WO2020230585A1

WO2020230585A1 - Control system, manufacturing system, control method, and management program

Info

Publication number: WO2020230585A1
Application number: PCT/JP2020/017583
Authority: WO
Inventors: Shinichi Takasugi; Motoo Watanabe
Original assignee: Yokogawa Electric Corporation; Yokogawa Solution Service Corporation
Priority date: 2019-05-15
Filing date: 2020-04-23
Publication date: 2020-11-19
Also published as: JP2020187600A; EP3970022A1; JP7078575B2

Abstract

Rearrangement of manufacturing units is easy and production of multiple products can be handled. A control system comprising a plurality of unit control apparatuses combined in accordance with a manufacturing process, provided in one-to-one correspondence with a plurality of manufacturing units each performing processing in accordance with different parts of the manufacturing process, and each in charge of controlling a corresponding manufacturing unit, and a management apparatus that manages cooperative processing of each manufacturing unit based on arrangement information in accordance with the arrangement of each manufacturing unit is provided.

Description

CONTROL SYSTEM, MANUFACTURING SYSTEM, CONTROL METHOD, AND MANAGEMENT PROGRAM

　　The present invention relates to a control system, a manufacturing system, a control method, and a management program.

　　Products such as chemicals and pharmaceuticals are manufactured through a plurality of processing in a manufacturing line. Such a manufacturing line includes a plurality of manufacturing units each performing processing, a plurality of unit control apparatuses each controlling a corresponding manufacturing unit, and a management apparatus controlling and managing the plurality of unit control apparatuses to supervise the production of products.

　　Conventional manufacturing units are fixedly installed at certain locations in the manufacturing line, and unit control apparatuses have been fixedly installed at certain locations in accordance with the installation positions of the manufacturing units which they are in charge of controlling. Thus, in conventional manufacturing lines, modification of the manufacturing processes is not easy, which makes it difficult to enable production of a large variety of products in small quantities with limited costs and space.

General Disclosure

　　To solve the above-mentioned issue, a control system is provided in a first aspect of the present invention. A control system may include a plurality of unit control apparatuses combined in accordance with a manufacturing process, provided in one-to-one correspondence with a plurality of manufacturing units each performing processing in accordance with different parts of the manufacturing process, and each in charge of controlling a corresponding manufacturing unit. The control system may include a management apparatus that manages cooperative processing of each manufacturing unit based on arrangement information in accordance with the arrangement of each manufacturing unit.

　　Each unit control apparatus may acquire location information in accordance with the location of a manufacturing unit of the plurality of manufacturing units, that the unit control apparatus is in charge.

　　Each unit control apparatus may acquire the location information by reading a code in accordance with an installation position of a manufacturing unit of the plurality of manufacturing units, that the unit control apparatus is in charge.

　　Each unit control apparatus may acquire the location information by reading a wireless tag in accordance with an installation position of a manufacturing unit of the plurality of manufacturing units, that the unit control apparatus is in charge.

　　Each unit control apparatus may generate network address information of the unit control apparatus based on the acquired location information. The arrangement information may include, in association with location information in accordance with the location of each manufacturing unit, unit identification information to identify a unit control apparatus of the plurality of unit control apparatuses, that is in charge of controlling the manufacturing unit. The management apparatus may communicate with the unit control apparatus using the network address information based on the location information of the unit control apparatus in the arrangement information for each unit control apparatus.

　　The management apparatus may acquire, from each unit control apparatus, unit identification information to identify the unit control apparatus. The management apparatus may compare the unit identification information acquired from each unit control apparatus with the unit identification information included in the arrangement information to thereby determine whether each manufacturing unit is arranged as per the arrangement information.

　　At least one of the plurality of unit control apparatuses may acquire unit identification information set for a corresponding manufacturing unit of the plurality of manufacturing units.

　　A power supply unit that supplies electrical power to each manufacturing unit may be connected to each manufacturing unit. The control system may further include a plurality of power supply control apparatus provided in one-to-one correspondence with a plurality of the power supply units and each in charge of controlling the corresponding power supply unit.

　　Each power supply control apparatus may acquire location information shared with a unit control apparatus corresponding to a manufacturing unit connected to a power supply unit the power supply control apparatus is in charge. Each power supply control apparatus may generate network address information of the power supply control apparatus based on the acquired location information.

　　Each power supply control apparatus may generate network address information having a predetermined difference from network address information of a unit control apparatus corresponding to a manufacturing unit connected to a power supply unit the power supply control apparatus is in charge, as network address information of the power supply control apparatus.

　　Each unit control apparatus may acquire power supply identification information to identify a power supply apparatus supplying electrical power to a manufacturing unit the unit control apparatus is in charge of controlling. Each unit control apparatus may determine whether a power supply unit compatible with a manufacturing unit the unit control apparatus is in charge of controlling is connected to the manufacturing unit, based on unit identification information of the unit control apparatus and the acquired power supply identification information.

　　The arrangement information may include, in association with location information in accordance with the location of each manufacturing unit, unit identification information to identify a unit control apparatus of the plurality of unit control apparatuses, that is in charge of controlling the manufacturing unit. The arrangement information may include connected unit identification information to identify a unit control apparatus of the plurality of manufacturing units, that is in charge of controlling at least one manufacturing unit coupled to at least one of an upstream or downstream side of the manufacturing unit in the manufacturing process.

　　Based on the arrangement information, the management apparatus may select which of the unit control apparatuses to use as a unit control apparatus that is in charge of a manufacturing unit from which an acquired value is acquired to compute control parameters used by each unit control apparatus to control a corresponding one of the plurality of manufacturing units.

　　In a second aspect of the present invention, a manufacturing system is provided. The manufacturing system includes the above-mentioned control system. The manufacturing system includes the above-mentioned plurality of manufacturing units.

　　Each unit control apparatus may be provided within the same housing as a manufacturing unit of the plurality of manufacturing units, that the unit control apparatus is in charge.

　　In a third aspect of the present invention, a control method is provided. The control method may include controlling, by each of a plurality of unit control apparatuses provided in one-to-one correspondence with a plurality of manufacturing units combined in accordance with a manufacturing process and each performing processing in accordance with different parts of the manufacturing process, a corresponding manufacturing unit. The control method may include managing, by a management apparatus connected to the plurality of unit control apparatuses, cooperative processing of each manufacturing unit based on arrangement information in accordance with the arrangement of each manufacturing unit.

　　In a fourth aspect of the present invention, a management program is provided. The management program may be executed by a computer connected to a plurality of unit control apparatuses provided in one-to-one correspondence with a plurality of manufacturing units combined in accordance with a manufacturing process and each performing processing in accordance with different parts of the manufacturing process, and each in charge of controlling a corresponding manufacturing unit. The management program may cause the computer to function as a management apparatus that manages cooperative processing of each manufacturing unit based on arrangement information in accordance with the arrangement of each manufacturing unit.

　　The summary clause does not necessarily describe all necessary features of the embodiments of the present invention. The present invention may also be a sub-combination of the features described above.

[Fig. 1]　　Fig. 1 shows one example of a system 1 according to the present embodiment.
[Fig. 2]　　Fig. 2 shows one example of the coupling of manufacturing modules 100 according to the present embodiment.
[Fig. 3]　　Fig. 3 shows an example of a specific configuration of a manufacturing module 100, a power supply apparatus 110, and a management apparatus 120 in a manufacturing system 3 according to the present embodiment.
[Fig. 4]　　Fig. 4 shows one example of a data structure of arrangement information 328 stored in a management storage section 324, according to the present embodiment.
[Fig. 5]　　Fig. 5 shows one example of a data structure of a power supply correspondence table stored in a storage section 306, according to the present embodiment.
[Fig. 6]　　Fig. 6 shows one example of a process flow of verification of the compatibility of a power supply unit 312 with a manufacturing unit 160 and verification of the arrangement of a manufacturing unit 160 in the system 1 according to the present embodiment.
[Fig. 7]　　Fig. 7 shows one example of the procedure to switch to a new manufacturing unit 160 according to the present embodiment.
[Fig. 8]　　Fig. 8 shows one example of switching to a new manufacturing unit 160 according to the present embodiment.
[Fig. 9]　　Fig. 9 shows one example of switching between existing manufacturing units 160, according to the present embodiment.
[Fig. 10]　　Fig. 10 shows one example of a control processing section 322 according to the present embodiment along with one example of sensors 300 or actuators 302 of each manufacturing module 100.
[Fig. 11]　　Fig. 11 shows one example of a procedure of controlling various types of physical quantities of the manufacturing unit 160 in the control processing section 322 according to the present embodiment.
[Fig. 12]　　Fig. 12 shows an example of a specific configuration of a manufacturing module 100, a power supply apparatus 1210, and a management apparatus 120 in a manufacturing system 12 according to a variation of the present embodiment.
[Fig. 13]　　Fig. 13 shows an example of a computer 2200 which can realize a plurality of aspects of the present invention entirely or partially.

