JPH0581293A - Production schedule managing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To obtain a production schedule managing device capable of previously inputting a production schedule before execution time. CONSTITUTION:The production schedule managing device is provided with a plan input device 20 for inputting a production schedule consisting of parts constitutional information and its application time, a data base 10 for storing the production schedule inputted from the means 20 and a production applying means 16 for invalidating the production plan until current time arrives at the application time for the production schedule based upon the production schedule stored in the data base 10 when the application time of the stored production schedule is delayed from current time and validating the production schedule when the current time coincides with the application time.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

[Industrial field of application] The present invention relates to a production system for managing parts using a database. In particular, the present invention relates to a production plan management device that performs production management from component data and design data accumulated in a database.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art With the development of FA (Factory Automation), integrated production management for producing products by directly using design data created by CAD (Computer Aided Design) has been actively carried out.

In such production management, it is general to store information on each part constituting a product in a database and refer to it at the production site as appropriate. A database used for such a purpose is, for example, Japanese Patent Publication No. 3-15.
223 “Parts table management method”.

The parts table management method described in JP-B-3-15223 is intended to facilitate version number management associated with design changes. The version number is set in the parent plate, but the version number of the parent plate is set. It is possible not to set the version number in the child illustrations described in the parts composition table. Therefore, there is a feature that the database can be easily updated due to a design change.

[0005]

However, since such a conventional database does not include time information, it has a very big problem that it is directly connected to production equipment and used for production control.

For example, in the case of changing the design of an automobile, that is, so-called model change, it is usually necessary to arrange new parts first. And you have to advertise in parallel with the arrangement of parts. By the time the arrangement is finally completed, the production equipment must be changed accordingly and put into production activities.

As described above, the time when the design change affects each work is different depending on each work. Since the conventional database does not have such time information, it is necessary to update the database immediately before the design change or the like is applied. Further, since the time to apply this is different for each business as described above, there is a problem that the updating of the database has to be performed at a different time for each business, which increases the labor of input. Furthermore, humans have to manage the timing of applying the design change to each work, which is apt to cause troubles such as the arrangement of parts not being completed or the production being delayed.

The present invention has been made in view of such a problem, and an object thereof is to specify a production plan management apparatus capable of inputting a design change in advance, that is, a timing to be applied to each work. To get a production plan management device that can.

[0009]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides a plan input means for inputting a production plan consisting of part configuration information and its application time, and a production input by the plan input means. Based on the database for accumulating plans and the production plans accumulated in the database, if the applied time of the accumulated production plans is later than the current time, until the current time reaches the applicable time of the production plan. A production plan management apparatus comprising: a plan application unit that invalidates the production plan and validates the production plan when the current time matches the application time of the production plan.

[0010]

The production schedule stored in the database of the present invention includes the application time. Therefore, the plan application means of the present invention can hold the production plan until the execution time by comparing the current time with the application time. Then, when the application time is reached, the production plan is put into execution.

[0011]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT A preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. The present embodiment is an example in which the present invention is used for production control of automobiles.

FIG. 1 is an overall view of a production plan management apparatus in this embodiment. The database 10 includes a database management device 12 and a large-capacity hard disk device 14. The database management device 12 is connected to the production plan monitoring device 16. The production plan monitoring device 16 is connected to the production facility 18 installed in a factory or the like. A plurality of terminals 20 for inputting a production plan are connected to the production plan monitoring device 16.

From the terminal 20, the production plan for this production plan management apparatus is input or changed. As described above, this production plan includes the component configuration information and the application time. Also, it is possible to inquire about the current production status and future production plans.

The database management device 12 and the hard disk device 14 constitute the database 10. The database management device 12 performs processes such as creation, deletion, modification, and inquiry of records in the database 10 according to instructions from the connected production plan monitoring device 16. Each record of the database 10 is composed of component configuration information of one component and its application time. The production plan is represented by each record of the database 10, that is, the component configuration information of one component and its application time. Generally, each record of such a type of database is often called islot, and therefore each record is also called islot in this embodiment. In other words, in this embodiment, the production plan is represented by each islot that records the component configuration information and the application time for each component that expresses the production plan.

