Manufacturing system design aid

Abstract

Suppressing rework of design caused by adjustment between a design process that creates design information and other design processes that create other design information. Input design information created by a design process included in a plurality of design processes responsible for designing a manufacturing system. Store a plurality of design information created by the plurality of design processes and dependencies (122) between the plurality of design information. Extract design information that is a change target to be changed according to the design information from the plurality of design information. Combine the design information with the plurality of design information. Analyze the impact of the design information on the design information other than the design information that is a change target included in the plurality of design information based on the dependency (122), and determine whether a change in the design information is required. When it is determined that a change in the design information is required, the design process is notified of a request to change the design information.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to a manufacturing system design assisting device. Background Art

[0002] The design of a product and the manufacture of a product cannot be performed independently of each other. Therefore, when a design department that designs a product changes the design of the product, it is desirable to achieve coordination between the design department that designs the product and the manufacturing department that manufactures the product.

[0003] In the technology described in Patent Document 1, design verification information is managed. Arrangement information of order instructions and manufacturing instructions is set in the managed design verification information. In addition, the permitted range and prohibited range of design changes are specified based on the set arrangement information. In addition, the permitted range and prohibited range of design changes are displayed on the component drawing of the design change object on the design terminal device side based on the specified permitted range and prohibited range.

[0004] In the technology described in Patent Document 2, an affected item table and a position affected item table are stored. The affected item table contains objects related to all design changes. The column of the status of the position affected item shows the status of the position affected item at any time in a specific factory. The column of the planned treatment of the position affected item shows the action to be taken on the existing inventory of the affected parts in the manufacturing plant as a result of the introduction of the engineering design change. Windows are provided so that design engineers and manufacturing engineers can advance the status of the affected items and the position affected items respectively.

[0005] According to the techniques represented by the techniques described in Patent Documents 1 and 2, when a product is manufactured by a fixed manufacturing system, it is possible to achieve collaboration between a design department that designs the product and a manufacturing department that manufactures the product.

[0006] In addition, in recent years, the manufacturing system for manufacturing products has become more complex. Therefore, in most cases, multiple design processes are responsible for the design of the manufacturing system. In the case where multiple design processes are responsible for the design of the manufacturing system, it is desired to manage the multiple designs performed by the multiple design departments in a unified manner.

[0007] In the technology described in Patent Document 3, in a production line design method, information handled among process design, layout design, and production capacity design is unified, thereby making it possible to design a production line with high productivity in a short time.

[0008] Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2006-190159

[0009] Patent Document 2: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 5-101072

[0010] Patent Document 3: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2003-44115 Summary of the invention

[0011] Multiple designs that are performed separately through multiple design processes responsible for the design of the manufacturing system cannot be performed independently of each other. Therefore, adjustments are made between multiple design processes to make the design of the manufacturing system valid. For example, when the mechanism design related to the mechanism of the manufacturing equipment constituting the manufacturing system, the electrical design related to the electrical wiring of the manufacturing equipment, and the control design related to the action logic of the manufacturing equipment are combined, adjustments are made between the design processes for performing the mechanism design, the electrical design, and the control design to make the design of the manufacturing system valid. That is, the designer of the second design process studies the scope of the influence of the design performed in the first design process included in the mechanism design, the electrical design, and the control design on the design performed in the second design process included in the mechanism design, the electrical design, and the control design to confirm whether there is a problem, and if there is a problem, the designer of the first design process is notified of the existence of the problem. However, this adjustment causes rework of the design of the manufacturing system and delays the design of the manufacturing system.

[0012] The present invention has been made in view of this problem. An object of the present invention is to provide a manufacturing system design support device that can suppress rework of a design caused by adjustment between a design process that creates design information and another design process that creates other design information.

[0013] The manufacturing system design support device comprises a design information input unit, a design information storage unit, a design information integration management unit, a design result impact analysis unit and a change entrustment notification unit.

[0014] The design information input unit inputs design information created through design processes included in a plurality of design processes in charge of designing the manufacturing system.

[0015] The design information storage unit stores a plurality of pieces of design information respectively created through a plurality of design processes and dependency relationships between the plurality of pieces of design information.

[0016] The design information integration management unit extracts design information to be changed according to the design information from the plurality of design information, and combines the design information with the plurality of design information.

[0017] The design result impact analysis unit analyzes the impact of the design information on the design information other than the design information to be changed included in the plurality of design information based on the dependency relationship, and determines whether the design information needs to be changed.

[0018] The change request notification unit notifies the design process of a request for change of the design information when determining that the change of the design information is necessary.

