Management supporting apparatus, management supporting system, management supporting method, management supporting program, and a recording medium with the program recorded therein

• US 20040148136A1
• Filed: 11/07/2003
• Published: 07/29/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/08/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toshiba Kikai Kabushiki Kaisha
• Original Assignee: Toshiba Kikai Kabushiki Kaisha
• Inventors: Sasaki, Kiyoshi, Yamaguchi, Yutaka, Nishizawa, Makoto, Katsuta, Hiroshi
• Granted Patent: US 7,117,050 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 702/188
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/4065 Monitoring tool breakage, life or condition
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/37253 Fail estimation as function of lapsed time of use
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/45244 Injection molding

Abstract

Operation state information for each cycle of manufacturing operations of each of injection molding machines 300 is acquired by a center management terminal device 400 via a network from a plurality of controlling terminal device 400 for controlling the injection molding machines 300. Cumulative utilization of replacement parts of each injection molding machine 300 put into practical operation is recognized by the operating condition recognizing section of the center management terminal device 400 based on the parts state information for the replacement parts of each injection molding machine 300 included in the operating state information. Based on the cumulative utilization, availability of the parts is recognized with reference to lifetime information concerning lifetime of the parts previously stored in the center storage section, and situation of the availability is displayed with a different display format on the center terminal displaying section 503.

Claims

1. A management supporting apparatus, comprising:

a machine information acquiring section for acquiring operating state information from a controlling terminal device provided for each machine and for acquiring state information including parts state information relating to the operating state of parts constituting the machine to control the operating state of the machine;

a storage section for storing therein lifetime information concerning lifetime of the parts;

a parts utilization recognizing section for recognizing cumulative utilization of the parts based on the parts state information; and

a lifetime determining section for determining the availability in which the parts can be utilized based on the cumulative utilization with reference to lifetime information stored in the storage section.

2. The management supporting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said storage section stores utilizable time information concerning the utilizable time of the parts or utilizable times information concerning the utilizable times of the parts as the lifetime information;

said parts utilization recognizing section recognizes cumulative utilization of the parts by computing cumulative utilization time or cumulative utilization times of parts used for operation; and

said lifetime determining section recognizes the availability by computing a difference between the utilizable time information and the cumulative utilization time or a difference between the utilizable times information and the cumulative utilization times.

3. The management supporting apparatus according to claim 1, comprising a display controlling section for having the availability information recognized by said lifetime determining section displayed with various display formats on a displaying section in response to the availability of the parts.

4. The management supporting apparatus according to claim 1, comprising a purchase order controlling section for outputting a signal for purchase order of the parts based on the availability recognized in said lifetime determining section.

5. The management supporting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said operating state information includes machine-specific information prepared for each machine;

said parts state information includes parts information specific to each parts; and

said storage section is configured with a table structure in which the parts information for the parts utilized in the machine corresponding to the machine-specific information is correlated to the machine-specific information and is stored as one record.

6. The management supporting apparatus according to claim 5, comprising:

a parts information acquiring section for acquiring time information relating to the date and hour at which the parts is replaced with a new one, and storing the time information in correlation to the parts information in the storage section; and

a display controlling section for having the parts replaced with a new one at the prespecified time displayed on the displaying section based on the parts information as well as the time information stored in said storage section when a prespecified signal is recognized.

7. The management supporting apparatus according to claim 5, comprising:

a parts information acquiring section for acquiring parts price information concerning a unit price of the parts and storing the parts price information in correlation to the parts information in said storage section; and

a display controlling section for having at least either one of the times of parts replacement and a total price of the replaced parts for each machine displayed on the displaying section based on the machine-specific information, parts information, and parts price information stored in the storage section when a prespecified signal is recognized.

8. The management supporting apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said parts information acquiring section acquires replacement cause information concerning a cause for replacement of the parts and stores the information in said storage section in correlation to the parts information, and said display controlling section has the cause for replacement of the parts replaced at the prespecified time displayed on the display section based on the replacement cause information and the time information when a prespecified signal is recognized.

9. The management supporting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said machine is automatically driven under control by a controlling terminal device.

10. The management supporting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said machine is an injection molding machine.

11. The management supporting apparatus according to claim 1, comprising a reporting section for alerting the necessity of the replacement of parts by recognizing that the availability of the parts recognized by said lifetime determining section has reached the prespecified limit.

12. The management supporting apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said reporting section alerts the necessity of replacement of the parts by distributing the information indicating the necessity by means of an electronic mail.