　　Hereinafter, the present invention will be described through embodiments of the invention, but the following embodiments do not limit the invention according to the claims. In addition, not all combinations of features described in the embodiments are essential for the solution of the invention.

　　Fig. 1 shows one example of a system 1 according to the present embodiment. The system 1 can produce one or more types of products by causing each apparatus to operate in accordance with the manufacturing process information for each product. In the present embodiment, as one example, the system 1 manufactures fluid products or powder products such as chemicals or pharmaceuticals. The system 1 includes a plurality of manufacturing modules 100, a plurality of power supply apparatuses 110, a management apparatus 120, and a terminal 130. In the system 1, the management apparatus 120 and the terminal 130 are connected by a network 140. According to the system 1, in order to manufacture a variety of products, the user can modify the arrangement of the manufacturing modules 100 to rearrange the manufacturing modules 100 to thereby modify the executing order of the processing by the manufacturing module 100.

　　Each manufacturing module 100 is in charge of a process in accordance with each part of the manufacturing process. Each manufacturing module 100 manufactures a product from a starting material or from the product of the previous step in accordance with the process it is in charge, and provides it to the following step. Each manufacturing module 100 may be movable so that it can be easily rearranged in case the manufacturing process is modified. At least one or all of the plurality of manufacturing modules 100 may be installed in an explosion-proof facility. Manufacturing modules 100 may be installed in multiple tiers, and may be installed with two tiers each on the top and bottom. Each manufacturing module 100 has a housing 150, a manufacturing unit 160, and a unit control apparatus 170.

　　The housing 150 is a case accommodating the manufacturing unit 160. The housing 150 has an inlet to which the starting material or the product from the previous step flows in and an outlet from which the product of the present step flows out. The inlet and the outlet are formed such that the tubing to couple the manufacturing unit 160 in the housing 150 and the manufacturing units 160 of the previous step is mated to the inlet and the tubing to couple the manufacturing unit 160 in the housing 150 and the manufacturing units 160 of the following step is mated to the outlet. Each of the plurality of housings 150 may be identical in shape and may have a cuboid shape such as a cubic shape, in order to facilitate assembly and rearrangement of the manufacturing modules 100. Here, each housing 150 may have an explosion-proof structure, and may be formed of metal or ceramics etc.

　　A plurality of manufacturing units 160 combined in accordance with the manufacturing process and each perform processing in accordance with each part of the manufacturing process. Each manufacturing unit 160 may be a manufacturing apparatus (processing apparatus) such as a reaction tank, a reservoir tank, a crystallization tank, a filter tank, a separation tank, a mixing tank, a filling machine, or a dryer.

　　The unit control apparatus 170 may be a controller computer including a controller such as a micro controller, programmable logic controller (PLC), or a machine controller, and its peripheral circuits. In addition, the unit control apparatus 170 may be achieved utilizing computers such as personal computers or notebook computers. Each unit control apparatus 170 is provided corresponding to each manufacturing unit 160 and is connected to a corresponding manufacturing unit 160, and is in charge of controlling the corresponding manufacturing unit 160 by executing a control program. In the present embodiment, each unit control apparatus 170 is moved with the movement of the manufacturing unit 160 it is in charge of controlling. Each unit control apparatus 170 is provided in the same housing 150 as the manufacturing unit 160 it is in charge, of the plurality of manufacturing units 160. Alternatively, each unit control apparatus 170 may be provided separate from and outside the housing 150 accommodating the manufacturing unit 160 it is in charge.

　　The power supply apparatus 110 may be an electrical control panel having one or more electrical appliances. Each of the plurality of power supply apparatuses 110 is provided in one-to-one correspondence with the plurality of manufacturing unit 160 and each power supply apparatus is connected to the corresponding manufacturing unit 160 to supply electrical power. Each power supply apparatus 110 is installed at a location in accordance with the installation position of the corresponding manufacturing unit 160. The power supply apparatus 110 is also connected to the unit control apparatus 170 corresponding to the connected manufacturing unit 160, and supplies electrical power to the unit control apparatus 170. In the present embodiment, the power supply apparatus 110 may be provided outside the explosion-proof structure.

　　The management apparatus 120 may be controllers such as micro controllers, PLCs, or machine controllers, or industrial computers. Alternatively, the management apparatus 120 may be one or more computers, may be an apparatus achieved by a plurality of computers, or may be constituted by personal computers or the like. The management apparatus 120 is connected to the unit control apparatus 170 of each manufacturing module 100. The management apparatus 120 manages cooperative processing of each manufacturing unit 160 based on arrangement information in accordance with the arrangement of each manufacturing unit 160 by executing a management program.

　　The terminal 130 may be a personal computer, a notebook computer, a cell phone, a smart phone, a tablet, or other terminal devices capable of input and output of data. The terminal 130 is connected to the management apparatus 120 via a network 140. The terminal 130 is operated by users such as process engineers designing the manufacturing process to manufacture the target product to be manufactured, such as formula in pharmaceutical, for example, and using CAD softwares or the like, generates arrangement information related to the arrangement of the plurality of manufacturing modules 100 to perform the manufacturing process and manufacturing process information designating the control of the plurality of manufacturing modules 100 to execute the manufacturing process. The terminal 130 may provide the management apparatus 120 with the manufacturing process information and the arrangement information.

　　The network 140 connects the management apparatus 120 and the terminal 130 wirelessly or by wire. The network 140 may be the internet, a wide area network, or a local area network etc., and may include a cellular network.

　　According to the above-mentioned system 1, the manufacturing unit 160 is movable, and the plurality of unit control apparatuses 170 is provided in one-to-one correspondence with the manufacturing units 160. Thus, when modifying the manufacturing process, users can move a corresponding unit control apparatus 170 with the movement of a manufacturing unit 160, which facilitates the tasks of rearranging the manufacturing units 160. Also, even in cases where the manufacturing units 160 are moved to be rearranged, since each manufacturing unit 160 is controlled by the same unit control apparatus 170 before and after the rearrangement, each unit control apparatus 170 does not need to be reprogrammed and rearrangement is readily performed.

　　Fig. 2 shows one example of the coupling of manufacturing modules 100 according to the present embodiment.

　　Each manufacturing unit 160 of the manufacturing modules 100 is coupled by tubing. As one example, the manufacturing unit 1 is coupled to the manufacturing unit 2, and the manufacturing unit 2 is coupled to the manufacturing unit 3. From the above, an intermediate product processed by the manufacturing unit 1 is supplied to the manufacturing unit 2 through the tubing, and an intermediate product processed by the manufacturing unit 2 is supplied to the manufacturing unit 3 through the tubing. Alternatively, the manufacturing unit 1 and the manufacturing unit 3 may be coupled together to directly supply the intermediate product processed by the manufacturing unit 1 to the manufacturing unit 3 through the tubing. When modifying the executing order of the processing of the manufacturing unit 160 due to a modification of the manufacturing process, the user modifies the connection of the manufacturing units 160 by modifying the arrangement of the manufacturing units160 and coupling the manufacturing units 160 by tubing after the modification of the arrangement.

　　Fig. 3 shows an example of a specific configuration of a manufacturing module 100, a power supply apparatus 110, and a management apparatus 120 in the manufacturing system 3 according to the present embodiment.

　　The manufacturing unit 160 includes one or more sensors 300 and one or more actuators 302, in addition to a processing apparatus (not shown) that processes the raw material or intermediate product supplied. The sensors 300 and the actuators 302 are connected to the input/output section 304 of the unit control apparatus 170. The sensors 300 are provided at a specific location in the processing apparatus, and provide the input/output section 304 of the unit control apparatus 170 with information indicating the state of the processing apparatus which they measured. As one example, the sensors 300 may be sensors to measure physical quantities, such as temperature sensors, humidity sensors, flow rate sensors, water level sensors, gas detection sensors, pressure sensors, vibration sensors, voltage sensors, or current sensors. The actuators 302 are provided at a specific location in the processing apparatus, and operate to control the state of the processing apparatus based on the control signal provided from the input/output section 304 of the unit control apparatus 170. The actuators 302, which may be electrical servomotors, stepping motors or linear motors, hydraulic cylinders or motors, or pneumatic cylinders or motors, may control valves or pumps.

