JP7600903B2 - Work support device, work support method, and work support program - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a work assistance device, a work assistance method, and a work assistance program.

At various plants that use petroleum, petrochemical, chemical, gas, etc., safe operation of the plant is carried out by operators, workers, etc. For example, the plant is operated by operators, etc. grasping the plant's operating trends based on the plant's actual measured values of temperature, pressure, etc. obtained by various sensors such as temperature sensors and flow meters installed in the plant, and workers operating control devices such as valves and heaters installed in the plant.

If an abnormality occurs in such a plant, plant workers will respond to the abnormality by taking appropriate action according to the plant's condition, and strive to continue safe operation. For example, to resolve any abnormality that occurs in the plant, workers will manually perform the following steps:

First, the worker estimates the cause. Next, the worker creates a correction procedure based on the estimated cause. Next, the worker performs the actual work according to the created correction procedure. After that, the worker and plant manager review the manufacturing process and maintenance activities based on the work results.

The construction of the above-mentioned correction procedure includes the following steps. For example, based on the estimated cause, the worker constructs the work procedure and work content from the past maintenance history of the target device and the manual provided by the manufacturer. Next, the worker estimates the equipment required for the work. Next, the worker estimates the time required for the work. Next, the worker takes into account the manufacturing plan and determines the date, time, and worker who will perform the work.

Furthermore, carrying out work according to the established correction procedure includes the following steps. For example, a worker prepares equipment based on the established correction procedure. Next, the worker visits the work site and carries out the correction work. After that, the worker records the details of the correction work.

As a system analysis technology, a technology has been proposed in which data is acquired from an external device according to a stored analysis procedure, data analysis is performed, reference information is added to the analysis results and stored, and an analysis procedure is extracted according to the importance determined from the reference information to perform the analysis (for example, Patent Document 1). As a technology related to equipment maintenance, a technology has been proposed in which equipment required for equipment maintenance is searched for based on fault information, and whether or not the searched equipment is possessed is determined based on the equipment of a maintenance vehicle that maintains the equipment (for example, Patent Document 2). As a technology related to plant inspection work, a technology has been proposed in which a route between a worker's current location and a destination is searched for based on map data that includes information on the installation and removal of temporary structures registered in association with the ID of the passage and information on whether or not the passage is passable (for example, Patent Document 3).

JP 2005-182635 A JP 2005-140691 A JP 2005-301842 A

However, when workers or managers manually perform procedures to resolve any abnormalities that occur in a plant, as in the past, various mistakes are likely to occur. For example, possible mistakes include creating inappropriate work items and procedures, assigning members who do not have the necessary skills, not carrying necessary equipment, missing work procedures, not recording or failing to record work content, and not creating or implementing measures to prevent recurrence. As a result, it is not possible to perform appropriate work in response to the abnormality, making it difficult to operate the plant safely and efficiently.

The disclosed technology aims to provide a work support device, a work support method, and a work support program for operating a plant safely and efficiently.

In one aspect of the work support device, work support method, and work support program disclosed in the present application, a search unit searches a database using a first keyword included in fault information of a fault that has occurred in a plant to extract past similar cases, sorts the similar cases in order of the number of the first keyword included, and searches the database using a second keyword obtained from a predetermined number of similar cases that are at the top of the sorted similar cases to extract work-related information related to the work performed in the similar cases. A generation unit generates work support information for supporting work to respond to the fault, including a work procedure list in which work procedures for responding to the fault are registered and in which a work record column is provided for electronically recording work records corresponding to each of the work procedures, based on the similar cases and the work-related information extracted by the search unit. A notification unit provides the work support information generated by the generation unit.

In one aspect, the present invention can provide a work support device, a work support method, and a work support program for operating a plant safely and efficiently.

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of the overall configuration of a task support device 10 according to the first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of registered contents of the past case database. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of registered contents of the equipment repair database. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of registered contents of the member skill database. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a task skill list and worker information. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a work procedure list. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of an equipment list. FIG. 8 is a flowchart of a failure response operation support process performed by the operation support device according to the first embodiment. FIG. 9 is a block diagram of a work support device according to the second embodiment. FIG. 10 is a block diagram of a work support device according to the third embodiment. FIG. 11 is a diagram showing the hardware configuration of the work support device.

