured in the database This is an input interface program that allows the specification factor table in which options are defined for each specification factor, the component part table in which options are defined for each component part, and the specification factors to be freely grouped. Design composed of an option combination table that defines combination patterns of options of all specification factors belonging to a group, and an element determination table that specifies options of component parts or specification factors that are subordinately determined from each of the combination patterns Operation section that allows rule creation and editing operations, or created in advance As a medium operating portion to permit reading from the contents storage medium design rules which are characterized in that to function on the computer.

The design rule analysis program according to the present invention, in the computer, with reference to a design rule analysis program for executing the process of analyzing the design rule database the design rule is constituted by the input interface program, said database The recommended evaluation order when configuring individual products by analyzing interdependencies between each of the specification factors, each of the component parts, the option combination table, and the element determination table It is characterized by causing the computer to execute a process for determining.

  The database according to the present invention is a database configured with design rules applied to a product family in which various individual products can be configured by selecting a component from a series of components based on a specification factor. The design rules are divided into specification factor tables that define options for each specification factor, component parts tables that define options for each component, and specification factors, and all the specification factors that belong to the group for each group. An option combination table that defines a combination pattern of options, and an element determination table that specifies a component option or a specification factor option that is subordinately determined from each of the combination patterns.

  The design rule composition method according to the present invention is a method for constructing a design rule that is applied to a product family in which various individual products can be configured by selecting a component from a series of parts based on a specification factor. The specification factor table in which options are defined for each specification factor, the component parts table in which options are defined for each component, and the specification factors are freely grouped, and for each group, all the specification factor options The database is configured with a design rule comprising an option combination table that defines a combination pattern of and an element determination table that specifies a choice of component parts or a specification factor that is subordinately determined from each of the combination patterns. Features.

  Further, the design rule analysis method according to the present invention is a method of analyzing the design rule by referring to the database in which the design rule is configured by the database configuration method, wherein each of the specification factors is referred to by referring to the database. And analyzing the interdependency among each of the component parts, the option combination table, and the element determination table to determine a recommended evaluation order when configuring individual products.

  In the present invention, it is possible to freely define an option combination table and an element determination table as design rules, and to simply express the relationship between the specification factor and the component parts by using these tables. In such a case, the element determination table becomes compact, and the rules can be easily grasped from there. If the element determination table is compact, it can be easily created and edited, and the work cost for creating and editing the entire design rule can be reduced. Further, according to the present invention, such a design rule can be configured in a database and analyzed, and a recommended evaluation order for configuring individual products can be determined.

It is a simple system diagram which shows the basic composition of the program for computers made into an example of embodiment. (A), (b) is an example of the specification factor table | surface and component table which comprise a design rule. (A) and (b) are both examples of an option combination table that constitutes a design rule together with the specification factor table and the component parts table. It is an example of the element determination table which comprises a design rule with the said specification factor table | surface, a component parts table | surface, and an option combination table | surface. It is an example of the element determination table which concerns on another product family. It is an extended example of an element determination table. It is a simple flowchart which shows the basic procedure of the analysis process of a design rule. (A) is a list of analysis elements obtained by executing the basic procedure, and (b) is a list of inter-element dependencies obtained by executing the basic procedure. (A) is a list of generation numbers for each analysis element obtained by executing the basic procedure, and (b) is a list obtained by sorting the list so that the generation numbers are in ascending order. It is a simple flowchart which shows the basic procedure of the structure process of an individual product. (A), (b) is a figure which shows an example of the basic portal screen of an individual product structure program, and the mouse operation with respect to the screen, respectively. (A), (b) is the example of the specification corresponding | compatible table | surface and parts structure table | surface which respectively comprise the conventional matrix type modular parts table | surface.

  FIG. 1 is a simple system diagram showing a basic configuration of a computer program as an example of an embodiment.

