Picking work management device

Abstract

To provide a picking operation management device which calculates target time of a picking operation.SOLUTION: In a warehouse system in which an operator terminal, a warehouse management system, a picking operation management device, a warehouse internal terminal and a display device can communicate with one another via a network, the picking operation management device comprises a control device. The control device acquires information showing an operation instruction, predicts transit time when the picking operation is performed from the information showing the operation instruction, predicts operation time after transit required for an operation after the transit to be performed by an operator after the transit to a location, and calculates the target time of the picking operation on the basis of the transit time when the picking operation is performed and the operation time after the transit required for the operation after the transit to be performed by the operator.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 9

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a picking work management device. [Background technology]

[0002] In a logistics warehouse, picking work is performed. Picking work is a task of collecting products from the location where the products are stored. The picking work is performed by workers stationed in the logistics warehouse. The picking work management device disclosed in Patent Document 1 determines the task in which each worker can demonstrate their high ability. Then, the picking work management device assigns the task in which the worker can demonstrate their high ability to the worker. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2020-128268 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] There are cases where it is desirable to improve the efficiency of picking work by making workers aware of the target time for the picking work. Also, there are cases where it is desirable to compare the actual picking work time with the target time for the picking work in order to evaluate the picking work. Thus, there are cases where it is desirable to calculate the target time for the picking work in order to improve the efficiency of the picking work or to evaluate the picking work. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] A picking work management device that solves the above problem includes a destination information acquisition unit that acquires information indicating a location where goods are stored and that is a location to which a worker will be moved during picking work, a travel time prediction unit that predicts the travel time required to perform the picking work from the information indicating the location acquired by the destination information acquisition unit, a post-movement work time prediction unit that predicts post-movement work time required for post-movement work to be performed by the worker after moving to the location, and a target time calculation unit that calculates a target time for the picking work based on the travel time predicted by the travel time prediction unit and the post-movement work time predicted by the post-movement work time prediction unit.

[0006] The time required for picking work includes the travel time required to perform the picking work and the post-travel time required for post-travel work after moving to the location. By predicting these times, the target time for picking work can be calculated.

[0007] In the above-mentioned picking work management device, a plurality of points are set in an area where the picking work is performed, and the travel time prediction unit derives the points to which the worker will move during the picking work from information indicating the location, obtains the inter-point travel time between the points to which the worker will move from travel time master data that has been calculated in advance for all combinations of two points selected from the plurality of points, and predicts the travel time from the inter-point travel time.

[0008] The above-mentioned picking work management device may be provided with a work information acquisition unit that acquires information indicating the post-movement work performed in the picking work, and the post-movement work time prediction unit may acquire the work time required for the post-movement work from work time master data that associates the post-movement work with the work time required for the post-movement work, and predict the post-movement work time from the work time.

[0009] In the above-mentioned picking work management device, the work time master data corresponds to whether or not the work time is counted on an item-by-item basis for the post-movement work, and the post-movement work time prediction unit may count the work time on an item-by-item basis for the post-movement work that is associated with counting the work time on an item-by-item basis.

[0010] The above-mentioned picking work management device may be provided with a productivity calculation unit that calculates the productivity of the picking work, and the productivity calculation unit may obtain the setup time from setup time master data that associates setup work performed before and after the picking work with the setup time required for the setup work, and calculate the productivity from the total number of products collected in the picking work, the actual time for the picking work, and the setup time.

[0011] The picking work management device may include a non-work time calculation unit that calculates non-work time during which the picking work is not being performed based on a start time of the current picking work and an end time of the previous picking work.

[0012] The above-mentioned picking work management device may include an evaluation unit that evaluates the picking work based on the target time and an actual time of the picking work, and a display control unit that displays the evaluation by the evaluation unit on a display unit that is visible to the worker. Effect of the Invention

[0013] According to the present invention, a target time for a picking operation can be calculated. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0014] [Figure 1] Schematic diagram of a warehouse. [Diagram 2] Schematic diagram of a warehouse system. [Diagram 3] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a work instruction database. [Figure 4]FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a travel time database. [Diagram 5] A diagram showing the nodes and edges set up within a warehouse. [Figure 6] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a task basic unit database. [Figure 7] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a setup work basic unit database. [Figure 8] A diagram showing the processing carried out in a warehouse system. [Figure 9] 13 is a flowchart showing a target time prediction process. [Figure 10] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of display content displayed on the terminal display unit at the start of a picking operation. [Figure 11] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of display content displayed on the terminal display unit when a picking operation is completed. [Figure 12] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of display content displayed on a display unit. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0015] An embodiment of a picking operation management device will be described. As shown in FIG. 1, a plurality of shelves S1 are arranged in a warehouse WH1. The warehouse WH1 is, for example, a logistics warehouse. The warehouse WH1 is used, for example, by a company that operates Internet shopping, TV shopping, and the like. Products P1 are stored in a sorted state on the shelves S1. Note that FIG. 1 illustrates only some of the products P1. The shelves S1 are a storage location for the products P1. The warehouse WH1 includes a first area A1 and a second area A2. In this embodiment, the first area A1 is a room temperature area where the products P1 are stored at room temperature. The second area A2 is a low temperature area where the products P1 are stored at a temperature of 0 degrees or lower. Identification information I1 is assigned to the products P1. The identification information I1 is information for identifying the products P1, and the same identification information I1 is assigned to the same products P1. The identification information I1 is assigned, for example, by an optically readable code and an RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) tag. The optically readable code can be, for example, a barcode.

[0016] A plurality of workers W1 who perform picking work are deployed in the warehouse WH1. The picking work is a work of collecting the product P1 from the warehouse WH1. In the picking work, the worker W1 moves from the start point of the picking work to the location where the product P1 is stored, and places the product P1 stored at the location in a container C1. Then, after collecting the product P1, the worker W1 moves to the end point of the picking work. In this embodiment, one picking work is performed from the start point of the picking work to the end point of the picking work. The container C1 is transported using, for example, a picking cart. In this embodiment, the entire warehouse WH1 is the area where the picking work is performed. The area where the picking work is performed may be a part of the warehouse WH1.

[0017] The worker W1 carries an ID card C2. An individual ID is assigned to the ID card C2 for each worker W1. For example, an integrated circuit (IC) card, a magnetic stripe card, or a card with an optically readable code printed thereon can be used as the ID card C2.

[0018] 2, the warehouse system 10 includes an operator terminal 20, a warehouse management system 30, a picking work management device 40, an in-warehouse terminal 50, and a display device 60. The operator terminal 20, the warehouse management system 30, the picking work management device 40, the in-warehouse terminal 50, and the display device 60 are configured to be able to communicate with each other via a network NW1. Examples of the network NW1 include a local area network (LAN) and a wide area network (WAM).

[0019] The worker terminal 20 is a terminal carried by the worker W1 when the worker W1 performs the picking work. The worker terminal 20 may be a handheld terminal that the worker W1 holds in his / her hand and operates, or may be integrated into a picking cart. The worker terminal 20 includes a worker terminal control device 21, a worker terminal display unit 24, a worker terminal input unit 25, a worker terminal reading unit 26, and a worker terminal communication device 27.

[0020] The worker terminal control device 21 includes a processor 22 and a storage unit 23. Examples of the processor 22 include a central processing unit (CPU) and a graphics processing unit (GPU). The storage unit 23 includes a random access memory (RAM) and a read only memory (ROM). The processor 22 executes a program stored in the storage unit 23. The worker terminal control device 21 may be an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) or a field programmable gate array (FPGA).