Below, examples of the work support device, work support method, and work support program disclosed in the present application are described in detail with reference to the drawings. Note that the present invention is not limited to these examples. In addition, the same elements are given the same reference numerals, duplicated descriptions are omitted as appropriate, and each embodiment can be appropriately combined within a range that does not cause inconsistencies.

[First embodiment]
[Overall configuration]
Fig. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of the overall configuration of a work support device 10 according to embodiment 1. As shown in Fig. 1, the work support device 10 is connected to a plant 1, a manager terminal 2, and a worker terminal 3 via a network, whether wired or wireless.

Plant 1 is an example of various plants that use petroleum, petrochemicals, chemicals, gas, etc., and includes factories equipped with various facilities for obtaining products. Examples of products are LNG (liquefied natural gas), resins (plastics, nylon, etc.), chemical products, etc. Examples of facilities are factory facilities, machine facilities, production facilities, power generation facilities, storage facilities, facilities at wellheads for extracting petroleum, natural gas, etc., etc.

Plant 1 is constructed using distributed control systems (DCS) and the like. For example, although not shown in the figure, the control system in plant 1 uses process data used in plant 1 to execute various controls on control devices such as field devices installed in the equipment to be controlled and on operation devices corresponding to the equipment to be controlled.

[Work support device]
The work support device 10 is a device that creates a work procedure for a fault that occurs in the plant 1. As shown in Fig. 1, the work support device 10 has a past case database 11, an equipment repair database 12, a member skill database 13, a work procedure generation unit 14, a notification unit 15, an equipment confirmation unit 16, and a work confirmation unit 17.

The past case database 11 is a database that stores information about failures that have occurred in the past in plant 1 or other plants. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the registered contents of the past case database. For example, as shown in FIG. 2, the past case database 11 registers, in association with the identification information of each past case, the date and time of the failure in that case, information about the person who responded to the failure, information about the affiliation of that person, and the qualifications held by that person. Furthermore, the past case database 11 registers the name of the equipment in which the failure occurred, the model name of that equipment, the name of the equipment manufacturer that manufactured the equipment, information about the event that occurred due to the failure, and information about other equipment affected by the failure.

The equipment repair database 12 is a database that stores repair information for past cases. Figure 3 is a diagram showing an example of the registered contents of the equipment repair database. For example, as shown in Figure 3, the equipment repair database 12 registers the repair location, repair content, work procedure, equipment used in the work, time required for the work, and qualifications required for the work in the past case in association with the identification information of the past case. The work procedure is created based on information provided by the manufacturer of the equipment to be repaired, etc.

The member skills database 13 is a database that stores information on the skills of workers who can be requested to perform work. Figure 4 is a diagram showing an example of the registered contents of the member skills database. For example, as shown in Figure 4, the member skills database 13 registers the qualifications held by each worker, the names of the devices the worker has experience working on, and work examples in association with the worker identification information representing each worker. The qualifications registered include internal and external qualifications held by the worker, as well as information on training that the worker has attended.

The work procedure generation unit 14 generates information for dealing with a failure based on information about the failure that has occurred. The work procedure generation unit 14 has a search unit 141 and a list generation unit 142.

The search unit 141 receives fault information of a fault that has occurred in the plant 1. For example, the fault information includes information on the equipment in which the fault occurred and the event that occurred. Next, the search unit 141 uses information included in the received fault information to search the past case database 11 and extracts past similar cases that are similar to the received fault from among the past cases. For example, the search unit 141 extracts similar cases by performing an AND search and an OR search using keywords included in the received fault information for all fields except for the past case identification information held in the past case database 11. Then, the search unit 141 sorts the extracted similar cases in order of the number of keywords included. The more keywords included, the more similar the case is considered to be the case is to the occurred fault, so by this sorting, the search unit 141 can sort the similar cases in order close to the order of similarity.