The production plan monitoring device 16 is installed in the terminal 20.
When a production plan for the database 10 is input from, the production plan information is sent to the database management device 12. At the same time when the information changes the current production plan (that is, when the application time is not in the future than the current time), the necessary information is sent to the production facility 18. When the information of the production plan is related to the future production plan (that is, when the applied time is in the future than the current time), the information is sent only to the database management device 12, not immediately to the production facility 18. .. In this case, the information of the production plan is sent to the production facility 18 when the production plan becomes effective in the future. In the present embodiment, the terminal 20 inputs the production plan, that is, the component configuration information and the application time thereof to the database 10, in four types of “new installation”, “delete”, “correction”, and “reference new installation”. There is a way. The production plan input by these methods is stored by accumulating in the database 10 islot which records the component configuration information of each component representing the production plan and its application time. As described above, the production plan, that is, the component configuration information and the application time, input by these methods, unless the current production plan is changed,
Database 1 is not sent to production facility 18 immediately
Inside 0, it becomes a pending state. Details of these input methods will be described later.

Further, the production plan monitoring device 16 monitors the application time of the production plan in the database 10 at regular intervals, that is, the application time of each islot, and the above-mentioned production plan in the hold state should be applied (effective). When the time is reached, the hold status of the production plan in the database 10 in the hold status is released to make it valid. Then, the new production plan is sent to the production facility 18.

The production facility 18 is an NC machine tool, a line control device or the like which is usually installed in a factory. In the present embodiment, these operate according to the instruction information of the production plan monitoring device 16, but it is also possible to send the operating states of these devices to the production plan monitoring device 16 and monitor the operating state from the terminal 20.

Before describing the operation of the production plan management apparatus according to the present embodiment, each islot of the database 10 used in the present embodiment, that is, islot recording the component configuration information representing the production plan and its application time. Will be described with reference to FIG.

The format of each islot is shown in FIG. Each islot is roughly divided into three parts. The first is a header section, the second is a unique information section, and the third is a configuration information section. The header part is composed of three pieces of information, that is, a part number and a part name, and an application period of this production plan. Since the database 10 in this embodiment has the application period in each islot in this way, the application period of the production plan represented by each islot can be easily managed. In the unique information section, unique information of the part represented by this islot is recorded, for example, information such as mass and size. Further, in the configuration information section, the number of each component constituting this component, the component name, and a link which is pointer information are recorded. This link shows the address of the component islot that composes this part. With this, the configuration of each component can be expressed in a hierarchical manner. An example of this is shown in FIG. In Figure 3, each is
Only the part name, application period, and link are shown for lot, and other items are omitted. FIG. 3 shows three parts A, B and C.
The hierarchical structure of is shown. For example, A is an engine unit, B is a head unit of this A, and C is a screw that constitutes this B. As shown in FIG. 3, the link included in the islot representing the part A has the address of the islot representing the part B. Similarly, the link included in islot representing the part B has the address of islot representing the part C. However, the link included in the islot representing the part C has no address. That is, the part C
This indicates that the (screw) is the smallest component. Further, although t ₁ to t ₆ are shown as times indicating the application period in FIG. 3, the relationship between these times is, for example, t ₁ <t ₂ <t ₃ <t ₄ <t ₅ <t ₆ To be chosen. Parts A, B, C when selected in this way
The relationship of the effective period of is as shown in FIG.

Next, a state in which a production plan is input, and once the production plan is suspended until the suspension state is released will be described with a focus on the production plan monitoring device 16. As mentioned above, there are "New", "Delete",
There are four methods: "correction" and "new reference".