[0021] The display unit 24 for the worker terminal is a display unit that can be viewed by the worker W1. Information related to the picking work is displayed on the display unit 24 for the worker terminal. For example, work instructions for the worker W1 are displayed on the display unit 24 for the worker terminal. The work instructions instruct the worker W1 on the product P1 to be picked. The work instructions specify, for example, the product P1 to be picked, the quantity of the product P1, and the location where the product P1 is stored. The location is, for example, the position of the shelf S1 where the product P1 is stored. The position of the shelf S1 is, for example, the address of the shelf S1, which is represented by a combination of the row of the shelf S1 and the row of the shelf S1.

[0022] The worker terminal input unit 25 is a member that accepts operations by the worker W1. Examples of the worker terminal input unit 25 include physical buttons and a touch panel. When the worker W1 uses the worker terminal 20, the worker W1 inputs his / her ID to the worker terminal 20 via the worker terminal input unit 25.

[0023] The worker terminal reading unit 26 reads the identification information I1 attached to the product P1. The identification information I1 read by the worker terminal reading unit 26 is input to the worker terminal control device 21.

[0024] The communication device 27 for the worker terminal is a communication interface between the worker terminal 20 and the network NW1. Through the communication device 27 for the worker terminal, the worker terminal control device 21 can transmit and receive information to and from the warehouse management system 30.

[0025] The worker terminal 20 is used to request work instructions, confirm work instructions, inspect product P1, etc. A request for work instructions means a request for work instructions to the warehouse management system 30. A request for work instructions is made by worker W1 operating the worker terminal input unit 25. The request for work instructions is transmitted to the warehouse management system 30 via the worker terminal communication device 27. When the worker terminal 20 receives a work instruction via the worker terminal communication device 27, the content of the work instruction is displayed on the worker terminal display unit 24. Inspection of product P1 is performed by reading the identification information I1 attached to product P1 with the worker terminal reading unit 26.

[0026] The warehouse management system 30 is a server that enables the realization of a WMS (Warehouse Management System). The warehouse management system 30 is constructed by causing the server to execute a program for fulfilling the functions of a WMS.

[0027] The warehouse management system 30 comprises a management control device 31, a management auxiliary storage device 34, and a management communication device 35. The management control device 31 includes a processor 32 and a storage unit 33. The processor 32 may be, for example, a CPU or a GPU. The storage unit 33 includes a RAM and a ROM. The processor 32 executes a program stored in the storage unit 33. The management control device 31 may be an ASIC or an FPGA.

[0028] Examples of the management auxiliary storage device 34 include a hard disk drive and a solid state drive. The management auxiliary storage device 34 stores information about the product P1. Examples of the information about the product P1 include the number of items in stock and the location. The management auxiliary storage device 34 stores an order database DB1. The order database DB1 is updated when the product P1 is purchased through internet shopping or television shopping. The order database DB1 is a database that indicates the product P1 purchased by the purchaser, the quantity of the product P1 purchased, and the location of the product P1.

[0029] The management communication device 35 is a communication interface between the warehouse management system 30 and the network NW1. Through the management communication device 35, the management control device 31 can transmit and receive information to and from the worker terminal 20 and the picking work management device 40.

[0030] The management control device 31 can transmit a work instruction to the worker terminal 20 via the management communication device 35. In detail, when the management communication device 35 receives a request for a work instruction, the management control device 31 returns the work instruction to the worker terminal 20 that made the request. This enables the warehouse management system 30 to give the work instruction to the worker terminal 20 that made the request, and have the worker W1 perform the picking work.

[0031] The warehouse management system 30 includes a work instruction database DB2. The work instruction database DB2 is stored in the management auxiliary storage device 34. The work instruction database DB2 stores work instructions transmitted to the worker terminal 20. The work instruction database DB2 is a database that associates the work instructions with the worker W1. The work instruction database DB2 can also be said to be a database that associates the work instructions with the ID of the worker W1.

[0032] As shown in FIG. 3, in the work instruction database DB2 of this embodiment, the purchaser, the product P1 to be picked, the quantity of the product P1, the location where the product P1 is stored, and the picking method are associated with the worker W1. The picking method is a method used when performing the picking work. Examples of the methods used when performing the picking work include order pick and total pick. Order pick can be classified into normal temperature order pick performed in a normal temperature area and low temperature order pick performed in a low temperature area. Total pick can be classified into normal temperature total pick performed in a normal temperature area and low temperature total pick performed in a low temperature area. In the example shown in FIG. 3, work instructions for normal temperature order pick and work instructions for low temperature order pick are shown as picking methods. In this embodiment, for convenience of explanation, a case where normal temperature order pick and low temperature order pick are performed in warehouse WH1 will be explained.

[0033] 2, the picking work management device 40 includes a control device 41, an input unit 44, an auxiliary storage device 45, and a communication device 46. The picking work management device 40 is configured by a server executing a predetermined program. The picking work management device 40 is configured by a server different from the warehouse management system 30.

[0034] The control device 41 includes a processor 42 and a storage unit 43. The processor 42 may be, for example, a CPU or a GPU. The storage unit 43 includes a RAM and a ROM. The processor 42 executes a program stored in the storage unit 43. The control device 41 may be an ASIC or an FPGA.

[0035] The input unit 44 is a member that accepts operations by an administrator of the picking work management device 40. Examples of the input unit 44 include a keyboard, a mouse, and a touch panel.

[0036] Examples of the auxiliary storage device 45 include a hard disk drive and a solid state drive. The auxiliary storage device 45 stores a movement time database DB3, a task basic unit database DB4, and a setup task basic unit database DB5.

[0037] As shown in FIG. 4 and FIG. 5, the travel time database DB3 is travel time master data for predicting travel time during picking work. As shown in FIG. 5, a plurality of nodes N1 are set in the warehouse WH1. The node N1 represents a location of the warehouse WH1. The node N1 can be arbitrarily set by the manager of the picking operation management device 40 or the like. In this embodiment, one node N1 is provided to correspond to a plurality of locations. In other words, the number of nodes N1 is less than the number of locations. A line connecting adjacent nodes N1 is an edge E1. A cost is associated with each edge E1. The cost is the time that the worker W1 is expected to take to move between the nodes N1. The cost can be arbitrarily set by the manager of the picking operation management device 40 or the like. The cost is set based on the distance between the nodes N1, and the longer the distance between the nodes N1, the higher the cost. The cost may be set based on factors related to the surrounding environment such as the width of the aisle and margins in addition to the distance between the nodes N1.

[0038] Based on the nodes N1, edges E1, and costs set as above, the point-to-point travel time, which is the time taken by the worker W1 to travel between the two nodes N1, is calculated in advance for all combinations of two nodes N1 selected from the multiple nodes N1. The point-to-point travel time can be calculated by determining a route between the two nodes N1 using a route search algorithm such as Dijkstra's algorithm or A-star algorithm, and accumulating the cost of the route. Then, the point-to-point travel time is associated with all combinations of two nodes N1 selected from the multiple nodes N1, and a travel time database DB3 is constructed. In this embodiment, the point-to-point travel time is derived from the shortest route between the two nodes N1. The point-to-point travel time is not limited to the shortest route between the two nodes N1, and can be derived from any route. An explanation will be given by taking three nodes N1 out of the multiple nodes N1 as an example. The three nodes N1 are the first node N1, the second node N1, and the third node N1.

