Workflow management system and workflow management method

Abstract

To provide a workflow management system which can be provided to a client company as a consulting business and allows members to easily understand data input and computing mechanism so as to actually recall their field operation and easily conduct management and control in development and introduction.SOLUTION: A system causes a dynamic website system which displays data stored in a plurality of data frame tables 33 in a relational database 32 on a server, on a terminal monitor in accordance with a request from a browser on a terminal PC, to function as: means for drawing, on the browser, a workflow map 31 with a work box arranged therein, on a matrix table composed of multiple division rows and multiple process columns in an organization according to procedures of tasks belonging to a specific category; and means for storing and calculating data with the specific category and a specific time as a key code, and extracting and displaying the data in the workbox on the browser.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to workflow management as a method for solving corporate problems, and to a system and method used for consulting client companies. [Background technology]

[0002] In recent years, labor shortages and rising raw material prices have become particularly serious problems in the business environment surrounding companies. As a response to these issues, efforts are being made to solve cross-departmental issues within companies, such as improving productivity, reducing costs, and improving quality. One management method that tackles these issues is workflow management, which focuses on the flow of work both inside and outside a company. Specifically, it is a management method that takes a bird's-eye view of the entire workflow, which links together the individual tasks of each process and each organization, for the main targets of managing business plans, results, and forecasts, i.e., each management element such as sales management, production management, parts procurement management, manufacturing site management, subcontract management, shipping management, and inventory management, and then carries out workflow operations after confirming results against plans and obtaining data on future forecasts or projections. The IT tools used for such workflow management should be easy for the members of each business department who use them to understand how the tools work and allow them to easily view workflow data. On the other hand, it is expected that members of each business department will be familiar with the interface that uses a browser on a terminal PC in dynamic website systems, which are widely used for homepage applications. In the consulting business, where the client is a company that is working to solve problems using workflow management, especially if the business objective is not to sell fully customized IT tools themselves, it is preferable to provide advice on IT tools that can be viewed in a browser, such as relatively simple software based on a cloud platform, so that client members can improve and maintain them themselves according to the business operations of the client company.

[0003] One example of a technology for managing and automating business procedures is described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2010-205184 (Patent Document 1). Patent Document 1 states that "the business management device of the present invention comprises a business definition management means for managing business definitions, a workflow management means for managing business procedures, and an application customization means for monitoring and customizing communication between a browser that displays a user interface and an external system that runs a business application."

[0004] Furthermore, as a technique for displaying a workflow using a web browser, for example, there is a technique described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2011-65458 (Patent Document 2). Patent Document 2 describes the device as "a workflow display support device that displays on a web browser a workflow that represents a series of work processes that are executed in a chain from start to finish, comprising document division means that divides a workflow document that defines the series of work processes into workflow elements that correspond to activities, which are units of work in the work processes, and workflow element conversion means that converts each workflow element obtained by dividing the workflow document into an XML element written in XML (eXtensible Markup Language) that can be displayed on a web browser." [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2010-205184 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2011-65458 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] There has never been a workflow management program or method that can be presented to client companies as a consulting business, that allows on-site members of the client companies to visualize the workflow as a whole and recall actual on-site work, and that is easy to manage and control when developing, introducing, operating, maintaining, and improving it.

[0007] Patent Document 1 discloses a technology for customizing an application in workflow management, but does not disclose a workflow management technology that allows the entire workflow to be viewed across the time axis of the past, present, and future. Patent Document 2 discloses a technology that enables workflows to be displayed in a web browser, but does not disclose a workflow management technology that enables the entire workflow across the past, present, and future timelines to be viewed and that is easy for field members to manage and control. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides a workflow management system and method that enables workflow operations based on recognized differences by comparing and evaluating past, present, and future workflow maps that are generated by, for example, using calculations from a frame table that stores input data, using a workflow map that arranges work boxes corresponding to individual tasks and buffer boxes corresponding to transfers between tasks on a matrix table that is displayed on a browser screen on a terminal PC in a dynamic website system. [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] The present invention provides a management and workflow management system and workflow management method that uses a dynamic website system that is intuitively easy for on-site users to understand, allowing them to see the entire workflow on a time axis of past, present, and future. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a workflow map according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a relational database and a data frame according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] Schematic diagram showing how data is projected from past, present, and future data frames in a relational database onto the corresponding workflow map. [Figure 4] A schematic diagram showing how data is projected from past, present, and future data frames in a relational database onto the corresponding first category workflow map and second category workflow map. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0011] An embodiment of the present invention will be described below. [Example]

