Manufacturing network processing system and manufacturing network processing method

Abstract

The present invention provides, for example, a highly convenient manufacturing network processing system. A manufacturing network processing system (100) is provided with a processing unit (51) that causes a terminal device (60) to display a manufacturing network in which a process by which components are assembled or materials are processed sequentially to complete a prescribed product is represented by a tree-structured network. Each node of the manufacturing network is associated with an item code for a component or material serving as a constituent element of the product. Each branch of the manufacturing network is associated with a drawing code of a drawing used for assembling the components or processing the materials. When there is a prescribed inconsistency in the manufacturing network, the processing unit (51) causes the terminal device (60) to display a notification screen (601) for the inconsistency.

Description

Manufacturing network processing system and manufacturing network processing method

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a manufacturing network processing system and the like.

[0002] As a system for managing a product manufacturing process, for example, the technology described in Patent Document 1 is known. That is, Patent Document 1 describes that in a process model creation system, "a process model is created from one or more process instances, which models the relationship between one or more tasks in the process."

[0003] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2022-020927

[0004] For example, when a model change of a certain product is made, the specifications of the parts that make up the product may change, or the production of the parts may be discontinued. In addition, when a new manufacturing technology is developed or when it becomes difficult to procure certain materials or parts due to a disruption in the supply chain, the specifications of the parts may change or the production may be discontinued. In such cases, Patent Document 1 does not describe a technology that allows the management side to grasp information about the manufacturing of the product from a bird's-eye view, and there is room for improving convenience.

[0005] Therefore, an object of the present disclosure is to provide a highly convenient manufacturing network processing system and the like.

[0006] In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the manufacturing network processing system of the present disclosure includes a processing unit that displays on a terminal device a manufacturing network in which the process of completing a specified product by sequentially assembling parts or processing materials is represented in a tree-structured network, each node of the manufacturing network is associated with the item code of the part or material that constitutes the product, and each branch of the manufacturing network is associated with the drawing code of the drawing used for assembling parts or processing materials, and if a specified inconsistency exists in the manufacturing network, the processing unit displays a notification screen of the inconsistency on the terminal device.

[0007] According to the present disclosure, a highly convenient manufacturing network processing system and the like can be provided.

[0008] 1 is a functional block diagram showing the configuration of a manufacturing network processing system according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing the process and instructions until a product is manufactured in the manufacturing network processing system according to an embodiment. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing the correspondence relationship when the Output shown in drawing 001 is manufactured from materials X and Y based on drawing 001 in the manufacturing network processing system according to an embodiment. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing the correspondence relationship when part A is manufactured from the Output of drawing 001 based on drawing 002 in the manufacturing network processing system according to an embodiment. FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing the correspondence relationship when a finished product M is manufactured from semi-finished products H, I, J, K, and L based on drawing 009 in the manufacturing network processing system according to an embodiment. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram including a predetermined instruction in the manufacturing network processing system according to an embodiment. FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram including another instruction in the manufacturing network processing system according to an embodiment. FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing processing by a processing unit of a manufacturing network processing device included in the manufacturing network processing system according to an embodiment. FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram of information including an item code acquired from an item code database of the manufacturing network processing system according to an embodiment. FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of part information acquired from a bill of materials database of the manufacturing network processing system according to an embodiment. FIG. 12B is an explanatory diagram showing the concept of item linkage when a manufacturing network is generated in a manufacturing network processing system according to an embodiment. FIG. 12C is a flowchart of processing related to item linkage in a manufacturing network processing system according to an embodiment. FIG. 12D is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a manufacturing network generated by a manufacturing network processing system according to an embodiment. FIG. 12E is a flowchart related to the extraction of inconsistencies in a manufacturing network by a manufacturing network processing system according to an embodiment. FIG. 12F is an explanatory diagram of the manufacturing network in a state in which a node corresponding to a part after a specification change has been added in FIG. 10 in the manufacturing network processing system according to an embodiment. FIG. 12F is an explanatory diagram of the manufacturing network in the next stage of FIG. 12A in a manufacturing network processing system according to an embodiment.12B in a manufacturing network processing system according to an embodiment. FIG. 12C in a manufacturing network processing system according to an embodiment. FIG. 12D in a manufacturing network processing system according to an embodiment. FIG. 12D is an explanatory diagram of a notification screen for an inconsistency in the manufacturing network in the manufacturing network processing system according to an embodiment. FIG. 12D is an explanatory diagram showing a third type of inconsistency in the manufacturing network in the manufacturing network processing system according to an embodiment. FIG. 12D is an explanatory diagram showing a fourth type of inconsistency in the manufacturing network in the manufacturing network processing system according to an embodiment. FIG. 12D is an explanatory diagram showing a specific example of instruction information in the manufacturing network processing system according to an embodiment. FIG. 12D is an explanatory diagram showing details of instruction information in the manufacturing network processing system according to an embodiment. FIG. 12D is an explanatory diagram showing manufacturing results in the manufacturing network processing system according to an embodiment. FIG. 12D is an explanatory diagram showing the relationship between the manufacturing network and each instruction in the manufacturing network processing system according to an embodiment. FIG. 12D is an explanatory diagram including parent-child relationships between nodes in a manufacturing network generated by the manufacturing network processing system according to an embodiment, drawings used in manufacturing, and instruction results. FIG. 12D is a flowchart related to instruction information and instruction results in the manufacturing network processing system according to an embodiment. 1 is an explanatory diagram of an overlap diagram related to a manufacturing network in a manufacturing network processing system according to an embodiment;FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of an overlap diagram related to a manufacturing network in a manufacturing network processing system according to an embodiment;FIG.

[0009] <Embodiment> <Configuration of Manufacturing Network Processing System> Figure 1 is a functional block diagram showing the configuration of a manufacturing network processing system 100 according to an embodiment. The manufacturing network processing system 100 shown in Figure 1 is a system that generates a predetermined manufacturing network. Furthermore, if an inconsistency exists in the manufacturing network, the manufacturing network processing system 100 also has a function of displaying a notification screen 601 regarding this inconsistency on a user's terminal device 60.

[0010] The "manufacturing network" is a tree-structured network that shows the process (manufacturing process) of completing a specific product by assembling parts or processing materials sequentially (see FIG. 10). The products manufactured through "manufacturing" are not particularly limited as long as they are produced by assembling multiple parts or processing materials. Furthermore, the products manufactured through "manufacturing" do not have to be finished products, and may be so-called intermediate products. Users of the manufacturing network processing system 100 include managers who manage ordering and inventory of parts and materials, managers who manage the progress of product manufacturing, and businesses that have been entrusted with managing product-related data.

[0011] 1, the manufacturing network processing system 100 includes an item code database 10, a bill of materials database 20, a drawing database 30, an order record database 40, a manufacturing network processing device 50, and a terminal device 60. Note that databases such as the item code database 10 may be located anywhere as long as the databases can be utilized. For example, these databases may be located on a cloud system via a network.

[0012] The item code database 10 is a database that contains item codes of parts and materials that are components of a specific product. Here, an "item code" is identification information that identifies each part or material, and is set in advance.

[0013] The bill of materials database 20 is a database of bills of materials related to the manufacture of a specific product, and is also called a BOM (Bill of Materials). The drawing database 30 is a database of drawings showing how parts are assembled and how materials are processed when manufacturing a specific product, and is also called a BOP (Bill of Process). The instruction record database 40 is a database containing product manufacturing instructions and past manufacturing records, which are managed by, for example, an MES (Manufacturing Execution System) or the like.

