Recycled article management system

Abstract

A recycled article management system according to the present invention comprises a first terminal provided to a service site of a machine, a second terminal provided to a recycling site for a component of the machine, and a server, wherein: when a component of the machine is replaced, the second terminal transmits component information relating to the component recycled at the recycling site to the server; the server generates recycled article management information on the basis of the received component information; the first terminal acquires information relating to component replacement from a component removed from the machine and a component to be attached to the machine, and transmits the information to the server; the server updates the recycled article management information on the basis of the information relating to component replacement received from the first terminal, and transmits, to the first terminal, guidance for determining whether the component removed from the machine can be recycled; the first terminal generates either a return report or a full loss report pertaining to the component removed from the machine on the basis of a selection result in the guidance received from the server and transmits the report to the server; and the server updates the recycled article management information on the basis of the information relating to component replacement received from the first terminal and the information included in the return report or the total loss report.

Description

Remanufactured goods management system

[0001] The present invention relates to a recycled parts management system for reusing parts included in machines as recycled parts.

[0002] In recent years, systems for reusing (recycling) products have been attracting attention in order to realize a recycling-oriented society. Reuse can take several forms, such as reusing the product as is, disassembling the product into its component parts and reusing each of the disassembled components, and restoring the product to like-new condition for reuse (refurbishment). In the case where a product is a component part of a machine, promoting the reuse of the product requires centralized management of the processes of removing the product from the machine, recovering it, regenerating the recovered product, and reattaching the regenerated product to the machine (these processes are collectively referred to as the recycling process).

[0003] To solve this problem, it is conceivable to use the technology described in Patent Document 1, for example. This technology associates a product ID with a product to be reused and registers it in a management database, and manages the process from when the product is collected until it is shipped again.

[0004] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-197180

[0005] However, in the case of the technology described in Patent Document 1, the information registered in association with the product ID in the management database is limited to the details of the separation process for the collected target products (whether the target products are reused as they are, or whether the target products are disassembled into component parts and each of the disassembled component parts is reused) and the model number (serial number) of the equipment installed in the target products when they are reused as they are, which poses a problem in that the circulation process of reclaimed products (recycled products) cannot be centrally managed. Furthermore, reclaimed products may be reused and used not just once but multiple times, and it is necessary to manage the number of times they are recycled and their recycling history in the circulation process.

[0006] In view of the above circumstances, an object of the present invention is to provide a recycled product management system that can centrally manage the recycling process of recycled products.

[0007] In order to solve the above problems, the recycled product management system of the present invention is a recycled product management system that includes a first terminal installed at a machine service base, a second terminal installed at a machine parts recycling base, and a server, wherein when a machine part is replaced, the second terminal transmits part information regarding the part recycled at the recycling base to the server, the server generates recycled product management information based on the received part information, the first terminal acquires information regarding the part replacement from the parts removed from the machine and the parts to be installed in the machine and transmits the information to the server, the server updates the recycled product management information based on the information regarding the part replacement received from the first terminal and transmits guidance to the first terminal for determining whether the part removed from the machine can be recycled, and the first terminal generates either a return report or a total loss report for the part removed from the machine based on the selection result in the guidance received from the server and transmits the report to the server, and the server updates the recycled product management information based on the information regarding the part replacement received from the first terminal and the information included in the return report or total loss report.

[0008] According to the present invention, the recycling process of recycled products can be centrally managed. Further features related to the present invention will become apparent from the description of the present specification and the accompanying drawings. In addition, the problems, configurations, and effects other than those described above will become apparent from the following description of the embodiments.

[0009] Fig. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an overall picture of a recycled product management system according to an embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 2 is a block diagram showing functions of a recycled product management system according to an embodiment. Fig. 3 is a flowchart showing processing executed by a recycled product management system. Fig. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a part replacement registration screen displayed on an agency terminal. Fig. 5 is a diagram showing an example of an input guidance screen display displayed on an agency terminal. Fig. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a shipping inspection screen display displayed on a recycling factory terminal. Fig. 7 is a diagram showing an example of a recycled product management information screen display displayed on an agency terminal or a recycling factory terminal.

