Planning support device and planning support method

Abstract

To provide a planning support device that can alleviate the strain on space used for storing parts, etc., when receiving deliveries. [Solution] The planning support device according to the present invention comprises: a calculation unit that calculates the planned number of parts to be delivered each day based on a production plan for a product to be produced, vehicle information including at least information regarding the size of the vehicle, and inventory information regarding the amount of parts in stock necessary for the production of the product; a planning generation unit that generates delivery plan information regarding the delivery schedule for delivering the parts based on part information including information regarding the size of the parts and the calculated planned number of parts to be delivered; and a modification unit that modifies the delivery plan information based on the vehicle information of the transport vehicle for the delivery schedule.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a planning support device and a planning support method.

Background Art

[0002] There is a known technique for determining the delivery date in consideration of the size of the parts to be delivered. Patent Document 1 describes a technique related to a parts procurement method in which, based on the length of each lead time from the order to the delivery for each procurement time point, the planned production volume per unit period based on the product production plan is distributed to each procurement time point and assigned as each allocated production planned volume.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In a production environment where a relatively small amount of production is carried out in the mass production process, the lead time from the order to the delivery of the parts used for the production of the product is long. Therefore, it is necessary to place an order for the parts at an early stage, and since it is not possible to place an order considering the daily production situation, there is a risk that the space used for storing the parts will become crowded.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide a planning support device that can suppress the congestion of the space used for storing parts and the like when receiving delivery shipments.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The planning support device according to the present invention comprises: a calculation unit that calculates the daily planned number of parts to be delivered based on a production plan for a product to be produced, vehicle information including at least information regarding the size of the vehicle, and inventory information regarding the inventory quantity of parts necessary for the production of the product; a planning generation unit that generates delivery plan information regarding the delivery schedule for the parts based on part information including information regarding the size of the parts and the calculated planned number of parts to be delivered; and a modification unit that modifies the delivery plan information based on the vehicle information of the transport vehicle for the delivery schedule. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] The present invention provides a planning support device that can suppress the strain on space used for storing parts and other items when receiving deliveries. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0008] [Figure 1] This is a diagram showing the functional configuration of a planning support device according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] This figure shows examples of delivery routes and the number of delivery routes for each component according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] This diagram illustrates the process of provisionally determining the delivery date for one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] This is a diagram illustrating the vehicle information of a delivery vehicle according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 5] This diagram illustrates the process of modifying delivery plan information based on vehicle information of the transport vehicles used for delivery. [Figure 6] This figure shows a flow chart of a planning support method performed by a planning support device according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0009] The embodiments will be described below with reference to the drawings. Note that the drawings are simplified, and the technical scope of the embodiments should not be narrowly interpreted based on their depiction. Furthermore, the same elements are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant explanations are omitted. Also, in the following embodiments, when referring to the number of elements (including quantity, numerical value, amount, range, etc.), unless specifically stated or clearly limited to a particular number in principle, the number is not limited to that particular number and may be greater than or less than that number.

[0010] Furthermore, in the following embodiments, the components are not necessarily essential unless otherwise explicitly stated or considered to be clearly essential in principle. Similarly, in the following embodiments, when referring to the shape, positional relationship, etc., of the components, etc., it shall include those that substantially approximate or resemble their shape, etc., unless otherwise explicitly stated or considered to be clearly not essential in principle. The same applies to the numbers, etc. (including the number of items, numerical values, quantities, ranges, etc.).

[0011] [Embodiment] <Configuration of the planning support device 10> Figure 1 is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of a planning support device 10 according to one embodiment of the present invention. The planning support device 10 comprises a calculation unit 11, a plan generation unit 12, and a modification unit 13.

[0012] The planning support device 10 comprises a CPU (Central Processing Unit), ROM (Read Only Memory), RAM (Random Access Memory), HDD (Hard Disk Drive), and an input / output interface (I / F) as its hardware configuration. These are electrically connected to each other via a bus. The CPU controls the operation of the planning support device 10. The ROM stores programs and other data executed by the CPU. The RAM is used as the CPU's workspace. The HDD stores various data such as programs. The input / output interface is an interface for inputting and outputting various signals and data to and from external devices.

[0013] The calculation unit 11 calculates the daily planned number of parts to be delivered based on the production plan for the product to be produced, vehicle information including at least information on the size of the vehicle, and inventory information regarding the inventory levels of parts necessary for the production of the product. The planned number of parts to be delivered is the number or quantity of parts that make up the product to be delivered to the product's production site.

