Production management method, production management device, and production management system

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a production management method for rework vehicles, comprising: defining virtual geographical fences for a plurality of rework stations in a plurality of rework areas and assigning corresponding station parameters; obtaining positioning data of the rework vehicles and vehicle characteristic parameters associated with the corresponding rework vehicles from taggers of the rework vehicles; ascertaining whether the rework vehicles enter or leave the corresponding rework stations based on the virtual geographical fences and the positioning data; when it is ascertained that the rework vehicles enter the corresponding rework stations, generating first update data based on the station parameters associated with the corresponding rework stations to update a visual interface, and when it is ascertained that the rework vehicles leave the corresponding rework stations, generating second update data based on the station parameters associated with the corresponding rework stations to update the visual interface. Furthermore, the present disclosure also relates to a production management device and a production management system.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This disclosure relates to the field of production management, and generally relates to a production management method, production management equipment, and production management system for vehicles undergoing repair. Background Technology

[0002] On a vehicle production line, manufactured vehicles undergo various inspection processes. If a fault is detected during these inspections, the vehicle must be sent to a designated rework area for repair before leaving the factory. This is problematic because rework vehicles may involve different models and different types of faults, and because the distributed rework areas within a factory are typically large and contain various functional rework stations. Therefore, efficiently allocating rework vehicles to suitable rework areas or stations is a critical technical problem that needs to be solved by those skilled in the art. Summary of the Invention

[0003] The purpose of this disclosure is to provide a production management method, production management equipment, and production management system for vehicles undergoing repair that can overcome at least one deficiency in the prior art.

[0004] According to a first aspect of this disclosure, a production management method for vehicles undergoing repair is provided, the production management method comprising:

[0005] Virtual geographical fences are defined for multiple rework stations within multiple rework zones, and corresponding station parameters are configured. Multiple rework stations are allocated within each rework zone.

[0006] Obtain the location data of the returned vehicle and the vehicle characteristic parameters associated with the corresponding returned vehicle from the tag of the returned vehicle.

[0007] Based on virtual geographic fences and location data, determine whether the vehicle to be repaired has entered or left the corresponding repair station;

[0008] - When it is determined that a vehicle has entered the corresponding repair station, the first update data is generated based on the station parameters associated with that repair station to update the visualization interface, and

[0009] - When it is determined that a vehicle to be returned for repair has left the corresponding repair station, second update data is generated based on the station parameters associated with the corresponding repair station to update the visualization interface. The visualization interface can display multiple repair area display blocks corresponding to the multiple repair areas, multiple repair station display blocks corresponding to the multiple repair stations, and the occupancy status of the multiple repair station display blocks.

[0010] In some embodiments, the production management method further includes: generating a repair suggestion for a vehicle to be repaired based on the occupancy status of the plurality of repair station display blocks and / or the vehicle characteristic parameters of the vehicle to be repaired.

[0011] In some embodiments, the production management method further includes sending rework suggestions to a visualization device with a visual interface to provide recommended rework suggestions by means of graphic display, and in particular, to provide the priority of recommended rework suggestions by means of different graphic patterns.

[0012] In some embodiments, the production management method further includes sending a rework suggestion to a communication device that can be carried by the driver of the vehicle undergoing rework, particularly sending a rework suggestion in the form of a navigation route to a communication device that can be carried by the driver of the vehicle undergoing rework.

[0013] In some embodiments, the production management method further includes: when it is determined that a vehicle for repair has entered a corresponding repair station: generating the first update data based on the station parameters of the corresponding repair station, causing the corresponding repair station display block to show an occupied state; and generating the first update data based on vehicle characteristic parameters, causing at least a portion of the vehicle characteristic parameters of the vehicle occupying the repair station to be displayed on the corresponding repair station display block.

[0014] In some embodiments, the production management method further includes: when it is determined that a vehicle to be repaired has left the corresponding repair station: generating the second update data based on the station parameters of the corresponding repair station, causing the corresponding repair station display block to be displayed as unoccupied; and generating the second update data based on vehicle characteristic parameters, causing the vehicle characteristic parameters displayed on the corresponding repair station display block to be deleted.

[0015] In some embodiments, the production management method further includes: determining a first moment when a vehicle enters a corresponding repair station, determining a second moment when a vehicle leaves a corresponding repair station, and generating the third update data for the corresponding repair station, thereby causing the first moment and / or the second moment to be displayed on the visualization interface.

[0016] In some embodiments, the production management method further includes: calculating the repair time of each vehicle based on a first time point and a second time point, and evaluating the utilization rate of the corresponding repair area and / or repair station based on the repair time.

[0017] In some embodiments, the production management method further includes: acquiring detection data from a detection device allocated to a rework station, the detection device being configured to detect that the corresponding rework station is occupied by a rework vehicle; determining a set of occupancy statuses for multiple rework stations based on the detection data; and verifying a set of display statuses on a visualization interface based on the set of occupancy statuses.

[0018] In some embodiments, "verifying the display status set of the visualization interface based on the occupancy status set" includes: identifying the set of rework stations that are in an occupied state based on the occupancy status set; determining the consistency between the set of rework stations in an occupied state and the display status set of the visualization interface; when the set of rework stations in an occupied state is inconsistent with the display status set of the visualization interface, generating fourth update data to prompt the display of the corresponding rework station display block to be adapted according to the set of rework stations in an occupied state; and sending a prompt message to indicate that the tag of the corresponding rework vehicle has failed.

[0019] In some embodiments, "determining whether a repair vehicle has entered or left the corresponding repair station based on a virtual geographic fence and location data" includes: setting an anti-misoperation zone and / or a delay period for the virtual geographic fence; determining that a repair vehicle has entered the corresponding repair station only when the location data of an unoccupied repair vehicle crosses the anti-misoperation zone and / or the location data of an unoccupied repair vehicle remains within the virtual geographic fence for a period longer than the delay period; and determining that a repair vehicle has left the corresponding repair station only when the location data of an occupied repair vehicle crosses the anti-misoperation zone and / or the location data of an occupied repair vehicle remains outside the virtual geographic fence for a period longer than the delay period.