[0039] As shown in Fig. 4, the travel time database DB3 includes the point-to-point travel time of a route starting from the first node N1 and ending at the second node N1, and the point-to-point travel time of a route starting from the first node N1 and ending at the third node N1. In this way, the point-to-point travel time is calculated in advance for each route starting from the first node N1 and ending at all nodes N1 other than the first node N1. Similarly, for the second node N1, the point-to-point travel time is calculated in advance for each route starting from the second node N1 and ending at all nodes N1 other than the second node N1. The same is true for the third node N1.

[0040] As shown in Fig. 6, the task unit database DB4 is task time master data that associates post-movement tasks performed by the worker W1 after the worker W1 moves to a location with the task time required for the post-movement tasks. In picking tasks, the worker W1 needs to perform tasks such as "picking up the product" after the worker W1 moves to a location. These tasks are post-movement tasks.

[0041] The work unit database DB4 of this embodiment classifies the post-movement work that the worker W1 performs after moving to the location for each picking method. This is because the post-movement work that the worker W1 performs may differ for each picking method. In the example shown in FIG. 6, "location scan" and "picking up the product" are given as post-movement work required when performing room temperature order picking. "Location scan" refers to reading the identification information provided at the location where the product P1 to be picked is stored when the worker W1 arrives at the location. "Picking up the product" refers to picking up the product P1 from the shelf S1 where the product P1 to be picked is placed. FIG. 6 gives an example of the post-movement work performed by the worker W1. The post-movement work performed by the worker W1 is not limited to this, and may include "inspecting the product," "putting the product in a container," "organizing the inside of the container," "reconfirming the work instructions," and the like. The post-movement work performed by the worker W1 may differ depending on the company using the warehouse WH1 or the type of the product P1. Therefore, the post-movement tasks listed in the task basic unit database DB4 can be arbitrarily set by the manager of the picking task management device 40 or the like.

[0042] In the task unit database DB4, a task time is associated with each post-movement task. The task time is the time predicted to be required to perform the post-movement task. For example, the task time is calculated by measuring the time taken by worker W1 to perform the post-movement task multiple times and using the average of the measured times. In the example shown in FIG. 6, a task time of 10 seconds is associated with "location scan" and 20 seconds is associated with "picking up the product."

[0043] In the task unit database DB4, whether or not to perform a product unit count is associated with each post-movement task. The product unit count is an item for whether or not to increase the work time according to the quantity of the product P1. When performing the product unit count, the work time is counted for each product. That is, for the post-movement task in which the product unit count is performed, the work time is multiplied by the quantity of the product P1 associated with the task unit database DB4. For example, when the quantity of the product P1 collected in the picking task is 2, the work time of the post-movement task in which the product unit count is performed is doubled. In the example shown in FIG. 6, a circle is associated with the task in which the product unit count is performed, and an x ​​is associated with the task in which the product unit count is not performed. The "location scan" does not perform the product unit count, and the "pick up the product" performs the product unit count. When the quantity of the product P1 to be the target of the picking task is 2, the work time for the "location scan" is 10 seconds, and the work time for the "pick up the product" is 40 seconds. Whether or not to perform the product unit count can be arbitrarily set by the administrator of the picking task management device 40. For example, a manager of the picking work management device 40 can operate the input unit 44 to set whether or not to perform a product unit count for each post-movement work.

[0044] As shown in FIG. 7, the setup work unit database DB5 is setup time master data that associates setup work performed before and after a picking operation with the setup time required for the setup work. Setup work can be classified into pre-setup work before the start of a picking operation and post-setup work after the picking operation is completed. The setup work unit database DB5 of this embodiment associates setup work with each picking method. In the example shown in FIG. 7, "assembly of a folding container" is listed as a pre-setup work when performing a room temperature order pick. "Assembling of a folding container" refers to assembling a folding container, which is an example of a container C1. In the example shown in FIG. 7, "closing the lid" is listed as a post-setup work when performing a room temperature order pick. "Closing the lid" refers to putting a lid on the container C1. In the example shown in FIG. 7, a setup time of 30 seconds is associated with "assembly of a folding container" and 60 seconds is associated with "closing the lid".

[0045] 2, the communication device 46 is a communication interface between the picking work management device 40 and the network NW1. Through the communication device 46, the control device 41 can transmit and receive information to and from the warehouse management system 30, the in-warehouse terminal 50, and the display device 60.

[0046] The in-fridge terminal 50 comprises a terminal control device 51, a terminal display unit 54, a terminal input unit 55, a terminal reading unit 56, and a terminal communication device 57. The terminal control device 51 includes a processor 52 and a storage unit 53. The processor 52 may be, for example, a CPU or a GPU. The storage unit 53 includes a RAM and a ROM. The processor 52 executes a program stored in the storage unit 53. The terminal control device 51 may be an ASIC or an FPGA.

[0047] The terminal display unit 54 is a display unit that can be viewed by the worker W1. The display content of the terminal display unit 54 is updated by the terminal control device 51. The terminal input unit 55 is a member that accepts operations from the worker W1. Examples of the terminal input unit 55 include physical buttons and a touch panel.

[0048] The terminal reader 56 reads the ID from the ID card C2. The ID read by the terminal reader 56 is input to the terminal control device 51. The terminal communication device 57 is a communication interface between the in-warehouse terminal 50 and the network NW1. The terminal control device 51 can transmit and receive information to and from the picking work management device 40 via the terminal communication device 57.

[0049] As shown in FIG. 1, two in-warehouse terminals 50 are provided corresponding to each of the first area A1 and the second area A2. The in-warehouse terminals 50 are provided at the start point where the picking work starts and the end point where the picking work ends. The in-warehouse terminals 50 provided at the start point of the picking work are referred to as start terminals 50A and 50C, and the in-warehouse terminals 50 provided at the end point of the picking work are referred to as end terminals 50B and 50D. It can also be said that the start terminals 50A and 50C are the start points of the picking work, and the end terminals 50B and 50D are the end points of the picking work. The start terminal 50A and the end terminal 50B are provided corresponding to the first area A1. The start terminal 50C and the end terminal 50D are provided corresponding to the second area A2. It can be said that the start terminals 50A, 50C and the end terminals 50B, 50D are provided corresponding to the picking method. The start terminal 50A provided corresponding to the first area A1 is a start terminal for room temperature order picking. The end terminal 50B provided for the first area A1 is an end terminal for picking normal temperature orders. The start terminal 50C provided for the second area A2 is an start terminal for picking low temperature orders. The end terminal 50D provided for the second area A2 is an end terminal for picking low temperature orders.

[0050] As shown in FIG. 2, the display device 60 includes a display device control device 61, a display unit 64, and a display device communication device 65. The display device control device 61 includes a processor 62 and a storage unit 63. The processor 62 may be, for example, a CPU or a GPU. The storage unit 63 includes a RAM and a ROM. The processor 62 executes a program stored in the storage unit 63. The display device control device 61 may be an ASIC or an FPGA.

[0051] The display unit 64 is disposed in a position within the warehouse WH1 where it can be seen by the worker W1. The display contents of the display unit 64 are updated by the display device control device 61. The display device communication device 65 is a communication interface between the display device 60 and the network NW1. Through the display device communication device 65, the display device control device 61 can transmit and receive information to and from the picking work management device 40.