　　The unit control apparatus 170 includes an input/output section 304, a storage section 306, a control section 308, and a communication section 310.

　　The input/output section 304 may be an I/O module having one or more input/output ports. For example, the input/output section 304 may have at least one of an analog input port, an analog output port, an analog input/output port, a digital input port, a digital output port, and a digital input/output port, and may be connected to each of the one or more sensors 300 and each of the one or more actuators 302 via each port. The input/output section 304 may acquire signals from the sensors 300 in response to requests by the control section 308 and supply the signals to the control section 308. The input/output section 304 may also provide the actuators 302 with control signals in response to requests by the control section 308. Communication between the input/output section 304 and the sensors 300 or actuators 302 may use communication protocols specified by HART (registered trademark), BRAIN, foundation field bus (registered trademark) or ISA100.11a, or the like, as one example. The input/output section 304 may have, at each port, A/D convertors and/or D/A convertors, and may have amplifiers, filters, analog switches, or comparators.

　　The storage section 306 stores various types of information such as unit identification information and a power supply correspondence table of the manufacturing unit 160 of the plurality of manufacturing units 160, that the unit control apparatus 170 is in charge. The storage section 306 may be a non-volatile memory. Here, the unit identification information is information to identify a unit control apparatus 170 or a manufacturing unit 160 which the unit control apparatus 170 is in charge of controlling. The unit identification information may be set in a unit control apparatus or a manufacturing unit 160 which the unit control apparatus 170 is in charge of controlling, using jumper switches or dual line package (DIP) switches or the like, instead of the storage section 306 in the unit control apparatus 170. The power supply correspondence table indicates the type of power supply apparatuses 110 that can supply electrical power to the manufacturing unit 160 which the unit control apparatus 170 is in charge of controlling.

　　The control section 308 is connected to the input/output section 304, the storage section 306, and the communication section 310. The control section 308 acquires location information in accordance with the location of the manufacturing unit 160 of the plurality of manufacturing units 160, that the unit control apparatus 170 is in charge. The location information is information indicating the actual installation location of each manufacturing unit 160. The location information is indicated by codes, wireless tags or the like provided at a position in accordance with the installation location of the connected power supply apparatus 110. In the present example, the position in accordance with the installation location of the connected power supply apparatus 110 is near the installation location of the power supply apparatus 110 connected to the manufacturing unit 160, or the position may alternatively be the installation position of the manufacturing unit 160 itself, or the like. The control section 308 causes the management apparatus 120 to verify the arrangement of the manufacturing units 160, using the acquired location information and the unit identification information stored in the storage section 306. The control section 308 then controls a manufacturing unit 160 corresponding to the unit control apparatus 170. More particularly, the control section 308 acquires, from the corresponding manufacturing unit 160, acquired values via the input/output section 304, and transmits the acquired values to the management apparatus 120 via the communication section 310. The acquired values may be the measurement values of the sensors 300 in the manufacturing unit 160 during operation of the manufacturing process, a value converted accordingly based on the measurement values of the sensors 300, or other information acquired from the manufacturing unit 160, or the like. The control section 308 also acquires each control parameter from the management apparatus 120 via the communication section 310. The control parameter may be a parameter indicating the state of the manufacturing unit 160 to be controlled to execute the desired processing. For example, the control parameter may be a value such as temperature or pressure to be adjusted in the manufacturing unit 160. The control section 308 generates operation values to operate the actuators 302 based on various types of control parameters and the state of the processing apparatus, and provides the actuators 302 with control signals based on the operation values via the input/output section 304. The operation value indicates the manipulated variable to be given to each actuator 302 to approximate the state in the manufacturing unit 160 to the state indicated by the control parameters. The control section 308 may include a processor.

　　The communication section 310 is communicatively connected to the management communication section 326 of the management apparatus 120 and the communication section 315 of the power supply apparatus 110, and performs processing of communication between the management apparatus,

power supply apparatus

120, 110 and the unit control apparatus 170. Each communication may use universal communication protocols such as MODBUS (registered trademark), CAN, TCP/IP, CC-LINK (registered trademark), as one example.

　　The power supply apparatus 110 includes a power supply unit 312 and a power supply control apparatus 314. The power supply unit 312 is connected to the manufacturing module 100, and supplies electrical power to the manufacturing module 100. The power supply unit 312 may include batteries such as uninterruptible power supply, for example.

　　The power supply control apparatus 314 may be a controller computer including controllers such as micro controllers, programmable logic controllers (PLC), or machine controllers, and their peripheral circuits. The unit control apparatus 170 may also be achieved utilizing computers such as personal computers or notebook computers. The power supply control apparatus 314 is provided in correspondence with the power supply unit 312, and is in charge of controlling a corresponding power supply unit 312. In addition, the power supply control apparatus 314 communicates with the unit control apparatus 170, and causes the unit control apparatus 170 to which it communicates to verify the compatibility of the corresponding power supply unit 312. The power supply control apparatus 314 has a communication section 315, a storage section 316, and a control section 317.

　　The communication section 315 is communicatively connected to the management communication section 326 of the management apparatus 120. The communication section 315 performs processing of communication between the unit control apparatus,

management apparatus

170, 120 and the power supply apparatus 110.

　　The storage section 316 stores various types of information such as power supply identification information of the power supply apparatus 110. Here, the power supply identification information is information to identify a power supply apparatus 110 or a power supply unit 312 of the power supply apparatus 110. The storage section 316 may be a non-volatile memory. Alternatively, the power supply identification information may be set in the power supply apparatus 110 using jumper switches or DIP switches, or the like.

　　The control section 317 is connected to the communication section 315 and the storage section 316. The control section 317 controls the power supply unit 312 in response to requests by the unit control apparatus 170. In addition, the control section 317 acquires location information by reading the codes, wireless tags, or the like provided at a position in accordance with the installation location of the power supply apparatus 110. In the present example, a position in accordance with the installation location of the power supply apparatus 110 is near the installation location of the power supply apparatus 110 connected to the manufacturing unit 160, but the position may alternatively be the installation position of the manufacturing unit 160 itself, or the like. The control section 317 uses the acquired location information and the power supply identification information stored in the storage section 316 to cause the unit control apparatus 170 corresponding to the connected manufacturing unit 160 to verify whether the corresponding power supply unit 312 is compatible with the connected manufacturing unit 160. The control section 317 may include a processor.

　　The management apparatus 120 has an arrangement management section 320, a control processing section 322, a management storage section 324, and a management communication section 326.

　　The arrangement management section 320 is connected to the management storage section 324 and the management communication section 326. The arrangement management section 320 stores arrangement information 328 in the management storage section 324 in response to the management communication section 326 acquiring the arrangement information 328 from the terminal 130. The arrangement management section 320 uses the unit identification information provided from each unit control apparatus 170 via the management communication section 326 and the arrangement information 328 stored in the management storage section 324 to verify the arrangement of each manufacturing unit 160.

　　The control processing section 322 is connected to the management storage section 324 and the management communication section 326. The control processing section 322 may acquire arrangement information 328 from the management storage section 324, and may receive the acquired value of each manufacturing unit 160 from the unit control apparatus 170 via the management communication section 326. The control processing section 322 may compute each control parameter based on the arrangement information 328, the manufacturing process information 330, and the acquired value, and transmit the control parameters to each unit control apparatus 170.

　　The management storage section 324 stores the arrangement information 328 and the manufacturing process information 330 received by the management communication section 326 from the terminal 130.

　　The management communication section 326 communicates with the communication section 310 of the unit control apparatus 170 and the terminal 130. The management communication section 326 may communicate with each unit control apparatus 170 in response to requests from the arrangement management section 320 or the control processing section 322.

　　According to the above-mentioned manufacturing system 3, even in cases where the manufacturing units 160 are moved and rearranged, since the apparatuses in the manufacturing module 100 are not modified, verification tasks such as installation qualification (IQ) for each apparatus in the manufacturing module 100 by users are eliminated or simplified. In addition, even when the connection destinations of the manufacturing units 160 are modified due to the rearrangement of the manufacturing units 160, since the management apparatus 120 verifies the arrangement information 328 of the manufacturing units 160 and performs cooperative processing of the manufacturing units 160 based on the verified arrangement information 328, verification tasks on site related to cooperation of apparatuses among the manufacturing units 160 after the modification of the connection destinations can be eliminated. Therefore, rearrangement of the manufacturing units 160 by the users to modify the manufacturing process is facilitated, and manufacture of multiple types of product with limited cost and space is enabled.