[0019] Effects of the Invention

[0020] According to the present invention, when it is determined that a change in design information is necessary, the design process that created the design information is notified of the request for the change in design information. Therefore, the design process that created the design information can easily recognize the necessity of changing the created design information. As a result, it is possible to suppress rework of the design caused by the adjustment between the design process that created the design information and other design processes that created other design information.

[0021] The objects, features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description and accompanying drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] Figure 1 This is a block diagram schematically illustrating the manufacturing system design support device according to the first embodiment.

[0023] Figure 2 This is a diagram illustrating an example of a user interface screen used for inputting knowledge related to a dependency relationship, which is displayed in the manufacturing system design support device according to the first embodiment.

[0024] Figure 3 This is a diagram illustrating an example of a user interface screen used for inputting knowledge related to a dependency relationship, which is displayed in the manufacturing system design support device according to the first embodiment.

[0025] Figure 4 This is a diagram illustrating an example of a user interface screen used for inputting a plurality of notification settings displayed in the manufacturing system design support device according to the first embodiment.

[0026] Figure 5 This is a flowchart illustrating a process of extracting design information to be changed by the manufacturing system design support device according to the first embodiment.

[0027] Figure 6 This is a flowchart illustrating a process of notifying a request for change of design information by the manufacturing system design support device according to the first embodiment.

[0028] Figure 7 This is a flowchart illustrating a process in which the manufacturing system design support device according to the second embodiment extracts design information including design values ​​that need to be changed based on input design information.

[0029] Figure 8This is a flowchart illustrating the flow of extracting the next design process by the manufacturing system design support device according to the second embodiment.

[0030] Fig. 9 This is a block diagram schematically illustrating a part of the manufacturing system design support device according to the third embodiment.

[0031] Fig.10 This is a block diagram schematically illustrating a part of the manufacturing system design support device according to the fourth embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0032] 1 Implementation Method 1

[0033] 1.1 Manufacturing system design auxiliary device

[0034] Figure 1 This is a block diagram schematically illustrating the manufacturing system design support device according to the first embodiment.

[0035] Figure 1 A manufacturing system design support device 1 according to the illustrated embodiment 1 supports the design of a manufacturing system for manufacturing a product.

[0036] The manufacturing system design assisting device 1 manages a plurality of design information created by a plurality of design processes responsible for the design of the manufacturing system in a unified manner. Each design information included in the plurality of design information shows the result of the design performed by the design process that created the respective design information. The plurality of design information managed in a unified manner shows the result of the design of the entire manufacturing system. In addition, the manufacturing system design assisting device 1 analyzes the impact of the input design information on the plurality of design information managed in a unified manner, and determines whether a change to the input design information is required. In addition, when it is determined that a change to the input design information is required, the manufacturing system design assisting device 1 notifies the design process that created the input design information of the request for the change to the input design information. Thus, the manufacturing system design assisting device 1 assists in the adjustment between two or more design processes included in the plurality of design processes, thereby making the system design that satisfies the restriction conditions attached to the plurality of design information labor-saving.

[0037] Each of the plurality of design processes has a plurality of design tools 2. Each design process performs design using the design tool possessed by the design process.

[0038] The plurality of design processes include at least one design process selected from the group consisting of process design, mechanical design, electrical design, control design, and design verification. Therefore, the plurality of design tools 2 include at least one design tool selected from the group consisting of a process design tool 21, a mechanical design tool 22, an electrical design tool 23, a control design tool 24, and a production simulator 25. In the first embodiment, the plurality of design processes include process design, mechanical design, electrical design, control design, and design verification. In addition, the plurality of design tools 2 include a process design tool 21, a mechanical design tool 22, an electrical design tool 23, a control design tool 24, and a production simulator 25. The process design, mechanical design, electrical design, control design, and design verification are designed using the process design tool 21, the mechanical design tool 22, the electrical design tool 23, the control design tool 24, and the production simulator 25, respectively.

[0039] The manufacturing system design support device 1 has a design information input and output unit 11, a design information storage unit 12, a design information integration management unit 13, a design result impact analysis unit 14, a change request notification unit 15, a design knowledge input unit 16, and a notification setting input unit 17. These elements are formed by causing a computer to execute an application program installed in the computer. Alternatively, all or part of these elements may be formed by hardware that does not execute the program. The following program is loaded into the installed application program to execute the following program: Figure 5 and Figure 6 The logic of the process is illustrated.

[0040] The design information is inputted from the design tools included in the plurality of design tools 2 to the design information input / output unit 11. Thus, the design information input / output unit 11 functions as a design information input unit to which the design information created by the design processes included in the plurality of design processes is inputted. In addition, the design information input / output unit 11 outputs the design information to the design tools included in the plurality of design tools 2.

