Work Management Apparatus, Picking Carriage, Work Performance Collection System, Rework Measurement System, Workability Management System, Rework Measurement Measuring Method, Work Performance Collection Method, Workability Management Method and Workability Management Program

• US 20070288306A1
• Filed: 06/04/2007
• Published: 12/13/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/09/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Inventors: Seya, Hiroyuki, Niimura, Yonemitsu, OHISHI, SATOSHI
• Granted Patent: US 8,190,282 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/11
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06316 Sequencing of tasks or work
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06398 Performance of employee with respect to a job function
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/04 Manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/30 Computing systems specially adapted for manufacturing

Abstract

The invention aims at providing a work performance collection system for reliably collecting information of work performance without applying a burden to a worker in assembly of a work object article. This system includes a work specification ID tag into which information for specifying a work content of a work object article is written, a work management box having a throw-in port into which the work specification ID tag is thrown at the time of work, and an ID tag reader provided to a side surface of the work management box, for reading the work specification ID tag and transmitting the information read to a work performance management apparatus. A worker is required to only throw the work specification ID tag into the work management box at the start of work and to only take out the work specification ID tag at the end of work.

Claims

1. A work performance collection system including a work performance management apparatus for collecting and managing work performances, comprising:

a work specification ID tag to which information for specifying a work content of a work object article is written;

a work management box having a throw-in port into which said work specification ID tag is thrown; and

an ID tag reading apparatus provided to said work management box, for reading said work specification ID tag and transmitting the information read to said work performance management apparatus.

5. The work performance collection system according to claim 1, wherein said work management box is fitted in the proximity of a work bench or a work area.

6. The work performance collection system according to claim 1, wherein said throw-in port of said work management box exists on an upper surface and in a substantial vertical direction.

7. The work performance collection system according to claim 1, wherein said ID tag reading apparatus reports to said work performance management apparatus a success of communication with said work specification ID tag when the communication with said work specification ID tag can be made, and reports to said work performance management apparatus a disconnection of communication when the communication with said work specification ID tag is disconnected.

8. The work performance collection system according to claim 1, wherein assembly process information for instructing assembly by a worker is described in said work specification ID tag.

9. The work performance collection system according to claim 1, which further comprises a component specification ID tag into which information for specifying a component to be fitted to said work object article is written, and wherein said ID tag reading apparatus reports to said work performance management apparatus a success of communication when the communication with said component specification ID tag can be made.

10. The work performance collection system according to claim 8, wherein said assembly process information is displayed on a display unit arranged in the proximity of said work bench.

2. A work performance collection system including a work performance management apparatus for collecting and managing work performances, comprising:

a work management box having a throw-in port into which said work specification ID tag is thrown; and

an ID tag reading apparatus provided to said work management box, for reading said work specification ID tag and transmitting the information read to said work performance management apparatus.

3. A work performance collection system including a work performance management apparatus for collecting and managing work performances, comprising:

a work specification ID tag to which information for specifying a work content of a work object article is written;

a worker specification ID tag to which information for specifying a worker is written;

a work management box having a throw-in port into which said work specification ID tag and said worker specification ID tag are thrown; and

an ID tag reading apparatus provided to said work management box, for reading said work specification ID tag and said worker specification ID tag and transmitting the information read to said work performance management apparatus.

4. A work performance collection system including a work performance management apparatus for collecting and managing work performances, comprising:

a work specification ID tag to which information for specifying a work content of a work object article is written;

a process specification ID tag to which information for specifying a work process of said work object article is written;

a worker specification ID tag to which information for specifying a worker is written;

a work management box having a throw-in port into which said work specification ID tag, said process specification ID tag and said worker specification ID tag are thrown; and

an ID tag reading apparatus provided to said work management box, for reading said work specification ID tag, said process specification ID tag and said worker specification ID tag and transmitting the information read to said work performance management apparatus.