[0052] Next, a process performed by the picking work management device 40 when the worker W1 performs a picking work will be described. As shown in Fig. 8, in step S11, when performing picking work, worker W1 requests a work instruction via the worker terminal 20. This causes a work instruction to be requested to the warehouse management system 30. When requesting the work instruction, the ID of worker W1 is input to the worker terminal 20. The request for the work instruction is transmitted to the warehouse management system 30 together with the ID input to the worker terminal 20.

[0053] In step S12, upon receiving a request for a work instruction, the warehouse management system 30 provides the work instruction to the worker W1. The warehouse management system 30 assigns the product P1 to be collected in the picking work to the worker W1 from the order database DB1. The warehouse management system 30 then provides the work instruction to the worker W1 by sending the work instruction to collect the product P1 to the worker terminal 20. When the warehouse management system 30 provides the work instruction to the worker W1, it registers the work instruction in the work instruction database DB2.

[0054] In step S13, worker W1 who has received the work instruction inputs his / her own ID into start terminal 50A, 50C. The ID may be input by having terminal reading unit 56 read ID card C2, or may be input by terminal input unit 55. Worker W1 inputs the ID into start terminal 50A, 50C according to the picking method. For example, if the picking method is room temperature order picking, worker W1 inputs the ID into start terminal 50A.

[0055] In step S14, when the ID is input to the start terminal 50A, 50C, the terminal control device 51 transmits the ID to the picking work management device 40 via the terminal communication device 57.

[0056] Next, in step S15, the control device 41 calculates non-work time. In this embodiment, the non-work time is time when picking work is not being performed and also when setup work is not being performed. The calculation of the non-work time will be described later.

[0057] Next, in step S40, the control device 41 performs a target time prediction process. The target time calculation process will be described in detail below. As shown in FIG. 9, in step S16, the control device 41 acquires information indicating the work instruction given to the worker W1. The management auxiliary storage device 34 stores the work instruction associated with the ID as the work instruction database DB2. Therefore, the control device 41 can acquire information indicating the work instruction associated with the ID transmitted from the start terminal 50A, 50C from the work instruction database DB2. This allows the control device 41 to recognize the work instruction for the worker W1 who input the ID to the start terminal 50A, 50C. The work instruction includes information indicating the location. Therefore, by acquiring the information indicating the work instruction, the control device 41 can acquire information indicating the location to be moved to in the picking operation. The information indicating the work instruction acquired from the work instruction database DB2 includes information indicating the picking method. In this embodiment, the post-movement work to be performed after moving to the location is determined in association with the picking method. Therefore, by acquiring the information indicating the work instruction, the control device 41 can acquire information indicating the post-movement work to be performed after moving to the location. The control device 41 performs the process of step S16, thereby functioning as a destination information acquisition unit and a work information acquisition unit.

[0058] Next, in step S17, the control device 41 predicts the travel time when performing the picking work from the information indicating the work instruction acquired in step S16. The travel time when performing the picking work includes the travel time from the start point of the picking work to the location, the travel time between the locations, and the travel time from the location to the end point of the picking work. When the location to be moved by the picking work is one, the travel time when performing the picking work is the travel time from the start point of the picking work to the location + the travel time from the location to the end point of the picking work. When the location to be moved by the picking work is multiple, the travel time when performing the picking work is the travel time from the start point of the picking work to the location + the travel time between the locations + the travel time from the location to the end point of the picking work. The travel time from the start point of the picking work to the location can be obtained from the point-to-point travel time from the node N1 corresponding to the start point of the picking work to the node N1 corresponding to the location. The node N1 corresponding to the start point of the picking work is, for example, the node N1 closest to the start terminals 50A and 50C. The node N1 corresponding to the location is, for example, the node N1 closest to the location. The travel time between locations is the point-to-point travel time between the nodes N1 corresponding to two locations. The travel time from a location to the end point of the picking work can be obtained from the point-to-point travel time from the node N1 corresponding to the location to the node N1 corresponding to the end point of the picking work. The node N1 corresponding to the end point of the picking work is, for example, the node N1 closest to the end terminals 50B and 50D. The information indicating the work instruction includes the location where the product P1 is stored. Therefore, the control device 41 can recognize the location to which the worker W1 will move from the information indicating the work instruction. The start point of the picking work and the end point of the picking work can be recognized from the picking method. Therefore, the control device 41 can derive the node N1 to which the worker W1 moves when performing the picking work from the information indicating the work instruction.The control device 41 acquires the point-to-point travel time between the nodes N1 through which the worker W1 moves from the travel time database DB3. The control device 41 predicts the travel time when performing the picking work from the point-to-point travel time. In detail, the control device 41 predicts the travel time when performing the picking work by adding up the point-to-point travel time of the two nodes N1 through which the worker W1 moves.

[0059] As shown in FIG. 5, an example will be described in which a product P1 stored at locations A11, A12, and A13 is collected by normal temperature order picking. In this case, the route R1 traveled by the worker W1 is expected to be the start terminal 50A → location A11 → location A12 → location A13 → end terminal 50B. The control device 41 searches the travel time database DB3 for the point-to-point travel time from the node N1 corresponding to the start terminal 50A to the node N1 corresponding to the location A11. The control device 41 searches the travel time database DB3 for the point-to-point travel time from the node N1 corresponding to the location A11 to the node N1 corresponding to the location A12. The control device 41 searches the travel time database DB3 for the point-to-point travel time from the node N1 corresponding to the location A12 to the node N1 corresponding to the location A13. The control device 41 searches the travel time database DB3 for the point-to-point travel time from the node N1 corresponding to the location A13 to the node N1 corresponding to the end terminal 50B. Then, the control device 41 adds the above-mentioned inter-point travel time obtained by searching the travel time database DB3. The control device 41 predicts the time obtained by this addition as the travel time required for the picking work. By performing the process of step S17, the control device 41 functions as a travel time prediction unit.

[0060] As shown in FIG. 9, next, in step S18, the control device 41 predicts a post-movement work time required for the post-movement work performed by the worker W1 after moving to the location. The post-movement work time can be predicted by accumulating the work time for each post-movement work. When there is one post-movement work, the work time for that post-movement work is the post-movement work time. When there are multiple post-movement works, the sum of the work times for the multiple post-movement works is the post-movement work time. The post-movement work time can be predicted from the work unit database DB4 based on the number of locations and the quantity of product P1.

[0061] For each post-movement task listed in the task unit database DB4, the work time is added up by location. As described above, for post-movement tasks that perform product unit counting, the work time is added up by product unit. For example, assume that one product P1 is collected at location A11, two products P1 at location A12, and three products P1 at location A13. In this case, since the location is 3, in the example shown in FIG. 6, the work time for "location scan" is 30 seconds. Since the quantity of product P1 is 6, the work time for "picking up product" is 120 seconds. If the post-movement tasks associated with the room temperature order pick are only "location scan" and "picking up product", the post-movement work time is predicted to be 150 seconds. By performing the process of step S18, the control device 41 functions as a post-movement work time prediction unit.

[0062] Next, in step S19, the control device 41 calculates a target time for the picking work. The control device 41 calculates the target time for the picking work based on the travel time for performing the picking work predicted in step S17 and the post-travel work time for the picking work predicted in step S18. In this embodiment, the control device 41 sets the target time for the picking work as the sum of the travel time for performing the picking work predicted in step S17 and the post-travel work time for the picking work predicted in step S18. By performing the process of step S19, the control device 41 functions as a target time calculation unit.