Next, the search unit 141 searches the equipment repair database 12 based on the extracted information on similar cases, and obtains repair information including work procedures, information on various equipment used in the work, and the qualifications required for the work. For example, the search unit 141 extracts keywords from the top of the sorted similar cases, and extracts repair information by performing AND searches and OR searches using the extracted keywords. The search unit 141 then sorts the extracted repair information in order of the number of keywords included. This sorting allows the search unit 141 to sort the work information in an order that is considered similar to work performed in response to a fault that has occurred.

Next, the search unit 141 searches the member skill database 13 based on the acquired repair information, and identifies a worker who can handle the problem that has occurred. For example, the search unit 141 extracts information on the necessary qualifications from the top of the repair information that has been arranged in order, and extracts workers by performing an AND search and an OR search using the extracted necessary qualifications. The search unit 141 then arranges the information on the workers that has been retrieved in order of the worker who holds the most qualifications required by the top repair information. By rearranging in this way, the search unit 141 can arrange the workers in order of the likelihood that they will be able to handle the problem that has occurred.

Then, the search unit 141 outputs the information on the extracted similar cases arranged in order, the work information, and the information on workers who can be requested to the list generation unit 142.

The list generation unit 142 receives input of information on similar cases of the problem that has occurred, work information, and information on workers who can be requested from the search unit 141. Next, the list generation unit 142 extracts information on necessary qualifications from the work information.

Figure 5 is a diagram showing an example of a work skill list and worker information. The list generation unit 142 extracts the necessary qualification information from the top of the repair information arranged in order and arranges it from top to bottom, thereby generating a work skill list 101 in which the qualifications necessary for troubleshooting work, i.e., techniques effective for troubleshooting, are registered as shown in Figure 5. The list generation unit 142 also generates worker information 102 indicating workers who have the necessary qualifications for troubleshooting from the information of workers who can be requested arranged in order. The list generation unit 142 arranges the workers in this worker information 102 in the order of high possibility of being able to handle the occurred fault, i.e., in the order of the received information. The list generation unit 142 then outputs the generated work skill list 101 and worker information 102 to the notification unit 15.

The list generation unit 142 also generates a work procedure list 103 in which work procedures for dealing with a fault that has occurred are registered, as shown in FIG. 6, based on the work procedures included in the work information. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a work procedure list. For example, the list generation unit 142 determines a work procedure for dealing with a fault that has occurred, based on the work procedures registered in a predetermined number of pieces of work information from among the acquired work information, and generates the work procedure list 103. At this time, the list generation unit 142 provides a work record column for inputting and electronically recording work records corresponding to each procedure listed in the work procedure list 103.

Here, the list generating unit 142 may obtain information on the worker designated by the administrator as the person in charge of troubleshooting from the notification unit 15, and determine the notification content of the work procedure according to the technical level of the worker. In this case, the list generating unit 142 uses the information in the member skill database 13 obtained by the search unit 141 to confirm the qualifications held by the worker designated by the administrator. The qualifications held by this worker are an example of a "specific skill". Then, the list generating unit 142 determines the notification content of the work procedure according to the qualifications held by the worker, and generates the work procedure list 103. For example, when the worker has few qualifications and is assumed to have a low technical level, the list generating unit 142 generates the work procedure list 103 that describes the work procedure with more detailed content. Conversely, when the worker has many qualifications and has extensive experience in training, and is assumed to have a high technical level, the list generating unit 142 generates the work procedure list 103 that describes the work procedure with simplified content.

The list generation unit 142 also determines the equipment to be used in response to the failure that has occurred based on information about the equipment used in past cases included in the work information. For example, the list generation unit 142 determines the equipment to be used in response to the failure that has occurred based on information about the equipment to be used that is registered in a predetermined number of pieces of work information that are at the top of the acquired work information. Then, the list generation unit 142 generates an equipment list 104 as shown in FIG. 7 by listing the equipment to be used in response to the failure that has occurred. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of an equipment list.

Then, the list generation unit 142 outputs the work procedure list 103 and the equipment list 104 to the notification unit 15. The list generation unit 142 also outputs the equipment list 104 to the equipment confirmation unit 16. The list generation unit 142 also outputs the work procedure list 103 to the work confirmation unit 17. This list generation unit 142 is an example of a "generation unit."