  Briefly, the program 10 selects a design rule R that is applied to a product family in which a variety of individual products can be configured by selecting a component from a series of components based on the values of main specification factors. The design rule R is analyzed to determine the recommended evaluation order S of the specification factors, etc., and the selection operation of the specification factors is accepted according to the recommended evaluation order S to configure individual products.

  The program 10 includes, as basic components, an input interface program 11 for configuring the design rule R in the database 20, a design rule analysis program 12 for analyzing the design rule R configured in the database 20, and a specification factor. And an individual product configuration program 13 for configuring individual products based on the selection operation.

  The input interface program 11 is a program for creating, editing, or reading the design rule R. The input interface program 11 displays a table screen such as a spreadsheet program as an operation screen, and the design rule R is displayed on the table screen. It includes at least one of an editing operation unit 11 a that receives a creation editing operation or a medium operation unit 11 b that reads a design rule R from a storage medium 30, and a database operation unit (not shown) that operates the database 20. Since the process of reading a file or the like from the storage medium 30 is widely performed by various programs, it can be similarly realized by the input interface program 11.

  The design rule analysis program 12 is a program that determines a recommended evaluation order S by referring to the database 20 in which the design rule R is configured by the input interface program 11 and analyzing interdependencies between elements of the design rule R.

  The individual product configuration program 13 is a program that configures an individual product by evaluating and specifying each element according to the recommended evaluation order S determined by the design rule analysis program 12.

  The product family is a general term for a product group in which a specification factor that characterizes a product has a certain selection range. An individual product is a product that is specified by selecting a desired option of the specification factor from the selection range. It is one by one. The individual product is not limited to a final product, and may be a module constituting a higher product. There are no particular restrictions on the type of product that can be a product family, but examples include personal computers, system kitchens, and unit furniture that can be freely customized through operations on a vendor website.

  In the product family, specification factors (specific items) common to the entire product group are defined, and a plurality of options (or variables) are prepared for each specification factor. The specification factor includes a required specification factor that is an important specification of a product and an internal specification factor that is subordinately determined in the configuration stage of each individual product.

  Further, the component parts include a plurality of part types as a series of parts group, and specific product numbers, usage amounts, and the like are prepared as options for each type.

  The individual product is specified by selecting an option for each specification factor, and the individual product is configured by selecting a component so that the feature is obtained. At this time, the design rule R is used as a rule for deriving a component part selection pattern from a combination pattern of choices of specification factors.

  The design rule R proposed in this embodiment includes a specification factor table T1 in which options are defined for each specification factor, a component parts table T2 in which options are defined for each component, and specification factors freely grouped. A plurality of option combination tables T3 (variation tables) that define combination patterns (variants) of options of all specification factors belonging to the group for each group, and component component options that are subordinately determined from each of these combination patterns Alternatively, it consists of a plurality of element determination tables T4 (matrix) that specify specification factor choices.

  The design rule R is created manually. In the present embodiment, in the input interface connected to the database 20, the design rule R is created and edited, or the storage medium for the design rule R having the same content created in advance is used. It is characterized in that reading from 30 is allowed. That is, the input interface program 11 causes the design rule R to be created and edited on a predetermined operation screen displayed on the display device 40, or the design rule R having the same content previously created by other software or the like is stored in the CDROM or the like. A design rule R in a predetermined format is constructed on the memory by reading from the medium 30 and stored in the connection destination database 20. Thereby, the design rule R is configured in the database 20.

  A product family is defined by multiple specification factors and is made up of multiple types of components, but only some of the specification factors are directly related to the choice of any component. There is. That is, each choice of component can be determined from only some specification factors that are directly related to each. The design rule R clarifies the relationship between such a specification factor and component parts.

  That is, in the creation and editing operation of the design rule R, options can be defined for each specification factor as the specification factor table T1, and options can be defined for each component as the component parts table T2. Then, as the option combination table T3, it is considered that the user freely groups the specification factors in any number, that is, it is directly related to the determination of the options for each of the component parts (or combinations of a plurality of component parts). The specified specification factors can be grouped into groups, and for each group, a combination pattern of acceptable options for all specification factors belonging to the group can be defined. Further, as the element determination table T4, for each group of specification factors, either one of the specification factor options and the component part options that are subordinately determined from each of the combination patterns of all the specification factor options belonging to the group. Or both can be specified.