11. A work performance collection system including a work performance management apparatus for collecting and managing work performances, comprising:

a traceability management ID tag into which information for specifying traceability is written;

a work management box having a throw-in port into which said traceability management ID tag is thrown; and

an ID tag reading/writing apparatus provided to said work management box, for reading said traceability management ID tag, and transmitting the information read to said work performance management apparatus.

12. The work performance collection system according to claim 11, wherein said traceability management ID tag contains information for specifying a work content of a work object article or information for specifying a work area.

13. The work performance collection system according to claim 11, wherein said work management apparatus transmits the work performance information collected to said ID tag reading/writing apparatus when at least one work content is completed, and said ID tag reading/writing apparatus writes said work performance to said traceability management ID tag.

14. A rework measurement system comprising:

a direction issuance unit for issuing a direction of a rework when a rework process for reworking a product occurs in a production process of said product;

an input unit for inputting performances of said rework;

a database for storing said inputted rework in association with items; and

a retrieval unit for retrieving said database for the performance information of said rework stored on the basis of predetermined items.

16. The rework measurement system according to claim 14, wherein said direction issuance unit includes an IC tag writing apparatus for writing information for specifying said rework to a rework specification IC tag, and wherein said input unit includes a rework management box having a throw-in port into which said rework specification IC tag is thrown, and an IC tag reading apparatus provided to said rework management box, for reading said rework specification IC tag and transmitting the information read to said database.

17. The rework measurement system according to claim 16, wherein a plurality of IC tags thrown into said throw-in port is read by said IC tag reading apparatus of said input unit, and said input unit transmits the information read to said database.

18. The rework measurement system according to claim 14, wherein said database adds time information to the information sent from said input unit, and stores said information.

19. The rework measurement system according to claim 14, wherein said IC tag reading apparatus reports a success of communication with said rework specification IC tag to said database when said communication can be made, and a disconnection of communication with said rework specification IC tag when said communication is disconnected.

15. A rework measurement system comprising:

a direction issuance unit for issuing a direction of a rework when a rework process for reworking a product occurs in a production process of said product;

an input unit for registering performances of said rework;

a database for managing performance information of said rework; and

a retrieval unit for retrieving said database for monitoring performance information of said rework in accordance with each monitor item.

20. A rework measurement method in a production process of a product including input unit for inputting performances of a rework, a database for storing rework performances in association with items on the basis of the rework performances inputted, and a retrieving unit for retrieving said database for the performance information of said rework stored on the basis of predetermined items, said method comprising the steps of:

causing said database to store the performances of rework inputted through said input unit in association with the predetermined items when a rework process for reworking said product occurs in the production process of said product; and

causing said retrieving unit to retrieve said rework performances with said predetermined items being the key.

21. A rework measurement method for measuring a rework in a production process of a product including direction issuance unit having an IC tag writing apparatus, for issuing a direction of rework, a database for managing performance information of said rework and an input unit having a management box and an IC tag reading apparatus, for reading an IC tag thrown into said management box, comprising the steps of:

causing said direction issuance unit to write information for specifying said rework into said IC tag when a rework process for reworking said product occurs in a production process of said product; and

causing said input unit to read said IC tag thrown into said management box and transmitting the information read to said database.

22. A work performance collection system having input unit for inputting performances of work at a work position and a database for storing the work performances inputted by said input unit at an arbitrary position, for collecting work performance information on the basis of the information inputted, in such a fashion as to correspond to a predetermined action of a worker, wherein:

said input unit has an IC tag reading apparatus for reading an IC tag into which information for specifying a work content is written, and transmitting the information read to said database;

said IC tag reading apparatus transmits information to said database when communication can be made with said IC tag and also transmits information to said database when communication with said IC tag is disconnected; and

said database registers the time contained in the information transmitted when said communication can be made, or the time of reception of said information as communication start information, and also registers the time contained in the information transmitted when said communication is disconnected or the time of reception of said information as communication end time.