　　Fig. 4 shows one example of a data structure of arrangement information 328 stored in a management storage section 324, according to the present embodiment. The arrangement information 328 includes location information, unit identification information, and connected unit identification information corresponding to each manufacturing unit 160. The terminal 130 may use the CAD software or the like that assists the construction of the manufacturing process to generate a manufacturing flow diagram indicating the location of each manufacturing unit 160 and the coupling between the manufacturing units 160, and the control procedure of each manufacturing unit 160 in response to the user's input, while generating arrangement information 328 related to the arrangement of each manufacturing unit 160 corresponding the manufacturing flow diagram and manufacturing process information 330 related to the control procedure of each manufacturing unit 160.

　　The location information in the arrangement information 328 is address information in accordance with the location of where the manufacturing unit 160 is installed, and refers to the location information which should be actually acquired by the control section 308 in the unit control apparatus 170 corresponding to the manufacturing unit 160 to be installed there. The location information may be numerals or a character string, or may be a combination of numerals and a character string. As one example, the location information may be represented in binary, decimal, or hexadecimal.

　　The unit identification information in the arrangement information 328 is set on a table associated with the location information of each manufacturing unit 160. The unit identification information in the arrangement information 328 identifies the unit control apparatus 170 of the plurality of unit control apparatuses 170, in charge of controlling a manufacturing unit 160 to be installed at the location indicated by the location information in the arrangement information 328, or the manufacturing unit 160 concerned. The unit identification information in the arrangement information 328 refers to the unit identification information to be stored by the storage section 306 in the unit control apparatus 170 in charge of the manufacturing unit 160 to be installed there. The unit identification information in the arrangement information 328 may be identification information such as products or product types of the unit control apparatus 170 or the manufacturing unit 160 which it is in charge of controlling, and may be a combination of these identification information and serial numbers. The unit identification information in the arrangement information 328 may by numerals or a character string, or may be a combination of numerals and a character string. As one example, self unit identification information may be represented in binary, decimal, or hexadecimal.

　　The connected unit identification information identifies the unit control apparatus 170 in charge of controlling at least one manufacturing unit 160 of the plurality of manufacturing units 160, coupled to at least one of the upstream or downstream of the manufacturing unit 160 concerned in the manufacturing process, or the manufacturing unit 160 concerned. The connected unit identification information is classified into upstream information and downstream information depending on the order of the manufacturing process. The field indicated at the upstream and downstream of the connected unit identification information may store one or more pieces of identification information of one or more connected units directly connected to the upstream or downstream of the manufacturing unit 160 concerned, respectively. A manufacturing unit 160 having no connection destination at the upstream or downstream may have the fields for the upstream or downstream in the connected unit identification information corresponding to the manufacturing unit 160 that are left blank, and may have the unit identification information of the manufacturing unit 160 concerned stored in the fields for convenience. Note that, each entry of the connected unit identification information in the arrangement information 328 may be associated with a specific connection port or the like of a manufacturing unit 160 corresponding to the unit identification information in the arrangement information 328. The connected unit identification information refers to the unit identification information of a manufacturing unit 160 connected to the manufacturing unit 160 identified by the unit identification information stored in a record corresponding to each location information in the arrangement information 328. The connected unit identification information may by numerals or a character string, or may be a combination of numerals and a character string. As one example, the connected unit identification information may be represented in binary, decimal, or hexadecimal.

　　As such, the management storage section 324 of the management apparatus 120 stores the arrangement information 328, and thereby, for all the manufacturing units 160, the management apparatus 120 can set the type of the manufacturing unit 160 at an installation location of the manufacturing unit 160 and the connection destination of the manufacturing unit 160 for each manufacturing process, and manage the executing order of the process of each manufacturing unit 160.

　　Fig. 5 shows one example of a data structure of a power supply correspondence table stored in a storage section 306, according to the present embodiment. The power supply correspondence table has one or more pieces of power supply identification information indicating the power supply apparatus 110 which can supply electrical power to the unit identification information, and its correspondence.

　　Each power supply identification information in the power supply correspondence table is information to identify the product or product type of each power supply apparatus 110 or the power supply unit 312 of each power supply apparatus 110. Each power supply identification information in the power supply correspondence table may be numerals or a character string, or may be a combination of numerals and a character string. As one example, each power supply identification information may be represented in binary, decimal, or hexadecimal.

　　The correspondence indicates whether each power supply identification information in the power supply correspondence table corresponds with the unit identification information. The correspondence may be determined by the user depending on whether the power supply unit 312 having the power supply identification information can supply electrical power required for the manufacturing unit 160 it is in charge to perform the processing. As one example, if the power supply unit 312 of the power supply apparatus 110 having the power supply identification information can supply the required electrical power, "OK" may be stored in the correspondence of the power supply identification information, and if not, "NG" may be stored in the correspondence of the power supply identification information.

　　As such, the storage section 306 of the unit control apparatus 170 stores the power supply correspondence table, and thereby, the unit control apparatus 170 can learn which power supply apparatus 110 can supply electrical power to the manufacturing unit 160 it is in charge. Note that, the power supply correspondence table may be a list of power supply apparatuses 110 or the like compatible with the manufacturing unit 160, and may not include information of power supply apparatuses 110 or the like that are not compatible.

　　Fig. 6 shows one example of a procedure of processing related to verification of the compatibility of a power supply unit 312 with a manufacturing unit 160 and verification of the arrangement of a manufacturing unit 160 in the system 1 according to the present embodiment.

　　In S600, the arrangement management section 320 of the management apparatus 120 acquires arrangement information 328 for all manufacturing units 160 generated using the terminal 130, and stores it in the management storage section 324. The system 1 performs the process shown from S610 to S680 on each manufacturing module 100 registered in the arrangement information 328.

　　In S610, the control section 308 of each unit control apparatus 170 acquires location information of the manufacturing unit 160 of the plurality of manufacturing units 160, that the unit control apparatus 170 is in charge. In addition, the control section 317 of the power supply control apparatus 314 in the power supply apparatus 110 acquires the location information shared with the unit control apparatus 170 corresponding to the manufacturing unit 160 connected to the power supply unit 312 it is in charge. For example, each of the control section 308 and the control section 317 may acquire location information by reading the code or wireless tag in accordance with the installation position of the manufacturing unit 160 of the plurality of manufacturing units 160, that the unit control apparatus 170 is in charge. The code or wireless tag is provided at a position in accordance with the installation location of the power supply apparatus 110 connected to the corresponding manufacturing unit 160. In the present embodiment, the code or wireless tag is provided near the installation location of the power supply apparatus 110 connected to the corresponding manufacturing unit 160. Each of the control section 308 and the control section 317 then acquires location information from the code or wireless tag. In another embodiment, the code or wireless tag is also provided near the installation location of the manufacturing unit 160, in addition to near the installation location of the power supply apparatus 110 connected to the corresponding manufacturing unit 160. Each of the codes or wireless tags has the shared location information. The control section 308 and the control section 317 then each acquires location information from the codes or wireless tags or the like provided individually near the installation locations of the corresponding manufacturing unit 160 and power supply apparatus 110. Note that, the unit control apparatus 170 and the power supply apparatus 110 are activated in S610, and the control section 308 and the control section 317 may automatically acquire the location information during execution of the boot process.

　　In S620, the control section 308 of the unit control apparatus 170 generates network address information of the unit control apparatus 170 based on the location information it acquired. In addition, the control section 317 of the power supply control apparatus 314 generates network address information of each power supply control apparatus 314 based on the location information it acquired. In the present embodiment, the control section 317 may generate network address information having a predetermined difference from the network address information of the unit control apparatus 170 corresponding to the manufacturing unit 160 connected to the power supply unit 312 it is in charge, as the network address information of the power supply control apparatus 314. For example, the control section 308 may generate an IP address including, in its host part, a numeral value based on the location information acquired by the control section 308, and the control section 317 may generate an IP address including a value obtained by adding a constant (for example, 0x20 etc.) to a value based on the location information it acquired in its host part. In the present embodiment, each of the control section 308 and the control section 317 may restart the unit control apparatus 170 and power supply control apparatus 314 after acquiring the location information, and may automatically generate its network address information at the time of restart.

　　In S630, the control section 308 of the unit control apparatus 170 acquires network address information of the power supply control apparatus 314 of the power supply apparatus 110 connected to the manufacturing unit 160 it is in charge, based on the location information it acquired. For example, the control section 308 acquires an IP address including, in its host part, a numerical value obtained by adding a constant to the host part of the IP address of the unit control apparatus 170, as the network address information of the power supply control apparatus 314 concerned. The control section 308 then uses the acquired network address information of the power supply control apparatus 314 to make a request for reading the power supply identification information to the power supply control apparatus 314. This read request may include designation of an address, a register numbers or the like of where the power supply identification information is stored in the power supply control apparatus 314.

