Design information classification device, program, design information classification method, and standard design management system

Abstract

To provide a technique for promoting efficient utilization of design information created.SOLUTION: A design information classification device comprises: a design information acquisition section configured to, upon receiving specification of a kind of a product unit, acquire design information of a plurality of units of the specified kind; an intermediate data generation section configured to generate intermediate data from the design information; a clustering execution section configured to, upon receiving as a classification axis, at least one specification of a performance kind or a constituent kind of the unit, classify the design information by classifying the intermediate data by using the specified classification axis; and an output information generation section configured to generate output information indicating a classification result according to the clustering execution section. The design information includes unit constitution information including the constituents constituting the unit and hierarchical information of the unit. The intermediate data generation section generates the intermediate data by using the unit constitution information of the unit.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a design information classification device, a program, a design information classification method, and a standard design management system. [Background technology]

[0002] In the manufacturing industry, various techniques are known for classifying information about product configurations, manufacturing processes, and the like.

[0003] Patent Document 1 discloses a technology related to a production information management device. The production information management device evaluates the degree to which the values ​​of each item, such as the inspection equipment, the workers involved in the production, the parameters that characterize the manufacturing process such as the set temperature, and the environmental conditions such as temperature and humidity, in the product performance data are similar between different production lots. Next, multiple representative points are determined for each item such as the inspection equipment and the workers. Next, the performance data is linked to the combination of representative points (representative point pattern) in which each item of the performance data is most similar, and the number of such combinations is counted. After that, the distance between the representative point patterns is calculated, and the representative point patterns are displayed in a two-dimensional map based on the distance. When a search range is set on the map, the corresponding performance data is extracted. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] JP 2012-094016 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] In the manufacturing industry, products are manufactured using design information. For example, multiple similar design information may be accumulated due to circumstances such as one design information being derived from another. When there is a lot of design information and one wants to use one of the design information, it is cumbersome to search for the desired design information in a database that has been accumulated without being organized. The technology disclosed in Patent Document 1 does not assume the reuse of design information.

[0006] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned points, and has an object to provide a technique for promoting efficient use of created design information. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The present application includes a number of means for solving the above problems, examples of which are as follows.

[0008] In order to solve the above problem, a design information classification device according to one embodiment of the present invention comprises a design information acquisition unit that, when it receives a designation of a type of unit of a product, acquires design information of a plurality of the units of the specified type; an intermediate data generation unit that generates intermediate data from the design information; a clustering execution unit that, when it receives a designation of at least one of a performance type or a component type of the unit as a classification axis, classifies the design information by classifying the intermediate data using the specified classification axis; and an output information generation unit that generates output information indicating a classification result by the clustering execution unit, wherein the design information includes unit configuration information including components that constitute the unit and hierarchical information of the unit, and the intermediate data generation unit generates the intermediate data using the unit configuration information of the unit.

[0009] The clustering execution unit may classify the design information that is similar in terms of the classification axis into the same group, and the output information generation unit may generate the output information including information indicating a group to which each of the design information belongs as the classification result.

[0010] The clustering execution unit may be characterized in that it includes a standard design determination unit that classifies the design information similar in terms of the classification axis into the same group, and determines, from the group, standard design information, which is the design information that becomes a standard for the group, using predetermined conditions.

[0011] The design information classification device may include a recommendation level determination unit that determines a recommendation level of the design information by using predetermined parameters related to the design information, and the output information generation unit may output the recommendation level for each of a plurality of pieces of design information related to the unit of the specified type.

[0012] The standard design determination unit may determine the design information selected by a user from the design information classified into the groups as the standard design information.

[0013] The intermediate data generation unit may be characterized in that it obtains item list information that associates a plurality of items that have a common meaning among the items included in a plurality of different pieces of design information, and generates the intermediate data by converting a plurality of items included in the design information that are associated with each other in the item list information into a common item.

[0014] The item list information may be information in which item attributes are associated with the items, and the intermediate data generation unit may be characterized in that, when the clustering execution unit receives specification of the classification axis related to the item attribute, the intermediate data generation unit generates the intermediate data in which multiple items having a common meaning among the items related to the item attribute are converted into a common item, and suppress the conversion of the items related to other items related to the item attributes.

[0015] The clustering execution unit may be configured to determine that each of the values ​​of items related to the classification axis is one of the values ​​included in the plurality of intermediate data generated for the unit of the type specified by the design information acquisition unit.

[0016] The design information classification device may include a characteristic information determination unit that determines unit characteristic information by using the values ​​of the items related to the classification axis among values ​​included in the plurality of pieces of design information related to the units of the specified type, and determines group characteristic information for each group classified by the clustering execution unit by using the values ​​of the items related to the classification axis among values ​​included in the design information of the group, and the output information generation unit may output information indicating a comparison between the unit characteristic information and the group characteristic information.

[0017] The standard design determination unit may acquire product-related information regarding the manufacture of a unit related to the design information, and the output information generation unit may output the product-related information for each piece of design information, and the product-related information may include at least one of a manufacturing cost of the unit, carbon emissions during manufacturing, or past defect information.

[0018] In addition, in order to solve the above problem, a program according to another aspect of the present invention is a program that causes a processing unit of a computer to execute a design information classification method, and when a designation of a type of unit of a product is received, the program executes a design information acquisition step of acquiring design information of a plurality of the units of the specified type, an intermediate data generation step of generating intermediate data from the design information, a clustering execution step of classifying the design information by classifying the intermediate data using the specified classification axis when a designation of at least one of a performance type or a component type of the unit is received as a classification axis, and an output information generation step of generating output information indicating a classification result in the clustering execution step, wherein the design information includes unit configuration information including components that constitute the product and hierarchical information of the components, and the intermediate data generation step generates the intermediate data using the unit configuration information of the unit.

