Work management system, work management method, and program

Abstract

To provide a work management system capable of having a worker carry out work using a work plan even when congestion occurs for the worker and work is delayed.SOLUTION: A work management system includes: an initial plan process unit for determining an initial work plan which is the initial work plan for picking work of an item in a storehouse by a plurality of workers including information indicating item to be picked regarding a respective worker of a plurality of workers and a picking route using a constraint condition for restricting the number of workers at the same position at the same time, and a replanning process unit for determining information indicating the picking route regarding a plurality of respective workers by using a constraint condition by acquiring result information indicating already picked items when having determined that replanning condition determined beforehand is fulfilled and present position information for each of the plurality of workers and indicating the picking route regarding each of the plurality of workers, and the replanning condition is a condition regarding time or moving speed for each of a plurality of workers.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a work management system, a work management method, and a program. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, there are systems that create plans for picking work to pick up items in warehouses, etc. In Patent Document 1, optimization is performed using the total walking distance, which is the sum of the walking distances of all workers, and the standard deviation of the walking distances of each worker as objective functions, making it possible to both reduce the total walking distance in picking work and reduce the bias in the walking distances of each worker. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2021-187619 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, conventional systems for creating picking work plans have the problem that workers may concentrate in specific locations, causing congestion and delays in work, making the work plan unusable.

[0005] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above circumstances, and provides a work management system, work management method, and program that enable workers to perform work using a work plan even if there is a congestion of workers and work is delayed. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and one aspect of the present invention is a work management system comprising: an initial planning processing unit that determines an initial work plan for item picking work in a warehouse by a plurality of workers, the initial work plan including information indicating the items to be picked and information indicating a picking route for each of the plurality of workers, using constraint conditions that limit the number of workers who are in the same position at the same time; and a re-planning processing unit that, if it is determined that predetermined re-planning conditions are satisfied, acquires actual information indicating the items that have been picked and current location information of each of the plurality of workers, and determines information indicating a picking route for each of the plurality of workers using the constraint conditions, wherein the re-planning conditions are conditions related to time, or conditions related to the movement speed of each of the plurality of workers.

[0007] Another aspect of the present invention is the above-mentioned work management system, wherein the re-planning processing unit determines information indicating a picking route for each of the multiple workers without changing information indicating the items to be picked in the initial work plan.

[0008] Another aspect of the present invention is a work management method comprising: a first step of determining an initial work plan for item picking work in a warehouse by a plurality of workers, the initial work plan including information indicating an item to be picked and information indicating a picking route for each of the plurality of workers, using constraint conditions that limit the number of workers who are in the same location at the same time; and a second step of acquiring performance information indicating the items that have been picked and current location information of each of the plurality of workers, and determining information indicating a picking route for each of the plurality of workers, using the constraint conditions, if it is determined that predetermined re-planning conditions are satisfied, wherein the re-planning conditions are conditions related to time or conditions related to the movement speed of each of the plurality of workers.

[0009] Another aspect of the present invention is a computer that includes an initial plan processing unit that determines an initial work plan for item picking work in a warehouse by a plurality of workers, the initial work plan including information indicating an item to be picked and information indicating a picking route for each of the plurality of workers, using a constraint condition that limits the number of workers who are in the same position at the same time, and a replanning processing unit that, when it is determined that a predetermined replanning condition is satisfied, acquires performance information indicating the items that have been picked and current location information of each of the plurality of workers, and determines information indicating a picking route for each of the plurality of workers using the constraint condition. wherein the re-planning condition is a condition related to time or a condition related to the movement speed of each of the plurality of workers. Effect of the Invention

