JP7635060B2 - Apparatus, method and program for supporting corrective action activities - Google Patents

Description

Embodiments of the present invention relate to technology that supports corrective action activities for nonconformance events and problems that may affect safety.

At nuclear facilities, safety quality assurance activities are carried out based on various rules outlined in quality management documents. Corrective action programs (CAPs) are then implemented to identify non-conformities that do not meet the requirements of these rules and problems that could affect safety, and a system has been established to ensure that they are corrected.

This CAP activity begins with personnel working at nuclear facilities pointing out in a condition report (CR) any on-site conditions they notice that are not as they should be. This CR can be submitted by all personnel working on the site (including those from partner companies), and its purpose is to widely collect all findings gained through the activities of these personnel.

Each submitted CR is screened to classify the risks that the described on-site conditions may pose in the future based on their importance. This classification based on importance is determined based on whether the condition has an impact on quality (nuclear safety performance) (CAQ: Condition Adverse to Quality) or has no such impact (Non-CAQ).

CRs classified as CAQ are then transferred to corrective action management, and the department responsible for dealing with the identified on-site conditions is selected, after which the planning and progress of those measures are followed up as part of CAP activities. On the other hand, CRs classified as Non-CAQ will identify the cause of the problem and work to improve it if necessary, but are excluded from CAP activities.

Patent No. 6672514

As CAP activities become more active, the number of condition reports (CRs) submitted has increased significantly, including not only non-compliance information, but also findings, audit and patrol observations, and information from partner companies. As part of these CAP activities, the large amount of collected condition reports (CRs) are statistically processed and the results are displayed in graphs to analyze and understand the condition of nuclear facilities.

In order to change the perspective of such analysis and enrich the discussion, there are frequent requests to change the graphs used. However, every time a change to a graph is requested, it takes time to recreate the graph, which can hinder the progress of the discussion.

The embodiment of the present invention has been made in consideration of these circumstances, and aims to provide a technology to support corrective action activities that makes it easy to change graphs that display the results of statistical processing of a large amount of collected condition reports (CRs).

A support device for corrective action activities according to an embodiment includes a first transmission/reception unit that receives and stores first information entered into a request form displayed on a first terminal, a second transmission/reception unit that transmits the first information to a second terminal, receives second information entered into a review form displayed on the second terminal, and links the second information to the first information and stores it, an acquisition unit that acquires from the second terminal extraction conditions that specify input data contained in the first information and the second information linked to it, an extraction unit that extracts the first information including the input data specified by the extraction conditions and the second information linked to it from the accumulated information, a receiving unit that receives graph editing conditions from the second terminal, and a creation unit that aggregates the extracted first information and the second information linked to it, creates the graph specified by the editing conditions, and displays it on the second terminal, wherein the extraction conditions specify a period during which the first information and the second information were created, by combining items included in the review form and input values of each of the items using a logical formula as the input data .

Embodiments of the present invention provide a technology to support corrective action activities that facilitates modification of graphs that display the results of statistical processing of large volumes of collected condition reports (CRs).

1 is an overall image diagram of a system to which a corrective action activity support device according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied. FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a corrective action activity support device according to an embodiment of the present invention. An image of the form displayed on the first terminal. (A) (B) An image of a review form displayed on a second terminal and a third terminal. (A) (B) An image of the graph creation form displayed on the second terminal. FIG. 2 is a sequence diagram for explaining the operation of a corrective action activity support method and a corrective action activity support program according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the attached drawings. FIG. 1 is an overall image diagram of a system 10 to which a support device 20 for corrective action activities (hereinafter, simply referred to as "support device 20") according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied. This system 10 is configured by connecting a management server (support device 20) operated by a business company, a first terminal 11 (11a, 11b, 11c, 11d) of a CR submitter who points out the on-site condition in a condition report (CR), a second terminal 12 of a screening department that classifies each submitted condition report CR based on importance, and a third terminal 13 of a department responsible for processing condition reports CR that require corrective action (classified as CAQ) based on this classification, all connected to a communication network 15.

