JP2914969B2 - Product arrangement automatic determination method and device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to a work for calculating a shelf allocation of a product in a retail store, and in particular, a product suitable for adding a new product to an existing product arrangement. The present invention relates to an automatic arrangement determination method. [Prior Art] A function for adding / deleting a product, moving a display position, and changing the number of faces in an interactive manner with a user, and automatically determining the number of faces of each product based on the sales results of each product. Several companies have announced a product shelving planning work support system that has a function to do this. Example: NEC Corporation Product Catalog "Product Activation Support System SPACE-M
ATE] [Problems to be Solved by the Invention] The automatic determination function provided in the above-mentioned conventional system does not consider the movement of goods between shelves. Regarding the increase / decrease in the number of faces, know-how (for example, “I want to display more of my company products than low-company products”), “Sales amount is low because this product is a strategic product,” However, they do not want to reduce the number of faces "), and have adopted a mechanism to realize these in an interactive manner based on the planner's judgment. Therefore, there were the following problems. (1) The number of trials performed by the planner increases, and much work is required for planning work. (2) Since the number of commodities is large, the know-how possessed by the planner may not be able to be fully utilized for all commodities, and it is not always possible to realize a satisfactory commodity arrangement. (3) Depending on the skill level of the planner, a satisfactory product arrangement cannot always be determined. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to solve the above-mentioned problems, to save labor and increase the efficiency of a shelf layout planning operation, and to activate a shelf. [Means for Solving the Problems] The above-mentioned object is to make the knowledge of the planner's knowledge about the increase / decrease in the number of faces of goods and the knowledge about the movement of goods between shelves into a knowledge base. By determining the number of faces and moving the goods between shelves,
Achieved. Specifically, it is realized by the following means. (1) Means for storing sales results of individual products (2) Means for storing attributes of display shelves, attributes of products arranged on the shelves, and arrangement of individual products on the shelves (3) Means for accepting and storing the name and position of a product to be newly added and the name of a product to be deleted from the shelf (4) Means for accepting and storing the name of a product whose current display position and the number of faces are not changed (5) Means (knowledge base) for storing the knowledge of the planner regarding the increase / decrease in the number of faces and the knowledge regarding the movement of goods between shelves. (6) From the information stored in (2) and (3) above,
(7) The process of detecting a shelf that will protrude or generate an empty space. (7) From the sales results of each product and the knowledge in the knowledge base, “how many face numbers should be reduced and which face should be reduced” A process of creating an alternative and reducing the number of faces of the product based on the alternative; (8) using the knowledge in the knowledge base, an alternative of "which product should be moved to which shelf" (9) Based on the sales results of each product and the knowledge in the knowledge base, “the number of faces of any product should be increased by several faces” A process of determining an increase in the number of faces of a product based on the alternative, [Action] means (3), a name and a position of a product to be newly added, and a shelf. Enter the name of the product to be deleted from the top It accepts from The. Next, by means (4), the name of the product whose current display position and face number are not changed is received from the user. Based on the above-mentioned reception results, the display position and the number of faces of the product are automatically determined by using the processes (6) to (9). Specifically, in the process (6), it is determined whether or not the existing product is protruded by adding the product on the shelf indicated by the user to add the product. If the product protrudes, the face number of the existing product is determined to be deleted by processing (7). However, there is no guarantee that the protrusion of the product can always be eliminated only by the process (7). In this case, using the process (8), it is determined to move the product to another shelf until the protruding product can be eliminated. The above operation is repeated until there are no more protruding shelves. Further, a shelf where an empty space occurs is extracted by the process (6). Then, for the extracted shelf, an increase in the number of faces of the product is determined using the process (9). The above operation is repeated until there is no shelf having an empty space. According to the above operation, it is possible to automatically perform the shelving planning work including the movement of the goods between the shelves, so that it is possible to reduce the manpower and efficiency of the planning work. Embodiment An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIG. In FIG. 1, the flow of processing is indicated by solid arrows, and the flow of information is indicated by broken arrows. Hereinafter, the processing contents of various functions will be described in accordance with the flowchart of the processing procedure shown in FIG. Step 1: The product placement file 11 takes in the shelf attributes 1101 and the product attributes 1102 shown in FIG. 2 from the product placement file 11 by the product placement file 11 and stores them in the product layout table 17 in the same format. Further, the product arrangement 1201 is output to the computer terminal 12 in the format shown in FIG. Step 2: The added / deleted product reception function 2 outputs an additional product reception screen 1202 shown in FIG. The user enters the name of the additional product in the input field 12021 and the name of the shelf to be added in the input field 1.
