JPH09278126A - Article storage shelf managing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To search an optimum replenishment level of every article automatically, and to utilize a storage shelf effectively. SOLUTION: When replenishment level sensors 3a, 3b... detect that the heaped height level of storing articles 2a, 2b... is lowered than the standard hight level of shelves 1a, 1b..., an article replenishing instruction is output and the necessity of replenishment of the corresponding articles is informed to a worker. When the articles stored in the shelves are made in a shortage condition, the shortage generation is input. And the shortage generation frequency is monitored by a shortage generation frequency managing part, the shortage generation frequency is compared with a specific standard value by an optimum replenishment level deciding part, and the heights of the setting height of the replenishment sensors are regulated. In such a way, the setting heights of the replenishment level sensors are made possible to set to the height to realize an optimum rotation to replenish the next article when the inventory is going to be almost empty, after the replenishing instruction is output to each storage shelves 1a, 1b,....

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an article storage rack management device for optimizing an output timing of an article replenishment command of an article storage rack and optimizing a storage volume.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a picking shelf in which various articles are stored, taken out little by little, and the same article is newly replenished when the storage amount becomes small, a management computer outputs a form as a delivery instruction. Alternatively, it is displayed on a display device installed on each shelf, and a predetermined amount of articles are taken out from the corresponding storage shelf in accordance with the leaving instruction so that the picking work can be efficiently performed.

However, when replenishing the storage shelves with articles, the operator may find that there is a shortage of articles to be picked in the middle of the picking operation, or a full-time operator patrolls the articles. We are taking steps to find the shelves that are likely to run short and to replenish the appropriate shelves.

Further, it is not possible to utilize the equipment more effectively by observing the rotation of the stored articles on the picking shelf and transferring them to the storage shelf of the optimum volume or adjusting the detection level of the optimum replenishment time.

[0005]

As described above, in the conventional article storage rack management device, the picking work must be interrupted particularly because the replenishment is required during the picking work, and the worker's motivation is killed. As a result, there was a problem that work efficiency was lowered. Also, if a dedicated worker goes around to find a shelf that needs replenishment and performs the replenishment work of the item, the worker will have unnecessary work of patrolling or if the item is not frequently delivered. Even if there is, there is a problem that it may be mechanically replenished and a long-term retention product may be produced.

Further, if the management computer is used to collect data to determine the optimum storage amount and the replenishment time, it takes time and effort to collect the data, and large-scale arithmetic processing is required. There was a problem that it was inconvenient to do.

[0007] In addition, on the shelf for storing the goods delivered from the subcontractor, even if an order is placed when replenishment is required, it is not delivered immediately, and it takes some time.
Since the time required from the ordering to the actual delivery often differs depending on the type of goods, it is optimal for each kind of goods to decide to what level on the storage shelf the stocked goods should fall before a replenishment order is made. It is necessary to find out the level and place a replenishment order when the inventory items decrease to that level. However, there is no conventional device for performing such detailed inventory management.

The present invention has been made in order to solve such a conventional technical problem, and it is possible to set an optimum replenishment time for each article with a relatively simple system configuration, and to set an optimum replenishment time for each article. An object is to provide an article storage shelf management device capable of determining a storage volume shelf.

[0009]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an article storage shelf management device which is installed at a predetermined standard height level of a shelf, and the stacking level of stored articles is lower than the standard height level. At the time of replenishment, a replenishment level detection means for outputting an article replenishment command, an out-of-stock input means for inputting that the articles stored in the shelf are out of stock, and an out-of-stock state by the out-of-stock input means It is provided with a shortage product occurrence frequency monitoring means for monitoring the frequency of input of the fact that the product has been sold.

In the article storage shelf management device of the present invention, the article replenishment level detection means replenishes the articles when the stacking level level of the stored articles is detected to be lower than the predetermined standard height level of the shelf. A command is output to inform the operator of the necessity of replenishing the corresponding articles. Further, when the articles stored on the shelves become out of stock, the out-of-stock occurrence is input automatically or manually.

Therefore, the out-of-stock occurrence frequency monitoring means monitors the out-of-stock occurrence frequency, and the suitability of the height position of the replenishment level detecting means is judged depending on whether the out-of-stock occurrence frequency is higher or lower than a predetermined reference value. And adjust to install at the optimum level.