　　In S640, the control section 317 of the power supply control apparatus 314 returns the power supply identification information stored in the storage section 316 to the control section 308 via the communication section 315, in response to receiving the read request from the control section 308 of the unit control apparatus 170.

　　In S650, the control section 308 of the unit control apparatus 170 acquires the power supply identification information to identify the power supply apparatus 110 supplying electrical power to the manufacturing unit 160 it is in charge of controlling, and based on the unit identification information of the unit control apparatus 170 and the acquired power supply identification information, determines whether a power supply unit 312 compatible with a manufacturing unit 160 it is in charge of controlling is connected to the manufacturing unit 160. In the present embodiment, the control section 308 determines whether the power supply unit 312 corresponding to the power supply control apparatus 314 is compatible with the manufacturing unit 160 which it is connected to, from the correspondence of the unit identification information of the unit control apparatus 170 with the power supply identification information acquired from the power supply control apparatus 314, in the power supply correspondence table stored in the storage section 306. The control section 308 advances the process to S660 if it determines that a compatible power supply unit 312 is connected, and advances the process to S692 if it determines that a compatible power supply unit 312 is not connected.

　　In S660, based on the location information in the arrangement information 328 stored in the management storage section 324, the arrangement management section 320 of the management apparatus 120 acquires network address information of the unit control apparatus 170 corresponding to the manufacturing unit 160 installed at the location indicated by the location information. If each manufacturing module 100 is installed at the correct location as per the arrangement information 328, the network address information acquired by the arrangement management section 320 matches with the network address information generated by the control section 308 of each unit control apparatus 170 in S620. The arrangement management section 320 uses the acquired network address information of the unit control apparatus 170 to communicate with the control section 308 of the unit control apparatus 170, and transmits a read request from the unit identification information to the control section 308. This read request may include designation of an address, a register number or the like of where the unit identification information is stored in the unit control apparatus 170.

　　In S670, the control section 308 of the unit control apparatus 170 returns the unit identification information stored in the storage section 306 to the management communication section 326 in the management apparatus 120 via the communication section 310, in response to receiving the read request from the arrangement management section 320. In another embodiment, the control section 308 in at least one unit control apparatus 170 may acquire the unit identification information set in the manufacturing unit 160 corresponding to the unit control apparatus 170 using DIP switches or the like, to return the acquired unit identification information to the management communication section 326 via the communication section 310.

　　In S680, the arrangement management section 320 of the management apparatus 120 acquires unit identification information to identify each unit control apparatus 170 from the unit control apparatus 170 via the management communication section 326, and compares the unit identification information acquired from each unit control apparatus 170 with the unit identification information corresponding to that unit control apparatus 170 included in the arrangement information 328, to thereby determine whether the manufacturing units 160 are arranged as per the arrangement information 328. Note that, if serial numbers are included in the unit identification information, the arrangement management section 320 may use the range indicating the manufacturing units 160 or the types of the manufacturing units 160 for the target of the comparison. The arrangement management section 320 advances the process to S690 if it determines that both unit identification information match. The arrangement management section 320 advances the process to S692 if it determines that both unit identification information do not match.

　　In S690, the arrangement management section 320 of the management apparatus 120 determines whether comparison of unit identification information has been performed on all manufacturing units 160. The arrangement management section 320 causes the process to end if the comparison has been performed on all manufacturing units 160, and returns the process to S610 to proceed with comparison of the next manufacturing unit 160 if the comparison has not been performed on all manufacturing units 160.

　　In S692, the control section 308 of the unit control apparatus 170 outputs, in response to determining in S650 that a power supply unit 312 compatible with the manufacturing unit 160 it is in charge is not connected, an error signal indicating so to the arrangement management section 320 of the management apparatus 120.
In this situation, the arrangement management section 320 may transmit the error signal to the terminal 130 via the management communication section 326. In addition, the arrangement management section 320 of the management apparatus 120 outputs, in response to determining in S680 that both unit identification information do not match, an error signal indicating that the arrangement of a plurality of manufacturing modules 100 do not match with the arrangement as per the design set in the arrangement information 328. In this situation, the arrangement management section 320 may transmit the error signal to the terminal 130 via the management communication section 326.

　　Note that, the system 1 may concurrently perform the process shown in S630-S650 and the process shown in S660-S680, or may perform the process shown in S630-S650 after the process shown in S660-S680.

　　In another embodiment, instead of the unit control apparatus 170, the management apparatus 120 may keep the power supply correspondence table and perform the comparison between each manufacturing unit 160 and its corresponding power supply apparatus 110. In this case, instead of S630-S650, the management apparatus 120 transmits a read request from the unit identification information and the power supply identification information to the unit control apparatus 170 and the power supply control apparatus 314. The control section 308 of the unit control apparatus 170 and the control section 317 of the power supply control apparatus 314 then each returns the acquired unit identification information and power supply identification information to the management apparatus 120, in response to receiving the read request. The management apparatus 120 checks the correspondence of the power supply identification information with the unit identification information using the power supply correspondence table, and determines whether the power supply unit 312 is compatible with the manufacturing unit 160 corresponding to the unit control apparatus 170. The management apparatus 120 advances the process to S660 if the power supply unit 312 is determined to be compatible, and advances the process to S692 if it is otherwise determined.

　　In yet another embodiment, instead of the management apparatus 120, the unit control apparatus 170 may perform the comparison of arrangement information 328. In this case, instead of S660, the arrangement management section 320 of the management apparatus 120 acquires network address information based on the location information in the arrangement information 328, and uses that network address information to transmit the unit identification information in the arrangement information 328 to the control section 308 of the corresponding unit control apparatus 170. Then, instead of S670-680, the control section 308 of the unit control apparatus 170 compares the unit identification information received from the management apparatus 120 with the unit identification information stored in the storage section 306. In this situation, if both unit identification information is determined to match, the control section 308 may transmit a signal indicating the match to the management communication section 326 of the management apparatus 120, and if both unit identification information is determined not to match, it may transmit an error signal to the management communication section 326 of the management apparatus 120.

　　In this manner, the system 1 can perform verification of whether a compatible power supply unit 312 is connected to the manufacturing unit 160. In addition, the system 1 can perform verification of whether the arrangement of the plurality of manufacturing modules 100 matches with the arrangement as per the design set in the arrangement information 328, by comparing the unit identification information kept by the plurality of unit control apparatuses 170 with the unit identification information in the arrangement information 328 kept by the management apparatus 120. Therefore, even when the arrangement of the manufacturing units 160 is modified due to a modification of the manufacturing process, the tasks of comparison between the manufacturing unit 160 and the power supply apparatus 110 and verification of the arrangement of the manufacturing units 160 on site can be eliminated.

　　Fig. 7 shows one example of a procedure of switching to a new manufacturing unit 160 according to the present embodiment. In S700, due to a modification of the manufacturing process, the terminal 130 modifies the arrangement information of each manufacturing unit 160 and transmits it to the management apparatus 120. The arrangement management section 320 of the management apparatus 120 stores the modified arrangement information it received in the management storage section 324.

　　In S710, the user turns off the manufacturing unit 160 to be moved based on the modified arrangement information 328, to release the connection between that manufacturing unit 160 and the power supply apparatus 110. In addition, the user may release the connection between the input/output section 304 of the unit control apparatus 170 and the power supply apparatus 110. The control section 308 of each unit control apparatus 170 may use a non-volatile memory or a memory having a back-up function in order to maintain the content of the memory even when the connection with the power supply apparatus 110 is released.

　　In S720, the user removes the tubing for coupling to each of the upstream and downstream manufacturing units 160 connected to the manufacturing unit 160 to be moved. In the present embodiment, the user may remove the tubing mated to the inlet and outlet of the housing 150 accommodating the manufacturing unit 160 to be moved.