[0014] <Configuration of Manufacturing Network Processing Device> The manufacturing network processing device 50 is a device that generates a specified manufacturing network. The manufacturing network processing device 50 also has the function of determining whether or not an inconsistency exists in the manufacturing network. The manufacturing network processing device 50 may be configured as a single computer, or may be configured as multiple computers connected in a specified manner via signal lines or a network. For example, the functions of the manufacturing network processing device 50 may be distributed across multiple computers, such as cloud servers or edge servers, and these computers may be connected in a specified manner via a network.

[0015] 1, the manufacturing network processing device 50 includes a processing unit 51 and a storage unit 52. The processing unit 51 reads out a program stored in the storage unit 52 and executes predetermined processing. The hardware of the processing unit 51 may be a processor such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) or an FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array).

[0016] The storage unit 52 stores predetermined programs in advance, as well as information obtained from each database, such as the item code database 10, and processing results from the processing unit 51. Although not shown, the storage unit 52 includes non-volatile memory, such as a read-only memory (ROM) or a hard disk drive, and volatile memory, such as a random access memory (RAM) or a register. Although not shown in FIG. 1, the manufacturing network processing device 50 also includes a communication interface. The communication interface has the function of receiving information from each database, such as the item code database 10, via a network (not shown), and transmitting processing results from the processing unit 51 to the terminal device 60.

[0017] 1, the processing unit 51 includes an item code acquisition unit 51a, an item code name matching processing unit 51b, a parts list and drawing information acquisition unit 51c, a manufacturing network processing unit 51d, and an inconsistency extraction unit 51e. In addition to the components described above, the processing unit 51 also includes an order-manufacturing network linking unit 51f, an order performance acquisition unit 51g, a time series management unit 51h, and an image information generation unit 51k.

[0018] The item code acquisition unit 51a acquires item codes of parts and materials that are components of a specified product from the item code database 10. If there are any duplicate item codes acquired by the item code acquisition unit 51a, the item code name merge processing unit 51b appropriately corrects the item codes.

[0019] The parts bill and drawing information acquisition unit 51c acquires part information from the parts bill database 20 and drawing information from the drawing database 30. The parts bill and drawing information acquisition unit 51c then associates the part information with the drawing information. The manufacturing network processing unit 51d generates a predetermined manufacturing network, such as the manufacturing network N1 illustrated in FIG. 10, based on the part information and drawing information associated by the parts bill and drawing information acquisition unit 51c.

[0020] The inconsistency extraction unit 51e determines whether or not a specified inconsistency exists in the manufacturing network, and if a inconsistency is found, extracts the inconsistency. Inconsistencies in the manufacturing network will be described later. The instruction-manufacturing network linking unit 51f links specified instruction information with the manufacturing network. The instruction record acquisition unit 51g acquires information including product manufacturing instructions and past manufacturing records from the instruction record database 40.

[0021] The time series management unit 51h manages the manufacturing network in chronological order based on the date and time when the manufacturing network was updated. The image information generation unit 51k generates image information for displaying the manufacturing network, etc. on the terminal device 60. The image information generated by the image information generation unit 51k is then transmitted to the user's terminal device 60 via a network (not shown).

[0022] The terminal device 60 is a device for displaying the processing results of the manufacturing network processing system 100. Such a terminal device 60 may be, for example, a personal computer, or a mobile terminal such as a smartphone, tablet, or smart glasses.

[0023] Figure 2 is an explanatory diagram showing the process and instructions for manufacturing a product. Figure 2 shows the process from the sequential processing of materials and the assembly of parts to the final production of a finished product M. The upper part of Figure 2 shows the drawing codes of drawings that are referenced when processing materials and assembling parts. The lower part of Figure 2 shows the numbers of manufacturing instructions, inspection instructions, and correction instructions. Here, "manufacturing instructions" are instructions that indicate how many items should be manufactured and by when when processing materials and assembling parts based on a specified drawing. Inspection instructions and correction instructions will be described later.

[0024] At the top of Fig. 2, for example, a line Q1 surrounding material X and material Y indicates that material X and material Y are each assigned a predetermined item code. Also at the top of Fig. 2, an arrow from material X to drawing 001 and another arrow from material Y to drawing 001 are shown. This indicates that materials X and Y are processed in a predetermined manner based on drawing 001. Note that in this embodiment, no particular item code is assigned to the items (work-in-progress) obtained by processing materials X and Y.

[0025] In this way, the product (work in progress) obtained by processing materials X and Y based on drawing 001 is further processed based on drawing 002 to produce part A. In addition to part A, parts B and C, which are manufactured elsewhere (at other companies or other business locations of the same company), are assigned specific item codes, as shown by the line Q2 that surrounds them.

[0026] In the example of Fig. 2, a module E is manufactured by assembling and processing part A in a predetermined manner based on drawing 003. Then, a semi-finished product H is manufactured by assembling and processing module E in a predetermined manner based on drawing 006. Furthermore, a finished product M is manufactured by assembling semi-finished products I, J, K, and L in addition to semi-finished product H in a predetermined manner based on drawing 009. The module G shown in Fig. 2 is sold to other companies or supplied to other business establishments belonging to the same company.

[0027] In this way, the processing of materials and the assembly of parts are carried out in order based on predetermined drawings, resulting in the creation of a finished product M. The work in each process may be performed by a person or a robot. In the following, materials, parts, modular products, semi-finished products, and finished products will be referred to as "parts, etc."

[0028] Procurement instruction 001 shown at the bottom of Figure 2 is an instruction indicating how much and by when materials X and Y and parts B, C, and D should be procured (purchased from other companies). Furthermore, manufacturing instruction 002 is an instruction indicating how many units of part A should be manufactured using materials X and Y based on drawings 001 and 002. As indicated by the white arrows in Figure 2, each manufacturing instruction corresponds to a specific drawing. For example, manufacturing instruction 002 corresponds to drawings 001 and 002.

[0029] 2 also shows correction instructions and inspection instructions in the case where the finished product M is found to be defective. Specifically, if the finished product M is found to be defective, repairs, etc. are carried out on the defective product based on correction instructions 007. After such repairs, etc. are carried out, if the finished product M passes inspection based on inspection instructions 008, it becomes a finished product M (good product) that can be shipped.

[0030] FIG. 3A is an explanatory diagram showing the correspondence relationship when the output shown in drawing 001 is produced from materials X and Y based on drawing 001. Note that FIG. 3A corresponds to the processing of materials X and Y (processing based on drawing 0001) shown in FIG. 2. The "BOP" column in FIG. 3A indicates information about drawings to be referenced when processing materials and assembling parts. The "Material In" column indicates the names of materials and parts to be assembled or processed. The "Material Out" column indicates the names of the results of processing materials and assembling parts. In the example of FIG. 3A, the result of processing materials X and Y in a predetermined manner based on drawing 001 is "Drawing 001 Output" (work in progress). This information is generated by the bill of materials / drawing information acquisition unit 51c (see FIG. 1) based on information in the bill of materials database 20 (see FIG. 1) and the drawing database 30 (see FIG. 1) (the same applies to FIGS. 3B and 3C).