[0012] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of a workflow map displayed on a browser screen on a terminal PC in a workflow management system and workflow management method according to the present invention. Here, a plurality of department rows 11 and process columns 13 are arranged in a matrix, and a first buffer zone row 12 and a second buffer zone row are provided between the first department row 11 and the second department row, and between the third department row and the fourth department row, respectively. The first department row is the sales and materials management department, the second department row is the first manufacturing department, the third department row is the second manufacturing department, and the fourth department row is the processing outsourcing management department. The first buffer zone is the material and product warehouse, and the second buffer zone is the outsourced management warehouse. The first process sequence 13 is the production instruction / pre-stage production process, the second process sequence is the middle stage production / outsourced processing process, and the third process sequence is the last stage production / shipping process. The order of the first workbox 14 and subsequent workboxes, and the buffer box 12 and subsequent buffer boxes along the workflow is indicated by arrows 16 .

[0013] In the category box 17, item box 18, and time box 19, which indicate the characteristics of the workflow map, the production quantity progress as category data, the model name as item data, and the week number as time data are entered by a member of a predetermined department in charge, in this example the production management department. Each workbox is labeled with a label such as "Production start instruction," "Material accumulation," or "First process," and members of the department to which the workbox belongs enter the actual flow quantity for the corresponding week into each workbox. In addition, the buffer boxes are labeled with labels such as "materials issue" and "subcontract issue," and members of predetermined departments enter the actual flow quantity for the corresponding week into each buffer box.

[0014] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the structure of a relational database and a data frame table in the workflow management system and workflow management method according to the present invention. The data entered in the work box, buffer box, category box, item box, and time box is stored in the corresponding record row on the data frame table 22. In this embodiment, data frame tables 22 divided by week numbers entered in the time box are arranged on a time axis and are used as components of a relational database 26. Regression analysis is performed by arithmetic processing using past performance data and current performance data on this time axis, and forecast data obtained by time series forecasting is stored in a future data frame table. Generally, a relational database is made up of various master tables and ID columns that serve as keys in those tables that relate each other. Although not described in this embodiment, for example, when it is associated with a material master table, it is possible to extract a corresponding material list using the model name as a key ID, and when it is associated with a customer master table, it is possible to extract a corresponding customer list using the model name as a key ID.

[0015] FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing how past, present, and future production quantity data are projected onto a first workflow map 31, a second workflow map 32, and a third workflow map 33, respectively, from a data frame table divided by week number that constitutes a relational database 32. In this embodiment, the data for the production plan quantity based on past performance, the current production result quantity, and the future production forecast quantity are displayed on each workflow map on the browser screen of the terminal PC in a workflow map screen switching format or a workflow map parallel format on the same screen. Members of each department can compare and evaluate this workflow map, recognize the differences between the planned, actual, and forecasted quantities for the past, present, and future, and, if they determine that the differences are abnormal based on the pre-established standard values, they can propose appropriate measures to the corporate organization, thereby making it possible to manage and control the production workflow.

[0016] FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram of a first past workflow map 31, a first current workflow map, and a first future workflow map that project data belonging to a first category from data frame tables arranged on a time axis that make up a relational database 32, and a second past workflow map 42, a second current workflow map, and a second future workflow map that project data belonging to a second category. In this example, production quantity data is selected as the first category, and inspection result data is selected as the second category. A workflow map displaying planned, actual, and forecast data on production quantity and inspection results can be shared among department members, allowing them to compare and evaluate each piece of data and understand the impact of inspection results on production quantity. If the quality impact on production quantity exceeds a predetermined standard value, appropriate measures can be proposed to the corporate organization, enabling management and control of the production workflow.

[0017] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and for example, categories may be set to equipment process time management, manual labor time management, cost management, inventory management, manual management, skill management, and the like. The selection of categories is not limited to the two categories mentioned above, but three or more categories may be selected and their relevance may be evaluated. Buffer zones may be set in warehouses for materials and components in business activities, warehouses for finished products, warehouses for transfers between processes, warehouses for transfers to subcontractors, and so on. Multiple workflow maps may be displayed on multiple monitors, respectively. The division of the data frame table is not limited to the above-mentioned week number, but may be daily or monthly. Furthermore, a machine learning technique may be employed when performing regression analysis through calculation processing using past performance data and current performance data, and obtaining prediction data through time series prediction. [Industrial Applicability]