23. The work performance collection system according to claim 22, wherein said database stores the work performance inputted from said input unit in association with predetermined items, and sets a first communication start time to a work start time and a last communication end time to a work end time when a plurality of communication start times and a plurality of communication end times exist in the work performances stored in association with the predetermined items.

24. The work performance collection system according to claim 22, wherein said database calculates a work time, a work interruption time or a number-of-times of work interruption from the difference between said communication start time and said communication end time.

25. The work performance collection system according to claim 22, wherein said input unit includes a work management box having a throw-in port into which said IC tag is thrown, and said IC tag reading apparatus reads said IC tag thrown into said work management box.

26. A work performance collection system having an input unit for inputting performances of work at a work position and a database for storing the work performances inputted by said input unit at an arbitrary position, for collecting work performance information on the basis of the information inputted, in such a fashion as to correspond to a predetermined action of a worker, wherein:

said input unit has an IC tag reading apparatus for reading an IC tag into which information for specifying traceability is written, and transmitting the information read to said database;

said IC tag reading apparatus transmits information to said database when communication can be made with said IC tag and also transmits information to said database when communication with said IC tag is disconnected; and

said database registers the time contained in the information transmitted when said communication can be made, or the time of reception of said information as communication start information, and also registers the time contained in the information transmitted when said communication is disconnected or the time of reception of said information as communication end time.

27. The work performance collection system according to claim 26, wherein said IC tag contains information for specifying a work content or information for specifying a work area.

28. The work performance collection system according to claim 26, wherein said database stores the work performance inputted from said input unit in association with predetermined items, and sets a first communication start time to a work start time and a last communication end time to a work end time when a plurality of communication start times and a plurality of communication end times exist in the work performances stored in association with the predetermined items.

29. A work performance collection method for collecting work performance information, having an IC tag reading apparatus for reading an IC tag and transmitting information read to a database at a work position and said database for storing work performance information transmitted from said IC tag reading apparatus at an arbitrary position, wherein:

said IC tag reading apparatus transmits information to said database when communication can be made with said IC tag and also transmits information to said database when communication with said IC tag is disconnected; and

said database registers the time contained in the information transmitted when said communication can be made, or the time of reception of said information as communication start information, and also registers the time contained in the information transmitted when said communication is disconnected or the time of reception of said information as communication end time.

30. The work performance collection method according to claim 29, wherein said IC tag contains information for specifying a work content or information for specifying traceability.

31. A workability management system for storing work history of a resource for conducting working for a work as work history information, creating casual sequence information for estimating a change with time of workability of said resource from said work history information and managing workability of said resource by said casual sequence information, comprising a processing unit, said processing unit executing the steps of:

storing resource identification information for identifying said resource and said work history information in association with each other in a storage medium;

extracting said work history information corresponding to said resource identification information from said storage medium when a change occurs in said work history information, updating a change content and storing it into said storage medium;

extracting said work history information corresponding to said resource identification information of said resource for judging workability of said resource from said storage medium, taking out total use information of said resource from said work history information, and creating a change with time of said total use information as said casual sequence information; and

judging workability of said resource by said casual sequence information.

32. The workability management system according to claim 31, wherein said processing portion stores in said storage medium priority reference information representing which of at least two resources of the same kind is to be preferentially used, and further stores priority judgment information contained in said work history information in said storage medium in such a fashion as to correspond to said resource identification information of said resources;

takes out from said storage medium said priority judgment information corresponding to said resource identification information of said resource which is the same as said resource when said resource is selected and further takes out said priority reference information from said storage medium;

selects said resource identification information of said priority judgment information satisfying said priority reference information; and

reports said resource identification information selected as said resource of priority use.

33. The workability management system according to claim 31, wherein said processing portion stores a use inhibition flag in said storage medium in such a fashion as to correspond to said resource identification information of said resource having a cause of the occurrence of a defect of a product;

and

judges the existence/absence of use by confirming said use inhibition flag corresponding to said resource identification information when said resource is selected, and reports the result.