[0010] An embodiment of a recycled product management system according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the description of the drawings, identical elements are designated by the same reference numerals, and duplicate explanations will be omitted. Furthermore, the term "recycled product" as used in this invention refers to a part that has been removed and recovered for replacement during machine maintenance, for example, and has been restored to like-new condition. Parts removed from a machine for replacement include not only defective parts, but also parts that have exceeded a specified service life or are replaced preventatively before a defect occurs, as well as parts that have been recycled and used multiple times. In this embodiment, parts removed from a machine for this replacement are considered to be parts that are candidates for recycling. Therefore, in the following description, parts removed from a machine may also be referred to as "parts that are candidates for recycling."

[0011] 1 is a schematic diagram showing an overall configuration of a recycled product management system. As shown in FIG. 1, the recycled product management system 1 according to this embodiment includes an agency terminal 300 located at an agency 30, which is a service base that provides services such as sales and maintenance of a machine 10 (e.g., construction machinery such as a hydraulic excavator), an agency mobile terminal 100 carried by a service technician who performs maintenance work such as inspection of the machine 10, a server 200 that manages information on each part of the machine 10, a remanufacturing factory terminal 400 located at a remanufacturing factory 40, which is a remanufacturing base that remanufactures parts of the machine 10, and a remanufacturing factory mobile terminal 500 carried by a worker at the remanufacturing factory 40. The agency mobile terminal 100, the agency terminal 300, the remanufacturing factory terminal 400, and the remanufacturing factory mobile terminal 500 are each connected to the server 200 via a network 20 so as to be able to communicate with each other.

[0012] The agent terminal 300 corresponds to the "first terminal" described in the claims and is configured, for example, by a computer equipped with a CPU (Central Processing Unit) and memory. The agent terminal 300 has functions to support the maintenance work of service personnel, manage input to the agent mobile terminal 100, and create various reports, etc.

[0013] The agent mobile terminal 100 is, for example, a smartphone, a tablet terminal, a mobile phone, a PDA (Personal Data Assistant), or the like, and is carried by a service person at the agent 30 and used when performing maintenance on the machine 10. The agent mobile terminal 100 also corresponds to the "first terminal" in the claims.

[0014] The recycling factory terminal 400 corresponds to the "second terminal" described in the claims and is composed of, for example, a computer equipped with a CPU (Central Processing Unit) and memory. The recycling factory terminal 400 has functions to support the work of workers at the recycling factory, manage input to the recycling factory mobile terminal 500, and create various reports, etc.

[0015] The remanufacturing factory mobile terminal 500 has the same structure as the agency mobile terminal 100 and is, for example, a smartphone, tablet terminal, mobile phone, or PDA (Personal Data Assistant), and is carried by workers at the remanufacturing factory 40 and used for receiving inspection and disassembly of parts that are candidates for remanufacturing, and for shipping inspection of remanufactured products. Note that this remanufacturing factory mobile terminal 500 also corresponds to the "second terminal" in the claims.

[0016] The server 200 is installed at the head office, branch office, factory, or management center of the manufacturer of the machine 10. The server 200 is connected to the agency mobile terminal 100, the agency terminal 300, the remanufacturing factory terminal 400, and the remanufacturing factory mobile terminal 500 via wireless communication via the network 20, and stores and manages information transmitted from the agency mobile terminal 100, the agency terminal 300, the remanufacturing factory terminal 400, and the remanufacturing factory mobile terminal 500, and provides the information in response to requests from these terminals. For example, the server 200 stores and manages the inspection report transmitted from the agency mobile terminal 100, the report transmitted from the agency terminal 300 and the remanufacturing factory terminal 400, and the information on received parts and disassembled parts transmitted from the remanufacturing factory mobile terminal 500.

[0017] The server 200 is configured by a microcomputer that combines, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit) that executes calculations, a ROM (Read Only Memory) as a secondary storage device that stores programs for the calculations, and a RAM (Random Access Memory) as a temporary storage device that saves the calculation progress and temporary control variables, and performs each process by executing the stored programs.

[0018] Next, the functions of each terminal described above will be explained. Fig. 2 is a block diagram showing the functions of the recycled product management system 1.

[0019] As shown in FIG. 2, the agent mobile terminal 100 includes a display unit 110 , an imaging unit 120 , a communication unit 130 , an input / output I / F (input / output interface) 140 , and a data collection unit 150 .