First, a situation in which a production plan is input by "new" will be described with reference to FIG. "New" is an input method used when a completely new component is added. In order to facilitate understanding, in FIG. 5, each islot shows only its component name, application period, and link as in FIG. 3, and other items are omitted. The example shown in FIG. 5 is an example in which a component B is newly added as a component of the component A. Here, it is assumed that the component B further has a component C as its component. The islot corresponding to the component C is already prepared in the database 10. First, an islot corresponding to the part B is newly created (hereinafter simply referred to as the islot of the part B). Then, in the application period in the islot of the part B, the future time t ₃ is registered as the start time, and t _* is registered as the end time. Here, t _* represents infinity. That is, it has the meaning of being applied permanently from time t ₃ . Of course, if the component structure changes again in the future, this t _* will be rewritten. Then, the part B is registered in the configuration information in the islot of the part A, and the address of the islot of the part B is registered in the link. Similarly, the address of the component C islot is registered in the link in the configuration information of the component B islot. In this way, at the time of input (t ₂ ), the application period of the parts A and C during isot is t ₁ to t _* , and the application period of the part B during isot is t ₃ to t _* . In addition, t ₁ <
There is a relationship of t ₂ <t ₃ .

When the time elapses and the time t ₃ which is the start time of the part B is reached, the islot of the part B becomes valid and the production plan monitoring device 16 obtains the information of the part B from the production equipment 1
Send to 8. Therefore, the configuration of the new part can be input in advance before the application time, and the production control can be easily performed.

Next, a situation in which the production plan is input by "deletion" will be described with reference to FIG. "Delete" is a method used when a part is deleted, and the corresponding islot in the database is deleted. Similar to FIG. 5, in FIG. 6, each islot shows only its component name, application period, and link, and other items are omitted. The example shown in FIG. 6 is an example in which the component B, which is a component of the component A, is deleted. Here, it is assumed that the component B further has the component C as its constituent component.

First, the future time t ₃ is registered as the end time of the applicable period in the islot of the part B. This time t ₃
In, the part B is deleted. The time at which “delete” is input is t ₂ , and there is a relationship of t ₂ <t ₃ .

When the time elapses and the end time t ₃ of the component B is reached, the islot of the component B becomes invalid and the islot of the component B is deleted from the database 10.
Then, the islot of the part referenced only from the link in the islot of the part B is deleted from the database 10.
And again from the link in the islot of part A islo of part B
Delete the address of t. That is, the reference from the parts A to B is deleted. Furthermore, the production plan monitoring device 1
6 shows the new information in which the part B is deleted and the production equipment 1
Send to 8. Therefore, the new configuration of the part A (the part B is deleted) can be input in advance before the application time, and the production control can be easily performed.

Next, how the production plan is input by "correction" will be described with reference to FIG. "correction"
Is a method that uses islot of already registered parts and corrects the parts that are similar to it. In other words, this is the method used when parts are changed, and database 1
The corresponding islot in 0 is deleted and a new similar islot is created. In FIG. 7, as in FIG. 6, each islot shows only its component name, application period, and link, and other items are omitted. The example shown in FIG. 7 is an example in which the component B, which is a component of the component A, is newly replaced with the component B ′. Here, it is assumed that the component B further has the component C as its constituent component, and that the new component B ′ also has the component C as the constituent component.

First, a new islot of the part B'is created. Then, copy the data of the islot of the part B and copy the part B
Put in'islot. Then, the unique information of the islot of the component B'is changed according to the unique information of the component B '. The links in the islot of the part A are the islots of the parts B and B '.
Register the address of. The address of the islot of the part C is registered in the link in the islot of the part B '. Further, the future time t ₃ is registered as the end time of the applicable period in the islot of the part B. Along with this, a future time t ₃ is registered as the start time of the applicable period in the islot of the component B ′, and t _* is registered as the end time. At this future time t ₃ , the part B is deleted and the part B ′ is used in its place. The time to input “correction” is t ₂ and t
There is a relationship of ₁ <t ₂ <t ₃ .

