阅读说明：本技术 运输作业控制设备，运输系统，运输作业控制方法和记录介质 (Transport operation control apparatus, transport system, transport operation control method, and recording medium ) 是由 但野红美子 前野义晴 于 2018-02-08 设计创作，主要内容包括：本发明通过执行运输作业控制来提高整个工厂的生产力,即使是使用运输车辆生产不同数量的不同类型的产品的类型,在运输作业控制中许多半成品经由工作站间网络被高效运输。这一运输作业控制设备被提供有：空间分布测量单元,该空间分布测量单元测量由一个或多个运输车辆运输的一组半成品的空间分布；以及作业计划计算单元,该作业计划计算单元基于一组半成品的测量出的空间分布来计算作业计划,该作业计划指定由一个或多个运输车辆中的每个运输车辆采用的运输作业路线,以及运输车辆采用该路线的频率,其中作业计划计算单元基于从一组半成品的测量出的空间分布确定的生产力指数中的变化,确定更新作业计划的时序。(The present invention improves the productivity of the entire plant by performing transport work control in which many semi-finished products are efficiently transported via an inter-station network even for types that produce different types of products in different quantities using transport vehicles. This transport work control apparatus is provided with: a spatial distribution measuring unit that measures a spatial distribution of a set of semi-finished products transported by one or more transport vehicles; and a work plan calculation unit that calculates a work plan specifying a transportation work route taken by each of the one or more transportation vehicles and a frequency at which the transportation vehicle takes the route, based on the measured spatial distribution of the set of semi-finished goods, wherein the work plan calculation unit determines a timing of updating the work plan, based on a change in productivity index determined from the measured spatial distribution of the set of semi-finished goods.)

1. A transport work control apparatus comprising:

a work plan calculation unit configured to calculate a work plan based on a spatial distribution of work-in-process transported by one or more transport vehicles, the work plan defining a route and a frequency of transport jobs performed by each of the one or more transport vehicles;

the job plan calculation unit is configured to determine a timing for updating the job plan based on a change in productivity index obtained from the spatial distribution of the work-in-process.

2. The transportation work control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the transportation work control apparatus further comprises a transportation vehicle control unit configured to operate each transportation vehicle in conformity with a real environment or with a simulation reflecting a feature of the real environment based on the work plan calculated by the work plan calculation unit.

3. The transportation work control apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein:

the transportation work control apparatus is configured to maintain a threshold value of a plant productivity degradation index, which is an index representing degradation in productivity of a plant, as the productivity index;

the job plan calculation unit is configured to calculate the plant productivity degradation index obtained from the measured spatial distribution of the work-in-process, and determine the timing of updating the job plan based on the calculated value of the plant productivity degradation index and the threshold value of the plant productivity degradation index.

4. The transport operations control apparatus of claim 3, wherein the plant productivity degradation index is calculated based on at least one of: a number of locations where the density of the article is a predetermined or higher density, an absolute value of an area or a ratio of the area with respect to the entire area of the locations where the density of the article is the predetermined or higher density, and a value representing a magnitude of a spatial deviation of the locations of the article having the predetermined or higher density.

5. The transport work control apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising a cycle point selection unit configured to limit the route of the transport work performed by each of the one or more transport vehicles to a vicinity of a work station.

6. The transportation work control apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5, further comprising:

a flow measurement unit configured to measure a flow rate of the work-in-process included in the measured spatial distribution of the work-in-process;

the work plan calculation unit is configured to prepare a new work plan when the work plan is updated such that the new work plan includes a portion of an existing route at which the flow rate of the work in process is high.

7. The transportation work control apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein:

the job plan calculation unit is further configured to calculate a plurality of job plans as candidates;

the transport work control apparatus further includes:

a work plan evaluation unit configured to evaluate the plurality of work plans calculated by the work plan calculation unit to select an optimal work plan.

8. A transportation system comprising:

one or more transport vehicles; and

a transport work control apparatus having:

a spatial distribution measurement function that measures at least a spatial distribution of work-in-process transported by the one or more transport vehicles; and

a job plan calculation function that updates a job plan defining routes and frequencies of transportation jobs performed by the one or more transportation vehicles based on the measured spatial distribution of work-in-process at a timing based on a change in productivity index obtained from the measured spatial distribution of work-in-process.

9. A transport system control method comprising:

updating a job plan at a timing based on a change in productivity index obtained from a spatial distribution of work-in-process transported by one or more transport vehicles, the job plan defining a route and frequency of transport jobs performed by the one or more transport vehicles based on the spatial distribution of the work-in-process.

10. A recording medium that records a transportation work control program that causes a control unit of a computer to operate to:

an operation plan calculation unit that updates an operation plan at a timing based on a change in productivity index obtained from a spatial distribution of work-in-process transported by one or more transport vehicles, the operation plan defining a route and a frequency of a transport operation performed by the one or more transport vehicles based on the spatial distribution of the work-in-process.

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a transport work control apparatus, a transport work control method, a transport work control program, and a recording medium recording the transport work control program for deriving a travel route of one or more transport vehicles.

Background

In recent years, shortage of talents in the fields of manufacturing and logistics is becoming a serious problem. On the other hand, as customer demands are diversified, multi-product variable-quantity factories and multi-product adaptive warehouses (hereinafter, collectively referred to as "multi-product variable-quantity factories" for the sake of brevity) are also increasing.

Generally, in a multi-product variable-quantity type plant, demand prediction is difficult, and the kind and quantity of products to be processed are often varied. Therefore, the time to complete production or the time to complete transport often varies greatly due to factors such as unexpected load changes, setting changes, insufficient working experience, and the like. Therefore, in such a multi-product variable-quantity type plant, the operation state often changes with a high frequency.

In the conveyance of work-in-process, parts, products (hereinafter collectively referred to as "work-in-process" for the sake of brevity) between the processes of a factory and a warehouse, various techniques are used to prepare efficient transportation plans based on static information such as the capacity of a step plan.

For example, patent document 1 and patent document 2 describe a transportation plan preparation apparatus and a transportation system. Patent document 1 describes a technique of generating a transportation plan with reference to transportation costs (energy and manpower) to reduce the transportation costs (energy and manpower). Patent document 2 describes a technique of generating a transportation plan (an operation route of each transportation vehicle) capable of avoiding congestion with reference to the distribution of transportation vehicles.