[0041] The design information storage unit 12 stores system design information 121 and dependency relationship 122 .

[0042] The system design information 121 indicates the result of design of the entire manufacturing system, and includes a plurality of pieces of design information created by a plurality of design processes responsible for designing the manufacturing system.

[0043] The dependency relationship 122 is a dependency relationship between a plurality of design information included in the system design information 121 .

[0044] The design information integration management unit 13 extracts the design information to be changed according to the input design information from the plurality of design information included in the system design information 121. In addition, the design information integration management unit 13 combines the input design information with the plurality of design information included in the system design information 121. When the design information integration management unit 13 determines that the input design information does not need to be changed, it combines the input design information with the plurality of design information included in the system design information 121. Other design information is design information other than the design information to be changed included in the plurality of design information included in the system design information 121.

[0045] The design result impact analysis unit 14 analyzes the impact of the input design information on other design information based on the dependency relationship 122 , and determines whether the input design information needs to be changed.

[0046] When determining that the input design information needs to be changed, the change request notification unit 15 notifies the design process that created the input design information of a request to change the input design information.

[0047] According to the invention of Embodiment 1, when it is determined that the input design information needs to be changed, the request for the change of the input design information is notified to the design process that created the input design information. Therefore, the design process that created the input design information can easily recognize the necessity of changing the created design information. As a result, it is possible to suppress the rework of the design caused by the adjustment between the design process that created the input design information and other design processes that created other design information.

[0048] The design process that has been notified of the request to change the design information changes the design information and inputs the changed design information into the design information input / output unit 11. When it is determined that the design information needs to be changed, the request to change the changed design information is notified to the design process. The design process repeatedly changes the design information and inputs the changed design information into the design information input / output unit 11 until the request to change the design information is no longer notified. Thus, eventually, the design information that does not need to be changed can be input into the design information input / output unit 11. The design information that does not need to be changed is combined with the plurality of design information included in the system design information 121 through the design information integration management unit 13.

[0049] 1.2 Delegation of changes to dependencies and design information

[0050] The dependency relationship 122 is represented by a plurality of constraint conditions added to a plurality of design information included in the system design information 121 .

[0051] The request for changing the design information includes a constraint violation content list that lists the constraint conditions violated by the design information. If there are no constraint conditions violated by the design information, an empty constraint violation content list is notified to the design process that created the design information.

[0052] 1.3 Data Structure

[0053] The design information storage unit 12 includes a design information model 123 .

[0054] The design information model 123 stores multiple instances of design information. Multiple instances of design information are expressed as classes in the form of a class diagram of the Unified Modeling Language (UML). Multiple instances of design information are stored in a structured data format in accordance with AutomationML (registered trademark) or the like.

[0055] A plurality of pieces of design information are structured uniformly and have a specific data structure defined by the design information model 123. The specific data structure is a data structure in accordance with AutomationML or the like.

[0056] The dependency relationship 122 is structured and has a specific data structure defined by the design information model 123. The specific data structure is a data structure in accordance with AutomationML or the like.

[0057] The design information input / output unit 11 converts the input design information into structured design information having a specific data structure defined by the design information model 123 .

[0058] The design information integration management unit 13 extracts the design information to be changed based on the system design information 121 and the structured design information. In addition, the design information integration management unit 13 combines the structured design information with the plurality of unitarily structured design information included in the system design information 121.

[0059] Thus, the structured design information expressed in a standard format is handled in the main part of the manufacturing system design support device 1. Thus, it is easy to manage a plurality of design information in a unified manner.

[0060] 1.4 Input of design knowledge

[0061] The knowledge related to the dependency relationship 122 is input to the design knowledge input unit 16 .

[0062] When inputting knowledge related to the dependency relationship 122 to the design knowledge input unit 16, a combination of design information having a dependency relationship is selected from a plurality of design information included in the system design information 121, and the dependency relationship of the selected combination of design information is input. The design information to be combined is two pieces of design information. The design information to be combined may also be greater than or equal to three pieces of design information.

[0063] Figure 2 and Figure 3 This is a diagram illustrating an example of a user interface screen used for inputting knowledge related to a dependency relationship, which is displayed in the manufacturing system design support device according to the first embodiment.

[0064] Figure 2 and Figure 3 The user interface screens 161 and 162 shown in each figure are displayed by executing application programs on a computer.

[0065] The user interface screen 161 includes a new button 161 a , a rule list display area 161 b , and an OK button 161 c .

[0066] A plurality of rule drawing elements 161d are displayed in the rule list display area 161b. Each rule drawing element 161e included in the plurality of rule drawing elements 161d shows a dependency relationship.