The notification unit 15 receives the work skill list 101 and the worker information 102 from the list generation unit 142. The notification unit 15 then transmits the work skill list 101 and the worker information 102 to the manager terminal 2. After that, the notification unit 15 receives information about the worker designated by the manager as the person in charge of responding to the failure from the manager terminal 2.

The notification unit 15 also receives input of the work procedure list 103 and the equipment list 104 from the list generation unit 142. Here, when the list generation unit 142 generates the work procedure list 103 according to the level of the responsible worker, the notification unit 15 outputs information about the responsible worker designated by the administrator as the person in charge of troubleshooting to the list generation unit 142. After that, the notification unit 15 receives input of the work procedure list 103 and the equipment list 104 from the list generation unit 142. Then, the notification unit 15 transmits the work procedure list 103 and the equipment list 104 to the worker terminal 3 used by the responsible worker designated by the administrator to handle the troubleshooting of the occurred fault.

The worker in charge of troubleshooting the fault checks the equipment list 104 using the worker terminal 3. The worker then prepares each piece of equipment specified in the equipment list 104. The worker then takes pictures of the prepared equipment with a camera. Next, the worker sends the photos of each piece of equipment taken using the worker terminal 3 to the work support device 10. The notification unit 15 receives the photos of each piece of equipment from the worker terminal 3. The notification unit 15 then outputs the received photos of each piece of equipment to the equipment confirmation unit 16.

If there is a shortage of equipment, the notification unit 15 receives information about the equipment that has not been prepared from the equipment confirmation unit 16. The notification unit 15 then transmits the information about the equipment that has not been prepared to the worker terminal 3, and prompts the worker in charge to prepare the equipment. In response to this, when the notification unit 15 receives a preparation completion notification from the equipment confirmation unit 16, it transmits a work permission notification to the worker terminal 3 to notify the worker in charge of permission to start work.

The worker in charge checks the work permission notification and starts work. The worker in charge performs work to deal with the fault according to the work procedure list 103. Then, when each task registered in the work procedure list 103 is completed, the worker in charge registers a work record in the work record column using the worker terminal 3 and notifies the work support device 10. The notification unit 15 receives information about the work record registered in the work record column from the worker terminal 3. The notification unit 15 then outputs the acquired work record information to the work confirmation unit 17. Thereafter, when the notification unit 15 receives a notification from the work confirmation unit 17 that a work procedure has been skipped, it sends an alert to the worker terminal 3 notifying the worker that a work procedure has been skipped.

The equipment confirmation unit 16 receives an input of the equipment list 104. The equipment confirmation unit 16 also receives an input of images of each piece of equipment prepared by the operator from the notification unit 15. The equipment confirmation unit 16 then identifies the equipment appearing in each of the acquired images. For example, the equipment confirmation unit 16 generates a learning model for recognizing the equipment appearing in the images by performing machine learning using images of a large number of pieces of equipment. The equipment confirmation unit 16 then identifies the equipment appearing in each of the acquired images by recognizing the equipment appearing in the images using the generated learning model. The equipment confirmation unit 16 then determines whether each piece of recognized equipment matches each piece of equipment listed in the equipment list 104. If there is any missing equipment, the equipment confirmation unit 16 outputs information about the equipment that has not been prepared to the notification unit 15. On the other hand, if the equipment matches, a preparation completion notification is output to the notification unit 15.

The work confirmation unit 17 receives the input of the work procedure list 103 from the list generation unit 142. The work confirmation unit 17 also receives the input of the work record information registered in the work record column from the notification unit 15. Then, the work confirmation unit 17 determines whether the work is proceeding according to the procedure. If a work procedure is skipped, the work confirmation unit 17 outputs a notification of the skipped work procedure to the notification unit 15.

[Flow of troubleshooting support process]
8 is a flowchart of a failure response operation support process performed by the work support device 10 according to embodiment 1. Next, a flow of the failure response operation support process performed by the work support device 10 according to embodiment 1 will be described with reference to FIG.

The search unit 141 acquires fault information notifying of a fault that has occurred in the plant 1 (step S1).