In this way, the installation height of the replenishment level detecting means is adjusted to be higher than the current level when the out-of-stock occurrence frequency is high, and adjusted to be lower than the current level when the out-of-stock occurrence frequency is low. As a result, after the replenishment command that detects the replenishment level for each storage shelf is issued, the output timing of the replenishment command that can realize the optimum rotation of replenishing the next item in the state that the shelf inventory is almost empty is realized. It becomes possible to find out and install the replenishment level detecting means at the height level.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the article storage rack management apparatus according to the first aspect, the out-of-stock occurrence frequency collected by the out-of-stock occurrence frequency monitoring means is compared with a predetermined reference value, and the comparison result is obtained. Based on this, an optimum replenishment level determination means for outputting a height adjustment command for the installation height position of the replenishment level detection means is provided.

In the article storage shelf management device according to the present invention, the out-of-stock occurrence frequency monitoring means monitors the out-of-stock occurrence frequency, and the optimum replenishment level determination means compares the out-of-stock occurrence frequency with a predetermined reference value. Based on the comparison result, a height adjustment command for the installation height of the replenishment level detecting means is output.

Therefore, whether the installation height of the replenishment level detecting means is appropriate or not is automatically determined, and in response to the instruction, the installation height of the replenishment level detecting means is set higher than the current level when the stockout frequency is high. By adjusting the price to a higher level and adjusting it to a level lower than the current level if the frequency of out-of-stock items is low, the shelf inventory becomes almost empty after a replenishment command is issued that detects the replenishment level for each storage shelf. It becomes possible to find the output timing of the replenishment command that can realize the optimum rotation of replenishing the next article in the attempted state, and install the replenishment level detection means at the height level.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided an article storage shelf management device,
The replenishment level detecting means is installed at a predetermined reference height level of the shelf, and outputs a replenishment level detection means for outputting an article replenishment command when the stacking level of the stored articles is lower than the reference height level, and the replenishment level detecting means outputs the replenishment level. And a replenishment frequency monitoring means for monitoring the output frequency of the article replenishment command.

In the article storage shelf management device of the present invention, the article replenishment level is detected when the replenishment level detection means detects that the stacking level of the stored articles is lower than the predetermined standard height level of the shelf. A command is output to inform the operator of the necessity of replenishing the corresponding articles. Further, the output frequency of the article replenishment command output from the replenishment level detection means is monitored by the replenishment frequency monitoring means, and compared with a predetermined standard value, the storage rack volume is narrowed depending on whether the article replenishment frequency is larger or smaller than the standard value. Determine suitability.

Therefore, if the replenishment frequency is high and the shelf volume is too narrow, the article is transferred to a wider shelf, and conversely, if the replenishment frequency is low and the shelf volume is too wide, a narrower shelf is used. By carrying out the work of transferring the articles to, it becomes possible to store the articles on the shelves having a suitable volume so that the replenishment frequency is almost horizontal.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the article storage rack management device according to the third aspect, the output frequency of the replenishment command collected by the replenishment frequency monitoring means is compared with a predetermined reference value, and based on the comparison result. An optimal storage volume determination means for outputting a shelf volume wide / narrow adjustment command is provided.

In the article storage rack management apparatus of the present invention, the replenishment frequency monitoring means monitors the output frequency of the article replenishment command output from the replenishment level detection means, and the optimum storage volume determination means controls the replenishment frequency monitoring means. The output frequency of the collected replenishment command is compared with a predetermined reference value, and a shelf volume adjustment command is output.

[0021] As a result, by moving the articles to and from the shelves having the corresponding volumes in accordance with the shelf volume widening / narrowing adjustment command output from the optimum storage volume determining means and storing the articles, the replenishment frequency is set to be approximately side by side. It can be stored on shelves of the appropriate volume.

[0022]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a hardware configuration of one embodiment, and storage shelves 1a of various sizes, wide and narrow,
1b, ... Articles 2a, 2 of the same type or different types, respectively
b, ... are stored. These storage shelves 1a, 1b,
... Replenishment level sensors 3a, 3b, to height levels Ha, Hb, ... which are considered to need to issue replenishment commands if the stacking height of the articles 2a, 2b, ...
… Is installed. This replenishment level sensor 3a, 3
Various sensors such as photoelectric sensors and ultrasonic sensors that detect the presence of an article to be detected in a non-contact manner are used, and b, ... Have a structure in which the installation height can be arbitrarily adjusted.