[0020] In some embodiments, the production management method further includes: for each rework area, dividing multiple rework stations into multiple rework station subsets according to the type of rework station; for each rework area, determining the number of rework stations in an occupied state and / or determining the number of rework stations in an unoccupied state in each rework station subset; generating fifth update data, causing the total number of rework stations, the number of rework stations in an occupied state, and / or the number of rework stations in an unoccupied state to be displayed on the visualization interface for each rework station subset of each rework area.

[0021] In some embodiments, the workstation parameters include one or more of the following parameters: workstation code, workstation type, and workstation size; and the vehicle characteristic parameters include one or more of the following parameters: VIN code, vehicle model, vehicle color, and quality issues.

[0022] According to a second aspect of this disclosure, a production management device for vehicles undergoing repair is provided, characterized in that the production management device comprises:

[0023] Memory, configured to store a series of computer-executable instructions; and

[0024] The processor is configured to execute the aforementioned set of computer-executable instructions.

[0025] The set of computer-executable instructions, when executed by a processor, causes the processor to perform the method according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0026] According to a third aspect of this disclosure, a production management system for vehicles undergoing repair is provided, characterized in that the production management system comprises:

[0027] The receiving module is configured to obtain the location data of the returned vehicle and the vehicle characteristic parameters associated with the corresponding returned vehicle from the tag of the returned vehicle. Preferably, the vehicle characteristic parameters include one or more of the following parameters: VIN code, vehicle model, vehicle color, and quality problem.

[0028] The workstation delineation module is configured as a virtual geographic fence for delineating multiple rework workstations within multiple rework areas and is equipped with corresponding workstation parameters. In each rework area, multiple rework workstations are allocated. Preferably, the workstation parameters include one or more of the following parameters: workstation code, workstation type, and workstation size.

[0029] The analysis module is configured as follows:

[0030] -Based on virtual geographic fences and location data, determine whether the vehicle to be repaired has entered or left the corresponding repair station;

[0031] - When it is determined that a vehicle requiring repair has entered the corresponding repair station, the first update data is generated based on the station parameters associated with that repair station, and

[0032] -When it is determined that the vehicle to be repaired has left the corresponding repair station, a second update of data is generated based on the station parameters associated with the corresponding repair station.

[0033] The output module is configured to send first update data and / or second update data to a visualization device with a visualization interface to update the visualization interface;

[0034] The visualization interface displays multiple rework area display blocks corresponding to the multiple rework areas, multiple rework station display blocks corresponding to the multiple rework stations, and the occupancy status of the multiple rework station display blocks.

[0035] In some embodiments, the production management system includes:

[0036] The rework suggestion module is configured to generate rework suggestions based on the occupancy status of the plurality of rework station display blocks and / or the vehicle characteristic parameters of the rework vehicle.

[0037] The output module is configured to send repair suggestions to a visualization device with a visual interface, so as to provide recommended repair suggestions by means of graphic display, and in particular, to provide the priority of recommended repair suggestions by means of different graphic patterns.

[0038] In some embodiments, the output module is configured to send repair suggestions to a communication device that can be carried by the driver of the vehicle undergoing repair, particularly to send repair suggestions in the form of navigation routes to a communication device that can be carried by the driver of the vehicle undergoing repair.

[0039] In some embodiments, the analysis module is configured to:

[0040] When it is determined that a vehicle to be repaired has entered the corresponding repair station: the first update data is configured to: display the corresponding repair station display block as occupied, and display at least a portion of the vehicle characteristic parameters of the vehicle occupying the repair station on the corresponding repair station display block; and when it is determined that a vehicle to be repaired has left the corresponding repair station: the second update data is configured to: display the corresponding repair station display block as unoccupied, and delete the vehicle characteristic parameters displayed on the corresponding repair station display block.

[0041] In some embodiments, the analysis module is configured to: determine the first moment when the vehicle to be repaired enters the corresponding repair station, and determine the second moment when the vehicle to be repaired leaves the corresponding repair station.

[0042] In some embodiments, the first update data is configured to display the first moment on the visualization interface for the corresponding rework station; and / or the second update data is configured to display the second moment on the visualization interface for the corresponding rework station.

[0043] In some embodiments, the analysis module is further configured to: count the repair time of each vehicle based on a first time and a second time, and evaluate the utilization rate of the corresponding repair area and / or repair station based on the repair time.

[0044] In some embodiments, the production management system includes an inspection module, which is configured to:

[0045] Detection data is obtained from a detection device assigned to a rework station, the detection device being configured to detect that the corresponding rework station is occupied by a vehicle undergoing rework.

[0046] The occupancy status set of multiple rework stations was determined based on the detection data;

[0047] The display status set of the visualization interface is verified based on the occupancy status set.

[0048] In some embodiments, "verifying the display status set of the visualization interface based on the occupancy status set" includes: - identifying the set of rework stations that are in an occupied state based on the occupancy status set; - determining the consistency between the set of rework stations in an occupied state and the display status set of the visualization interface; - when the set of rework stations in an occupied state is inconsistent with the display status set of the visualization interface, generating fourth update data so that the display of the corresponding rework station display block is adapted according to the set of rework stations in an occupied state, and the output module is configured to send a prompt message to indicate that the tag of the corresponding rework vehicle has failed.

[0049] In some embodiments, the analysis module is configured to:

[0050] Set anti-misoperation zones and / or delay periods for virtual geofences.

[0051] A vehicle is identified as entering its corresponding repair station only when its location data, which is in an unoccupied state, crosses the anti-misoperation zone and / or remains within the virtual geographic fence for a period exceeding the delay time. Conversely, a vehicle is identified as leaving its corresponding repair station only when its location data, which is in an occupied state, crosses the anti-misoperation zone and / or remains outside the virtual geographic fence for a period exceeding the delay time.

[0052] In some embodiments, the workstation delineation module is configured to: for each rework area, divide multiple rework workstations into multiple rework workstation subsets according to the type of the rework workstation.

[0053] In some embodiments, the analysis module is configured to: for each rework area, determine the number of rework stations in an occupied state and / or determine the number of rework stations in an unoccupied state in each rework station subset; and the analysis module is configured to: generate fifth update data such that, on the visualization interface, for each rework station subset of each rework area, the total number of rework stations, the number of rework stations in an occupied state, and / or the number of rework stations in an unoccupied state are displayed. Attached Figure Description

[0054] The above and other aspects and advantages of this disclosure will become apparent from the following detailed description of exemplary embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate the principles of this disclosure by way of example. It should be noted that the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale.

