JP7239652B2 - Outgoing management device - Google Patents

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a delivery management apparatus capable of improving the efficiency of delivery work for collecting and shipping desired articles from storage.

2. Description of the Related Art There is a growing demand for more efficient delivery work for appropriately collecting and shipping desired items from a storage warehouse containing a wide variety of items (finished products, parts (including supply parts), etc.). Descriptions related to these can be found in, for example, the following patent documents.

Utility Model Registration No. 3187207

The above document proposes a frontage management device that can grasp the state of a large number of frontages (locations) that are formed by partitioning a shelf and arranged in accordance with the product numbers of articles from a bird's-eye view. According to this proposal, since appropriate frontage management becomes possible, the efficiency of delivery work is indirectly improved. However, the device does not directly improve the efficiency of the shipping work.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a delivery management apparatus capable of directly improving the efficiency of delivery work.

As a result of diligent research to solve this problem, the inventors of the present invention accurately predicted the expected flow line and work time when collecting articles from storage, and created a work plan and actual work based on them. By comparing and displaying the progress, we came up with the idea of accurately managing the delivery work. By embodying this, the present invention described below has been completed.

《Delivery management device》
(1) The present invention provides flow line creation means for creating a flow line, which is a moving route for collection work for collecting articles to be delivered from a storage based on delivery instruction information, and collection work along the flow line. Work time calculation means for calculating required work time, work plan creation means for creating a work plan showing the collection work chronologically in consideration of the work time, and actual work that is the collection work that is actually performed display means for displaying the progress of the work in comparison with the work plan.

(2) According to the delivery management apparatus of the present invention, accurate and efficient delivery management becomes possible. The reason for this is as follows. First, the flow line creation means defines (creates) an efficient moving route (flow line) along the collection work of the articles to be delivered. Next, the work time calculating means calculates with high accuracy the work time required for the collection work along the flow line. Further, the work plan creating means creates a work plan (schedule) showing the collection work chronologically using the estimated work time. The display means displays the progress (actual work) of the actual collection work (actual work) while comparing it with the work plan. In this way, according to the delivery management system of the present invention, the progress or delay of the actual work can be grasped accurately and accurately.

In this way, managers and workers can judge whether or not the collection work will be completed by the set delivery (shipment) time, and whether or not assistance (rescue, assistance, etc.) is necessary for the delayed collection work. etc. can be performed accurately. As a result, collection work can be made more efficient, and delivery work can be completed more reliably by the delivery date (deadline for delivery).

"others"
(1) Specifically speaking, the delivery management apparatus of the present invention is realized by causing various computers to execute programs constituting the above-described means. The computer may include not only the host computer but also a terminal capable of communicating with the host computer.

(2) The present invention can also be grasped as a program for causing a computer to execute each of the means described above. Further, if the means described above are replaced with steps, the present invention can also be grasped as a delivery management method or the like. Furthermore, when each means is realized by a communicable host computer and a terminal, the present invention can also be grasped as a delivery management system.

It is a flow chart concerning delivery management. It is a figure which shows an example of the flow line created in the warehouse. 7 is a table showing an example of calculation of working hours; It is a figure which shows the example of preparation of a work plan. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a display example in which the work plan and the progress of actual work (actual work results) are compared; FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a display example when the estimated completion time of actual work exceeds the delivery deadline. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a display example when assistance work is introduced;

The contents described in this specification can be applied not only to the delivery management device but also to the delivery management program, the delivery management method, the delivery management system, and the like. In addition to the components of the present invention described above, one or more components arbitrarily selected from this specification may be added. Which embodiment is the best depends on the target, required performance, and the like.

《Flow line creation means》
The flow line creation means defines a moving route (flow line) in the storage for collection work based on the delivery instruction information. At this time, a route (flow line) with the shortest moving distance is usually created.

The delivery instruction information includes various information (data) such as delivery location (shipment destination), delivery (deadline) time, type and quantity of articles to be delivered. If a plurality of pieces of delivery instruction information can be handled in one round (one cycle) of collection work, the efficiency of the delivery work can be improved. Therefore, when there is a plurality of pieces of delivery instruction information, the flow line creation means preferably aggregates at least two or more pieces of delivery instruction information (core) to create a flow line.