In 2022, the number of faces is input in the input field 12023, the dimensions of the additional product are input in the input field 12024, and the weight is input in the input field 12025. The add / delete product reception function 2 receives the keyed-in information and stores it in the additional product table 14 in the format shown in FIG. Then, a screen 1203 for accepting the instruction of the deleted product is output. Users can use mouse, light pen,
Using the input device such as, the user designates a product to be deleted from the products on the product placement screen 1201. The added / deleted product reception function 2 receives the specified product, and stores the name of the received product in the format shown in FIG. Step 3: The reception function 3 for the number of faces / display position unchangeable products outputs a screen 1204 to the planning function terminal 12 to accept the instruction of the display position unchangeable products. Using an input device such as a mouse, a light pen, or the like, the user designates a product whose display position must not be changed from the products on the product placement reception screen 1201. The accepting function 3 for face number / display position non-changeable product receives the designated product, and stores the name of the received product in the display position non-changeable product table 16 in the format shown in FIG. Then, a screen 1205 for accepting the instruction of the face number non-changeable product is displayed, the face number non-changeable product is received in the same manner as described above, and the face number non-changeable product table 15 is displayed in the format shown in FIG. Stores the name of the product whose face number must not be changed. Step 4: The product deletion function 4 deletes the attribute of the product having the same name as the product name stored in the deleted product table 13 from the product arrangement table 17. Step 5: The function 5 for detecting a protruding shelf of a product extracts a product having the same shelf name from the products stored in the product placement table 17 and the additional product table 14,
It is determined whether or not the following condition is satisfied. However, N: a set of products having the same shelf name The shelf that does not satisfy this condition is a protruding shelf. If all the trays satisfy this condition, the process proceeds to step 8. Step 6: A function 6 for reducing the number of faces of commodities on the protruding shelves is performed on the protruding shelves. The face number reduction function 6 executes the following steps. Step 6-1: Characterization of products The cost, sales price, and number of units sold for each product, which are engraved in the format shown in Fig. 8, are taken into the sales record file 18 for each product, and sold for each product by the following formula. The amount and gross profit are calculated. Selling amount = Selling price × Selling number Gross profit = (Selling price-Cost) × Selling number Then, high, medium, and low thresholds are set in advance for each of the selling amount and the gross profit, and based on the thresholds , Characterize the product. For example, if the sales amount is at a high level and the gross profit amount is at a high level, it is a profitable product, and if the sales amount is at a high level and the gross profit amount is at a middle level, it is a popular product. Further, thresholds are set in advance for the size and weight of the product, and characterization such as long / short, heavy / light is performed. Step 6-2: Creation of Alternative Plan Here, an alternative plan of which product should be reduced in which face should be prepared. Specifically, from the face number reduction knowledge 1901 stored in the knowledge base 19 in the format shown in FIG. 9, knowledge that matches the feature extracted by the if part in step 6-1 is extracted. The then part of that knowledge is an alternative. However, the product shown in the alternative must not be a product stored in the face number unchangeable product table 15. Step 6-3: Reducing and Evaluating the Number of Faces The product having the lowest selling price is selected from the products set in the alternative, and the number of faces of the product is reduced by the number of faces indicated in the alternative. The above operation is repeated until the protruding product is eliminated, and if the operation is eliminated, the result is displayed in the product arrangement table 17.
To be stored. Steps 5 and 6 are repeated until the product runs out of the shelf. By the way, by repeating steps 6-1 to 6-3, it is not always possible to eliminate the protrusion of the product. In that case, the process proceeds to step 7. Step 7: With respect to the shelf where the protrusion of the product cannot be eliminated in Step 6, the product on the shelf is moved by the product moving function 7. The goods movement function 7 executes the following steps. Step 7-1: Characterization of merchandise and shelf The individual merchandise is characterized in the same manner as in step 6-1. Further, a threshold value is set in advance for the width dimension of the empty space on the shelf, and the threshold value is used as a reference value to perform characterization as long or short. Step 7-2: Creation of Alternative Plan Here, an alternative plan of which product should be moved to which shelf is created. Specifically, from the knowledge 1902 of movement of goods between shelves stored in the knowledge base 19 in the format of FIG.
The part extracts knowledge that matches the features extracted in step 7-1. The then part of that knowledge is an alternative. However, the merchandise shown in the alternative must not be the merchandise stored in the display position non-changeable merchandise table 16. Step 7-3: Product Movement and Evaluation Select a product that matches (or is closest to) the empty space on the destination shelf from the products set in the alternative, and moves that product according to the alternative. I do. The above operation is repeated until the protruding product is eliminated, and if the result is eliminated, the result is displayed in the product arrangement table.
Then, the process is transferred to step 8. Step 8: In the empty space holding shelf detecting function 8, the merchandise having the same shelf name is extracted from the merchandise stored in the merchandise arrangement table 17, and it is determined whether or not the following expression is satisfied. . However, N: a set of products having the same shelf name The shelf that satisfies this condition is the shelf that has an empty space. If all trays do not meet this condition,
The process moves to step 9. Step 9: Increase the number of faces of the products on the shelf for the empty space holding shelf by increasing the number of faces 9
Perform in. The face number increasing function 9 executes the following steps. Step 9-1: Characterization of Empty Space of Commodity and Shelf In the same manner as in Step 7-1, the empty space of each commodity and shelf is characterized. Step 9-2: Creation of Alternative Plan Here, an alternative plan of which product should be increased in what face is prepared. Specifically, from the face number increase knowledge 1903 stored in the knowledge base 19 in the formation of FIG.