  In the design rule R, a single product family can have a plurality of element determination tables T4 (multi-matrix). Therefore, each element determination table includes a specific specification factor and a specific component. It becomes a compact one that expresses the relevance in a concise manner, and from there, it is easy to grasp the rules. If the element determination table T4 is compact, it can be easily created and edited, and the work cost for creating and editing the entire design rule R can be reduced. In addition, work errors are expected to be reduced.

  Hereinafter, as an example of the design rule R, a design rule applied to the belt conveyor drive module will be specifically described. The drive module is a product family including motor parts, power supply parts, and inverter parts as components.

  FIGS. 2A and 2B are examples of a specification factor table and a component parts table constituting the design rule. FIGS. 3A and 3B are examples of option combination tables that constitute design rules together with the specification factor table and the component parts table shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B. 4A to 4C are designed together with the specification factor table and the component parts table shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, and the option combination table shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B. It is an example of the element determination table which comprises a rule.

In the specification factor table T1 (1) shown in FIG. 2 (a), numerical values that can be selected for each specification factor “conveying weight (A)”, “conveying speed (B)”... Information, character string information, etc. are defined. Here, “Transport weight (A)”, “Transport speed (B)”, “Shipment area (C)” are required specification factors, and “Motor manufacturer (D)” ... “Inverter presence / absence (G)” is an internal specification. Is a factor.
In the component parts table T2 (1) shown in FIG. 2B, specific product numbers that are options for each of the component parts “motor parts (H)”, “power supply parts (I)”, and “inverter parts (J)”. (Part number) is defined.

  In the AB option combination table T3 (1) shown in FIG. 3 (a), two specification factors particularly related to the performance of the motor, that is, “carrying weight (A)” and “carrying speed (B)” are grouped. The combination pattern of options allowed for the group is defined by a 5 × 5 matrix. The combination pattern of options is expressed as a matrix column (see dotted line frame). For example, the option combination pattern “− ◯ − ◯ −” defined by the third column is an option “20-30” of “carrying weight (A)” and option “20” of “carrying speed (B)”. It is a combination.

  In the CEFG option combination table T3 (2) shown in FIG. 3 (b), four specification factors particularly related to power supply components, namely, “shipment area (C)”, “motor output (E)”... ) "Is grouped, and a combination pattern of options allowed for the group is defined by a 6 × 9 matrix. The combination pattern of options is expressed as a matrix column (see dotted line frame) as described above. For example, the option combination pattern “− ○ −− ○ − ○○ −” defined by the fourth column has the option “North America” for “Shipment area (C)” and the option “7” for “Motor output (E)”. And “power source type (F)” option “Q” and “inverter presence / absence (G)” option “present”.

  In the DE determination table T4 (1) shown in FIG. 4A, the specification factor subordinately determined from each of the option combination patterns defined in the AB option combination table T3 (1), that is, “motor manufacturer (D ) ”And“ Motor output (E) ”are specified by a 9 × 5 matrix. Here, the combination patterns of the choices of “conveying weight (A)” and “conveying speed (B)” as arguments are arranged in the first to fifth rows (see the dotted frame) of each column, and are determined depending on them. The combination patterns of the choices of “motor manufacturer (D)” and “motor output (E)”, which are determination factors, are arranged in the sixth to ninth rows of the corresponding columns. For example, the pattern “○ −−− ○ − ○○ −” in the second column is a combination pattern of the option “−10” of “Transport Weight (A)” and the option “30” of “Transport Speed (B)”. On the other hand, a combination pattern of an option “B company” of “motor manufacturer (D)” and an option “4.5” of “motor output (E)” is made to correspond.