[0019] In order to solve the above problem, a design information classification method according to another aspect of the present invention includes a design information acquisition step for acquiring design information of a plurality of units of the specified type when a designation of a type of unit of a product is received, an intermediate data generation step for generating intermediate data from the design information, a clustering execution step for classifying the design information by classifying the intermediate data using the specified classification axis when a designation of at least one of a performance type or a component type of the unit is received as a classification axis, and an output information generation step for generating output information indicating a classification result in the clustering execution step, wherein the design information includes unit configuration information including components that constitute the product and hierarchical information of the components, and the intermediate data generation step generates the intermediate data using the unit configuration information of the unit.

[0020] In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a standard design management system according to another aspect of the present invention is a standard design management system including a design information classification device, a standard design specification device, and a standard design database, which are communicatively connected to each other, wherein the design information classification device includes a design information acquisition unit that, upon receiving a specification of a type of a product unit, acquires design information of a plurality of the units of the specified type, an intermediate data generation unit that generates intermediate data from the design information, a clustering execution unit that, upon receiving a specification of at least one of a performance type or a component type of the unit as a classification axis, classifies the design information by classifying the intermediate data using the specified classification axis, and a clustering execution unit that executes the clustering process. and an output information generating unit that generates output information indicating a classification result by the row unit, the design information includes unit configuration information including components that constitute the unit and hierarchical information of the unit, the intermediate data generating unit generates the intermediate data using the unit configuration information of the unit, the clustering execution unit classifies the design information that is similar in terms of the classification axis into the same group, the standard design specification device includes a standard design specification unit that accepts an input operation to specify standard design information that is the design information to be a standard from the design information classified into the group, and the standard design database stores the standard design information specified by the standard design specification unit. Effect of the Invention

[0021] According to the present invention, it is possible to promote efficient use of created design information.

[0022] Problems, configurations, and effects other than those described above will become apparent from the following description of the embodiments. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0023] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a functional block of a standard design management system. [Diagram 2] FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an example of a data structure of product information. [Diagram 3]FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a data structure of unit configuration information. [Figure 4] FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an example of a data structure of item list information. [Diagram 5] FIG. 2 illustrates an example of a hardware configuration of a design information classification device. [Figure 6] 11 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a design information classification process performed by the design information classification device. [Figure 7] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a classification result screen. [Figure 8] 13 is a flowchart showing an example of a design information classification process performed by a design information classification device in a second modified example. [Figure 9] 13 is a flowchart showing an example of a design information classification process performed by a design information classification device in a third modified example. [Figure 10] 13 is a flowchart showing an example of a design information classification process performed by a design information classification device in a fourth modified example. [Figure 11] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a classification result screen in the fourth modified example. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0024] Hereinafter, an example of an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a functional block of a standard design management system 1. The standard design management system 1 has a design information classification device 10, a standard design specification device 20, and a standard design management device 30, and the design information classification device 10, the standard design specification device 20, and the standard design management device 30 are connected to each other via a network N so as to be able to communicate with each other. The design information classification device 10 is, for example, a device managed by a business that provides a design information classification service. The design information classification device 10 is, for example, a server computer, a PC (Personal Computer), or the like.

[0025] The design information classification device 10 includes a processing unit 110, a storage unit 120, an input unit 130, an output unit 140, and a communication unit 150. The processing unit 110 controls the entire design information classification device 10. The storage unit 120 stores information required for processing by the processing unit 110. The input unit 130 accepts information input to the design information classification device 10 from an input device connected via an input IF 14 described later. The output unit 140 outputs information stored in the design information classification device 10 from an output device connected via an output IF 15 described later. The communication unit 150 controls transmission and reception of information to and from another information processing device connected to be able to communicate via a network N.

[0026] The processing unit 110 includes a design information acquisition unit 111, an intermediate data generation unit 112, a clustering execution unit 113, a recommendation level determination unit 114, a feature information determination unit 115, a standard design determination unit 116, and an output information generation unit 117. The design information acquisition unit 111 receives designation of the type of unit of the product from the standard design specification device 20. The designated type is used to determine the units to be classified. When the design information acquisition unit 111 receives information designating the type of unit, it acquires design information of multiple units of the designated type. The design information will be described later. In principle, one piece of design information is created for each unit.

[0027] The term "unit" includes products and components of products, for example, a unit includes a module that is a component of a product, and a sub-module that is a component of a module.

[0028] The intermediate data generating unit 112 generates intermediate data from design information. Specifically, the intermediate data generating unit 112 generates hierarchical development information using unit configuration information of a type of unit designated as a classification target. The intermediate data generating unit 112 also generates unit combination information that combines the hierarchical development information with product information of the unit, which will be described later. The intermediate data generating unit 112 generates intermediate data by converting a plurality of items that are associated with each other in item list information 122, which will be described later, among items included in a plurality of different design information, i.e., the unit combination information, into a common item. In other words, the hierarchical development information and the unit combination information can be said to be intermediate data in a broad sense.

[0029] The clustering execution unit 113 accepts the designation of at least one of the unit performance type or component type as a classification axis. The clustering execution unit 113 classifies the design information by classifying the intermediate data so that design information similar in terms of the designated classification axis belongs to the same group. The performance type is information indicating the classification of the unit's performance, such as "size," "weight," and "function." The component type is information indicating the classification of the unit's components, such as "number of parts," "number of hierarchies," and "common components."

[0030] In addition, the clustering execution unit 113 determines whether the intermediate data can be classified based on whether or not the values ​​of items related to the specified classification axis among the values ​​contained in the multiple intermediate data generated for the specified type of unit satisfy predetermined conditions.

[0031] The recommendation level determination unit 114 determines the recommendation level of the design information by using a predetermined parameter related to the design information. The more suitable the design information is as standard design information, which is standard design information for the group classified by the clustering execution unit 113, the higher the recommendation level is given to the design information.