Replenishment indicators 4a, 4b, ... Are provided on the storage shelves 1a, 1b ,.

Replenishment level sensors 3a, 3b, ... And replenishment indicators 4a, 4 installed on the storage shelves 1a, 1b ,.
are connected to a transmission device 6 by a signal cable 5, and the transmission device 6 is connected to an inventory management computer 7.

FIG. 2 shows the configuration of the article replenishment frequency monitoring function and the out-of-stock occurrence frequency monitoring function executed by the inventory management computer 7 in connection with the present invention. Replenishment level sensors 3a, 3
From the change of the signal input from b, ...
It is detected that the stacking height of the articles 2a, 2b, ... Of b ,.
Based on the replenishment sensor input processing unit 11 for turning on the replenishment indicators 4a, 4b, ... For b, ... And the replenishment instruction to the worker, and the replenishment level reaching signal for each storage rack 1a, 1b ,.
Stores replenishment history data for each storage shelf, and replenishment frequency P
Like a replenishment frequency management unit 12 for calculating a, Pb, ... And a storage shelf 1a, 1b, ... An out-of-stock generation input section 13 receives a out-of-stock generation signal when the out-of-stock generation input operation is performed, and a replenishment command is issued based on the out-of-stock generation signal received by the out-of-stock input processing section 14. A stockout frequency management unit 15 that accumulates separate stockout occurrence history data for each storage shelf 1a, 1b, ... About a stockout occurring after the product is output, and calculates the stockout occurrence frequency Ra, Rb ,. I have it.

The inventory management computer 7 further calculates the out-of-stock occurrence frequency R for each of the storage shelves 1a, 1b, ... Calculated by the out-of-stock frequency management unit 15 periodically or at any time as needed.
The optimum replenishment level determination unit 16 for comparing a, Rb, ... With a predetermined reference value to determine the suitability of the installation height for each replenishment level sensor 3a, 3b ,.
6, a replenishment level adjustment command output unit 17 that outputs a height adjustment command for each of the replenishment level sensors 3a, 3b, ... Based on the determination result of the optimum replenishment level.

The inventory management computer 7 further calculates the replenishment frequency Pa for each of the storage shelves 1a, 1b, ... Calculated by the replenishment frequency management unit 12 periodically or at any time as required.
The storage shelves 1a, 1 by comparing Pb, ... With a predetermined reference value.
Based on the optimum volume determination unit 18 that determines the suitability of the storage volume of each of the articles 2a, 2b, ... Stored in b, ... And the determination result of the suitability of the storage volume obtained by the optimum volume determination unit 18 A storage volume adjustment command output unit 19 that outputs a storage volume adjustment command for each storage volume 2a, 2b, ...

Next, the operation of the article storage shelf management device having the above configuration will be described. Items 2a, 2b, ... Are stored in the respective storage shelves 1a, 1b, ..., The storage amount of these items 2a, 2b, ... Is managed by the stacking level, and the replenishment level sensor 3a ,. 3b, ... is article 2
While the presence of a, 2b, ... Is detected, it is determined that the inventory is sufficient, picking progresses, and articles 2a, 2
If the stacking level of b, ... Is becoming lower and the replenishment level sensors 3a, 3b, ..., respectively no longer detect the presence of the articles 2a, 2b, .., it is judged that picking has progressed to a level at which replenishment is required. Will be done.

Therefore, during a normal picking operation, as shown in FIG.
As shown in the flowchart of FIG. 2, the replenishment sensor input processing unit 11 monitors the input signals of the replenishment level sensors 3a, 3b, ... For each of the storage shelves 1a, 1b ,. Is input, the replenishment indicators 5a, 5b, ... Installed on the corresponding storage shelves 1a, 1b, ... Are turned on to instruct the worker to replenish (steps S1 to S4).

At the same time, the replenishment sensor input processing unit 11 supplies the replenishment frequency management unit 12 with the type of the article lowered to the replenishment level, the storage rack identification data and the detection date and time data, and the replenishment frequency management unit 12 uses this data. The data is accumulated and the replenishment frequency is calculated (step S5).

Further, the replenishment sensor input processing unit 11 outputs the list 8 of the articles which have been lowered to the replenishment level, or gives an online production instruction to the preprocess management computer 9 if it is to be manufactured in the preprocess (step S
6).