[0055] Figure 1 A schematic block diagram of a production management system according to some embodiments of the present disclosure is shown;

[0056] Figure 2A schematic block diagram of a production management system according to other embodiments of the present disclosure is shown;

[0057] Figure 3 A schematic block diagram of a production management system according to some embodiments of the present disclosure is shown;

[0058] Figure 4 A schematic diagram of the visual interface of the production management system is shown;

[0059] Figure 5 An exemplary flowchart of a production management method according to some embodiments of the present disclosure is shown. Detailed Implementation

[0060] The present disclosure will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate several embodiments of the present disclosure. However, it should be understood that the present disclosure can be presented in many different ways and is not limited to the embodiments described below; in fact, the embodiments described below are intended to make the present disclosure more complete and to fully illustrate the scope of protection of the present disclosure to those skilled in the art. It should also be understood that the embodiments disclosed herein can be combined in various ways to provide further additional embodiments.

[0061] It should be understood that the terminology used herein is for describing specific embodiments only and is not intended to limit this disclosure. All terms used herein (including technical and scientific terms) have the meanings commonly understood by those skilled in the art unless otherwise defined. For the sake of brevity and / or clarity, well-known functions or structures may not be described in detail.

[0062] In this document, the term “A or B” includes both “A and B” and “A or B”, rather than exclusively including only “A” or only “B”, unless otherwise specified.

[0063] In this document, the term "exemplary" means "serving as an example, instance, or illustration." Any implementation described herein is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other implementations. Moreover, this disclosure is not limited to any stated or implied theory given in the foregoing technical field, background art, summary of invention, or detailed description.

[0064] Additionally, for reference purposes only, terms such as "first" and "second" may be used in this document, and "first" and "second" may refer to multiple "first" and "second" terms. For example, unless the context explicitly indicates otherwise, the terms "first," "second," and other such numerical terms relating to structures or elements do not imply order or sequence.

[0065] It should also be understood that the term "including / comprises," as used herein, indicates the presence of the indicated feature, whole, step, operation, unit, and / or component, but does not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, wholes, steps, operations, units, and / or components, and / or combinations thereof. Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) are used herein in the general sense they have in the field to which the example pertains.

[0066] Next, refer to Figures 1 to 5 The various aspects of this disclosure are described in detail. A production management system 100 according to some embodiments of this disclosure can be used in a vehicle manufacturing plant to improve the allocation of vehicles for repair within the plant and increase the efficiency of vehicles for repair smoothly entering suitable repair areas. Furthermore, the production management system 100 according to some embodiments of this disclosure can optimize the utilization rate of repair workstations within the repair area, thereby improving the efficiency of the vehicle production line.

[0067] First refer to Figure 1 The diagram illustrates a schematic block diagram of a production management system 100 according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. The production management system 100 may include a receiving module 10, which may be configured as one or more communication devices for receiving various forms of useful data from different external devices and further transmitting the received useful data to other modules for further processing.

[0068] In some embodiments, the receiving module 10 may be configured to acquire vehicle characteristic parameters associated with the corresponding repair vehicle from the tag 12 of the repair vehicle. The tag 12 of the repair vehicle is configured as a removable electronic device installed on the vehicle during the vehicle production process. The tag 12 of the repair vehicle may record important information from different stages of vehicle production. For example, vehicle model information, vehicle color information, VIN code, and possible detected quality problems may be recorded on the tag 12 of the repair vehicle. This vehicle-specific information may be referred to as vehicle characteristic parameters.

[0069] In some embodiments, the receiving module 10 may be configured to acquire location data of the returned vehicle from the tag 12 of the returned vehicle so that the current stage of the vehicle can be tracked. To obtain the location data of the returned vehicle, the production management system 100 may have multiple antennas distributed throughout the vehicle manufacturing plant. These distributed antennas can communicate with the tag 12 of each returned vehicle to locate the current position of the returned vehicle.

[0070] The production management system 100 may include a workstation delineation module 20. As an example, the workstation delineation module 20 may be any electronic device including a memory, I / O modules, and a processor. The workstation delineation module 20 may be configured to delineate virtual geographic fences and assign corresponding workstation parameters for multiple rework workstations within multiple rework areas—especially in a distributed manner. Workstation parameters may include one or more of the following parameters: workstation code, workstation type, and workstation size. A virtual geographic fence can be understood as the geographic boundary of a rework workstation, and the area within the geographic boundary can be understood as a rework workstation. That is, once a rework vehicle (i.e., its location data) enters a virtual geographic fence, it can be considered to have entered the corresponding rework workstation. Once a rework vehicle (i.e., its location data) leaves a virtual geographic fence, it can be considered to have left the corresponding rework workstation. In some embodiments, the workstation delineation module 20 may pre-store a set of geographic boundaries and associated workstation parameter sets for each rework workstation within multiple rework areas. In some embodiments, the workstation delineation module 20 may pre-store multiple subsets of rework stations for each rework area, divided according to the type of rework station. For example, the ink-adding workstation subset within rework area number one may be workstations with workstation codes S001, S005, and S008. The painting workstation subset within rework area number one may be workstations with workstation codes S002, S003, and S004.

[0071] The production management system 100 may include an analysis module 30. As an example, the analysis module 30 may be any electronic device including a memory, I / O module, and processor. In some embodiments, the analysis module 30 may be configured to establish a communication connection with the workstation delineation module 20 to obtain virtual geofences for multiple rework workstations from the workstation delineation module 20. In some embodiments, the analysis module 30 may be configured to establish a communication connection with the receiving module 10 or directly with the tagger 12 of the rework vehicle to obtain the location data of the rework vehicle.

[0072] The analysis module 30 can determine whether a repair vehicle has entered or left the corresponding repair station based on the acquired virtual geographic fence and location data. When the analysis module 30 determines that a repair vehicle has entered the corresponding repair station based on the acquired virtual geographic fence and location data, the analysis module 30 can generate first update data based on the station parameters associated with the corresponding repair station to update the visualization interface 50. When the analysis module 30 determines that a repair vehicle has left the corresponding repair station based on the acquired virtual geographic fence and location data, the analysis module 30 can generate second update data based on the station parameters associated with the corresponding repair station to update the visualization interface 50.