As one example of a transport work control technique that has been widely used for many years, there is a technique of circulating a transport vehicle or a transport worker (hereinafter, collectively referred to as "transport vehicle" for the sake of brevity) along a fixed route (hereinafter, collectively referred to as "regular-period fixed route" for the sake of brevity) including one or more predetermined workstations in a fixed (regular) period in accordance with static information such as a production amount planned in advance. The workstation is a location where one or more processes are processed, and as shown in FIG. 1, may include an input buffer for storing a large number of work-in-process products to be processed, a processing unit for production, inspection, and packaging, and an output buffer for storing work-in-process products that have been processed and are ready for shipment.

An advantage of the transport operation control technique using a periodic fixed point line is that the technique is easily understandable and easy to operate and respond when an abnormal situation occurs.

Disclosure of Invention

Problems to be solved by the invention

With the recent increase in the relative density of multi-product variable-quantity type plants, there is an increasing demand for more flexible transport operation control techniques. The transportation plan preparation apparatus and the transportation system described in patent documents 1 and 2 employ a fixed route at regular intervals, and therefore, there is a lack of flexibility in selecting a circulation route or a circulation frequency in coping with a change in the kind or the number of a large number of products. For example, the mechanisms described in patent document 1 and patent document 2 cannot determine the cycle frequency corresponding to the transport load.

As an example of a transportation control technique improved in flexibility compared to a cycle using a regular periodic fixed route, there are some techniques described in patent document 3 and patent document 4.

According to the technique described in patent document 3, a production line control system including transportation control automatically performs re-planning assuming that a facility in which an error occurs during operation no longer exists. In the control method of the automated guided vehicle described in patent document 1, products are supplied in the form of supply sheets according to schedules respectively determined in the equipment, and the equipment can be efficiently operated even when each gap in processing time occurs.

The technique described in patent document 4 is a technique for improving the production efficiency by estimating the workpiece processing completion time of the processing apparatus and speculatively moving the transport apparatus.

However, in a multi-product variable-quantity type plant in which the operation state frequently changes at a high frequency, the technique described in patent document 3 is inefficient because it is often necessary to re-plan.

On the other hand, the technique described in patent document 4 is not related to transportation using a regular periodic fixed route. Especially in the case where transportation using regular periodic fixed routes is performed in existing plants for achieving high product quality, the application of this technique tends to be difficult because such a change in the basic operation mode affects quality control.

Many factories often implement new production lines to accommodate changes in product types, although a completely new production line may be built. In order to accommodate a multi-product variable-quantity type plant system in an existing plant, it is required to improve a transport operation control technique using a regular periodic fixed route which has acquired abundant operation performance over many years.

In view of the above facts, the present invention provides a transport work control apparatus, a transport system, a transport work control method, and a recording medium, which can improve the productivity of the entire plant by transport work control of efficiently transporting a large number of work-in-process via an inter-station network even in a multi-product variable-quantity type plant using transport vehicles.

A transportation work control apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention includes a work plan calculation unit configured to calculate a work plan based on a spatial distribution of work-in-process transported by one or more transportation vehicles, the work plan defining a route and a frequency of transportation work performed by each of the one or more transportation vehicles, and the work plan calculation unit configured to determine a timing of updating the work plan based on a change in productivity index obtained from the spatial distribution of work-in-process.

A transport system according to an embodiment of the present invention includes one or more transport vehicles and a transport work control apparatus having: a spatial distribution measuring function that measures at least a spatial distribution of the work in process transported by the one or more transport vehicles; and a job plan calculation function that updates a job plan defining a route and a frequency of transportation jobs performed by the one or more transportation vehicles based on the measured spatial distribution of work-in-process based on a timing of a change in the productivity index obtained from the measured spatial distribution of work-in-process.

A transportation work control method according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: at a time sequence based on a change in the productivity index obtained from the spatial distribution of work-in-process transported by the one or more transport vehicles, a job plan is updated that defines a route and frequency of transport jobs performed by the one or more transport vehicles based on the spatial distribution of work-in-process.

A recording medium according to an embodiment of the present invention records a transportation work control program that causes a control unit of a computer to operate to: an operation plan calculation unit that updates an operation plan at a timing based on a change in productivity index obtained from a spatial distribution of work-in-process transported by one or more transport vehicles, the operation plan defining a route and a frequency of a transport operation performed by the one or more transport vehicles based on the spatial distribution of work-in-process.

Effects of the invention

The invention provides a transport operation control apparatus, a transport system, a transport operation control method, and a recording medium, which can improve the productivity of the whole plant by controlling the transport operation of efficiently transporting a large number of work-in-process products via an inter-station network even in a multi-product variable-number type plant using transport vehicles.

Drawings

FIG. 1 is a view for illustrating one example of a workstation in accordance with the present invention;

fig. 2 is a block diagram for explaining a configuration example of a transport work control apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 3 is a flowchart for explaining an example of the operation of the transport work control apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 4 is a block diagram for explaining a configuration example of a transport work control apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 5 is a flowchart for explaining an example of the operation of the transport work control apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 6 is a block diagram for explaining a configuration example of a transport work control apparatus according to a third embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 7 is a flowchart for explaining an example of the operation of the transport work control apparatus according to the third embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 8 is a block diagram for explaining a configuration example of a transport work control apparatus according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 9 is a flowchart for explaining an example of the operation of the transport work control apparatus according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 10 is an explanatory diagram (No. 1) for explaining a specific operation of the transport work control apparatus according to the present invention;

fig. 11 is an explanatory diagram (No. 2) for explaining a specific operation of the transport work control apparatus according to the present invention;

fig. 12 is an explanatory diagram (No. 3) for explaining a specific operation of the transport work control apparatus according to the present invention;

fig. 13 is an explanatory diagram (No. 4) for explaining a specific operation of the transport work control apparatus according to the present invention; and

fig. 14 is a block diagram for explaining a specific configuration example of the transport work control apparatus.

Detailed Description

[ first example embodiment ]

(description of the configuration)

A first embodiment of the present invention will be described. The transportation work control apparatus 1 controls the transportation work of the multi-product variable quantity type plant by using one or more transportation vehicles. Each transport vehicle travels in sequence along a route (inter-station network) provided between the stations under the control of the transport work control apparatus 1, and performs loading/unloading of work in process at each station as necessary.

In fig. 2, a configuration example of the transport work control apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment is shown. Description of typical constituent elements such as communication means and storage means will be omitted.