[0032] The characteristic information determination unit 115 uses values ​​included in a plurality of pieces of design information related to a specified type of unit to determine unit characteristic information that is a characteristic of the type of unit. In addition, the characteristic information determination unit 115 determines group characteristic information that indicates the characteristics of the group for each group classified by the clustering execution unit 113.

[0033] The standard design determination unit 116 determines standard design information to be the standard for the group, using predetermined conditions, from among the groups classified by the clustering execution unit 113. For example, the standard design determination unit 116 determines the design information selected by the user as the standard design information.

[0034] The output information generating unit 117 generates output information indicating the classification result by the clustering executing unit 113. The generated output information is transmitted to the standard design specifying device 20 via the communication unit 150 and displayed.

[0035] The storage unit 120 stores design information 121, item list information 122, and manufacturing related information 123. The design information 121 is information indicating the performance and configuration of a unit. The item list information 122 is information that associates a plurality of items that have a common meaning among items included in a plurality of different design information 121. The manufacturing related information 123 is information related to the manufacturing of each unit. For example, the manufacturing related information 123 includes at least one of the manufacturing cost of the unit, the carbon emission amount during manufacturing, and past defect information.

[0036] The design information 121 includes product information 1211 and unit configuration information 1212. The product information 1211 is information about the performance of a unit. The unit configuration information 1212 is information about the configuration of a unit, and includes information that identifies the components of the unit and hierarchical information that indicates at which hierarchical level the unit is located in the structure of the product. The unit configuration information 1212 includes, for example, BOM (Bill of Material) information that is commonly used in the manufacturing industry.

[0037] The standard design specification device 20 is an information processing device such as a PC or a smartphone, which is operated by a user of the standard design management system 1. The standard design specification device 20 includes a processing unit 210, a storage unit 220, an input unit 230, an output unit 240, and a communication unit 250. The processing unit 210 controls the entire standard design specification device 20. The storage unit 220 stores information required for processing by the processing unit 210. The input unit 230 accepts input of information to the standard design specification device 20 from an input device connected via an input IF. The output unit 240 outputs information stored in the standard design specification device 20 from an output device connected via an output IF. The communication unit 250 controls transmission and reception of information between the standard design specification device 20 and another information processing device connected to be able to communicate with each other via a network N.

[0038] The processing unit 210 includes a standard design specification unit 211. The standard design specification unit 211 accepts an input operation for specifying standard design information from among the design information 121 classified into groups.

[0039] The standard design management device 30 is a server computer, a PC, or the like, and manages standard design information. The standard design management device 30 includes a processing unit 310, a storage unit 320, an input unit 330, an output unit 340, and a communication unit 350. The processing unit 310 controls the entire standard design management device 30. The storage unit 320 stores information required for processing by the processing unit 310. The input unit 330 accepts input of information to the standard design management device 30 from an input device connected via an input IF (not shown). The output unit 340 outputs information stored in the standard design management device 30 from an output device connected via an output IF (not shown). The communication unit 350 controls transmission and reception of information between the standard design management device 30 and another information processing device connected to be able to communicate via the network N.

[0040] The storage unit 320 stores a standard design DB (Database) 321. The standard design DB 321 stores standard design information determined by the standard design determination unit 116 of the design information classification device 10.

[0041] In this embodiment, the standard design information is managed by the standard design management device 30. However, the device that manages the standard design information is not limited to this example. For example, a standard design DB may be provided in the storage unit 120 of the design information classification device 10.

[0042] 2 is a diagram showing an example of the data structure of product information 1211. The manufacturing information is information in which values ​​of items related to product performance are associated with a module ID that identifies a unit. Items related to product performance are, for example, type, height, width, weight, and model. Note that the items in product information 1211 are not limited to this example, and may include, for example, items related to functions such as the unit's use type, or items related to the unit's specifications such as power consumption.

[0043] The module ID is identification information that identifies a unit. The type is information that indicates the type of unit, such as "control panel," "start panel," "cooler," "motor," "soundproof cover," "common base," "air end," etc.

[0044] The height and width are information indicating the size of the unit. The weight is information indicating the weight of the unit. The type is information indicating the type of the unit. When the unit specified by "kind" has multiple types, the type is information that specifies the type of the unit.

[0045] 3 is a diagram showing an example of the data structure of unit configuration information 1212. Unit configuration information 1212 is information in which values ​​of items such as product ID, hierarchical information, child items, and quantity are associated with a module ID. The module ID is identification information that identifies a unit. The product ID is identification information that identifies an end product that has the unit identified by the module ID as a component. If the unit identified by the module ID is an end product, the product ID is the same as the module ID.

[0046] The hierarchical information is information that identifies in which hierarchical level a unit identified by a module ID is located within a product identified by a product ID. As an example, if a final product "A" is made up of a "module B" and a "module C," and "module B" is made up of a "submodule D" and a "submodule E," and the module ID is identification information that identifies "module B," then since "module B" is in the second hierarchical level from the top, the hierarchical information is "2."

[0047] The child item is another unit that is a component of the unit identified by the module ID, and is information that identifies the unit located one level lower. The number of units is the number of child item units included in the unit identified by the module ID. For units that have multiple types of child items, multiple combinations of child items and numbers of units are associated with one module ID.

[0048] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of the data structure of item list information 122. Item list information 122 is used to convert item names having similar meanings into a common item name. In item list information 122, item names, item attributes, and common item IDs are associated with item IDs. An item ID is identification information for identifying an item. An item identified by an item ID is an item included in product information 1211 and unit configuration information 1212. An item name is the name of an item identified by an item ID. An item attribute is an attribute of an item identified by an item ID. As an example, an item with an item name of "height" or "width" is associated with an item attribute of "size". Also, an item with an item name of "material cost" or "processing cost" is associated with an item attribute of "cost".