When the time has elapsed, the end time t of the component B is t.
_When the number reaches ₃ , the islot of the part B becomes invalid and the islot of the part B is deleted from the database 10. Then, the islot of the part referenced only from the link in the islot of the part B is deleted from the database 10. And again from the link in the part A islot, the part B islot
Delete the address. That is, the reference from the parts A to B is deleted. Since t ₃ is also the start time of the part B ′, the part A has the part B as its constituent part. Further, the production plan monitoring device 16 sends new information to the production equipment 18 in which the part B has been deleted and replaced with the part B ′. Therefore, the new configuration of the part A (the part B is corrected to the part B ′) can be input in advance (at the time t ₂ ) before the application time t ₃ , and the production control can be easily performed. Finally, "reference new"
A case of inputting the production plan will be described with reference to FIG. "Reference new" is for the already registered parts.
This is a method of using islot to input a part very similar to it, but unlike "correction", the underlying islot is saved as is. That is, "reference new installation" is a method used when the same component or the same type of component is newly added. In FIG. 8 as in FIG. 7, each islot shows only its component name, application period, and link, and other items are omitted. The example shown in FIG. 8 is an example in which a component B ′ similar to the component B is newly added in addition to the component B which is a component of the component A. Here, it is assumed that the component B further has the component C as its constituent component, and that the new component B ′ also has the component C as the constituent component.

First, a new islot of the part B'is created. Then, copy the data of the islot of the part B and copy the part B
Put in'islot. Then, the unique information of the islot of the component B'is changed according to the unique information of the component B '. The links in the islot of the part A are the islots of the parts B and B '
Register the address of. The address of the islot of the part C is registered in the link in the islot of the part B '. Unlike the "correction", the end time of the applicable period in the islot of the part B is t _* which is an infinite value, and the new part B '
Is not erased after it becomes valid at a future time t ₃ . Along with this, a future time t ₃ is registered as the start time of the applicable period in the islot of the component B ′, and t _* is registered as the end time. At this future time t ₃ , islot of the part B ′
Is effective. The time at which “reference new” is input is t ₂ , and there is a relationship of t ₁ <t ₂ <t ₃ .

When the time elapses and the start time t ₃ of the part B ′ is reached, the islot of the part B ′ becomes valid.
As a result, a component B ′ is newly added as a component of the component A. Furthermore, the production plan monitoring device 16
In addition to the component B, the component B ′ also sends information to the production facility 18 that the component B is a new component. Therefore,
The new configuration of the part A can be input in advance (at the time t ₂ ) prior to the application time t ₃ , and the production control can be easily performed.

As described above, according to the present invention, since the input of the production plan is performed in the form of the component configuration information and its application period, it is possible to obtain the device in which the time management of the production plan is easy. Further, the production plan management device 16 uses the database 10
Since the applicable period in is monitored, the production plan management device capable of automatically updating the production plan can be obtained.

In the above-described embodiment, the component configuration information and its application period are used as the production plan, but it is also possible to include the production process in this. By including not only mere component configuration information but also the production process thereof, it is possible to easily change the production method even for a component having a special production method, and it is possible to quickly change the production plan.

In the above-described embodiment, the applicable period of each islot in the database is composed of the start time and end time of the islot, but it is possible to prepare a plurality of sets of this time. .. By doing so, it is possible to set the applicable period corresponding to a plurality of jobs, and it is possible to make detailed settings for each job.

[0034]

As described above, according to the present invention,
Since the production plan application time is stored in the database,
The time to enter the production plan and the time to apply it can be set independently. Therefore, the production plan can be input in advance prior to its execution. Further, since the production plan is automatically sent to the production equipment by the production plan applying means, there is an effect that a production plan management apparatus having extremely easy production management can be obtained.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a production plan management apparatus that is an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a format of each islot in the database of the production planning management system which is an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the relationship between the respective islots in the database of the production planning management apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention,
It is explanatory drawing showing the example which represents the structure of components hierarchically.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a method of designating an applicable period in each islot of the database of the production planning management system according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing how a production plan is input by using the “newly installed” function of the production plan management apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing how a production plan is input by using the “delete” function of the production plan management apparatus according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing how a production plan is input by using the “correction” function of the production plan management apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing how a production plan is input by using the “reference new” function of the production plan management apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10 database 12 database management device 14 hard disk device 16 production plan monitoring device 18 production facility 20 terminal

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A plan input means for inputting a production plan including part configuration information and its application time, a database for accumulating the production plan input by the plan input means, and a production plan accumulated in the database. Based on the above, if the applied time of the accumulated production plan is later than the current time, the production plan is invalidated until the current time reaches the applied time of the production plan, and the current time is the applied time of the production plan. A production plan management device, comprising: a plan application unit that validates the production plan if they match.