　　In S730, based on the modified arrangement information 328, the user moves the manufacturing unit 160 and installs a manufacturing unit 160 to be newly incorporated to rearrange the manufacturing units 160. In doing so, the corresponding unit control apparatus 170 is moved with the movement of the manufacturing unit 160. In addition, as with the movement of the manufacturing units 160, the corresponding power supply apparatus 110 may be moved as well. A power supply apparatus 110 corresponding to the manufacturing unit 160 to be newly incorporated may then be installed at a location in accordance with the installation location of the manufacturing unit 160 to be newly incorporated. The user then connects the newly incorporated manufacturing unit 160 to each of the upstream and downstream manufacturing units 160 with respective tubing. In the present embodiment, the user may fit the tubing for connection to the upstream manufacturing unit 160 and tubing for connection to downstream manufacturing unit 160, respectively, to the inlet and outlet of the housing 150 accommodating the newly incorporated manufacturing unit 160, to thereby connect these manufacturing units 160 with each other. Here, a unit control apparatus 170 corresponding to the newly incorporated manufacturing unit 160 may download a control software in advance before being incorporated into the manufacturing line. The control software may include a control program in accordance with the plural types of processing. In addition, the control software may be protected in advance so that it will not be executed until the arrangement information 328 is verified.

　　In S740, the user connects the newly incorporated manufacturing unit 160 with the power supply apparatus 110 corresponding to the manufacturing unit 160, and activates the power supply apparatus 110, to activate the newly incorporated manufacturing unit 160 and the corresponding unit control apparatus 170.

　　In S750, the control section 308 of the unit control apparatus 170 corresponding to the newly incorporated manufacturing unit 160 acquires location information. The control section 317 of the power supply control apparatus 314 corresponding to the power supply unit 312 connected to the newly incorporated manufacturing unit 160 also acquires location information. The acquisition of the location information by the control section 308 and the control section 317 may be performed in a similar method to that shown in S610 in Fig. 6. The unit control apparatus 170 and the power supply control apparatus 314 are each activated in S740, and may automatically acquire the location information during execution of the boot process.

　　In S760, the control section 308 of the unit control apparatus 170 corresponding to the newly incorporated manufacturing unit 160 and the control section 317 of the power supply control apparatus 314 corresponding to the connected power supply unit 312 generate their respective pieces of network address information based on the location information they each acquired. The generation of network address information by the control section 308 and the control section 317 may be performed by a similar method to that shown in S620 in Fig. 6. The unit control apparatus 170 and the power supply control apparatus 314 execute a reboot process to restart after acquiring the location information, and may automatically generate their respective pieces of network address information at the time of restart.

　　In S770, the arrangement management section 320 of the management apparatus 120, acquires network address information of the unit control apparatus 170 corresponding to the newly incorporated manufacturing unit 160 based on the location information in the arrangement information 328. The arrangement management section 320 then uses the network address information to transmit various types of information for executing the control software to the unit control apparatus 170 corresponding to the newly incorporated manufacturing unit 160 via the management communication section 326. Various types of information for executing the control software may include information for releasing the protection of the software, parameters indicating the types of processing of the manufacturing unit 160 it is in charge, or the like.

　　In S780, the control section 308 of the unit control apparatus 170 executes the control software using various types of information for executing the control software acquired via the communication section 310. In the present embodiment, the control section 308 may release the protection of the control software, and execute a control program, included in the control software, appropriate for the type of processing of the manufacturing unit 160 it is in charge.

　　In S790, the unit control apparatus 170 verifies the compatibility of the connected power supply unit 312 with the manufacturing unit 160 it is in charge of controlling. In addition, the management apparatus 120 verifies the modified arrangement information 328 of the arrangement of the manufacturing units 160. The system 1 may use a similar process to that shown in S630-S692 in Fig. 6 to perform these verifications.

　　As described above, when the user switches an existing manufacturing unit 160 to a new manufacturing unit 160 and activates the new manufacturing unit 160, the system 1 establishes communication between the corresponding unit control apparatus 170 and the management apparatus 120 to verify the arrangement information 328, and automatically starts controlling the processing of each manufacturing unit 160. Thus, tasks of generating network address information or tasks of setting communication between the unit control apparatus 170 and the management apparatus 120, tasks of verifying the arrangement information 328 on site, or the like, by the user are eliminated. In addition, since the system 1 automatically verifies whether a power supply unit 312 compatible with the newly incorporated manufacturing unit 160 is connected, the tasks of comparing power supply apparatuses 110 on site or the like by the user are eliminated. Also, the unit control apparatus 170 already has a control software, and the control software automatically becomes executable after the incorporation. Thus, tasks of downloading a control software executable on individual unit control apparatus 170 and tasks of verifying the unit control apparatuses 170 by the user are further eliminated. Therefore, since the user can easily switch between manufacturing units 160, production of a large variety of products can be flexibly enabled.

　　Fig. 8 shows one example of switching to a new manufacturing unit 160 according to the present embodiment. In the present embodiment, if the executing order of processing of the manufacturing units 160 before switching is manufacturing unit 1 - manufacturing unit 2 - manufacturing unit 3, each manufacturing unit 160 is arranged in accordance with the executing order of processing. The manufacturing unit 1 is then coupled to the manufacturing unit 2, and the manufacturing unit 2 is coupled to the manufacturing unit 3. When the user newly introduces a manufacturing unit 4 instead of the manufacturing unit 2 to the manufacturing line due to a modification of the manufacturing process, the system 1 can automatically perform the process shown in S750-S790 in Fig. 7, by the user performing a similar operations to those of S700-S740 in Fig. 7. In this way, the system 1 can readily realize the rearrangement from the existing manufacturing units 160 to the new manufacturing units 160.

　　The system 1 can also modify the manufacturing process by changing the arrangements and connections among the existing manufacturing units 160. Fig. 9 shows one example of switching between existing manufacturing units 160, according to the present embodiment. In Fig. 9, the user switches the manufacturing unit 2 and the manufacturing unit 3 to modify the executing order of the processing of the manufacturing units 160 from manufacturing unit 1 - manufacturing unit 2 - manufacturing unit 3 to manufacturing unit 1 - manufacturing unit 3 - manufacturing unit 2. In this case, the system 1 may perform the process shown in S750-S790 in Fig. 7, by the user performing similar operations to those shown in S700-S740 in Fig. 7. Note that, processes related to making the control software executable, among processes shown in S770 and S780 in Fig. 7, may be eliminated.

　　Fig. 10 shows one example of a control processing section 322 according to the present embodiment along with one example of sensors 300 or actuators 302 of each manufacturing module 100. The control processing section 322 includes a control selection section 900 and a plurality of control calculators 910.

　　The control selection section 900 is connected to the plurality of control calculators 910, and the sensors 300 or actuators 302 included in the manufacturing units 160 of each manufacturing module 100 via the control sections 308 of the unit control apparatus 170 in the manufacturing module 100. The control selection section 900 acquires acquired value such as measurement value of the sensors 300 acquired from each manufacturing units 160, via a unit control apparatus 170 corresponding to that manufacturing unit 160. In addition, the control selection section 900 supplies a control parameter for controlling the state of a manufacturing unit 160 to the corresponding unit control apparatus 170. Here, the control selection section 900 selects, from the acquired values acquired from the plurality of manufacturing units 160, which acquired value acquired from which manufacturing unit 160 to use, and which control calculator 910 to be supplied with the acquired value selected in order to control the physical state of each manufacturing unit 160 in accordance with the processing of each manufacturing unit 160. The control selection section 900 then acquires a control parameter computed using the selected control calculator 910, and transmits that control parameter to the unit control apparatus 170 corresponding to the target manufacturing unit 160.

　　The control calculator 910 may be provided for each control target such as temperature or pressure, i.e. for each type of control parameters, and may be shared between two or more control targets by time division or the like. In addition, the control calculator 910 may be provided for each combination of manufacturing units 160. The control calculator 910 receives the acquired value from the control selection section 900, and calculates a control parameter for the corresponding control target. The control calculator 910 may be a flow rate control calculator, a pressure control calculator, a level control calculator, or a sequence control calculator, as one example. The control calculator 910 may compute the control parameters for each of the physical targets using feedback controls such as PID controls.

　　Fig. 11 shows one example of a procedure of controlling various types of physical quantities of the manufacturing unit 160 in the control processing section 322 according to the present embodiment. In S1100, the control processing section 322 of the management apparatus 120 acquires manufacturing process information 330 and arrangement information 328 from the management storage section 324.

　　In S1110, the control selection section 900 acquires, from each unit control apparatus 170, acquired values of the manufacturing unit 160 corresponding to the unit control apparatus 170. The acquired value may be a value of flow rate, pressure, level, or temperature, as one example.

　　In S1120, based on the arrangement information 328, the control selection section 900 of the management apparatus 120 selects which of the unit control apparatuses 170 to use as a unit control apparatus 170 that is in charge of a manufacturing unit 160 from which an acquired value is acquired to compute control parameters used to control the manufacturing unit 160 of the plurality of manufacturing units 160, that corresponds to each unit control apparatus 170. The control selection section 900 may perform the selection for each control target such as a flow rate or a pressure. For each control target, the control selection section 900 then selects which control calculator 910 of the plurality of control calculators 910, to use to compute a control parameter for that control target. The control selection section 900 may also select the acquired value and the control calculator 910 based on the manufacturing process information 330 designed by the user.