[0031] In the example of Fig. 3A, "Drawing 001 Output" is associated with materials X and Y in "Material Out." In other words, the names of the multiple materials and parts included in "Material In" are each associated with the name of the result in "Material Out." Note that instead of the data management method shown in Fig. 3A, the bill of materials database 20 and the drawing database 30 may be configured so that when the names of the multiple materials included in "Material In" (in the example of Fig. 3A, material X and material Y) are arranged, the name of the result in "Material Out" is associated with the first one, and "-" is associated with the rest (the same applies to Fig. 3C).

[0032] 3B is an explanatory diagram showing the correspondence when part A is manufactured from the output of drawing 001 based on drawing 002. Note that Fig. 3B corresponds to the process of manufacturing part A based on drawing 002 from the result of assembly and processing using drawing 001 shown in Fig. 2 ("Drawing 001 Output").

[0033] FIG. 3C is an explanatory diagram showing the correspondence relationship when a finished product M is manufactured from semi-finished products H, I, J, K, and L based on drawing 009. Note that FIG. 3C corresponds to the process of manufacturing a finished product M from semi-finished products H, I, J, K, and L based on drawing 009 shown in FIG. 2. In this way, the series of processes shown in the upper part of FIG. 2 are represented by a collection of tabular data including "BOP," "Material In," and "Material Out," as shown in FIGS. 3A to 3C. Incidentally, tabular data similar to those shown in FIGS. 3A to 3C is also created for the manufacture of each of the modular products F and G and semi-finished products H and I shown in FIG. 2, but a description of these will be omitted. Next, the manufacturing instructions and the like shown in the lower part of FIG. 2 will be described using FIGS. 4A and 4B.

[0034] FIG. 4A is an explanatory diagram including a predetermined instruction. The "Instruction" column in FIG. 4A indicates the type of instruction and the identification information of the instruction. In the example of FIG. 4A, the type of instruction is "production instruction," and "202308002" is assigned as its identification information. This corresponds to "production instruction 002" shown in FIG. 2. The first half of the identification information of the production instruction, "202308," indicates the period (during August 2023) for which the production instruction is issued. In other words, the identification information "202308002" is a combination of the period and the production instruction number.

[0035] The two tables on the right side of the "Instructions" page in Fig. 4A are the same as those shown in Fig. 3A and Fig. 3B. In other words, the manufacturing instruction with identification information "202308002" represents an instruction to manufacture "Drawing 001 Output" from materials X and Y based on drawing 001, and further to manufacture part A from "Drawing 001 Output" based on drawing 002. Such manufacturing instruction information is acquired from the instruction record database 40 (see Fig. 1) by the instruction record acquisition unit 51g (see Fig. 1).

[0036] FIG. 4B is an explanatory diagram including another instruction. Note that the production instruction "202308005" shown in FIG. 4B corresponds to "production instruction 005" shown in FIG. 2. The table on the right side of the "instruction" page in FIG. 4B is the same as that shown in FIG. 3C. That is, the production instruction with identification information "202308005" represents an instruction to produce finished product M from semi-finished products H, I, J, K, and L based on drawing 009. Thus, the multiple production instructions shown at the bottom of FIG. 2 are represented by a collection of data as shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B. Incidentally, in addition to production instructions 003 and 004 shown in FIG. 2, inspection instructions 006 and 008 and correction instruction 007 also have table-format data similar to those in FIGS. 4A and 4B created, but their description will be omitted.

[0037] <Processing of Manufacturing Network Processing Device> Figure 5 is a flowchart showing the processing by the processing unit of the manufacturing network processing device (see also Figure 1 as appropriate). The series of processes in Figure 5 is initiated, for example, when a user selects a target product (finished product M in Figure 2) for generating a manufacturing network by operating the terminal device 60 and presses a predetermined start button. In step S101, the processing unit 51 of the manufacturing network processing device 50 acquires an item code from the item code database 10 using the item code acquisition unit 51a. For example, the processing unit 51 acquires the item codes of the materials and parts involved in the production of the finished product M (see Figure 2) from the item code database 10.

[0038] FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of information including item codes acquired from an item code database. Note that the explanatory diagram of FIG. 6 does not particularly correspond to FIG. 2. In the example of FIG. 6, in addition to a "No." indicating the number when the item codes are arranged in a predetermined order with number 1 at the top, the item code, the name of the part, etc., its supplier, and the data registration date are associated with each other. For example, the item code of part 101 is "P101-02," its supplier is Supplier A, and the data registration date is October 1, 2020. Such information including item codes is updated appropriately whenever the specifications of the part, etc., or the supplier of the part, etc., is changed.

[0039] The item code includes a product name code and a version code. For example, in the item code "P101-02" of the part 101 shown in FIG. 6, "P101" is the product name code and "02" is the version code. The product name code is associated with each type of part or material. The version code indicates the number of times the specifications of the part or material have been changed and the specifications registered at that time. Specifically, each time the specifications of a part or material are changed, the version code increases in value, such as "01," "02," "03," .... In this way, by using the product name code and the version code, it is possible to use a common product name code between a part before a specification change and a part after a specification change, while assigning different version codes. As a result, it is possible to correlate the part before the specification change and the part after the specification change.

[0040] In the example of Figure 6, as shown in the bottom row of the table (No. 17), the specifications of part 133 were changed, and the data was registered on September 15, 2023. That is, before the specification change of part 133, its item code was "P133-02" (No. 3 in Figure 6), but after the specification change, the item code became "P133-03" (No. 17 in Figure 6). Note that even after the specification change, the item code before the change (P133-02) remains as it was. This is to preserve a history when the manufacturing network is successively updated, as will be described later.

[0041] In addition, if a version code has not been assigned by the supplier of parts, etc., or if there is no particular history of specification changes or if the history is unknown, a new item code may be generated by adding "00" as a version code following the product name code.

[0042] Returning to Fig. 5, the explanation continues. In step S102, the processing unit 51 performs item code name identification processing using the item code name identification processing unit 51b. Here, the item code name identification processing refers to a process of determining whether there are any overlaps among the multiple item codes acquired in the processing of step S101, and if there are any overlaps, correcting the item codes appropriately.

[0043] There is no particular problem if item codes are assigned appropriately in the item code database 10 (see FIG. 1) so that individual parts and materials can be uniquely identified. However, this is not always the case. For example, a factory that supplies parts may assign its own item codes to the parts. To give a specific example, parts B and C shown in FIG. 2 were supplied from a different factory than part A, and therefore may have been assigned item codes according to unique rules different from those for part A. Furthermore, when a company that manufactures finished product M procures parts B and C, it may use the manufacturer's product name code as is. In this way, if there is a factory that assigns item codes to parts according to its own standards, the same item code may be assigned to different parts.

[0044] Therefore, in this embodiment, if the same item code is assigned to multiple parts, etc. in the item code database 10 (see FIG. 1 ), the administrator is notified of this fact. For example, the item code database 10 may display a message such as "The same item code has been assigned to multiple parts, etc." on the administrator's computer (not shown). In this case, the columns for parts, etc. that have the same item code may be highlighted. This makes it possible to alert the administrator to the existence of duplicate item codes. In such cases, the administrator checks the specifications and configuration of each part and then appropriately corrects the duplicated item codes in the item code database 10.

[0045] 5, the processing unit 51 causes the parts table / drawing information acquisition unit 51c to acquire part information from the parts table database 20 and also acquire drawing information from the drawing database 30. Then, the processing unit 51 associates the part information and drawing information with each other.