13. A management supporting system, comprising the management supporting apparatus according to claim 1, and a controlling terminal device which is connectable via a network to said management supporting apparatus, allowing information transaction, and provided for each machine to control the operating state of the machine by acquiring the operating state information in relation to the operating state of the machine.

14. A management supporting method, comprising the steps of:

acquiring the operating state information from a controlling terminal device provided for each machine by a computing section and controlling the operating state of the machine by acquiring state information including parts state information relating to the operating state of parts constituting the machine;

recognizing cumulative utilization information used for operations of the parts based on the parts state information of the acquired operating state information;

wherein the availability of the parts is recognized based on the recognized cumulative utilization of lifetime information compared to the previously acquired lifetime information concerning lifetime of the parts.

15. A management supporting program, wherein the management supporting method according to claim 14 is executed by the computing section.

16. A storage medium with a management supporting program recorded therein, wherein the management supporting program according to claim 15 readably recorded by the computing section.

17. A management supporting apparatus, comprising:

a machine information acquiring section for acquiring operating state information from a controlling terminal device provided for each machine and controlling the operating state of the machine by acquiring state information relating to the operating state of the machine;

a displaying section capable of displaying the operating state information acquired by said machine information acquiring section;

an operating condition recognizing section for determining an operating condition of the machine based on the operating state information; and

a display controlling section having a display area in which the operating condition determined by said operating condition recognizing section is displayed with a different display format for each operating condition for providing controls so that a plurality of sections each corresponding to each machine are displayed in a list form on said displaying section.

18. The management supporting apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said display controlling section provides controls so that each type of operating condition is displayed with a different color on a display area of the corresponding section.

19. The management supporting apparatus according to claim 17 or 18, wherein said display controlling section provides controls so that a plurality of sections are displayed for each of the categories classified according to at least one of the operating state of the machine or the characteristics of the machine.

20. The management supporting apparatus according to claim 19, wherein said machine is a manufacturing machine for manufacturing products from the feed stock, and said display controlling section provides controls so that the plurality of sections are displayed in the list form for each of the categories classified according to at least one of a type of the machine or a type of the product.

21. The management supporting apparatus according to any of the claims 17 through 20, comprising an input section capable of selecting the section to be displayed on the displaying section in response to an input operation, wherein said display controlling section provides controls so that the contents of operating state information for the machine corresponding to the selected section by the input section in response to the input operation is displayed.

22. The management supporting apparatus according to any of the claims 17 through 21, wherein said display controlling section provides controls so that the sections are displayed according to an arrangement in which the machines are installed.

23. The management supporting apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said display controlling section sets the size of a display of the section on the displaying section according to the necessity and provides controls so that all of the sections to be displayed are placed within a display area of said displaying section.

24. The management supporting apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said display controlling section provides controls so that the display format for each operating condition varies according to elapse of time during the operation.

25. The management supporting apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the machine runs automatically under controls by the controlling terminal device.

26. The management supporting apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the machine is an injection-molding machine.

27. The management supporting apparatus according to claim 25, comprising an abnormality reporting section for reporting, when the operating condition recognizing section recognizes occurrence of any abnormality in the operating condition of the machine, either one of the fact that the abnormality has occurred or contents of the abnormality.

28. The management supporting apparatus according to claim 27, wherein said abnormality reporting section displays, for reporting, at least either one of the fact concerning occurrence of the abnormality or contents of the abnormality on said displaying section by said display controlling section.

29. The management supporting apparatus according to claim 27, said abnormality reporting section transmits, for reporting, at least either one of the fact concerning occurrence of the abnormality or contents of the abnormality by making use of an electronic mail.

30. The management supporting system, comprising:

the management supporting apparatus according to claim 17;

and

a controlling terminal device which is connectable via a network, allowing information transaction, to said management supporting apparatus and provided for each machine to control the operating state of the machine by acquiring the operating state information in relation to the operating state of the machine.

31. The management supporting system according to claim 30, comprising server equipment which is connectable via a network, allowing information transaction, to said management supporting apparatus and sets the section to be displayed by controlling said displaying section by means of the display controlling section of said management supporting apparatus.

32. A management supporting system, comprising the management supporting apparatus according to claim 17 and a server which is connectable via a network, allowing information transaction, to said management supporting apparatus and sets the section to be displayed by controlling said displaying section by means of the display controlling section of said management supporting apparatus.