  In the H determination table T4 (2) shown in FIG. 4B, each of the determination elements of the DE determination table T4 (1), that is, each combination pattern of options of “motor manufacturer (D)” and “motor output (E)”. The components that are subordinately determined from the above, that is, the option of “motor part (H)” is specified by the 8 × 4 matrix. Here, the combination patterns of the choices “Motor Maker (D)” and “Motor Output (E)” which are arguments are arranged in the first to third rows (see the dotted frame) of each column, and are subordinately determined from them. The choices of “motor part (H)” that is a determining element to be made are arranged in the fifth to eighth rows of the corresponding columns. For example, the pattern “-XXX -----” in the third column is a combination pattern of the option “Company B” of “Motor manufacturer (D)” and the option “4.5” of “Motor output (E)”. In contrast, the use quantity “1” of “MTR03” is associated as an option of “motor part (H)”.

  In the IJ determination table T4 (3) shown in FIG. 4C, a specification factor that is subordinately determined from each of the option combination patterns defined in the CEFG option combination table T3 (2), that is, “power supply component (I ) ”And“ Inverter part (J) ”are specified by a 15 × 6 matrix. Here, the combination patterns of choices of “shipment area (C)”, “motor output (E)”, and “power supply type (F)” as arguments are arranged in the first to ninth rows (see the dotted frame) of each column. The combination patterns of the choices of “power supply component (I)” and “inverter component (J)” that are subordinately determined from them are arranged in the 10th to 15th rows of the corresponding columns. . For example, the pattern “− ○ −− ○ − ○○ −−− ○○ −” in the fourth column is an option “7” for “North America” and “Motor output (E)” for “Shipment area (C)”. And “PWR903Q” used quantity “PWR903Q” as an option of “Power supply component (I)” for the combination pattern of “Q” of “Power supply type (F)” and “Yes” of “Inverter presence / absence (J)” The combination pattern of “1” and the usage quantity “1” of “INV001” is specified as an option of “inverter part (J)”.

  It should be noted that the determinant of the DE determination table T4 (1) shown in FIG. 4A is a specification factor, whereas the determinant of the H determination table T4 (2) shown in FIG. The determinant of the IJ determination table T4 (3) shown in (c) is a component. As described above, the types and contents of the determination elements of the element determination table T4 are not particularly limited, and various modifications can be made as described below.

  FIG. 5 is an example of an element determination table relating to another product family. In this NOPQ determination table T4 (4), elements that are subordinately determined from the combination pattern of the specification factor (K) and specification factor (L) as arguments, that is, the specification factor (N) and the specification factor (O). The combination pattern of options of the component part (P) and the part family (Q) is specified. The part family is a group of parts in which various individual parts can be configured based on the part specification factor.

  When the determinant is a specification factor, the choices specify, for example, a mode in which any one of a plurality of choices such as a specification factor (N) is selected, and a single variable value such as a specification factor (O). Embodiments are possible. Note that “☆” in the choices of the specification factor (O) is a script directly written in the column. This script refers to the specification factor (K), the combination pattern of the choices of the specification factor (K) and the specification factor (L) as the arguments of the element determination table, and the specification factor (M) as the reference argument. The value of a variable that is an option of O) is calculated. The argument for reference, here the specification factor (M), specifies the determinant, in this case, the combination pattern of options of the specification factor (N), (O), component (P), and part family (Q) However, it affects the contents of options (numerical values, etc.) and script values included in the combination pattern.

  On the other hand, when the type of the determinant is a component, the option can be an aspect that specifies the value of the used quantity (single variable) such as the component (P). When the type of the decision element is a part family, the option is not only to specify the value of the used quantity (single variable), for example, the part family (Q), but also to configure individual parts from the part family (Q). It is also possible to specify the component specification factor for The part family (Q) option “☆” is a symbol that means that a script is described in this field. That is, not the symbol “☆”, but a combination pattern of specification factor (K) and specification factor (L) options that are arguments and a specification factor (M) option that is a reference argument. Thus, a function expression for calculating each value of the component specification factor (multiple variables) for configuring the individual component from the component family (Q) is described in this column.

