Management system and management method for supply chain

Abstract

To provide means for specifying a bottleneck processing with less information (part manufacturing lead time of each business entity) in a supply chain composed of independent business entities which do not easily perform information provision to the outside.SOLUTION: A management method for a supply chain comprises: converting manufacturing lead times of business entities constituting a supply chain structure into supply lead times corresponding to the number of parts of a finished product; adding the supply lead times of respective supply paths to specify the longest supply path as a critical path; specifying the longest supply business entity (BN candidate) in the path; performing process division in the business entity; acquires a division manufacturing lead time of a divided process; recalculating the division manufacturing lead time as one unit to repeat the specification of the BN candidate; and determines the BN candidate as "a BN process" at a time point when processing division cannot be performed in a BN candidate business entity.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a supply chain management system and a management method. [Background technology]

[0002] In the manufacturing of goods that are an accumulation of many different parts, such as automobile and aircraft production, a supply chain is formed that is made up of a large number of parts manufacturers (business entities) in a chain. Various management methods have been proposed to ensure smooth supply and demand of parts in the supply chain.

[0003] For example, in production management, work (production processes: tasks) are represented as boxes, and are illustrated by connecting them with arrows (creating a PERT chart), and the process that takes the longest time is identified based on the lead time of each process (identifying the critical path), and a delay in that critical path will delay the entire production. In this way, a method of identifying the critical path and managing the entire project (critical path method) is known.

[0004] Furthermore, as a means of supply chain production management (supply and demand planning), Patent Document 1 discloses a design method for constructing a supply chain by acquiring specified project information (specifications of the deliverables and evaluation criteria for the supply chain design proposal), item information (items of parts that make up the deliverables), and production base information (items of parts produced at each production base and production conditions), and creating an adjustment proposal that satisfies specified evaluation criteria. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] JP 2021-5186 A. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] When designing a supply chain for the production of a new product, it is possible to adopt predetermined evaluation criteria as disclosed in Patent Document 1 and redesign an optimal supply chain in response to fluctuations in supply and demand. However, in actual supply chains (production lines) that are currently in operation, parts are already being supplied by business entities based on their respective production contracts (including delivery deadlines), and they lack flexibility in response to fluctuations in supply and demand for finished products.

[0007] For this reason, considering that disruptions to parts supply and demand in existing supply chains can have an impact on overall production, it has previously been proposed to adopt the critical path method, recognize processes with long lead times as bottlenecks, and manage those processes accordingly. However, parts suppliers are independent business entities and naturally possess trade secrets, and are reluctant to disclose technical information to outside parties, including other business entities that make up the supply chain.

[0008] Therefore, the present invention proposes a supply chain management system and method that minimizes the amount of information obtained from the business entities that make up the supply chain, identifies processes that are bottlenecks (BN), and makes these bottleneck processes known only to the parties involved (the business entities and the supply chain schedule manager: supply chain director SD). [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] The supply chain management system according to claim 1 of the present invention is a management system for a supply chain made up of a number of business entities that supply parts in a chain, and is composed of a terminal device of each part supplying business entity and a management device that are connected via an appropriate network. The management device has a supply chain structure determination unit that determines a supply path based on the parts configuration of a finished product and the supply and demand lines of each business entity that manufactures parts, a data storage unit that stores manufacturing lead time data and transport lead time data acquired by an input / output unit described below, and divided manufacturing lead time data, and a supply lead time for each supply path that is calculated based on the manufacturing and transport lead time data and the number of parts in the finished product. the supply lead time stored in the data storage means within the longest path and divided supply lead times based on divided manufacturing lead time data obtained from the business entity when dividing the manufacturing process; and an input / output unit having a means for notifying the business entity terminal of the BN candidate, and a means for acquiring divided manufacturing lead time data obtained by dividing the manufacturing process that is the subject of the BN candidate notification from the business entity terminal that has received the manufacturing lead time data, transportation lead time data between business entities, and the manufacturing lead time data.