[0014] A production plan indicates how much of a product will be produced at each production site, and each product is composed of multiple parts. Therefore, a production plan shows the production plan for products using parts at each of the multiple production sites. The parts necessary for the production of a product are not limited to the parts that make up the product, but may also include parts that are used only in the production process of the product and do not constitute the product itself. For example, if the product is an automobile, the parts would be a transaxle, transmission, electronic control unit, gears, bolts, and nuts, etc.

[0015] Vehicle information may be a database that associates, for example, a "delivery code" which is identification information for a delivery shipment, with information about the size of the vehicle being transported. Information about the size of the vehicle may be classified, for example, into "large," "medium," and "small." In addition to the delivery shipment identification information and information about the size of the vehicle, the vehicle information may also include various other information such as the vehicle type and specifications.

[0016] Inventory information shows the stock quantity of each part at each of multiple production sites. The inventory information associates production sites, the parts located at those sites, and the stock quantity of those parts. Inventory quantity refers to the number of parts stored at each production site.

[0017] The plan generation unit 12 generates incoming plan information regarding the plan of incoming shipments for parts based on part information including information on the size of the parts and the calculated scheduled incoming quantity of the parts. At this time, it is desirable for the plan generation unit 12 to generate the incoming plan information by prioritizing the scheduled incoming dates of the parts with large sizes among the parts to be incoming. The incoming plan information is information regarding the plan of incoming shipments in a predetermined period such as every month.

[0018] The part information is, for example, information in which a part number for identifying a part and information on the size of the part are associated. The information on the size of the part is information on the volume and dimensions of the part, and may be classified according to whether it is a large part or not, or may be classified as "large", "medium", and "small". Large parts are, for example, a dashboard and a floor tunnel cover when the product is an automobile. "Parts with large sizes" are, for example, parts classified as "large parts" and parts classified as "large" in the information on the size of the parts, but are not limited to these.

[0019] The incoming plan information indicates the incoming plan of parts at each of a plurality of production bases. The incoming plan information is information in which, for example, the number of shipments and the date for each day of the incoming shipment are associated. Note that the incoming plan information generated by the plan generation unit 12 is tentatively determined information and can be changed in the change unit 13.

[0020] The change unit 13 changes the incoming plan information generated by the plan generation unit 12 based on the vehicle information of the transport vehicle for the incoming shipment. At this time, when the change unit 13 exceeds the allowable incoming quantity for each day of the incoming shipment, the change unit 13 changes the incoming plan information so that any one of the incoming shipments on the day exceeding the allowable incoming quantity is moved to the day before the day exceeding the allowable incoming quantity. Note that the change unit 13 may not change the date of the incoming shipment including parts with large sizes among the parts to be incoming.

[0021] The maximum number of deliveries is the upper limit of the number of transport vehicles that can be dispatched, taking into account factors such as the space available for storing parts at the production site and the space available for receiving deliveries. Furthermore, if changing any delivery one day prior to the day on which the maximum number of deliveries is exceeded would result in exceeding the maximum number of deliveries for that day, then any delivery can be changed one day prior to that date.

[0022] <Examples of processes for generating and modifying delivery plan information> Below, using Figures 2 to 5, examples of the generation and modification processes of delivery plan information performed by the planning support device 10 according to this embodiment will be described.

[0023] Figure 2 shows an example of delivery routes and the number of delivery routes for each part according to one embodiment of the present invention. In Figure 2, (a) is a table that associates information on the part number and size of the part that identifies the part included in the part information with a delivery route code, which is the identification information of the delivery route, and (b) is a table that shows the number of delivery routes for each delivery route code. In the following example, it is assumed that a delivery route code is determined for each part number and that the number of delivery routes per delivery route is determined.

[0024] As shown in Figure 2(a), among the four parts with part numbers A, B, C, and D, parts with part numbers A and C are large parts. Furthermore, parts with part numbers A and B are delivered by delivery service with delivery code 111, parts with part number C are delivered by delivery service with delivery code 222, and parts with part number D are delivered by delivery service with delivery code 333.

[0025] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 2(b), the number of flights per month for flight code 111 is assumed to be 4, for flight code 222 it is assumed to be 5, and for flight code 333 it is assumed to be 6.