The transportation work control apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment includes a spatial distribution measuring unit 10 and a work plan calculating unit 20. The transport work control apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment is configured to be capable of storing work-in-process distribution data, which is a measured spatial distribution of work-in-process and a derived work plan. The operation plan includes a route and frequency of each transport vehicle performing transport operations along a fixed route at regular intervals.

The spatial distribution measuring unit 10 measures the spatial distribution of a large number of work in process (the number or number of work in process existing at each position) transported by a transportation vehicle or a worker in a predetermined timing. The predetermined timing is, for example, every fixed time interval (10 seconds, 1 minute, 5 minutes, etc.). The measurement of the spatial distribution of work-in-process may be performed only in time zones where workload is high, or may be performed when a predetermined event such as detection of a failure or abnormality, which is required to be measured by a user, occurs.

As a means of measuring the spatial distribution of work-in-process, the position of each work-in-process may be specified by using in-factory radio communication, a camera, an electronic tag, or the like, or each transport vehicle may inform the position of the work-in-process mounted thereon. As for the position of the transportation vehicle, a mark placed in advance in the factory is read by the transportation vehicle itself to specify the current position, or map information of the transportation vehicle is preliminarily given, including the shape and layout of each structure in the factory, and the position of itself is estimated by recognizing the shape of the surrounding environment using a sensor such as LIDAR (laser imaging detection and ranging). The spatial distribution measurement unit 10 may calculate the spatial distribution of the work-in-process based on the designated location of the work-in-process.

Further, the spatial distribution measurement unit 10 may be configured to calculate one or more factory productivity indices from the measured spatial distribution of work-in-process. For example, the spatially distributed measurement unit may be configured to calculate a plant productivity degradation index as one of the plant productivity indices. The plant productivity degradation index is an index representing a reduction in plant productivity.

As an example of a method of calculating a plant productivity degradation index, the density of the obtained work-in-process may be a predetermined density or higher (e.g., 100/m²) The number of positions of (a) is taken as a numerical value (index). Alternatively, as an example of a method of calculating a plant productivity degradation index, an absolute value (for example, 20 m) of an area of a position where the density of an in-process obtained is a predetermined density or more may be set²Above) or a ratio of the above area to the entire area (for example, 20% or more) as a numerical value (index).

Further, as the plant productivity deterioration index, the magnitude of the obtained spatial deviation representing the position of the predetermined density or higher density of the work in process may be taken as a numerical value (since the productivity of the whole plant may be lowered if the transportation load is deviated to a specific area).

Further, as the plant productivity deterioration index to be finally used, a numerical value (index) calculated in consideration of a plurality of plant productivity deterioration indexes described in the example (example of calculation: weighting and adding each index) may be used.

The spatial distribution measurement unit 10 may perform the calculation of the plant productivity degradation index with reference to the spatial distribution of work-in-process at a certain time instant, or may perform the calculation after integrating the spatial distribution of work-in-process within a certain time window.

As the time window extends, the local distribution variations are averaged out. Accordingly, a mechanism may be provided to determine an operation mode of a current measurement target area of a factory based on a temporal change of a spatial distribution of work in process or past data thereof, and automatically switch to a time window corresponding to the operation mode. The operation mode is, for example, an index indicating the current operation condition of the measurement target area of the plant, such as in unstable startup operation, in stable normal operation, in abnormal congestion, in failure recovery operation, in periodic maintenance, and the like.

The spatial distribution measurement unit 10 determines whether the calculated plant productivity degradation index is higher than a predetermined threshold value when calculating the plant productivity degradation index.

The threshold is determined from the spatial distribution of work-in-process being shipped as productivity drops to an unacceptable level, such as lead time delays or throughput reductions, that occurred in the past in the factory.

The threshold may be determined based on a measure of the spatial distribution of work-in-process being shipped, for example, when a drop in productivity to an unacceptable level has occurred in the past.

With respect to the calculation of the threshold, the threshold may be derived from a spatial distribution that reflects all work-in-process present in the factory. In addition, the local area threshold may be derived from a local spatial distribution of work-in-process that reflects a predetermined area present within the factory.

The predetermined area inside the factory may be, for example, m × n cells (for example, m cells in the lateral direction, n cells in the longitudinal direction, and m and n are natural numbers), an area with a radius of m meters, each area obtained by dividing the entire factory into m areas, an area where a specific work is performed, a predetermined important area such as a place where a large number of AGVs (automated guided vehicles) or persons enter and exit around a door, and a place which easily becomes a traffic bottleneck in terms of layout.

The threshold value may be calculated using the spatial distribution or local spatial distribution (spatial integral value) of the entire plant, an average value within a certain time range, a minimum value (if safety aspects are considered), a value whose latest value is the one occurring at the closest time instant to the current time instant (in the case of reflecting the latest state of the plant), other statistical techniques, and so on.

In addition, a variable may be added to the threshold to adjust the threshold based on the experience and knowledge of the field expert.

The work plan calculation unit 20 is configured to calculate a work plan that determines the route and frequency of the transportation work performed by each transportation vehicle from the measured spatial distribution of work-in-process. In this case, the job plan calculation unit 20 derives a new job plan to connect high-density portions in the spatial distribution of the work in process, in which the number or frequency of transportation jobs is large or high. The work plan calculation unit 20 determines a timing of updating the work plan based on a predetermined or larger variation of the productivity index obtained in the measured spatial distribution of the work in process. A plurality of criteria (thresholds) may be defined for a predetermined or larger variation of the productivity index as a time series of updating the job plan. For example, a threshold value defining an allowable amount of temporarily fast variation of the productivity index and a threshold value defining an allowable amount of temporarily slow variation of the productivity index may be appropriately determined. As a specific example, the work plan calculation unit 20 may derive a new work plan when a plant productivity degradation index, which is one of the productivity indexes, is higher than a threshold value.

A high density portion in the spatial distribution of the article refers to a specific location in space. For example, in the case where the measurement target space is represented by a two-dimensional space divided into cells in a grid shape, the position is given by the vertical xth cell and the horizontal yth cell. On the other hand, in the case where the measurement target space is represented by a graph structure in which the work stations that perform the transmission work and travel therebetween include nodes and edges connecting the nodes, the position may be given by the xth node. In the case where the measurement target space is represented by a two-dimensional space, the position may be specified by one coordinate (x, y).