  The element determination table T4 can be expanded in the notation format as described below.

  FIG. 6A is an extension example of such an element determination table, and a wooden cabinet is assumed as a product family. FIG. 6B shows a specific example of a script referred to by the element determination table shown in FIG.

  In this TUBW determination table T4 (5), elements that are subordinately determined with the combination pattern of options of the cabinet total width (R) and depth (S) as arguments, that is, the number of veneer plates (T) for 8 mm top plate, The combination pattern of options related to the number of 6 mm backboard plywood (U) used, the number of dowels (V) used, and the type of seismic stopper (W) is specified. The number of 8mm top board plywood (T) and 6mm back board plywood (U) is required when removing the required number of top and back boards from 3 x 6 standard plywood. It is a value indicating the number of plywood.

  It is also conceivable to allow compressed notation of a combination pattern of specification factor options as arguments of the element determination table T4. For example, in the combination pattern of options of the full width (R), in the first column, two options of “450” and “600” are simultaneously selected. This means either “450” or “600”, and the column where only “450” is originally selected and the column where only “600” is selected should be combined into one column. It is written.

It is also conceivable that script notation is allowed as a decision element option. If an arithmetic operator, a program language, or the like can be used as a script, an algorithm for calculating a determinant element from a combination pattern of choices of specification factors can be expressed. For example, in the case of the number of 8 mm top plywood (T) to be used, the choices are the reference $ A and $ B to the script predefined outside the element determination table T4 (see FIG. 6B). In such a case, the script should be defined in common in at least the line unit of the element determination table T4.
Further, in the usage amount of dowels (V), the choice is a reference $ C to a script defined in advance outside the element determination table T4 (see FIG. 6B). The reference $ C refers to the same script common to each column, but is divided into cases in the script. In other words, it is possible to divide the case without using a plurality of options.
Also, in the number of used 6 mm backboard plywood (U), the option is the script “☆” directly written in the column. At this time, the script may be different for each column.

  Combining the compressed notation of such a combination pattern of choices with the notation of a decision element using a script makes the element decision table T4 compact, and the amount of work for its creation can be greatly reduced.

  It is also conceivable to allow an undefined value type that does not take a unique value as a determinant. For example, in the combination pattern of options relating to the type of the earthquake-resistant stopper (W), in the first column, two options of “A type” and “None” are simultaneously selected. This means that "A type" or "pear" is allowed, and it becomes possible to limit options in the subsequent process of the procedure for configuring individual products.

  Next, the design rule analysis program 12 that analyzes the design rule R will be described.

  In the analysis of the design rule R, referring to the database 20, each of the specification factors defined in the specification factor table T1, each of the component parts defined in the component part table T2, an option combination table T3, and an element determination table By analyzing the interdependency with the determinants of T4, the recommended evaluation order S for configuring individual products is determined.

FIG. 7 is a simple flowchart showing the basic procedure of design rule analysis processing. In the following description, the side that affects the partner in the dependency relationship is expressed as “parent”, and the side that is affected is expressed as “child”.
Step 100 is a process of listing each of the specification factors, each of the component parts, the option combination table, and the element determination table as analysis elements.
Step 101 is a process for extracting all inter-element dependency relationships (parent-child relationships) in the option combination table and the element determination table.
Steps 102 to 104 are recursive analysis processing of dependency relationships. In step 102, an inter-element dependency is searched, and an initialization process is performed in which a generation number “0” is given to an analysis element that is not a “child” for any analysis element. Next, as a recursive process, in step 103, the inter-element dependency relationship is searched again. If all the “parents” in the dependency relationship have generation numbers, the generation number is assigned to each “child” in the dependency relationship. The process of giving the maximum generation number +1 of the “parent” is performed. In step 104, it is determined whether or not all analysis elements have obtained generation numbers, and step 103 is repeated until all analysis elements have obtained generation numbers.