Next, the search unit 141 searches the past case database 11 using the acquired fault information to extract similar cases that are similar past cases (step S2).

Next, the search unit 141 searches the equipment repair database 12 using the extracted similar cases to obtain repair information regarding repairs performed in the similar cases (step S3).

Next, the search unit 141 uses the repair information to identify a worker who can be requested to handle the failure that has occurred (step S4).

The list generation unit 142 acquires information on similar cases, repair information, and information on available workers from the search unit 141. The list generation unit 142 then generates a work skill list 101, worker information 102, work procedure list 103, and equipment list 104 (step S5).

The notification unit 15 sends the work skill list 101 and worker information 102 generated by the list generation unit 142 to the manager terminal 2 and notifies the manager (step S6).

Then, the notification unit 15 obtains information about the worker in charge of responding to the failure from the administrator terminal 2 (step S7).

Then, the notification unit 15 transmits the work procedure list 103 and the equipment list 104 to the worker terminal 3 of the worker in charge of responding to the failure (step S8).

Then, the notification unit 15 receives images of each piece of equipment prepared by the responsible worker from the worker terminal 3 (step S9).

The equipment confirmation unit 16 identifies each piece of prepared equipment from the images of the equipment received by the notification unit 15. The equipment confirmation unit 16 then compares the identified equipment with the equipment registered in the equipment list 104 to determine whether the equipment preparation is complete (step S10).

If any equipment is missing (step S10: No), the equipment confirmation unit 16 transmits information about the equipment that is not prepared to the worker terminal 3 via the notification unit 15. After that, the fault response work support process returns to step S9.

In contrast, if the equipment preparation is complete (step S10: Yes), the equipment confirmation unit 16 outputs an equipment preparation completion notification to the notification unit 15. The notification unit 15 sends a work permission notification to the worker terminal 3 to notify the worker in charge of the work permission (step S11).

Then, the notification unit 15 receives the work record registered in the work record column of the work procedure list 103 from the worker terminal 3 (step S12).

The work confirmation unit 17 acquires the work record information from the notification unit 15. Then, the work confirmation unit 17 refers to the work procedure list 103 to determine whether or not a work procedure has been skipped (step S13).

If a skipped work procedure occurs (step S13: Yes), the work confirmation unit 17 outputs a notification of the skipped work procedure to the notification unit 15. The notification unit 15 sends an alert notifying the worker terminal 3 of the skipped work procedure (step S14). After that, the fault response work support process returns to step S12.

In contrast, if no skipping of a work procedure has occurred (step S13: No), the notification unit 15 determines whether or not the work to respond to the fault has been completed based on the received work record (step S15).

If the troubleshooting work has not been completed (step S15: No), the troubleshooting work support process returns to step S12. On the other hand, if the troubleshooting work has been completed (step S15: Yes), the work support device 10 ends the troubleshooting work support process.

[effect]
As described above, the work support device according to the first embodiment creates a list of skills required for work and available workers, as well as work procedures and equipment, from information on past cases, information on repairs in past cases, and information on the skills of each worker. The work support device then provides information on skills required for work and available workers to the manager, allowing the manager to select a worker to be in charge, and transmits a list of work procedures and equipment to the selected worker. The work support device then checks the prepared equipment, the work records, and the work procedures. This makes it possible to select an appropriate worker for responding to a fault. In addition, by using the equipment list or automatically determining whether or not all the equipment is available and notifying the worker, the equipment to be taken to the work site by the worker can be prepared without omission, and the work time can be reduced. In addition, by notifying an alert for an item not yet performed in the work procedure, it is possible to reduce work errors and further suppress omissions in the work records. Therefore, when a fault occurs in the plant, a fault can be responded to appropriately and quickly, and the plant can be operated safely and efficiently.

Furthermore, the work support device according to the first embodiment can create a work procedure list according to the level of the designated worker. This makes it possible for workers of any level to carry out troubleshooting work.

[Embodiment 2]
9 is a block diagram of a work support device according to embodiment 2. The work support device 10 according to embodiment 2 differs from embodiment 1 in that an operation manual for a tool used in work is provided to the worker. The work support device 10 according to embodiment 2 further includes an operation manual database 21 and a manual selection unit 22 in addition to the units of embodiment 1. In the following description, the operation of each unit similar to that of embodiment 1 will be omitted.