<<Working time calculation means>>
The work time calculation means calculates the time required (work time) for performing the collection work along the defined flow line. The work time depends on the type (frontage) of the items to be collected, their quantity, the distance and speed of movement along the line of flow, the number of collections of delivery instruction information, and the setup at the start and end of each collection work. It is calculated in consideration of the man-hours and time involved. Numerical formulas and constants necessary for calculating the work time are set in advance, but may be changed as appropriate in consideration of the work history and the like.

At least the work time includes the time to move along the line of flow and the time to take out the article from the frontage on the line of flow. The travel time is calculated, for example, based on the travel distance on the flow line and the travel speed. Normally, the moving time is obtained by dividing the moving line distance by the moving speed. However, the moving speed need not be constant. Even if different movement speeds are set for each movement section on the flow line and each work content, depending on the form of storage and the content of collection work (type (e.g. weight, size, etc.) and amount of items to be collected) good. By appropriately setting each moving speed, it becomes possible to calculate a more accurate moving time and, in turn, create a work plan.

The takeout time is the time required to take out at least one or more items of at least one type from the frontage (a shelf or a section into which the shelves are divided) housing the items. When moving between a plurality of frontages in one round (one cycle) of collection work, the total time (unit removal time) required to take out the articles at each frontage is the removal time. The take-out time is also calculated in consideration of the number of frontages in which articles to be collected are accommodated, as well as the type and quantity of articles to be taken out at each frontage. By appropriately setting each unit take-out time, it becomes possible to calculate a more accurate take-out time and, in turn, create a work plan.

《Work plan creation means》
The work plan creating means creates a work plan (schedule) indicating the collection work over time based on the work time calculated according to the collection work. A work plan is created, for example, as follows. First, on the time axis, based on the delivery instruction information, the start time of the collection work and the expected completion time or the delivery deadline time are set.

Also, the required number of workers is calculated by dividing the total working time obtained by the working time calculation means by the working time per worker per day (eg, 8 hours/day). Allocate workers for the number of workers.

Next, the collection operations are arranged in order from the start time, for example, in order of the cycle with the longest operation time. At this time, it is automatically arranged so that the work completion time of each worker is even. The length of each collection work (core) shall be the respective (unit) work time.

It is efficient if the work plan creating means automatically creates a work plan based on the shipping instruction information. The work plan creation means may further include plan change means for changing the work plan. As a result, it becomes possible for the delivery manager or the like to optimize the work plan in consideration of individual circumstances (circumstances related to workers and articles to be collected, other external circumstances, etc.).

<<Display means>>
The display means displays the progress of the actual work, which is the collection work that is actually performed (also referred to as "work record"), in comparison with the work plan. This makes it possible to visually and efficiently grasp the progress of the actual work with respect to the work plan. The display means includes not only a simple display device (display) but also a program for processing display contents.

The display means preferably displays at least the predicted completion time of the actual work. As a result, for example, it becomes easier to determine whether or not the actual work will be completed by the scheduled delivery (shipment) time. In addition, it is possible to visually grasp the progress or delay of the actual work with respect to the time.

The display means preferably includes warning means for issuing a warning when there is a predetermined delay in the progress of the actual work with respect to the work plan. As a result, the delivery manager or the like can, for example, accurately assist the delayed actual work. The warning may be displayed only on the screen displaying the work results and work plan, or may be lighted by a separately provided lamp (so-called "andon").

Further, when assisting actual work whose progress is behind the work plan, the display means should also display the progress of the assisting work. As a result, the overall collection work can be clarified, and it is possible to appropriately judge whether the assistance work is excessive or insufficient.

"others"
The work of collecting articles and the work of assistance may be performed by humans (workers, managers, etc.), or may be performed by robots, automatic transport devices, and the like.

As an example of the delivery management system of the present invention, a system for carrying out delivery management of a wide variety of spare parts (goods) for automobiles stored in a warehouse (storage) will be taken up to specifically explain the present invention.

"composition"
The delivery management system includes a terminal owned by each worker who collects supply parts, a host computer that can communicate with these terminals, a display that displays the content processed by the host computer, and a warning light.

The terminal is equipped with a tablet and barcode reader. The tablet displays the type and number of supply parts to be collected by the worker, their storage location, movement route (flow line) in the warehouse, the time required for the work, the time to complete the work, and so on. The bar code reader reads various instructions, product numbers of collected parts, and the like. The tablet is capable of two-way communication with the host computer wirelessly. The barcode reader and tablet can communicate by wire or wirelessly. The data read by the barcode reader is taken into the tablet.