Here, the management server (support device 20), the second terminal 12 of the screening department, and the third terminal 13 of the treatment department are managed by the business company. And the first terminals 11 (11a, 11b, 11c) of the CR submitters are managed by the cooperating companies A, B, and C, separately from the first terminal 11d managed by the business company.

Note that here, the first terminal 11, the second terminal 12, and the third terminal 13 refer to terminals at which a person with authority as a CR submitter, a person with authority for the screening department, and a person with authority for the treatment department have logged in to the management server (support device 20) via the communication network 15. Therefore, the first terminal 11, the second terminal 12, and the third terminal 13 do not mean that there are three physical terminals, and there is no limit to the number of terminals as long as a person with the respective authority can log in.

Corrective action programs (CAPs) implemented at nuclear facilities involve the collection of a wide range of status reports (CRs) from all personnel engaged in work. The first terminals 11 of CR submitters are managed not only by the operating company but also by partner companies, making it possible to collect a wide range of findings from the field, etc. This ensures that non-conformities that do not meet the requirements of the various rules described in the quality management documents and problems that may affect safety are picked up without fail and are reliably corrected.

2 is a block diagram of the support device 20 according to an embodiment of the present invention. Thus, the support device 20 includes a first transmission/reception unit 22a that receives the first information 41 entered in the invoice form 23 (FIG. 3) displayed on the first terminal 11 and stores it in the database 21, a second transmission/reception unit 22b that transmits the first information 41 to the second terminal 12, receives the second information 42 entered in the review form 25a (FIG. 4(A)) displayed on the second terminal 12, links the second information 42 to the first information 41, and stores it in the database 21, and an extraction unit 22c that specifies the input data 54 (FIGS. 3 and 4) included in the first information 41 and the second information 42 linked thereto. The system includes an acquisition unit 52 that acquires output conditions 51 (FIG. 5(A)) from the second terminal 12, an extraction unit 53 that extracts first information 41 including input data 54 specified by the extraction conditions 51 and second information 42 linked thereto from among those stored in the database 21, an acceptance unit 56 that accepts editing conditions 55 (FIG. 5(A)) for the graph 58 from the second terminal 12, and a creation unit 57 that tally up the first information 41 extracted from the database 21 and the second information 42 linked thereto, creates the graph 58 specified by the editing conditions 55, and displays it on the second terminal 12.

The support device 20 further includes a third transmission/reception unit 22c that transmits the first information 41 and the second information 42 linked thereto to the third terminal 13, receives the third information 43 entered in a review form 25b (FIG. 4(B)) displayed on the third terminal 13, and further links the third information 43 to store it in the database 21. The extraction conditions 51 can also include input data 54 included in the third information 43 as a specified target. The graph creation unit 57 can also tally up the extracted multiple pieces of third information 43 to create a graph 58.

The first transceiver unit 22a, the second transceiver unit 22b, and the third transceiver unit 22c are merely logically separated, and physically consist of a transceiver circuit 22 that exchanges data between the support device 20 and the communication network 15.

The data link unit 29 links the first information 41, second information 42, and third information 43 sent from each of the terminals 11, 12, and 13 to the support device 20 via the communication network 15 so that related pieces of information are stored in the database 21 as a single record.

Although not shown in the figure, the support device 20 is composed of a CPU that executes an operating system and application programs, a main memory unit consisting of ROM and RAM, an auxiliary memory unit consisting of a hard disk or the like, a communication control unit consisting of a network card or the like, input units such as a keyboard and mouse, and an output unit such as a monitor.

Each function of the support device 20 is realized by loading specific software onto the CPU or main memory, operating the communication control unit, input unit, output unit, etc. under the control of the CPU, and reading and writing data in the main memory or auxiliary memory. Data required for processing and the database 21 are stored in the main memory or auxiliary memory. Note that, although in this embodiment, this database 21 is constructed inside the support device 20, it may also be constructed in another device on the communication network 15.

The first terminal 11 of the CR submitter, the second terminal 12 of the screening department, and the third terminal 13 of the treatment department can be general-purpose computers that come standard with a browser capable of browsing sites on a communication network 15 such as the Internet. There are no restrictions on the location of each of these terminals 11, 12, and 13, so long as they are in an environment where they can connect to the communication network 15. The IDs and passwords required for authentication when authorized personnel log in to the system from each of the terminals 11, 12, and 13 are pre-registered in the support device 20.