In this case, a low level signal is normally input to the replenishment sensor input processing unit 11, and a high level signal is input when the stacking height of the articles becomes low and the sensor detects it. Therefore, it is determined that the replenishment level has been reached. However, depending on the type of the sensor, the reverse logic may be used to detect the arrival of the replenishment level.

The out-of-stock occurrence management is executed based on the flowchart of FIG.
When any one of the a, 2b, ... Out of stock is input, the out-of-stock input processing unit 14 outputs the out-of-stock frequency management unit 15 with the type of the product in which the shortage has occurred, the storage shelf identification data, and the date and time of occurrence data. (Step S11).

When the out-of-stock frequency management unit 15 receives the out-of-stock occurrence data, it is determined whether or not the corresponding article is an article for which the replenishment frequency management section 12 has been instructed to replenish (step S12), and the replenishment instruction is issued. If the item is out of stock after the occurrence of, the outage occurrence data is stored as outage history data, and the outage frequency of the corresponding article is calculated (step S13).

In this way, the replenishment frequency management unit 12 stores the articles 2
The frequency of replenishment instructions for each of a, 2b, ... Is managed, and the out-of-stock frequency management unit 15 manages the frequency of out-of-stock for each of the articles 2a, 2b ,. The optimum replenishment level determination unit 16
Performs the determination processing of the optimum replenishment level for each article based on the flowchart of FIG. 5 periodically or at any time as required by the worker, and the optimum volume determination unit 18 determines the article based on the flowchart of FIG. The optimum volume determination process is executed for each of these, and the result is output as a list 8.

First, in the determination process of the optimum replenishment level, the out-of-stock frequency data for each of the articles 2a, 2b, ... Is read from the out-of-stock frequency management unit 15 (step S21), and the out-of-stock frequency is set in advance as a standard. When the value is higher than the value (step S22), the turnover rate of the corresponding article is high, and therefore even if a replenishment order is placed after the replenishment level is reached, the replenishment of the article cannot be made in time and the article is out of stock immediately. Therefore, in order to detect reaching the replenishment level earlier,
Of the replenishment level sensors 3a, 3b, ... Which are installed on the shelf in which the corresponding article is stored, it is determined that the installation height needs to be further raised (step S23).

If the out-of-stock frequency is lower than the preset standard value (step S24), the replenishment level is low, and therefore, a new replenishment is made after the replenishment level is reached, before the shortage occurs. In this case, it is necessary to avoid that old articles remain in the lower layer forever, and in order to detect the arrival of the replenishment level at a later time, the replenishment level sensors 3a, 3b. It is determined that the installation height of one of the items stored on the shelf in which the corresponding article is stored needs to be further reduced (step S25).

The result of this judgment is output as a list 8,
The operator looks at the list 8 and adjusts the installation position of the replenishment level sensor for each corresponding shelf.

In this way, the heights of the replenishment level sensors 3a, 3b, ... Are adjusted periodically and as needed to adjust the height of the replenishment level sensors 3a, 3b ,.
The articles 2a, 2b, ... stored therein by b ,.
Each of them can be in a rotating state in which the stock is almost exhausted when the replenishment is actually performed after the replenishment instruction, and the optimum storage form can be realized.

Next, the optimum volume determination processing shown in the flowchart of FIG. 6 will be described. The replenishment frequency data is read from the replenishment frequency management unit 12 for each of the articles 2a, 2b, ... (Step S31), and the replenishment frequency is preset. If it is higher than the standard value (step S32), the volume of the storage shelf currently stored is insufficient because the turnover rate of the corresponding article is high, and the storage shelf having a large volume is required to reduce the replenishment frequency. It is better to move to (step S
33).

When the replenishment frequency is lower than the preset standard value (step S34), the storage rack currently stored has a too large volume because the rotation rate of the corresponding article is low, and the replenishment frequency is increased. For this reason, it is judged that it is better to move to a storage rack with a small volume (step S35).

The result of this judgment is output as a list 8,
Looking at this, the worker moves the storage rack to a more appropriate one according to the size of the replenishment frequency for each product type.

As a result, the storage mode can be adjusted so that the replenishment period is almost the same for various articles 2a, 2b, ...
The storage shelves can be effectively used.