[0010] A supply chain management method according to claim 4 of the present invention is a management method in a supply chain management system made up of a number of business entities in which parts are supplied in a chain, the management system being composed of a processor for performing predetermined arithmetic processing, a management device having an input / output interface connected via a network, and a terminal device of each business entity, the processor of the management device performing the steps of: specifying a supply chain structure that specifies the parts configuration of a finished product and a supply path for parts production; acquiring manufacturing lead time data and transportation lead time data between business entities received from the terminal device of each business entity; and calculating from the acquired data a supply lead time corresponding to the number of parts in the finished product and a supply lead time of each supply path. the process for determining a bottleneck candidate (BN candidate) by calculating a path length, determining the longest path (critical path), and identifying the process with the longest supply lead time within the longest path; a notification step of notifying the business entity of the BN candidate; a divided data acquisition step of acquiring divided divided manufacturing lead time data from the business entity that received the BN candidate notification if the process can be divided in the manufacturing process of the part; a re-BN candidate determination step of again incorporating the divided manufacturing lead time data to again determine a BN candidate; the re-BN candidate notification step, and the re-acquisition of divided manufacturing data and the re-determination step of BN candidate are repeated until a divided manufacturing lead time is not acquired from the business entity, thereby identifying a BN process.

[0011] Thus, the manufacturing lead time data of each business entity in the supply chain is acquired, and the first BN candidate is detected. The business entity that is the BN candidate divides its manufacturing process into steps that can be managed separately, notifies the management device of each divided process as independent manufacturing lead time data (divided manufacturing lead time), and the management device redetects the BN candidate including the divided lead time data. By repeating this BN candidate notification and acquisition of divided manufacturing lead time data, it is possible to identify the bottleneck process (BN process) in the supply chain without acquiring unnecessary manufacturing lead time data, and the parts supply line of the supply chain is strengthened by improving the process (shortening the manufacturing lead time) (increasing durability and responsiveness to unforeseen circumstances). Of course, if the transportation lead time is a BN candidate, it is possible to notify the business entity related to the transportation process, and improve the transportation process to realize the efficiency of the supply chain. Furthermore, when a change in circumstances occurs (natural disaster, sudden change in supply and demand, stop of the manufacturing line of a specific business entity, etc.), it is possible to take appropriate measures in advance by inputting the expected data associated with the change in circumstances and identifying (detecting) the expected BN process after the change in circumstances.

[0012] In particular, business entities that make up the supply chain are reluctant to disclose technical information such as manufacturing processes. However, since only business entities that are candidates for BN will divide processes and present divided lead time data, disclosure of non-public information will be reduced throughout the supply chain, and only a minimum amount of technical information will be required to identify the BN process.

[0013] The supply chain management system of claim 2 of the present invention is the management system of claim 1, in which when manufacturing lead time data and divided manufacturing lead time data are transmitted from the business entity terminal to the management device, the business entity attaches an encryption key to the calculation unit of the management device, and the supply lead time calculated from each manufacturing lead time data or divided manufacturing lead time data of the supply path that is the critical path is anonymized in the calculation unit of the management device, with the business entity name and divided process name anonymized and a graph created in which the anonymity is released by the encryption key, and the input / output unit is provided with a means for notifying the business entity of the graph.

[0014] In addition, the supply chain management system described in claim 3 of the present invention is equipped with a graph creation means and a graph notification means, similar to the management system described in claim 2, but the encryption key is assigned by the management device, and the assigned encryption key is also notified to the business entity corresponding to the notification means.

[0015] In addition, the supply chain management method of the present invention according to claims 5 and 6 is the invention according to claim 4, further comprising, in the data acquisition step and the divided data acquisition step, each business entity or management device assigns a different encryption key to each acquired data, and after the final BN candidate process is identified, the supply lead time calculated from each manufacturing lead time data or divided manufacturing lead time data of the supply path that is the critical path is anonymized along with the business entity name and divided process name, and a graph in which the anonymity is released using the encryption key is created and notified to the business entity (all business entities or any business entity that desires it).