[0046] FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of part information 21 acquired from the parts table database 20. Note that the "Parent Material-Ver." and "Child Material-Ver." shown in each of the three tables in FIG. 7 indicate the parent-child relationship between parts, etc. "Ver." is an abbreviation for "Version" and refers to the version code. Furthermore, it is assumed that a "parent" part, etc. is manufactured by assembling and processing one or more "child" parts, etc.

[0047] In each table in Figure 7, "Quantity" refers to the number of child parts required to manufacture a parent part. "Drawing number - Ver." refers to the drawing code used for assembling and processing one or more "child" parts. Because drawings may change with changes to the specifications of parts, a predetermined version code is also assigned to the drawing code.

[0048] The top table shows that two parts (children) with item code "P001-02" and one part (child) with item code "P131-04" are assembled in a predetermined manner based on the drawing "DA001-01" to produce a module product (parent) "A001-01." The same is true for the middle and bottom tables in Figure 7. In this way, the parent-child relationships between parts, etc., and information on drawings used for assembly and processing are stored in advance in the parts list database 20 (see Figure 1).

[0049] Incidentally, there are cases where the part information in the parts table database 20 (see FIG. 1) does not include information indicating the parent-child relationships between parts, while the drawings include parts tables. In such cases, the processing unit 51 regards each part included in the parts table of the drawings as a "child," and regards the resulting module or other product listed in the title column of the drawings as a "parent." The processing unit 51 acquires part information and drawing information for each item code after the name identification process of step S102 in FIG. 5 has been performed (S103).

[0050] 5, the processing unit 51 generates a manufacturing network using the manufacturing network processing unit 51d. When the manufacturing network is generated, item linking processing is performed as described below.

[0051] FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram illustrating the concept of item linkage when a manufacturing network is generated. Note that FIG. 8 corresponds to a portion of the explanatory diagram at the top of FIG. 2. For example, if part A is manufactured from materials X and Y based on drawings 001 and 002, part A is positioned as the "parent" of materials X and Y. Furthermore, if module E is manufactured from part A based on drawing 003, part A is positioned as the "child" of module E. In this manner, in the parent-child relationships between parts, if part A is the "parent" of materials X and Y and also the "child" of module E, a process is performed in which the item code of part A is used as a key to connect the two parent-child relationships (link the parent-child relationships). This process is called "item linkage."

[0052] In the example of Fig. 8, in addition to item linkage via part A, item linkage is also performed via module E. This identifies a series of manufacturing flows in which part A is manufactured from materials X and Y, and then module E is manufactured from part A.

[0053] Figure 9 is a flowchart of processing related to item linkage (see also Figure 1 as appropriate). The series of processes shown in Figure 9 is included in step S104 (manufacturing network generation) in Figure 5. In step S104a, the processing unit 51, via the manufacturing network processing unit 51d, acquires parent material information from the part information 21 (see Figure 7). The parent material information includes the item code of the "parent" part, etc.

[0054] In step S104b, the processing unit 51, using the manufacturing network processing unit 51d, regards the parent Material as a child Material and searches for a new parent Material. Explaining the example of Figure 8, in the relationship between materials X and Y and part A, materials X and Y are the "child" and part A is the "parent." However, the processing unit 51 regards part A, which is the "parent" of materials X and Y, as the "child" and searches for a new "parent." In other words, the processing unit 51 searches for data including a parent-child relationship in which part A is positioned as the "child." As a result, module E is identified as the "parent" of part A.

[0055] In step S104c of Fig. 9, the processing unit 51 determines, via the manufacturing network processing unit 51d, whether or not a new parent Material exists. If a new parent Material exists in step S104c (S104c: Yes), the processing of the processing unit 51 returns to step S104b. If a new parent Material does not exist in step S104c (S104c: No), the processing of the processing unit 51 returns to "START" (RETURN). For example, no parent Material exists for the module G or the finished product M shown in Fig. 2.

[0056] In this way, the processing unit 51 sequentially repeats item linking based on the part information 21 (see FIG. 7) corresponding to each item code after the name integration process (S102 in FIG. 5) has been performed, resulting in the creation of a manufacturing network N1 (see FIG. 10).

[0057] 5, the processing unit 51 displays the manufacturing network N1 (see FIG. 10) on the terminal device 60 (network display processing). That is, the processing unit 51 generates image information of the manufacturing network N1 (see FIG. 10) using the image information generation unit 51k, and transmits this image information to the terminal device 60 via a network (not shown). As a result, an image of the manufacturing network N1 is displayed on the display of the terminal device 60.

[0058] Figure 10 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a manufacturing network N1. The tree-structured manufacturing network N1 shown in Figure 10 is composed of multiple nodes, multiple branches, at least one root, and multiple leaves. In each branch in Figure 10, the child node is located on the right side of the page (the part side, the leaf side), and the parent node is located on the left side of the page (the finished product side, the root side).

[0059] Each node in the manufacturing network N1 is associated with an item code of a part or material that constitutes a product (a finished product in the example of FIG. 10). In FIG. 10, the type and item code of the part are written at each node. Although omitted in FIG. 10, the number of parts used in assembly and processing may also be displayed in association with each node.

[0060] Each branch of the manufacturing network N1 is associated with a drawing code of a drawing used for assembling parts or processing materials. In FIG. 10, the drawing code of the drawing used for assembling or processing parts is shown near each branch. For example, a module with an item code of "A001-01" is manufactured by assembling a part with an item code of "P101-02" and a part with an item code of "P131-04" based on the drawing with an item code of "DA001-01." By displaying this manufacturing network N1 on the terminal device 60 (see FIG. 1), the user can get a bird's-eye view of the manufacturing process from upstream to downstream.

[0061] In the example of Figure 10, the root of the manufacturing network N1 is a finished product, but the root does not necessarily have to be a finished product; it may be an intermediate product that has not yet reached completion. Furthermore, at least some of the multiple leaves of the manufacturing network N1 may be predetermined intermediate products. Such intermediate products may be acquired by purchasing from other companies or by supply from other business locations within the same company.

[0062] Furthermore, the specifications of parts and components used in the manufacture of a given product may change. For example, when a product undergoes a model change, a new manufacturing technology is developed, or a disruption occurs in the supply chain, the specifications of the parts and components are also changed accordingly. Changes in the specifications of parts and components are also reflected in the parts information 21 (see FIG. 7 ) in the parts list. However, because the process of reflecting changes in the specifications of parts and components in the parts list is often performed by humans, there is a possibility of human error. Furthermore, even when the above-mentioned process is performed by a computer, there is a possibility of errors occurring during the program configuration stage. Ideally, when such changes occur, the consistency of various data within the computer must also be maintained.

[0063] As a result, there is a possibility that changes in the specifications of parts, etc., are not reflected in the bill of materials, or are reflected in the bill of materials incorrectly. Furthermore, even if changes in the specifications of parts, etc., are properly reflected in the bill of materials, there is a possibility that management is insufficient when manufacturing EOL (End of Production) products using parts with old specifications until the deadline for discontinuing production. Therefore, in this embodiment, if a predetermined inconsistency (insufficient management) exists in the manufacturing network, the processing unit 51 (see FIG. 1) displays a notification screen of this inconsistency on the terminal device 60 (see FIG. 1). This allows the administrator to understand the inconsistency in the manufacturing network and then appropriately correct the inconsistency.