[0063] Next, in step S20, the control device 41 transmits information indicating the target time for the picking operation to the start terminals 50A, 50C via the communication device 46. The start terminals 50A, 50C to which the information indicating the target time for the picking operation is transmitted in step S20 are the start terminals 50A, 50C to which the worker W1 input an ID in step S13. Therefore, when the worker W1 inputs an ID to the start terminals 50A, 50C, the information indicating the target time for the picking operation is transmitted to the start terminals 50A, 50C.

[0064] 8, in step S21, when receiving information indicating the target time for the picking operation, the terminal control device 51 of the starting terminal 50A, 50C displays the target time for the picking operation on the terminal display unit 54. A detailed description will be given below.

[0065] 10, the terminal control device 51 displays a plurality of items on the terminal display unit 54. The plurality of items include an ID item I11, a name item I12, a number of locations item I13, a start time item I14, a target time item I15, a completion time item I16, an actual time item I17, an evaluation item I18, and a rank item I19.

[0066] The ID field I11 displays the ID of the worker W1. That is, the ID that the worker W1 inputted to the in-store terminal 50 is displayed. In the name item I12, the name of the worker W1 associated with the ID of the worker W1 is displayed. The data associating the ID with the name may be stored in the storage unit 53 of the in-warehouse terminal 50, or may be stored in the auxiliary storage device 45. When the data associating the ID with the name is stored in the auxiliary storage device 45, the picking work management device 40 may transmit information indicating the name together with information indicating the target time for the picking work in step S20.

[0067] The number of locations to be moved in the upcoming picking work is displayed in the location count item I13. The terminal control device 51 may obtain information indicating the number of locations from the picking work management device 40 or from the warehouse management system 30.

[0068] The start time item I14 displays the start time, which is the time when the ID was entered into the starting terminal 50A, 50C. The target time for the picking operation is displayed in the target time item I15. The target time for the picking operation is calculated by the picking operation management device 40.

[0069] The completion time item I16 displays the completion time if the picking work is completed within the target time. The completion time is the start time plus the target time for the picking work. The completion time can also be said to be the target time for the picking work.

[0070] The performance time item I17 displays the performance time, which is the time when the ID is entered into the finish terminal 50B, 50D. The performance time can also be said to be the finish time of the picking work. Evaluation item I18 displays the evaluation of the picking work.

[0071] The rank item I19 displays the rank of the picking operation. When an ID is entered into starting terminal 50A, 50C, the contents of ID item I11, name item I12, number of locations item I13, start time item I14, target time item I15, and completion time item I16 are displayed. On the other hand, when an ID is entered into starting terminal 50A, 50C, the contents of actual time item I17, evaluation item I18, and rank item I19 are not displayed.

[0072] 8, in step S22, the worker W1 starts the picking work after checking the contents displayed on the terminal display unit 54. The worker W1 moves to a location specified by the work instruction and collects the product P1.

[0073] In step S23, the worker W1 ends the picking work when he or she has collected all the products P1 specified by the work instruction and reached the end point of the picking work.

[0074] In step S24, worker W1 inputs his / her own ID into the end terminal 50B, 50D. The ID may be input by having the terminal reading unit 56 read the ID card C2, or may be input by the terminal input unit 55. Worker W1 inputs the ID into the end terminal 50B, 50D according to the picking method. For example, if the picking method is room temperature order picking, worker W1 inputs the ID into the end terminal 50B. The time when the ID is input into the end terminal 50B, 50D is the actual time.

[0075] In step S25, when the ID is input to the end terminal 50B, 50D, the terminal control device 51 transmits the ID to the picking work management device 40 via the terminal communication device 57.

[0076] Next, in step S26, the control device 41 holds the actual time. The control device 41 may regard the time when the ID transmitted in step S25 is received as the actual time. Since the ID is transmitted to the picking work management device 40 by inputting the ID to the end terminal 50B, 50D, the time when the ID transmitted in step S25 is received can be regarded as the actual time. The control device 41 may transmit the time when the ID is input to the end terminal 50B, 50D to the terminal control device 51, and may regard this time as the actual time. The actual time is held by storing the actual time in the storage unit 43 of the control device 41 or the auxiliary storage device 45. The actual time is used to calculate the non-work time in step S15 during the next picking work. After the picking work is completed, the post-setup work and the pre-setup work are performed, and the worker W1 can perform the next picking work. Therefore, the time between the time obtained by adding the setup time required for the post-setup work and the setup time required for the pre-setup work to the actual time and the start time of the next picking work can be said to be non-work time when neither picking work nor setup work is being performed. The setup time required for the pre-setup work and the setup time required for the post-setup work can be acquired from the setup work unit database DB5. In step S15, the control device 41 calculates the time obtained by adding the setup time required for the pre-setup work and the setup time required for the post-setup work to the actual time of the previous picking work. The control device 41 calculates the difference between this time and the start time of the current picking work as the non-work time. In step S15, the control device 41 may set the time when the control device 41 received the ID transmitted in step S14 as the start time of the picking work. The control device 41 may cause the terminal control device 51 to transmit the time when the ID was input to the start terminal 50A, 50C, and set this time as the start time of the picking work. By performing the process of step S15, it can be said that the control device 41 functions as a non-work time calculation section.

[0077] In step S27, the control device 41 evaluates the picking work. The picking work is evaluated based on the target time of the picking work and the actual time of the picking work. The actual time is the time required for the picking work. The actual time is the time from the start time of the picking work to the actual time of the picking work. In other words, the actual time is the time required from inputting the ID to the start terminal 50A, 50C to inputting the ID to the end terminal 50B, 50D. In this embodiment, the picking work is evaluated in two stages, that is, whether or not the picking work is completed within the target time. If the picking work is completed within the target time, the actual time is a time before the completion time. If the actual time is before the completion time, the control device 41 evaluates the picking work higher than if the actual time exceeds the completion time. By performing the process of step S27, the control device 41 functions as an evaluation unit.

[0078] Next, in step S28, the control device 41 calculates the productivity of the picking work. The productivity can be calculated by the number of pieces divided by (actual time + setup time required for pre-setup work + setup time required for post-setup work). The number of pieces is the total number of products P1 collected by the picking work. The setup time required for the pre-setup work and the setup time required for the post-setup work can be obtained from the setup work unit database DB5. As shown in FIG. 7, in this embodiment, the setup work is associated with the pick method. The control device 41 obtains the setup time required for the setup work corresponding to the pick method from the setup work unit database DB5. The pick method is set to room temperature order pick, and the setup work associated with the room temperature order pick is only "assembly of the container" and "closing the lid". In this case, the setup time required for the pre-setup work is 30 seconds, and the setup time required for the post-setup work is 60 seconds. Therefore, the productivity is calculated from the time obtained by adding 90 seconds to the actual time.

[0079] The control device 41 also calculates the productivity of each picking method and the productivity of the entire warehouse WH1. The control device 41 calculates the productivity of picking work performed by normal temperature order pick and the productivity of picking work performed by low temperature order pick as the productivity of each picking method. The productivity of picking work performed by normal temperature order pick can be calculated from the number of pieces, actual time, setup time required for pre-setup work, and setup time required for post-setup work in normal temperature order pick performed in a certain period of time in the past. The certain period can be set arbitrarily by the manager of the picking work management device 40, such as one hour, one day, one week, or one month. The productivity of picking work performed by normal temperature order pick can also be said to be the productivity of all the workers W1 who performed work in the first area A1. The productivity of picking work performed by low temperature order pick can be calculated from the number of pieces, actual time, setup time required for pre-setup work, and setup time required for post-setup work in low temperature order pick performed in a certain period of time in the past. The productivity of the picking work performed by the low-temperature order pick can be said to be the productivity of all the workers W1 who worked in the second area A2. When calculating the productivity for each picking method, the setup time required for the pre-setup work and the setup time required for the post-setup work are counted for each picking work.