[0016] That is, the supply lead time is graphed and notified to business entities (all or any that wish to receive it), but the business entity names and divided process names in the graph are made anonymous, and specific business entity names and divided process names are unlocked and displayed using a specified encryption key. Therefore, business entities can know the position of their own parts manufacturing lead time in the supply path using an encryption key that they themselves have assigned, or an encryption key that they have assigned by and notified from the management device, and anonymity is maintained with respect to other business entities. Effect of the Invention

[0017] The present invention is configured as described above, and among the business entities that make up the supply chain, disclosure of information other than the business entity's manufacturing lead time data (whether the manufacturing process can be divided and divided manufacturing lead time data) is required only when the business entity is identified as a BN candidate, making it easy for the business entity to provide information, and the BN business entity and BN process in the supply chain can be efficiently identified with a minimum of information, and by improving the lead time of the BN process, the flexibility of the entire supply chain (responsiveness to supply and demand fluctuations) is enhanced. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0018] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an embodiment of the device of the present invention. [Diagram 2] An explanatory diagram of the supply chain structure. [Diagram 3] FIG. [Figure 4] Output graph of the same supply lead time. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0019] Regarding an embodiment of the present invention, in a supply chain management system, a management device and each terminal device of the parts manufacturing entities (suppliers 1 to 3311) that make up the supply chain are communicatively connected via an appropriate network 04, and data is exchanged between the management device and the terminal devices, with appropriate processing being performed in the management device.

[0020] The management device is composed of a supply chain structure identification unit 01 that is created based on known data (the supply and demand relationship between each part manufacturing business entity), a calculation unit 02 that performs specified calculation processing, and an input / output unit 03 that receives specified notifications and data between the business entity's terminal device.

[0021] Next, the operation and processing of the management device and the terminal device will be described. The supply chain structure identification unit 01 of the management device identifies and grasps (records as data) the flow of supply and demand relationships of parts manufacturing of parts manufacturing entities (Suppliers 1 to 3311) as shown in Fig. 2 (PERT chart), for example, for the parts manufacturing supply path leading to the finished product in the entire supply chain.

[0022] First, the input / output unit 03 receives from each business entity's terminal device the manufacturing lead time data for the entire parts manufacturing of each business entity and the transport lead time data between business entities. The transport lead time data can be derived from the business entity's part delivery date and time, the completed part shipping date and time, and the part supply path structure. The data is received multiple times and the average value of the data is used.

[0023] In particular, when transmitting the above-mentioned manufacturing lead time data and delivery lead time data (manufacturing lead time data parts), the business entity assigns an encryption key for the data name (business entity name, process name) to each transmitted data, or the input / output unit of the management device that receives the data assigns an encryption key to each data name. Therefore, when displaying graphs as described below, the business entity name and process name are anonymized, reducing the risk of information leakage, and encouraging business entities to provide data.

[0024] The calculation unit 02 of the management device converts the average manufacturing lead time data for the entire parts manufacturing of each business entity and the average transport lead time data between business entities into a supply lead time corresponding to the number of parts in the finished product and the number of manufacturing batches, and adds up the supply lead times for all part supply paths.The longest path (critical path) is determined from the summation result, and the business entity with the longest supply lead time within the longest path is identified.

[0025] For example, if the combined value of the supply paths of business entities 2, 21, 211, and 2111 is the longest, that supply pie is determined to be the critical path.

[0026] When the critical path is identified, an entity (eg, entity 21) with a long supply lead time is identified from the supply path, and entity 21 is determined to be a bottleneck candidate (BN candidate) in the supply chain.

[0027] When a bottleneck candidate (BN candidate) is identified, the input / output unit 03 notifies the terminal device of the business entity 21 of the “BN candidate”.

[0028] Parts manufacturing at a business entity is not necessarily a single process, and there are part manufacturing supply paths established within the business entity as well. Therefore, it is not possible to determine whether the bottleneck (BN) in the supply chain is in the business entity's manufacturing process. Furthermore, even if the business entity is identified as a BN, it is unclear which manufacturing process of the business entity is the BN.