[0010] According to the present invention, the work management system, work management method, and program enable workers to perform work using a work plan even if workers are congested and work is delayed. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0011] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram showing a configuration of a work management system 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] 2 is a schematic block diagram showing the configuration of a work management device 40 in the embodiment. [Diagram 3] 13 is a table showing an example of a picking route of a work plan stored in a storage unit 46 in the embodiment. [Figure 4] 13 is a table showing an example of items to be picked and work results in a work plan stored in the storage unit 46 in the embodiment. [Diagram 5] 11 is a table showing an example of a current position stored in a storage unit 46 in the embodiment. [Figure 6] 4 is a sequence diagram illustrating the operation of the work management system 100 in the embodiment. FIG. [Figure 7] 13 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the operation of an initial plan processing unit 45 in the embodiment. [Figure 8] 13 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the operation of a re-planning processing unit 44 in the embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0012] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Fig. 1 is a schematic block diagram showing the configuration of a work management system 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The work management system 100 manages the picking work of items in a warehouse performed by multiple workers. The work management system 100 includes multiple worker terminals 10, a work requester terminal 20, a work site DB (Data Base) 30, a work management device 40, and an optimization calculation device 50.

[0013] Each of the worker terminal 10, the work requester terminal 20, the work site DB 30, the work management device 40, and the optimization calculation device 50 may be realized by one or more computers reading and executing a program. The worker terminal 10, the work requester terminal 20, the work site DB 30, the work management device 40, and the optimization calculation device 50 may be communicatively connected to each other via a general-purpose or dedicated network. The network may be wired, wireless, or a combination of wired and wireless.

[0014] The worker terminal 10 is a terminal used by each of a plurality of workers, and displays the work plan of the corresponding worker, and transmits the work record indicating the items that have been picked and the current location of the corresponding worker to the work management device 40. The worker terminal 10 receives the initial work plan from the work requester terminal 20, and receives the re-planned work plan from the work management device 40. Note that the worker terminal 10 may receive each of the initial and re-planned work plans from either the work requester terminal 20 or the work management device 40, and for example, in another embodiment, the worker terminal 10 may receive the initial and re-planned work plans from the work management device 40.

[0015] Furthermore, the work record is obtained, for example, when an item is picked, by a worker making an input to the worker terminal 10, such as pressing a button indicating completion of the work. The current location may be obtained, for example, by a worker making an input to the worker terminal 10, such as pressing a button indicating the current location, or by the worker terminal 10 receiving a signal from a positioning system installed in the warehouse.

[0016] The work requester terminal 20 acquires request information specifying the items to be picked and transmits it to the work management device 40. The request information specifying the items to be picked may be input by a user of the work requester terminal 20 using an input means such as a keyboard or a mouse. The work requester terminal 20 also receives an initial work plan determined based on the request information from the work management device 40, displays it, and transmits it to the worker terminal 10. Note that the work plan transmitted to the worker terminal 10 may be only the work plan of the corresponding worker.

[0017] The work site DB 30 stores information representing the layout of the warehouse. The information representing the layout includes information indicating items stored in the warehouse and the storage location (shelf, section, etc.) of each item. Furthermore, the information representing the layout of the warehouse may include information indicating travel distances or travel times between storage locations.

[0018] When the work management device 40 receives request information from the work requester terminal 20, it determines an initial work plan based on the request information and transmits the initial work plan to the work requester terminal 20. Furthermore, when the work management device 40 determines that a predetermined re-planning condition is satisfied, it re-plans the work plan and transmits the re-planned work plan to the worker terminal 10. When determining the initial work plan and re-planning the work plan, the work management device 40 creates an objective function by referring to information stored in the work site DB 30. Furthermore, the work management device 40 instructs the optimization calculation device 50 to perform a solution process for the optimization problem that minimizes (or maximizes) the objective function. The work management device 40 receives a processing result from the optimization calculation device 50 and obtains a work plan from the processing result.

[0019] The optimization calculation device 50 performs a solution process for the optimization problem instructed by the work management device 40, and transmits an optimal solution or an approximate solution, which is the result of the process, to the work management device 40. The optimization calculation device 50 may be an annealing-type or gate-type quantum computer, or may be a pseudo-quantum computer. The optimization calculation device 50 may also be located in a so-called cloud.

[0020] 2 is a schematic block diagram showing the configuration of a work management device 40 in this embodiment. The work management device 40 includes a worker terminal communication unit 41, a work requester terminal communication unit 42, a performance / position registration unit 43, a re-planning processing unit 44, an initial plan processing unit 45, a storage unit 46, and an optimization calculation processing unit 47.