  When all the analysis elements have obtained generation numbers by such a procedure, the generation numbers indicate the recommended evaluation order when configuring individual products. In other words, if the elements are evaluated and specified in the ascending order of the generation numbers in the operation of configuring the individual products, the individual products can be efficiently configured without repeating unnecessary trial and error.

  Hereinafter, the specification factor table T1 (1), the component parts table T2 (1) shown in FIGS. 2 (a) and 2 (b), the option combination table T3 (1) shown in FIGS. 3 (a) and 3 (b), A specific analysis process for the design rule R constituted by T3 (2) and the element determination tables T4 (1)... T4 (3) shown in FIGS.

  FIG. 8A is a list of analysis elements obtained by executing the step 100. In this table T5, as a specification factor, “conveyance weight (A)”... “Inverter presence / absence (G)”, component parts “motor part (H)” ... “inverter part (J)”, and option combination table T3 AB option combination table, CEFD option combination table, and DE determination table... IJ determination table are listed as element determination tables.

FIG. 8B is a list of inter-element dependency relationships obtained by executing the step 101. In this table T6, all inter-element dependency relationships (parent-child relationships) related to the option combination table and the element determination table are extracted.
For example, in the first and second rows of table T6 (refer to the dotted line frame), “transport weight (A)”, “transport speed (B)”, and the AB option combination table are the “parent” on the side that affects the partner. When the dependency that became the “child” of the affected side, that is, “carrying weight (A)” and “carrying speed (B)” is determined, the determining factor of the AB option combination table automatically depends The relationship that is determined by
Further, in the seventh to ninth rows (see the dotted line frame) of Table T6, the AB option combination table T3 (1) and the DE determination table become “parent” and “child”, respectively, the dependency relationship, the DE determination table, Dependencies are shown in which “motor manufacturer (D)” and “motor output (E)” are “parent” and “child”, respectively.

FIG. 9A is a list of generation numbers for each analysis element obtained by executing the steps 102 to 104.
The processing contents until this table T7 is obtained will be briefly described as follows. In step 102, inter-element dependencies listed in the table T5 are retrieved, and analysis elements that are not “children” for any analysis element, that is, “transport weight (A)”, “transport speed (B) ) ”,“ Shipment area (C) ”,“ power supply type (F) ”, and“ inverter presence / absence (G) ”are given the generation number“ 0 ”.
Thereafter, in step 103, the inter-element dependency relationships listed in the table T2 are searched again, and all the “parents” in the dependency relationship have generation numbers. For example, “Transport Weight (A)” ”,“ Conveying speed (B) ”and the AB option combination table are detected. As a result, the maximum generation number +1 of the “parent”, that is, “1” is given to the AB option combination table that is “child” in the dependency relationship.
In step 104, it is determined whether all analysis elements have obtained generation numbers, and step 103 is repeated until all analysis elements have obtained generation numbers. If the generation numbers obtained in this way are listed, it becomes Table T7.

According to Table T7, “Transport weight (A)”, “Transport speed (B)”, “Shipment area (C)”, “Power supply type (F)”, “Inverter presence / absence (G)” are the generation number “0”. The AB option combination table T3 (1) is the generation number “1”. The DE determination table has a generation number “2”, and “motor manufacturer (D)” and “motor output (E)” have a generation number “3”. The CEFG option combination table and the H determination table have the generation number “4”, “motor part (H)”, and the IJ determination table has the generation number “5”, “power supply part (I)”, “inverter part ( J) ”is the generation number“ 6 ”.
FIG. 9B is a table after the table T3 is sorted so that the generation numbers are in ascending order. In the work of configuring individual products, it is desirable to evaluate and identify elements in ascending order of generation numbers as shown in Table T8.

  Hereinafter, the individual product configuration program 13 will be described.