Figure 3 is an image diagram of the voting form 23 displayed on the first terminal 11. When an employee of a nuclear facility becomes aware of an appearance that should not be the way it should be during their daily activities, they access the support device 20 from the first terminal 11 (Figure 2) as a CR submitter. When a first request signal 31 is sent from this first terminal 11, the support device 20 transmits the voting form 23 to the first terminal 11 and displays it on the display unit. Note that this voting form 23 may be transmitted to the first terminal 11 via the communication network 15, or may be displayed by software pre-installed on the first terminal 11.

Then, the CR submitter enters the first information 41 (status report CR) into this application form 23 from the input section (Figure 2) of the first terminal 11. Specifically, this first information 41 is a collection of input data 54 such as the "subject," "date of discovery," "reporter," "location of discovery," "temporary action," and "detailed information" of the CR issue, as shown in the application form 23 of Figure 3.

The first information 41 can be input not only as text data but also as voice data. The "discovery location" can also handle location data from map data of the facility in addition to text data. "Temporary action" is an item in which the CR submitter selects whether the temporary action for the event they noticed is "completed," "incomplete," or "unnecessary." After entering each item on the application form 23 (Figure 3) in this way, the "Apply" button is pressed, and the first information 41 is sent from the first terminal 11 to the first transceiver 22a and stored in the database 21.

Figures 4 (A) and (B) are image diagrams of the review form 25 displayed on the first terminal 11 and the second terminal 12. Note that Figures 4 (A) and 4 (B) show successive images of the review form 25 (25a, 25b). The screening department staff periodically accesses the support device 20 from the second terminal 12 (Figure 2). Alternatively, each time new first information 41 is stored in the database 21, a CR acceptance notification (not shown) informing the same may be sent to the second terminal 12.

When the second request signal 32 (FIG. 2) is sent from the second terminal 12, the review form 25 is sent from the support device 20 together with the first information 41 and displayed on the display unit. Note that the review form 25 may be sent to the second terminal 12 via the communication network 15, or may be displayed by software pre-installed on the second terminal 12.

Then, the screening department staff inputs the second information 42 into the review form 25a from the input section (FIG. 2) of the second terminal 12. Specifically, the second information 42 is a collection of input data 54 such as the CAQ classification 45, classification code 59, and person in charge 46 shown in the review form 25a in FIG. 4(A).

The items to be entered in CAQ Classification 45 are determined based on whether the CR event is a condition that affects quality (nuclear safety performance) (CAQ: Condition Adverse to Quality) or a condition that does not have such an effect (Non-CAQ). If it is classified as CAQ, then the responsible department is determined in the Responsibility 46 item, and corrective action measures for the CR event (plan formulation and progress status) are monitored. From the perspective of risk and uncertainty, CAQ classifications can be further subdivided into "high," "medium," and "low" according to importance. On the other hand, if it is classified as Non-CAQ, no responsible department is determined and it is excluded from CAP activities.

The input data 54 can be selected from among a number of items pre-registered in the review form 25. In this embodiment, the classification code 59 has a number of items 38 set, such as "process," "event," "cause," "equipment reliability," and "safety culture," and the input data 54 is selected alternatively from a number of input values 39 pre-registered in each item 38. The input values 39 of these items 38 may be specified from a number of options in this way, or may be characters entered directly.

Incidentally, it is possible to perform machine learning on the relationship between the input data 54 of the first information 41 already stored in the database 21 and the second information 42 linked thereto. By using the results of machine learning in this way, it is possible to automatically input the input data 54 of the corresponding second information 42 for new first information 41 into the review form 25a.

As shown in FIG. 4(A), a similar events list 37 is displayed adjacent to the review form 25a of the second terminal 12. When input data 54 is selected in an item of the review form 25a, first information 41 already stored in the database 21 is searched for and displayed in a list, the first information 41 dealing with similar events. Then, each time new input data 54 is selected in the review form 25a as second information 42, the search is repeated and the content displayed in the similar events list 37 is updated.