[0064] FIG. 11 is a flowchart related to the extraction of inconsistencies in a manufacturing network (see also FIG. 1 as appropriate). In step S201, the processing unit 51 of the manufacturing network processing device 50 determines whether the manufacturing network has been updated. For example, if the specifications of a part or the like are changed, a new item code is created and the parts list is changed. To give a specific example, if the specifications of a part with the item code "P133-02" are changed, the item code of the changed part becomes "P133-03." Such item code generation and parts list changes are performed by a product manufacturing manager or the like. If the parts list is changed, the manufacturing network is updated based on the changed parts list, etc.

[0065] Next, in step S202, the processing unit 51 performs an inconsistency extraction process for the manufacturing network using the inconsistency extraction unit 51e. The inconsistency extraction process will be described in detail later.

[0066] In step S203, the processing unit 51 determines whether or not an inconsistency exists in the manufacturing network. If an inconsistency exists in the manufacturing network (S203: Yes), the processing of the processing unit 51 proceeds to step S204. In step S204, the processing unit 51 displays the inconsistency in the manufacturing network on the terminal device 60. In this way, if a predetermined inconsistency exists in the manufacturing network (S203: Yes), the processing unit 51 displays a notification screen 601 of the inconsistency on the terminal device 60 (S204: inconsistency display processing). For example, the notification screen 601 includes a predetermined message such as "An inconsistency exists in the manufacturing network." After displaying the inconsistency notification screen 601 on the terminal device 60 (S204), the processing of the processing unit 51 returns to "START" (RETURN).

[0067] If no inconsistency exists in the manufacturing network in step S203 (S203: No), the processing of the processing unit 51 returns to "START" (RETURN). In this way, the processing unit 51 repeats the series of processes shown in FIG. 11 in a predetermined manner.

[0068] FIG. 12A is an explanatory diagram of the manufacturing network N2 in FIG. 10 , in which nodes corresponding to parts with changed specifications have been added. In FIG. 12A , the nodes for parts before the specification change are indicated by dots, and the nodes for parts after the specification change are indicated by hatching (the same applies to FIGS. 12B to 12E ). In FIG. 12A , assume that a specification change occurs for the item code "P133-02" in FIG. 10 due to circumstances at Supplier B. As shown by arrow A1 in FIG. 12A , a part node with new specifications, with item code "P133-03" after the specification change from "P133-02," is added. Note that in FIG. 12A , the node for the module with item code "A002-01" remains connected via a branch to the node for the part with the old specifications, with item code "P133-02."

[0069] FIG. 12B is an explanatory diagram of the manufacturing network N3 at the next stage of FIG. 12A. Assume that the manufacturing network N3 has been updated as shown in FIG. 12B following a change to the parts list based on an administrator's input operation. In the example of FIG. 12B, a new module node with item code "A002-02" has been created as a new module containing a part with new specifications ("P133-03"). Note that "A002-02" represents a module that replaces "A002-01" due to a change in specifications. This module node "A002-2" is connected via branches to the nodes for the part with the new specifications ("P133-03") and the existing part ("P160-01").

[0070] On the other hand, in the state of FIG. 12B, the connection relationship of the old-specification module ("A002-01") also remains. If there is remaining inventory of old-specification parts and old-specification parts will continue to be used for a while, the connection relationship of FIG. 12B can be said to be correct. On the other hand, if old-specification parts will not be used in the future, the connection relationship of FIG. 12B can be said to be incorrect. Which of the two cases above applies may ultimately be determined by the manager, or the determination may be made by a computer (not shown) using AI (artificial intelligence) or the like linked to inventory management information.

[0071] FIG. 12C is an explanatory diagram of the manufacturing network N4 at the next stage of FIG. 12B. Assume that the manufacturing network N4 is updated as shown in FIG. 12C following a change in the bill of materials based on an administrator's input operation. In the example of FIG. 12C, a node for a new semi-finished product with item code "C111-03" is created, including a modular product with new specifications ("A002-02"). Note that "C111-03" represents a semi-finished product that replaces "C111-02" due to a change in specifications. This semi-finished product node is connected via branches to the modular product with new specifications ("A002-02") and the existing modular product ("A001-01"). Note that in FIG. 12C, the node for the semi-finished product with new specifications ("C111-03") is not connected to the node for the finished product ("D222-03"), and therefore has no parent node.

[0072] Figure 12D is an explanatory diagram of the manufacturing network N5 at the next stage after Figure 12C. Assume that the manufacturing network N5 is updated as shown in Figure 12D following a change in the bill of materials based on an administrator's input operation. In the example of Figure 12D, a node for a finished product with item code "D222-04" is created as a new finished product including a semi-finished product with new specifications ("C111-03"). Note that "D222-04" represents a finished product that replaces "D222-03" due to a change in specifications. This finished product node is connected via branches to the semi-finished product with new specifications ("C111-03") and the existing semi-finished product ("C211-04"). Furthermore, the nodes for the finished product with the old specifications ("D222-03") and the semi-finished product "C111-02" are not connected to other nodes and are isolated.

[0073] FIG. 12E is an explanatory diagram of a notification screen for an inconsistency in the manufacturing network N5 in FIG. 12D. Note that the configuration of the manufacturing network N5 is the same as in FIG. 12D, but in FIG. 12E, the inconsistencies are indicated by a crosshatched area, and the branch that the user should consider correcting is indicated by a bold line. In the example of FIG. 12E, among the module products ("A002-01" and "A002-02") that share the same product name ("A002"), the new specification product ("A002-02") is used to manufacture a semi-finished product ("C111-03"), while the old specification product ("A002-01") is used to manufacture another semi-finished product ("C211-04"). Furthermore, the old specification part ("P133-02") is used to manufacture the old specification module product ("A002-01"). In this case, there is a possibility that the old-specification parts ("P133-02") and modules ("A002-01") are unusable items that do not need to be manufactured. In other words, in the state shown in Figure 12E, there is a possibility that there is an error in the connection relationship of the old-specification parts ("P133-02") and modules ("A002-01"), and these parts and modules are still being used incorrectly.

[0074] In such a case, the processing unit 51 (see FIG. 1) determines that an inconsistency exists in the manufacturing network N5 and displays a notification screen of the inconsistency on the terminal device 60 (see FIG. 1). Note that the state shown in FIG. 12E corresponds to the second type of inconsistency, as will be described later.

[0075] In addition, the inconsistent portion (node ​​or branch) may be highlighted on the inconsistency notification screen as shown in Fig. 12E. Furthermore, a message such as "An inconsistency exists in the manufacturing network" may also be displayed. In addition, for example, the inconsistent portion may be highlighted in the part information 21 (see Fig. 7) acquired by the parts bill / drawing information acquisition unit 51c (see Fig. 1).

[0076] This allows users to recognize inconsistencies in the manufacturing network and correct them as appropriate. As a result, it is possible to prevent errors in the assembly and processing of parts, etc., as well as to prevent parts that do not need to be manufactured or parts that cannot be manufactured in reality from being manufactured, or to prevent confusion at the manufacturing site from being caused by issuing manufacturing instructions. It also prevents unnecessary parts and other items from being left in stock, resulting in continued production or inventory management efforts and the need for storage space.

[0077] In the example of Figure 12E, two nodes ("C111-02" and "D222-03") are not connected to other nodes and are in an isolated state. Therefore, the parts corresponding to these nodes are not used in the manufacture of products, so there is no particular risk of them being assembled incorrectly. Furthermore, even if isolated nodes exist, the manufacturing network N5 as a whole remains a "tree structure."