As one example of a connection method, the connection of the high-density portion enables the transportation vehicle to circulate the high-density portion in the shortest distance or the shortest time. High density means that, for the number of work-in-process products transported in a particular cell, the absolute value at a particular time instant or the integrated or average value at a particular time window is greater than a predetermined value. Alternatively, the high density may indicate that the number is larger than the average value of the entire measurement target region at a predetermined or higher ratio. Alternatively, the high density may be defined by a combination thereof.

As another example of a connection method, the spatial distribution of the work-in-process is clustered by density, with the center points of the clusters connected by the shortest distance. For efficient circulation of the route, only points that are close or less distant from each other may be selected as connection objects at the time of connection, so that only close areas are included in the same route. Further, the job plan may be prepared in such a manner that the connection objects are classified into predetermined density ranges (example 1: classified into three ranges of "top 30%, bottom 30%, and others", example 2: classified into "density of 30/m²The above, other "two ranges are classified). In this way, it is possible to cycle frequently in parts of the work in process where the volume of transportation is large, and less frequently in parts where the volume of transportation is small. Therefore, the transportation cost can be reduced.

As an example of the cycling frequency of the transport vehicles, the cycling frequency is proportional to the magnitude of the average or maximum value of the cycling target portion density (e.g., calculating the work allocation of the transport vehicles assuming a finite number of transport vehicles are running continuously, in addition to maximizing the use of the charging time).

As described above, by deriving an improved work plan to make the transport vehicle efficiently pass through the high-density portion, it is possible to reduce the running cost per transport vehicle and efficiently transport each work in process.

Each transport vehicle is appropriately notified of the derived operation plan to control the transport operation in the multi-product variable quantity type plant. The throughput of the entire production line is increased by operating a multi-product variable-quantity plant based on an operation plan.

(description of the operation)

In fig. 3, an operation example of the transport work control apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment is shown.

First, the transport work control apparatus 1 measures the spatial distribution of work in process transported by each transport vehicle by the spatial distribution measuring unit 10 (step 101).

Next, the transportation work control apparatus 1 prepares (updates), based on the change in the productivity index obtained from the measured spatial distribution of work-in-process, a work plan that determines the route and frequency of the transportation work performed by each transportation vehicle from the measured spatial distribution of work-in-process by the work plan calculation unit 20 (step 102).

The work plan prepared in the above-described step is confirmed by the operator as necessary, and then each transport vehicle is notified.

Therefore, the transport work control apparatus 1 updates the work plan according to the change in the productivity index so as to control the travel of each transport vehicle. In this case, when the plant productivity degradation index is higher than the predetermined value, the transport work control apparatus 1 operates to repeat the recalculation of the work plan, for example, to prevent the drop in the field productivity from being higher than the allowable range.

(Effect)

As described above, the transport work control apparatus 1 calculates (updates) the work plan of the transport vehicle circulating along the regular periodic fixed route, so that even in a multi-product variable-quantity plant in which the work state is easily changed, the productivity of the entire plant can be efficiently maintained according to the spatial distribution of the work-in-process being transported. In this way, only a small number of transport vehicles are required to perform the work efficiently. The job plan is easy to understand since a regular-fixed route is used.

For example, if the conditions for calculating (updating) a new work plan are determined based on the spatial distribution of shipped work-in-process when an unacceptable drop in productivity has occurred in the past, it is possible to prevent excessively frequent changes in work plans even in a multi-product variable factory in which the work status frequently changes. Therefore, in the case where the production efficiency index change has little influence on the production efficiency, the work plan is not changed, so that it is possible to reduce the labor and time for rearranging each transportation vehicle after using the new work plan, and to prevent unskilled work from being brought about, and burden and unexpected trouble from being brought to the worker.

Therefore, with the transport work control apparatus according to the present embodiment, even in a multi-product variable factory using transport vehicles, the productivity of the entire factory can be improved by transport work control that efficiently transports a large number of work-in-process through an inter-workstation network.

The invention will be described below with reference to a number of embodiments. The features of the various embodiments may be combined as appropriate. In each embodiment, with respect to the constituent elements or operations that have been described, the description will be simplified or omitted.

[ second embodiment ]

(description of the configuration)

A second embodiment of the present invention will be described.

In fig. 4, a configuration example of the transport work control apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment is shown.

The transportation work control apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment includes a spatial distribution measuring unit 10, a work plan calculating unit 20, a transportation vehicle control unit 30, a work plan presenting unit 40, and a cycle point selecting unit 50. Where the spatial distribution measuring unit 10 and the work plan calculating unit 20 have been described in the first embodiment, therefore, the present embodiment will simplify or omit the description thereof.

The transportation vehicle control unit 30 operates the transportation vehicle in a real environment or in a simulated environment reflecting the characteristics of the real environment based on a given work plan.

The job plan presenting unit 40 presents the calculated job plan to the user. In this case, the display unit or the like may display the route and the frequency, or display a plan for a predetermined cycle time instant for each cycle point on the route.

In preparing routes connecting high-density portions in the spatial distribution of the article, the cycle point selection unit 50 defines the connected pair quadrant as objects near each individual workstation. For example, the vicinity of the workstation refers to a range that can be reached within a predetermined distance or within a predetermined time interval from the central portion of the workstation. In this way, it is possible to prevent a simple crowded location other than the workstation performing loading and unloading from being selected as a connection object.

(description of the operation)

In fig. 5, an operation example of the transport work control apparatus 1 is shown.

First, the transport vehicle control apparatus 30 receives a work plan (step 201).

Next, the transporting vehicle control unit 30 operates the transporting vehicle according to the received work plan (step 202).

Next, the spatial distribution measuring unit 10 measures the spatial distribution of the work in process transported by each transport vehicle (step 203).

The spatial distribution measuring unit 10 refers to the spatial distribution of work-in-process, and if the factory productivity degradation index is equal to or higher than a predetermined value, the operation proceeds to step 205. Otherwise, the operation returns to step 203 (step 204).

If the plant productivity degradation index is equal to or higher than the predetermined value, the loop point selection unit 50 eliminates those portions having a high density but far from any workstation in the spatial distribution of the work-in-process as portions not included in the loop route (step 205). Thus, the circulation point selection unit 50 selects a route along which the transportation vehicle circulates.

Next, the job plan calculation unit 20 prepares (updates) a new job plan by connecting those portions of the spatial distribution of work-in-process where the density of work-in-process is high (step 206).