The operation manual database 21 stores in advance the operation manuals for the various tools used in the work. The operation manuals may be provided by the manufacturers of the tools, or may be created in advance by the administrator.

The manual selection unit 22 acquires the input of the equipment list 104 from the list generation unit 142. Then, the manual selection unit 22 selects and acquires the operation manuals for each piece of equipment registered in the equipment list 104 from the operation manual database 21. After that, the manual selection unit 22 outputs the acquired operation manuals for each piece of equipment to the notification unit 15.

The notification unit 15 receives input of the operation manual for each piece of equipment from the manual selection unit 22. The notification unit 15 then transmits the manual for each piece of equipment together with the equipment list 104 to the worker terminal 3.

As described above, the work support device according to the second embodiment provides the worker with an operation manual for each piece of equipment listed in the equipment list. This allows the worker to work without being confused about how to handle the equipment, allowing the worker to perform the work appropriately and shorten the work time. Therefore, when a fault occurs in the plant, the fault can be dealt with appropriately and quickly, allowing the plant to be operated safely and efficiently.

[Embodiment 3]
10 is a block diagram of a work support device according to a third embodiment. The work support device 10 according to the third embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that it identifies an operation that caused a mistake from an operation log and notifies the user of the operation, and further identifies work procedures that include a similar procedure and issues a warning to improve the procedure. In addition to the units of the first embodiment, the work support device 10 according to the present embodiment further includes a work record database 31, a checking unit 32, an operation procedure database 33, and a procedure improvement warning unit 34. In the following description, the operation of each unit similar to that of the first embodiment will be omitted.

The work record database 31 is a database that stores work records including the operation log of the plant 1. For example, the work record database 31 acquires the operation log of the plant 1 stored in a data storage unit separately provided in the plant 1 from the data storage unit of the plant 1. The work record database 31 may also receive input of work records from operators who have performed work in the plant 1.

The operation procedure database 33 is a database that stores the operation procedures for various operations performed in the plant 1. The operation procedure database 33 receives operation procedures for various operations in advance from, for example, the manager of the plant 1 and stores the information.

The extraction unit 32 acquires information on operations performed that are related to the failure that has occurred from the operation information database 31. Furthermore, the extraction unit 32 acquires information on similar cases from the list generation unit 142. Then, the extraction unit 32 acquires information on operations performed in the similar cases from the operation information database 31.

Then, the clarifying unit 32 detects the specific operation that caused the error from the acquired operation information. For example, the clarifying unit 32 extracts operations that are included in both the operations in the current failure and the operations in each similar case. The clarifying unit 32 then determines the extracted operation as the specific operation that caused the error. After that, the clarifying unit 32 outputs information on the specific operation that caused the error to the notification unit 15 and the procedure improvement warning unit 34.

The procedure improvement warning unit 34 receives information on the specific operation that caused the error from the extraction unit 32. The procedure improvement warning unit 34 then searches the operation procedure database 33 based on the specific operation that caused the error, and extracts specific operation procedures that include the procedure for performing the specific operation that caused the error. The procedure improvement warning unit 34 then outputs information on the extracted specific operation procedures to the notification unit 15.

Furthermore, the procedure improvement warning unit 34 may make improvements to the extracted specific operation procedure. For example, the procedure improvement warning unit 34 refers to other operation procedures and improves the specific operation procedure by replacing the procedure for performing the operation that caused the error in the extracted specific operation procedure with another procedure. After that, the procedure improvement warning unit 34 outputs the improved specific operation procedure to the notification unit 15.

The notification unit 15 receives input of information about the specific operation that caused the error from the identification unit 32. The notification unit 15 then transmits the information about the specific operation that caused the error to the administrator terminal 2.

The notification unit 15 also outputs information about the specific operation procedure, including the procedure for performing the operation that caused the error, to the notification unit 15. The notification unit 15 transmits a warning to the manager terminal 2 regarding the improvement of the notified specific operation procedure. When the notification unit 15 receives input of information about an improved specific work procedure from the procedure improvement warning unit 34, it transmits information about the improved specific work procedure to the manager terminal 2.