[0021] The worker terminal communication unit 41 communicates with the worker terminal 10. For example, the worker terminal communication unit 41 receives the work results and the current location from the worker terminal 10, and transmits a replanned work plan to the worker terminal 10.

[0022] The work requester terminal communication unit 42 communicates with the work requester terminal 20. For example, the work requester terminal communication unit 42 receives request information from the work requester terminal 20 and transmits an initial work plan to the work requester terminal 20.

[0023] The result / location registration unit 43 stores the work result and the current location received by the worker terminal communication unit 41 in the storage unit 46 .

[0024] When the re-planning processing unit 44 determines that the predetermined re-planning conditions are satisfied, it acquires the work results indicating the picked items and the current locations of each of the multiple workers, determines information indicating the picking routes for each of the multiple workers, and sets this as a re-planned work plan. The re-planning processing unit 44 updates the work plan stored in the storage unit 46 with the re-planned work plan. The re-planning processing unit 44 performs this re-planning every time it determines that the re-planning conditions are satisfied. That is, the re-planning processing unit 44 may perform re-planning multiple times.

[0025] The re-planning condition is a condition related to time or a condition related to the movement speed of each of the multiple workers. The condition related to time is, for example, that a certain period has elapsed. The condition related to the movement speed may be, for example, that the movement speed of any of the workers is equal to or lower than a predetermined threshold, or that the time that any of the workers stays in the same place exceeds a predetermined threshold.

[0026] The work speed and the time spent in the same place may be calculated based on the current location received by the worker terminal communication unit 41. The re-planning processing unit 44 may determine information indicating a picking route for each of the multiple workers without changing information indicating the items to be picked in the initial work plan.

[0027] The re-planning processing unit 44 generates an objective function that minimizes the total travel distance from the current position of multiple workers along a picking route for picking an unpicked item or the standard deviation for each worker, and instructs the optimization calculation processing unit 47 on how to solve the objective function. The objective function may be one that minimizes the total travel distance and the standard deviation. The re-planning processing unit 44 obtains an optimal solution or an approximate solution of the objective function from the optimization calculation processing unit 47, and determines a work plan based on the solution. The re-planning processing unit 44 includes a constraint condition that limits the number of workers who are in the same position (section) at the same time in the objective function. This makes it possible to prevent many workers from being in the same section, causing congestion in movement or work. For example, if the objective function is a QUBO model, a quantum bit indicating whether or not worker k is present in section i at time j is set as x i,j,k When r is set, the re-planning processing unit 44 may include the following formula (1) in the objective function as a constraint condition that the number of people in the same section at the same time is N or less. i,j,n is a quantum bit that is 1 when there are n workers in section i at time j, and is 0 otherwise, where 0≦n≦N.

[0028]

number

[0029] The re-planning processing unit 44 may include the current locations of the multiple workers as a constraint condition in the objective function. Furthermore, when information indicating items to be picked in the initial work plan is not changed, the re-planning processing unit 44 may include items to be picked assigned to each of the multiple workers in the initial work plan as a constraint condition in the objective function. The re-planning processing unit 44 may include items that have been picked, which are indicated by the work performance, as a constraint condition in the objective function.

[0030] The initial plan processing unit 45 determines an initial work plan for a picking operation of items in a warehouse by a plurality of workers, the initial work plan including information indicating the items to be picked and information indicating the picking route for each of the plurality of workers. The initial plan processing unit 45 generates an objective function that minimizes the total or standard deviation of the movement distance of the plurality of workers along the picking route for picking the item indicated by the request information, and instructs the optimization calculation processing unit 47 on the solution method of the objective function. The initial plan processing unit 45 obtains an optimal solution or an approximate solution of the objective function from the optimization calculation processing unit 47, and determines the work plan based on the solution. The initial plan processing unit 45 includes a constraint condition that limits the number of workers who are in the same position (section) at the same time in the objective function. This makes it possible to avoid a situation where many workers are in the same section and congestion occurs in movement or work. The initial plan processing unit 45 may also include the above formula (1) in the objective function as a constraint condition, similar to the replanning processing unit 44.