Next, the job plan presenting unit 40 presents the job plan prepared in step 206 to the user (step 207). In this case, the display unit or the like may display the job plan to request the user to check and approve the job plan. Alternatively, the job plan may be displayed on a display unit mounted at an easily visible position so as to be checked when necessary, rather than for approval. If the user does not wish to confirm the prepared job plan in order to save labor or increase the speed of the improvement cycle, the operation may proceed directly to step 208 without doing so.

Finally, the operation plan is indicated to the transporting vehicle control unit 30 (step 208)

(Effect)

As described above, the transport work control apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment calculates (updates) the work plan of the transport vehicle circulating along the regular periodic fixed route, thereby making it possible to efficiently maintain the productivity of the entire plant according to the spatial distribution of the work-in-process being transported, even in a multi-product variable-quantity plant in which the work state is easily changed like the transport work control apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment. In this way, the work can be performed efficiently with a small number of transport vehicles. The work plan is easy to understand because a regular periodic fixed route is used.

In addition, with the transport work control apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment, it is possible to prevent a simple crowded position other than the workstation that performs loading and unloading from being selected as a connection object, and it is possible to improve the transport efficiency.

[ third embodiment ]

(description of the configuration)

A third embodiment of the present invention will be described.

In fig. 6, a configuration example of the transport work control apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment is shown.

The transportation work control apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment includes a spatial distribution measurement unit 10, a work plan calculation unit 20, a transportation vehicle control unit 30, a work plan presentation unit 40, and a flow rate measurement unit 60. Wherein constituent elements other than the flow rate measurement unit 60 have been described in the first and second embodiments, and therefore, the description thereof will be simplified or omitted in the present embodiment.

The flow rate measurement unit 60 is configured to measure the flow rate of each work in process (the traveling speed of the work in process to be transported).

In the present embodiment, the work plan calculation unit 20 prepares a new work plan so that the work plan includes a portion where the flow rate of work in process is high.

In this way, since the portion where the product flow rate is high is expected to be a location where the transportation vehicle easily passes, the running efficiency of the transportation vehicle can be improved.

(description of the operation)

In fig. 7, an operation example of the transport work control apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment is shown. In this operation example, differences from the transportation work control apparatus 1 according to the second embodiment will be described.

In addition to the operation of the transportation work control apparatus 1 according to the second embodiment, the transportation work control apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment performs the following operation simultaneously with step 203 of the second embodiment. It should be noted that the following operations may be performed between step 202 and step 203 or between step 203 and step 204 of the second embodiment.

The flow rate measurement unit 60 measures the flow rate of a large number of work in process transported by a transportation vehicle or a worker simultaneously with the measurement of the density of the work in process by the spatial distribution measurement unit 10 (step 303).

When a new work plan is prepared (updated) by connecting a portion where the density of work in process is high, the work plan calculation unit 20 is included in a portion where the work in process flow of the connection target is high (step 305). The criterion for determining the portion where the work in process flow is high is not limited thereto. For example, it may be determined whether the average, median, or mode of the moving speed of the transported work-in-process is not less than a predetermined value for these portions. In addition, a portion where the flow rate is larger than a predetermined ratio as compared with the average value of the flow rate of the surrounding environment (within a specific area, within a range of a predetermined distance, or the like) may be used as a criterion for determination.

(Effect)

As described above, the transport work control apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment calculates (updates) the work plan of the transport vehicle circulating along the regular periodic fixed route, thereby making it possible to efficiently maintain the productivity of the entire plant according to the spatial distribution of the work-in-process being transported, even in a multi-product variable-quantity plant in which the work state is easily changed like the transport work control apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment. In this way, the work can be performed efficiently with a small number of transport vehicles. The work plan is easy to understand because a regular periodic fixed route is used.

Further, with the transport work control apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment, since the transport vehicle smoothly passes through a passable portion, the running efficiency of the transport vehicle can be improved, as compared with the transport work control apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment.

[ fourth case ]

(description of the configuration)

A fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described.

In fig. 8, a configuration example of the transport work control apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment is shown.

The transportation work control apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment includes a spatial distribution measuring unit 10, a work plan calculating unit 20, a transportation vehicle control unit 30, a work plan presenting unit 40, and a work plan evaluating unit 70. Wherein the constituent elements other than the work plan evaluation unit 70 have already been described in the first and second embodiments, and therefore, the description thereof will be simplified or omitted in the present embodiment.

The job plan calculation unit 20 of the present embodiment is different in that, instead of a single job plan, a plurality of job plans are calculated as candidates of a job plan to be used. The work plan calculation unit 20 calculates a plurality of candidates of the work plan by changing the connection method of the high-density portion or the size of the time window.

The work plan evaluation unit 70 evaluates the productivity of each of the prepared plurality of work plans by using a predetermined index, and selects one having the highest evaluation value as a newly executed work plan. Examples of the evaluation index include throughput of the whole plant or a part of the production line thereof, running cost of the transport vehicle, operation rate of the manufacturing equipment of the workstation, intermediate stock amount, and the like, and examples of the evaluation technique include a multi-agent simulation using the transport vehicle and the workstation as agents, a technique of performing analysis by approximating the transportation of the work in process to a fluid.

One example of a method of preparing an evaluation model will be described below.

It is assumed that the processing time of each workstation is represented by a predetermined probability distribution based on statistical characteristics of the workstation, and the work-in-process provided to the input buffer is processed according to the probability distribution and output to the output buffer (herein, a mathematical model representing such behavior is referred to as a workstation model).

It is assumed that the transfer time from the output buffer of the workstation as the work in process delivery source to the input buffer of the workstation as the delivery destination is also represented by a predetermined probability distribution (herein, a mathematical model representing such behavior is referred to as a transfer model).

An evaluation model (an output value of a model of a connection source is given as an input value of a model of a connection destination) can be prepared by connecting a workstation model and a transportation model according to a connection relationship on a geographical layout of a real plant.

For example, when the input amount of the work in process supply amount from the most upstream point changes in various different patterns, by obtaining the output amount of the most downstream point of the evaluation model, various indexes such as throughput and intermediate stock amount can be calculated.

(description of the operation)

In fig. 9, an operation example of the transport work control apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment is shown. In this operation example, differences from the transport work control apparatus 1 of the second embodiment will be mainly described.