As described above, the work support device according to this embodiment uses operation information at the time of the failure and operation history of similar cases to identify the operation that caused the error, and further identifies the operation procedure that includes that operation, and notifies the manager of the identified information. This allows the manager to confirm the cause of the error and improve the operation procedures at the plant, allowing the plant to be operated safely and efficiently. Furthermore, by providing the manager with the improved operation procedures by the work support device, the manager can quickly and easily improve the operation procedures at the plant, allowing the plant to be operated safer and more efficiently.

[system]
The information including the processing procedures, control procedures, specific names, various data and parameters shown in the above documents and drawings can be changed arbitrarily unless otherwise specified.

In addition, each component of each device shown in the figure is a functional concept, and does not necessarily have to be physically configured as shown in the figure. In other words, the specific form of distribution and integration of each device is not limited to that shown in the figure. In other words, all or part of them can be functionally or physically distributed and integrated in any unit depending on various loads, usage conditions, etc.

Furthermore, each processing function performed by each device may be realized, in whole or in part, by a CPU (Central Processing Unit) and a program analyzed and executed by the CPU, or may be realized as hardware using wired logic.

[Hardware]
Next, an example of the hardware configuration of the work support device 10 will be described. Fig. 11 is a diagram showing the hardware configuration of the work support device. As shown in Fig. 11, the work support device 10 has a processor 91, a memory 92, a communication device 93, and a HDD (Hard Disk Drive) 94. The processor 91 is connected to the memory 92, the communication device 93, and the HDD 94 via a bus.

The communication device 93 is a network interface card or the like, and is used for communication with other information processing devices. For example, the communication device 93 relays communication between the processor 91 and an information processing device disposed in the plant 1.

The HDD 94 is an auxiliary storage device. The HDD 94 realizes the functions of the past case database 111, the equipment repair database 12, the member skill database 13, the operation manual database 21, the work record database 31, and the operation procedure database 33. The HDD 94 also stores various programs including programs for realizing the functions of the work procedure generation unit 14, the notification unit 15, the equipment confirmation unit 16, the work confirmation unit 17, the manual selection unit 22, the screening unit 32, and the procedure improvement warning unit 34.

The processor 91 reads out various programs stored in the HDD 94, expands them into the memory 92, and executes them. As a result, the processor 91 realizes the functions of the work procedure generation unit 14, the notification unit 15, the equipment confirmation unit 16, the work confirmation unit 17, the manual selection unit 22, the screening unit 32, and the procedure improvement warning unit 34.

In this way, the work support device 10 operates as an information processing device that executes various processing methods by reading and executing a program. The work support device 10 can also realize functions similar to those of the above-mentioned embodiment by reading the program from a recording medium using a media reading device and executing the read program. Note that the program referred to here is not limited to being executed by the work support device 10. For example, the present invention can be similarly applied to cases where another computer or server executes a program, or where these cooperate to execute a program.

This program can be distributed via a network such as the Internet. In addition, this program can be recorded on a computer-readable recording medium such as a hard disk, a flexible disk (FD), a CD-ROM, an MO (Magneto-Optical disk), or a DVD (Digital Versatile Disc), and can be executed by being read from the recording medium by a computer.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 Plant 2 Manager terminal 3 Worker terminal 10 Work support device 11 Past case database 12 Equipment repair database 13 Member skill database 14 Work procedure generation unit 15 Notification unit 16 Equipment confirmation unit 17 Work confirmation unit 21 Operation manual database 22 Manual selection unit 31 Work record database 32 Identification unit 33 Operation procedure database 34 Procedure improvement warning unit 101 Work skill list 102 Worker information 103 Work procedure list 104 Equipment list 141 Search unit 142 List generation unit