[0073] The production management system 100 may include an output module 40, which may be configured as one or more communication devices. It should be understood that the output module 40 and the receiving module 10 are shown separately in the figures, but this does not preclude the possibility that they belong to the same device. In some embodiments, the output module 40 and the receiving module 10 may be configured as a transceiver device. The output module 40 may be configured to send first update data and / or second update data generated by the analysis module 30 to a visualization device having a visualization interface 50 to update the visualization interface 50.

[0074] The production management system 100 may include a visualization interface 50. The visualization interface 50 in this disclosure may involve various forms of visualization devices. In some embodiments, the visualization interface 50 may be installed on the route a vehicle is traveling from the production line to the repair area to display real-time repair area data to the driver. In some embodiments, the visualization interface 50 may be installed on the vehicle to display real-time repair area data to the driver. In some embodiments, the visualization interface 50 may be installed on a communication device, such as a smartphone, that can be carried by the driver of the vehicle. In some embodiments, the visualization interface 50 may be installed at a repair dispatch center to display real-time repair area data to dispatchers.

[0075] Reference Figure 4 A visualization interface 50 according to some embodiments of the present disclosure is shown. The visualization interface 50 may display a plurality of rework area display blocks 52 corresponding to the plurality of rework areas, a plurality of rework station display blocks 54 corresponding to the plurality of rework stations, and the occupancy status of the plurality of rework station display blocks. For example... Figure 4 As shown, six rework areas are illustrated, each of which can be divided into multiple rework stations for different rework functions (e.g., refueling rework, chassis rework, painting rework, body rework, etc.). When a corresponding rework station is occupied by a vehicle, the corresponding rework station display block can show the vehicle to indicate that the station's occupancy status is "occupied". Furthermore, when a rework station is occupied, at least a portion of the vehicle characteristic parameters of the occupying vehicle, such as the vehicle's VIN code, can also be displayed on the corresponding rework station display block. When a corresponding rework station is not occupied by any vehicle, the rework station display block can be empty to indicate that the station's occupancy status is "unoccupied".

[0076] The analysis module 30 can determine the entry and exit of the repair vehicles into the corresponding repair stations based on the acquired virtual geographic fence and location data, and update the display on the visualization interface 50 in real time based on the corresponding update data, so that the display on the visualization interface 50 is consistent with the actual occupancy of each repair station in a timely manner.

[0077] In some embodiments, when the analysis module 30 determines that a vehicle has entered a corresponding repair station based on the acquired virtual geographic fence and location data, the analysis module 30 can generate first update data based on the station parameters associated with the corresponding repair station. The first update data is configured to cause the corresponding repair station display block to be displayed as occupied.

[0078] In some embodiments, when the analysis module 30 determines that a vehicle has entered a corresponding repair station based on the acquired virtual geofence and location data, the analysis module 30 can generate first update data based on the station parameters associated with the corresponding repair station. The first update data is configured to cause at least a portion of the vehicle characteristic parameters of the vehicle occupying the repair station to be displayed in the corresponding repair station display block.

[0079] In some embodiments, when the analysis module 30 determines that a vehicle has left the corresponding repair station based on the acquired virtual geographic fence and location data, the analysis module 30 can generate second update data based on the station parameters associated with the corresponding repair station. The second update data is configured to cause the corresponding repair station display block to be displayed as unoccupied.

[0080] In some embodiments, when the analysis module 30 determines that a vehicle has left the corresponding repair station based on the acquired virtual geographic fence and location data, the analysis module 30 can generate second update data based on the station parameters associated with the corresponding repair station. The second update data is configured to cause the deletion of the vehicle feature parameters displayed in the corresponding repair station display block.

[0081] In a further preferred embodiment, the analysis module 30 can be configured to: determine a first moment when the vehicle enters the corresponding repair station, and determine a second moment when the vehicle leaves the corresponding repair station. The first update data can be configured to display the first moment on the visualization interface 50 for the corresponding repair station. The second update data can be configured to display the second moment on the visualization interface 50 for the corresponding repair station.

[0082] In a further preferred embodiment, the analysis module 30 can also be configured to: statistically analyze the repair time of each vehicle based on the first and second time points described above, and evaluate the utilization rate of the corresponding repair area and / or repair station based on the repair time. Evaluating the utilization rate of the corresponding repair area and / or repair station is advantageous, as it allows for effective management of each repair area and / or repair station, and optimizes the allocation of repair vehicles. For example, the configuration of repair stations can be optimized based on the average repair time or utilization rate of different repair stations. For instance, when some repair stations have long average repair times, the reasons can be investigated. If the long repair time mainly depends on the repair function of the repair station, the number of repair stations with such functions can be increased. If the long repair time mainly depends on the repair personnel, on-the-job training for repair personnel can be increased. For instance, when some repair stations have low utilization rates, the number of these repair stations can be reduced. These rework stations can be replaced with rework stations that have higher utilization rates or longer average rework times.

[0083] In a further preferred embodiment, the analysis module 30 can be configured to: set an anti-misoperation zone and / or a delay period for the virtual geographic fence; only when the location data of an unoccupied repair vehicle crosses the anti-misoperation zone and / or remains within the virtual geographic fence for a period longer than the delay period, is it determined that the repair vehicle has entered the corresponding repair station; and only when the location data of an occupied repair vehicle crosses the anti-misoperation zone and / or remains outside the virtual geographic fence for a period longer than the delay period, is it determined that the repair vehicle has left the corresponding repair station. By providing an anti-misoperation zone (or debounce area) and / or a delay period, unwanted disturbances can be eliminated, ensuring the reliability and stability of the received location data. These unwanted disturbances may be caused by signal fluctuations when a vehicle enters or leaves the virtual geographic fence. For example, location data received from a vehicle's tag may jump out of the actual geographical location, causing abnormal system disturbances.

[0084] In a further preferred embodiment, the analysis module 30 can be configured to: for each rework area, determine the number of rework stations in an occupied state within each subset of rework stations. In some embodiments, the analysis module 30 can be configured to: for each rework area, determine the number of rework stations in an unoccupied state within each subset of rework stations. In some embodiments, the analysis module 30 can be configured to: generate fifth update data, such that on the visualization interface 50, for each subset of rework stations in each rework area, the total number of rework stations, the number of rework stations in an occupied state, and / or the number of rework stations in an unoccupied state are displayed. (Refer to...) Figure 4 Next to each rework area, one or more lists are displayed. Each list is associated with a specific rework station type and displays the total number of rework stations related to that type within that rework area, the number of occupied rework stations, and / or the number of unoccupied rework stations. This clear list display allows relevant personnel to immediately see the usage status of different rework station types within each rework area, enabling them to optimize rework routes or rework allocation on a global scale.