In the transport job control apparatus 1 of the present embodiment, in addition to the operation of the transport job control apparatus 1 according to the second embodiment, the job plan calculation unit 20 prepares a plurality of job plans as candidates of a job plan when preparing a new job plan by connecting high-density parts in step 205 of the second embodiment.

In addition to the operation of the second transportation work control apparatus 1, the transportation work control apparatus of the present embodiment performs the following operation between step 205 and step 206.

The job plan evaluation unit 70 evaluates the productivity of each prepared candidate job plan according to a predetermined index, and selects one having the highest evaluation value as a new job plan to execute (step 406).

(Effect)

As described above, the transport work control apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment calculates (updates) the work plan of the transport vehicle circulating along the regular periodic fixed route, thereby making it possible to efficiently maintain the productivity of the entire plant according to the spatial distribution of the work-in-process being transported, even in the multi-product variable type plant in which the work state is easily changed like the transport work control apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment. In this way, the work can be performed efficiently with a small number of transport vehicles. The work plan is easy to understand because a regular periodic fixed route is used.

In addition, with the transport work control apparatus 1 of the present embodiment, the production efficiency can be improved more efficiently than with the transport work control apparatus 1 of the first embodiment, because the present embodiment selects the optimum work plan from a plurality of candidate work plans.

[ working example ]

Here, the present invention will be described with reference to one example of the work plan deriving process of the transportation work control apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment. Here, the transport work control apparatus 1 of the second embodiment will be described together with fig. 5 by using fig. 10 to 13 as an example. Among these figures, fig. 10 is a view for explaining one example of an initial job plan, fig. 11 is a view for explaining spatial distribution of work-in-process, fig. 12 is a view for explaining the initial job plan except for a portion eliminated from a connection object, and fig. 13 is a view for explaining a new job plan prepared by connecting high-density portions.

First, the transportation vehicle control unit 30 receives an operation plan of the transportation vehicle (step 201). As one example of the operation plan, information indicating a coordinate series to be passed through in sequence, which represents the circulation route of each transport vehicle, and the circulation frequency may be used. Note that, in the diagrams shown in fig. 10 to 13, the following coordinates correspond to a grid in which the upper left cell is defined as (1, 1). The transport vehicle control unit 30 receives the information and then performs the next process.

{ (5, 5), (10, 6), (15, 12), (23, 4), (29, 10): once every 15 minutes },

{ (7,18), (14,23), (20,16), (29, 10): every 15 minutes }.

The job plan shown in fig. 10 exemplifies an initial (current) job plan. Here, the measurement target space is divided into cells. The transport work control apparatus 1 (spatial distribution measuring unit 10) measures the spatial distribution of the products being transported in each cell. Each workstation is represented by a circle and each route and its direction are represented by arrows.

Although not described in this specific example, as another example of the work plan, the transport vehicle may sequentially receive the sequence of operations to be performed.

{ advance 20 meters, confirm mark, turn 90 degrees, advance 10 meters

.

.

.

Next, the transporting vehicle control unit 30 operates each transporting vehicle according to the received work plan (step 202). For example, the transportation vehicle may estimate its own position using a marker placed at a specified position while automatically traveling, or may confirm the position while traveling by communicating with the central control apparatus by radio or the like.

Next, the spatial distribution measuring unit 10 measures the spatial distribution of the work in process transported by each transport vehicle (step 203).

In fig. 11, one example of the spatial distribution of the job plan corresponding to fig. 10 is shown. Here, the density of work-in-process per cell is represented by six levels. The darker the color of the cells, the greater the number of articles in the product (the higher the density). The higher the density, the more frequent the cycling needs to be.

Referring to fig. 11, in the upper right position of fig. 11, there is a cell cluster where no work station is present, but the traffic in process is locally larger, i.e. the traffic in process is stopped. This means that cells which are easily crowded are included in the middle of the circulation route.

The two stations located at the lower left in fig. 11 have the same cycle frequency as the station having a large work in process traffic, although the work in process traffic is small.

Next, the cycle point selection unit 50 eliminates those cells that have many work-in-process but are a predetermined distance or more away from the workstation (step 205). FIG. 12 shows the spatial distribution of the work-in-process, except for the cell cluster in the upper right position of FIG. 10, which does not have a workstation, but where the work-in-process is resting.

Next, the work plan calculation unit 20 prepares a new work plan based on the spatial distribution of work in process in fig. 12 (step 206). As will be described in detail below.

First, the work plan calculation unit 20 divides the spatial distribution of work-in-process of fig. 12 into the following two clusters with reference to whether the density is high or low.

Cluster 1: {(29, 10),(5,5),(15, 12),(20, 16),(10,6),}

Cluster 2: {(14,23),(7,18),}

Subsequently, a new loop route is prepared for each cluster. Here, the workstations in each cluster having the shortest distance are connected.

Route 1: {(5,5),(10,6),(15, 12),(20, 16),(29, 10)}

Route 2: {(7,18),(14, 23)}

As a connection method other than the above connection method, it is conceivable that the order is restricted differently depending on the kind of the product. Alternatively, the route may also be prepared using map information relating to the obstacle, as follows.

Given map information (location of obstacles, etc.) based on the plant layout CAD

Location information received from a transport vehicle or the like which suddenly fails to pass.

Subsequently, the work plan calculation unit 20 determines the cycle frequency of each route based on the prepared new route and the spatial distribution of work-in-process in each cluster. In this embodiment, as described above, the density of the work in process of each unit is classified into six levels. Here, the cycle frequency is determined according to the density of the highest-density cell in the cluster. Here, it is assumed that the cycle frequency required for each density is as follows.

-a cluster comprising cells having a first high density: circulated once in 15 minutes

-a cluster comprising cells having a second high density: circulated once in 20 minutes

-a cluster comprising cells having a third high density: cycle once in 25 minutes

-a cluster comprising cells having a fourth high density: cycle once in 30 minutes

-a cluster comprising cells having a fifth high density: circulated once in 35 minutes

-a cluster comprising cells with a sixth high density: circulating on an irregular basis

In this example, the density of the cell having the highest density in cluster 1 corresponds to "the cell having the first highest density", and thus, the cycle frequency is "one cycle for 15 minutes". On the other hand, the density of the cell having the highest density in the cluster 2 corresponds to "the cell having the fourth highest density", and therefore, the cycle frequency is "30 minutes one cycle". Based on the above, the following new job plan is prepared.