[0067] Each rule depicting element 161e includes a first design information depicting element 161f, a second design information depicting element 161g, a connecting line 161h, and a detail button 161i. The first design information depicting element 161f and the second design information depicting element 161g are connected to each other by the connecting line 161h. The detail button 161i is arranged on the connecting line 161h. The first design information depicting element 161f shows the first design information. The second design information depicting element 161g shows the second design information. The fact that the first design information depicting element 161f and the second design information depicting element 161g are connected to each other by the connecting line 161h indicates that the first design information and the second design information have a dependency relationship.

[0068] The user interface screen 162 includes an OK button 162 c , a drop-down list 162 a for selecting the type of rule, and a drop-down list group 162 b for selecting the content of the rule.

[0069] The drop-down list group 162b includes a drop-down list 162d for selecting the first design information, a drop-down list 162e for selecting the second design information, and a drop-down list 162f for selecting a condition.

[0070] When the new button 161 a is pressed while the user interface screen 161 is displayed, the user interface screen 162 is displayed, and a new rule can be created by operating the user interface screen 162 .

[0071] When the detail button 161 i is pressed while the user interface screen 161 is displayed, the user interface screen 162 is displayed, and the existing rule can be edited by operating the user interface screen 162 .

[0072] When the OK button 161 c is pressed while the user interface screen 161 is displayed, a plurality of dependency relationships represented by a plurality of rule drawing elements 161 d displayed in the rule list display area 161 b are input to the design knowledge input unit 16 .

[0073] When the user interface screen 162 is displayed, after the selection operation for selecting the type of rule is performed on the drop-down list 162a, the selection operation for selecting the first design information is performed on the drop-down list 162d, the selection operation for selecting the second design information is performed on the drop-down list 162e, and the selection operation for selecting the condition is performed on the drop-down list 162f, and then the OK button 162c is pressed, the user interface screen 161 is displayed. In the displayed user interface screen 161, the rule description elements showing the rules corresponding to the selected rule type, the first design information, the second design information, and the condition are displayed in the display area 161b of the rule list.

[0074] All or part of the new button 161a, OK button 161c, detail button 161i and OK button 162c may be replaced by GUI components other than buttons. All or part of the drop-down lists 162a, 162d, 162e and 162f may be replaced by GUI components other than drop-down lists.

[0075] 1.5 Input of notification settings

[0076] A plurality of notification settings respectively set for a plurality of design processes are input to the notification setting input unit 17 .

[0077] The change request notification unit 15 notifies the design process that has created the design information of the request for the change of the design information according to the notification setting set for the design process that has created the design information. When the notification target 3 of the design process that has created the design information is set in the notification setting, the request for the change of the design information is notified to the set notification target 3.

[0078] Figure 4This is a diagram illustrating an example of a user interface screen used for inputting notification settings in the manufacturing system design support device according to the first embodiment.

[0079] Figure 4 The illustrated user interface screen 171 is displayed by executing an application program on a computer.

[0080] The user interface screen 171 includes an OK button 171 b and a plurality of setting lines 171 a for setting each of a plurality of notification settings.

[0081] Each setting row 171c included in the plurality of setting rows 171a includes a drop-down list 171d for selecting a notification method and a text box 171e for inputting a notification destination. A selection operation can be performed on the drop-down list 171d to select one notification method from screen display, short message service (SMS) and email. The text box 171e for inputting a notification destination is grayed out when a selection operation is performed on the drop-down list 171d to select a screen display. When a selection operation is performed on the drop-down list 171d to select SMS, an input operation can be performed on the text box 171e to input a mobile phone number. When a selection operation is performed on the drop-down list 171d to select email, an input operation can be performed on the text box 171e to input an email address.

[0082] When the OK button 171 b is pressed while the user interface screen 171 is displayed, the plurality of notification settings respectively set in the plurality of setting rows 171 a are input to the notification setting input unit 17 .

[0083] When a selection operation for selecting a screen display is performed on the drop-down list 171d, a request for changing the design information is displayed on the screen displayed by the manufacturing system design support device 1. When a selection operation for selecting SMS is performed on the drop-down list 171d, a short message describing a request for changing the design information is sent to the phone number of the mobile phone input in the text box 171e. When a selection operation for selecting mail is performed on the drop-down list 171d, an email describing a request for changing the design information is sent to the email address input in the text box 171e.

[0084] Thereby, the notification of the request for change of the design information can be received by the desired notification method, and the notification of the request for change of the design information can be received by the desired notification destination.

