PRIORITY CALCULATION DEVICE, PROGRAM, PRIORITY CALCULATION SYSTEM, AND PRIORITY CALCULATION METHOD

• US 20120158167A1
• Filed: 11/04/2009
• Published: 06/21/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/26/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Inventors: Lengyel, Attila, Nonaka, Yoichi
• Granted Patent: US 8,825,190 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/101
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/04 Manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/30 Computing systems specially adapted for manufacturing

Abstract

Priority can be calculated for works-in-process which are not in demand. A priority calculation device (110) comprises a priority calculation unit (124) which specifies a queue of lots in each production stage, a product category wherein the lot is to be used, and the number of components included in the lot, on the basis of information stored in a queue information storage area (115), and allocates priority for each lot so that when the specified lot is supplied to the production stage, a lot, by which a ratio of a component, in each product category, contained in a lot which is in a process subsequent to the process of the production stage is made closer to the ratio of demand in each product category specified by the information stored in a demand information storage area (113), is supplied into the production stage with higher priority.

Claims

1. A priority calculation device, which calculates a priority of each of lots to be introduced into a manufacturing stage, comprising:

a storage unit which stores;

demand information which determines a product type and a demand ratio of the product type during a predetermined period; and

process stand-by state information which determines, for each of manufacturing stages, the lot waiting for a processing in the manufacturing stage, a product for which the lot is used, and a quantity of parts included in the lot; and

a control unit,

wherein the control unit is configured to perform, for each of the manufacturing stages, a processing for determining, from the process stand-by state information, the lot waiting for the processing in the manufacturing stage, the product type for which the lot is used, and the quantity of the parts included in the lot, and assigning the priority to each of the lots so that the lot for which a product-type-basis ratio of the parts included in the lot pending in the processing of the manufacturing stage and processings subsequent thereto, the product-type-basis ratio being obtained when the determined lot is introduced into the manufacturing stage, becomes closer to the product-type-basis demand ratio determined by the demand information is preferentially introduced into the manufacturing stage.

2. A priority calculation device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit is further configured to:

calculate, for each of the manufacturing stages, a first Euclidean distance between the product-type-basis ratio of the parts included in the lot pending in the processing of the manufacturing stage and the subsequent processings and the product-type-basis demand ratio determined by the demand information;

determine, for each of the manufacturing stages, the lot waiting for the processing in the manufacturing stage, the product type for which the lot is used, and the quantity of the parts included in the lot from the process stand-by state information, and calculate, for each of the determined lots, a second Euclidean distance between the product-type-basis ratio of the parts included in the lot pending in the processing of the manufacturing stage and the subsequent processings, the product-type-basis ratio being obtained when the determined lot is introduced into the manufacturing stage, and the product-type-basis demand ratio determined by the demand information;

calculate an improvement amount by which the first Euclidean distance is improved into the second Euclidean distance, for each of the lots in each of the manufacturing stages; and

assign, in each of the manufacturing stages, the priority to each of the lots so that the lot having the larger improvement amount is preferentially introduced into the manufacturing stage.

3. A priority calculation device according to claim 2, wherein:

the storage unit further stores;

in-process information which determines, for each of the manufacturing stages, the lot which has been introduced into the manufacturing stage, the product for which the lot is used, and the quantity of the parts included in the lot;

transfer information which determines, for each of the manufacturing stages, the lot under transfer to the manufacturing stage, the product for which the lot is used, and the quantity of the parts included in the lot; and

inventory information which determines the product type and an inventory quantity of the product type; and

the control unit is further configured to;

extract, from the in-process information, the quantity of the parts included in the lot which has been introduced into the manufacturing stage in which the first Euclidean distance and the second Euclidean distance are calculated and manufacturing stages subsequent thereto;

extract, from the treatment stand-by state information, the quantity of the parts included in the lot waiting in a manufacturing stage subsequent to the manufacturing stage in which the first Euclidean distance and the second Euclidean distance are calculated and manufacturing stages further subsequent thereto;

extract, from the transfer information, the quantity of the parts included in the lot transferred to the manufacturing stage subsequent to the manufacturing stage in which the first Euclidean distance and the second Euclidean distance are calculated and the further subsequent manufacturing stages;

extract, from the inventory information, the inventory quantity of each product type; and

sum up the extracted quantities on a product type basis to thereby calculate the product-type-basis ratio of the parts included in the lot pending in the processing of the manufacturing stage in which the first Euclidean distance and the second Euclidean distance are calculated and the subsequent processings.