[0031] The memory unit 46 stores the work plan, the work results, and the current position.

[0032] The optimization calculation processing unit 47 formulates the objective functions instructed by each of the replanning processing unit 44 and the initial planning processing unit 45 into an Ising model or a QUBO (Quadratic Unconstrained Binary Optimization) model, and requests the optimization calculation device 50 to solve the model.

[0033] 3 is a table showing an example of a picking route of a work plan stored in the memory unit 46 in this embodiment. In the example of the picking route of the work plan shown in FIG. 3, each worker is associated with a location (section within the warehouse) at each time. Worker "Worker A" is associated with "Section R1" at time T0, "Section R2" at time T1, "Section R3" at time T2, etc., and worker "Worker B" is associated with "Section R1" at time T0, "Section R3" at time T1, "Section R4" at time T2, etc.

[0034] 4 is a table showing an example of items to be picked in a work plan and work results stored in the storage unit 46 in this embodiment. In the example of items to be picked in a work plan and work results shown in FIG. 4, each item is associated with a worker who picks the item and work results indicating whether picking of the item has been completed. Item "Item O1" is associated with worker "Worker A" and work results "Completed", and item "Item O2" is associated with worker "Worker B" and work results "Incomplete".

[0035] Fig. 5 is a table showing an example of current positions stored in the storage unit 46 in this embodiment. In the example of current positions shown in Fig. 5, each worker is associated with a current position. A current position "section R3" is associated with a worker "worker A," and a current position "section R4" is associated with a worker "worker B."

[0036] 6 is a sequence diagram illustrating the operation of the work management system 100 in this embodiment. First, when a list of items to be picked is input to the work requester terminal 20, the work requester terminal 20 transmits request information indicating the items to the work management device 40 (sequence S101). When the work management device 40 receives the request information, the work management device 40 requests the layout of the warehouse from the work site DB 30 (sequence S102). When the layout is requested by the work management device 40, the work site DB 30 returns information indicating the layout of the warehouse to the work management device 40 (sequence S103).

[0037] The work management device 40 generates an objective function using the request information and information representing the layout, and sets the objective function formulated in an Ising model or a QUBO model in the optimization calculation device 50 (sequence S104). When the objective function is set, the optimization calculation device 50 calculates an optimal solution or an approximate solution of the objective function and returns it to the work management device 40 (sequence S105). The work management device 40 converts the solution received from the optimization calculation device 50 into a work plan (initial work plan), stores it in the storage unit 46, and returns it to the work requester terminal 20 (sequence S106).

[0038] When the work requester terminal 20 receives the work plan from the work management device 40, it displays the work plan so that the work requester can confirm it. When the work requester has finished confirming it, the work requester terminal 20 transmits the work plan to the worker terminal 10 (sequence S107). When the worker terminal 10 receives the work plan, it notifies the worker of the picking route and the items to be picked in accordance with the work plan.

[0039] When the worker picks items according to the picking route and items notified to the worker terminal 10 and inputs the work results to the worker terminal 10, the worker terminal 10 transmits the work results and the current location to the work management device 40 (sequence S108). The current location may be transmitted periodically, or may be transmitted when the worker terminal 10 detects a change in the current location.

[0040] When the work management device 40 determines that the replanning conditions are satisfied, it requests the layout of the warehouse from the work site DB 30 (sequence S109). When the layout is requested by the work management device 40, the work site DB 30 returns information representing the layout of the warehouse to the work management device 40 (sequence S110).

[0041] The work management device 40 generates an objective function using the work record, the current position, and information representing the layout, and sets the objective function formulated as an Ising model or a QUBO model in the optimization calculation device 50 (sequence S111). When the objective function is set, the optimization calculation device 50 calculates an optimal solution or an approximate solution of the objective function and returns it to the work management device 40 (sequence S112). The work management device 40 converts the solution received from the optimization calculation device 50 into a work plan (a re-planned work plan), updates the work plan stored in the storage unit 46, and transmits it to the worker terminal 10 (sequence S113).

