Supply chain management systems and management methods

Abstract

To provide means for specifying a bottleneck processing with less information (part manufacturing lead time of each business entity) in a supply chain composed of independent business entities which do not easily perform information provision to the outside.SOLUTION: A management method for a supply chain comprises: converting manufacturing lead times of business entities constituting a supply chain structure into supply lead times corresponding to the number of parts of a finished product; adding the supply lead times of respective supply paths to specify the longest supply path as a critical path; specifying the longest supply business entity (BN candidate) in the path; performing process division in the business entity; acquires a division manufacturing lead time of a divided process; recalculating the division manufacturing lead time as one unit to repeat the specification of the BN candidate; and determines the BN candidate as "a BN process" at a time point when processing division cannot be performed in a BN candidate business entity.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a supply chain management system and a management method.

Background Art

[0002] In the manufacture of articles that are assemblies of a large variety of parts, such as automobile production and aircraft production, a supply chain is formed in which a large number of part manufacturers (business entities) are linked in a chain. Various management methods have been proposed to ensure smooth part supply and demand in the supply chain.

[0003] For example, in production management, operations (production processes: tasks) are represented by boxes, and they are connected by arrows and illustrated (creation of a PERT diagram). The system that takes the most time among the lead times of each process is identified (identification of the critical path), and a delay in the critical path will delay the overall production. A method (Critical Path Method) of identifying the critical path and managing the entire project in this way is known.

[0004] Also, as a means of production management (supply and demand planning) of the supply chain, Patent Document 1 discloses a design method for constructing a supply chain by acquiring predetermined project information (specifications of incoming goods and evaluation criteria for supply chain design plans), item information (items of parts constituting the incoming goods), and production base information (items of parts produced at each production base and production conditions), and creating an adjustment plan that satisfies predetermined evaluation criteria.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0005]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0006] When designing a supply chain for the production of a new product, it is possible to adopt predetermined evaluation criteria as disclosed in Patent Document 1 and redesign the optimal supply chain in response to fluctuations in supply and demand. However, in actual operating supply chains (production lines), business entities have already supplied parts based on their respective production contracts (including delivery deadlines), and there is a lack of flexibility in response to fluctuations in the supply and demand of finished products.

[0007] Therefore, considering that disruptions in parts supply and demand in existing supply chains affect the entire production process, it has been proposed to adopt the critical path method to identify processes with long lead times as bottlenecks and manage those processes accordingly. However, parts suppliers are independent companies that naturally possess trade secrets and are reluctant to disclose technical information to external parties, including other companies that make up the supply chain.

[0008] Therefore, the present invention proposes a supply chain management system and management method that minimizes the amount of information obtained from the companies constituting the supply chain, identifies bottleneck processes (BNs), and ensures that only the parties involved (the companies concerned and the supply chain schedule manager: supply chain director SD) are aware of the bottleneck processes. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] The supply chain management system according to claim 1 of the present invention is a supply chain management system composed of a number of businesses that supply parts in a chain, and comprises terminal devices and a management device for each parts supply business connected via an appropriate network, wherein the management device includes a supply chain structure identification unit that identifies the parts configuration of the finished product and the supply path based on the supply and demand lines of each parts manufacturing business, The system comprises a calculation unit that performs predetermined data retention and calculation processing, and an input / output unit that acquires and notifies data from the terminal devices of each parts supplier. The calculation unit and the input / output unit include data acquisition means that acquires manufacturing lead time data and inter-supply lead time data received from the terminal devices of each supplier, a BN candidate identification processing means that calculates the supply lead time corresponding to the number of parts in the finished product and the supply lead time for each supply path from the acquired data, determines the longest path (critical path), identifies the process with the longest supply lead time within the longest path and determines a bottleneck candidate (BN candidate), a notification means that notifies the supplier of the BN candidate, a divided data acquisition means that acquires divided divided manufacturing lead time data from the supplier that has received the BN candidate notification, if the process can be divided in the manufacturing process of the part, a re-BN candidate determination means that again incorporates the divided manufacturing lead time data and determines the BN candidate again, a re-BN candidate notification means, and a processing means that repeats the acquisition of divided manufacturing data and the re-determination of BN candidates until no divided manufacturing lead time is acquired from the supplier, thereby identifying the BN process. It is characterized by being equipped with.