38. The workability management system according to claim 33, wherein said processing unit uses said IC tag as said storage medium.

34. A workability management system for storing use history of a metal mold for processing a work as work history information, creating casual sequence information for estimating a degradation state of said metal mold from said work history information and managing workability of said metal mold by said casual sequence information, comprising a processing unit, said processing unit executing the steps of:

storing mold identification information for identifying said metal mold and said work history information in association with each other in a storage medium;

extracting said work history information corresponding to said mold identification information from said storage medium when a change occurs in said work history information, updating a change content and storing it into said storage medium;

extracting said work history information corresponding to said mold identification information of said metal mold when workability of said metal mold is judged, from said storage medium, taking out total use information of said metal mold from said work history information, and creating a change with time of said total use information as said casual sequence information; and

judging workability of said metal mold by said casual sequence information.

35. The workability management system according to claim 34, wherein said processing unit stores in said storage medium priority reference information representing which of at least two metal molds is to be preferentially used when said metal molds of the same kind are preserved in a warehouse, and further stores priority judgment information contained in said work history information in said storage medium in such a fashion as to correspond to said mold identification information of said metal molds;

takes out from said storage medium said priority judgment information corresponding to said mold identification information of said metal mold which is the same as said metal mold when said metal mold is taken out from said warehouse and further takes out said priority reference information from said storage medium;

selects said mold identification information of said priority judgment information satisfying said priority reference information; and

reports said mold identification information selected as said metal mold of priority use.

36. The workability management system according to claim 35, wherein said processing unit stores in advance a use inhibition flag in a storage medium in such a fashion as to correspond to said mold identification information of said metal mold having a factor that may cause the defect of the product, confirms said use inhibition flag corresponding to said mold identification information when said metal mold is used, judges the existence/absence of use and reports the result.

37. The workability management system according to claim 35, wherein said processing unit stores in advance said mold identification information into an IC tag that is fitted to said metal mold itself and is capable of communication, acquires said total use information representing the use state of said metal mold in a molding machine for molding said work, and stores said work history information into said storage medium in such a fashion as to correspond to said mold identification information read from said IC tag.

39. A workability management method for storing work history of a resource for processing a work as work history information, creating casual sequence information for estimating a change with time of workability of said resource from said work history information and managing workability of said resource by said casual sequence information, said method causing a computer to execute the steps of:

storing resource identification information for identifying said resource and said work history information in association with each other in a storage medium;

extracting said work history information corresponding to said resource identification information from said storage medium when a change occurs in said work history information, updating a change content and storing it into said storage medium;

extracting said work history information corresponding to said resource identification information of said resource when workability of said resource is judged, from said storage medium, taking out total use information of said resource from said work history information, and creating a change with time of said total use information as said casual sequence information; and

judging workability of said resource by said casual sequence information.

40. A workability management program for storing work history of a resource for processing a work as work history information, creating casual sequence information for estimating a change with time of workability of said resource from said work history information and managing workability of said resource by said casual sequence information, said program causing a computer to execute the steps of:

storing resource identification information for identifying said resource and said work history information in association with each other in a storage medium;

extracting said work history information corresponding to said resource identification information from said storage medium when a change occurs in said work history information, updating a change content and storing it into said storage medium;

extracting said work history information corresponding to said resource identification information of said resource when workability of said resource is judged, from said storage medium, taking out total use information of said resource from said work history information, and creating a change with time of said total use information as said casual sequence information; and

judging workability of said resource by said casual sequence information.

41. A workability management system for storing work history of a resource for processing a work as work history information and managing workability of said resource for estimating a change with time of workability of said resource, said system including a processing unit executing the steps of:

storing resource identification information for identifying said resource and said work history information in association with each other in a storage medium;

extracting said work history information corresponding to said resource identification information from said storage medium when a change occurs in said work history information, updating a change content and storing it into said storage medium;

extracting said work history information corresponding to said resource identification information of said resource when workability of said resource is judged, from said storage medium, and creating information about a change with time from said work history information extracted; and

judging workability of said resource by said information.