[0020] The display unit 110 is, for example, a display, and displays various information such as inspection items for the machine 10. The imaging unit 120 is, for example, a camera built into the agent mobile terminal 100, and generates image data of the captured subject. The communication unit 130 is, for example, a wireless device for connecting to the network 20, and transmits information input by the service staff to the server 200 and receives information such as emails from the server 200.

[0021] The input / output I / F 140 is configured, for example, by a touch panel displayed on the display unit 110 of the agency mobile terminal 100, a separately connected keyboard, or buttons or the like attached to the agency mobile terminal 100. For example, when a part is replaced during an inspection of the machine 10, the service technician can input information into the input / output I / F 140 to create an inspection report that includes information on the inspection date and time, the inspection details, and the part removed as a result of the replacement (i.e., the part that is a candidate for remanufacturing). Once the inspection report is created, it is transmitted to the server 200. The service technician can also input the result of the determination of whether the part that is a candidate for remanufacturing can be reused into the input / output I / F 140.

[0022] The data collection unit 150 collects information about any machine 10 from the server 200 in response to input operations on the input / output I / F 140. A service technician can check whether or not data about a specific machine 10 is available via the data collection unit 150, and can also acquire that data. For example, when inspecting a machine 10, the service technician inputs an identification number for identifying the machine 10 to be inspected into the input / output I / F 140, and acquires the part replacement history of the machine 10 from the server 200 via the data collection unit 150, thereby being able to grasp the part replacement status of the machine 10.

[0023] Furthermore, by operating input to the input / output I / F 140, the details of the inspection and, if any, information on candidate parts for remanufacturing can be added to the part replacement history of the machine 10 obtained from the server 200, and an inspection report can be created. The inspection report includes image data showing the inspection status and image data of candidate parts for remanufacturing. Once the inspection report is created, it is transmitted to the server 200 via the communication unit 130 and the network 20. The server 200 stores the transmitted inspection report in a memory unit 210 (described later).

[0024] As shown in FIG. 2, the agent terminal 300 has a communication unit 310 , an operation unit 320 , a display unit 330 , a data collection unit 340 , a report creation unit 350 , and an information search unit 360 .

[0025] The communication unit 310 is, for example, a wireless device for connecting to the network 20, and transmits information input via the operation unit 320 and reports created by the report creation unit 350 to the server 200, and receives information such as e-mails from the server 200. The operation unit 320 is, for example, a keyboard provided on the agent terminal 300.

[0026] The display unit 330 is, for example, a display, and displays each piece of information transmitted from the server 200. The display unit 330 may also be configured to display a touch panel. In this way, various input operations can be performed via the touch panel displayed on the display unit 330.

[0027] The data collection unit 340 collects information about any machine 10 from the server 200 in response to input operations on the operation unit 320. For example, when an inspection report for a specific machine 10 is to be obtained, a manager of the agency or the like can input the identification number of the machine 10 using the operation unit 320 and obtain the inspection report for the machine 10 from the server 200 via the communication unit 310 and the operation unit 320. The obtained inspection report for the specific machine 10 is displayed on the display unit 330.

[0028] The report creation unit 350 creates each report based on the results of the determination of whether or not the candidate part for remanufacturing can be remanufactured, which are written in the inspection report of the machine 10. Specifically, the report creation unit 350 creates a return report 351 when the candidate part for remanufacturing is determined to be remanufacturable, and creates a total loss report 352 when the candidate part is determined to be unremanufacturable.

[0029] The return report 351 is a report for returning a remanufactured candidate part to the remanufacturing factory 40 when it has been determined that the remanufactured candidate part is remanufacturable. The total loss report 352 is a report for discarding a remanufactured candidate part when it has been determined that the remanufactured candidate part is not remanufacturable. Once these reports are created, they are transmitted to the server 200 via the communication unit 310 and the network 20. The information search unit 360 searches for information about remanufactured products registered in the server 200 based on specified conditions.

[0030] 1, the return report 351 and the total loss report 352 created by the report creation unit 350 have image data areas 351a and 352a for displaying the overall image and details of the candidate parts for remanufacturing, and text areas 351b and 352b for displaying related information such as machine identification information and return classification (in the case of the return report 351). Note that the determination result as to whether or not the part can be remanufactured can be substituted by the type of report issued, and therefore this description may be omitted.