[0049] The common item ID is identification information for identifying other items that have a common meaning with the item identified by the item ID and are used in the item name after conversion. For example, if the item name "height" is used for both an item whose name is "height" and an item whose name is "length", the common item ID for the "height" item does not include information. On the other hand, the common item ID for the "length" item includes identification information for the "height" item. According to the item list information 122, for example, the item name "width" and the item name "width" can be made common to the item name "width", and the item names "weight name" and "weight" can be made common to the item name "weight".

[0050] 5 is a diagram showing an example of a hardware configuration of the design information classification device 10. The design information classification device 10 includes a calculation device 11, a memory 12, an external storage device 13, an input IF (Interface) 14, an output IF 15, and a communication IF 16, and each component is connected by a bus.

[0051] The arithmetic unit 11 is a arithmetic unit such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit), and in the design information classification device 10 which executes processing according to a program recorded in the memory 12 or the external storage device 13, the processing is performed by the arithmetic unit 11 which operates according to a program read onto the memory 12 or the external storage device 13. The processing unit 110 realizes each function by the arithmetic unit 11 executing the program.

[0052] The memory 12 is a storage device such as a RAM (Random Access Memory) or a flash memory, and functions as a storage area from which programs and data are temporarily read. The external storage device 13 is, for example, a writable and readable storage medium and a storage media drive, such as a HDD (Hard Disk Drive), a CD-R (Compact Disc-Recordable), or a DVD-RAM (Digital Versatile Disk-Random Access Memory). The function of the storage unit 120 is realized by the memory 12 or the external storage device 13. The function of the storage unit 120 may be realized by a storage device connected via the communication IF 16.

[0053] The input IF 14 is an interface for receiving input operations from an operator, and is connected to input devices such as a touch panel, a keyboard, a mouse, a microphone, etc. The output IF 15 is an interface for outputting information to an output device such as an OLED (Organic Light Emitting Diode) display built into the design information classification device 10.

[0054] The communication IF 16 is an interface for connecting the design information classification device 10 to the network N, and is connected to a communication device such as a LAN (Local Area Network) card. The design information classification device 10 may have a storage medium drive device (not shown) for inputting and outputting information from a portable medium such as a CD (Compact Disk) or a DVD (Digital Versatile Disk).

[0055] The processing of each component of the design information classification device 10 may be executed by one piece of hardware or by multiple pieces of hardware. Also, the processing of each component of the design information classification device 10 may be realized by one program or by multiple programs.

[0056] The hardware configurations of the standard design specification device 20 and the standard design management device 30 are similar to that of the design information classification device 10, and therefore a description thereof will be omitted.

[0057] 6 is a flowchart showing an example of design information classification processing by the design information classification device 10. A user inputs the type of unit desired to be classified and the classification axis to the standard design specification device 20. The standard design specification unit 211 of the standard design specification device 20 generates classification request information including information indicating the unit type and classification axis input by the user, and transmits it to the design information classification device 10. When the design information classification device 10 receives the classification request information, it starts the processing of this flowchart.

[0058] First, the design information acquisition unit 111 receives a designation of the type of the unit to be classified (step S11). Specifically, the design information acquisition unit 111 identifies the type of the unit to be classified, which is included in the classification request information.

[0059] Next, the clustering execution unit 113 receives a classification axis designation (step S12). Specifically, the clustering execution unit 113 identifies a classification axis included in the classification request information. The classification axis is a performance type or a component type.

[0060] Next, the design information acquisition unit 111 acquires multiple pieces of design information 121 related to the specified unit (step S13). Specifically, the design information acquisition unit 111 extracts a record of the product information 1211 that includes the type of the unit identified in step S11. The design information acquisition unit 111 also identifies a module ID included in the extracted record of the product information 1211, and extracts a record of the unit configuration information 1212 that has the module ID.

[0061] Next, the intermediate data generating unit 112 generates hierarchical expansion information using the acquired unit configuration information 1212 (step S14). Specifically, the intermediate data generating unit 112 extracts a child item from one of the records of the unit configuration information 1212 extracted in step S13, and extracts other records of the unit configuration information 1212 in which the identification information of the child item is a module ID. The intermediate data generating unit 112 further extracts child items from the extracted record, and extracts other records of the unit configuration information 1212 in which the identification information of a child item (so-called grandchild item) of the child item is a module ID. The intermediate data generating unit 112 repeats this process until the identification information of the child item does not exist in the extracted record of the unit configuration information 1212, and generates hierarchical expansion information in which the extracted records are combined into one record. That is, the hierarchical expansion information is information that includes, for one module ID, all module IDs of components included in the unit identified by the module ID, and the number of components. The intermediate data generating unit 112 generates hierarchical development information for each record of the unit configuration information 1212 extracted in step S13.

[0062] Next, the intermediate data generation unit 112 generates unit combination information by combining the product information 1211 and hierarchical development information of the acquired units (step S15). Specifically, the intermediate data generation unit 112 generates unit combination information by combining records having a common module ID among the product information 1211 extracted in step S13 and the hierarchical development information generated in step S14. As a result, unit combination information including information on components and performance is generated for each of the types of units specified in step S11.

[0063] Next, the intermediate data generation unit 112 generates intermediate data in which items are common, using the item list information 122 (step S16). Specifically, the intermediate data generation unit 112 determines whether or not any of the item names in the unit combination information generated in step S15 is included in the item list information 122. The intermediate data generation unit 112 generates intermediate data by converting the item names included in the item list information 122 into other item names that have a common meaning by referring to the common item IDs in the item list information 122.