[0085] Next reference Figure 2 A schematic block diagram of a production management system 100 according to other embodiments of the present disclosure is shown. Figure 1 Unless otherwise stated, the content described in the various embodiments can be directly applied to Figure 2 In the embodiments described herein, only those consistent with those described herein are presented. Figure 1 The differences between the embodiments.

[0086] like Figure 2 As shown, the production management system 100 may include a rework suggestion module 60. As an example, the rework suggestion module 60 may be any electronic device including a memory, I / O module, and processor. In some embodiments, the rework suggestion module 60 may be configured to generate rework suggestions based on the occupancy status of the plurality of rework station display blocks and / or the vehicle characteristic parameters of the rework vehicle. In some embodiments, the rework suggestion module 60 may obtain the occupancy status of the rework station display blocks within the visualization interface 50 from the analysis module 30. The rework suggestion module 60 may obtain the vehicle characteristic parameters of the rework vehicle from the tagger 12 of the rework vehicle. For example, the rework suggestion module 60 may provide optimized rework suggestions based on the quality problem of the rework vehicle (i.e., the reason for rework) and the occupancy status of the suitable rework stations (or rework station display blocks) in different rework areas. For example, as an optimized rework suggestion, the rework suggestion module 60 may suggest the rework area with the most currently available suitable rework stations to the driver.

[0087] In some embodiments, the output module 40 can be configured to send repair suggestions to a visualization device having a visualization interface 50, so as to provide recommended repair suggestions by means of pattern display. For example, the priority of recommended repair suggestions can be given by means of different pattern patterns. As an example, such as Figure 4 As shown, recommended rework areas can be indicated by arrows. Preferably, the priority of recommended rework suggestions can be indicated by different colors of the arrows.

[0088] In some embodiments, the output module 40 can be configured to send repair suggestions to a communication device 70, such as a smartphone, that can be carried by the driver of the vehicle undergoing repair. In some embodiments, the output module 40 can be configured to send repair suggestions in the form of navigation routes to the communication device 70 that can be carried by the driver of the vehicle undergoing repair. This allows the driver to promptly know the route to take, significantly improving repair efficiency.

[0089] Next reference Figure 3 A schematic block diagram of a production management system 100 according to other embodiments of the present disclosure is shown. Figure 1 Unless otherwise stated, the content described in the various embodiments can be directly applied to Figure 3 In the embodiments described herein, only those consistent with those described herein are presented. Figure 1 The differences between the embodiments.

[0090] In the embodiments described above, the location of the repair vehicle and its specific display on the visualization interface 50 both rely on reliable communication between the production management system 100 and the tag of the repair vehicle. If the tag 12 fails, the production management system 100 cannot accurately locate the repair vehicle, leading to the failure of the entire system. Therefore, in the current embodiment, a parallel verification module 80 is provided for the production management system 100 to provide system robustness and reliability.

[0091] like Figure 3 As shown, the production management system 100 may include an inspection module 80. As an example, the inspection module 80 may be any electronic device including a memory, I / O module, and processor, such as a PLC device. In some embodiments, a corresponding detection device 82 is arranged at each rework station. The detection device 82 can be configured in various forms to detect whether the corresponding rework station is occupied by a rework vehicle. In some embodiments, the detection device 82 may be configured as an inductive detection coil, which can be embedded at the rework station. When a rework vehicle enters the rework station, the inductive detection coil can detect it promptly. In some embodiments, the detection device 82 may be configured as an infrared detection device. In some embodiments, the detection device 82 may be configured as a capacitive detection device.

[0092] The inspection module 80 can be configured to: acquire detection data from the detection device 82 assigned to the rework station, and determine the occupancy status set of multiple rework stations based on the detection data; and inspect the display status set of the visualization interface 50 based on the occupancy status set. In some embodiments, in order to inspect the display status set of the visualization interface 50 based on the occupancy status set, the inspection module 80 can be configured to: identify the set of rework stations in an occupied state based on the occupancy status set; identify the consistency between the set of rework stations in an occupied state and the display status set of the visualization interface 50; and when the set of rework stations in an occupied state is inconsistent with the display status set of the visualization interface 50, generate fourth update data so that the display of the corresponding rework station display block is adapted according to the set of rework stations in an occupied state. In some embodiments, when the set of rework stations in an occupied state is inconsistent with the display status set of the visualization interface 50, the inspection module 80 can feed back the inspection result to the output module 40, prompting the output module 40 to send a prompt message to indicate that the tag of the corresponding rework vehicle is invalid. For example, the output module 40 can send prompts to relevant operators in the form of visual or audio feedback so that timely human intervention can be carried out to locate vehicles with malfunctioning tags and provide timely maintenance.

[0093] It should be understood that the aforementioned functional modules within the production management system 100 are distinguished only by function and are not strictly limited in terms of physical location. In some embodiments, each functional module may be implemented within a single PLC or processor. In some embodiments, some functional modules may be configured as a single processor, while others may be configured as another single processor. As an example, the receiving module 10, workstation delineation module 20, analysis module 30, rework suggestion module 60, and output module 40 of the production management system 100 may be integrated into a single electronic device, which may be a production management device 200 for rework vehicles according to some embodiments of this disclosure. As an example, the visual interface 50 of the production management system 100 may be integrated into a single electronic device. The inspection module 80 of the production management system 100 may be integrated into a single electronic device.

[0094] Next, refer to Figure 5 This document describes exemplary flowcharts of a production management method according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. It should be understood that the related content described in the production management system according to some embodiments of the present disclosure can be applied to the production management method according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. The production management method according to some embodiments of the present disclosure can be implemented in a production management device 200 according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0095] The steps of the method presented below are intended to be illustrative. In some embodiments, the method may be performed with one or more additional, undescribed steps, and / or without one or more of the steps discussed. Furthermore, the order of the steps of the method shown in the figures and described below is not intended to be limiting.