[0010] Furthermore, the supply chain management method according to claim 4 of the present invention is a management method in a supply chain management system composed of a number of business entities in which parts are supplied in a chain, wherein the management system consists of a processor that performs predetermined calculation processing, a management device equipped with an input / output interface connected to a network, and terminal devices of each business entity, the processor of the management device performs the steps of: identifying a supply chain structure that identifies the component configuration of the finished product and the supply path for manufacturing the parts; acquiring data by acquiring manufacturing lead time data and transport lead time data between business entities received from the terminal devices of each business entity; and determining the supply lead time corresponding to the number of parts of the finished product and the supply lead time of each supply path from the acquired data. The method is characterized by the following steps: a BN candidate identification step, which involves calculating the lead time, determining the longest path (critical path), identifying the process with the longest supply lead time within the longest path to determine a bottleneck candidate (BN candidate); a notification step, which involves notifying the business entity of the BN candidate; a division data acquisition step, which involves acquiring divided manufacturing lead time data from the business entity that received the BN candidate notification, if the process can be divided in the manufacturing process of the part in question; a re-BN candidate determination step, which involves incorporating the aforementioned divided manufacturing lead time data to determine the BN candidate again; a re-BN candidate notification step; and repeating the steps of acquiring divided manufacturing data and determining the BN candidate again until no further divided manufacturing lead time data is obtained from the business entity, thereby identifying the BN process.

[0011] The system then acquires manufacturing lead time data from each entity in the supply chain to detect the first BN candidate. If an entity is identified as a BN candidate, its manufacturing process is divided into manageable steps. Each divided step is then reported to the management device as independent manufacturing lead time data (divided manufacturing lead time), and the management device re-detects the BN candidate, including the divided lead time data. By repeating this BN candidate notification and divided manufacturing lead time data acquisition process, bottleneck processes (BN processes) in the supply chain can be identified without acquiring unnecessary manufacturing lead time data. Improvements to these processes (shortening manufacturing lead times) strengthen the supply chain's component supply lines (enhancing durability and responsiveness to unforeseen circumstances). Of course, if the transport lead time is a BN candidate, the system notifies the entities involved in the transport process, enabling supply chain efficiency improvements through the transport process. Furthermore, in the event of a change in circumstances (natural disaster, sudden fluctuations in supply and demand, manufacturing line shutdown of a specific entity, etc.), the system can input anticipated data related to the change in circumstances to identify (detect) the anticipated BN process after the change, allowing for appropriate countermeasures to be taken in advance.

[0012] In particular, businesses that make up a supply chain are reluctant to disclose technical information such as manufacturing processes. However, since only the businesses designated as BN candidates will perform process division and provide lead time data for each division, the amount of confidential information disclosed throughout the entire supply chain will be reduced, and the identification of BN processes will require minimal technical information disclosure.

[0013] Furthermore, the supply chain management system according to claim 2 of the present invention is a management system according to claim 1, wherein when the business entity terminal transmits manufacturing lead time data and segmented manufacturing lead time data to the management device, the business entity attaches an encryption key, and the calculation unit of the management device is equipped with a graph creation means that creates a graph in which the supply lead time calculated from each manufacturing lead time data or segmented manufacturing lead time data of the critical path supply path is anonymized with the business entity name and segmented process name, and the anonymity is decrypted with the encryption key, and the input / output unit is equipped with a means for notifying the business entity of the graph.

[0014] Furthermore, the supply chain management system according to claim 3 of the present invention includes graph creation means and graph notification means, similar to the management system according to claim 2, but the management device assigns encryption keys and also notifies the business entities corresponding to the notification means of the assigned encryption keys.

[0015] Furthermore, the supply chain management method according to claims 5 and 6 of the present invention, in addition to the invention described in claim 4, further involves each entity or management device assigning a different encryption key to each acquired data in the data acquisition step and the segmented data acquisition step, and after the final BN candidate process is identified, the supply lead time calculated from each manufacturing lead time data or segmented manufacturing lead time data of the supply path that will become the critical path is anonymized with the entity name and segmented process name, and a graph is created in which the anonymity is decrypted with the encryption key, and this graph is notified to the entities (all entities or entities that wish to participate).