[0080] The productivity of the entire warehouse WH1 can be calculated by the weighted average of the productivity of picking work performed by normal temperature order pick and the productivity of picking work performed by low temperature order pick. That is, the control device 41 calculates the productivity of the entire warehouse WH1 from the number of pieces in the entire warehouse WH1, the actual time, the setup time required for pre-setup work, and the setup time required for post-setup work. By performing the process of step S28, the control device 41 functions as a productivity calculation unit.

[0081] As shown in FIG. 8, next, in step S29, the control device 41 derives a rank for the picking work. The rank is one of the evaluations for the picking work. The rank is derived based on the productivity of the picking work. In this embodiment, the rank is divided into five stages based on the productivity. There are five ranks, A, B, C, D, and E, with the ranks increasing in the order of A>B>C>D>E. For example, if the productivity is 120 or more, it is A; if the productivity is 110 or more and less than 120, it is B; if the productivity is 100 or more and less than 110, it is C; if the productivity is 90 or more and less than 100, it is D; and if the productivity is less than 90, it is E. In this way, the higher the productivity, the higher the rank.

[0082] Next, in step S30, the control device 41 transmits information indicating the evaluation of the picking work. In detail, the control device 41 transmits information indicating the evaluation of the picking work and information indicating the rank of the picking work to the end terminals 50B, 50D. These end terminals 50B, 50D are the end terminals 50B, 50D to which the ID was input in step S24. Furthermore, the control device 41 transmits information indicating the evaluation of the picking work and information indicating the rank of the picking work to the display device 60. As described above, the processes of steps S15 to S20 and S26 to S30 performed by the picking work management device 40 are performed for each ID. The picking work management device 40 calculates the target time for the picking work, evaluates the picking work, and derives the rank of the picking work for each ID, in other words, for each worker W1.

[0083] In step S31, the terminal control device 51 of the completion terminal 50B, 50D causes the terminal display unit 54 to display the evaluation of the picking work. Similarly, the terminal control device 51 of the completion terminal 50B, 50D causes the terminal display unit 54 to display the actual time and the rank of the picking work. As shown in FIG. 11, the actual time is reflected in the actual time item I17, the evaluation of the picking work in the evaluation item I18, and the rank of the picking work in the rank item I19. The evaluation is displayed in two stages, O and ×. In the evaluation item I18, O is displayed if the actual time is before the completion time, and × is displayed if the actual time is after the completion time. In the rank item I19, the rank derived in step S29 is displayed.

[0084] In step S32, the display device control device 61 causes the evaluation of the picking operation to be displayed on the display unit 64. A detailed description will be given below. As shown in FIG. 12, the display unit 64 displays an overall productivity item I21, an area productivity item I22, and a work performance item I23.

[0085] The overall productivity item I21 displays the productivity target for the entire warehouse WH1 and the actual productivity for the entire warehouse WH1. The area productivity item I22 displays the productivity for each work area. A work area is an area where picking work is performed. When areas are divided by picking method as in this embodiment, the work area can also be said to indicate the picking method. In this embodiment, the productivity by normal temperature order pick and the productivity by low temperature order pick are displayed separately.

[0086] The work performance item I23 displays the work performance of the picking work performed by the worker W1. In the example shown in Fig. 12, the work area, worker, number of picks, non-work time, start time, performance time, evaluation, rank, productivity, number of picks, and number of locations are displayed. The number of picks is the number of times picking work has been performed.

[0087] The display device control device 61 acquires information from at least one of the warehouse management system 30 and the picking work management device 40 according to the display content to be displayed on the display unit 64. Then, the display device control device 61 updates the display content of the display unit 64 according to the acquired information. The display device control device 61 may update the display content of the display unit 64 at regular time intervals, or may update the display content of the display unit 64 every time a picking work is performed.

[0088] As described above, the evaluation of the picking work is displayed on the terminal display unit 54 and the display unit 64. Therefore, the terminal display unit 54 and the display unit 64 are display units that allow the worker W1 to visually recognize the evaluation of the picking work made by the control device 41. The control device 41 transmits information indicating the evaluation of the picking work to the completion terminals 50B, 50D and the display device 60, thereby causing the terminal display unit 54 and the display unit 64 to display the evaluation of the picking work. By performing the process of step S30, it can be said that the control device 41 is equipped with a display control unit.

[0089] The operation of this embodiment will be described. The picking work management device 40 calculates a target time for the picking work. The target time for the picking work calculated by the picking work management device 40 is displayed on the start terminals 50A, 50C. When starting the picking work, the worker W1 checks the target time for the picking work. Then, the worker W1 performs the picking work while keeping this target time in mind. Furthermore, the picking work management device 40 uses the target time for the picking work to evaluate the picking work. In this way, by calculating the target time for the picking work, the worker W1 can be made aware of the target time. Furthermore, the picking work can be evaluated.

[0090] The effects of this embodiment will be described. (1) The picking work management device 40 can calculate a target time for a picking work by predicting a travel time required for performing the picking work and a work time required after the travel.

[0091] In the picking work, the worker W1 continues to perform work even after moving to the location. For this reason, if only the travel time required for the picking work is set as the target time for the picking work, the deviation from the actual time will be large. In other words, the prediction accuracy of the target time for the picking work will be low. By calculating the target time for the picking work based on the travel time required for the picking work and the work time after the travel, the target time for the picking work can be calculated taking into account the work time after the travel. This can improve the prediction accuracy of the target time for the picking work.

[0092] (2) The auxiliary storage device 45 stores a travel time database DB3. The travel time database DB3 is a database in which the point-to-point travel time between the nodes N1 set in the warehouse WH1 is calculated in advance. Therefore, when predicting the travel time when performing a picking operation, the point-to-point travel time can be searched for in the travel time database DB3. The control device 41 performs less processing than when the ID is input to the start terminals 50A and 50C and then the point-to-point travel time between the nodes N1 is calculated. Therefore, the time from when the ID is input to the start terminals 50A and 50C until the travel time when performing a picking operation is predicted can be shortened.

[0093] (3) The auxiliary storage device 45 stores a task unit database DB4. The task unit database DB4 is a database in which the task time required for the post-movement task is calculated in advance. The control device 41 can obtain the task time required for the post-movement task from the task unit database DB4. Therefore, the post-movement task time can be easily predicted.

[0094] (4) In the task unit database DB4, whether or not to count task time per product unit is associated with each post-movement task. Depending on the post-movement task, the time required for the task may increase according to the quantity of the product P1. By counting the task time per product unit for such post-movement tasks, the accuracy of prediction of the target time for the picking task can be improved.

[0095] (5) The picking operation management device 40 calculates the productivity from the number of pieces, the setup time required for the setup operation, and the actual time of the picking operation. By calculating the productivity taking into account the setup time required for the setup operation, the productivity of the picking operation can be appropriately calculated.

[0096] (6) The picking work management device 40 calculates the non-working time. The manager of the picking work management device 40 can use the non-working time as an indicator for personnel deployment. For example, if the non-working time is excessively short, the manager of the picking work management device 40 can increase the number of workers W1.

[0097] (7) The picking operation management device 40 evaluates the picking operation based on the target time for the picking operation and the actual time for the picking operation. Then, this evaluation is displayed on the display unit 64 of the display device 60 and the terminal display unit 54 of the in-warehouse terminal 50. This can increase the awareness of the worker W1.

[0098] (8) The picking operation management device 40 evaluates the picking operation and derives the rank of the picking operation. The rank of the picking operation is determined by the productivity. The more pieces there are, the higher the productivity. Since the productivity depends on the content of the work instruction, it may be low regardless of the efficiency of the picking operation of the worker W1. In a work instruction to collect a large amount of products P1 from one location, the actual time is likely to be short despite the large number of pieces, and as a result, the rank is likely to be high. On the other hand, in a work instruction to collect a large amount of products P1 from multiple locations, the actual time is likely to be long, and the rank is likely to be low. In this way, the rank of the picking operation depends on the content of the work instruction and does not necessarily reflect the efficiency of the picking operation. On the other hand, the evaluation of the picking operation is a comparison between the target time and the actual time of the picking operation calculated for each work instruction, and is less dependent on the work instruction. In other words, the evaluation of the picking operation can be derived from different perspectives. It is possible to increase the indexes when evaluating the worker W1, and it becomes possible to appropriately evaluate the worker W1.

[0099] (9) The post-movement work is classified by pick method. Since the post-movement work may differ depending on the pick method, by classifying the post-movement work by pick method, the post-movement work time according to the pick method can be predicted. Therefore, the prediction accuracy of the target time for the picking work can be improved.

[0100] (10) Setup work is classified by pick method. Since setup work may differ depending on the pick method, by classifying the setup work by pick method, it is possible to predict the setup time according to the pick method. Therefore, it is possible to calculate the appropriate productivity according to the pick method.

[0101] The embodiment can be modified as follows: The embodiment and the following modified examples can be combined with each other to the extent that there is no technical contradiction. The picking work may be evaluated by the end terminals 50B and 50D. In this case, the picking work management device 40 may transmit information associating the ID with the completion time to the end terminals 50B and 50D. When the picking work is completed, the ID is input to the end terminals 50B and 50D, so that the end terminals 50B and 50D can recognize the actual time. Therefore, the picking work can be evaluated by the end terminals 50B and 50D from the completion time and the actual time.

[0102] The picking operation management device 40 does not need to evaluate the picking operation. Even in this case, the target time can be displayed on the terminal display unit 54 to make the worker W1 aware of the target time. This can improve the efficiency of the picking operation.

[0103] The picking operation management device 40 may evaluate the picking operation in three or more stages. For example, if the actual time is shorter than the target time, the highest evaluation may be given, and if the actual time is longer than the target time and the difference between the target time and the actual time is within a predetermined range, the second highest evaluation may be given. If the actual time is longer than the target time and the difference between the target time and the actual time is outside of a predetermined range, the lowest evaluation may be given. In this way, the picking operation may be evaluated according to the difference between the target time and the actual time.

[0104] The display unit 64 of the display device 60 only needs to be able to display the evaluation of the picking operation, and other items may be changed as desired. The display device 60 may be disposed so as to be visible to the manager of the picking work management device 40. In this case, the display device 60 may be disposed in a position that is not visible to the worker W1.

[0105] The warehouse system 10 does not have to be equipped with a display device 60. The control device 41 may calculate the non-work time based on the start time of the current picking operation and the actual time of the previous picking operation, and may calculate the non-work time without including the setup time required for the setup operation. In this case, the control device 41 determines the non-work time as the difference between the start time of the current picking operation and the actual time of the previous picking operation.

[0106] The control device 41 may determine the non-work time by subtracting a predetermined fixed value from the difference between the start time of the current picking operation and the actual time of the previous picking operation. In other words, the setup time may be set as a fixed value in advance, and the non-work time may be calculated taking this time into consideration.

[0107] The control device 41 only needs to calculate the productivity of the picking operation, and does not need to calculate the productivity of each picking method or the productivity of the entire warehouse WH1. The control device 41 may calculate the productivity without taking into account the setup time. That is, the control device 41 may calculate the productivity from the number of pieces divided by the actual production time.

[0108] The task basic unit database DB4 does not need to have a correspondence as to whether or not to perform a count per item. In this case, the control device 41 does not perform a count per item for the post-movement task. When the control device 41 does not perform a count per item, it is sufficient for the control device 41 to acquire information indicating the location. Therefore, the control device 41 may acquire only information indicating the location from the task instructions.

[0109] The control device 41 may calculate the point-to-point travel time between the nodes N1 after the ID is input to the start terminals 50A and 50C. When the ID is input to the start terminals 50A and 50C, the control device 41 determines the route that the worker W1 will take based on the information indicating the location and the information indicating the picking method. The control device 41 then calculates the travel time required for the picking work to be performed based on the route. That is, the control device 41 may calculate the point-to-point travel time after the ID is input to the start terminals 50A and 50C, instead of calculating the time in advance in the embodiment.

[0110] It is sufficient that at least an item that makes the worker W1 aware of the target time for the picking work is displayed on the terminal display unit 54 of the starting terminal 50A, 50C. For example, at least one of the target time item I15 and the completion time item I16 may be displayed on the terminal display unit 54 of the starting terminal 50A, 50C.

[0111] The terminal display unit 54 of the starting terminal 50A, 50C does not have to display an item that makes the worker W1 aware of the target time for the picking work. Even in this case, the control device 41 evaluates the picking work. That is, the target time for the picking work may be used only to evaluate the picking work.

[0112] Warehouse WH1 may be used by multiple companies. In this case, warehouse WH1 is divided into multiple areas for each company. When warehouse WH1 is divided into multiple areas, warehouse system 10 is provided corresponding to each area. In other words, warehouse system 10 may be used for the entire warehouse WH1 or may be used for a part of warehouse WH1.

[0113] If the product P1 is clothing, the product P1 may be hung on a hanger. The hanger is suspended from a hanger rack, for example. In this way, the storage method of the product P1 differs depending on the type of the product P1, and accordingly, the post-movement work performed by the worker W1 during the picking work may also differ. Therefore, the post-movement work listed in the work unit database DB4 and the setup work listed in the setup work unit database DB5 may be changed as appropriate depending on the type of the product P1 and the storage method of the product P1.

[0114] In the embodiment, for convenience of explanation, the picking method is described by taking the normal temperature order pick and the low temperature order pick as an example, but the picking method may include the normal temperature total pick and the low temperature total pick. In this case, the post-movement work corresponding to the normal temperature total pick and the work time required for the post-movement work are registered in the work unit database DB4. The post-movement work corresponding to the low temperature total pick and the work time required for the post-movement work are registered in the work unit database DB4. Similarly, the setup work corresponding to the normal temperature total pick and the setup time required for the setup work are registered in the setup work unit database DB5. The setup work corresponding to the low temperature total pick and the setup time required for the setup work are registered in the setup work unit database DB5. The normal temperature total pick is performed in the first area A1. A start terminal for the normal temperature total pick and an end terminal for the normal temperature total pick may be provided corresponding to the first area A1. The start terminal 50A and the end terminal 50B may also be used for the normal temperature total pick. The low temperature total pick is performed in the second area A2. A start terminal for low temperature total picking and an end terminal for low temperature total picking may be provided corresponding to the second area A2. Also, the start terminal 50C and the end terminal 50D may be used for low temperature total picking.