33. The management supporting system according to claim 31, wherein said server equipment is provided with a clocking section for clocking, and executes the processing for matching with the time clocked in at least one of the either said controlling terminal device or said management supporting apparatus.

34. The management supporting system according to claim 32, wherein said server equipment is provided with a clocking section for clocking, and executes the processing for matching with the time clocked in at least one of the either said controlling terminal device or said management supporting apparatus.

35. A management supporting method, comprising the steps of:

acquiring the operating state information from a controlling terminal device provided for each machine, said controlling terminal device acquires the operating state information concerning the operating state of the machine by means of a computing section to operate the operating state of the machine;

determining an operating condition of the machine based on the acquired operating state information;

wherein a section having a display area in which the determined operating condition is displayed with a different format for each operating condition so that a plurality of sections each corresponding to each machine are displayed in a list form on a displaying section.

36. A management supporting program, wherein the management supporting method according to claim 35 is executed by the computing section.

37. A storage medium with a management supporting program therein, wherein the management supporting program according to claim 36 is readably recorded by the computing section.

38. A management supporting apparatus, which is connectable via a network to a controlling terminal device, having a controlling terminal displaying section provided for each machine, for acquiring operating state information concerning the operating state of the machine to control the operating state of the machine and also displaying the control situation thereon, for allowing information transaction to receive and process the operating state information, comprising a display controlling section for acquiring image data displayed on the controlling terminal displaying section using the Internet protocol (IP) to have the image data displayed on the displaying section.

39. The management supporting apparatus according to claim 38, comprising:

a message information preparing section for preparing message information; and

a communicating section for transmitting the prepared message information via a network to the controlling terminal device so that the message information is displayed on the controlling terminal displaying section of the controlling terminal device.

41. The management supporting apparatus according to claim 38, comprising:

a machine information acquiring section for acquiring operating state information from said controlling terminal device; and

a computing section for transmitting the operating state information acquired by the machine information acquiring section via a network to a communication terminal.

43. The management supporting apparatus according to claim 41, wherein said computing section transmits the operating state information to the communicating terminal by recognizing the operating state of the machine based on the operating state information and also by recognizing at least either start or stop of running of the machine.

45. A management supporting system, comprising:

the management supporting apparatus according to claim 38;

and

a controlling terminal device, which is connectable via a network to said management supporting apparatus to allow information transaction and has a controlling terminal displaying section provided for each machine, for acquiring operating state information concerning the operating state of the machine to control the operating state of the machine and also displaying the control situation thereon.

47. The management supporting system according to claim 45, comprising server equipment, which is connectible via a network to, said management support apparatus to allow information transaction and sets an operation of said management supporting apparatus.

49. A management supporting system, comprising:

the management supporting apparatus according to claim 38;

and

server equipment, which is connectible via a network to said management support apparatus to allow information transaction and sets an operation of said management supporting apparatus.

51. The management supporting system according to claim 47, wherein said server equipment is provided with a clocking section for clocking, which executes the processing for matching with the time clocked in at least one of the either said controlling terminal device or said management supporting apparatus.

40. A management supporting apparatus, which is connectable via a network to a controlling terminal device having a controlling terminal displaying section provided for each machine, for acquiring operating state information concerning the operating state of the machine to control the operating state of the machine and also displaying the control situation thereon, for allowing information transaction to receive and process the operating state information, comprising:

a message information preparing section for preparing message information; and

a communicating section for transmitting the prepared message information via a network to said prespecified controlling terminal device so that the message information can be displayed on the controlling terminal displaying section of said controlling terminal device.

42. The management supporting apparatus according to claim 40, comprising:

a machine information acquiring section for acquiring the operating state information from said controlling terminal device; and

a computing section for transmitting the operating state information acquired by the machine information acquiring section via a network to a communication terminal.

44. The management supporting apparatus according to claim 42, wherein said computing section transmits the operating state information to the communicating terminal by recognizing the operating state of the machine based on the operating state information and also by recognizing at least either start or stop of running of the machine.

46. A management supporting system, comprising:

the management supporting apparatus according to claim 40;

and

a controlling terminal device which is connectable via a network to said management supporting apparatus to allow information transaction and has a controlling terminal displaying section provided for each machine, for acquiring operating state information concerning the operating state of the machine to control the operating state of the machine and also displaying the control situation thereon.

48. The management supporting system according to claim 46, comprising server equipment which is connectible via a network to said management support apparatus to allow information transaction and sets an operation of said management supporting apparatus.