Then, when data is entered into the CAQ classification 45, classification code 59, and person in charge 46 of the review form 25a on the second terminal 12 and the "Register" button is pressed, the second information 42 including this input data 54 is stored in the database 21.

Returning to FIG. 2, the explanation will continue. The person in charge of the treatment department periodically accesses the support device 20 from the third terminal 13. When the third terminal 13 transmits a third request signal 33, the identification data of the third terminal 13 contained in this third request signal 33 (the ID of the person with authority in the treatment department) is compared with the identification data contained in the second information 42 (department data 46; FIG. 4(A)). If there are multiple pieces of information that match, the review form 25 is transmitted from the third transceiver 22c to the third terminal 13 together with the alternatively selected second information 42 and the first information 41 linked to it, and is displayed on the display.

In addition to being transmitted to the third terminal 13 via the communication network 15, the review form 25 may be displayed by software pre-installed on the third terminal 13. In addition, each time new second information 42 (FIG. 2) is stored in the database 21, a receipt notification (not shown) may be sent to the third terminal 13 in the responsible department data 46 to inform the same.

Then, the person in charge of the treatment department enters the third information 43 into the review form 25b from the input section of the third terminal 13. Specifically, this third information 43 is a collection of input data 54 entered in the fields "analysis," "countermeasures," and "deadline" shown in the review form 25b of FIG. 4(B). Note that in the review form 25 displayed on the third terminal 13, input is restricted for the fields CAQ classification 45, classification code 59, and person in charge 46.

The "Analysis" section is where the results of an analysis of why a CR event occurred are entered. The "Countermeasures" section is where the formulation of a specific plan for correcting the CR event and the progress of the plan are entered. And the "Deadline" section is where the planned completion date of the corrective action is entered. These input data 54 are updated from the third terminal 13 as progress in addressing the CR event progresses over time.

The second terminal 12 (Figure 2) can view the third information 43 entered into the review form 25 by the third terminal 13 at any time. The review form 25 has buttons that display multiple stages ("Screening," "Corrective Action," and "Completion") in the status 47 item. Each status 47 stage indicates the progress of a series of CAP activities for a CR-indicated event. These statuses 47 (input data 54) are included in the second information 42 and stored in the database 21.

The illustrated status 47 shows three types of stages: "Screening," "Corrective Action," and "Completion," but there is no limit to the number of stages as long as it is possible to represent the gradual status from when the first information 41 is accepted to when corrective action is completed.

Figures 5 (A) and (B) are image diagrams of the graph creation form 48 displayed on the second terminal 12. Note that Figures 5 (A) and 5 (B) show successive images of the graph creation form 48. As the CAP activities unfold, records consisting of the mutually linked first information 41, second information 42, and third information 43 are accumulated in the database 21 (Figure 2). The large amount of accumulated information 41, 42, and 43 records are then statistically processed and the results are displayed on graphs 58 (58a, 58b, 58e, 58d) to analyze and understand the state of the nuclear facility.

Extraction conditions 51 shown in FIG. 5 (A) specify input data 54 (FIGS. 3 and 4) contained in the records of information 41, 42, and 43. This input data 54 is specified by specifying items 38 and/or input values 39 for each item 38 included in the application form 23 or review form 25. In the graph creation form 48, extraction conditions 51 can be specified by combining "input data" using logical product (AND), logical sum (OR), and negation (NOT). Furthermore, the "data period" in which the records of information 41, 42, and 43 were created can also be used as extraction conditions 51.

The editing conditions 55 shown in FIG. 5(A) specify the type of graph 58 (58a, 58b, 58e, 58d) to be created. The types of graph 58 include, for example, bar graphs, line graphs, pie charts, scatter plots, radar charts, and combinations of these. After inputting the extraction conditions 51 and editing conditions 55, the corresponding graph 58 is displayed by pressing "display," as shown in FIG. 5(B).

Furthermore, by re-inputting at least one of the extraction conditions 51 and the editing conditions 55, another graph 58 is displayed. In this way, multiple graphs 58 (58a, 58b, 58e, 58d) created by changing the input of the extraction conditions 51 and the editing conditions 55 can be displayed side by side in the graph creation form 48.