[0016] In other words, the supply lead time is graphed and notified to the business entities (all or those that request it), but the names of the business entities and the names of the divided processes in the graph are kept anonymous. A predetermined encryption key is used to decrypt and display specific company names and divided process names. Therefore, a business entity can find out the position of its own parts manufacturing lead time in the supply path using an encryption key it assigns itself, or an encryption key assigned by the management device and notified by the management device, while anonymity is maintained for other business entities. [Effects of the Invention]

[0017] As described above, the present invention provides information disclosure other than the manufacturing lead time data of the business entities constituting the supply chain (such as whether the manufacturing process can be divided and the lead time data for divided manufacturing) only when the entity is identified as a BN candidate. Therefore, it is easy for business entities to provide information, and the identification of BN business entities and BN processes in the supply chain can be efficiently done with minimal information. By improving the lead time of the BN process, the flexibility of the entire supply chain (response to fluctuations in supply and demand) is enhanced. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0018] [Figure 1] Block diagram of an embodiment of the device of the present invention. [Figure 2] Configuration explanatory diagram of the same supply chain. [Figure 3] Explanatory diagram of the same process division. [Figure 4] Output graph of the same supply lead time.

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0019] When describing an embodiment of the present invention, a supply chain management system connects a management device and each terminal device of component manufacturing business entities (Suppliers 1 to 3311) constituting the supply chain so as to be communicable via an appropriate network 04. Data is exchanged between the management device and the terminal devices, and appropriate processing is performed in the management device.

[0020] The management device is composed of a supply chain structure specifying unit 01 created based on known data (supply-demand relationships between component manufacturing business entities), an arithmetic unit 02 that performs predetermined arithmetic processing, and an input / output unit 03 that performs predetermined notifications and receives data from the terminal devices of the business entities.

[0021] Next, the operations and processing of the management device and the terminal devices will be described. The supply chain structure specifying unit 01 of the management device specifies and grasps (records as data) the flow of the supply-demand relationship of component manufacturing of component manufacturing business entities (Suppliers 1 to 3311) for the component manufacturing supply path leading to the finished product of the entire supply chain, for example, as shown in FIG. 2 (PERT diagram).

[0022] First, the input / output unit 03 receives the manufacturing lead time data of the entire component manufacturing of each business entity and the conveyance lead time data between business entities from each business entity terminal device. The conveyance lead time data can be derived from the component delivery date and time and the finished component shipment date and time of the relevant business entity, and the structure of the component supply path. Note that the data reception is performed multiple times and the average value of the data is adopted.

[0023] In particular, when transmitting the aforementioned manufacturing lead time data and delivery lead time data (manufacturing lead time data for parts), the business entity assigns an encryption key to each transmitted data (business entity name and process name), or the input / output unit of the data receiving management device assigns an encryption key to each data name. Therefore, when displaying the graph described later, the business entity name and process name are anonymized, reducing the risk of information leakage, thus encouraging companies to provide data.

[0024] The calculation unit 02 of the management device converts the average manufacturing lead time data for the entire parts manufacturing process of each of the aforementioned business entities and the average transport lead time data between business entities into supply lead times corresponding to the number of parts and manufacturing batches of the finished product, and sums up the supply lead times for all parts supply paths. From the summation result, it determines the longest path (critical path) and further identifies the business entity with the longest supply lead time within the longest path.

[0025] For example, if the combined value of the supply paths of entities 2,21,211,2111 is the longest, that supply path is determined to be the critical path.

[0026] Once the critical path is identified, a business entity with a long supply lead time (let's call it Business Entity 21) is identified from that supply path, and Business Entity 21 is determined to be a potential bottleneck (BN candidate) in the supply chain.

[0027] Once a potential bottleneck (BN candidate) is identified, the input / output unit 03 notifies the terminal device of the business entity 21 of the "BN candidate".