[0096] In some embodiments, the method may be implemented in one or more processing devices (e.g., digital processors, analog processors, digital circuits designed to process information, analog circuits designed to process information, state machines, and / or other mechanisms for electronically processing information). The one or more processing devices may include one or more modules that perform some or all of the steps of the method in response to instructions electronically stored on an electronic storage medium. The one or more processing modules may include one or more devices configured with hardware, firmware, and / or software specifically designed for the execution of one or more steps of the method.

[0097] like Figure 5 As shown, the method may include the following steps:

[0098] S10: Define virtual geographical fences for multiple rework stations within multiple rework areas and configure corresponding station parameters.

[0099] S20: Obtain the location data of the vehicle under repair and the vehicle characteristic parameters associated with the corresponding vehicle under repair from the tag 12 of the vehicle under repair.

[0100] S30: Determine whether a vehicle has entered or left the corresponding repair station based on virtual geographic fences and location data.

[0101] S40: When it is determined that a vehicle to be repaired has entered the corresponding repair station, first update data is generated based on the station parameters associated with the corresponding repair station to update the visualization interface 50; and when it is determined that a vehicle to be repaired has left the corresponding repair station, second update data is generated based on the station parameters associated with the corresponding repair station to update the visualization interface.

[0102] In step S10, a virtual geographic fence can be understood as the geographic boundary of a rework station, and the area within the geographic boundary can be understood as a rework station. That is, once a rework vehicle (i.e., its location data) enters a virtual geographic fence, it can be considered to have entered the corresponding rework station. Once a rework vehicle (i.e., its location data) leaves a virtual geographic fence, it can be considered to have left the corresponding rework station. In some embodiments, for each rework area, multiple rework stations are divided into multiple rework station subsets according to the type of rework station.

[0103] Step S30 may also include the following sub-steps:

[0104] S31: Set the anti-misoperation zone and / or delay period for the virtual geofence.

[0105] S32: Only when the location data of an unoccupied vehicle for repair crosses the anti-misoperation zone and / or the location data of an unoccupied vehicle for repair remains within the virtual geographic fence for a period exceeding the delay time, can it be determined that the vehicle for repair has entered the corresponding repair station.

[0106] S33: The vehicle leaving the corresponding repair station is only identified when the location data of a vehicle in an occupied state crosses the anti-misoperation zone and / or the location data of a vehicle in an occupied state is outside the virtual geographic fence for a period of time longer than the delay period.

[0107] Alternatively or additionally, step S30 may also include the following sub-steps:

[0108] S34: Determine the first moment when the vehicle to be repaired enters the corresponding repair station.

[0109] S35: Determine the second moment when the vehicle to be repaired leaves the corresponding repair station.

[0110] S36: Generate the third update data for the corresponding rework station, causing the first moment and / or the second moment to be displayed on the visualization interface.

[0111] Alternatively or additionally, step S30 may also include sub-step S37: calculating the repair time of each vehicle based on the first and second time points, and evaluating the utilization rate of the corresponding repair area and / or repair station based on the repair time.

[0112] Step S40 may also include the following sub-steps:

[0113] Step S41: When it is determined that the vehicle to be repaired has entered the corresponding repair station: Generate the first updated data according to the station parameters of the corresponding repair station, so that the corresponding repair station display block is displayed as occupied.

[0114] Step S42: Generate the first updated data based on the vehicle feature parameters, causing at least a portion of the vehicle feature parameters of the occupied repair vehicle to be displayed on the corresponding repair station display block.

[0115] Step S43: When it is determined that the vehicle to be repaired has left the corresponding repair station: - Generate the second update data according to the station parameters of the corresponding repair station, so that the corresponding repair station display block is displayed as unoccupied.

[0116] Step S44: Generate the second update data based on the vehicle feature parameters, thereby deleting the vehicle feature parameters displayed in the corresponding rework station display block.

[0117] Alternatively or additionally, the method may include the following steps:

[0118] S50: For vehicles awaiting repair at designated repair stations, generate repair suggestions based on the occupancy status of the multiple repair station display blocks and / or the vehicle characteristic parameters of the vehicles to be repaired.

[0119] S60: Send the repair suggestion to the visualization device with the visualization interface 50 so that the recommended repair suggestion can be given by means of graphic display.

[0120] In step S60, the priority of recommended repair suggestions can be given by means of different pattern patterns. In some embodiments, the method may include step S62: sending the repair suggestions to a communication device 70 that can be carried by the driver of the vehicle undergoing repair, in particular sending the repair suggestions in the form of navigation routes to the communication device 70 that can be carried by the driver of the vehicle undergoing repair.

[0121] Alternatively or additionally, the method may include the following steps:

[0122] S70: Obtain detection data from the detection device 82 assigned to the rework station, the detection device 82 being configured to detect that the corresponding rework station is occupied by a rework vehicle.

[0123] S80: Determine the occupancy status set of multiple rework stations based on the detection data.

[0124] S90: Verify the display status set of the visualization interface based on the occupancy status set.

[0125] S100: Display of the corresponding rework station display block based on the inspection results.

[0126] S110: Send a prompt message based on the inspection results to indicate that the tag 12 of the corresponding vehicle to be returned for repair has failed.

[0127] Step S100 may include the following sub-steps:

[0128] S101: Identify the set of rework stations that are in an occupied state based on the occupancy status set.

[0129] S102: Determine the consistency between the set of rework stations that are in an occupied state and the set of display states on the visualization interface.

[0130] S103: When the set of rework stations in the occupied state is inconsistent with the display state set of the visualization interface 50, the fourth update data is generated to adapt the display of the corresponding rework station display block according to the set of rework stations in the occupied state.

[0131] Alternatively or additionally, the method may include the following steps:

[0132] S120: For each rework area, determine the number of rework stations in the occupied state in each rework station subset and / or determine the number of rework stations in the unoccupied state in each rework station subset.

[0133] S130: Generate fifth update data, causing the visualization interface 50 to display the total number of rework stations, the number of rework stations in an occupied state, and / or the number of rework stations in an unoccupied state for each subset of rework stations in each rework area.

[0134] This disclosure has been described in this way, and it will be apparent that it can be modified in a variety of ways. Such modifications should not be considered a departure from the spirit and scope of this disclosure, and all such modifications that are obvious to those skilled in the art are intended to be included within the scope of the following claims.