The if part extracts knowledge that matches the feature extracted in step 9-1. That knowledge and then part is an alternative. However, the product shown in the alternative must not be a product stored in the face number unchangeable product table 15. Step 9-3: Increase and Evaluate the Number of Faces From among the products set in the alternative, select the product with the highest selling price, and increase the number of faces of the product by the number of faces indicated in the alternative. The above operation is repeated until the product cannot be placed in the empty space, and the result is stored in the product placement table 17. Steps 8 and 9 are repeated until there are no empty space holding shelves. Step 10: Product placement display function 10 based on product attributes 1102 and shelf attributes 1101 stored in product placement table 17
Displays the product placement screen 1201 on the computer terminal 12. [Effects of the Invention] According to the present invention, the user only needs to input a policy for product placement such as “what to add where” and “what to delete”, and the number of faces of each product can be reduced. The determination and the movement of the goods between the shelves can be performed automatically, and the number of trials by the user can be reduced. Therefore, it is possible to reduce labor and efficiency of the work for planning the product shelving.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a flowchart of a processing procedure showing one embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of a product placement file 11 and a product placement table 17, and FIG. FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram of the deleted product table 13, FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram of the added product table 14, and FIG. FIG. 7 is a block diagram of the product table 15 whose face number cannot be changed, FIG. 8 is a table configuration diagram of the sales result file 18 for each product, and FIG. 9 is a table of the knowledge base 19. It is a figure showing an example of composition and knowledge.

Continuation of front page    (72) Inventor Tetsuo Kusuzaki               6-23-15 Minamioi, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo Stock               Hitachi, Ltd. Omori Software Factory               Inside (72) Inventor Shoji Inoda               6-23-15 Minamioi, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo Stock               Hitachi, Ltd. Omori Software Factory               Inside (72) Inventor Isao Miyajima               1099 Ozenji Temple, Aso-ku, Kawasaki City, Kanagawa Prefecture               Hitachi, Ltd. System Development Laboratory               Inside                (56) References JP-A-60-114968 (JP, A)                 International Jou               rnal of Physical D               istrition & Mate               reals Management V               ol. 14, No. 4 1984 3-239                 Proceedings of the 32nd National Convention (▲ II               I ▼) Information Processing Society of Japan p. 2047−               2048

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] In a method for determining a new product arrangement by a computer using the product information indicating the product arrangement on the plurality of shelves and the dimensions of the shelf, the computer may further include: determining a plurality of shelves based on the product information stored in a product arrangement table in advance. Displays the products placed on the shelf on the display means of the computer, receives from the user the products to be deleted among the displayed products, the products to be added to the displayed product, and the designation of the placement shelf, and the received information. Are stored in the deleted product table and the additional product table, respectively, and the product information of the product stored in the deleted product table is deleted from the previous product placement table, and the product placement table and the additional product table from which the product information is deleted are stored. It is determined whether the product protrudes from the shelf or an empty space is available. (A) If it is determined that the product protrudes, Characterizing the protruding product based on the selling price, profit, size and weight of the product, and (b) removing from the shelf using the face number reduction knowledge for reducing the number of faces of the product based on the characteristic. And (c) deleting the products to be deleted by the number of faces indicated in the alternative having the lowest selling price of the product whose face number is to be deleted from the alternative, d) If shelves that protrude after the processing up to (c) remain, move the goods whose space for the moving goods is closest to the destination space. (e) If the empty space appears, the selling price is reduced. A product arrangement automatic determination method, characterized by increasing the highest commodity and displaying the commodity on the display means in the commodity arrangement determined in the processes (a) to (e). 2. In a product placement automatic determination device that determines a new product placement using a product placement on a plurality of shelves and product information indicating the dimensions of the shelf, a product placement table storing the product information in advance, based on the product information Display means for displaying products arranged on the plurality of shelves; and a product to be deleted among the displayed products, a product to be added to the displayed products, and designation of an arrangement shelf thereof are received from the user and received. The information is stored in the deleted product table and the additional product table, respectively, and the product information of the product stored in the deleted product table is deleted from the product placement table. The product placement table and the additional product table from which the product information is deleted Is used to determine whether the product protrudes from the shelf or if there is an empty space. (A) If it is determined that the product protrudes, the product protrudes. Carried goods selling prices, profit, based on size and weight, a characterization of the product protruding,
(B) Using the face number reduction knowledge for reducing the number of faces of the product based on the feature, create a plurality of alternatives in which products are set to be deleted from the shelf, and (c) calculate the number of faces from the alternative. The product to be deleted is deleted by the number of faces indicated in the alternative with the lowest selling price of the product to be deleted. (D) If there is a shelf that protrudes after the processing up to the above (c), the shelf is moved. The product where the space for placing the product is the closest to the destination space is moved. (E) If there is available space, the product with the highest selling price is increased, and the product is determined in the above-described processes (a) to (e). Processing means for displaying a product on the display means in the product layout.