-job plan 1: {(5,5),(10,6),(15, 12),(20, 16),(29, 10): every 15 minutes }

-job plan 2: {(7,18),(14, 23): every 30 minutes }

Fig. 13 shows a newly prepared job plan. The cycle frequency of the less work in process stations is reduced compared to the initial job plan (fig. 10) to save on transportation costs. Further, by eliminating points of congestion other than workstations, transport efficiency may be improved.

In the above case, the cycle frequency preliminarily determined by the density is selected. As another method, a job plan may be prepared such that allocation of the transportation vehicles is performed based on a given transportation cost limit (e.g., a total of 8 cycles of the transportation vehicles per hour is allowed). In this case, the transport vehicles are assigned, for example, based on the ratio of the maximum density of each route. Assuming a 3 to 1 ratio of the maximum density for lane 1 to lane 2, the cycle frequency for lane 1 is once for 10 minutes and the cycle frequency for lane 2 is once for 30 minutes. In this case, the newly prepared operation schedule is as follows.

-job plan 1: {(5,5),(10,6),(15, 12),(20, 16),(29, 10): every 10 minutes }

-job plan 2: {(7,18),(14, 23): every 30 minutes }

As described above, the transport work control apparatus according to the present invention can improve the production efficiency of the entire plant by controlling the transport work of transporting a large number of work in process efficiently through the inter-station network even in a multi-product variable-quantity plant using transport vehicles.

Each unit of the transportation work control apparatus may be implemented by using a combination of hardware and software of the computer system shown in fig. 14. The computer system includes one or more processors and memory conforming to a desired schema. In the mode of the computer system, each unit may be realized by preparing a transport job control program in a memory, and operating hardware such as one or more processors by a set of execution instructions and a set of codes on the basis of the program. In this case, the program may implement the units in cooperation with functions provided by software such as an operating system, a microprogram, and a driver, as necessary.

The program data developed in the memory suitably includes sets of execution instructions and code for the one or more unit operation processors described above, table files, content data, and the like.

The computer system does not have to be constructed as a single device, but may be constructed as a so-called thin client, distributed computing, or cloud computing by a combination of a plurality of servers/computers/virtual machines. Part or all of the computer system may be implemented by hardware or firmware (e.g., one or more LSIs: large scale integration, FPGA: field programmable gate array, combination of electronic elements)). Similarly, only a portion of each unit may be replaced by hardware or firmware.

The program may be recorded in a recording medium to be distributed non-temporarily. The program recorded in the recording medium is read into the memory by wire, wireless, or the recording medium itself to operate the processor or the like.

In this specification, a recording medium includes a storage medium, a storage device, and the like. The recording medium is exemplified by an optical disk, a magnetic disk, a semiconductor memory device, a hard disk device, a tape medium, and the like. The recording medium is preferably non-transitory. The recording medium may include a combination of volatile modules (e.g., RAM: random access memory) and non-transitory modules (e.g., ROM: read only memory).

Describing the above mode in another expression, the processor operates as a spatial distribution measuring device, a work plan calculating device, a transport vehicle control device, a work plan presenting device, a cycle point selecting device, a flow rate measuring device, and a work plan evaluating device based on a transport work control program developed in the memory. Thereby, the transport work control apparatus can be realized.

Also, describing the above mode in another expression, the recording medium includes a transportation work control program developed in the memory to operate together with the information processing resource and cause the information processing resource to appropriately perform the spatial distribution measuring step, the work plan calculating step, the transportation vehicle controlling step, and the like. Thereby, the transport work control apparatus is constructed.

The invention has been described with reference to the examples. However, the specific structure of the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, but the present invention includes any modification within the scope not departing from the gist of the present invention. For example, the block structures of the foregoing embodiments may be freely modified in separation and combination, replacement steps, and the like, while satisfying the gist and functions of the present invention. The invention is not limited by the foregoing description.

A part or all of the above embodiments are described as follows. The following supplementary explanation is not intended to limit the present invention at all.

[ supplemental Specification 1 ]

A transport work control apparatus comprising:

a work plan calculation unit configured to calculate a work plan based on a spatial distribution of work-in-process transported by the one or more transport vehicles, the work plan defining a route and a frequency of transport work performed by each of the one or more transport vehicles;

the job plan calculation unit is configured to determine a timing of updating the job plan based on a change in the productivity index obtained from the spatial distribution of work-in-process.

[ supplementary notes 2 ]

The transportation work control apparatus according to supplementary note 1, wherein the transportation work control apparatus further comprises a transportation vehicle control unit configured to operate each transportation vehicle in conformity with a simulation of the real environment or a feature reflecting the real environment based on the work plan calculated by the work plan calculation unit.

[ supplemental Specification 3 ]

The transportation work control apparatus according to supplementary note 1 or 2, further comprising a work plan presenting unit configured to present the calculated work plan to a user.

[ supplementary notes 4 ]

The transport work control apparatus according to any one of supplementary notes 1 to 3, wherein:

the transport job control device is configured to maintain a threshold value of a plant productivity degradation index, which is an index representing degradation of productivity of a plant;

the job plan calculation unit is configured to calculate a plant productivity degradation index obtained from the measured spatial distribution of work-in-process, and determine a time to update the job plan based on the calculated value of the plant productivity degradation index and a threshold value of the plant productivity degradation index.

[ supplemental Specification 5 ]

The transport work control apparatus according to supplementary note 4, wherein the plant productivity deterioration index is calculated based on at least one of: the number of locations where the density of the article is the predetermined or higher density, the absolute value of the area or the ratio of the area over the entire area at locations where the density of the article is the predetermined or higher density, and a value representing the magnitude of the spatial deviation at locations with the predetermined or higher density.

[ supplementary notes 6 ]

The transport work control apparatus according to supplementary note 4 or 5, wherein the plant productivity degradation index is calculated by a specific time instant, or is calculated by integrating over a specific time window, which is switchable in response to a mode of the work.

[ supplementary notes 7 ]

The transportation work control apparatus according to any one of supplementary notes 1 to 6, wherein the work plan calculation unit is configured to prepare the work plan by connecting a high-density portion, which is the high-density portion in the spatial distribution of the work in process measured by the spatial distribution measurement unit.

[ supplementary notes 8 ]

The transportation work control apparatus according to supplementary note 7, wherein the work plan calculation unit is configured to determine the height of the density of the work in process by selecting at least one index indicating an absolute value at a specific time instant for the density, or an integrated value or an average value in a specific time window larger than a predetermined value, from a plurality of indexes, the number being larger than the average value of the entire measurement target area at a predetermined ratio or higher.