Claims (13)

a search unit that acquires fault information of a fault that has occurred in a plant, searches a database using a first keyword included in the acquired fault information to extract past similar cases, sorts the similar cases in descending order of the number of first keywords included, and searches the database using a second keyword obtained from a predetermined number of similar cases that are at the top of the sorted similar cases to extract work-related information on work performed in the similar cases;
a generation unit that generates work support information for supporting work to be done on the failure, the work support information including a work procedure list in which work procedures to be done on the failure are registered and a work record column is provided for electronically recording work records corresponding to each of the work procedures, based on the similar cases and the work -related information extracted by the search unit;
a notification unit that provides the work support information generated by the generation unit. The search unit extracts, as the work-related information, repair information including information on equipment used in the work and information on techniques effective for the work,
the generation unit generates, as the work support information, the work procedure list, an equipment list in which equipment to be used in the fault response work is registered, and a work skill list in which the techniques effective for the fault response work are registered, based on the similar cases and the repair information extracted by the search unit;
The work support device according to claim 1 , wherein the notification unit provides the work skill list, the work procedure list, and the equipment list. The work support device according to claim 2, characterized in that the notification unit provides the list of work skills to a manager, acquires information on a worker designated by the manager, and transmits the work procedure list and the equipment list to the worker who will be performing the work to respond to the fault. The work support device according to claim 3, characterized in that the generation unit extracts specific skills possessed by the responsible worker from a member skill database in which the skills possessed by multiple workers are registered, and determines the notification content of the work procedure for handling the fault according to the specific skills to generate the work procedure list. The work support device according to any one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that the search unit searches a member skill database in which the skills possessed by multiple workers are registered based on the repair information, and identifies and notifies a worker who possesses the skills effective for the work of responding to the fault. The work support device according to any one of claims 2 to 5, further comprising an equipment confirmation unit that acquires an image of the equipment prepared by the worker who has received the equipment list, determines whether the equipment registered in the equipment list is complete based on the image, and issues a work permission notice if the equipment registered in the equipment list is complete. The generation unit provides a work record column in the work procedure list for electronically recording a work record corresponding to each step of the work procedure,
The work support device according to any one of claims 2 to 6, further comprising a work confirmation unit that acquires information described in the work record column of the work procedure list, detects a skip in the work procedure based on the work procedure list, and notifies a warning. an operation manual database for storing operation manuals for each of the pieces of equipment;
and a manual selection unit that acquires the operation manual of the equipment listed in the equipment list from the operation manual database. The work support device according to any one of claims 2 to 8, further comprising: a work record database for storing an operation history of operations performed in the plant; and a clarification unit for obtaining operations performed in the similar cases from the work record database and detecting and notifying a specific operation that caused the failure. an operation procedure database for storing various operation procedures to be executed in the plant;
The work support device according to claim 9, further comprising: a procedure improvement warning unit that obtains a specific operation procedure including the specific operation detected by the extraction unit from the operation procedure database and issues a warning to improve the specific operation procedure. The work support device according to claim 10, characterized in that the procedure improvement warning unit creates and notifies an improved operation procedure that improves the specific operation procedure based on the operation procedure stored in the operation procedure database. Obtaining fault information for faults that occur in the plant,
searching a database using a first keyword included in the acquired fault information to extract past similar cases, sorting the similar cases in descending order of the number of the first keywords included, and searching the database using second keywords obtained from a predetermined number of similar cases that rank highly in the sorted similar cases to extract work-related information related to work performed in the similar cases;
generating work support information for supporting work to be performed on the failure, the work support information including a work procedure list in which work procedures to be performed on the failure are registered and a work record column is provided for electronically recording work records corresponding to each of the work procedures, based on the extracted similar cases and the work- related information;
providing the generated work support information. Obtaining fault information for faults that occur in the plant,
searching a database using a first keyword included in the acquired fault information to extract past similar cases, sorting the similar cases in descending order of the number of the first keywords included, and searching the database using second keywords obtained from a predetermined number of similar cases that rank highly in the sorted similar cases to extract work-related information related to work performed in the similar cases;
generating work support information for supporting work to be performed on the failure, the work support information including a work procedure list in which work procedures to be performed on the failure are registered and a work record column is provided for electronically recording work records corresponding to each of the work procedures, based on the extracted similar cases and the work- related information;
A work support program that causes a computer to execute a process of providing the generated work support information.

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