[0031] 2, the server 200 has a storage unit 210. The storage unit 210 stores information transmitted from the agency mobile terminal 100, the agency terminal 300, the recycling factory terminal 400, and the recycling factory mobile terminal 500. The storage unit 210 also has a report DB (Data Base) 220 that stores reports transmitted from the agency terminal 300 and the recycling factory terminal 400.

[0032] 2, the remanufacturing factory terminal 400 has a communications unit 410, an operation unit 420, a display unit 430, a data collection unit 440, a report creation unit 450, and an information search unit 460. These functional units, except for the report creation unit 450, have the same functions as the functional units of the agency terminal 300, so a description thereof will be omitted. The report creation unit 450 of the remanufacturing factory terminal 400 creates an acceptance inspection report 452 for the remanufacturing candidate part based on the actual remanufacturing candidate part sent to the remanufacturing factory terminal 400 and image data of the remanufacturing candidate part included in the return report 351 created by the agency terminal 300 or image data of the remanufacturing candidate part included in the return report 451 created by the agency terminal 300 itself.

[0033] Since parts are usually composed of multiple small parts, the remanufacturing factory terminal 400 disassembles parts determined to be remanufacturable (i.e., remanufactured products) into smaller parts and manages related information for the disassembled small parts. In this case, after creating the above-mentioned incoming inspection report 452, the report creation unit 450 further creates a disassembly report 453 that disassembles the parts into the small parts that make up the remanufacturing candidate parts. The disassembly report 453 includes the usage history of the remanufacturing candidate parts.

[0034] 1, the return report 451, the incoming inspection report 452, and the disassembly report 453 created by the report creation unit 450 have image data areas 451a, 452a, and 453a for displaying the overall image and details of the remanufacturing candidate part, and text areas 451b, 452b, and 453b for displaying related information such as machine identification information and return classification (in the case of the return report 451). Note that in this embodiment, the information search units 360, 460 are configured to be provided in the remanufacturing factory terminal 400 and the agency terminal 300, but the information search units may also be provided in the remanufacturing factory mobile terminal 500 and the agency mobile terminal 100.

[0035] Next, the processing executed by the recycled product management system according to this embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 3. The processing flow is divided into processing executed on the first terminal (the agency terminal 300 or the agency mobile terminal 100) and the second terminal (the recycling factory terminal 400 or the recycling factory mobile terminal 500). Furthermore, processing executed by the server 200 after receiving some information from each terminal is also treated as processing executed on the respective terminal side.

[0036] First, in step S1, a shipping inspection is performed when a refurbished product is shipped from the refurbishment factory 40 to the distributor 30. The shipping inspection, as described below, is a final check of the quality, condition, etc. of the refurbished product before shipping. The results are entered into the second terminal by an operator at the refurbishment factory 40, and the "shipping inspection" results are transmitted to the server 200. Next, in step S2, the server 200 registers the data related to the shipping inspection received from the second terminal in the report DB 220, and refurbished product management information is generated. This refurbished product management information is generated for each refurbished product, and serves to manage the circulation process of each refurbished product by associating the report numbers and contents of reports such as "parts replacement," "return report," and "total loss report," which are processes that occur after the "shipping inspection," with serial numbers (production numbers) that identify the refurbished product.

[0037] Next, in step S3, when replacing a part of machine 10 with a refurbished part, the service person at the agency performs "part replacement registration" from the first terminal and registers it in report DB 220. In part replacement registration, a code (e.g., QR Code: registered trademark) printed on the part to be replaced or on the packaging material of the part to be replaced is read. As shown in FIG. 4, the service person reads the codes of both the part to be removed and the part to be installed, and transmits the information contained in the read codes from the first terminal to server 200. Note that the replacement part registered in step S3 is a refurbished part that has already been refurbished once or multiple times and is different from the part registered for shipping inspection in step S1. After part replacement registration is performed in step S3, in step S4, server 200 updates the refurbished product management information, and part replacement information, such as the replacement date and time, for the replaced part is added to the refurbished product management information.

[0038] In step S5, input guidance for determining whether the removed part can be restored is sent from server 200 to the first terminal. The service person operates the first terminal and selects check items included in the input guidance displayed on the terminal as shown in FIG. 5. Depending on the result, a "total loss report" or a "return report" is generated. If the result of the input is a "total loss report," the process proceeds to S6. If the result of the input is a "return report," the process proceeds to step S11.