  FIG. 10 is a simple flowchart showing the processing contents of the individual product configuration program 13, that is, the basic procedure of the individual product configuration processing. In this flowchart, design rule analysis processing is executed in advance, and each analysis element, that is, each of specification factors, each component, each option combination table, and each element of the element determination table are listed. It is assumed that generation numbers have been obtained for all of them, and by evaluating and specifying elements such as specification factors, option combination tables, element determination tables, and component parts in ascending order of generation numbers, individual products To make up.

More specifically, step 200 is processing for setting an initial value “0” to a variable X indicating a generation number to be evaluated.
Step 201 is a process of sequentially selecting an element having a generation number X (specification factor, component, option combination table, or determination element of an element determination table).
Steps 202 and 203 are processes for receiving and recording an operation for selecting an option of the specification factor when the type of the element is a specification factor.
Steps 204 and 205 are processes for evaluating the option combination table when the type of the selected element is the option combination table. Specifically, the specification factors belonging to the related group are searched, and those belonging to the group constituting the option combination table are extracted from the specification factors whose options are determined in step 201 and the like, and the option combination table is extracted. It is confirmed that there is something that is established in the combination pattern of options specified in the above.
The evaluation results at this time are undecided, confirmed, and invalid. Undecided is a state in which the choices of one or more specification factors belonging to the group constituting the choice combination table are undetermined. Confirmation is a state in which the options of all the specification factors belonging to the group constituting the option combination table are confirmed, and there are those that are established in the defined option combination pattern. Invalidity is a state in which the options of all the specification factors belonging to the group constituting the option combination table are confirmed, and there is no one that is established in the defined option combination pattern. Here, the option combination table evaluated as invalid can not be evaluated thereafter, and the amount of information processing can be suppressed. The element determination table related to the invalidated option combination table may be invalidated at the same time.
Steps 206 and 207 are processes for evaluating the element determination table when the type of the selected element is an element determination table. Specifically, this is processing for confirming that there is a decision element corresponding to the combination pattern of the established options that is an argument of the element decision table.
The evaluation results at this time are undecided, confirmed, and invalid. Undecided is a state in which the combination pattern of options that are arguments of the element determination table is undecided. Confirmation is a state in which a combination pattern of options as arguments of the element determination table is established, and a corresponding determination element can be specified. Invalidity is a state in which it has been ensured that none of the combination patterns of options as arguments of the element determination table is satisfied (eg, the related option combination table is invalidated). Here, the amount of information processing can be reduced by not using the element determination table evaluated as invalid thereafter as an evaluation target.
Steps 208 and 209 are processes for specifying the used quantity of the component by referring to the element determination table using the component as a determination element when the type of the selected element is a component.
Step 210 is processing for determining whether or not all elements having the generation number X have been evaluated. If all the elements having the generation number X have not been evaluated, the process returns to step 201 to evaluate the next element.
Steps 211 and 212 determine whether or not the generation number X is the maximum. If the generation number X is not the maximum, the generation number X is increased by one, and the process returns to step 201. It is a process to end or stop.

  The individual product configuration program 13 displays a portal screen on the display device 40, and when the selection operation of one or more specification factor options is performed on the portal screen, the basic procedure is repeatedly executed by using the operation as a trigger. Good. Thus, when all the elements have been evaluated and specified, individual products are configured. When the configuration of the individual product is completed, the individual product configuration program may output the specification factor list U, the used parts list V, and the like related to the individual product.

  FIGS. 11A and 11B are diagrams showing an example of a basic portal screen of an individual product configuration program and a mouse operation on the screen. The portal screen W includes a specification factor table T1 (1) shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, a component table T2 (1), and an option combination table T3 shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B. (1), T3 (2), automatically generated based on the analysis result of the design rule R comprising the element determination tables T4 (1)... T4 (3) shown in FIGS. is there.

  As shown in FIG. 11A, the configuration of the portal screen W is not particularly limited. For example, the portal screen W has a matrix form of two columns, and the left column has a specification factor “transport weight (A)”... “Motor output (E ) ”May be arranged in ascending order of generation numbers, and the right column may have a screen configuration in which operation units that can set options in a pull-down format corresponding to each specification factor are arranged. The portal screen W may have a screen configuration in which options can be set in order for each specification factor so that the generation numbers are in ascending order.