In addition, the start time and end time may be recorded for each worker in the home position (the starting position of leaving the warehouse and the place to return after leaving the warehouse). For example, the worker ID and the identifier (cycle number) of the delivery instruction data to be delivered next may be read by a barcode scanner, and the work time for each worker may be registered.

The host computer, like a normal computer, includes an input device, a storage device for storing programs and various types of data, an arithmetic device for operating programs and processing data, and the like. Since the host computer reads shipping instruction data (shipping instruction information), it can also communicate with the outside of the warehouse (supply parts suppliers, dealers, etc.).

The display displays work plans, work results, deadlines for shipping, progress of actual work, warnings, etc. regarding the collection and delivery of spare parts in response to commands from the host computer. A warning light (e.g., red light) lights up when a warning is displayed on the display (e.g., when collection work will not meet the delivery deadline and collection work assistance is required). This allows managers and workers in the warehouse to recognize that the collection work is considerably delayed.

"process"
Processing by the delivery management system (delivery management processing) is performed by executing a program installed in the host computer. The contents will be specifically described below based on the flowchart shown in FIG.

(1) The host computer reads delivery instruction data (order data) (step S1). The delivery instruction data consists of a group of items such as the type of supply parts to be delivered from the warehouse, their quantity (number), delivery deadline time (or supply part collection completion time), delivery destination (shipment destination), and the like. One such group of delivery instruction data is appropriately referred to as a "core". Normally, the host computer reads a large number of shipping instruction data at once for one shipping deadline.

(2) The host computer aggregates a large number of read delivery instruction data (core) in association with the delivery deadline (step S21). A movement path (flow line) within the warehouse along which all of the aggregated supply parts are most efficiently collected is calculated and defined (step S22). This aggregation processing and flow line definition correspond to the flow line creation referred to in the present invention.

An example of flow lines (bent thick solid lines) created in this way is shown in FIG. As can be seen from FIG. 2, in the warehouse, a large number of shelves are regularly arranged in the vertical and horizontal directions, and each shelf is divided into a large number of compartments (frontages) in the vertical and horizontal directions. It is One type or two or more types of supply parts distinguished by product numbers are accommodated in each frontage. Flow lines are created along passages between shelves. The numbers attached to the flow lines in FIG. 2 indicate the order of the movement routes. It should be noted that a line of flow is usually created that departs from the platform where delivery management is being performed and returns to the platform. At the platform, pre-collection setup is performed, and the collected supply parts are delivered (shipped) via the platform.

(3) The host computer calculates the time (work time) required to collect each supply part along the defined flow line (step S3). For example, as shown in FIG. 3, the subtotal of each parameter is calculated based on a predetermined unit. Based on these subtotals, a total working time is calculated.

Note that the number of setups shown in FIG. 3 is the number of man-hours necessary for calculating the time required to prepare boxes for storing the collected supply parts and the carts for transporting the boxes. The aggregate number is the number of aggregated delivery instruction data. As the number of aggregates increases, the time required to load the information necessary for the collection work into the terminal also increases. In the example shown in FIG. 3, the base time is 10 seconds, and the time corresponding to the number of cores is 3 seconds×2=6 seconds. The quantity is necessary for calculating the pick-up time of supply parts, and the flow line distance is necessary for calculating the worker's travel time.

(4) The host computer automatically draws up a work plan based on the calculated work time (step S4). FIG. 4 shows an example of this state displayed on the display. Here, collection work is assigned to two workers, and the work plan of each worker is shown on the upper side. It should be noted that the numbers (No. 1 to 8) attached to the work plan are the order of the aggregation processing (core aggregation).

Allocating each collection work to each worker is, for example, by allocating the collection work with the longest work time to the worker with the earliest work finish time, so that the work finish times of all workers are close to each other. done. Specifically, it is as follows. Each collection work is performed by each worker in order of long work time (in this example, No. 4 → No. 3 → No. 6 → No. 1 → No. 2 → No. 7 → No. 8 → No. 5). (Worker A and Worker B in this example). When the collection work (No. 4) with the longest work time is assigned to a certain worker (worker A in this example), the collection work (No. 3) with the next longest work time is assigned to the expected end time of the work. is assigned to another worker who is the fastest (worker B in this example).