[0085] 1.6 Extraction of design information to be changed

[0086] Figure 5This is a flowchart illustrating a process of extracting design information to be changed by the manufacturing system design support device according to the first embodiment.

[0087] When extracting design information that is subject to change, Figure 5 Illustrated steps S101 to S104 are performed.

[0088] In step S101 , while the manufacturing system design support device 1 waits for input of design information from any design tool included in the plurality of design tools 2 , the design information is input to the design information input / output unit 11 .

[0089] Next, in step S102 , the design information input / output unit 11 transforms the input design information into structured design information, and transmits the structured design information to the design result impact analysis unit 14 .

[0090] Next, in step S103 , the design result impact analysis unit 14 requests the design information integration management unit 13 to obtain the system design information 121 from the design information storage unit 12 .

[0091] Next, in step S104 , the design information integration management unit 13 acquires the system design information 121 from the design information storage unit 12 , and extracts the design information to be changed from the acquired system design information 121 .

[0092] 1.7 Notification of changes to design information

[0093] Figure 6 This is a flowchart illustrating a process of notifying a request for change of design information by the manufacturing system design support device according to the first embodiment.

[0094] When notifying a request for a change in design information, Figure 6 Illustrated steps S111 to S120 are performed.

[0095] In step S111 , the design information to be changed is input to the design result impact analysis unit 14 .

[0096] Next, in step S112 , the design result impact analysis unit 14 initializes a restriction violation content list.

[0097] Next, in the determination processing loop from step S113 to step S119, the design result impact analysis unit 14 selects the design information to be changed from the input design information to be changed, and performs determination processing on the selected design information to be changed. The design result impact analysis unit 14 repeatedly performs the following operations, i.e., while changing the design information to be changed, it selects the design information to be changed, and performs determination processing on the selected design information to be changed, until the design information that has not been determined is eliminated.

[0098] In step S114 , the design result impact analysis unit 14 extracts the constraint conditions added to the target design information from the dependency relationship 122 .

[0099] Next, in the determination processing loop of steps S115 to S118, the design result impact analysis unit 14 selects a target constraint from the extracted constraint and performs determination processing on the selected target constraint. The design result impact analysis unit 14 repeatedly performs the following operations, i.e., while changing the target constraint, it selects the target constraint and performs determination processing on the selected target constraint, until the constraint that has not been determined disappears.

[0100] In step S116, the design result impact analysis unit 14 determines whether the target design information violates the target constraint. If it is determined that the target design information violates the target constraint, step S118 is executed after step S117 is executed. If it is determined that the target design information does not violate the target constraint, step S118 is executed without executing step S117.

[0101] In step S117 , the design result impact analysis unit 14 adds the targeted design information and the targeted constraint conditions to the constraint violation content list.

[0102] Through steps S111 to S119, the design information and the restriction condition violated by the design information are added to the restriction violation content list, and the restriction violation content list is completed.

[0103] Next, in step S120 , the design result impact analysis unit 14 requests the change request notification unit 15 to notify the design process of the completed restriction violation content list according to the notification setting set for the design process that created the input design information.

[0104] 1.8 Other Examples of Constraints

[0105] The constraint included in the dependency relationship 122 may also be expressed by a combination of a function that uses design information as a variable and evaluates the possibility of using past design information, and a threshold value that is compared with the calculation result of the function. When the constraint is expressed by this combination, for example, when the calculation result of the function is greater than or equal to the threshold value, it is determined that the design information violates the constraint. Thus, the design process can correct the design information that has a low possibility of using past design information.

[0106] The constraint condition included in the dependency 122 may also be that the minimum design information acceptable to at least one other design process has been input. Thus, when it is expected that the first design process included in a plurality of design processes will be transferred to the second design process after the design is completed, it is possible to determine whether the first design process has been completed and whether the conditions for transferring from the first design process to the second design process have been met.

[0107] 2 Implementation Method 2

[0108] 2.1 Main Differences between Implementation 1 and Implementation 2

[0109] Embodiment 2 mainly differs from Embodiment 1 in the following points. Regarding points not described below, Embodiment 2 also adopts the same configuration as that adopted in Embodiment 1.

[0110] In the second embodiment, the plurality of pieces of design information included in the system design information 121 include design values.

[0111] The dependency relationship 122 includes a plurality of conditional expressions corresponding to each of the plurality of design information included in the system design information 121. Each of the plurality of conditional expressions includes a function having the design value as an argument and a threshold value to be compared with a return value of the function.

[0112] When the above-mentioned design value is changed due to the input design information, the design result impact analysis unit 14 determines whether the input design information needs to be changed based on whether the conditional expression corresponding to the target design information is true. When the conditional expression is true, the design result impact analysis unit 14 determines that the input design information does not need to be changed. When the conditional expression is not true, the design result impact analysis unit 14 determines that the input design information needs to be changed.