Claims

1. A production management method for reworking a vehicle, characterized by, The production management method comprises: - defining virtual geographical fences and assigning corresponding station parameters for a plurality of repair stations in a plurality of repair zones, wherein a plurality of repair stations are assigned in each repair zone; - obtaining positioning data of a repair vehicle and vehicle characteristic parameters associated with the corresponding repair vehicle from a tag of the repair vehicle; - ascertaining whether the repair vehicle enters or leaves the corresponding repair station based on the virtual geographical fences and the positioning data; - generating first update data based on the station parameters associated with the corresponding repair station to update the visual interface when it is ascertained that the repair vehicle enters the corresponding repair station, and - generating second update data based on the station parameters associated with the corresponding repair station to update the visual interface when it is ascertained that the repair vehicle leaves the corresponding repair station, wherein a plurality of repair zone display blocks corresponding to the plurality of repair zones, a plurality of repair station display blocks corresponding to the plurality of repair stations and an occupancy status of the plurality of repair station display blocks can be displayed on the visual interface, wherein the production management method further comprises: - obtaining detection data from a detection device assigned to the repair station, the detection device being configured to detect an occupancy of the corresponding repair station by a repair vehicle; - determining an occupancy status set of the plurality of repair stations based on the detection data; - checking a display status set of the visual interface based on the occupancy status set.

2. The production management method according to claim 1, characterized by, The production management method further comprises: - generating a repair recommendation for a repair vehicle to be searched for a repair station depending on the occupancy status of the plurality of repair station display blocks and / or the vehicle characteristic parameters of the repair vehicle; - sending the repair recommendation to a visualization device having a visual interface in order to give the recommended repair recommendation by means of a pattern display.

3. The production management method according to claim 2, characterized by, The production management method further comprises: - giving a priority of the recommended repair recommendation by means of different pattern modes; and / or - sending the repair recommendation to a communication device which can be carried by a driver of the repair vehicle.

4. The production management method according to claim 3, characterized by, The production management method further comprises: sending the repair recommendation in the form of a navigation route to a communication device which can be carried by a driver of the repair vehicle.

5. The production management method according to claim 1, wherein when it is ascertained that the repair vehicle enters the corresponding repair station: - the first update data is generated depending on the station parameters of the corresponding repair station, causing the corresponding repair station display block to be displayed in an occupied state; and - the first update data is generated depending on the vehicle characteristic parameters, causing at least a part of the vehicle characteristic parameters of the repair vehicle to be displayed for the corresponding repair station display block display, and when it is ascertained that the repair vehicle leaves the corresponding repair station: - the second update data is generated depending on the station parameters of the corresponding repair station, causing the corresponding repair station display block to be displayed in an unoccupied state; and - the second update data is generated depending on the vehicle characteristic parameters, causing the vehicle characteristic parameters to be deleted from the corresponding repair station display block display. The production management method further comprises:

6. The production management method according to claim 5, characterized by, - determining a first time at which the repair vehicle enters the corresponding repair station, - determining a second time at which the repair vehicle leaves the corresponding repair station, and - determining a third time at which the repair vehicle enters the corresponding repair station again. - generating third update data for the respective rework station, which causes the display of the first time instant and / or the second time instant on the visualization interface.

7. The production management method according to claim 6, characterized by, The production management method further comprises: - statistically determining, on the basis of the first time instant and the second time instant, a rework time for each rework vehicle, and - evaluating, on the basis of the rework time, the utilization of the respective rework zone and / or rework station.

8. The production management method according to claim 1, wherein “checking a set of display states of the visualization interface on the basis of the set of occupancy states” comprises: - ascertaining, on the basis of the set of occupancy states, a set of rework stations in the occupied state; - ascertaining a degree of conformity of the set of rework stations in the occupied state with the set of display states of the visualization interface; - when the set of rework stations in the occupied state does not correspond to the set of display states of the visualization interface, generating fourth update data, which causes the display of the respective rework station display block to be adapted in accordance with the set of rework stations in the occupied state; and - sending a prompt message to indicate that the tag of the respective rework vehicle is not functioning.

9. The production management method according to claim 1, characterized by, “ascertaining whether the rework vehicle enters or leaves the respective rework station on the basis of the virtual geofence and the positioning data” comprises: providing the virtual geofence with an anti-misoperation interval and / or a delay period, ascertaining that the rework vehicle enters the respective rework station only when the positioning data of the rework vehicle in the unoccupied state crosses the anti-misoperation interval and / or the positioning data of the rework vehicle in the unoccupied state is within the virtual geofence for more than the delay period, and ascertaining that the rework vehicle leaves the respective rework station only when the positioning data of the rework vehicle in the occupied state crosses the anti-misoperation interval and / or the positioning data of the rework vehicle in the occupied state is outside the virtual geofence for more than the delay period.

10. The production management method according to claim 5, characterized by, The production management method further comprises: for each rework zone, dividing the plurality of rework stations into a plurality of subsets of rework stations according to the type of the rework stations; for each rework zone, ascertaining the number of rework stations in the occupied state in each subset of rework stations and / or ascertaining the number of rework stations in the unoccupied state in each subset of rework stations; generating fifth update data, which causes the display on the visualization interface, for each subset of rework stations of each rework zone, of the total number of rework stations, the number of rework stations in the occupied state and / or the number of rework stations in the unoccupied state.

11. The production management method according to claim 1, wherein the station parameters comprise one or more of the following parameters: station code, station type and station size; and the vehicle characteristic parameters comprise one or more of the following parameters: VIN code, vehicle model, vehicle color and quality problem.

12. A production management apparatus for reworking a vehicle, characterized by, The production management device comprises: a memory configured to store a series of computer executable instructions; and a processor configured to execute the series of computer executable instructions, wherein the series of computer executable instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform the production management method according to any one of claims 1-11.

