JPH042448A - Production process control method and equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To obtain a production process control method and equipment, which are able to put each product into the equipment quickly, automatically, and in most suitable order by having each product accompanied with a memory means, which stores the data regarding the production schedule, and reading these data at each production process. CONSTITUTION:An IC card 2 accompanying each lot 3 stores necessary data, based on the production schedule of each lot. The data stored in the IC card 2 of the lot 3, which arrives at an input buffer 5a, is read by an R/W 4a in order to judge whether the processing device, which can dispose of this lot, is available at present or not. When some processing devices, which can dispose of this lot, are found available, a disengaged device is assigned to the lot. When, however, all the processing devices are occupied, the lot will wait for the processing device to become free and will be transferred to the processing device by means of a transferring part 6a. The lot, which completes its processing and which is carried from the processing device, is transferred to an output buffer 5b by means of a transferring part 6b. Here, the data and time, at which the disposal of the lot is completed, are written in the IC card 2 by the R/W 4b.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Application Field] The present invention provides a process control method for processing a plurality of products manufactured through various processes by establishing optimal scheduling for each product. and related to equipment.

[Conventional technology]

Process control when manufacturing products is important for improving production efficiency and meeting delivery deadlines. For example, by preparing multiple devices with similar functions necessary for each process and processing the products simultaneously with each of these devices, it is possible to efficiently process a large number of products in each process. There is a configuration that makes it possible to do this. In such a configuration, products transported to each process are loaded into equipment that is not currently being used in that process in the order of arrival, and if all equipment is in use, processing is completed as soon as possible. It is common practice to wait until the processing is completed before inserting the material into the equipment.

However, since each product has a production plan based on its own delivery date, if we simply introduce the products in the order they arrive and proceed through each process, some products may not be completed by the delivery date. Based on the production plan, it is necessary to adjust the input order among the products waiting for processing.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

However, this adjustment is performed by a worker for each process, and it is a difficult task to grasp the manufacturing plan and adjust the input order etc. for each large quantity of products. Therefore, a configuration can be considered in which this work is automatically performed by a computer that creates and manages a production plan for each product, but as the number of processes and products increases, the load on the computer increases, and each process Since it takes a long time to communicate with the company, there is a problem in that it is not possible to respond quickly and productivity is reduced.

The present invention was made in view of such circumstances, and by attaching a storage means for storing data related to production plans for each product and reading this data in each process, each product can be quickly optimized. The object of the present invention is to provide a process control method and device that can automatically feed the materials into the device in sequence.

[Means to solve the problem]

In the process control method according to the present invention, a storage means is attached to each product, data on the processing details and scheduled completion time of each process of the product are stored in advance in the storage means, and the products that arrive at the processing means of the process are stored in advance. The data is read from the storage means of. Then, based on this data, a plan for introducing multiple products to the processing means is made and processed, the time point at which the processing is completed is written in the storage means of the product for which processing has been completed, and this point of completion is used in the introduction plan for future products. It is something that is reflected.

Further, the process control device according to the present invention includes a reading means for reading the data from a storage means attached to a product that has arrived at the processing means, and an input planning means for creating an input plan for the processing means based on this data. and an input instruction means for inputting the product into the processing means and performing the corresponding processing according to the input plan. The apparatus further includes a writing means for writing the completion point of processing in the storage means for the products for which the processing has been completed, so that the input planning means reflects the completion point in the subsequent input plan.

[Effect]

In the process control method according to the present invention, when the product arrives at the processing means of the process, the processing details and scheduled completion time data of the process are read from the storage means attached to the product. Based on this data, a plan is made to introduce products to the processing means so that products with earlier scheduled completion times are treated preferentially. The time of completion of a product that has been processed is written in the storage means, and this time of completion is reflected in the plan for introducing subsequent products in the process. For example, if a process is completed earlier than scheduled according to the input plan, the scheduled completion of the corresponding process for subsequent products is also accelerated.

Further, in the process control device according to the present invention, when the product arrives at the processing means of the process, the reading means reads the processing contents of the process and data on the scheduled completion time from the storage means attached to the product. Based on this data, the input planning means formulates an input plan for the processing means. The input instruction means inputs the product to the processing means based on the input plan and causes the corresponding processing to be carried out, and after the processing of the product has been completed, the writing means writes the completion point of the processing in the storage means, and then the product is transferred to the next processing means. It is sent to the processing means of the process. This completion point is reflected when the input planning means formulates a subsequent product input plan.