[0042] 7 is a flowchart for explaining an example of the operation of the initial plan processor 45 in this embodiment. First, the initial plan processor 45 acquires the request information received by the work requester terminal communication unit 42 (step Sa1). Next, the initial plan processor 45 acquires the layout of the warehouse from the work site DB 30 (step Sa2). Next, the initial plan processor 45 generates an objective function from the request information and the layout (step Sa3), and instructs the optimization calculation processor 47 on a solution to the optimization problem that minimizes the objective function (step Sa4).

[0043] Next, when the initial plan processing unit 45 acquires an optimal solution or an approximate solution from the optimization calculation processing unit 47, it creates a work plan indicated by the solution (step Sa5). Next, the initial plan processing unit 45 stores the work plan in the storage unit 46, and transmits it to the work requester terminal 20 as an initial work plan (step Sa6).

[0044] 8 is a flowchart for explaining an example of the operation of the re-planning processing unit 44 in this embodiment. First, the re-planning processing unit 44 determines whether or not the re-planning conditions are satisfied (step Sb1). If it is determined that the re-planning conditions are not satisfied (step Sb1-No), the re-planning processing unit 44 determines whether or not the picking work is completed (step Sb8). If it is determined that the picking work is completed (step Sb8-Yes), the re-planning processing unit 44 ends the processing. If it is determined that the picking work is not completed (step Sb8-No), the re-planning processing unit 44 returns to the processing of step Sb1.

[0045] Furthermore, if it is determined in step Sb1 that the re-planning condition is satisfied (step Sb1-Yes), the re-planning processing unit 44 acquires the work record and the current position from the memory unit 46 (step Sb2). Next, the re-planning processing unit 44 acquires the layout of the warehouse from the work site DB 30 (step Sb3). Next, the re-planning processing unit 44 generates an objective function from the work record, the current position, and the layout (step Sb4), and instructs the optimization calculation processing unit 47 on a solution to the optimization problem that minimizes the objective function (step Sb5).

[0046] Next, when the re-planning processing unit 44 acquires an optimal solution or an approximate solution from the optimization calculation processing unit 47, it creates a work plan indicated by the solution (step Sb6). Next, the re-planning processing unit 44 updates the work plan stored in the storage unit 46 with the work plan, transmits it to the worker terminal 10 as a re-planned work plan (step Sb7), and returns to step Sb1.

[0047] In this way, the work management system in this embodiment replans the work plan when the replanning conditions are met, so that even if there is congestion because workers are concentrating at a specific location, or even if workers are congested and work is delayed, the workers can carry out work using the work plan.

[0048] The following embodiment may be adopted. (1) One embodiment is a work management system that includes an initial planning processing unit that determines an initial work plan for item picking work in a warehouse by a plurality of workers, the initial work plan including information indicating an item to be picked and information indicating a picking route for each of the plurality of workers, using constraint conditions that limit the number of workers who are in the same location at the same time, and a re-planning processing unit that, if it is determined that a predetermined re-planning condition is satisfied, acquires performance information indicating the items that have been picked and current location information of each of the plurality of workers, and determines information indicating a picking route for each of the plurality of workers using the constraint conditions, wherein the re-planning conditions are conditions related to time or conditions related to the movement speed of each of the plurality of workers.

[0049] (2) In another embodiment, the re-planning processing unit determines information indicating a picking route for each of the multiple workers without changing information indicating the items to be picked in the initial work plan.

[0050] (3) Yet another embodiment is a work management method comprising: a first step of determining an initial work plan for item picking work in a warehouse by a plurality of workers, the initial work plan including information indicating an item to be picked and information indicating a picking route for each of the plurality of workers, using a constraint condition that limits the number of workers who are in the same position at the same time; and a second step of acquiring performance information indicating the items that have been picked and current location information of each of the plurality of workers, and determining information indicating a picking route for each of the plurality of workers, using the constraint condition, if it is determined that a predetermined re-planning condition is satisfied, wherein the re-planning condition is a condition related to time or a condition related to the movement speed of each of the plurality of workers.