4. A priority calculation device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit is further configured to perform, for each of the manufacturing stages, a processing for outputting output information to an output unit, the output information being obtained by arranging information items which determine the lots according to the priorities assigned thereto.

5. A priority calculation device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit is further configured to perform a processing for calculating, by another method, the priority of the lot for which a shipping date is defined.

6. A priority calculation device according to claim 5, wherein the control unit is further configured to assign the priority to each of the lots having the shipping date defined so that the lot having a larger ratio of a remaining period until completion of the product to a remaining period until the shipping date is preferentially introduced into each of the manufacturing stages, for each of the lots.

7. A program for causing a computer to function as a priority calculation device, which calculates a priority of each of lots to be introduced into a manufacturing stage,

the program causing the computer to function as:

storage means which stores;

demand information which determines a product type and a demand ratio of the product type during a predetermined period; and

process stand-by state information which determines, for each of manufacturing stages, the lot waiting for a processing in the manufacturing stage, a product for which the lot is used, and a quantity of parts included in the lot; and

control means,

the program causing the control means to perform, for each of the manufacturing stages, a processing for determining, from the process stand-by state information, the lot waiting for the processing in the manufacturing stage, the product type for which the lot is used, and the quantity of the parts included in the lot, and assigning the priority to each of the lots so that the lot for which a product-type-basis ratio of the parts included in the lot pending in the processing of the manufacturing stage and processings subsequent thereto, the product-type-basis ratio being obtained when the determined lot is introduced into the manufacturing stage, becomes closer to the product-type-basis demand ratio determined by the demand information is preferentially introduced into the manufacturing stage.

8. A program according to claim 7, further causing the control means to:

calculate, for each of the manufacturing stages, a first Euclidean distance between the product-type-basis ratio of the parts included in the lot pending in the processing of the manufacturing stage and the subsequent processings and the product-type-basis demand ratio determined by the demand information;

determine, for each of the manufacturing stages, the lot waiting for the processing in the manufacturing stage, the product type for which the lot is used, and the quantity of the parts included in the lot from the process stand-by state information, and calculate, for each of the determined lots, a second Euclidean distance between the product-type-basis ratio of the parts included in the lot pending in the processing of the manufacturing stage and the subsequent processings, the product-type-basis ratio being obtained when the determined lot is introduced into the manufacturing stage, and the product-type-basis demand ratio determined by the demand information;

calculate an improvement amount by which the first Euclidean distance is improved into the second Euclidean distance, for each of the lots in each of the manufacturing stages; and

assign, in each of the manufacturing stages, the priority to each of the lots so that the lot having the larger improvement amount is preferentially introduced into the manufacturing stage.

9. A program according to claim 8, wherein:

the storage means further stores;

in-process information which determines, for each of the manufacturing stages, the lot which has been introduced into the manufacturing stage, the product for which the lot is used, and the quantity of the parts included in the lot;

transfer information which determines, for each of the manufacturing stages, the lot under transfer to the manufacturing stage, the product for which the lot is used, and the quantity of the parts included in the lot; and

inventory information which determines the product type and an inventory quantity of the product type; and

the program further causes the control means to;

extract, from the in-process information, the quantity of the parts included in the lot which has been introduced into the manufacturing stage in which the first Euclidean distance and the second Euclidean distance are calculated and manufacturing stages subsequent thereto;