[0029] Therefore, the business entity 21 that has received the BN candidate notification sets a division point P3 at which division can be performed in the manufacturing processes 21A, 21B, and 21C in the parts manufacturing process as shown in Fig. 3. The manufacturing lead-time data initially notified by the business entity 21 was "P1-P2", but by setting the division point P3, the divided manufacturing lead-time data (P1-P3, P3-P2) is sent to the management device together with the divided process name (with encryption key attached). That is, the manufacturing lead-time of the business entity 21 in the supply chain is (P1-P2), but this is divided to become (P1-P3) and (P3-P2).

[0030] When the divided manufacturing lead time data is acquired, the manufacturing lead time data of the business entity 21 is replaced with the divided manufacturing lead time data, and the business entity or process with the long supply lead time in the critical path is identified again, and it is judged as a BN candidate in the supply chain. When a "BN candidate" is identified, the relevant business entity is notified again that it is a "BN candidate."

[0031] By repeating the process of identifying and notifying "BN candidates" and acquiring divided manufacturing lead time data, the "BN process" is finally identified. If an encryption key is assigned to each manufacturing divided lead time acquired (input) by the management device, the encryption key is notified to the business entity that entered the data.

[0032] Therefore, once the "BN process" is identified, improvements to the manufacturing process for the "BN process" (for example, ensuring a specified amount of inventory and shortening manufacturing time) will result in improvements to the entire supply chain.

[0033] Furthermore, if the transportation supply lead time (parts delivery transportation process between business entities) is identified as a "BN process" while repeatedly obtaining the divided manufacturing lead time and identifying BN candidates on the critical path, then improvements to that transportation process can be considered.

[0034] In addition, when a "BN process" is identified, the names of the business entities and processes that play a critical path in the supply chain are made anonymous, as shown in Figure 4, and a list graph of supply lead times based on the manufacturing lead time data and divided manufacturing lead time data acquired at that time is created and provided to the business entities of that supply path. The business entities that receive the information can find out the level of their own supply lead times by entering their own encryption key.

[0035] Specifically, if the 21A process of the business entity 21 given as an example above is "BN process," when the business entity 21 inputs the encryption key it has given or has been notified of, only "X process: 21A process name" and "Y process: 21B process name + 21C process name" of "BN process" are displayed. Also, when another business entity 33 inputs its own encryption key, only "Z process name: business entity 33 name" is displayed, and the rest is anonymous.

[0036] In addition, if the management device assigns an encryption key, the supply chain schedule manager SD can set up a program that allows him or her to remove the anonymity of the output graph without the encryption key. Therefore, the SD can remove the anonymity of the output graph as needed to learn the desired business entity names and process names, while the anonymity of the business entity names and process names in the output graph is ensured for other people.

[0037] In particular, when a business entity attaches an encryption key, for supply chain management purposes, the encryption key for the "BN process" is released and the "BN process name or business entity name" is disclosed to the business entity in the supply path only by the SD or to alert the business entity, and for other purposes, if the anonymity of the business entity name and process name is ensured even for the SD, the anonymity of each business entity will be ensured more reliably. For example, when the SD wants to know the supply lead time data of a specific business entity that has encountered some kind of problem, the data can be obtained by receiving the encryption key from that specific business entity, which will help in the management and operation of the entire supply chain. [Explanation of symbols]

[0038] 01 Supply Chain Structure Identification Department 02 Arithmetic section 03 Input / output section 04 Network 1...3312 Business entity