[0064] In addition, when the intermediate data generation unit 112 standardizes the item name of "length" to the item name of "height," the intermediate data generation unit 112 generates intermediate data for unit combination information that already has the item name of "height" without converting that item.

[0065] In addition, the item names included in the design information 121 may differ depending on the department or company that generates the design information 121. By converting the item names using the item list information 122, intermediate data having common item names is generated, so that the accuracy of classification of the design information 121 can be improved.

[0066] Next, the clustering execution unit 113 extracts values ​​of items related to the classification axis (step S17). Specifically, the clustering execution unit 113 refers to the intermediate data generated in step S16 and identifies items related to the classification axis whose designation was accepted in step S12. The clustering execution unit 113 extracts values ​​of the identified items from the intermediate data. For example, when the classification axis is performance type, the clustering generation unit determines an item related to the classification axis and extracts values ​​of the item. As an example, when the classification axis is "height", the clustering execution unit 113 extracts the value of the "height" item from the values ​​included in the intermediate data.

[0067] When the classification axis is the component type, the clustering execution unit 113 extracts information about the components of the units included in the intermediate data as the item value. For example, the clustering execution unit 113 extracts information such as the module ID and the number of components of child items, etc. as the item value.

[0068] If the classification axis is not the same as the item name of the intermediate data, the clustering execution unit 113 may specify the item name corresponding to the specified classification axis by referring to correspondence information between the classification axis and the item name stored in an area (not shown) of the storage unit 120. In this case, the clustering execution unit 113 extracts the value of the item corresponding to the classification axis from among the values ​​included in the intermediate data.

[0069] Next, the clustering execution unit 113 judges whether the extracted value satisfies a predetermined condition (step S18). The clustering execution unit 113 refers to the condition preset in an area not shown in the storage unit 120, and if the value extracted in step S17 does not satisfy the condition (if "NO" in step S18), the process proceeds to step S19. For example, if the number of data items of the intermediate data from which values ​​can be extracted in step S18 is a ratio of the number of data items of the unit combination information generated in step S15 to a predetermined value or less, the clustering execution unit 113 judges that the condition is not satisfied because there are many missing values ​​and the data is not suitable for clustering. Also, for example, if the number of data items of the intermediate data from which values ​​can be extracted in step S18 is a predetermined number or less, the clustering execution unit 113 judges that the condition is not satisfied because the data is not suitable for clustering.

[0070] Furthermore, for example, if the values ​​extracted in step S17 are all the same value, the clustering execution unit 113 determines that the value is not suitable for clustering and therefore does not satisfy the condition.

[0071] When the clustering execution unit 113 judges that the extracted value does not satisfy a predetermined condition ("NO" in step S18), the output information generation unit 117 outputs a predetermined error screen (step S19). As an example, the output information generation unit 117 generates screen information for prompting the resetting of the classification axis, and transmits it to the standard design specification device 20. As another example, when it is judged in step S18 that there are many missing values ​​in the data, the output information generation unit 117 generates screen information of a screen for displaying information for identifying a unit of intermediate data having missing values, and prompting the filling of the missing parts, and transmits it to the standard design specification device 20. The standard specification device that receives the screen information displays an error screen using the received information. After that, the processing unit 110 shifts the process to step S12.

[0072] If the clustering execution unit 113 determines that the extracted value satisfies a predetermined condition (if "YES" in step S18), the clustering execution unit 113 clusters the intermediate data in terms of the classification axis (step S20). Specifically, the clustering execution unit 113 groups the intermediate data so that design information 121 that is similar in terms of the classification axis is grouped together. As a result, information that identifies the group into which the intermediate data is classified is associated with each intermediate data.

[0073] The classification method executed by the clustering execution unit 113 is a known method, and therefore description thereof will be omitted. For example, the clustering execution unit 113 classifies the intermediate data using the k-means method, which is a type of non-hierarchical clustering. The clustering execution unit 113 may classify the intermediate data using a hierarchical clustering method.

[0074] Note that there may be multiple classification axes designated in step S12. Even if there are multiple classification axes, the clustering execution unit 113 can classify intermediate data that is similar in terms of the classification axes into the same group.

[0075] Next, the output information generating unit 117 outputs the unit combination information to which the classification information has been added as a classification result (step S21). Specifically, the output information generating unit 117 adds information for identifying the classified group to the unit combination information that is the source of the intermediate data classified in step S20, and generates screen information to be displayed on a classification result screen. On the classification result screen, the user can specify the design information 121 that is the standard for each group. The screen information of the classification result screen is displayed on the standard design specification device 20.

[0076] 7 is a diagram showing an example of a classification result screen 160. The classification result screen 160 has a unit combination information display area 161, a group display area 162, and a standard design specification reception area 163. The unit combination information display area 161 is an area that displays unit combination information that associates information on components and performance for each of the types of units specified in step S11.

[0077] The group display area 162 is an area for displaying information for identifying the group to which each unit belongs. The standard design specification reception area 163 is an area for receiving the selection of standard design information. For example, the standard design specification reception area 163 can receive the selection of one piece of standard design information for each group.

[0078] Note that on the classification result screen, classification information may be added to the design information 121 instead of the unit combination information.

[0079] Returning to Fig. 6 for explanation, the standard design determination unit 116 then accepts the selection of the standard design information and stores it in the standard design DB 321 (step S22). Specifically, when the standard design information is selected on the classification result screen 160 displayed on the standard design specification device 20 in step S21, the standard design determination unit 116 transmits the selected standard design information and information identifying the group to the standard design management device 30. As a result, the standard design information is stored in the standard design DB 321. Thereafter, the processing unit 110 ends the processing of this flowchart.