The collection work (No. 6), which takes the next longest work time, is assigned to worker B because worker B is earlier than worker A when the estimated work completion times of worker A and worker B are compared. The collection work (No. 1), which takes the next longest work time, is also assigned to worker B because worker B is still earlier than worker A when comparing the estimated work completion times of worker A and worker B. FIG. In this way, while comparing the estimated work completion times of the workers, the collection work with the longest work time is assigned to each worker in order. The work plan for allocating each collection work to each worker can also be manually revised by the manager or the like.

(5) When the worker starts the supply parts collection work (actual work), the progress (actual work) is shown on the lower side of the work plan (step S51). Each time the worker collects the supply parts, the barcode displayed on the supply parts, frontage, or the like is read by a barcode reader. The data is communicated from the operator's terminal to the host computer. In this way, the host computer grasps the progress of each worker's collection work.

It is also possible to grasp the progress by scanning the barcode at the home position (start and end positions of delivery) and recording the delivery start and end times of one cycle.

FIG. 5A shows an example in which the work results and the work plan are displayed in comparison. In this case, a time bar indicating the time is displayed at the top, and a line (vertical thick solid line) indicating the current time is also displayed. In addition, each state of the collection work (delayed/advanced with respect to the work plan, in progress, not yet started) is indicated by color. In addition, a line (bold vertical dashed line) indicating the delivery deadline and a line (broken double line) indicating the completion time of collection work expected from the current situation are also shown. In this way, the progress of the collection work can be made clear at a glance by comparing and displaying the work plan and the work results. In addition, since the current time, the estimated completion time of the collection work, and the delivery deadline time are also displayed, it is possible to accurately determine whether the collection work is likely to be completed by the delivery deadline time.

During the collection work, it is monitored whether or not the predicted completion time exceeds the delivery deadline (step S52). If the predicted completion time exceeds the delivery deadline time, a warning is displayed (step S53). FIG. 5B shows an example of the state displayed on the display. In this case, the estimated completion time of the collection work of worker B has exceeded the delivery deadline. That is, it is predicted that the collection work related to the last core (one) assigned to worker B will not meet the delivery deadline. Therefore, a warning is displayed as shown in the lower right portion of FIG. 5B. In the warning display, the number of cores exceeding the delivery deadline and the time required for the collection work related to the cores are displayed. When this warning display is displayed on the display, the warning light provided in the warehouse also lights up. This makes it possible for each worker in the warehouse to grasp the current state of the collection work.

When the warning is displayed, the manager determines whether or not to introduce assistance work for the collection work whose expected completion time exceeds the delivery deadline. This judgment is made based on the overall progress of the collection work.

When the assistance work is introduced, in addition to the progress of the collection work to be assisted, the progress of the assistance work itself (work plan and work results) is also displayed on the display (step S54). An example is shown in FIG. 5C. In this case, the last collection work (core) assigned to worker B is done by the helper. As a result, the estimated time of completion of any collection work is within the delivery deadline. Incidentally, the processing (execution program) related to steps S51 to S54 corresponds to the display means of the present invention.

Note that the analysis result of the work history as described above may be reflected (feedback) in the correction/adjustment of each set value shown in FIG. By repeating this process, it is possible to formulate a more accurate work plan and realize more efficient delivery work.

Claims (7)

flow line creation means for creating a flow line, which is a movement path of a worker who collects articles to be delivered from the storage, based on the delivery instruction information including the delivery deadline ;
a work time calculation means for calculating the work time required for the collection work along the flow line;
a work plan creation means for creating a work plan showing the collection work chronologically in consideration of the work time;
display means for displaying the progress status of the actual work, which is the collection work that is actually performed , in comparison with the work plan together with the delivery deadline ;
A delivery management device. 2. The delivery management apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, when there is a plurality of delivery instruction information, said flow line creating means aggregates at least two pieces of said delivery instruction information to create said flow line. 3. The delivery management apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said work time includes at least a time for moving along said line of flow and a time for taking out an article from a frontage on said line of flow. 4. The delivery management apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein said work plan creation means comprises plan change means for changing said work plan. 5. The delivery management apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein said display means displays the predicted completion time of said actual work. 6. The delivery management apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein said display means comprises warning means for issuing a warning when said actual work has a predetermined delay with respect to said work plan. 7. The delivery management apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said display means also displays the progress of assistance work for assisting said actual work delayed with respect to said work plan.

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