The data to be stored in the replenishment frequency management unit 12 and the out-of-stock frequency management unit 15 is set to an arbitrary period, for example, for half a year, one year, a plurality of years, depending on the storage shelf. be able to. Further, the replenishment frequency management unit 12 and the out-of-stock frequency management unit 15 are made to collect data for a plurality of years, and the calculation processing of the optimum replenishment level determination unit 16 and the optimum volume determination unit 18 is performed only in summer and in winter only. By using the corresponding data, it becomes possible to realize an optimal storage form that corresponds to seasonal fluctuations.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the suitability of the installation height position of the replenishment level sensor and the suitability of the width of the article storage rack are automatically judged. The person himself / herself judges whether the installation height of the replenishment level sensor of each storage shelf is appropriate or not, and whether the storage shelf is wide or narrow, and adjusts the height of the installation position of the sensor based on that.
Further, it may have a simple configuration in which the storage shelves are replaced.

[0046]

As described above, according to the invention of claim 1,
Since the out-of-stock occurrence frequency is monitored, and the out-of-stock occurrence frequency is compared with a predetermined reference value, the installation height of the replenishment level detection means is adjusted based on the comparison result. Replenish each storage rack by adjusting the installation height to a level higher than the current level if the frequency of out-of-stock occurrences is high, or lower than the current level if the out-of-stocks frequency is low. After the replenishment command that detects the level is issued, find the output timing of the replenishment command that can realize the optimum rotation of replenishing the next item in the state that the shelf inventory is almost empty, and replenish to that height level Level detection means can be installed.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the suitability of the out-of-stock occurrence frequency is automatically determined. Therefore, the replenishment level is detected at the optimum height level while reducing the burden on the operator. It becomes possible to install means.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the replenishment level detecting means detects when the storage height level of the stored articles is lower than the predetermined standard height level of the shelf, and outputs the article replenishment command to the operator. Is notified of the necessity of replenishment of the corresponding articles, and the output frequency of the article replenishment command output from the replenishment level detection means is monitored by the replenishment frequency monitoring means, so that the replenishment frequency is large and the shelf volume is too narrow. If so, move the articles to a shelf with a larger volume, and conversely, if the frequency of replenishment is too small and the shelf volume is too large, move the articles to a shelf with a smaller volume. Therefore, each item can be stored on a shelf of a suitable volume.

According to the fourth aspect of the invention, the output frequency of the replenishment command collected by the replenishment frequency monitoring means by the optimum storage volume determination means is compared with a predetermined reference value, and a shelf volume adjustment command is output. Therefore, while reducing the burden on the operator to make a judgment, it becomes possible to store the articles on the shelves having a suitable volume so that the replenishment frequency is almost horizontal, and the storage shelves can be effectively utilized.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration of one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of an inventory management computer in the above embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of an item replenishing process in the above embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a process of collecting out-of-stock occurrence history data in the above embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of height adjustment processing for the replenishment level sensor in the above embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of a search process for a storage rack with an optimum volume in the above embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1a, 1b, ... Storage shelves 2a, 2b, ... Goods 3a, 3b, ... Replenishment level sensor 4a, 4b, ... Replenishment indicator 5 Signal line 6 Transmission device 7 Inventory management computer

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Katsumi Hirano 1-1-1, Shibaura, Minato-ku, Tokyo Inside Toshiba Headquarters Office

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. Installed at a predetermined standard height level of a shelf,
Input the replenishment level detection means for outputting the article replenishment command when the stacking level of the stored articles is lower than the reference height level, and the fact that the articles stored on the shelf are out of stock. An article storage shelf management device comprising: out-of-stock input means and out-of-stock occurrence frequency monitoring means for monitoring the frequency with which the out-of-stock state is input by the out-of-stock input means. 2. The out-of-stock occurrence frequency collected by said out-of-stock occurrence frequency monitoring means is compared with a predetermined reference value, and based on the comparison result, a height adjustment command for the installation height position of said replenishment level detecting means is output. The article storage shelf management device according to claim 1, further comprising: optimum replenishment level determination means for performing the operation. 3. The shelf is installed at a predetermined standard height level,
Replenishment level detection means for outputting an article replenishment command when the stacking level of the stored article is lower than the reference height level, and replenishment for monitoring the output frequency of the article replenishment command output from the replenishment level detection means. An article storage shelf management device comprising a frequency monitoring means. 4. An optimum storage volume determination means for comparing the output frequency of the replenishment command collected by the replenishment frequency monitoring means with a predetermined reference value and outputting a shelf volume wide / narrow adjustment command based on the comparison result. The article storage shelf management device according to claim 3.