[ supplementary notes 9 ]

The conveying operation control apparatus according to supplementary note 7 or 8, wherein the work plan calculation unit is configured to connect a portion where the density of work in process is high so as to circulate in the shortest distance or the shortest time.

[ supplemental explanation 10 ]

The transportation work control apparatus according to any one of supplementary notes 7 to 9, wherein the work plan calculation unit is configured to cluster the spatial distribution of the work in process in density, and connect the center points of the clusters at the shortest distance.

[ supplementary notes 11 ]

The transport work control apparatus according to any one of supplementary notes 7 to 10, wherein the work plan calculation unit is configured to prepare the work plan by selecting, as the connection object, only those portions that are close to each other with a predetermined or smaller distance therebetween in the spatial distribution of the work in progress so that only the transport vehicles that are close to each other in the spatial distribution of the work in progress are included in the same route.

[ supplementary notes 12 ]

The transportation work control apparatus according to any one of supplementary notes 7 to 11, wherein the work plan calculation unit is configured to prepare the work plan by classifying the connection objects by a predetermined density range.

[ supplementary notes 13 ]

The transportation work control apparatus according to any one of supplementary notes 1 to 12, wherein the work plan calculation unit is configured to determine the cycle frequency in proportion to the magnitude of the average value or the maximum value of the density of the work in process of the portion that is the object of the cycle.

[ supplementary notes 14 ]

The transport work control apparatus according to any one of supplementary notes 1 to 13, further comprising a circulation point selection unit configured to restrict a route of the transport work performed by each of the one or more transport vehicles to the vicinity of the workstation.

[ supplementary notes 15 ]

The transportation work control apparatus according to supplementary note 14, wherein the circulation point selection unit identifies the vicinity of the workstation as a range reachable from a central portion of the workstation within a predetermined distance or a predetermined time interval.

[ supplementary notes 16 ]

The transport work control apparatus according to any one of supplementary notes 1 to 15, further comprising:

a flow measurement unit configured to measure a flow rate of the work in process including a measurement spatial distribution of the work in process;

the work plan calculation unit is configured to prepare a new work plan when the work plan is updated, so that the new work plan includes a part of the existing route where the work-in-process flow rate is high.

[ supplementary notes 17 ]

The transport work control apparatus according to any one of supplementary notes 1 to 16, wherein:

the job plan calculation unit is further configured to calculate a plurality of job plans as candidates;

the transport work control apparatus further includes:

a work plan evaluation unit configured to evaluate the plurality of work plans calculated by the work plan calculation unit to select an optimal plan.

[ supplementary notes 18 ]

The transportation work control apparatus according to supplementary note 17, wherein the work plan evaluation unit is configured to evaluate the work plan by using at least one of throughput of the entire plant or a part of a production line thereof, running cost of the transportation vehicle, a work rate of the transportation vehicle, and a work rate of the manufacturing apparatus of each workstation as an index.

[ supplementary notes 19 ]

A transportation system comprising:

one or more transport vehicles; and

a transport operation control apparatus includes:

a spatial distribution measurement function for measuring a spatial distribution of work-in-process transported by one or more transport vehicles; and

a job plan calculation function that updates a job plan defining a route and a frequency of transportation jobs performed by one or more transportation vehicles based on the measured spatial distribution of work-in-process at a timing based on a change in the productivity index obtained from the measured spatial distribution of work-in-process.

[ supplementary notes 20 ]

A transport system control method comprising:

measuring a spatial distribution of work-in-process transported by one or more transport vehicles;

an operation plan is updated at a time based on a change in the productivity index obtained from the measured spatial distribution of work-in-process, the operation plan defining a route and a frequency of transportation operations performed by one or more transportation vehicles based on the measured spatial distribution of work-in-process.

[ supplementary notes 21 ]

A recording medium recording a transportation work control program that causes a control unit of a computer to operate to:

a spatial distribution measurement unit configured to measure a spatial distribution of work-in-process transported by one or more transport vehicles; and

a work plan calculation unit configured to update a work plan defining a route and a frequency of a transportation work performed by one or more transportation vehicles according to the measured spatial distribution of work-in-process at a timing based on a change in the productivity index obtained from the measured spatial distribution of work-in-process.

[ supplementary notes 22 ]

A recording medium that non-temporarily records a program that causes a processor of a computer of a transport work control apparatus that is one or more transport vehicles included in a transport work control system to be operated;

a spatial distribution measurement unit configured to detect a location of each work-in-process transported by one or more transport vehicles and measure a spatial distribution of the detected work-in-process;

an operation plan calculation unit configured to update an operation plan defining a route and a frequency of transportation operations performed by one or more transportation vehicles based on a spatial distribution of work-in-process based on a timing of a change in a productivity index obtained from the spatial distribution of work-in-process transported by the one or more transportation vehicles; and

a transportation vehicle control unit configured to operate each transportation vehicle in conformity with a simulation of the real environment or a feature reflecting the real environment through radio communication based on the work plan calculated by the work plan calculation unit.

[ supplementary notes 23 ]

A recording medium that non-temporarily records a program that causes a processor of a computer to operate as a transportation operation control apparatus that controls one or more transportation vehicles included in a transportation system used by a multi-product variable-quantity factory, the operation of which is as follows:

a spatial distribution measuring unit configured to detect a position of each work-in-process transported by one or more transport vehicles and continuously measure a spatial distribution of the detected work-in-process;

an operation plan calculation unit configured to calculate an operation plan defining an inter-workstation network and a frequency of a transportation operation through the inter-workstation network based on a difference in density of work in process at each stage of the operation space based on the spatial distribution of work in process measured by the reference spatial distribution measurement unit; the inter-station network means a route on which one or more transport vehicles travel, and connects a certain station and another station installed in a multi-product variable quantity type factory through a network path, and determines a timing of updating a work plan based on a change in productivity index obtained from a measured spatial distribution of work in process; and

a transportation vehicle control unit configured to operate each transportation vehicle in conformity with the real environment or the simulation reflecting the characteristics of the real environment based on the work plan calculated by the work plan calculation unit through radio communication.

Description of the symbols

1 transport operation control device

10 spatial distribution measuring unit

20 units of work plan calculation

30 transport vehicle control unit

40 operation plan presenting unit

50 cycle point selection device

60 flow measuring unit

70 work plan evaluation unit