[0078] The following types of inconsistencies in a manufacturing network can be listed. Specifically, as a first type of inconsistency, when there is a node among the multiple nodes included in the manufacturing network that is not connected to a parent node but is connected to a child node, and that does not correspond to a product that can be shipped (a finished product in FIG. 12E), the processing unit 51 (see FIG. 1) determines that there is an inconsistency in the manufacturing network. The processing unit 51 then displays a notification screen of this inconsistency on the terminal device 60 (see FIG. 1).

[0079] For example, the semi-finished product node "C111-03" shown in FIG. 12C is connected to a child (leaf) node via a branch, but is not connected to a parent (root) node. Furthermore, the semi-finished product is not capable of being shipped. Thus, the partial semi-finished product corresponding to the node does not contribute to the production of the target finished product. Therefore, the processing unit 51 determines that there is an inconsistency in the manufacturing network.

[0080] As a second type of inconsistency, when there are multiple nodes in the manufacturing network that share a common product name code but different version codes, and each of these nodes is connected to another node via a branch, the processing unit 51 (see FIG. 1) determines that there is an inconsistency in the manufacturing network. The processing unit 51 then displays a notification screen of this inconsistency on the terminal device 60 (see FIG. 1).

[0081] For example, in FIG. 12E, a node with an item code of "A002-01" and a node with an item code of "A002-02" coexist. In other words, multiple nodes with the same product code "A002" but different version codes coexist. In such a case, there is a possibility that parts with old specifications are being used unnecessarily, so the processing unit 51 determines that there is an inconsistency in the manufacturing network. In the example of FIG. 12E, a message stating "An inconsistency exists" is displayed as a notification screen of the inconsistency.

[0082] In addition, among multiple nodes that share the same product name code but different version codes, for those with version codes that are not the latest, the processing unit 51 (see FIG. 1) can display information including the inventory quantity of parts or materials corresponding to that node on the terminal device 60 (see FIG. 1). This allows the administrator to understand the inventory quantity of parts with old specifications. In addition, for example, if parts with old specifications are discontinued products (so-called EOL products), the deadline for discontinuing production can also be displayed. The third and fourth types of manufacturing network inconsistencies will be explained using FIGS. 13A and 13B.

[0083] Figure 13A is an explanatory diagram showing the third type of inconsistency in a manufacturing network. In addition to showing item codes corresponding to specific nodes in the manufacturing network, Figure 13A also shows drawing codes corresponding to specific branches (similar to Figure 13B). Furthermore, let's assume that a product with item code "C111-02" is manufactured based on a drawing with drawing code "DC333-01," and a product with item code "C211-04" is also manufactured.

[0084] As shown in Figure 13A, it is not common for multiple results (intermediate products and finished products) to be manufactured based on a single drawing. While integrating drawings, such as design drawings and manufacturing procedure manuals, can reduce design and production preparation man-hours, it is important to align the drawing's description range with the item code because it can lead to confusion in interpreting the drawing content and lead to operational errors from the manufacturing site perspective. Such inconsistencies can arise due to input errors in the correspondence between components and drawings. Therefore, the processing unit 51 (see Figure 1) performs the following processing. Specifically, if there are multiple item codes for results based on a drawing that correspond to a single drawing code in the manufacturing network, the processing unit 51 determines that an inconsistency exists in the manufacturing network. The processing unit 51 then displays a notification screen of this inconsistency on the terminal device 60 (see Figure 1). This alerts the administrator to the existence of an inconsistency in the manufacturing network.

[0085] Figure 13B is an explanatory diagram showing the fourth type of manufacturing network inconsistency. In the example of Figure 13B, a part or the like with an item code of "C111-03" is associated with a drawing with a drawing code of "DC333-01." This part or the like is also associated with a drawing with a drawing code of "DC444-01." In other words, one part or the like is associated with multiple drawings. This means that there are multiple ways to make the part or the like, which creates the inconvenience of having to select a manufacturing method at the manufacturing site.

[0086] However, typically, only one drawing is associated with one component, etc. Therefore, in the example of FIG. 13B, an inconsistency has occurred in the manufacturing network. Such an inconsistency may also be caused by an input error in the correspondence between components, etc. and drawings. Therefore, the processing unit 51 (see FIG. 1) performs the following processing. That is, in the manufacturing network, if the item code of a resultant product based on a drawing corresponding to one drawing code is the same as the item code of a resultant product based on another drawing corresponding to another drawing code, the processing unit 51 determines that an inconsistency exists in the manufacturing network. Then, the processing unit 51 displays a notification screen of this inconsistency on the terminal device 60 (see FIG. 1). This allows the administrator to be aware of the existence of an inconsistency in the manufacturing network.

[0087] The processing unit 51 (see FIG. 1) may use the time series management unit 51h (see FIG. 1) to display the manufacturing network on the terminal device 60 (see FIG. 1) in chronological order of the update date and time of the manufacturing network based on a user's input operation. For example, the manufacturing networks shown in FIGS. 12A to 12E may be displayed on the terminal device 60 in chronological order. Specifically, the manufacturing networks shown in FIGS. 12A to 12E may be displayed as thumbnails in chronological order, and the network selected by the user's input operation may be enlarged and displayed. Furthermore, the manufacturing network displayed on the terminal device 60 may be switched in chronological order each time the user performs a predetermined input operation (e.g., mouse click). This allows the user to determine at what stage the connection between nodes was incorrect and to appropriately correct the manufacturing network.

[0088] It is also advisable to display the update date and time in association with the manufacturing network arranged in chronological order. This allows users to understand how long the inconsistency has continued if there is an inconsistency in the manufacturing network. From the perspective of manufacturing traceability, it is important for users to know when manufacturing has been in an inconsistent state and when instructions for manufacturing began. Alternatively, in a manufacturing network arranged in chronological order, the inventory quantity of parts, etc. at the node corresponding to the inconsistency may be displayed in association with the node. This allows users to understand, for example, how many parts, etc. with old specifications corresponding to the inconsistent node remain. By managing the evolution of the manufacturing network in this way, users can objectively understand changes in manufacturing. Next, we will explain information on manufacturing instructions and performance in order.

[0089] FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram showing a specific example of instruction information. In the example of FIG. 14, an instruction number, a manufacturing item, the number of items (quantity), a manufacturing deadline, and a scheduled manufacturing start date and time are associated with each other. The instruction number corresponds to a specific manufacturing process. For example, an instruction number "10011" indicates an instruction to manufacture 20 units of a manufacturing item with an item code "D222-03" by October 30, 2023. The scheduled manufacturing start date and time corresponding to this instruction is 1:00 PM on October 28, 2023. Such instruction information is stored in advance in the order performance database 40.

[0090] FIG. 15 is an explanatory diagram showing details of instruction information. In the example of FIG. 15, an instruction number, a work summary, a manufacturing item, the number of manufacturing personnel (number of units manufactured), an assembly drawing, parts used, and the number of parts (number of parts) are associated with each other. For example, in the case of an instruction number "10011," when 20 units of manufacturing item "D222-03" are manufactured, 60 units of "C111-02" and 40 units of "C211-04" are prepared, and each part is assembled based on the assembly drawing "DD222-03." This kind of instruction information is also stored in advance in the instruction record database 40 (see FIG. 1).

[0091] FIG. 16 is an explanatory diagram of production results. In the example of FIG. 16, the order number, production item, number of production items (number of units), production deadline, and scheduled production start date and time are associated with each other, as well as the following items: the actual production start date and time, the actual production end date and time, the actual number of production items (number of units), the number of defective items (number of defective products), and the number of acceptable products received (number of non-defective products). This information about production results is stored sequentially in the order result database 40 (see FIG. 1) each time actual production results are obtained.