[Embodiments of the invention]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be specifically described below based on drawings showing embodiments thereof. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a process control device according to the present invention, and shows production equipment in one process. MLM2. ...Mn is a processing device having the same function for executing the processing of this process, and processes materials, semi-finished products, etc. of products transported in lots based on instructions from the process control unit 1. A processing device that can perform the processing is selected and performs the processing.

A transfer section 6a is installed on the product lot input side of the processing devices MI to Mn, and a transfer section 6b is installed on the loft unloading side, and each of these transfer sections 6a and 6b is installed on the side opposite to the processing device group. An input buffer 5a and an output buffer 5b are installed.

All of these devices are configured to be controlled by the process control section 1, and the input buffer 5a has a reception function for product lots (hereinafter referred to as lofts) 3 transported to this production facility. be. Each lot 3
In this case, an IC card 2 serving as a storage means is attached to each cassette etc. that stores a plurality of materials, semi-finished products, etc. to constitute a loft, and this IC card 2 has a loft number for specifying each loft, and a loft number for identifying each loft. Data such as processing conditions and scheduled completion date and time of the process are stored in advance. An IC card read/write unit (hereinafter referred to as R/-) 4a, which is the reading means for reading the data of the IC card 2, is provided at the entrance of the input buffer 5a, and the data read by the R/W 4a is provided. is input to the process control section 1. Based on this data, the process control unit 1 selects a processing device capable of processing the arrived lot 3, and if the processing device is free, the lot 3 is transferred to the input buffer 5 by the transfer unit 6a.
It is transferred from a to the processing equipment and put into it. In addition, when all of the processing equipment capable of processing lot 3 is in use, the process control unit 1 formulates an input plan as described later, and uses the input buffer 5a until input is possible according to the input plan.
Lot 3 will be stored at

In addition, the process control unit 1 also controls
It knows the expected completion date and time based on the input date and time of this loft.

The transfer unit 6b transfers the lots 3 that have been processed by each processing device and taken out to the output buffer 5b. The output buffer 5b has an R/W which is the writing means.
4b is provided, and the R/W 4b writes the processing completion date and time of this process into the IC card 2 attached to the lot 3 that has been processed based on the output of the process control section 1. The finished lot 3 is transported from the output buffer 5b to a production facility for processing the next step by a transport means (not shown).

Next, the process control procedure of the apparatus of the present invention constructed as described above will be explained in detail based on the flowchart shown in FIG.

First, the IC card 2 attached to each lot 3 has
The data mentioned above when configuring the loft is stored based on the production plan for each lot. Therefore, in step 1, the data on the IC card 2 associated with the lot 3 that has arrived at the input buffer 5a is read by the R/W 4a. Next, based on the contents of this data, it is determined whether a processing device capable of processing this loft is currently vacant, that is, whether it is not in use (step 2). If it is vacant, one processing device is selected and processing is assigned to that device (step 3).

On the other hand, if the processing equipment is not available, determine whether there is a loft that has arrived before this loft and is waiting for processing by the processing equipment (Step 4); if there is no loft waiting to be processed, then The processing is reserved for the processing device that is scheduled to complete the processing earliest (step 5). FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of this content, and assumes that, for example, when loft A arrives, processing devices old to M3 are all in process as indicated by hunting in the figure. In this case, processing can be completed fastest among the processing devices, but since processing device M2 cannot process lot A, the processing is reserved between the processing devices that are capable of processing and are the fastest.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step 4 that there is a loft waiting to be processed, a loading schedule including the lots waiting to be processed is created in descending order of expected completion date and time (step 7).

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of this content. First, assume that lots B and C were waiting for processing before lot A arrived, as shown in the above diagram. In this case, all of the processing equipment from old to old is RO) B,
Since the expected completion date and time of lot B is earlier than that of lot C, the processing equipment that completes processing the earliest is the processing equipment that completes processing B), followed by the processing equipment that completes processing earlier. Processing is reserved for M2 and C respectively.