[0115] The pick method may include pick methods other than the order pick and the total pick. For example, the pick method may include a multi-order pick. Picking work performed at room temperature does not have to be classified into picking work performed at low temperature. For example, picking methods may be classified into order pick and total pick, and the work unit database DB4 may associate post-movement work with each of the order pick and total pick. Similarly, the setup work unit database DB5 may associate setup work with each of the order pick and total pick. In other words, the classification of picking methods can be arbitrarily performed by the manager of the picking work management device 40, etc.

[0116] The same in-warehouse terminal 50 may be used as the start terminal and the end terminal. In this case, the start point of the picking operation and the end point of the picking operation are the same point. The start point and end point of the picking work may be arbitrarily selected from the start terminals 50A, 50C and the end terminals 50B, 50D. That is, the picking work may be started from the start terminals 50A, 50C, or from the end terminals 50B, 50D. Depending on the layout of the warehouse WH1, the start point and end point of the picking work may be arbitrarily selected. In such a case, the worker W1 may start the picking work from an in-warehouse terminal 50 arbitrarily selected from the start terminals 50A, 50C and the end terminals 50B, 50D.

[0117] The warehouse management system 30 and the picking work management device 40 may be implemented by the same server. The control device 41 may set the target time for the picking work to a value obtained by adding a margin to the sum of the travel time predicted in step S17 and the post-travel work time predicted in step S18. The margin may be a fixed value or a variable value. For example, the margin may be increased when there are many destination locations, or when there are many products P1 to be collected.

[0118] The post-movement work does not have to be classified by picking method. The post-movement work such as "picking up the product" is performed regardless of the picking method. The post-movement work time required for the post-movement work performed regardless of the picking method may be derived in advance, and the target time for the picking work may be calculated based on the post-movement work time and the moving time. In this case, when calculating the target time for the picking work, the pre-derived post-movement work time may be added to the moving time, and the work unit database DB4 may not be stored in the auxiliary storage device 45. In this way, even if the post-movement work is not classified by picking method, the prediction accuracy of the target time for the picking work can be improved compared to the case where the target time for the picking work is only the moving time.

[0119] The control device 41 does not need to derive the rank. The control device 41 may calculate a target time for a picking operation from the time required for work performed during movement to a location, in addition to the travel time and post-travel work time when performing a picking operation. In other words, the target time for a picking operation needs to be calculated based on at least the travel time and post-travel work time when performing a picking operation, and the manager of the picking operation management device 40 may add time due to other factors as appropriate.

[0120] The travel time database DB3 does not have to be included in the picking work management device 40. For example, the travel time database DB3 may be stored in a server different from the picking work management device 40. When predicting the travel time when performing a picking work, the picking work management device 40 only needs to acquire information indicating the point-to-point travel time from the travel time database DB3 stored in the server.

[0121] The task basic unit database DB4 does not have to be provided in the picking work management device 40. For example, the task basic unit database DB4 may be stored in a server different from the picking work management device 40. When predicting the post-movement task time, the picking work management device 40 only needs to obtain information indicating the task time from the task basic unit database DB4 stored in the server.

[0122] The setup work unit database DB5 does not have to be provided in the picking work management device 40. For example, the setup work unit database DB5 may be stored in a server different from the picking work management device 40. When calculating productivity or non-working time, the picking work management device 40 only needs to obtain information indicating setup time from the setup work unit database DB5 stored in the server.

[0123] The destination information acquisition unit, the travel time prediction unit, the post-travel work time prediction unit, the target time calculation unit, the work information acquisition unit, the productivity calculation unit, the non-work time calculation unit, the evaluation unit, and the display control unit may each be separate devices. [Explanation of symbols]

[0124] DB3...travel time database as travel time master data, DB4...work unit database as work time master data, DB5...setup work unit database as setup time master data, N1...node as location, P1...goods, W1...worker, WH1...warehouse, 40...picking work management device, 41...destination information acquisition unit, travel time prediction unit, post-travel work time prediction unit, target time calculation unit, work information acquisition unit, productivity calculation unit, non-work time calculation unit, evaluation unit, and control device as display control unit.

Claims

1. a destination information acquisition unit that acquires information indicating a location where the product is stored and that is a destination location to which a worker will move during a picking operation; a travel time prediction unit that predicts a travel time required for performing the picking operation based on the information indicating the location acquired by the destination information acquisition unit; a post-movement work time prediction unit that predicts a post-movement work time required for a post-movement work to be performed by the worker after the worker moves to the location; a target time calculation unit that calculates a target time for the picking operation based on the moving time predicted by the moving time prediction unit and the post-movement work time predicted by the post-movement work time prediction unit; A work information acquisition unit that acquires information indicating the post-movement work performed in the picking work, The post-movement work time prediction unit The work time required for the post-movement work is obtained from work time master data in which the post-movement work is associated with the work time required for the post-movement work and whether or not the work time is counted on a product-by-product basis; predicting the post-movement work time from the work time; A picking work management device that counts the work time for each of the products for the post-movement work associated with counting the work time for each of the products.

2. a destination information acquisition unit that acquires information indicating a location where the product is stored and that is a destination location to which a worker will move during a picking operation; a travel time prediction unit that predicts a travel time required for performing the picking operation based on the information indicating the location acquired by the destination information acquisition unit; a post-movement work time prediction unit that predicts a post-movement work time required for a post-movement work to be performed by the worker after the worker moves to the location; a target time calculation unit that calculates a target time for the picking operation based on the moving time predicted by the moving time prediction unit and the post-movement work time predicted by the post-movement work time prediction unit; a productivity calculation unit that calculates productivity by the picking operation, The productivity calculation unit The setup time is acquired from setup time master data in which the setup time required for the setup work is associated with the setup work performed before and after the picking work, and A picking operation management device that calculates the productivity from the total number of products collected in the picking operation, the actual time for the picking operation, and the setup time.

3. a destination information acquisition unit that acquires information indicating a location where the product is stored and that is a destination location to which a worker will move during a picking operation; a travel time prediction unit that predicts a travel time required for performing the picking operation based on the information indicating the location acquired by the destination information acquisition unit; a post-movement work time prediction unit that predicts a post-movement work time required for a post-movement work to be performed by the worker after the worker moves to the location; a target time calculation unit that calculates a target time for the picking operation based on the moving time predicted by the moving time prediction unit and the post-movement work time predicted by the post-movement work time prediction unit; an evaluation unit that evaluates the picking operation based on the target time and an actual time of the picking operation; A picking work management device comprising: a display control unit that displays the evaluation by the evaluation unit on a display unit visible to the worker.

4. A plurality of points are set in the area where the picking work is performed, The travel time prediction unit Deriving the point to which the worker moves during the picking operation from the information indicating the location; For all combinations of two points selected from the plurality of points, the inter-point travel time between the points traveled by the worker is obtained from travel time master data that has been calculated in advance to indicate the inter-point travel time when traveling between the two points; The picking operation management device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the travel time is predicted from the point-to-point travel time.

5. A work information acquisition unit that acquires information indicating the post-movement work to be performed in the picking work, the post-movement work time prediction unit acquires the work time required for the post-movement work from work time master data in which the post-movement work is associated with the work time required for the post-movement work, The picking operation management device according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the post-movement operation time is predicted from the operation time.

6. In the task time master data, whether or not the task time is to be counted for each product is associated with the post-movement task, The picking work management device according to claim 5 , wherein the post-movement work time prediction unit counts the work time for each product unit for the post-movement work associated with counting the work time for each product unit.

7. A picking work management device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, further comprising a non-work time calculation unit that calculates non-work time during which the picking work is not being performed based on the start time of the current picking work and the end time of the previous picking work.

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