[0039] In step S6, a "total loss report" is registered in the report DB 220 from the first terminal. In step S7, the server 200 adds the contents of the report to the remanufactured product management information. When the "total loss report" is added in step S7, the second terminal determines its validity in step S8 (approval process). A storage unit (not shown) of the second terminal stores part information, including image data of all parts installed in each machine, and also stores criteria for approval for each part. The second terminal, for example, compares the image data included in the acquired total loss report with the stored part information to determine whether to approve or reject the remanufactured part as a total loss. Well-known techniques can be used as a determination method using information such as image data. If the total loss report is approved in the approval process, the process proceeds to step S9. If the total loss report is rejected in the approval process, the process proceeds to step S10.

[0040] If the total loss report is approved in the approval process, the first terminal is notified in step S9 that the "disposal" of the part has been confirmed, and the process ends. In accordance with this notification, the agency disposes of the part. If the total loss report is rejected in the approval process, the first terminal is notified in step S10 that the "return" of the part has been confirmed. In accordance with this notification, the part is returned from agency 30 to remanufacturing factory 40 as a remanufacturing candidate part. At this time, agency 30 prints a return slip containing a QR code associated with information for identifying the remanufacturing candidate part, and encloses this slip with the returned remanufacturing candidate part. In step S11, if it is confirmed that this is a return report, the first terminal registers the "return report" in report DB 220.

[0041] When the "return report" is registered in step S11, the server 200 adds its contents to the recycled product management information in step S12. In step S13, information regarding the "received inspection" is registered on the second terminal (e.g., whether there is evidence of disassembly or modification between shipment and return). Specifically, a worker at the remanufacturing factory 40 first accesses the server 200 by reading the QR code on the return slip enclosed with the returned remanufacturing candidate part with a terminal equipped with a scanning function, and obtains the remanufacturing candidate part return report 351 or 451. Next, the worker compares the image data contained in the obtained return report 351 or 451 with the actual remanufacturing candidate part sent to determine whether the sent remanufacturing candidate part matches the information contained in the return report 351 or 451, and inputs the inspection results as information about the received part via the input / output I / F 540 of the remanufacturing factory mobile terminal 500. Furthermore, the worker takes an image of the remanufacturing candidate part using the imaging unit 520 of the remanufacturing factory mobile terminal 500 and attaches it as information about the received part. In step S14, the server 200 adds information about the "receiving inspection" to the remanufactured product management information.

[0042] In step S15, information related to the "disassembly report" is registered on the second terminal. Specifically, a worker at the remanufacturing factory 40 disassembles the remanufacturing candidate part into smaller parts, and for each of the disassembled smaller parts, inputs attribute information such as a management number as disassembled part information via the input / output I / F 540 of the remanufacturing factory mobile terminal 500. Furthermore, for each of the disassembled smaller parts, the worker takes an image using the imaging unit 520 and attaches the image as disassembled part information. In step S16, information related to the "disassembly report" is added to the remanufacturing factory 40's remanufacturing product management information. Finally, in step S17, the first terminal is notified that the registration process at the remanufacturing factory 40 has been completed, and the process ends.

[0043] According to this embodiment, first, the second terminal performs shipping inspection registration, and generates recycled product management information based on the results. Then, the recycled product management information is updated according to the processes executed on the first terminal and the second terminal. This makes it possible to centrally manage the recycling process of recycled products.

[0044] FIG. 4 shows an example of a part replacement registration screen displayed on the agency terminal 300 in this embodiment. When the QR code for the part to be removed (see reference numeral 4001) or the QR code for the part to be installed (see reference numeral 4002) is read, screen 4003 is displayed. When registering part replacement, at least the following information is required to be entered from the information displayed on screen 4003: "part number," "serial (part S / N)," "operating time (on the vehicle)," and "removal and installation dates." When a service technician logs into the information input screen on the agency terminal 300, candidate target machines are displayed on the display unit 330. When the target machine is designated via the operation unit 320, the "operating time (on the vehicle)" is acquired from the server 200. The "operating time (on the vehicle)" and "removal and installation dates" can be designated arbitrarily.