Now, when lot A arrives with a scheduled completion date and time as shown in the figure below, the scheduled completion date and time of lot A is earlier than those of lots B and C. Also, lot A
When examining processing equipment that can process
It is 3. Therefore, if the processing reservation for A is given top priority, it will be placed between processing machines, and as a result, lot B, which was assigned to processing machine M3 before the arrival of lot A, will be processed the next earliest, and The lot C is shifted to the processing device M2 capable of processing, and the input plan for the lot C is similarly shifted to the processing device M1.

In this way, if there is a vacant processing device that can process, a vacant processing device is allocated, and if there is no vacant processing device, the process waits for the processing of the corresponding processing device to be completed by the above-mentioned scheduling (step 6). ), the lofts are transferred to the corresponding processing equipment by the transfer section 6a (step 8
).

Next, the process control unit 1 gives the processing device a processing instruction corresponding to the processing conditions of the loft, inputs the loft, and performs processing (step 9). The loft that has been processed and carried out from the processing apparatus is transferred to the output buffer 5b by the transfer section 6b (step 10).

In the output buffer 5b, the date and time when the processing of the loft was actually completed is written into the IC card 2 by the R/W 4b (step 11). From this completion date and time, the process control unit 1 reschedules the subsequent input plan for the processing equipment group in order to correct the discrepancy between the scheduled time and the actual time required (step 12).

With the above, a series of processing for one loft is completed,
The lot with the processing completion date and time written on the IC card is transported to a production facility for executing the next process.

In addition, if processing equipment during processing becomes unavailable due to a breakdown, etc., the input plan will be re-scheduled each time excluding the processing equipment, and even if the processing equipment is restored, the scheduling will be re-scheduled each time. By rebuilding the system, it is possible to quickly respond to changes in equipment usage capacity.

Furthermore, in this embodiment, it is assumed that the products are introduced in lot units, but this is not limited to this, and of course a configuration in which products are introduced individually is also applicable, and furthermore, an IC card can be used as the storage means. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, a floppy disk-shaped device housed in a cartridge can also be used.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As described above, in the process control method and apparatus according to the present invention, each product is provided with a storage means that stores its own production plan, and the stored contents of this storage means are read in each process to control the process. The order can be changed flexibly according to each production plan. As a result, each product is automatically fed into the processing means in an optimal order so as to meet the delivery deadline, and the burden on the operator is greatly reduced.

In addition, by attaching a storage means to each product, the progress of the process can be controlled by reading and writing data only between the control means such as computers installed in each process, so the production plan for all products can be managed. There is no need to involve the host computer, which increases the load on it, or
This invention is superior in that it eliminates the need for communication between the two, and allows inputting instructions to be given quickly for each process based on an inputting plan that reflects the actual completion point, which greatly improves productivity. It has a great effect.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a process control device according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing its control procedure, and FIGS. 3 and 4 are diagrams explaining the contents of an input plan. ■...Process control unit 2...RC card 3...Product front 4a, 4b...IC card read/write unit 5a-input buffer 5b...output buffer 6a. 6b...Transfer section Old~Mn...Processing device In the drawings, the same reference numerals indicate the same or equivalent parts.

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) Storage means is attached to each of the plurality of products sent to and inputted into the processing means of each process to be processed for manufacturing, and each process is processed based on the data stored in these storage means. A process control method for controlling the processing of each product at each step, wherein each storage means stores in advance data on the processing contents and scheduled completion time of each process of the product, and the processing of the product arriving at the processing means is Read the data of the process from the storage means, make a plan to introduce the product to the processing means based on this data, perform the processing, write the completion point of the processing in the storage means of the processed product, and write the completion point of the processing to the storage means, A process control method characterized in that the process is reflected in a subsequent product introduction plan in the process. (2) Storage means is attached to each of the plurality of products sent and inputted to the processing means of each process to be processed for manufacturing, and each process of the product is stored in advance in these storage means. A process control device that controls the processing of each product for each process based on data on processing contents and scheduled completion time, the data for the process being read from the storage means of the product that has arrived at the processing means. a reading means; an input planning means for formulating an input plan for the processing means based on the data read by the reading means; and inputting the product to the processing means based on the input plan and having the product perform corresponding processing. It has an input instructing means, and a writing means for writing a completion point of processing into the storage means of the product for which processing has been completed, and the input planning means is configured to reflect the completion point in a subsequent input plan. A process control device characterized by: