Operation management system

Abstract

To provide a configuration that enables an operation terminal to obtain information required for management from read information without requiring program rewriting, even when information codes of various recording formats are to be read.SOLUTION: An information code 32 attached to an identification tag 31 records read information including identified information such as a product number that can identify an operation target. An operation terminal 10, which performs management processing related to a predetermined operation, transmits the read information read during the predetermined operation and a business item to a management device 20, thereby acquiring the identified information from the management device 20. The management device 20 extracts, when receiving the read information and the business item from the operation terminal 10, on the basis of an extraction condition table stored in a storage unit 24 corresponding to the business item, the identified information from the read information, and then transmits the identified information to the operation terminal 10.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a work management system that manages work by using information read from an information code attached to a form.

Background Art

[0002] Regarding the management of incoming and outgoing operations in a warehouse, etc., many systems are adopted that manage the work by using information read from the information code attached to the form, thereby easily and accurately managing the work content. As a system for managing such work content, for example, a product warehouse inventory management system disclosed in Patent Document 1 below is known. In this product warehouse inventory management system, at the time of incoming and outgoing, barcodes attached to the products being incoming and outgoing and their storage locations, etc. are read by a handy barcode terminal, respectively, and the read data is transmitted to a product warehouse management computer, and various data files such as an incoming inventory data file and an outgoing inventory data file stored on the hard disk of the product warehouse management computer are updated by the data received from the handy barcode terminal. Thereby, in response to the simple operation of reading the barcode, data regarding the work content is updated by the product warehouse management computer, so that a management system capable of accurately grasping the inventory status, storage location, etc. can be constructed.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] By the way, on the incoming goods, a stock ticket is attached by the manufacturing manufacturer or the like of the transfer source, and the barcode or the like attached to this stock ticket records part number information or the like that can identify the incoming goods. Therefore, at the time of the incoming operation, by reading the part number information or the like from the barcode or the like, the incoming operation can be managed using the read information. The same applies to other business items such as the outgoing operation and the inventory management operation.

[0005] Normally, not only the part number information but also the management information at the transfer source is recorded in a predetermined recording format in the barcode or the like attached to the stock ticket of the incoming goods. Therefore, when using the information read from the barcode or the like of the stock ticket, it is necessary to distinguish the part number information and other information unnecessary for management after grasping the recording format in which the barcode or the like is generated. Then, in order to distinguish the read information into part number information and other information on the work terminal that has read the barcode or the like of the stock ticket, a reading process capable of extracting the necessary part number information while confirming the recording format in which the information code is generated is required. For this reason, not only is it necessary to previously incorporate a dedicated program for the above-described reading process into the work terminal, but there is also a problem that when the transfer source is changed or added, etc., rewriting of the program according to the change or addition is required.

[0006] The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and an object thereof is to provide a configuration in which, even when information codes in various recording formats are to be read, the work terminal can acquire information necessary for management from the read information without requiring program rewriting or the like.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0007] To achieve the above object, the present invention provides A work terminal (10) that performs management processing related to a predetermined operation using information read from information codes (32, 32a to 32f) attached to a form (31); A management device (20) capable of communicating with the work terminal; A work management system (1) comprising: The information code records predetermined information including specific information capable of identifying a work target. The work terminal A reading unit (11, 13) for optically reading the information recorded in the information code; An acquisition unit (11, 18) that acquires the specific information from the management device by transmitting the predetermined information read by the reading unit and the business item of the predetermined work to the management device during the predetermined work; Comprising The management device A storage unit (24) that stores a predetermined table for extracting the specific information from the predetermined information based on a predetermined extraction condition for each business item; An extraction unit (21) that extracts the specific information from the predetermined information based on the predetermined table stored in the storage unit corresponding to the business item when the predetermined information and the business item are received from the work terminal; A transmission unit (25) that transmits the specific information extracted by the extraction unit to the work terminal; Characterized by comprising. Note that the reference numerals in each of the above parentheses indicate the correspondence with the specific means described in the embodiments described later.

Effects of the Invention

[0008] In the present invention, the information code attached to the form records predetermined information including specific information capable of identifying a work target. A work terminal that performs management processing related to a predetermined work acquires specific information from the management device by an acquisition unit by transmitting the predetermined information read by the reading unit and the business item to the management device during the predetermined work. When the management device receives the predetermined information and the business item from the work terminal, the extraction unit extracts the specific information from the predetermined information based on the predetermined table stored in the storage unit corresponding to the business item, and then transmits this specific information to the work terminal by the transmission unit.

[0009] As a result, even when the recording format of the information code is different depending on the source of incoming goods or the like in the work terminal, the work terminal can obtain the specific information correctly extracted from the information by simply transmitting the read information or the like to the management device. In particular, even when the source of incoming goods or the like is changed or added, etc., it is only necessary to change the predetermined table stored in the management device according to such changes or additions, and workers or the like who perform predetermined work using the work terminal do not need to rewrite the program of the work terminal. Therefore, even when information codes in various recording formats are to be read, the work terminal can realize a system capable of obtaining the information necessary for management from the read information without requiring program rewriting or the like.

Brief Description of Drawings

[0010]

Figure 1

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Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0011] [First Embodiment] Hereinafter, a first embodiment embodying the work management system according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The work management system 1 according to the present embodiment is configured as a system that manages work using information read from information codes attached to documents such as physical inventory tickets. As shown in FIG. 1, the work management system 1 includes a work terminal 10 that can be carried by a worker and read the information code of a document, and a management device 20 that can communicate with the work terminal 10.

[0012] In this embodiment, work items such as incoming and outgoing are assumed as work items to be managed. When performing each work, the worker performs an operation of reading the information code of the document with the work terminal 10. In response to the reading of this information code, processing for registering the work result is performed by the management process started on the work terminal 10.

[0013] In this embodiment, for example, a physical inventory ticket 31 created by the supplier (such as a manufacturer) of the item 30 to be received is attached as a document to one side of the item 30 to be received. As an example of this physical inventory ticket 31, as illustrated in FIG. 1, a product number, lot number, quantity, etc. for identifying the item 30 are printed, and an information code 32 that records at least a part of the printed product number, etc. as reading information is printed.

[0014] Since the information code 32 is attached to the physical inventory ticket 31 of the item 30 to be received, the reading information is generated so as to be recorded in a predetermined recording format adopted by the supplier. That is, the reading information read by the work terminal 10 from the information code 32 differs in the number of digits, order, etc. regarding the product number, lot number, quantity, etc. for each supplier. The above reading information consists of specific information such as a product number that can identify the work target (that is, the item 30 itself) and other information such as a manufacturer name that is unnecessary for identifying the work target. Note that the above reading information may correspond to an example of "predetermined information" including specific information that can identify the work target.

[0015] Also, for example, a physical inventory ticket created in a previous work process or the like is attached as a form to the articles to be subject to the shipping operation. On this physical inventory ticket, a lot number, quantity, etc. are printed, and an information code recording at least a part of the part number or the like to be printed as reading information is printed. This information code is generated so that the above reading information is recorded in a predetermined recording format adopted in the previous work process or the like. When the incoming goods stored as described above are directly subject to shipping, the physical inventory ticket of the consignor will be attached to the shipped goods.

[0016] The work terminal 10 according to the present embodiment is configured as a portable information reading device that optically reads information codes such as barcodes and QR codes (registered trademarks). As shown in FIG. 1, the housing constituting the outer shell of the work terminal 10 is formed in a substantially thin plate shape, and a touch panel type display screen enlarged so as to have a narrow bezel is arranged on the surface thereof. Further, on one side in the longitudinal direction of the back surface of the housing, a reading port for taking in reflected light from character information or the like irradiated with illumination light into the housing is provided.

[0017] As shown in FIG. 2, the work terminal 10 includes a control unit 11 that controls the overall operation, a storage unit 12 composed of a semiconductor memory or the like, an imaging unit 13 configured as an area sensor or a camera adopted for reading one-dimensional codes and two-dimensional codes, an illumination unit 14 that irradiates illumination light to the imaging field by the imaging unit 13, a touch panel type display unit 15 whose display content is controlled by the control unit 11, an operation unit 16 that outputs a signal to the control unit 11 in response to a touch operation on the touch panel or a key operation such as a trigger key, a notification unit 17 including a light emitting unit such as an LED, a speaker, a buzzer, etc., and whose light emitting state, sound notification state, etc. are controlled by the control unit 11, a communication unit 18 for communicating with external devices such as a management device 20 via a predetermined network N, etc., and a power supply unit and a battery (not shown).

[0018] In the work terminal 10 configured as described above, during work, the read information read from the information code 32 of the physical inventory ticket 31 is transmitted to the management device 20 together with the work item of the work by the management process performed by the control unit 11. Then, the work results are registered using the specific information (part number and quantity) received from the management device 20 in response to this transmission. Details of this management process will be described later.

[0019] The management device 20 according to the present embodiment is configured as an information processing terminal for extracting the above specific information from the read information received from the work terminal 10 as described later and transmitting the extracted specific information to the work terminal 10.

[0020] As shown in FIG. 2, the management device 20 includes a control unit 21 that controls the overall operation, a display unit 22 configured as a liquid crystal monitor or the like, an operation unit 23 configured as a mouse, a keyboard, or the like, a storage unit 24 composed of a ROM, a RAM, an HDD, etc., and a communication unit 25. The communication unit 25 is configured as a communication interface capable of communicating with external devices such as the work terminal 10 via a predetermined network N or the like.

[0021] In the storage unit 24, an extraction condition table is preset and stored for each work item as a predetermined table for extracting specific information from the read information based on a predetermined extraction condition. Since the recording format of the information code differs for each source of receipt for the read information received from the work terminal 10, the above predetermined extraction conditions are preset according to each recording format.

[0022] Specifically, for the work item "warehousing", a warehousing extraction condition table as illustrated in FIG. 3 is set and stored in the storage unit 24. In the warehousing extraction condition table, "initial letter", "specific character string", and "total number of digits" are prepared as extraction conditions, and "part number", "quantity", and "lot number" are prepared as extractable items. Also, as characteristics of the read information, "form type", "variable length / fixed length", and "delimiter character" are prepared.

[0023] By using the extraction condition table for warehousing set as described above, specific information is extracted from the read information received as follows.

[0024] For example, if the read information received from the work terminal 10 that has read the information code 32 in Fig. 1 together with the business item "warehousing" is "A103,HIN-001,LOT-A1,0012,hexagon bolt", since the first letter is "A", "HIN-001" which is the second item is extracted as the product number, "0012" which is the fourth item is extracted as the quantity, and "LOT-A1" which is the third item is extracted as the lot number.

[0025] Also, for example, if the read information received from the work terminal 10 that has read the information code 32a in Fig. 4(A) together with the business item "warehousing" is "BGA0020112M10R052368", since the first letter is "B" and the total number of digits is "20", "GA002" which is 5 characters starting from the second digit is extracted as the product number, "0112" which is 4 characters starting from the seventh digit is extracted as the quantity, and "R0523" which is 5 characters starting from the fourteenth digit is extracted as the lot number.

[0026] Also, for example, if the read information received from the work terminal 10 that has read the information code 32b in Fig. 4(B) together with the business item "warehousing" is "10YAMADA2016998", since it contains "YAMADA", "16998" which is 5 characters starting from the eleventh digit is extracted as the product number.

[0027] Also, for example, if the read information received from the work terminal 10 that has read the information code 32c in Fig. 4(C) together with the business item "warehousing" is "BFA33H21R052", since the first letter is "B" and the total number of digits is "12", "FA33" which is 4 characters starting from the second digit is extracted as the product number.

[0028] Also, for example, if the read information received from the work terminal 10 that has read the information code 32d in FIG. 4(D) together with the business item "warehouse receipt" is "C231225;K7121;0120;HA368", since the first letter is "C", "K7121" which is the second item is extracted as the product number, and "0120" which is the third item is extracted as the quantity, respectively.

[0029] Also, for the business item "warehouse delivery", an extraction condition table for warehouse delivery as illustrated in FIG. 5 is set and stored in the storage unit 24. In the extraction condition table for warehouse delivery, "first letter", "specific character string", and "total number of digits" are prepared as extraction conditions, and "product number" and "quantity" are prepared as extractable items. Also, as characteristics of the read information, "document type", "variable length / fixed length", and "delimiter character" are prepared.

[0030] By using the extraction condition table for warehouse delivery set as described above, specific information is extracted from the received read information as follows.

[0031] For example, if the read information received from the work terminal 10 that has read the information code 32e in FIG. 6(A) together with the business item "warehouse delivery" is "S00001,HIN-001,0010", since the first letter is "S", "HIN-001" which is the second item is extracted as the product number, and "0010" which is the third item is extracted as the quantity, respectively.

[0032] Also, for example, if the read information received from the work terminal 10 that has read the information code 32f in FIG. 6(B) together with the business item "warehouse delivery" is "M00000103GA0011GA00220231201", since the first letter is "M" and the total number of digits is "28", "GA002" which is 5 characters from the 16th digit is extracted as the product number.

[0033] In the management device 20 configured as described above, the control unit 21 performs a process for transmitting the specific information extracted from the read information as described above to the work terminal 10 based on the extraction condition table stored in the storage unit 24 corresponding to the business item by receiving the read information and the business item from the work terminal 10 by the specific information extraction process performed by the control unit 21.

[0034] Hereinafter, the management process performed by the work terminal 10 and the specific information extraction process performed by the management device 20 will be described in detail using the warehousing work as an example. First, the management process performed by the control unit 11 of the work terminal 10 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. 7.

[0035] When the management process is started by the control unit 11 in response to a predetermined operation or the like on the operation unit 16, a menu screen for selecting a business item is displayed on the display screen of the display unit 15 (S101). When a selection operation of "warehousing" is received as the business item since the warehousing work is being carried out (S102), in a state where information for prompting the reading work of the information code 32 of the article 30 to be worked on is displayed on the display screen, the information code imaged by the imaging unit 13 through the reading port can be read (S103). Note that the control unit 11 and the imaging unit 13 that perform the process of step S103 may correspond to an example of a "reading unit".

[0036] Then, when the work terminal 10's reading port is directed at the information code 32 attached to the physical inventory ticket 31 of the article 30 to be warehoused by the operator and the reading of the information code 32 is successful (Yes in S104), the read information is transmitted to the management device 20 via the communication unit 18 together with the business item "warehousing" (S105).

[0037] In response to the above transmission, when specific information such as part numbers is received from the management device 20 (Yes in S106), since "warehousing" is selected as described above, information prompting the reading operation of the information code for registering the warehousing location and the like is displayed on the display screen of the display unit 15, and the information code can be read through the reading port (S107). When this reading is successful (Yes in S108), specific information such as the part number and quantity of the article 30 to be warehoused is displayed on the display screen of the display unit 15 as an actual result together with information such as the warehousing location (S109). Then, information regarding those warehousing results is registered as an actual result in the storage unit 12 (S110), and this management process ends. Note that the control unit 11 and the communication unit 18 that perform the process of receiving and acquiring specific information in response to the transmission of the read information and the like may correspond to an example of an "acquisition unit".

[0038] For example, when the read information "A103, HIN-001, LOT-A1, 0012, hexagon bolt" read from the information code 32 shown in FIG. 1 and the service item "warehousing" are transmitted, the part number "HIN-001", the quantity "0012", and the lot number "LOT-A1" are received as specific information, and those information are registered as actual results in the storage unit 12 together with information such as the warehousing location.

[0039] On the other hand, when error information is received from the management device 20 as described later in response to the transmission of the read information as described above (No in S106, Yes in S111), error information indicating that the information code of an article different from the work target is being read is displayed on the display screen of the display unit 15 (S112), and this management process ends.

[0040] Next, the specific information extraction process performed by the control unit 21 of the management device 20 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. 8. After the specific information extraction process is started by the control unit 21, when the read information and the business item "warehousing" are received from the work terminal 10 (Yes in S201), based on the extraction condition table for warehousing stored in the storage unit 24 corresponding to the business item "warehousing", a process for extracting specific information from the received read information is performed (S202). Note that the control unit 21 that performs the process of step S202 may correspond to an example of an "extraction unit".

[0041] When the extraction of specific information is successful (Yes in S203), the specific information is transmitted to the work terminal 10 (S204), and this specific information extraction process ends. On the other hand, when information such as that read from an information code of an article different from the work target is received, since the extraction of specific information fails (No in S203), error information indicating that an information code of an article different from the work target is being read is transmitted to the work terminal 10 (S205), and this specific information extraction process ends. Note that the communication unit 25 controlled by the control unit 21 to transmit specific information to the work terminal 10 may correspond to an example of a "transmission unit".

[0042] Note that after confirming the storage location of the article to be shipped out, for a shipping operation performed at that storage location, in the management process performed by the control unit 11 of the work terminal 10, after a selection operation of "shipping out" is received as a business item (S102), the read information read from the information code attached to the article to be shipped out as described above is transmitted to the management device 20 together with the business item "shipping out" (S105).

[0043] In the management device 20 that has received this read information etc. (Yes in S201), based on the extraction condition table for shipping out stored in the storage unit 24 corresponding to the business item "shipping out", specific information is extracted from the received read information (S202), and the specific information is transmitted to the work terminal 10 (S204).

[0044] At the work terminal 10 that has received this specific information (Yes in S106), since "shipment" is selected as described above, information such as information prompting the reading operation of the information code for registering the destination of shipment and the like is displayed on the display screen of the display unit 15, and the information code can be read through the reading port (S107). After that, by successfully reading the information code (Yes in S108), the product number and the like of the article 30 to be shipped are displayed on the display screen of the display unit 15 as a performance display together with the information such as the destination of shipment (S109). Then, the information regarding the shipment performance is registered as a performance in the storage unit 12 (S110), and this management process ends.

[0045] Note that the extraction condition table stored in the storage unit 24 of the management device 20 can be changed, added, etc. so as to be compatible with the recording format of the information code adopted at the source of receipt or the like when the source of receipt or the like of the article to be received is changed or added.

[0046] As described above, in the work management system 1 according to the present embodiment, the reading information including specific information such as the product number capable of specifying the work target is recorded in the information code 32 attached to the physical inventory ticket 31 and the like. The work terminal 10 that performs the management process related to a predetermined work acquires the specific information from the management device 20 by transmitting the reading information and the work item read at the time of the predetermined work to the management device 20. When the management device 20 receives the reading information and the work item from the work terminal 10, the management device 20 extracts the specific information from the reading information based on the extraction condition table stored in the storage unit 24 corresponding to the work item, and then transmits this specific information to the work terminal 10.

[0047] As a result, even when the recording format of the information code 32 differs depending on the source of receipt or the like in the work terminal 10, the work terminal 10 can obtain the specific information correctly extracted from the information by simply transmitting the read information or the like to the management device 20. In particular, even when the source of receipt or the like is changed or added, etc., it is only necessary to change the extraction condition table stored in the management device 20 in accordance with such changes or additions, and it is not necessary for an operator or the like who performs a predetermined operation using the work terminal 10 to rewrite the program of the work terminal 10. Therefore, even when information codes in various recording formats are to be read, the work terminal 10 can realize a system capable of obtaining information necessary for management from the read information without requiring program rewriting or the like.

[0048] Note that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, etc., and may be embodied, for example, as follows. (1) In the work management system according to the present invention, as the business items of the work to be managed, it is not limited to adopting receipt and shipment, and for example, other items such as inventory movement may be adopted. In this case, by storing in the storage unit 24 of the management device 20 a predetermined table for extracting specific information from the read information based on the predetermined extraction conditions related to the above inventory management or the like, the above effects can be achieved.

[0049] (2) The information code generated so as to include specific information such as the product number to be acquired by the work terminal 10 is not limited to being attached to a form such as a physical inventory ticket, and may be attached to other forms such as a manufacturer's tag, a delivery note, a customer invoice, a shipping instruction ticket, a production instruction ticket, etc.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0050] 1 Work management system 10 Work terminal 11 Control unit (reading unit, acquisition unit) 13 Imaging unit (reading unit) 18 Communication unit (acquisition unit) 20 Management device 21 Control unit (extraction unit) 24 Storage unit 25 Communication unit (transmission unit) 30 Article 31 Physical goods label (form) 32, 32a~32f Information code

Claims

【Claim 1】 A work terminal that performs management processing related to a predetermined task by using information read from an information code attached to a form, A management device capable of communicating with the work terminal, A work management system comprising: The information code records predetermined information including specific information capable of identifying a work target, The work terminal includes: A reading unit that optically reads the information recorded in the information code, An acquisition unit that acquires the specific information from the management device by transmitting the predetermined information read by the reading unit during the predetermined task and the business item of the predetermined task to the management device, And is provided with, The management device includes: A storage unit that stores a predetermined table for extracting the specific information from the predetermined information based on a predetermined extraction condition for each business item, An extraction unit that extracts the specific information from the predetermined information based on the predetermined table stored in the storage unit corresponding to the business item when the predetermined information and the business item are received from the work terminal, A transmission unit that transmits the specific information extracted by the extraction unit to the work terminal, A work management system characterized by comprising the above.

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