[0092] FIG. 17 is an explanatory diagram showing the relationship between the manufacturing network N6 and each instruction. As shown in FIG. 17, a predetermined manufacturing instruction is associated with the assembly and processing of parts, etc. For example, a manufacturing instruction (manufacturing instruction with instruction number "10011") is preset to assemble a semi-finished product with item code "C111-02" and a semi-finished product with item code "C211-04" based on a drawing "DD222-03" to produce a finished product "D222-03." Similarly, predetermined instructions are preset for the assembly, processing, and procurement of each part, etc.

[0093] As shown in FIG. 17, the instruction number of each manufacturing instruction corresponds to the drawing code of the drawing used in manufacturing. For example, a manufacturing instruction with the instruction number "10011" corresponds to a drawing with the drawing code "DD222-03." The processing unit 51 (see FIG. 1) associates the instruction information related to the manufacturing of the product with each drawing code in the manufacturing network and displays it on the terminal device 60 (see FIG. 1). In this case, although not shown in FIG. 17, it is preferable that the instruction information include the number (quantity) of parts or materials used in manufacturing the product. This allows the user to understand at a glance how many of each part are to be assembled based on the manufacturing instruction.

[0094] Figure 18 is an explanatory diagram including the parent-child relationships between nodes in a manufacturing network, drawings used in manufacturing, and order records. The table in Figure 18 corresponds to manufacturing network N6 in Figure 17. In the example in Figure 18, the "No." indicating the arrangement order of each piece of data is associated with the item code of the parent node in the manufacturing network, the item code of the child node, the drawing code of the drawing used in assembling and processing parts, etc., the manufacturing start record, and the manufacturing end record. Note that "..." in Figure 18 indicates that detailed description is omitted.

[0095] For example, the row "No. 1" indicates that a semi-finished product "C111-02" and a semi-finished product "C211-04" are assembled based on the drawing "D222-03" to produce a finished product "D222-03." The first production run, based on the manufacturing instruction with the instruction number "10011," began at 1:10 PM on October 28, 2023, and ended at 5:30 PM on the same day, producing 20 finished products. The same applies to subsequent production runs. In this way, the manufacturing results based on the manufacturing instructions are stored in the instruction results database 40 (see FIG. 1) in association with the manufacturing network information (the "parent," "child," and "drawing" columns 2 to 4 of FIG. 18).

[0096] FIG. 19 is a flowchart for acquiring instruction information and instruction results (see also FIG. 1 as appropriate). The series of processes shown in FIG. 19 is initiated, for example, when a predetermined input operation is performed on the terminal device 60. In step S301, the processing unit 51 links the instruction information with the manufacturing network using the instruction-manufacturing network linking unit 51f. As described above, the instruction number and the drawing code are previously associated one-to-one (see FIGS. 17 and 18). The processing unit 51 references the drawing code associated with the instruction information and identifies the parent and child nodes in the manufacturing network that correspond to this drawing code. Then, the processing unit 51 associates the item code of each parent and child node with the instruction information using the drawing code as a key. This links the instruction information with the manufacturing network.

[0097] Next, in step S302, the processing unit 51 acquires the instruction performance from the instruction performance database 40. For example, the processing unit 51 acquires information such as that shown in Fig. 18 from the instruction performance database 40. Note that the instruction number included in the instruction information used in step S301 and the instruction number included in the instruction performance acquired in step S302 correspond to each other.

[0098] Next, in step S303, the processing unit 51 generates a predetermined overlap diagram using the image information generation unit 51k, and further causes this overlap diagram to be displayed on the terminal device 60. As an example of such an overlap diagram, in this embodiment, the processing unit 51 creates a diagram (see FIG. 21) in which the manufacturing network, instruction information, and time information related to the manufacturing work are overlapped.

[0099] Figure 20 is an explanatory diagram of an overlap diagram relating to a manufacturing network. Starting from the bottom of the page, Figure 20 shows the manufacturing network, instruction information, first instruction performance information, and second instruction performance information. As mentioned above, the instruction information is composed of multiple nodes with parent-child relationships (see Figure 2). Therefore, the presence of each piece of instruction information is indicated by a triangle or a rectangle (see also Figure 21) surrounding the nodes with the parent-child relationship.

[0100] The first actual order information shown in Figure 20 is the lead time of the process corresponding to each piece of instruction information. Here, "lead time" (an efficiency index in manufacturing) is the actual time required from the start to the end of the assembly and processing of parts, etc. For example, as shown in Figure 18, if production starts at 1:10 PM on October 28, 2023, based on a manufacturing instruction with instruction number "10011," and ends at 5:30 PM on the same day, the lead time will be 4 hours and 20 minutes.

[0101] The second instruction performance information shown in FIG. 20 is the net operation time of the process corresponding to each instruction information. Here, "net operation time" (an efficiency index in manufacturing) is the operation time assuming that the assembly and processing of parts, etc. continues without delay. For example, operation delays may occur due to delays in the production of parts, etc. used for assembly and processing, but such delay time is excluded from the net operation time. Information on net operation time is set in advance in association with the bill of materials or instruction information. Although not shown, displaying the average lead time for each instruction over a period, the earliest lead time for the period, the latest lead time for the period, etc. is also useful for the manufacturing site in identifying unevenness in work.

[0102] FIG. 21 is a diagram showing an example of an overlap diagram related to a manufacturing network. The overlap diagram shown in FIG. 21 is an image in which instruction information, first instruction performance information (lead time), and second instruction performance information (net work time) are overlapped on the image of the manufacturing network in FIG. 20. Note that FIG. 21 shows only a portion of the lead time and net work time, and the remaining information is omitted. By displaying such an overlap diagram on the terminal device 60 (see FIG. 1), the overall flow of manufacturing can be visualized. Furthermore, the user can get a bird's-eye view of which tasks are likely to become stagnant in the manufacturing process.

[0103] While FIG. 21 illustrates an example in which both lead time and net operation time are displayed on the terminal device 60 (see FIG. 1 ), at least one of these may be displayed. That is, the processing unit 51 (see FIG. 1 ) displays an image on the terminal device 60 in which a predetermined efficiency index for manufacturing is associated with the manufacturing network and instruction information. This allows the user to grasp at a glance the entire manufacturing process, the instruction information, and the time required for each task (lead time and net operation time). In addition to the aforementioned lead time and net operation time, the predetermined "efficiency index" for manufacturing may also be an average lead time for a period, the earliest lead time for a period, or the latest lead time for a period. Here, the "average lead time for a period" refers to the average lead time for a period when a predetermined manufacturing task is repeated over that period. The "earliest lead time for a period" refers to the shortest lead time for a period when a predetermined manufacturing task is repeated over that period. The "latest lead time during a period" is the longest lead time when a given manufacturing operation is repeated within a given period.

[0104] 20, the image of the manufacturing network, the instruction information, the first instruction performance information (lead time), and the second instruction performance information (net work time) may be displayed in a shifted manner on the terminal device 60. Also, the instruction information does not necessarily have to be displayed in a triangle or a rectangle, and may be displayed in another predetermined manner.