[0080] As described above, according to this embodiment, when there is a large amount of similar design information 121, the design information 121 is classified using a specified classification axis, so that it is possible to efficiently use the already created design information 121. In particular, even when one design information 121 is derived from another design information 121, the existence of similar design information 121 can be grasped by appropriately setting a classification axis. Furthermore, by determining standard design information, it is possible to determine the reference design information 121 even when there is a large amount of design information 121 derived by customization.

[0081] <First Modification> The standard design management system 1 in the first modified example will be described. The differences from the above embodiment will be described below. In the above embodiment, when generating intermediate data in step S16, item names are converted so that items with a common meaning have the same item name. In this modified example, when an item attribute included in the item list information 122 is specified as a classification axis, intermediate data is generated in which items related to the specified item attribute are converted, and conversion of items related to other item attributes is suppressed.

[0082] In this modified example, in step S16 described above, intermediate data generation unit 112 determines whether or not the classification axis specified in step S12 is associated with the item attributes of item list information 122. If intermediate data generation unit 112 determines that the specified classification axis is not associated with the item attributes, it performs the same process as step S16 in the above embodiment.

[0083] When the intermediate data generation unit 112 determines that the classification axis is related to an item attribute, it extracts an item name related to the item attribute in the item list information 122. The intermediate data generation unit 112 converts the extracted item name from the item names in the unit combination information into other item names that have a common meaning by referring to the common item ID in the item list information 122, thereby generating intermediate data.

[0084] For example, when "size" is specified as the classification axis, the intermediate data generation unit 112 extracts the item names of "height", "length", "width", and "width" as items having the item attribute of "size". The intermediate data generation unit 112 extracts unit combination information having the extracted item names. The intermediate data generation unit 112 refers to the common item ID, and generates intermediate data in which the item name of "length" in the extracted unit combination information is converted to "height". The intermediate data generation unit 112 also generates intermediate data in which the item name of "width" is converted to "width". The intermediate data generation unit 112 does not convert the item names of "height" and "width".

[0085] Furthermore, the intermediate data generating unit 112 does not convert items that have item attributes other than "size." That is, for example, items whose item attributes are "weight" or "cost" are not converted.

[0086] According to this modification, when the specification of an attribute of an item is received as a classification axis, intermediate data can be generated for the design information 121 including an item having the attribute. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the processing load compared to the case where all items included in the item list information 122 are standardized. In addition, it is efficient because it is possible to convert items having item attributes related to the classification axis without individually specifying the names of items to be standardized.

[0087] <Second Modification> The standard design management system 1 in the second modified example will be described. Differences from the above-mentioned embodiment will be described below. FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing an example of design information classification processing by the design information classification device 10 in the second modified example. The design information classification device 10 in this modified example calculates a recommendation level that serves as an index when a user specifies standard design information. The processing performed in steps S11 to S20 is similar to the processing performed in the same steps in FIG. 6.

[0088] Next, the recommendation level determination unit 114 calculates the recommendation level for each unit combination information by using a predetermined parameter (step S211). Before starting this process, the types of parameters used to calculate the recommendation level are set in an area (not shown) of the storage unit 120. For example, a parameter determined according to the generation date and time of the design information 121, a parameter indicating the frequency of use of the design information 121, a parameter determined according to the creator of the design information 121, etc. are used for the recommendation level, and are set in the storage unit 120 so that the higher the reliability of the design information 121, the higher the recommendation level. In addition, in other areas of the storage unit 120, the creator of the design information 121, the reliability given to the creator, the frequency of use, the generation date and time, etc. are associated with the design information 121.

[0089] The recommendation level determination unit 114 identifies a value for each type of parameter for each piece of unit combination information, and calculates the recommendation level by a predetermined method such as summation.

[0090] Next, the output information generating unit 117 associates the recommendation degree with the unit combination information to which the classification information has been added, and outputs the result as a classification result (step S212). Specifically, the output information generating unit 117 associates the recommendation degree calculated in step S211 with each piece of unit combination information included in the classification result screen 160, and displays the result on the standard design management device 30. In other words, the output information generating unit 117 outputs the recommendation degree for each of the multiple pieces of design information 121 related to the specified unit.

[0091] The process performed in step S22 is similar to the process performed in step S22 in FIG.

[0092] As described above, according to the second modified example, the recommendation level of each unit combination information is displayed on the classification result screen 160, which allows the user to refer to it when selecting standard design information, improving convenience. In addition, highly reliable design information 121 is more likely to be set as standard design information, allowing the standard design information to be reused with greater reliability.

[0093] In step S22 of the second modified example, the standard design determining unit 116 determines the standard design information by an input operation to the standard design specifying device 20. Instead of this process, the standard design determining unit 116 may determine the unit combination information with the highest recommendation level in each group as the standard design information, and store it in the standard design DB 321. Since the standard design information is determined without going through a specification by the user, it is possible to save the user the trouble of performing an input operation.

[0094] <Third Modification> The standard design management system 1 in the third modified example will be described. The points that differ from the above-mentioned embodiment will be described below. FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing an example of design information classification processing by the design information classification device 10 in the third modified example. The design information classification device 10 in this modified example determines group characteristic information representing the characteristics of each group. The processing performed in steps S11 to S20 is similar to the processing performed in the same steps in FIG. 6.

[0095] Next, the characteristic information determination unit 115 determines unit characteristic information using the values ​​of the extracted items (step S201). Specifically, the characteristic information determination unit 115 extracts values ​​of items related to the classification axis from among the values ​​included in the multiple intermediate data generated in step S16. The characteristic information determination unit 115 determines unit characteristic information using the extracted values. For example, the characteristic information determination unit 115 determines the average value of the extracted values ​​as the unit characteristic information.

[0096] For example, when the classification axis of "height" is specified in step S12, the characteristic information determination unit 115 determines the average value of the values ​​corresponding to the "height" item among the values ​​included in the intermediate data as the unit characteristic information. In another example, when the classification axis of "common components" is specified, the characteristic information determination unit 115 determines, for each child item of each unit, the ratio of the number of intermediate data items in which the child item is used to the total number of intermediate data items as the unit characteristic information.

[0097] Next, the characteristic information determination unit 115 uses the values ​​of the extracted items to determine group characteristic information for each group (step S202). Specifically, for each group clustered in step S20, the characteristic information determination unit 115 extracts values ​​of items related to the classification axis from the values ​​of the intermediate data included in the group, and determines group characteristic information using the extracted values. The method of determining group characteristic information is the same as the method of determining unit characteristic information.

[0098] For example, when the classification axis of "height" is specified in step S12, the characteristic information determination unit 115 determines, for each group, the average value of the values ​​corresponding to the "height" item among the values ​​included in the intermediate data. Also, when the classification axis of "common components" is specified, the characteristic information determination unit 115 determines, for each child item of each unit, the ratio of the number of intermediate data items in which the child item is used to the total number of intermediate data items included in the group, as group characteristic information.

[0099] The process performed in step S21 is similar to the process performed in step S21 in FIG.

[0100] Next, the output information generating unit 117 outputs information showing a comparison between the group characteristic information and the unit characteristic information for each group (step S213). For example, when the classification axis is "height", the output information generating unit 117 displays the average height of all units of the type selected in step S11 (e.g., "overall average: 5.86") as the group characteristic information, and displays the average height of the units belonging to the group (e.g., "group S average: 2.75") for each group as the unit characteristic information.

[0101] Furthermore, for example, when the classification axis is "common components", the output information generating unit 117 displays the difference between the group characteristic information and the unit characteristic information for each child item for each group. For example, the output information generating unit 117 displays the ratio of the number of units including "part Z" to the total number of units of the type selected in step S11 (for example, "included in 57% of the total") as group characteristic information for "part Z", which is a child item. Furthermore, the output information generating unit 117 displays the ratio of the number of units including "part Z" to the total number of units belonging to the group (for example, "included in 75% of group S") as unit characteristic information for each group. In this case, the output information generating unit 117 may generate and display information indicating the comparison result for each group. For example, the output information generating unit 117 displays "group S is a set that includes "part Z" at a higher rate than the entire set".

[0102] The process performed in step S22 is similar to the process performed in step S22 in FIG.

[0103] As described above, according to the third modified example, it is possible to recognize the characteristics of each group of the classified design information 121 compared to the whole. For example, the user can use the characteristic information as an index for judging whether or not the desired classification result has been obtained.

[0104] <Fourth modified example> The standard design management system 1 in the fourth modified example will be described. The points that differ from the above-mentioned embodiment will be described below. FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing an example of design information classification processing by the design information classification device 10 in the fourth modified example. The design information classification device 10 in this modified example outputs product-related information for each piece of design information 121. The processing performed in steps S11 to S20 is similar to the processing performed in the same steps in FIG. 6.

[0105] Next, the output information generating unit 117 acquires the manufacturing related information 123 for each intermediate data (step S214). Specifically, the output information generating unit 117 identifies each record of the corresponding manufacturing related information 123 by using the module ID included in each intermediate data classified in step S20.

[0106] Next, the output information generating unit 117 associates the design-related information with the unit combination information to which the classification information has been added, and displays the result as a classification result (step S215).

[0107] Fig. 11 is a diagram showing an example of a classification result screen 160 in the fourth modified example. The classification result screen 160 in this modified example includes a unit combination information display area 161, a group display area 162, a standard design specification reception area 163, and a manufacturing related information display area 164. For example, as shown in Fig. 11, the manufacturing related information display area 164 displays the cost, carbon emission amount, and defect information when manufacturing a product related to the unit.

[0108] The process performed in step S22 in FIG. 10 is similar to the process performed in step S22 in FIG.

[0109] As described above, according to this modification, information on the manufacture of the unit is displayed for the design information 121 of each classified unit. Therefore, when the user selects standard design information, the user can refer to the information on manufacture, improving convenience. In addition, since the standard design information is determined with reference to the information on manufacture, the reliability of the standard design information is improved, thereby improving the usefulness of reuse.

[0110] Although each embodiment according to the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiment, and various modified examples are included. For example, the above-mentioned embodiment has been described in detail to make the present invention easier to understand, and the present invention is not limited to having all the configurations described here. In addition, it is possible to replace a part of the configuration of one embodiment with the configuration of another example. It is also possible to add the configuration of another example to the configuration of one embodiment. In addition, it is also possible to add, delete, or replace other configurations with respect to a part of the configuration of each embodiment. In addition, each of the above-mentioned configurations, functions, processing units, processing means, etc. may be realized in hardware by designing them as integrated circuits, for example, in part or in whole. In addition, the control lines and information lines in the figure show those that are considered necessary for explanation, and do not necessarily show all of them. It may be considered that almost all of the configurations are connected to each other.