[0018] The present invention can be used as a management system and method for various workflow management projects with client companies in the consulting service industry. Target client companies are not limited to manufacturing, but can also use this service in food service, distribution, retail, and other industries. In particular, the workflow management system and method of the present invention can be utilized in client companies that handle a wide variety of products. [Explanation of symbols]

[0019] 11 Department row, 12 Buffer zone row, 13 Process column, 14 Workbox, 15 Buffer box, 16 Arrow indicating flow order, 17 Category box, 18 Item box, 19 Time box, 21 Relational database, 22 Dataframe table, 23 Category column, 24 Item column, 25 Time column, 26 Time axis, 31 Workflow map, 32 Relational database, 33 Dataframe table, 41 First workflow map, 42 Second workflow map, 43 Relational database, 44 Dataframe table.

Claims

1. A dynamic website system that connects a server and a terminal PC via a communication means to manage and control the workflow of a business, and dynamically displays data stored in multiple data frame tables in a relational database on the server on the terminal monitor in response to requests from the browser of the terminal PC. a means for arranging work boxes corresponding to individual tasks on a matrix table consisting of a plurality of process columns and a plurality of department rows in accordance with procedures for tasks belonging to a specific category, and drawing a workflow map on a browser screen in which arrows connect the flows between the respective work boxes, department rows, or process columns; means for storing data input from the workflow map in the data frame table, and means for processing the stored data; means for extracting data from the database using the specific category and the specific time as key codes and displaying the data in the work box on the browser screen; A workflow management system characterized by functioning as a

2. A dynamic website system that connects a server and a terminal PC via a communication means to manage and control the workflow of a business, and dynamically displays data stored in multiple data frame tables in a relational database on the server on the terminal monitor in response to requests from a browser on the terminal PC. a means for providing a buffer zone row between a specific first department row and an adjacent second department row among a plurality of department rows in the workflow map, corresponding to the transfer of work between departments, providing a buffer box between a first work box belonging to the first department row and a second work box belonging to the second department row, and drawing a workflow map on a browser screen in which the flows between the buffer zone row and the department rows are connected by arrows; 2. The workflow management system according to claim 1, wherein the workflow management system functions as a

3. A method for managing and controlling a workflow in a business, which connects a server and a terminal PC via a communication means, and uses the function of a dynamic website system that dynamically displays data stored in a plurality of data frame tables in a relational database on the server on a terminal monitor in response to a request from a browser on the terminal PC, A step of drawing a workflow map consisting of rows of departments in a business organization related to categories to be managed and controlled, rows of buffer zones corresponding to the transfer of work between departments, and rows of processes according to business procedures; A step of drawing a workflow map in which individual work boxes are arranged on the workflow map, buffer boxes are arranged in buffer zones corresponding to the transfer of individual works, and the flow between each work box, or between department rows, or between process columns, or between buffer zone rows and department rows is connected by arrows; inputting data corresponding to a target category and time into the work box and buffer box; Storing the input data into multiple data frame tables arranged in chronological order; a step of performing arithmetic processing such as regression analysis using data belonging to a first data frame table storing data in the past and data belonging to a second data frame table stored at the present time, and storing data for predicting the future obtained by time series prediction in a third data frame table; a step of comparing and evaluating a first workflow map in which data extracted from a first data frame table in the relational database is arranged using past time in the category as a key code, a second workflow map in which data extracted from a second data frame table is arranged using current time as a key code, and a third workflow map in which data extracted from a third data frame table is arranged using future time as a key code; providing feedback to the workflow operation based on the differences between the first workflow map, the second workflow map, and the third workflow map identified through the comparative evaluation; A workflow management method comprising:

4. selecting a plurality of categories, and for a first category, recognizing a first difference by comparing and evaluating a first workflow map generated using a past time as a key code, a second workflow map generated using a current time as a key code, and a third workflow map generated using a future time as a key code; and for a second category, recognizing a second difference by comparing and evaluating a fourth workflow map generated using a past time as a key code, a fifth workflow map generated using a current time as a key code, and a sixth workflow map generated using a future time as a key code; providing feedback to a workflow operation based on a relationship between the first difference and the second difference; 4. The workflow management method according to claim 3, comprising:

5. 4. The workflow management method according to claim 3, wherein the categories include machine process time management, manual work time management, cost management, inventory management, manual management, and skill management.

6. 4. The workflow management method according to claim 3, wherein the buffer zones are warehouses for materials and components in business activities, warehouses for finished products, warehouses for transfers between processes, warehouses for transfers to subcontractors, and the like.

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