Claims

1. A supply chain management system consisting of a large number of business entities in which parts are supplied in a chain, comprising a terminal device and a management device of each part supplying business entity connected via an appropriate network, The management device: A supply chain structure identification unit that identifies a supply path based on the component configuration of a finished product and the supply and demand lines of each business entity that manufactures the components; a calculation unit having a data storage means for storing manufacturing lead time data and transport lead time data, as well as divided manufacturing lead time data, obtained by an input / output unit described later; a determination means for calculating a supply lead time corresponding to the number of parts in a finished product from the manufacturing and transport lead time data, adding up the supply lead times of each supply path, and determining the longest path (critical path); and a processing means for identifying an entity or process with the longest supply lead time from the supply lead time stored in the data storage means within the longest path and the divided supply lead time based on the divided manufacturing lead time data obtained from the entity when dividing a manufacturing process, and determining a bottleneck candidate (BN candidate). an input / output unit having a means for notifying the business entity terminal of the BN candidate, and a means for acquiring manufacturing lead time data, transportation lead time data between business entities, and divided manufacturing lead time data obtained by dividing the manufacturing process of the BN candidate notification target from the business entity terminal that received the BN candidate notification; A supply chain management system comprising:

2. A supply chain management system as described in claim 1, further comprising: a graph creation means for creating a graph in which the business entity attaches an encryption key when transmitting manufacturing lead time data and divided manufacturing lead time data from the business entity terminal to the management device, the calculation unit of the management device calculates the supply lead time calculated from each manufacturing lead time data or divided manufacturing lead time data of a supply path that is a critical path, anonymizes the business entity name and divided process name, and de-anonymizes the graph using the encryption key, and the input / output unit is provided with a means for notifying the business entity of the graph.

3. A supply chain management system as described in claim 1, wherein when manufacturing lead time data and divided manufacturing lead time data are received from a business entity terminal, the management device assigns an encryption key, and the calculation unit of the management device is provided with a graph creation means for creating a graph in which the supply lead time calculated from each manufacturing lead time data or divided manufacturing lead time data of a supply path that is a critical path, the business entity name and divided process name are anonymized, and the anonymity is released with the encryption key, and the input / output unit is provided with a means for notifying the business entity of the graph and the encryption key assigned to the business entity.

4. A management method in a supply chain management system made up of a large number of business entities in which parts are supplied in a chain, comprising: The management system is composed of a processor that performs predetermined arithmetic processing, a management device equipped with an input / output interface that is connected via a network, and a terminal device of each business entity, The processor of the management device identifies a supply chain structure that identifies a component configuration of a finished product and a supply path for manufacturing the components; A data acquisition step of acquiring manufacturing lead time data and transportation lead time data between the business entities received from the terminal devices of the business entities; a BN candidate identification step of calculating a supply lead time corresponding to the number of parts in the finished product and a supply lead time for each supply path from the acquired data, determining the longest path (critical path), and identifying a process with the longest supply lead time within the longest path to determine a bottleneck candidate (BN candidate); A notification step of notifying the business entity of the BN candidate; a division data acquisition step of acquiring divisional manufacturing lead time data for the manufacturing process of the part from the business entity that has received the BN candidate notification, when the manufacturing process of the part can be divided; a re-BN candidate determination step of determining a BN candidate again by incorporating the divided manufacturing lead time data; The step of notifying the BN candidate again, the step of acquiring the divided manufacturing data again, and the step of determining the BN candidate again are repeated until the divided manufacturing lead time is not acquired from the business entity, and the BN process is identified. A supply chain management method comprising:

5. 5. The supply chain management method according to claim 4, wherein in the data acquisition step, the business entity acquires data to which an encryption key has been assigned, After the final BN process is identified, the supply lead time calculated from each manufacturing lead time data or divided manufacturing lead time data of the supply path that is the critical path is created as a graph in which the business entity name and divided process name are anonymized and the anonymity is released using the encryption key, and the graph is notified to the business entity.

6. 5. The supply chain management method according to claim 4, wherein in the data acquisition step, an encryption key is assigned to the data received from the business entity; After the final BN process is identified, the supply lead time calculated from each manufacturing lead time data or divided manufacturing lead time data of the supply path that is the critical path is anonymized along with the business entity name and divided process name, and a graph is created in which the anonymity is released using the encryption key, and the graph is notified to the business entity along with the encryption key corresponding to the business entity.

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