42. A workability management method for storing work history of a resource for processing a work as work history information and managing workability of said resource for estimating a change with time of workability of said resource, said method causing a computer to execute the steps of:

storing resource identification information for identifying said resource and said work history information in association with each other in a storage medium;

extracting said work history information corresponding to said resource identification information from said storage medium when a change occurs in said work history information, updating a change content and storing it into said storage medium;

extracting said work history information corresponding to said resource identification information of said resource when workability of said resource is judged, from said storage medium, and creating information about a change with time from said work history information extracted; and

judging workability of said resource by said information.

43. A workability management program for storing work history of a resource for processing a work as work history information and managing workability of said resource for estimating a change with time of workability of said resource, said program causing a computer to execute the steps of:

storing resource identification information for identifying said resource and said work history information in association with each other in a storage medium;

extracting said work history information corresponding to said resource identification information from said storage medium when a change occurs in said work history information, updating a change content and storing it into said storage medium;

extracting said work history information corresponding to said resource identification information of said resource when workability of said resource is judged, from said storage medium, and creating information about a change with time from said work history information extracted; and

judging workability of said resource by said information.

44. A work management system for managing work processes in a system in which a predetermined work for a work object article is divided into a plurality of work processes, each of said work processes being carried out in a different work space, the time about working by workers in said work spaces being management by using an IC tag into which information for specifying a content of said predetermined work is written, said system comprising:

an information processing unit having a processing unit and a storage portion, for collecting information of the time about said work;

a first putting place which is secured in said work space and to which said worker of a preceding process puts said IC tag;

a first reader provided to said first putting place, for detecting said IC tag put to said first putting place and reading its information, and transmitting the information of said IC tag to said information processing unit at the timing at which said IC tag is detected afresh or is no longer detected;

a second putting place which is secured in said work space and to which said worker in said work space puts said IC tag during working; and

a second reader provided to said second putting place, for detecting said IC tag put to said second putting place and reading its information, and transmitting the information of said IC tag to said information processing unit at the timing at which said IC tag is detected afresh or is no longer detected;

wherein said processing unit stores the information received from said first and second readers in said storage portion and manages the time about said work.

45. The work management system according to claim 44, wherein said fist putting place is installed in or in the proximity of said work space.

46. The work management system according to claim 44, wherein said processing unit judges and manages, as the time about said work, the time from the timing at which said second reader detects afresh said IC tag to the timing at which said second reader no longer detects the IC tag, as a processing time in which processing as working in said work space is made.

47. The work management system according to claim 46, wherein said processing unit judges and manages, as the time about said work, the time from the timing at which said first reader detects afresh said IC tag to the timing at which said first reader no longer detects the IC tag or said second reader detects afresh said IC tag, as a retention time in which processing is stagnant in said work space or a preceding work space.

48. The work management system according to claim 47, wherein said processing unit judges and manages, as the time about said work, the time from the timing at which said second reader no longer detects said IC tag to the timing at which said first reader detects afresh the IC tag in said work space of a next work process, as a movement time in which said work object article is moved from said work space to a next work space.

49. The work management system according to claim 48, wherein said processing unit adds said retention time and said movement time as a lead time, and calculates a substantial processing time by dividing said processing time by said lead time.

50. The work management system according to claim 44, wherein said first putting place is secured at a position closer to said work space of a preceding work process than a work position of said worker in said work space, and said second putting place is secured in the proximity of a work position of said worker in said work space.