[0105] <<Modifications>> The manufacturing network processing system 100 and the like according to the present disclosure have been described above in the embodiments, but the present disclosure is not limited to these descriptions and various modifications can be made. For example, in the embodiments, a case has been described in which an image of the manufacturing network generated by the manufacturing network processing device 50 (see FIG. 1) is displayed on the terminal device 60 (see FIG. 1), but this is not limiting. That is, the manufacturing network processing device 50 may be provided with a display (not shown), and the image of the manufacturing network may be displayed on this display.

[0106] Furthermore, the display of the tree-structured manufacturing network is not limited to the form shown in FIG. 10. For example, the processing unit 51 may collectively display a plurality of parts lists (see FIG. 7) related to the manufacture of a specific product as a manufacturing network on the terminal device 60. In addition, although the embodiment has been described as using numbers such as "01" and "02" as version codes included in item codes for parts, etc., this is not limiting. For example, in addition to alphabets and specific symbols, combinations of numbers, alphabets, and symbols may also be used as version codes.

[0107] Furthermore, when linking items to generate a manufacturing network, a predetermined key number may be used to search for a new parent material by treating a parent material as a child material. That is, the processing unit 51 may assign a predetermined key number in a one-to-one correspondence to the item code of each parent node, and may also assign a key number (inheritance key) in a one-to-one correspondence to the item code of each child node. Here, the same key number is assigned to items with the same item code, regardless of whether they are parent or child nodes. The processing unit 51 then searches for a parent node with the same key number as the child node's key number, and treats this parent node as a new child to search for a new parent node. Even when linking items in this manner, a manufacturing network can be generated, similar to the embodiment.

[0108] Furthermore, if the following conditions are met, the processing unit 51 may determine that there is an inconsistency in the manufacturing network. That is, if a node included in the manufacturing network is neither a root nor a leaf, the part or the like corresponding to the node is not supplied from another location (purchased from another company or supplied from the company's own business), and further, is not connected to a child node via a branch, the processing unit 51 may determine that there is an inconsistency in the manufacturing network. This is because the above-mentioned nodes correspond to parts or the like whose history is unknown, and it is therefore advisable for the administrator to check them just to be sure.

[0109] Furthermore, if there is an isolated node in the manufacturing network that is not connected to other nodes via a branch, the processing unit 51 may display the inventory quantity of parts, etc. corresponding to that node on the terminal device 60. This allows the administrator to grasp the inventory quantity of parts, etc. that are not expected to be used in the future.

[0110] Furthermore, the program for the manufacturing network processing method executed by the manufacturing network processing system 100 can be provided via a communication line or a network, or can be written onto a recording medium such as a CD-ROM and distributed.

[0111] Furthermore, the embodiments have been described in detail to clearly explain the present disclosure, and are not necessarily limited to those including all of the described configurations. Furthermore, it is possible to add, delete, or replace some of the configurations of the embodiments with other configurations. Furthermore, the above-described mechanisms and configurations are those considered necessary for explanation, and do not necessarily represent all mechanisms and configurations of the product.

[0112] The present disclosure is not limited to the above-described embodiments and includes various modifications. For example, the embodiments have been described in detail to clearly explain the present disclosure, and the present disclosure is not necessarily limited to those including all of the described configurations. Furthermore, it is possible to add, delete, or replace part of the configuration of the embodiments with other configurations.

[0113] Furthermore, the above-mentioned components, functions, processing units, processing means, etc. may be partially or entirely implemented in hardware, for example, by designing them as integrated circuits. The above-mentioned components, functions, etc. may also be implemented in software, with a processor interpreting and executing a program that implements each function. Information such as programs, tables, and files that implement each function can be stored in memory, a recording device such as a hard disk or SSD (Solid State Drive), or a recording medium such as an IC card, SD card, or DVD. Furthermore, the control lines and information lines shown are those considered necessary for explanation, and do not necessarily represent all control lines and information lines in the product. In reality, it can be assumed that almost all components are interconnected.

[0114] 100 Manufacturing network processing system 10 Item code database 20 Parts bill database 30 Drawing database 40 Order record database 50 Manufacturing network processing device 51 Processing unit 52 Storage unit 51a Item code acquisition unit 51b Item code name matching processing unit 51c Parts bill / drawing information acquisition unit 51d Manufacturing network processing unit 51e Inconsistency extraction unit 51f Instruction-manufacturing network linking unit 51g Order record acquisition unit 51h Time series management unit 51k Image information generation unit 60 Terminal device 601 Notification screen N1, N2, N3, N4, N5, N6 Manufacturing network S105 Step (network display processing) S204 Step (inconsistency display processing)

Claims

1. A manufacturing network processing system comprising a processing unit that causes a terminal device to display a manufacturing network in which a process from when parts are assembled or materials are processed sequentially until a predetermined product is completed is represented by a network having a tree structure, each node of the manufacturing network being associated with an item code of a part or material that is a component of the product, each branch of the manufacturing network being associated with a drawing code of a drawing used for assembling parts or processing materials, and the processing unit causing the terminal device to display a notification screen for the inconsistency when there is a predetermined inconsistency in the manufacturing network.

2. When, among a plurality of nodes included in the manufacturing network, there is a node that is not connected to a parent-side node and is connected to a child-side node and does not correspond to the product that can be shipped, the processing unit causes the terminal device to display the notification screen as the inconsistency. The manufacturing network processing system according to claim 1, characterized in that.

3. The item code includes a product name code associated with the type of each part or material and a version code indicating the number of times the specification of the part or material has been changed. When there are a plurality of nodes in the manufacturing network that have the same product name code and different version codes, and each of the nodes is connected to another node via a branch, the processing unit causes the terminal device to display the notification screen as the inconsistency. The manufacturing network processing system according to claim 1, characterized in that.

4. Among a plurality of nodes having the same product name code and different version codes, the processing unit causes the terminal device to display information including the inventory quantity of the part or material corresponding to the node for those nodes whose version code is not the latest. The manufacturing network processing system according to claim 3, characterized in that.

5. When there are a plurality of item codes of end products based on a drawing corresponding to one drawing code in the manufacturing network, the processing unit causes the terminal device to display the notification screen as the inconsistency. The manufacturing network processing system according to claim 1, characterized in that.

6. In the manufacturing network, when the item code of the result based on the drawing corresponding to one of the drawing codes is the same as the item code of the result based on another drawing corresponding to another drawing code, the processing unit causes the terminal device to display the notification screen as the inconsistency. The manufacturing network processing system according to claim 1, characterized in that.

7. The processing unit causes the terminal device to display the manufacturing network in chronological order of the update date and time of the manufacturing network based on a user input operation. The manufacturing network processing system according to claim 1, characterized in that.

8. The processing unit causes the terminal device to display the instruction information related to the manufacture of the product in association with each drawing code of the manufacturing network, and the instruction information includes the number of parts or materials used in the manufacture of the product. The manufacturing network processing system according to claim 1, characterized in that.

9. The processing unit causes the terminal device to display an image in which a predetermined efficiency index in manufacturing is associated with the manufacturing network and the instruction information. The manufacturing network processing system according to claim 8, characterized in that.

10. Network display processing in which the processing unit causes the terminal device to display a manufacturing network in which the process until a predetermined product is completed by sequentially assembling parts or processing materials is represented by a network having a tree structure, and when there is a predetermined inconsistency in the manufacturing network, Inconsistency display processing in which the processing unit causes the terminal device to display a notification screen of the inconsistency, each node of the manufacturing network is associated with an item code of a part or material that is a component of the product, and each branch of the manufacturing network is a drawing used for assembling parts or processing materials. A manufacturing network processing method associated with a drawing code.

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