[0113] Furthermore, the design result impact analysis unit 14 extracts the design information affected by the above impact from the plurality of design information included in the system design information 121 based on the dependency relationship 122 , and analyzes the above impact using the extracted design information.

[0114] In addition, when the input design information is combined with multiple design information included in the system design information 121, the design result impact analysis unit 14 extracts the next design process for creating the next design information from multiple design processes based on the multiple design information and dependency relationship 122 included in the system design information 121.

[0115] Furthermore, the change request notification unit 15 notifies the extracted next design process that design information should be created.

[0116] 2.2 Process of extracting design information including design values ​​that need to be changed based on the input design information

[0117] Figure 7 This is a flowchart illustrating a process in which the manufacturing system design support device according to the second embodiment extracts design information including design values ​​that need to be changed based on input design information.

[0118] When extracting design information including design values ​​that need to be changed based on input design information, Figure 7 Illustrated steps S201 to S208 are performed.

[0119] In step S201 , the design result impact analysis unit 14 extracts the dependency relationship between the design information to be changed and other design information having a dependency relationship with the design information to be changed from the dependency relationship 122 .

[0120] Next, in step S202 , the design result impact analysis unit 14 obtains a conditional expression corresponding to the other design information from the dependency relationship 122 .

[0121] Next, in step S203 , the design result impact analysis unit 14 obtains the design value included in the input design information from the design information integration management unit 13 .

[0122] Next, in the determination processing loop from step S204 to step S208, the design result impact analysis unit 14 selects the design information to be targeted from the other design information and performs determination processing on the selected design information to be targeted. The design result impact analysis unit 14 repeatedly performs the following operations, i.e., while changing the design information to be targeted, selecting the design information to be targeted and performing determination processing on the selected design information to be targeted, until the design information that has not been subjected to determination processing disappears.

[0123] In step S205 , the design result impact analysis unit 14 acquires a threshold value included in a conditional expression corresponding to the target design information.

[0124] Next, in step S206, the design result influence analysis unit 14 uses the obtained design value as an independent variable of the function included in the conditional expression corresponding to the target design information, and determines whether the conditional expression is true. If it is determined that the conditional expression is not true, step S208 is executed after executing step S207. If it is determined that the conditional expression is true, step S208 is executed without executing step S207.

[0125] In step S207 , the design result influence analyzing unit 14 determines that it is necessary to change the design value of the target design information.

[0126] Through steps S201 to S208, design information including design values ​​that need to be changed based on the input design information can be extracted from other design information that has a dependency relationship with the design information to be changed. Thus, it is possible to detect a situation where the design value included in the input design information needs to be changed and a situation where the design value included in other design information needs to be changed.

[0127] 2.3 Extract the process of the next design process

[0128] Figure 8 This is a flowchart illustrating the flow of extracting the next design process by the manufacturing system design support device according to the second embodiment.

[0129] After being notified of the empty restriction violation content list, the design result impact analysis unit 14 performs a process of extracting the next design process after the input design information is combined with the plurality of design information included in the system design information 121. When the process of extracting the next design process is performed, Figure 8 Illustrated steps S211 to S221 are performed.

[0130] In step S211, the design result impact analysis unit 14 obtains the design information to be changed. The design information to be changed is obtained by executing Figure 5 Obtained by the process shown in the figure.

[0131] Next, in step S212 , the design result impact analyzer 14 initializes a next design information list that describes the next design information to be created.

[0132] Next, in the determination processing loop from step S213 to step S219, the design result impact analysis unit 14 selects the target design information from the acquired design information to be changed, and performs determination processing on the selected target design information. The design result impact analysis unit 14 repeatedly performs the following operations, i.e., while changing the target design information, it selects the target design information, and performs determination processing on the selected target design information, until the design information that has not been determined is eliminated.

[0133] Next, in step S214, the design result impact analysis unit 14 obtains the impact target design information affected by the input design information based on the dependency relationship 122. The impact target design information is obtained by executing Figure 7 Obtained by the process shown in the figure.

[0134] Next, in the determination processing loop of steps S215 to S218, the design result impact analysis unit 14 selects the target impact target design information from the acquired impact target design information, and performs determination processing on the selected target impact target design information. The design result impact analysis unit 14 repeatedly performs the following operations, i.e., while changing the target impact target design information, selecting the target impact target design information, and performing determination processing on the selected target impact target design information, until the impact target design information that has not been determined disappears.