50. A management supporting system, comprising the management supporting apparatus according to claim 40;

and server equipment, which is connectible via a network to said management support apparatus to allow information transaction and sets an operation of said management supporting apparatus.

52. The management supporting system according to claim 48, wherein said server equipment is provided with a clocking section for clocking, which executes the processing for matching with the time clocked in at least one of the either said controlling terminal device or said management supporting apparatus.

53. A management supporting method, comprising the step of:

acquiring image data displayed on said controlling terminal displaying section by using the Internet Protocol (IP) from a controlling terminal device having a controlling terminal displaying section provided for each machine, for acquiring the operating state information concerning the operating state of the machine by means of a computing section to control the operating state of the machine as well as to display the control situation thereon; and

having the acquired image data displayed on the displaying section.

55. A management supporting program, wherein the management supporting method according to claim 53 is executed by the computing section.

57. A storage medium with a management supporting program recorded therein, wherein the management supporting program according to claim 55 is readably recorded by the computing section.

54. A management supporting method, comprising the steps of:

receiving the operating state information concerning the operating state of the machine via a network from a controlling terminal device having a controlling terminal displaying section provided for each machine, for acquiring the operating state information concerning the operating state of the machine by means of a computing section to control the operating state of the machine as well as to display the control situation thereon; and

processing the received information, wherein the prepared message information is transmitted via a network to the prespecified controlling terminal device so that the message information is displayed on the controlling terminal displaying section in the controlling terminal device.

56. A management supporting program, wherein the management supporting method according to claim 54 is executed by the computing section.

58. A storage medium with a management supporting program recorded therein, wherein the management supporting program according to claim 56 is readably recorded by the computing section.

59. A management supporting apparatus, comprising:

a machine information acquiring section for acquiring operating state information from a controlling terminal device provided for each machine producing a product by acquiring the operating state information concerning the operating state of the machine to control the operating state of the machine;

a computing section for computing a histogram based on the operating state information acquired by this machine information acquiring section; and

an acceptability determining section for determining acceptability of the products by determining a distribution state in the histogram acquired by this computing section.

60. The management supporting apparatus according to claim 59, comprising a distribution range setting section for setting a distribution range for the operating state information, wherein said acceptability determining section determines that the product is acceptable when the operating state information within the distribution range set by said distribution range setting section is generated in the machine.

61. The management supporting apparatus according to claim 59, comprising a display controlling section for having the histogram computed by said computing section displayed in a graphic form on the displaying section.

62. The management supporting apparatus according to claim 61, wherein said display controlling section provides controls so that a result of determination for acceptability by said acceptability determining section is displayed with a different display format for each determination result of the product on said displaying section.

63. The management supporting apparatus according to claim 59, wherein said machine information acquiring section acquires the operating state information together with the time information concerning the date and hour when the operating state information is generated from the machine;

and said computing section can compute a histogram for a prespecified period of time based on the time information.

64. The management supporting apparatus according to claim 61, wherein said machine information acquiring section acquires the operating state information together with the time information concerning the date and hour when the operating state information is generated from the machine;

and said display controlling section can provide controls for having a histogram within a prespecified period of time displayed in a graphic form based on the time information.

65. The management supporting apparatus according to 59, further comprising a storage section for storing therein the information concerning the fact that contents of controls by said controlling terminal device has been changed based on a result of determination by said acceptability determining section as record information.

66. The management supporting apparatus according to claim 65, further comprising:

a display controlling section for having said record information displayed on the displaying section displayed with a different display format from that for the operating state of said machine.

67. The management supporting apparatus according to claim 59, wherein said machine repeats operations for manufacturing said product as one cycle, and said machine information acquiring section acquired said operating state information once for each cycle of the machine.

68. The management supporting apparatus according to claim 59 further comprising:

a production schedule setting section for setting a quantity of products to be manufactured; and

a computing section for generating an achievement ratio by computing a percentage of a quantity of said products determined as acceptable ones based on the latest operating state information acquired from the controlling terminal device against said quantity of products to be manufactured.

69. The management supporting apparatus according to claim 59, wherein said production schedule setting section can set data and hour for completion of the manufacturing work, and comprises:

a clocking for clocking date and hour; and

a display controlling section for having the achievement ratio information generated by said computing section as a percentage against the period of time from start of production until the scheduled date for completion of the production as a bar display on the displaying section.