51. A work management method by a work management system for managing work processes in a system in which a predetermined work for a work object article is divided into a plurality of work processes, each of said work processes being carried out in a different work space, the time about working by workers in said work spaces being management by using an IC tag into which information for specifying a content of said predetermined work is written, said system comprising:

an information processing unit having a processing unit and a storage portion, for collecting information of the time about said work;

a first putting place which is secured in said work space and to which said worker of a preceding process puts said IC tag;

a first reader provided to said first putting place, for detecting said IC tag put to said first putting place and reading its information, and transmitting the information of said IC tag to said information processing unit at the timing at which said IC tag is detected afresh or is no longer detected;

a second putting place which is secured in said work space and to which said worker in said work space puts said IC tag during working; and

a second reader provided to said second putting place, for detecting said IC tag put to said second putting place and reading its information, and transmitting the information of said IC tag to said information processing unit at the timing at which said IC tag is detected afresh or is no longer detected;

wherein said processing unit stores the information received from said first and second readers in said storage portion and manages the time about said work.

52. The work management method according to claim 51, wherein said first putting place is secured in or in the proximity of said work space.

53. A work management apparatus for managing a progress of work, comprising:

an IC tag reading unit arranged in a putting place at which an IC tag into which information for specifying a work content is written is put, for detecting said IC tag put in said putting place and reading its information;

a work progress judgment unit for judging the progress of said work on the basis of read information of said IC tag reading unit; and

a notifying unit for notifying the progress of said work in accordance with instruction of said work progress judgment unit.

54. The work management apparatus according to claim 53, wherein said work progress judgment unit judges said work as under-work when communication with said IC tag can be made by said IC tag reading unit, as work retention when a predetermined time passes from the communication start time with said IC tag, as work completion when communication with said IC tag is disconnected by said IC tag reading unit, and as urgent work when information for executing work preferentially to other works exits in said IC tag reading information, and instructs the judgment result to said notifying unit.

55. The work management apparatus according to claim 53, wherein said work progress judgment unit instructs the judgment result to said notifying unit when the number during communication with said IC tag by said IC tag reading unit exceeds a predetermined number.

56. The work management apparatus according to claim 54, wherein said work progress judgment unit designates and instructs different colors to said notifying unit in accordance with work contents of said work progress condition.

57. The work management apparatus according to claim 53, wherein said notifying unit uses LED lamps.

58. The work management apparatus according to claim 53, wherein said putting place is a box having a throw-in port into which said IC tag is thrown.

59. The work management apparatus according to claim 58, wherein said box is fitted to a work bench or near said work area.

60. A work management system including input unit for inputting work performances at a work position and a server for storing the work performance inputted by said input unit at an arbitrary position, for collecting work performance information on the basis of information inputted in such a fashion as to correspond to a predetermined action of a worker, wherein:

said input unit is said work management apparatus as described in claim 53.

61. A work management method of a work management apparatus for managing a progress of work, wherein:

said work management apparatus includes an IC tag reading unit, work progress judgment unit and a notifying unit, said IC tag reading unit detects an IC tag put in a putting place to which said IC tag into which information for specifying a work content is written is put, and reads information of said IC tag;

said work progress judgment unit judges a progress of work on the basis of read information of said IC tag reading unit; and

said notifying unit notifies the progress of said work in accordance with instruction of said work progress judgment unit.

62. A picking carriage comprising:

a putting place for putting an IC tag into which information for specifying a picking work content is written;

an IC tag reading unit arranged in said putting place, detecting aid IC tag put in said putting place and reading information of said IC tag;

a work progress judgment unit for judging a progress of said picking work on the basis of read information of said IC tag reading unit; and

a notifying unit for notifying the progress of said picking work in accordance with an instruction of said work progress judgment unit.

63. The picking carriage according to claim 62, wherein said work progress judgment unit judges a work progress condition as under-work when communication with said IC tag can be made by said IC tag reading unit, as work retention when a predetermined time passes from the communication start time with said IC tag, as work completion when items to be picked as read information of said IC tag and items of said picking work are all coincident and as urgent work when information for executing a work more preferentially to others exists in said IC tag reading information, and designates and instructs different colors to said notifying unit in accordance with the judgment result.