[0135] In step S216, the design result impact analysis unit 14 determines whether the design required for creating the impact target design information to be targeted has been completed. If it is determined that the required design has been completed, step S218 is executed after executing step S217. If it is determined that the required design has not been completed, step S218 is executed without executing step S217.

[0136] In step S217 , the design result impact analysis unit 14 adds the targeted impact target design information and the conditional expression corresponding to the targeted impact target design information to the next design information list.

[0137] Through steps S211 to S219, the addition of the influencing target design information of the required design and the conditional expression corresponding to the influencing target design information to the next design information list is completed, and the next design information list is completed.

[0138] Next, in step S220 , the design result impact analysis unit 14 requests the design information integration management unit 13 to extract the next design process for creating the impact target design information recorded in the next design information list from the plurality of design processes.

[0139] Next, in step S221 , the design result impact analysis unit 14 requests the change request notification unit 15 to notify the extracted next design process that design information should be created next.

[0140] Through steps S211 to S221 , the work from the first design process to the second design process and the transfer of the necessary design information can be performed substantially automatically.

[0141] 3 Implementation Method 3

[0142] 3.1 Main Differences between Implementation 2 and Implementation 3

[0143] Embodiment 3 is mainly different from Embodiment 2 in the following points. In Embodiment 3, the same structure as that adopted in Embodiment 2 is adopted also with respect to the points not described below.

[0144] Fig. 9 This is a block diagram schematically illustrating a part of the manufacturing system design support device according to the third embodiment.

[0145] In the third embodiment, the design result affects the analysis unit 14 as follows Fig. 9 As shown in the figure, a design result learning unit 141 is provided, and a design result history 142 is stored.

[0146] The design information input / output unit 11 receives input of the design information changed by the design process notified of the request for change of the design information.

[0147] The design result learning unit 141 determines whether the design information after the change is good or not, and includes the result of the determination in the design result history 142. The determination is based on the evaluation result for the evaluation point of view when the design information to be changed is changed. The evaluation point of view includes at least one selected from the group consisting of productivity, expected quality, manufacturing cost and power consumption of the manufacturing system.

[0148] The design result history 142 includes a history of a combination of data, wherein the combination of data is: the changed design information, the threshold used when extracting the design information including the design value to be changed, the extraction result of the design information recorded in the next design information list, and the judgment result of whether the changed design information is good or not.

[0149] In addition, the design result learning unit 141 learns the good or bad judgment result based on the design result history 142. The good or bad judgment result is learned in accordance with a reinforcement learning algorithm that takes the changed design information as a state, the extraction result of the design information recorded in the next design information list as an action, and the good or bad judgment result of the changed design information as a benefit. The reinforcement learning algorithm is installed in an application installed on the computer.

[0150] Furthermore, the design result learning unit 141 updates the dependency relationship 122 based on the learning result. The design result learning unit 141 updates the dependency relationship 122 by updating the threshold value included in the dependency relationship 122 so as to optimize the extraction result of the design information recorded in the next design information list.

[0151] By repeatedly changing the design information according to the update of the dependency relationship 122, the accuracy of the analysis of the influence of the input design information on other design information can be improved.

[0152] 4 Implementation Method 4

[0153] 4.1 Main Differences between Implementation Methods 1-3 and Implementation Method 4

[0154] Embodiment 4 is different from Embodiment 1-3 mainly in the following points. Regarding points not described below, Embodiment 4 also adopts the same structure as that adopted in Embodiment 1-3.

[0155] Fig.10 This is a block diagram schematically illustrating a part of the manufacturing system design support device according to the fourth embodiment.

[0156] In the fourth embodiment, the manufacturing system design support device 1 is as follows Fig.10 As shown in the figure, an event recording unit 18 and an event transmission unit 19 are provided.

[0157] The event recording unit 18 records at least one event selected from the group consisting of an event of inputting design information into the design information input / output unit 11, an event of notifying a change commission by the change commission notification unit 15, an event of inputting design knowledge into the design knowledge input unit 16, and an event of inputting multiple notification settings into the notification setting input unit 17, and the time when the at least one event occurs.

[0158] It is preferable that the event recording unit 18 records all of these events. When the event recording unit 18 records all of these events, the input and output events to the manufacturing system design support device 1 are recorded in the event recording unit 18 in a time series manner.

[0159] According to the event recording unit 18 , changes in the design state of the manufacturing system can be tracked in a time-series manner.

[0160] The event transmission unit 19 transmits the recorded events and occurrence times to the external design process progress management tool 4. According to the event transmission unit 19, the progress status of the design process can be automatically reflected in the design process schedule.

[0161] In addition, the present invention can freely combine the various embodiments within the scope of the present invention, or can appropriately modify or omit the various embodiments.