[0045] Replacement parts are fitted with nameplates containing information identifying the manufacturer and the part (such as "part number" and "serial (production number)" information). This information is printed, for example, as a QR code. In this embodiment, part replacement registration is performed using the reading (scanning) function of the agency mobile terminal 100. By scanning the codes printed on the parts, the "part number" and "serial (production number)" of the part to be removed and the part to be installed are entered into an information input screen.

[0046] Specifically, the service technician uses the agency mobile terminal 100 to read the code when removing / installing a part. The order of reading does not matter. For example, the QR code may be read when removing a part, and then read again when installing the part. Also, the related information may be acquired manually by manual input. QR codes are printed on parts that are the company's own products, but the display of identification information for other companies' products varies, so the QR code is not necessarily printed on the parts. For this reason, the reading function may not be supported. In this case, manual input makes it possible to reliably acquire replacement information for other companies' products.

[0047] The part operating time is determined based on the difference between the "operating time (on the vehicle)" at the time of the previous installation and the "operating time (on the vehicle)" at the time of the current removal. Also, the cumulative number of days is determined based on the difference between the "installation date and time" at the time of the previous installation and the "installation date and time" at the time of the current removal.

[0048] 5 is a diagram showing an example of a screen display of input guidance displayed on the first terminal in this embodiment. Screen display 5001 is an example of a screen display when reporting a return, and screen display 5002 is an example of a screen display when reporting a total loss.

[0049] When a service technician at the dealer 30 replaces a part, the technician creates report data indicating whether the part can be refurbished. The creation of report data indicating whether the part to be replaced can be refurbished is left to the subjective judgment of the service technician who creates it. In other words, even if one service technician determines that the part can be refurbished, another service technician may determine that it cannot be refurbished. Therefore, it is preferable to be able to easily create report data based on uniform and unified criteria that allow service technicians to easily determine whether the part can be refurbished.

[0050] Therefore, as shown in FIG. 5 , simple check items are provided in the input guidance, and depending on the selection result, a "return report" indicating that the part can be restored or a "total loss report" indicating that the part cannot be restored is created. Since the inspection criteria differ depending on the part, the input guidance is displayed according to the inspection part, for example, whether the inspection target is a pump, a cylinder, or a center joint. In other words, check items are displayed according to the part specified when creating the report data. Note that the check items are not limited to either-or selections and can be changed as desired. In FIG. 5 , in the screen display 5001 for the return report, "Yes" is selected for all items indicating whether the part is normal, but in the screen display 5002 for the total loss report, "No" is selected for items indicating whether there is damage or cracks, indicating that damage or cracks are found in the corresponding part.

[0051] 6 is a diagram showing an example of a shipping inspection screen displayed on the second terminal in this embodiment. Shipping inspection is a final check of a recycled product before it is shipped from the factory. Therefore, the input content on the shipping inspection screen includes items related to the final check, such as whether there are any abnormalities in appearance, whether there are any missing accessories, and the packaging style.

[0052] 7 is a diagram showing an example of a screen display of recycled product management information displayed on each terminal in this embodiment. This screen is a management screen that displays the registration status of information entered from a mobile terminal (shipping inspection, part replacement registration, return report, total loss report, receiving inspection report, and disassembly report) organized by the product serial number of the recycled product. Each product serial number is linked to the supplier of the recycled product, the recycling factory to which the product is returned, the progress, the order number, the part number and name of the recycled product, the receipt and delivery date, and (if registered) the serial number of the candidate product for recycling, the management number at the warehouse / factory, the reason for replacement, the model, the serial number, and the vehicle operating hours. The progress of each process can be grasped at a glance from the registered status of reports such as "Shipping Inspection (shipment from the remanufacturing factory to the distributor)," "Parts Replacement Registration (parts replacement performed by the distributor)," "Return Report (return from the distributor to the remanufacturing factory)," "Total Loss Report (disposal by the distributor)," "Acceptance Inspection (acceptance inspection performed at the remanufacturing factory)," and "Disassembly Report (disassembly and remanufacturing performed at the remanufacturing factory)." The system also displays the supplier of the remanufactured product, the remanufacturing factory to which the product is returned, and the progress. By selecting a report number and calling up each report, registered information for each process can be confirmed. In this way, the entire recycling process from shipping the remanufactured product to collecting it and then shipping it again as a remanufactured product can be centrally managed.

[0053] The above-described embodiment of the present invention provides the following advantageous effects.