　　In S1130, the control calculator 910 selected for each control target calculates the control parameters for each of the manufacturing units 160 based on the manufacturing process information 330 and the acquired value acquired from the manufacturing unit 160 the selected unit control apparatus 170 is in charge.

　　In S1140, the control selection section 900 acquires each control parameter to control the corresponding control target of each manufacturing unit 160 from the control calculator 910. The control selection section 900 transmits each control parameter to the unit control apparatus 170 corresponding to each manufacturing unit 160.

　　In S1150, in response to receiving each control parameter, the control section 308 computes an operation value of each actuator 302 based on the control parameter and the state of the processing apparatus of the manufacturing unit 160 it is in charge of controlling. The control section 308 may use at least one of the measured value of the sensor 300 indicating the current physical state of the processing apparatus of the manufacturing unit 160 it is in charge of controlling, information specific to the manufacturing unit 160, and information specific to the actuator 302, to compute the operation value from the control parameter.

　　In S1160, the control section 308 provides the corresponding actuator 302 with the operation value, to thereby control each physical quantity of the processing apparatus of the manufacturing unit 160 it is in charge. The control section 308 may perform conversions such as the DA conversion, via the input/output section 304 to convert the operation value to a signal which can be received by the actuator.

　　As described above, the management apparatus 120 can compute the control parameter for each manufacturing unit 160 based on the arrangement information 328 and the manufacturing process information 330 kept by the management apparatus 120 and the acquired value of each manufacturing unit 160, and appropriately control the processing of each manufacturing unit 160 in accordance with the operation value based on the control parameter. Therefore, since the management apparatus 120 can automatically execute and manage the cooperative processing of each manufacturing unit 160, tasks of adjusting parameters, or the like on site by the user can be eliminated.

　　Fig. 12 shows an example of a specific configuration of a manufacturing module 100, a power supply apparatus 1210, and a management apparatus 120 in a manufacturing system 12 according to a variation of the present embodiment. Since the description of components in this figure with the same references as in Fig. 3 are basically similar to the description shown in Fig. 3 to Fig. 11, the difference will be mainly described below. The manufacturing system 12 shown in Fig. 12 has about the same configuration and function as the manufacturing system 3 shown in Fig. 3, except that the power supply apparatus 1210 does not have a power supply control apparatus 314, which is an independent control apparatus including micro controllers or the like, and functions as an input/output apparatus of the control section 308. The power supply apparatus 1210 has a power supply unit 312, a storage section 1216, and an input/output section 1220.

　　The storage section 1216 stores the power supply identification information of the power supply apparatus 1210. The storage section 1216 may be a non-volatile memory. Alternatively, the power supply identification information may be set in the power supply apparatus 1210 using jumper switches, DIP switches, or the like. The storage section 1216 is connected to the input/output section 1220, and in response to requests by the unit control apparatus 170, provides the input/output section 1220 with the power supply identification information.

　　The input/output section 1220 is connected to the input/output section 304 of the unit control apparatus 170. The input/output section 1220 controls the power supply unit 312 in response to requests by the unit control apparatus 170 received via the input/output section 304. In addition, the input/output section 1220 provides the unit control apparatus 170 with various types of information in response to requests by the unit control apparatus 170 received via the input/output section 304.

　　The operation of the manufacturing system 12 in the variation of the present embodiment is different from the operation of the manufacturing system 3 in Fig. 3 in the following points. In S610 in Fig. 6, the input/output section 1220 reads the code or wireless tag provided at a position in accordance with the installation location of the power supply apparatus 1210, in response to requests by the unit control apparatus 170 received via the input/output section 304, to thereby acquire location information of the connected manufacturing unit 160. In the present example, the position in accordance with the installation location of the power supply apparatus 1210 may be near the installation location of the power supply apparatus 1210. The input/output section 1220 then outputs the acquired location information to the input/output section 304, in response to requests by the unit control apparatus 170 received via the input/output section 304.

　　In S620 in Fig. 6, the control section 308 of the unit control apparatus 170 generates network address information of the unit control apparatus 170 based on the location information acquired from the power supply apparatus 1210 via the input/output section 304. In the present example, the control section 308 may restart the unit control apparatus 170 after acquiring the location information, and automatically generate network address information at the time of restart.

　　In S630 and S640 in Fig. 6, the control section 308 acquires the power supply identification information stored in the storage section 1216, via the input/output section 304 and the input/output section 1220.

　　In S750 in Fig. 7, the input/output section 1220 of the power supply apparatus 1210 connected to the newly incorporated manufacturing unit 160 acquires the location information of the manufacturing unit 160, in response to requests from the control section 308 received via the input/output section 304 of the unit control apparatus 170 corresponding to the manufacturing unit 160. The unit control apparatus 170 acquires the location information acquired by the input/output section 1220, via the input/output section 304. The unit control apparatus 170 is activated in S740 in Fig. 7, and may automatically acquire the location information during execution of the boot process.

　　In S760 in Fig. 7, the control section 308 of the unit control apparatus 170 corresponding to the newly incorporated manufacturing unit 160 generates network address information based on the acquired location information. The generation of network address information by the control section 308 may be performed in a similar method to the method shown in S620 in Fig. 6. The unit control apparatus 170 is restarted by executing a reboot process after acquiring the location information, and may automatically generate network address information at the time of restart.

　　Fig. 13 shows an example of a computer 2200 which can realize a plurality of aspects of the present invention entirely or partially. A program installed on the computer 2200 can cause the computer 2200 to function as operations associated with the apparatus according to embodiments of the present invention or as one or more sections of the apparatus, or to execute the operation or the one or more sections, and additionally, or alternatively, can cause the computer 2200 to execute the process according to embodiments of the present invention or steps of the process. Such a program may be executed by a CPU 2212 in order to cause the computer 2200 to perform certain operations associated with some or all of the blocks of flowcharts and block diagrams described herein.

　　The computer 2200 according to the present embodiment includes a CPU 2212, a RAM 2214, a graphics controller 2216, and a display device 2218, which are mutually connected by a host controller 2210. The computer 2200 also includes an input/output unit such as a communication interface 2222, a hard disk drive 2224, a DVD-ROM drive 2226, and an IC card drive, which are connected to the host controller 2210 via the input/output controller 2220. The computer also includes legacy input/output units such as a ROM 2230 and a keyboard 2242, which are connected to the input/output controller 2220 via the input/output chip 2240.

　　The CPU 2212 operates according to programs stored in the ROM 2230 and the RAM 2214, thereby controlling each unit. The graphics controller 2216 obtains image data generated by the CPU 2212 on a frame buffer or the like provided in the RAM 2214 or in itself, and causes the image data to be displayed on the display device 2218.

　　The communication interface 2222 communicates with other electronic devices via a network. The hard disk drive 2224 stores programs and data used by the CPU 2212 within the computer 2200. The DVD-ROM drive 2226 reads the programs or the data from the DVD-ROM 2201, and provides the hard disk drive 2224 with the programs or the data via the RAM 2214. The IC card drive reads the programs or the data from the IC card, and additionally, or alternatively, writes the programs or the data onto the IC card.

　　The ROM 2230 stores therein at least one of a boot program or the like executed by the computer 2200 at the time of activation, and a program depending on the hardware of the computer 2200. The input/output chip 2240 may also connect various input/output units via a parallel port, a serial port, a keyboard port, a mouse port and the like to the input/output controller 2220.

　　A program is provided by computer readable media such as the DVD-ROM 2201 or the IC card. The program is read from the computer readable media, installed into the hard disk drive 2224, RAM 2214, or ROM 2230, which are also examples of computer readable media, and executed by the CPU 2212. The information processing described in these programs is read into the computer 2200, resulting in cooperation between a program and the above-mentioned various types of hardware resources. An apparatus or method may be constituted by realizing the operation or processing of information in accordance with the usage of the computer 2200.

　　For example, when communication is performed between the computer 2200 and an external device, the CPU 2212 may execute a communication program loaded onto the RAM 2214 to instruct communication processing to the communication interface 2222, based on the processing described in the communication program. The communication interface 2222, under control of the CPU 2212, reads transmission data stored on a transmission buffering region provided in a recording medium such as the RAM 2214, the hard disk drive 2224, the DVD-ROM 2201, or the IC card, and transmits the read transmission data to a network or writes reception data received from a network to a reception buffering region or the like provided on the recording medium.