[0028] The manufacturing of parts within a business entity is not necessarily a single process, and a parts manufacturing and supply path exists within the entity itself. Therefore, it cannot be definitively determined that the bottleneck (BN) in the supply chain lies in the manufacturing process of that entity. Furthermore, even if the entity is identified as the BN, it is unclear which manufacturing process within that entity constitutes the BN.

[0029] Upon receiving the BN candidate notification, entity 21 sets a division point P3 in the parts manufacturing process, as shown in Figure 3, in manufacturing processes 21A, 21B, and 21C. The manufacturing lead time data initially notified by entity 21 was "P1-P2," but by setting the division point P3, it transmits the divided manufacturing lead time data (P1-P3, P3-P2) along with the divided process name (with encryption key) to the management device. In other words, the manufacturing lead time of entity 21 in the supply chain is (P1-P2), but this is divided into (P1-P3) and (P3-P2).

[0030] When segmented manufacturing lead time data is obtained, the manufacturing lead time data of business entity 21 is replaced with the segmented manufacturing lead time data, and business entities or processes with long supply lead times in the critical path are identified again and determined to be candidates for BN in the supply chain. Once a "candidate for BN" is identified, a notification is sent to the business entity in question again indicating that it is a "candidate for BN".

[0031] By repeatedly identifying, notifying, and acquiring lead time data for these "BN candidates," the "BN process" is ultimately identified. Furthermore, if an encryption key is assigned to each manufacturing lead time acquired (input) by the management device, that encryption key is notified to the business entity that entered the data.

[0032] Therefore, once a "BN process" is identified, improving the manufacturing process for that "BN process" (for example, securing a predetermined amount of inventory, shortening manufacturing time) will lead to an improvement in the entire supply chain.

[0033] Furthermore, if, during the repeated process of obtaining segmented manufacturing lead times and identifying BN candidates in the critical path, the transport and supply lead time (the process of delivering and transporting parts between business entities) is identified as a "BN process," then improvements to that transport process should be considered.

[0034] Furthermore, when a "BN process" is identified, as shown in Figure 4, the names of the entities and processes responsible for the critical path in the supply chain are kept anonymous, and a list graph of supply lead times is created based on the manufacturing lead time data and segmented manufacturing lead time data acquired at that time, and this graph is provided to the entities in that supply path. The entities that receive this information can then find out their own supply lead time level by entering their own encryption key.

[0035] Specifically, if the 21A process of business entity 21, as mentioned in the previous example, is the "BN process," then when business entity 21 enters its own assigned encryption key or the notified encryption key, only the "X process: 21A process name" and "Y process: 21B process name + 21C process name" of the "BN process" will be displayed. Similarly, when another business entity 33 enters its own encryption key, only the "Z process name: name of business entity 33" will be displayed, and everything else will be anonymous.

[0036] Furthermore, if the management device assigns an encryption key, the supply chain schedule manager (SD) can have a program that allows them to de-anonymize the output graph without the encryption key. Therefore, the SD can de-anonymize the output graph as needed to obtain the desired entity name or process name, while the anonymity of the entity and process names in the output graph is ensured for all other parties.

[0037] Furthermore, especially when a business operator assigns an encryption key, for supply chain management purposes, the encryption key for the "BN process" is decrypted and the "BN process name or business name" is disclosed only to the SD or, for the purpose of alerting the business entity in that supply path. Otherwise, even the SD can maintain the anonymity of the business entity name and process name, thus ensuring the anonymity of each business entity more reliably. For example, if the SD wants to know the supply lead time data of a specific business entity that has experienced a problem, it can obtain the data by receiving the encryption key from that specific business entity, which helps in the management and operation of the entire supply chain. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0038] 01 Supply Chain Structure Identification Department 02 Arithmetic section 03 Input / output section 04 Network 1...3312 Business entity