[0026] Figure 3 is a diagram illustrating the process of provisionally determining the delivery date for one embodiment of the present invention. In Figure 3, (a) is a table showing whether or not there are deliveries and whether or not there are large parts for each day, and (b) and (c) are tables showing the date for provisionally determining the delivery date.

[0027] Figure 3 illustrates an example where the delivery shipment for the parts is the one with the delivery code 111 shown in Figure 2. Furthermore, the following explanation assumes a delivery schedule for a two-week period, with no parts deliveries during the remaining one-month period. The same procedures apply to delivery shipments with delivery codes other than 111.

[0028] Figure 3(a) shows the delivery dates for parts A and B in the "Delivery Status" column. Based on the respective tables showing the delivery dates for parts A and B, a table is shown summarizing whether or not deliveries were made via delivery service code 111 and whether or not there are any large parts. Note that, based on the table in Figure 2(a), parts A are large parts, while parts B are not large parts.

[0029] As shown in Figure 3(b), the delivery date is prioritized based on the delivery of large parts. From the table in Figure 2(b), there are four deliveries per month for delivery code 111. Also, from the table in Figure 3(b), there are three deliveries for delivery code 111, so it is possible to schedule one more delivery during the period shown.

[0030] Therefore, as shown in Figure 3(c), it is desirable that the delivery dates for the remaining shipments be assigned in such a way that the intervals between delivery dates are as short as possible. In the illustrated example, the parts needed for February 1st and February 2nd are delivered on February 1st, and the parts needed for February 4th and February 8th are delivered on February 4th. Also, the parts needed for February 9th are delivered on February 9th, and the parts needed for February 11th and February 12th are delivered on February 11th. The above is an example of processing for shipment code 111, but the planning generation unit 12 performs the same process of assigning delivery dates to other shipments with shipment code 111.

[0031] Figure 4 is a diagram illustrating vehicle information for a delivery vehicle according to one embodiment of the present invention. In Figure 4, (a) shows vehicle information for a delivery vehicle, and (b) shows the daily number of deliveries possible for a delivery vehicle according to the size of the classified vehicle. A truck is an example of a delivery vehicle.

[0032] As shown in Figure 4(a), the information regarding the size of the transport vehicles shown in the truck size column is classified, for example, into "large," "medium," and "small." As shown in the figure, the trucks for delivery codes 111, 444, 555, and 777 are large, the trucks for delivery codes 222 and 666 are medium, and the truck for delivery code 333 is small.

[0033] As shown in Figure 4(b), the number of deliveries that can be made per day is 3 for large trucks, 7 for medium trucks, and 8 for small trucks. The space for receiving deliveries at the production site is divided according to the size of the truck. Therefore, the number of deliveries is adjusted according to the size of the truck.

[0034] Figure 5 illustrates the process of modifying delivery plan information based on vehicle information of the transport vehicles used for delivery. In Figure 5, (a) shows the number of delivery flights for each delivery day, and (b) shows an example of how the delivery plan information is modified.

[0035] The example shown in Figure 5 illustrates the process of changing delivery plan information when the truck size is large, and the change unit 13 will change the delivery plan information in the same way when the truck size is medium or small. As shown in Figure 4(a), the trucks that transport the delivery shipments with shipment codes 111, 444, 555, and 777 are large.

[0036] Figure 5(a) shows the delivery dates for parts for each of the freight codes 111, 444, 555, and 777. These are then combined to calculate the daily number of deliveries for larger trucks. The daily number of deliveries is determined by the number of transport vehicles used to carry the parts.

[0037] As shown in Figure 5(b), the modification unit 13 modifies the delivery plan information based on the size of the truck, which is the transport vehicle for the delivery, and the number of deliveries that can be made per day. As shown in Figure 4(b), when the truck size is large, the number of deliveries that can be made per day for the delivery is 3. Since the number of deliveries on February 4th and February 9th is 4 each, the number of deliveries exceeds the limit by 1.

[0038] Therefore, the modification unit 13 modifies the delivery schedule information so that one of the delivery flights on a day when the number of deliverables exceeds the available capacity is scheduled for one day before that day. Thus, as shown in the delivery schedule information in Figure 5(b), the modification unit 13 changes one of the delivery flights scheduled for February 4th and February 9th to February 3rd and February 8th, which are one day earlier, respectively. It is preferable that the modification unit 13 does not change the delivery date of delivery flights that deliver large parts.