[0054] (1) The recycled product management system of the present invention is a recycled product management system comprising a first terminal installed at a machine service center, a second terminal installed at a machine part regeneration center, and a server, wherein when a machine part is replaced, the second terminal transmits part information regarding the part regenerated at the regeneration center to the server, the server generates recycled product management information based on the received part information, the first terminal acquires information regarding the part replacement from the parts removed from the machine and the parts to be installed in the machine and transmits it to the server, the server updates the recycled product management information based on the information regarding the part replacement received from the first terminal and transmits guidance to the first terminal for determining whether the part removed from the machine can be regenerated, the first terminal generates either a return report or a total loss report for the part removed from the machine based on the selection result in the guidance received from the server and transmits it to the server, and the server updates the recycled product management information based on the information regarding the part replacement received from the first terminal and the information contained in the return report or total loss report.

[0055] The above configuration makes it possible to centrally manage the recycling process of recycled products.

[0056] (2) Information regarding part replacement is generated when the reading of the code related to the part removed from the machine and the reading of the code related to the part to be installed in the machine are confirmed, and is transmitted from the first terminal to the server. In this way, it is preferable to generate information regarding part replacement at the time when information regarding both the part to be removed and the part to be installed is confirmed.

[0057] (3) The first terminal generates either a return report or a total loss report for each part removed from the machine, depending on the selection result of the corresponding guidance. The guidance is automatically sent from the server, and reports can be easily created by simply checking the boxes.

[0058] (4) If the server determines that the part removed from the machine can be remanufactured, it generates remanufactured product management information including items for the part's acceptance inspection at the remanufacturing base. If the part cannot be remanufactured, the part is not treated as a remanufactured product, so this type of processing is preferable.

[0059] (5) The second terminal transmits the results of the shipping inspection, including information on the final check of the refurbished parts before shipping, to the server as part information. This makes it easy to check the condition of the parts before shipping, thereby reducing the effort required for shipping inspections.

[0060] It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications are possible. For example, the above-described embodiments have been described in detail to clearly explain the present invention, and the present invention is not necessarily limited to embodiments that include all of the described configurations. Furthermore, it is possible to replace part of the configuration of one embodiment with the configuration of another embodiment. It is also possible to add the configuration of another embodiment to the configuration of one embodiment. It is also possible to delete part of the configuration of each embodiment, or to add or replace other configurations.

[0061] 10 Machine, 200 Server, 300 Agent terminal (first terminal), 351, 451 Return report, 352 Total loss report, 400 Remanufacturing factory terminal (second terminal)

Claims

1. A regenerated product management system comprising a first terminal provided at a service base of a machine, a second terminal provided at a regeneration base of parts of the machine, and a server, wherein when a part of the machine is replaced, the second terminal transmits part information regarding the part regenerated at the regeneration base to the server, the server generates regenerated product management information based on the received part information, the first terminal acquires information regarding part replacement from the part removed from the machine and the part to be attached to the machine and transmits it to the server, the server updates the regenerated product management information based on the information regarding part replacement received from the first terminal and transmits guidance for determining whether the part removed from the machine is regenerable to the first terminal, the first terminal generates either a return report or a total loss report for the part removed from the machine based on the selection result in the guidance received from the server and transmits it to the server, and the server updates the regenerated product management information based on the information regarding part replacement received from the first terminal and the information included in the return report or the total loss report. A regenerated product management system characterized by the above.

2. The regenerated product management system according to claim 1, wherein the information regarding part replacement is generated and transmitted from the first terminal to the server when the reading of the code regarding the part removed from the machine and the reading of the code regarding the part to be attached to the machine are confirmed. A regenerated product management system characterized by the above.

3. The regenerated product management system according to claim 1, wherein the first terminal generates either the return report or the total loss report according to the selection result of the guidance corresponding to each part removed from the machine. A regenerated product management system characterized by the above.

4. The regenerated product management system according to claim 1, wherein when it is determined that the part removed from the machine is regenerable, the server generates the regenerated product management information including the items for acceptance inspection of the part at the regeneration base. A regenerated product management system characterized by the above.

5. The regenerated product management system according to claim 1, wherein the second terminal transmits, as the component information, the result of a shipping inspection including information regarding a final check before shipment of the regenerated component to the server. A regenerated product management system characterized by this.

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