Returning to FIG.
The acquisition unit 52 acquires extraction conditions 51 that specify input data 54 contained in the first information 41 and the second information 42 in the graph creation form 48 (Figure 5 (A)) from the second terminal 12 via the communication network.

The extraction unit 53 accesses the database 21 and extracts records of the first information 41 that includes the input data 54 specified in the extraction conditions 51 (Figure 5 (A)) and the second information 42 (and the third information 43) that is linked to it.

The receiving unit 56 receives the editing conditions 55 (Figure 5 (A)) of the graph 58 specified in the graph creation form 48 from the second terminal 12.

The creation unit 57 tally up the records of the first information 41 and the second information 42 (and the third information 43) linked thereto extracted from the database 21, creates a graph 58 (Figure 5 (B)) specified in the editing conditions 55, and displays it on the second terminal 12.

The operation of the method for supporting corrective action activities and the support program for corrective action activities according to the embodiment will be described based on the sequence diagram in Figure 6 (see Figure 2 as appropriate). When a CR submitter notices an unexpected situation at the work site (S11), the CR submitter inputs first information 41 into the application form 23 (Figure 3) displayed on the first terminal 11. This first information 41 is received by the support device 20 (S12) and stored in the database 21 (S13). This first information 41 is then transmitted from the support device 20 to the second terminal 12 (S14).

In the screening department, the second information 42 is entered into the review form 25a (FIG. 4(A)) displayed on the second terminal 12 (S15). This second information 42 is then received by the support device 20 (S16) and linked to the first information 41 and stored in the database 21 (S17). The support device 20 then transmits the first information 41 and the second information 42 linked thereto to the third terminal 13 (S18).

In the treatment department, the third information 43 is entered into the review form 25b (FIG. 4(B)) displayed on the third terminal 13 (S19). This third information 43 is then received by the support device 20 (S20) and linked to the first information 41 and the second information 42 and stored in the database 21 (S21).

In the screening department, input data 54 included in the first information 41 and second information 42 is specified as extraction conditions 51 in a graph creation form 48 (FIG. 5(A)) displayed on the second terminal 12 (S22). Then, this extraction condition 51 is acquired by the support device 20 (S23). In the support device 20, records of information 41, 42, and 43 that include the input data 54 specified in the extraction condition 51 are extracted from the database 21 (S24). Then, by repeating the flow from (S11) to (S21), records of information 41, 42, and 43 are accumulated in the database 21.

The screening department then specifies editing conditions 55 (FIG. 5(A)) for graph 58 on the second terminal 12 (S25). These editing conditions 55 are then accepted by the support device 20 (S26). The support device 20 then aggregates the records of information 41, 42, and 43 extracted from the database 21, creates graph 58 specified by editing conditions 55 (S27), and displays it on the second terminal 12 (S28). Then, by repeating the flow from (S22) to (S24) and/or (S25) to (S28), graph 58 (58a, 58b, 58c, 58d) is modified and created (END).

According to at least one embodiment of the corrective action activity support device described above, records of linked first information, second information, and third information are extracted using extraction conditions specified by input data, and a graph is created according to editing conditions, making it easy to change the display graph of the statistical processing results.

Although several embodiments of the present invention have been described, these embodiments are presented as examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These embodiments can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, substitutions, modifications, and combinations can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. These embodiments and their modifications are within the scope of the invention and its equivalents as set forth in the claims, as well as the scope and spirit of the invention.

The corrective action activity support program may be provided by being pre-installed in a ROM or the like, or by being stored in an installable or executable file format on a computer-readable storage medium such as a CD-ROM, CD-R, memory card, DVD, or flexible disk (FD). Alternatively, it may be stored on a computer connected to a network such as the Internet and provided by being downloaded via the network. The corrective action activity support device may also be configured by combining separate modules that independently perform the functions of the components and are interconnected via a communications network or dedicated lines.