Claims

1. A supply chain management system comprising numerous entities that supply parts in a chain-like manner, consisting of terminal devices and management devices for each parts supply entity connected via an appropriate network, The control device, It consists of a supply chain structure identification unit that identifies the component configuration of the finished product and the supply path based on the supply and demand lines of each component manufacturing entity, a calculation unit that performs predetermined data retention and calculation processing, and an input / output unit that acquires and notifies data from terminal devices of each component supply entity. The aforementioned calculation unit and input / output unit A data acquisition means for acquiring manufacturing lead time data and inter-business transport lead time data received from terminal devices of each business entity, A BN candidate identification processing means calculates the supply lead time corresponding to the number of parts in the finished product and the supply lead time for each supply path from acquired data, determines the longest path (critical path), identifies the process with the longest supply lead time within the longest path, and determines a bottleneck candidate (BN candidate). Notification methods for notifying business entities that are candidates for BN, A means for acquiring divided manufacturing lead time data for divided parts, when the manufacturing process of the part can be divided, from a business entity that has received a BN candidate notification, A means for determining BN candidates again by incorporating the aforementioned divided manufacturing lead time data again, Re-notification method for BN candidates, A supply chain management system characterized by comprising a processing means for identifying a BN process, which involves repeatedly obtaining divided manufacturing data and determining BN candidates until no further divided manufacturing lead time is obtained from the business entity.

2. The supply chain management system according to claim 1, wherein when a business entity terminal transmits manufacturing lead time data and segmented manufacturing lead time data to a management device, the business entity attaches an encryption key, and the calculation unit of the management device calculates the supply lead time from each manufacturing lead time data or segmented manufacturing lead time data of the supply path which is the critical path, anonymizing the business entity name and segmented process name, and the anonymization is decrypted by the encryption key, and the input / output unit is equipped with a means for notifying the business entity of the graph.

3. The supply chain management system according to claim 1, wherein when manufacturing lead time data and segmented manufacturing lead time data are received from a business entity terminal, the management device assigns an encryption key, the calculation unit of the management device calculates the supply lead time from each manufacturing lead time data or segmented manufacturing lead time data of the critical path supply path, anonymizes the business entity name and segmented process name, and provides graph creation means to create a graph in which the anonymity is de-anonymized by the encryption key, and the input / output unit provides means for notifying the business entity of the graph and the encryption key assigned to the business entity.

4. A management method in a supply chain management system composed of multiple business entities that supply parts in a chain-like manner, The management system consists of a processor that performs predetermined calculations, a management device equipped with an input / output interface connected to a network, and terminal devices for each business entity. The processor of the management device includes the steps of identifying the component configuration of the finished product and the supply chain structure that identifies the supply path for manufacturing the components, A data acquisition step involves acquiring manufacturing lead time data and inter-business unit transport lead time data received from terminal devices of each business entity, The process involves calculating the supply lead time corresponding to the number of parts in the finished product and the supply lead time for each supply path from the acquired data, determining the longest path (critical path), identifying the process with the longest supply lead time within the longest path, and determining a potential bottleneck (BN candidate). Notification steps to notify the business entity of the BN candidate, A division data acquisition step is performed to obtain divided manufacturing lead time data when the manufacturing process of the part can be divided, from the business entity that has received the BN candidate notification, A re-BN candidate determination step involves again incorporating the aforementioned segmented manufacturing lead time data to determine BN candidates again, The steps of notifying a new BN candidate, obtaining split manufacturing data again, and determining a new BN candidate are repeated until no split manufacturing lead time is obtained from the business entity, thereby identifying the BN process. A method for managing a supply chain characterized by the following:

5. In the supply chain management method according to claim 4, in the data acquisition step, the business entity acquires data to which an encryption key has been assigned, A method for notifying a business entity of a graph that, after the final BN process has been identified, calculates the supply lead time from each manufacturing lead time data or segmented manufacturing lead time data of the critical path supply path, anonymizing the business entity name and segmented process name, and then de-anonymizing them using the aforementioned encryption key.

6. In the supply chain management method according to claim 4, in the data acquisition step, an encryption key is assigned to the data received from the business entity, A method for notifying a business entity of a graph, after the final BN process has been identified, which calculates the supply lead time from the manufacturing lead time data or segmented manufacturing lead time data of each supply path that constitutes the critical path, anonymizing the business entity name and segmented process name, and de-anonymizing them with the encryption key, and then notifying the business entity of the graph along with the corresponding encryption key.

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