13. A production management system for reworking vehicles, characterized in that, The production management system comprises: a receiving module configured to obtain positioning data of the returned vehicle and vehicle characteristic parameters associated with the respective returned vehicle from a tag of the returned vehicle; a work station delimiting module configured to delimit virtual geographical fences for a plurality of returned work stations in a plurality of returned zones and to assign respective work station parameters, wherein a plurality of returned work stations are assigned in each returned zone; an analyzing module configured to: - ascertain whether a returned vehicle enters or leaves a respective returned work station based on the virtual geographical fences and the positioning data; - generate first update data based on the work station parameters associated with the respective returned work station when it is ascertained that the returned vehicle enters the respective returned work station, and - generate second update data based on the work station parameters associated with the respective returned work station when it is ascertained that the returned vehicle leaves the respective returned work station, an output module configured to send the first update data and / or the second update data to a visualization device having a visualization interface in order to update the visualization interface; a visualization interface on which a plurality of returned zone display blocks corresponding to the plurality of returned zones, a plurality of returned work station display blocks corresponding to the plurality of returned work stations and an occupancy status of the plurality of returned work station display blocks can be displayed, wherein the production management system comprises a checking module configured to: obtain detection data from detection devices assigned to the returned work stations, the detection devices being configured to detect an occupancy of the respective returned work station by a returned vehicle; determine a set of occupancy statuses of the plurality of returned work stations based on the detection data; check a set of display statuses of the visualization interface based on the set of occupancy statuses.

14. The production management system according to claim 13, characterized in that the vehicle characteristic parameters comprise one or more of the following parameters: a VIN code, a vehicle model, a vehicle color and a quality issue; and / or the work station parameters comprise one or more of the following parameters: a work station code, a work station type and a work station size.

15. The production management system according to claim 13, characterized by, the production management system comprises: a returned vehicle recommendation module configured to generate returned vehicle recommendations based on the occupancy statuses of the plurality of returned work station display blocks and / or the vehicle characteristic parameters of the returned vehicle; the output module is configured to send the returned vehicle recommendations to the visualization device having the visualization interface in order to present the recommended returned vehicle recommendations by means of a pattern display.

16. The production management system according to claim 15, characterized in that the output module is configured to present a priority of the recommended returned vehicle recommendations by means of different pattern modes, and / or the output module is configured to send the returned vehicle recommendations to a communication device that can be carried by a driver of the returned vehicle.

17. The production management system according to claim 16, characterized by the output module is configured to send the returned vehicle recommendations in the form of a navigation route to a communication device that can be carried by a driver of the returned vehicle.

18. The production management system according to Claim 13, characterized by the analyzing module is configured to: when it is ascertained that the returned vehicle enters the respective returned work station: the first update data is configured to cause the respective returned work station display block to be displayed in an occupied state and to display at least a part of the vehicle characteristic parameters of the returned vehicle that occupies the respective returned work station, and the second update data is configured to cause the respective returned work station display block to be displayed in an unoccupied state. when it is ascertained that the repair vehicle leaves the respective repair station: the second update data is configured to cause the respective repair station display block to display an unoccupied state and to delete the vehicle characteristic parameter displayed by the respective repair station display block.

19. The production management system according to Claim 13, characterized by the analysis module is configured to determine a first time instant at which the repair vehicle enters the respective repair station and to determine a second time instant at which the repair vehicle leaves the respective repair station, the first update data is configured to cause the first time instant to be displayed on the visualization interface for the respective repair station; and / or the second update data is configured to cause the second time instant to be displayed on the visualization interface for the respective repair station.

20. The production management system according to claim 19, characterized by the analysis module is further configured to determine, on the basis of the first time instant and the second time instant, a repair time for each repair vehicle and to evaluate, on the basis of the repair time, the utilization of the respective repair area and / or repair station.

21. The production management system according to Claim 13, wherein, "verifying a set of display states of the visualization interface on the basis of the set of occupation states" comprises: ascertaining a set of repair stations in the occupied state on the basis of the set of occupation states; ascertaining a degree of conformity of the set of repair stations in the occupied state with the set of display states of the visualization interface when the set of repair stations in the occupied state does not conform to the set of display states of the visualization interface, generating fourth update data such that the display of the respective repair station display block is adapted in accordance with the set of repair stations in the occupied state, and the output module is configured to send a prompt message to alert the tag of the respective repair vehicle of a failure.

22. The production management system according to claim 18, characterized by, the analysis module is configured: to set an anti-misoperation interval and / or a delay period for the virtual geofence, to ascertain that the repair vehicle enters the respective repair station only when the positioning data of the repair vehicle in the unoccupied state crosses the anti-misoperation interval and / or the positioning data of the repair vehicle in the unoccupied state is within the virtual geofence for more than the delay period, and to ascertain that the repair vehicle leaves the respective repair station only when the positioning data of the repair vehicle in the occupied state crosses the anti-misoperation interval and / or the positioning data of the repair vehicle in the occupied state is outside the virtual geofence for more than the delay period.

23. The production management system according to Claim 13, characterized by the station delimiting module is configured to divide, for each repair area, a plurality of repair stations into a plurality of subsets of repair stations according to the type of repair station; the analysis module is configured to ascertain, for each repair area, the number of repair stations in the occupied state in each subset of repair stations and / or to ascertain the number of repair stations in the unoccupied state in each subset of repair stations, and the analysis module is configured to generate fifth update data such that, on the visualization interface, for each subset of repair stations of each repair area, the total number of repair stations, the number of repair stations in the occupied state and / or the number of repair stations in the unoccupied state are displayed. the analysis module is configured: to set an anti-misoperation interval and / or a delay period for the virtual geofence, to ascertain that the repair vehicle enters the respective repair station only when the positioning data of the repair vehicle in the unoccupied state crosses the anti-misoperation interval and / or the positioning data of the repair vehicle in the unoccupied state is within the virtual geofence for more than the delay period, and to ascertain that the repair vehicle leaves the respective repair station only when the positioning data of the repair vehicle in the occupied state crosses the anti-misoperation interval and / or the positioning data of the repair vehicle in the occupied state is outside the virtual geofence for more than the delay period. the station delimiting module is configured to divide, for each repair area, a plurality of repair stations into a plurality of subsets of repair stations according to the type of repair station; the analysis module is configured to ascertain, for each repair area, the number of repair stations in the occupied state in each subset of repair stations and / or to ascertain the number of repair stations in the unoccupied state in each subset of repair stations, and the analysis module is configured to generate fifth update data such that, on the visualization interface, for each subset of repair stations of each repair area, the total number of repair stations, the number of repair stations in the occupied state and / or the number of repair stations in the unoccupied state are displayed.

Images