10...system, 11 (11a, 11b, 11c, 11d)...first terminal, 12...second terminal, 13 (13a, 13b, 13c)...third terminal, 15...communication network, 20...support device for corrective action activities, 21...database, 22...transmitter/receiver circuit, 22a...first transmitter/receiver unit, 22b...second transmitter/receiver unit, 22c...third transmitter/receiver unit, 23...voting form, 25...review form, 29...data link unit, 31...first request signal, 32...second request signal, 33...third request signal, 37... Similar event list, 38...item, 39...input value, 41...first information, 42...second information, 43...third information, 45...CAQ classification, 46...department data, 47...status, 48...graph creation form, 51...extraction conditions, 52...extraction condition acquisition unit (acquisition unit), 53...first information extraction unit (extraction unit), 54...input data, 55...editing conditions, 56...editing condition acceptance unit (acceptance unit), 57...graph creation unit (creation unit), 58 (58a, 58b, 58c, 58d)...graph, 59...classification code.

Claims (8)

a first transmitting/receiving unit that receives and stores first information inputted into a form displayed on the first terminal;
a second transceiver that transmits the first information to a second terminal, receives second information inputted into a review form displayed on the second terminal, and links the second information to the first information and stores the second information;
an acquisition unit that acquires, from the second terminal, extraction conditions that specify input data included in the first information and the second information linked thereto;
an extraction unit that extracts the first information including the input data specified by the extraction condition and the second information linked thereto from the stored information;
a receiving unit that receives graph editing conditions from the second terminal;
a creation unit that aggregates the extracted first information and the second information linked thereto, creates the graph specified by the editing conditions, and displays the graph on the second terminal ;
The extraction conditions are a logical combination of items included in the review form and the input values of each of the items as input data, and further the period during which the first information and the second information were created is specified in the corrective action activity support device. 2. The corrective action activity support device according to claim 1,
A corrective action activity support device that displays a plurality of the graphs created by changing the input of at least one of the extraction conditions and the editing conditions side by side. 3. The corrective action activity support device according to claim 1 ,
a third transceiver that transmits the first information and the second information linked thereto to a third terminal, receives third information inputted into the review form displayed on the third terminal, and further links and stores the third information;
The extraction conditions include input data included in the third information as targets of the designation. The corrective action activity support device according to any one of claims 1 to 3 ,
A support device for corrective action activities, in which the input data of the second information in the review form displayed on the second terminal is selected from a plurality of data registered in advance. The corrective action activity support device according to any one of claims 1 to 4 ,
A corrective action activity support device that uses machine learning to determine the relationship between the input data in the already accumulated first information and the second information linked to it, and automatically inputs the input data of the second information into the review form of the second terminal. The corrective action activity support device according to any one of claims 1 to 5 ,
A corrective action activity support device that searches for similar first information from among those stored in the past based on the input data entered into the review form and displays a list on the second terminal. a step of a first transmitting/receiving unit receiving and storing first information inputted into a slip form displayed on a first terminal;
a second transceiver unit transmitting the first information to a second terminal, receiving second information inputted into a review form displayed on the second terminal, and linking the second information to the first information and storing the second information;
an acquisition unit acquiring, from the second terminal, extraction conditions that specify input data included in the first information and the second information linked thereto;
an extraction unit extracting the first information including the input data specified by the extraction condition and the second information linked thereto from the stored information;
A receiving unit receives graph editing conditions from a second terminal;
a creation unit aggregating the extracted first information and the second information linked thereto, creating the graph designated by the editing conditions, and displaying the graph on the second terminal;
A method for supporting corrective action activities in which the extraction conditions are a combination of items included in the review form and the input values of each of the items as the input data using a logical formula, and further the period during which the first information and the second information were created is specified . On the computer,
receiving and storing first information inputted into a slip form displayed on a first terminal;
a step of transmitting the first information to a second terminal, receiving second information inputted into a review form displayed on the second terminal, and linking the second information to the first information and storing the second information;
acquiring, from the second terminal, extraction conditions that specify input data included in the first information and the second information linked thereto;
extracting the first information including the input data specified by the extraction condition and the second information linked thereto from the stored information;
receiving an editing condition for the graph from a second terminal;
a step of aggregating the extracted first information and the second information linked thereto, creating the graph specified by the editing conditions, and displaying the graph on the second terminal ;
The extraction conditions are a logical combination of items included in the review form and the input values of each of the items as input data, and further the period during which the first information and the second information were created is specified .

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