70. The management supporting apparatus according to claim 59, wherein said machine is an injection molding machine.

71. The management supporting apparatus according to claim 59 further comprising:

a controlling terminal device provided for each machine and connected via a network to said management supporting apparatus in the state where information transaction can be carried out for acquiring the operating state information concerning the operating state of said machine to control the operating state of said machine.

72. The management supporting system according to claim 71 further comprising:

a server device connected via a network to said management supporting apparatus in the state where information transaction can be carried out for setting operations of said management supporting apparatus.

73. A management supporting system comprising:

the management supporting apparatus according to claim 59;

and

a server device connected via a network to said management supporting apparatus in the state where information transaction can be carried out for setting operations of said management supporting apparatus.

74. The management supporting system according to claim 72, wherein said server device comprising a clocking section for clocking and adjusting the time for clocking in at least one of said controlling terminal device and said management supporting apparatus.

75. The management supporting system according to claim 73, wherein said server device comprises a clocking section for clocking and adjusting the time for clocking in at least one of said controlling terminal device and said management supporting apparatus.

77. A management supporting program, wherein the management supporting method according to claim 75 is executed by the computing section.

76. A management supporting method comprising the steps of:

acquiring operating information from a controlling terminal device provided for each machine manufacturing products for controlling the operating state of said machine by acquiring the operating state information concerning the operating state of said machine;

computing a histogram based on the acquired operating state information; and

determining acceptability of said products by determining a distribution state in the histogram acquired by computing.

78. A storage medium with a management supporting program recorded therein, wherein the management supporting program according to claim 76 is readably recorded by the computing section.

79. A management supporting apparatus, comprising:

a machine information acquiring section for acquiring plurality operating state information for each cycle of manufacturing the products from a controlling terminal device provided for each machine for manufacturing the products assuming that the operation for manufacturing the products is one cycle, and acquiring plurality operating state information concerning the operating state of the machine to control the operating state of the machine; and

a correlation coefficient computing section for computing a correlation coefficient of the operating state information acquired by said machine information acquiring section, wherein said correlation coefficient computing section can compute a correlation coefficient between one side operating state information cycle and the information one or more cycles prior to the other side operating state information.

80. The management supporting apparatus according to claim 79, wherein said machine is an injection molding machine.

81. The management supporting apparatus according to claim 79, comprising a display controlling section for providing controls to have the result computed by said correlation coefficient computing section displayed on the displaying section by switching between a numerical form display and a graphic form display.

82. The management supporting apparatus according to claim 81, wherein said display controlling section for providing controls to have a correlation coefficient displayed on said displaying section with a different display format in response to the intensity of the correlation coefficient.

83. The management supporting apparatus according to claim 79, comprising a storing section for storing that the contents of controls in said controlling terminal device are changed and set based on the correlation coefficient computed by said correlation coefficient computing section, as history information.

84. The management supporting apparatus according to claim 83, comprising a display controlling section for having the history information on said displaying section with a different format from the operating state of the machine.

85. A management supporting system, comprising:

the management supporting apparatus according to claim 79;

and

a controlling terminal device, which is connectible via a network to said management support apparatus to allow information transaction, provided for each machine for producing the product, assuming that the operation for manufacturing the products is one cycle, and acquires plurality operating state information concerning the operating state of the machine to control the operating state of the machine.

86. The management supporting system according to claim 85, comprising server equipment, which is connectable via a network, allowing information transaction, to said management supporting apparatus and sets the operations of said management supporting apparatus.

87. A management supporting system, comprising the management supporting apparatus according to claim 79;

and server equipment for setting the operations of said management supporting apparatus.

88. The management supporting system according to claim 86, wherein said server equipment is provided with a clocking section for clocking, which executes the processing for matching with the time clocked in at least one of the either said controlling terminal device or said management supporting apparatus.

89. The management supporting system according to claim 87, wherein said server equipment is provided with a clocking section for clocking, which executes the processing for matching with the time clocked in at least one of the either said controlling terminal device or said management supporting apparatus.

90. A management supporting method, comprising the steps of:

acquiring the operating state information by a computing section from a controlling terminal device provided for each machine for producing the product, assuming that the operation for manufacturing the products is one cycle, and acquires plurality operating state information concerning the operating state of the machine to control the operating state of the machine;

computing a correlation coefficient of the acquired operating state information so that the correlation coefficient is computable between one side operating state information cycle and the information one or more cycles prior to the other side operating state information.

91. A management supporting program, wherein the management supporting method according to claim 90 is executed by the computing section.

92. A storage medium with a management supporting program recorded therein, wherein the management supporting program according to claim 91 is readably recorded by the computing section.