[0162] While the present invention has been described in detail, the above description is in all aspects illustrative and the present invention is not limited thereto, and it is understood that numerous modifications not shown here are conceivable without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0163] Description of the label

[0164] 1 manufacturing system design support device, 3 notification target, 4 design process progress management tool, 11 design information input and output unit, 12 design information storage unit, 13 design information integration management unit, 14 design result impact analysis unit, 15 change entrustment notification unit, 16 design knowledge input unit, 17 notification setting input unit, 18 event recording unit, 19 event transmission unit, 121 system design information, 122 dependency relationship.

Claims

1. A manufacturing system design auxiliary device, comprising: a design information input section to which design information created through a plurality of design processes responsible for designing a manufacturing system is input; A design information storage unit that stores a plurality of design information created in the plurality of design processes and a dependency relationship between the plurality of design information created in the plurality of design processes; A design information integration management unit extracts design information to be changed from the plurality of design information stored in the design information storage unit according to the design information input by the design information input unit, and combines the design information input by the design information input unit with the plurality of design information stored in the design information storage unit; A design result impact analysis unit that analyzes the impact of the design information input by the design information input unit on the design information other than the design information to be changed based on the dependency relationship, and determines whether the design information other than the design information to be changed needs to be changed; as well as The change request notification unit notifies the design process of a request to change the design information determined to be necessary, when it is determined that the design information other than the design information to be changed needs to be changed.

2. The manufacturing system design support device according to claim 1, wherein: The plurality of design processes include at least one design process selected from the group consisting of process design, mechanical design, electrical design, control design, and design verification.

3. The manufacturing system design support device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: When determining that design information other than the design information to be changed does not need to be changed, the design information integration management unit combines the design information determined not to need to be changed with the plurality of design information stored in the design information storage unit.

4. The manufacturing system design support device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: The design information storage unit stores system design information, the system design information including a plurality of design information created in the plurality of design steps, the system design information having a specific data structure in which the plurality of design information created in the plurality of design steps are uniformly structured. The design information input unit converts the input design information created in the plurality of design steps into structured design information having the specific data structure. The design information integration management unit extracts the design information to be changed based on the system design information and the design information structured by the design information input unit.

5. The manufacturing system design support device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: The device further includes a design knowledge input unit to which design knowledge related to the dependency relationship is input.

6. The manufacturing system design support device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: further comprising a notification setting input unit to which a plurality of notification settings respectively set for the plurality of design processes are input, The change request notification unit notifies the request according to notification settings respectively set for the plurality of design processes.

7. The manufacturing system design support device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: The plurality of design information created in the plurality of design steps includes design values, The dependency relationship includes a plurality of conditional expressions corresponding to a plurality of design information created in the plurality of design steps, respectively. Each of the plurality of conditional expressions includes a function having the design value as an independent variable and a threshold value to be compared with a return value of the function, When the design value is changed due to the design information input by the design information input unit, the design result impact analysis unit determines whether it is necessary to change design information other than the design information that is the object of change based on whether a conditional expression corresponding to the design information that is the object of change is true.

8. The manufacturing system design support device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: The design result impact analysis unit extracts the design information affected by the impact from the plurality of design information stored in the design information storage unit based on the dependency relationship, and analyzes the impact using the extracted design information.

9. The manufacturing system design support device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: The design result impact analysis unit extracts a next design process for creating the design information from the multiple design processes based on the multiple design information stored in the design information storage unit after combining the design information input by the design information input unit and the dependency relationship, when the design information input by the design information input unit is combined with the multiple design information stored in the design information storage unit. The change request notification unit notifies the next design process that design information should be created.

10. The manufacturing system design support device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: inputting the changed design information into the design information input unit, The design result impact analysis unit determines whether the changed design information is good or bad, learns the result of the determination, and updates the dependency relationship based on the result of the learning.

11. The manufacturing system design support device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: The manufacturing system design auxiliary device also has: a design knowledge input unit to which the design knowledge related to the dependency relationship is input; a notification setting input unit to which a plurality of notification settings respectively set for the plurality of design processes are input; as well as An event recording unit that records at least one event selected from the group consisting of an event in which the design information created through the multiple design processes is input into the design information input unit, an event in which the change entrustment notification unit notifies the entrustment, an event in which the design knowledge is input into the design knowledge input unit, and an event in which the multiple notification settings are input into the notification setting input unit, and a time when the at least one event occurs.

12. The manufacturing system design support device according to claim 11, wherein: The device further includes an event transmission unit for transmitting the at least one event and the occurrence time to an external design process progress management tool.

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