Production management network system, production management method and recording medium having recorded production management program

• US 6,694,202 B2
• Filed: 09/18/2002
• Issued: 02/17/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/04/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Fujitsu Semiconductor Limited (Fujitsu Limited)
• Original Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Inventors: Miyazaki, Norihiko
• Primary Examiner(s): Picard, Leo
• Assistant Examiner(s): CABRERA, ZOILA E
• Application Number:
  US10/245,738
• Publication Number:
  US 20030023334A1
• Time in Patent Office: 517 Days
• Field of Search: 700/96, 700/97, 700/100, 700/101, 700/103, 700/108, 705/8
• US Class Current: 700/96
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/41865 characterised by job scheduling, process planning, material flow
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/31472 Graphical display of process
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/32024 Remote ordering, electronic selection article and fitting to form of client
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/32243 Rerouting parts
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/32268 Available parts, available materials
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/32297 Adaptive scheduling, feedback of actual proces progress to adapt schedule
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/40 Authorisation, e.g. identification of payer or payee, verification of customer or shop credentials; Review and approval of payers, e.g. check credit lines or negative lists
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/02 Total factory control, e.g. smart factories, flexible manufacturing systems [FMS] or integrated manufacturing systems [IMS]

Abstract

The client accesses a reception screen using a public line and makes a contract with the manufacturer. The client can change the manufacturing process without needing an operator at the manufacturing site. The client also checks the progress status of the manufacturing process.

Claims

1. A production management network system comprising:

a product manufacturing management apparatus that is operated by a client to perform a manufacturing contract and to control a manufacturing process; and

a product progress response apparatus that is operated by the client to obtain information about a progress status of a manufacturing process and to control the manufacturing process,

wherein the product progress response apparatus and the product manufacturing management apparatus are connected to each other through a platform screen which serves as a coexistent area, the product manufacturing management apparatus issues an identification code to the client after establishing the manufacturing contract with the client, and the product progress response apparatus enables the client to get information on the progress status and to control the manufacturing process after identifying the identification code of the client.

2. The production management network system according to claim 1, wherein the product progress response apparatus is configured so as to enable the client to obtain access thereto through a public communication line.

3. The production management network system according to claim 1, wherein the product manufacturing management apparatus issues a product estimate document, a contract document, and a product guarantee document to the client after establishment of the manufacturing contract.

4. The production management network system according to claim 3, wherein the product manufacturing management apparatus checks a production capability of a production line, determines equipment that handles a product, and creates a detailed schedule for each step in the manufacturing process.

5. The production management network system according to claim 4, wherein the product manufacturing management apparatus employs a statistical scheme to create a detail schedule for each step of the manufacturing process.

6. The production management network system according to claim 4, wherein the product manufacturing management apparatus is alarmed when there is a shortage of material or processing capability of machine and allocates a production of the product to another production line.

7. The production management network system according to claim 6, wherein if an operation is not proceeding as scheduled, an alarm of delay in delivery time is output to a reception screen that is accessed by the client.

8. The production management network system according to claim 1, wherein the manufacturing process is divided into a plurality of operations, and the product manufacturing management apparatus generates a diagram that indicates to which operation the manufacturing process has proceeded by an arrow and expresses a degree of product importance by a thickness of the arrow, and

the product progress response apparatus displays the progress status of a product on a reception screen for a reference to the client.

9. The production management network system according to claim 8, wherein a cancellation fee is charged to the client when the manufacturing process is cancelled by the client during a course of the manufacturing process.

10. A production management network system comprising:

a product manufacturing management apparatus that is operated by a client to perform a manufacturing contract and control a manufacturing process; and

a product progress response apparatus that is operated by the client to get information about a progress status of the manufacturing process and control the manufacturing process,

wherein the product progress response apparatus and the product manufacturing management apparatus are connected to each other through a platform screen which serves as a coexistent area, the product progress response apparatus or the product manufacturing management apparatus is configured so as to enable the client to obtain access thereto a public communication line, the manufacturing process is divided into a plurality of operations, and the product manufacturing management apparatus generates a diagram that indicates to which operation manufacturing has proceeded by an arrow, expresses degree of product importance by thickness of arrow, the product progress response apparatus displays the progress status of a product on a reception screen for a reference to the client, wherein a cancellation fee is charged to the client when the manufacturing process is cancelled by the client during a course of the manufacturing process, and when there is a change of schedule or order volume during the course of the manufacturing process, a schedule and fees are calculated based on prioritization that is obtained by an equation set forth below;

11. A production management method comprising:

connecting a product progress response apparatus and a product manufacturing management apparatus to each other through a platform screen which serves as a coexistent area;

enabling a client to perform an operation to make a manufacturing contract and control a manufacturing process through the platform screen;

issuing an identification code to the client after establishing a manufacturing contract with the client;

enabling the client to input the identification code of the client; and

enabling a client to perform an operation to get information about a progress status of the manufacturing process and to control the manufacturing process through the platform screen after identifying the identification code of the client.

12. A computer readable medium for storing instructions, which when executed on a computer, causes the computer to perform operations of:

displaying information for a client and accepting data from the client so that the client performs an operation to make a manufacturing contract and controls a manufacturing process;

enabling a client to perform an operation to make the manufacturing contract according to the information displayed;

issuing an identification code to the client after establishing the manufacturing contract with the client;

enabling the client to input the identification code of the client;

displaying information about a progress status of a manufacturing process for the client; and

enabling the client to control the manufacturing process according to the information displayed after identifying the identification code of the client.

13. A production management network system controlled by a client, comprising:

a product manufacturing management apparatus that, upon issuing an identification code to the client and establishing a manufacturing contract with the client, is operated by the client to perform the manufacturing contract and to control a manufacturing process;

a product progress response apparatus that, after identifying the identification code of the client, is operated by the client to obtain information about a progress status of the manufacturing process and to control the manufacturing process; and

a reception/platform screen, coupled to the product manufacturing management apparatus and the product progress response apparatus, that is utilized by the client to operate the product manufacturing management apparatus and the product progress response apparatus.