93. A management supporting apparatus, comprising:

a machine information acquiring section for acquiring operating state information together with time information relating to the date and hour when the operating state information is acquired from a controlling terminal device provided for each machine, for acquiring the operating state information concerning the operating state of the machine to control the operating state of the machine;

a displaying section capable of displaying the operating state information acquired by said machine information acquiring section;

an operating condition recognizing section for determining an operating condition of the machine based on the operating state information; and

a display controlling section for having changes of the operating condition in passage of time recognized by said operating condition recognizing section displayed with a different display format based on the time information on said displaying section.

94. The management supporting apparatus according to claim 93, wherein said machine information acquiring section can acquire the operating state information from a plurality of said controlling terminal devices;

and said displaying controlling section provides controls so that each determined operating condition based on the operating state information acquired from said plurality of controlling terminal devices in a list form on said displaying section.

95. The management supporting apparatus according to claim 93, wherein said machine is manufacturing equipment for manufacturing products;

and said display controlling section provides controls so that a change in types of the manufactured products at the time corresponding to the time at a change in operating conditions with time is displayed with a different format for each type of the products together with the changes in the operating conditions with time, on said displaying section.

96. The management supporting apparatus according to claim 93, wherein said machine is manufacturing equipment for manufacturing products using feed stock;

and said display controlling section provides controls so that a change in types of the feed stock at the time corresponding to the time at a change in operating conditions with time is displayed with a different format for each type of the feed stocks together with the changes in the operating conditions with time, on said displaying section.

97. The management supporting apparatus according to claim 95, wherein said display controlling section provides controls so that a change in types of the feed stock used for manufacturing the products at the time corresponding to the time at a change in operating conditions with time is displayed with a different format for each type of the feed stock together with the changes in the operating conditions and with time and the changes in the products with time, on said displaying section.

98. The management supporting apparatus according to claim 93, wherein said display controlling section provides controls so that the information displayed with different colors for each individual display format.

99. The management supporting apparatus according to claim 93, wherein the machine is automatically driven under control by a controlling terminal device.

100. The management supporting apparatus according to claim 93, wherein the machine is an injection molding machine.

101. The management supporting apparatus according to claim 93, comprising an abnormality reporting section for reporting, when the operating condition recognizing section recognizes occurrence of any abnormality in the operating condition of the machine, either one of the fact that the abnormality has occurred or contents of the abnormality.

102. The management supporting apparatus according to claim 101, wherein said abnormality reporting section has either one of the fact that an abnormality has occurred or contents of the abnormality displayed on said displaying section by means of said display controlling section to report the information.

103. The management supporting apparatus according to claim 101, said abnormality reporting section has either one of the fact that an abnormality has occurred or contents of the abnormality transmitted by using an electronic mail.

104. A management supporting system, comprising:

the management supporting apparatus according to claim 93;

and

a controlling terminal device provided for each machine, said controlling terminal device is connectible via a network to said management supporting apparatus to allow information transaction for acquiring the operating state information concerning the operating state of the machine to control the operating state of the machine.

105. The management supporting system according to claim 104, comprising server equipment, which is connectible via a network to said management supporting apparatus to allow information transaction and sets operation of said management supporting apparatus.

106. A management supporting system, comprising:

the management supporting apparatus according to claim 93;

and

server equipment, which is connectible via a network to said management supporting apparatus to allow information transaction and sets operation of said management supporting apparatus.

107. The management supporting system according to claim 105, wherein said server equipment is provided with a clocking section for clocking and executes the processing for matching with the time clocked in at least one of the either said controlling terminal device or said management supporting apparatus.

108. The management supporting system according to claim 106, wherein said server equipment is provided with a clocking section for clocking and executes the processing for matching with the time clocked in at least one of the either said controlling terminal device or said management supporting apparatus.

109. A management supporting method, comprising the steps of:

acquiring operating state information by means of a computing section from a controlling terminal device provided for each machine, for acquiring the operating state information concerning the operating state of the machine together with the time information relating to the date and hour when the operating state information is acquired to control the operating state of the machine;

determining an operating condition of the machine based on the acquired operating state information; and

providing controls so that change of the determined operating condition in passage of time is displayed with a different display format for each operating condition on a displaying section based on the time information.

110. A management supporting program, wherein the management supporting method according to claim 109 is executed by the computing section.

111. A storage medium with a management supporting program recorded therein, wherein the management supporting program according to claim 110 is readably recorded by the computing section.