  As shown in FIG. 11B, when an operation unit corresponding to one of the specification factors is operated on the portal screen W, all options that can be selected at that time may be expanded and displayed in a pull-down format. For example, in FIG. 11B, the options “domestic”... “China” of the option “shipping area (C)” are expanded and displayed in a pull-down format by operating the mouse pointer. If any of the choices displayed in the pull-down format is selected with the mouse, the choice is set for the specification factor. The individual product configuration program 13 may execute the basic procedure every time such an operation is performed.

  The individual product configuration program 13 can configure individual products by interactive operation using the portal screen W. However, as a modification, instead of interactive operation, options are collectively set for at least all required specification factors. The designed information may be read from the storage medium 30 to configure individual products. Even in such a case, an individual product can be configured by a procedure substantially similar to the basic procedure. That is, in step 203 of the basic procedure, selection information for the corresponding specification factor option may be extracted from the read design information, and the processing related to the other steps may be the same as described above.

Brief description of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 Input interface program 11a Editing operation part 11b Medium operation part 12 Design rule analysis program 20 Database R Design rule S Recommended evaluation order T1 Specification factor table T2 Component parts table T3 Choice combination table T4 Element determination table

Claims (7)

A computer, a input interface program for executing the process of configuring the design rule in a database that is diverse individual products to select the components from a series of component groups is applied to a product family that can be configured based on the specification factor And
A specification factor table that defines options for each specification factor,
A component table that defines options for each component, and
An option combination table in which specification factors are freely grouped, and for each group, a combination pattern of options for all specification factors belonging to the group is defined.
An editing operation unit that allows a design rule to be created and edited by an element determination table that specifies component component choices or specification factor choices that are subordinately determined from each of the combination patterns, or the same content previously created An input interface program that causes the computer to function as a medium operation unit that permits reading of a design rule from a storage medium.   2. The input interface according to claim 1, wherein the element determination table includes a text or a reference of a script having the combination pattern as an argument as a part of the component option or the specification factor option. program. The computer, a design rule analysis program for executing processing for analyzing the reference the design rule database which the design rule is constituted by an input interface program according to claim 1 or 2,
Recommendations for configuring individual products by analyzing the interdependencies between each of the specification factors, each of the component parts, the option combination table, and the element determination table with reference to the database A design rule analysis program for causing a computer to execute a process for determining an evaluation order. There is a database with design rules that are applied to product families that can be configured with various individual products by selecting components from a series of parts based on specification factors,
The design rules are:
A specification factor table that defines options for each specification factor,
A component table that defines options for each component, and
An option combination table in which specification factors are freely grouped, and for each group, a combination pattern of options for all specification factors belonging to the group is defined.
A database comprising an element determination table that specifies component option choices or specification factor choices that are subordinately determined from each of the combination patterns. A method of configuring design rules that are applied to a product family in which a variety of individual products can be configured by selecting components from a set of parts based on specification factors,
A specification factor table that defines options for each specification factor,
A component table that defines options for each component, and
An option combination table in which specification factors are freely grouped, and for each group, a combination pattern of options for all specification factors belonging to the group is defined.
A design rule composition method comprising: constructing, in a database, a design rule including an element determination table that specifies choices of component parts or specification factors that are subordinately determined from each of the combination patterns.   6. The design rule according to claim 5, wherein the element determination table includes a text or reference of a script having the combination pattern as an argument as a part of the component option or the specification factor option. Configuration method. A method for analyzing the design rule by referring to the database in which the design rule is configured by the database configuration method according to claim 5,
Recommendations for configuring individual products by analyzing the interdependencies between each of the specification factors, each of the component parts, the option combination table, and the element determination table with reference to the database A design rule analysis method characterized by determining an evaluation order.

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