[0111] Moreover, the functional configurations of the above-mentioned design information classification device 10, standard design specification device 20, and standard design management device 30 are classified according to the main processing contents for easy understanding. The classification method and names of the components do not limit the present invention. As described above, the configurations of the design information classification device 10, standard design specification device 20, and standard design management device 30 can be classified into more components according to the processing contents. Also, classification can be performed so that one component executes more processes. [Explanation of symbols]

[0112] 1: standard design management system, 10: design information classification device, 11: calculation device, 12: memory, 13: external storage device, 14: input IF, 15: output IF, 16: communication IF, 20: standard design specification device, 30: standard design management device, 110·210·310: processing unit, 111: design information acquisition unit, 112: intermediate data generation unit, 113: clustering execution unit, 114: recommendation degree determination unit, 115: feature information determination unit, 116: standard design determination unit, 117: output information generation unit, 120· 220·320: storage unit, 121: design information, 122: item list information, 123: manufacturing related information, 130·230·330: input unit, 140·240·340: output unit, 150·250·350: communication unit, 161: unit combination information display area, 162: group display area, 163: standard design specification reception area, 164: manufacturing related information display area, 211: standard design specification unit, 321: standard design DB, 1211: product information, 1212: unit configuration information, N: network

Claims

1. a design information acquisition unit that acquires design information of a plurality of units of a product of the specified type when the unit type is specified; an intermediate data generating unit that generates intermediate data from the design information; a clustering execution unit that, when receiving a designation of at least one of a performance type or a component type of the unit as a classification axis, classifies the intermediate data using the designated classification axis to classify the design information; an output information generation unit that generates output information indicating a classification result by the clustering execution unit, the design information includes unit configuration information including components constituting the unit and hierarchical information of the unit; The design information classification device, wherein the intermediate data generation section generates the intermediate data by using the unit configuration information of the unit.

2. 2. The design information classification device according to claim 1, the clustering execution unit classifies the design information similar in terms of the classification axis into the same group; The design information classification device, wherein the output information generation unit generates the output information including information indicating a group to which each of the pieces of design information belongs as the classification result.

3. 2. The design information classification device according to claim 1, the clustering execution unit classifies the design information similar in terms of the classification axis into the same group; A design information classification device comprising: a standard design determination unit that determines, from among the group, standard design information that is the design information that becomes a standard for the group, using predetermined conditions.

4. 4. The design information classification device according to claim 3, a recommendation level determination unit that determines a recommendation level of the design information by using a predetermined parameter related to the design information; The design information classification device, wherein the output information generation unit outputs the recommendation degree for each of a plurality of pieces of design information relating to the unit of the specified type.

5. 5. The design information classification device according to claim 3, The design information classification device, wherein the standard design determination unit determines the design information selected by a user from the design information classified into the groups as the standard design information.

6. 2. The design information classification device according to claim 1, The intermediate data generation unit obtains item list information that associates a plurality of items that have a common meaning among the items included in the plurality of different pieces of design information, and generates the intermediate data by converting a plurality of items included in the design information that are associated with each other in the item list information into a common item.

7. 7. The design information classification device according to claim 6, the item list information is information in which item attributes are associated with the items, The design information classification device is characterized in that, when the clustering execution unit receives a specification of the classification axis related to the item attribute, the intermediate data generation unit generates the intermediate data in which a plurality of items having a common meaning among the items related to the item attribute are converted into a common item, and suppresses the conversion of the items related to other item attributes.

8. 2. The design information classification device according to claim 1, the clustering execution unit determines whether the intermediate data can be classified based on whether or not each of values ​​of items related to the classification axis among values ​​included in the plurality of intermediate data generated for the unit of the type whose designation has been accepted by the design information acquisition unit satisfies a predetermined condition.

9. 2. The design information classification device according to claim 1, a characteristic information determination unit that determines unit characteristic information by using the value of an item related to the classification axis among values ​​included in a plurality of pieces of design information related to the units of the specified type, and determines group characteristic information by using the value of the item related to the classification axis among values ​​included in the design information of the group for each group classified by the clustering execution unit, The design information classification device, wherein the output information generating section outputs information indicating a comparison between the unit characteristic information and the group characteristic information.

10. 4. The design information classification device according to claim 3, The standard design determination unit acquires product-related information regarding the manufacture of a unit related to the design information, the output information generating unit outputs the product-related information for each of the design information; 11. A design information classification device, wherein the product-related information includes at least one of a manufacturing cost of the unit, a carbon emission amount during manufacturing, or past defect information.

11. A program for causing a processing unit of a computer to execute a design information classification method, a design information acquisition step of acquiring design information of a plurality of units of a product of the specified type when the unit type is specified; an intermediate data generation step of generating intermediate data from the design information; a clustering execution step of classifying the design information by classifying the intermediate data using the specified classification axis when at least one of a performance type or a component type of the unit is specified as a classification axis; an output information generating step for generating output information indicating a classification result in the clustering execution step; the design information includes unit configuration information including components that configure the product and hierarchical information of the components, The intermediate data generating step generates the intermediate data by using the unit configuration information of the unit.

12. a design information acquisition step of acquiring design information of a plurality of units of a product of the specified type when the unit type is specified; an intermediate data generation step of generating intermediate data from the design information; a clustering execution step of classifying the design information by classifying the intermediate data using the specified classification axis when at least one of a performance type or a component type of the unit is specified as a classification axis; an output information generating step of generating output information indicating a classification result in the clustering execution step, the design information includes unit configuration information including components that configure the product and hierarchical information of the components, The design information classification method, wherein in the intermediate data generating step, the intermediate data is generated using the unit configuration information of the unit.

13. A standard design management system including a design information classification device, a standard design specification device, and a standard design database, which are communicatively connected to each other, The design information classification device includes: a design information acquisition unit that acquires design information of a plurality of units of a product of the specified type when the unit type is specified; an intermediate data generating unit that generates intermediate data from the design information; a clustering execution unit that, when receiving a designation of at least one of a performance type or a component type of the unit as a classification axis, classifies the intermediate data using the designated classification axis to classify the design information; an output information generation unit that generates output information indicating a classification result by the clustering execution unit, the design information includes unit configuration information including components constituting the unit and hierarchical information of the unit; the intermediate data generation unit generates the intermediate data by using the unit configuration information of the unit; the clustering execution unit classifies the design information similar in terms of the classification axis into the same group; The standard design specified device is a standard designation unit that accepts an input operation to designate standard design information, which is the design information to be a standard, from among the design information classified into the group; A standard design management system, characterized in that the standard design database stores the standard design information designated by the standard design designation unit.

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