[0051] (4) Yet another embodiment is a program for causing a computer to function as an initial planning processing unit that determines an initial work plan for item picking work in a warehouse by a plurality of workers, the initial work plan including information indicating the items to be picked and information indicating a picking route for each of the plurality of workers, using constraint conditions that limit the number of workers who are in the same location at the same time, and a re-planning processing unit that, when it is determined that a predetermined re-planning condition is satisfied, obtains performance information indicating the items that have been picked and current location information of each of the plurality of workers, and determines information indicating a picking route for each of the plurality of workers using the constraint conditions, wherein the re-planning condition is a condition related to time or a condition related to the movement speed of each of the plurality of workers.

[0052] 1 may be recorded on a computer-readable recording medium, and the programs recorded on this recording medium may be read into a computer system and executed to realize the worker terminal 10, the work requester terminal 20, the work site DB 30, the work management device 40, and the optimization calculation device 50. Note that the term "computer system" herein includes hardware such as an OS and peripheral devices.

[0053] In addition, if a WWW system is used, the "computer system" also includes the homepage providing environment (or display environment). In addition, "computer-readable recording medium" refers to portable media such as flexible disks, optical magnetic disks, ROMs, and CD-ROMs, and storage devices such as hard disks built into computer systems. Furthermore, "computer-readable recording medium" also includes those that dynamically hold a program for a short period of time, such as a communication line when transmitting a program via a network such as the Internet or a communication line such as a telephone line, and those that hold a program for a certain period of time, such as volatile memory inside a computer system that serves as a server or client in such cases. Furthermore, the above program may be one that realizes part of the above-mentioned functions, or may be one that can realize the above-mentioned functions in combination with a program already recorded in the computer system.

[0054] Although an embodiment of the present invention has been described in detail above with reference to the drawings, the specific configuration is not limited to this embodiment, and design changes and the like that do not deviate from the gist of the present invention are also included. [Explanation of symbols]

[0055] 10 Worker terminal 20 Work requester terminal 30 Work site DB 40 Work management device 41 Worker terminal communication unit 42 Work requester terminal communication unit 43 Track record / location registration section 44 Replanning Processing Unit 45 Initial Planning Processing Section 46 Memory section 47 Optimization calculation processing section 50 Optimization Calculation Device 100 Work Management System

Claims

1. an initial plan processing unit that determines an initial work plan for a picking operation of items in a warehouse by a plurality of workers, the initial work plan including information indicating an item to be picked and information indicating a picking route for each of the plurality of workers, using a constraint condition that limits the number of workers who are in the same location at the same time; a re-planning processing unit that, when it is determined that a predetermined re-planning condition is satisfied, acquires performance information indicating the items that have been picked and current location information of each of the plurality of workers, and determines information indicating a picking route for each of the plurality of workers using the constraint condition; Equipped with The re-planning condition is a condition related to time or a condition related to the movement speed of each of the plurality of workers. Work management system.

2. the re-planning processing unit determines information indicating a picking route for each of the plurality of workers without changing information indicating an item to be picked in the initial work plan. The work management system according to claim 1 .

3. A first step of determining an initial work plan for a picking operation of items in a warehouse by a plurality of workers, the initial work plan including information indicating an item to be picked and information indicating a picking route for each of the plurality of workers, using a constraint condition that limits the number of workers in the same location at the same time; a second step of acquiring, when it is determined that a predetermined re-planning condition is satisfied, performance information indicating the items that have been picked and current location information of each of the plurality of workers, and determining information indicating a picking route for each of the plurality of workers using the constraint condition; having The re-planning condition is a condition related to time or a condition related to the movement speed of each of the plurality of workers. Work management methods.

4. Computer, an initial plan processing unit that determines an initial work plan for a picking operation of items in a warehouse by a plurality of workers, the initial work plan including information indicating an item to be picked and information indicating a picking route for each of the plurality of workers, using a constraint condition that limits the number of workers who are in the same location at the same time; a replanning processing unit that, when it is determined that a predetermined replanning condition is satisfied, acquires performance information indicating the items that have been picked and current location information of each of the plurality of workers, and determines information indicating a picking route for each of the plurality of workers using the constraint condition. A program for causing the device to function as a The re-planning condition is a condition related to time or a condition related to the movement speed of each of the plurality of workers. program.

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