[0039] The examples of generating and modifying delivery plan information are not limited to those explained using Figures 2-5; various other processes can be employed.

[0040] <Methods for supporting planning> Figure 6 is a diagram showing the flow of a planning support method executed by a planning support device 10 according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0041] The calculation unit 11 of the planning support device 10 calculates the planned number of parts to be delivered based on the production plan of the product to be produced, vehicle information including at least information on the size of the vehicle, and inventory information regarding the amount of parts in stock that are necessary for the production of the product (S101).

[0042] The planning generation unit 12 generates delivery plan information regarding the delivery schedule for the parts based on part information including information about the size of the parts and the calculated number of parts to be delivered (S102). At this time, it is desirable for the planning generation unit 12 to generate the delivery plan information prioritizing the delivery dates of the larger parts among the parts to be delivered.

[0043] The modification unit 13 modifies the delivery plan information based on the vehicle information of the transport vehicles for the delivery shipment (S103). At this time, if the number of deliveries for each delivery shipment exceeds the daily delivery capacity, the modification unit 13 modifies the delivery plan information so that one of the delivery shipments for the day in which the delivery capacity exceeds the limit is scheduled to take place one day earlier than the day in which the delivery capacity exceeds the limit.

[0044] These steps enable the implementation of a planning support method according to one embodiment of the present invention. However, the planning support method according to one embodiment of the present invention may include other steps as appropriate, depending on the implementation conditions and environment.

[0045] <Effects of the planning support device 10 according to this embodiment> While production sites that handle large volumes of parts receive multiple deliveries daily, production sites that handle small volumes may only receive deliveries a few times a month. Therefore, setting delivery dates at appropriate times helps to prevent strain on storage space for parts and space to receive deliveries at production sites.

[0046] The planning support device 10 according to this embodiment generates delivery plan information for the delivery of parts based on part information including information on the size of the parts and the calculated number of parts to be delivered, and modifies the delivery plan information based on the vehicle information of the transport vehicle for the delivery. Therefore, the planning support device 10 can suppress the strain on the space used for storing parts when receiving delivery shipments, and can level out the receiving work for delivery shipments.

[0047] Furthermore, the planning support device 10 generates delivery plan information prioritizing the delivery dates of larger parts among the parts to be delivered. As a result, the lead time from when larger parts are delivered until they are used is shortened according to the planning support device 10, which helps to alleviate the strain on storage space for parts.

[0048] Although the present invention has been described above in accordance with the embodiments described above, the present invention is not limited to the configuration of the embodiments described above, and of course includes various modifications, alterations, and combinations that can be made by a person skilled in the art within the scope of the claims of the present patent application. [Explanation of symbols]

[0049] 10. Planning support device 11 Calculation Section 12. Planning Generation Unit 13 Changes

Claims

1. A calculation unit calculates the daily planned number of parts to be delivered based on the production plan of the product to be produced, vehicle information including at least information regarding the size of the vehicle, and inventory information regarding the inventory quantity of parts necessary for the production of the product. A planning generation unit generates delivery plan information relating to the delivery schedule for the parts, based on parts information including information regarding the size of the parts and the calculated number of parts to be delivered. A modification unit that modifies the delivery plan information based on the vehicle information of the transport vehicle for the delivery shipment, A planning support device equipped with the following features.

2. The aforementioned plan generation unit, The delivery plan information is generated by prioritizing the delivery dates of the largest parts among the parts to be delivered. The planning support device according to claim 1.

3. The modification unit modifies the delivery schedule information so that, if the number of deliveries for a given delivery exceeds the daily delivery capacity, one of the delivery flights on the day the number of deliveries exceeds the capacity is scheduled to take place one day prior to that day. The planning support device according to claim 1.

4. The aforementioned change does not affect the delivery date of the shipment that includes the larger-sized component among the components to be delivered. The planning support device according to claim 3.

5. A planning support method performed by a planning support device, A step of calculating the daily planned number of parts to be delivered based on the production plan of the product to be produced, vehicle information including at least information regarding the size of the vehicle, and inventory information regarding the inventory of parts necessary for the production of the product; The steps include generating delivery plan information relating to the delivery schedule for the parts, based on part information including information regarding the size of the parts, and the calculated number of parts to be delivered; A step of modifying the delivery plan information based on the vehicle information of the transport vehicle for the delivery flight, A planning support method that includes this.

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