extract, from the treatment stand-by state information, the quantity of the parts included in the lot waiting in a manufacturing stage subsequent to the manufacturing stage in which the first Euclidean distance and the second Euclidean distance are calculated and manufacturing stages further subsequent thereto;

extract, from the transfer information, the quantity of the parts included in the lot transferred to the manufacturing stage subsequent to the manufacturing stage in which the first Euclidean distance and the second Euclidean distance are calculated and the further subsequent manufacturing stages;

extract, from the inventory information, the inventory quantity of each product type; and

sum up the extracted quantities on a product type basis to thereby calculate the product-type-basis ratio of the parts included in the lot pending in the processing of the manufacturing stage in which the first Euclidean distance and the second Euclidean distance are calculated and the subsequent processings.

10. A program according to claim 7, further causing the control means to perform, for each of the manufacturing stages, a processing for outputting output information to output means, the output information being obtained by arranging information items which determine the lots according to the priorities assigned thereto.

11. A program according to claim 7, further causing the control means to perform a processing for calculating, by another method, the priority of the lot for which a shipping date is defined.

12. A program according to claim 11, further causing the control means to assign the priority to each of the lots having the shipping date defined so that the lot having a larger ratio of a remaining period until completion of the product to a remaining period until the shipping date is preferentially introduced into each of the manufacturing stages, for each of the lots.

13. A priority calculation system, comprising:

a shipment management device;

a manufacturing information providing device; and

a priority calculation device, wherein;

the shipment management device performs a processing for outputting, to the priority calculation device, supply information which determines a product type and a demanded quantity of the product type during a predetermined period;

the manufacturing information providing device is configured to perform, for each of manufacturing stages, a processing for outputting, to the priority calculation device, carry-in information which determines a lot waiting for a processing in the manufacturing stage, a product for which the lot is used, and a quantity of parts included in the lot; and

a control unit of the priority calculation device is configured to;

perform a processing for generating, from the supply information acquired from the shipment management device, demand information which determines the product type and a demand ratio of the product type during the predetermined period, and storing the demand information in a storage unit;

perform a processing for generating, from the carry-in information acquired from the manufacturing information providing device, process stand-by state information which determines, for each of the manufacturing stages, the lot, the product for which the lot is used, and the quantity of the parts included in the lot, and storing the process stand-by state information in the storage unit; and

perform, for each of the manufacturing stages, a processing for determining, from the process stand-by state information, the lot waiting for the processing in the manufacturing stage, the product type for which the lot is used, and the quantity of the parts included in the lot, and assigning the priority to each of lots so that the lot for which a product-type-basis ratio of the parts included in the lot pending in the processing of the manufacturing stage and processings subsequent thereto, the product-type-basis ratio being obtained when the determined lot is introduced into the manufacturing stage, becomes closer to the product-type-basis demand ratio determined by the demand information is preferentially introduced into the manufacturing stage.

14. A priority calculation system according to claim 13, wherein the control unit of the priority calculation device is further configured to:

calculate, for each of the manufacturing stages, a first Euclidean distance between the product-type-basis ratio of the parts included in the lot pending in the processing of the manufacturing stage and the subsequent processings and the product-type-basis demand ratio determined by the demand information;

determine, for each of the manufacturing stages, the lot waiting for the processing in the manufacturing stage, the product type for which the lot is used, and the quantity of the parts included in the lot from the process stand-by state information, and calculate, for each of the determined lots, a second Euclidean distance between the product-type-basis ratio of the parts included in the lot pending in the processing of the manufacturing stage and the subsequent processings, the product-type-basis ratio being obtained when the determined lot is introduced into the manufacturing stage, and the product-type-basis demand ratio determined by the demand information;

calculate an improvement amount by which the first Euclidean distance is improved into the second Euclidean distance, for each of the lots in each of the manufacturing stages; and

assign, in each of the manufacturing stages, the priority to each of the lots so that the lot having the larger improvement amount is preferentially introduced into the manufacturing stage.