　　In addition, the CPU 2212 may cause all or a necessary portion of a file or a database to be read into the RAM 2214, the file or the database having been stored in an external recording medium such as the hard disk drive 2224, the DVD-ROM drive 2226 (DVD-ROM 2201), the IC card, etc., and perform various types of processing on the data on the RAM 2214. The CPU 2212 may then write back the processed data to the external recording medium.

　　Various types of information, such as various types of programs, data, tables, and databases, may be stored in the recording medium to undergo information processing. The CPU 2212 may perform various types of processing on the data read from the RAM 2214, which includes various types of operations, processing of information, condition judging, conditional branch, unconditional branch, search/replace of information, etc., as described throughout this disclosure and designated by an instruction sequence of programs, and writes the result back to the RAM 2214. In addition, the CPU 2212 may search for information in a file, a database, etc., in the recording medium. For example, when a plurality of entries, each having an attribute value of a first attribute associated with an attribute value of a second attribute, are stored in the recording medium, the CPU 2212 may search for an entry matching the condition whose attribute value of the first attribute is designated, from among the plurality of entries, and read the attribute value of the second attribute stored in the entry, thereby obtaining the attribute value of the second attribute associated with the first attribute satisfying the predetermined condition.

　　The above-explained program or software modules may be stored in the computer readable media on or near the computer 2200. In addition, a recording medium such as a hard disk or a RAM provided in a server system connected to a dedicated communication network or the Internet can be used as the computer readable media, thereby providing the program to the computer 2200 via the network.

　　While the embodiments of the present invention have been described, the technical scope of the invention is not limited to the above described embodiments. It is apparent to persons skilled in the art that various alterations and improvements can be added to the above-described embodiments. It is also apparent from the scope of the claims that the embodiments added with such alterations or improvements can be included in the technical scope of the invention.

　　The operations, procedures, steps, and stages of each process performed by an apparatus, system, program, and method shown in the claims, embodiments, or diagrams can be performed in any order as long as the order is not indicated by "prior to," "before," or the like and as long as the output from a previous process is not used in a later process. Even if the process flow is described using phrases such as "first" or "next" in the claims, embodiments, or diagrams, it does not necessarily mean that the process must be performed in this order.

　　1 system, 100 manufacturing module, 110 power supply apparatus, 120 management apparatus, 130 terminal, 140 network, 150 housing, 160 manufacturing unit, 170 unit control apparatus, 3 manufacturing system, 300 sensor, 302 actuator, 304 input/output section, 306 storage section, 308 control section, 310 communication section, 312 power supply unit, 314 power supply control apparatus, 315 communication section, 316 storage section, 317 control section, 320 arrangement management section, 322 control processing section, 324 management storage section, 326 management communication section, 328 arrangement information, 330 manufacturing process information, 900 control selection section, 910 control calculator, 12 manufacturing system, 1210 power supply apparatus, 1216 storage section, 1220 input/output section, 2200 computer, 2201 DVD-ROM, 2210 host controller, 2212 CPU, 2214 RAM, 2216 graphics controller, 2218 display device, 2220 input/output controller, 2222 communication interface, 2224 hard disk drive, 2226 DVD-ROM drive, 2230 ROM, 2240 input/output chip, 2242 keyboards

Claims

　　A control system comprising:
　　　　a plurality of unit control apparatuses combined in accordance with a manufacturing process, provided in one-to-one correspondence with a plurality of manufacturing units each performing processing in accordance with different parts of the manufacturing process, and each in charge of controlling a corresponding manufacturing unit; and
　　　　a management apparatus that manages cooperative processing of each manufacturing unit based on arrangement information in accordance with the arrangement of each manufacturing unit.
　　The control system according to Claim 1, wherein each unit control apparatus acquires location information in accordance with the location of a manufacturing unit of the plurality of manufacturing units, that the unit control apparatus is in charge.
　　The control system according to Claim 2, wherein each unit control apparatus acquires the location information by reading a code in accordance with an installation position of a manufacturing unit of the plurality of manufacturing units, that the unit control apparatus is in charge.
　　The control system according to Claim 2, wherein each unit control apparatus acquires the location information by reading a wireless tag in accordance with an installation position of a manufacturing unit of the plurality of manufacturing units, that the unit control apparatus is in charge.
　　The control system according to any one of Claims 2 to 4, wherein
　　　　each unit control apparatus generates network address information of the unit control apparatus based on the acquired location information,
　　　　the arrangement information includes, in association with location information in accordance with the location of each manufacturing unit, unit identification information to identify a unit control apparatus of the plurality of unit control apparatuses, that is in charge of controlling the manufacturing unit, and
　　　　the management apparatus communicates with the unit control apparatus using network address information based on location information of the unit control apparatus in the arrangement information for each unit control apparatus.
　　The control system according to Claim 5, wherein the management apparatus:
　　　　acquires, from each unit control apparatus, unit identification information to identify the unit control apparatus, and
　　　　compares the unit identification information acquired from each unit control apparatus with the unit identification information included in the arrangement information to thereby determine whether each manufacturing unit is arranged as per the arrangement information.
　　The control system according to Claim 6, wherein at least one of the plurality of unit control apparatuses acquires unit identification information set for a corresponding manufacturing unit of the plurality of manufacturing units.
　　The control system according to any one of Claims 5 to 7, wherein
　　　　a power supply unit that supplies electrical power to each manufacturing unit is connected to the manufacturing unit, and
　　　　the control system further comprises a plurality of power supply control apparatus provided in one-to-one correspondence with a plurality of the power supply units and each in charge of controlling the corresponding power supply unit.
　　The control system according to Claim 8, wherein each power supply control apparatus
　　　　acquires location information shared with a unit control apparatus corresponding to a manufacturing unit connected to a power supply unit the power supply control apparatus is in charge, and
　　　　generates network address information of the power supply control apparatus based on the acquired location information.
　　The control system according to Claim 9, wherein each power supply control apparatus generates network address information having a predetermined difference from network address information of a unit control apparatus corresponding to a manufacturing unit connected to a power supply unit the power supply control apparatus is in charge, as network address information of the power supply control apparatus.
　　The control system according to any one of Claims 5 to 10, wherein each unit control apparatus:
　　acquires power supply identification information to identify a power supply apparatus supplying electrical power to a manufacturing unit the unit control apparatus is in charge of controlling, and
　　determines whether a power supply unit compatible with a manufacturing unit the unit control apparatus is in charge of controlling is connected to the manufacturing unit, based on unit identification information of the unit control apparatus and the acquired power supply identification information.
　　The control system according to any one of Claims 1 to 11, wherein
　　　　the arrangement information includes, in association with location information in accordance with the location of each manufacturing unit, unit identification information to identify a unit control apparatus of the plurality of unit control apparatuses, that is in charge of controlling the manufacturing unit, , and connected unit identification information to identify a unit control apparatus of the plurality of manufacturing units, that is in charge of controlling at least one manufacturing unit coupled to at least one of an upstream or downstream side of the manufacturing unit in the manufacturing process.
　　The control system according to Claim 11, wherein
　　　　based on the arrangement information, the management apparatus selects which of the unit control apparatuses to use as a unit control apparatus that is in charge of a manufacturing unit from which an acquired value is acquired to compute control parameters used by each unit control apparatus to control a corresponding one of the plurality of manufacturing units.
　　A manufacturing system comprising:
　　　　a control system according to any one of Claims 1 to 13; and
　　　　the plurality of manufacturing units.
　　The manufacturing system according to Claim 14, wherein each unit control apparatus is provided within the same housing as a manufacturing unit of the plurality of manufacturing units, that the unit control apparatus is in charge.
　　A control method comprising:
　　　　controlling, by each of a plurality of unit control apparatuses provided in one-to-one correspondence with a plurality of manufacturing units, combined in accordance with a manufacturing process and each performing processing in accordance with different parts of the manufacturing process, a corresponding manufacturing unit; and
　　　　managing, by a management apparatus connected to the plurality of unit control apparatuses, cooperative processing of each manufacturing unit based on arrangement information in accordance with the arrangement of each manufacturing unit.
　　A management program executed by a computer connected to a plurality of unit control apparatuses provided in one-to-one correspondence with a plurality of manufacturing units combined in accordance with a manufacturing process and each performing processing in accordance with different parts of the manufacturing process, and each in charge of controlling a corresponding manufacturing unit,
　　　　wherein the management program causes the computer to function as a management apparatus that manages cooperative processing of each manufacturing unit based on arrangement information in accordance with the arrangement of each manufacturing unit.
.