15. A priority calculation system according to claim 14, wherein:

the carry-in information includes information which determines, for each of the manufacturing stages, the lot being moved to the subsequent manufacturing stage, the product for which the lot is used, and the quantity of the parts included in the lot;

the manufacturing information providing device is further configured to perform a processing for outputting, to the priority calculation device;

process information which determines, for each of the manufacturing stages, the lot which has been introduced into the manufacturing stage, the product for which the lot is used, and the quantity of the parts included in the lot; and

inventory information which determines the product type and an inventory quantity of the product type;

the control unit of the priority calculation device is further configured to perform processings for;

generating, from the process information acquired from the manufacturing information providing device, in-process information which determines, for each of the manufacturing stages, the lot which has been introduced into the manufacturing stage, the product for which the lot is used, and the quantity of the parts included in the lot, and storing the in-process information in the storage unit;

generating, from the carry-in information acquired from the manufacturing information providing device, transfer information which determines, for each of the manufacturing stages, the lot under transfer to the manufacturing stage, the product for which the lot is used, and the quantity of the parts included in the lot, and storing the transfer information in the storage unit; and

generating, from the inventory information acquired from the manufacturing information providing device, the inventory information which determines the product type and the inventory quantity of the product type, and storing the inventory information in the storage unit; and

the control unit of the priority calculation device is further configured to;

extract, from the in-process information, the quantity of the parts included in the lot which has been introduced into the manufacturing stage in which the first Euclidean distance and the second Euclidean distance are calculated and manufacturing stages subsequent thereto;

extract, from the treatment stand-by state information, the quantity of the parts included in the lot waiting in a manufacturing stage subsequent to the manufacturing stage in which the first Euclidean distance and the second Euclidean distance are calculated and manufacturing stages further subsequent thereto;

extract, from the transfer information, the quantity of the parts included in the lot transferred to the manufacturing stage subsequent to the manufacturing stage in which the first Euclidean distance and the second Euclidean distance are calculated and the further subsequent manufacturing stages;

extract, from the inventory information, the inventory quantity of each product type; and

sum up the extracted quantities on a product type basis to thereby calculate the product-type-basis ratio of the parts included in the lot pending in the processing of the manufacturing stage in which the first Euclidean distance and the second Euclidean distance are calculated and processings subsequent thereto.

16. A priority calculation system according to claim 14, wherein the control unit of the priority calculation device is further configured to perform, for each of the manufacturing stages, a processing for outputting output information to an output unit, the output information being obtained by arranging information items which determine the lots according to the priorities assigned thereto.

17. A priority calculation system according to claim 14, wherein the control unit of the priority calculation device is further configured to perform a processing for calculating, by another method, the priority of the lot for which a shipping date is defined.

18. A priority calculation system according to claim 17, wherein the control unit of the priority calculation device is further configured to assign the priority to each of the lots having the shipping date defined so that the lot having a larger ratio of a remaining period until completion of the product to a remaining period until the shipping date is preferentially introduced into each of the manufacturing stages, for each of the lots.

19. A priority calculation method of calculating a priority of each of lots to be introduced into a manufacturing stage, which is performed by a priority calculation device comprising:

a storage unit which stores;

demand information which determines a product type and a demand ratio of the product type during a predetermined period; and

process stand-by state information which determines, for each of manufacturing stages, the lot waiting for a processing in the manufacturing stage, a product for which the lot is used, and a quantity of parts included in the lot; and

a control unit,

the priority calculation method comprising a step of performing, by the control unit, for each of the manufacturing stages, a processing for determining, from the process stand-by state information, the lot waiting for the processing in the manufacturing stage, the product type for which the lot is used, and the quantity of the parts included in the lot, and assigning the priority to each of the lots so that the lot for which a product-type-basis ratio of the parts included in the lot pending in the processing of the manufacturing stage and processings subsequent thereto, the product-type-basis ratio being obtained when the determined lot is introduced into the manufacturing stage, becomes closer to the product-type-basis demand ratio determined by the demand information is preferentially introduced into the manufacturing stage.