Oil and fat management device, and oil and fat management method

Abstract

Provided are an oil and fat management device and an oil and fat management method capable of optimizing and managing costs related to oil and fat.　A cloud server 4, 4A, 4B, 4C manages costs related to frying oil P, i.e., oil and fat, and includes: a difference calculation unit 44, 44A, 44B, 44C that calculates a difference Nd between an actual regeneration / exchange count Nr of the frying oil P and an appropriate regeneration / exchange count of the frying oil P corresponding to a business operator using the frying oil P; and an information reporting unit 45 that outputs a reporting signal for reporting cost-related information for the frying oil P on the basis of the difference Nd. When the actual regeneration / exchange count Nr is calculated to be greater than the appropriate regeneration / exchange count, the information reporting unit 45 outputs a first reporting signal for reporting, as cost-related information, information indicating that cost optimization is necessary. When the actual regeneration / exchange count Nr is calculated to be not greater than the appropriate regeneration / exchange count, the information reporting unit 45 outputs a second reporting signal for reporting, as cost-related information, information indicating that costs are optimized.

Description

Grease management device and method

[0001] The present invention relates to an oil and grease management device and an oil and grease management method for managing costs related to oil and grease.

[0002] Oils and fats deteriorate over time, and are discarded when their degree of deterioration (hereinafter simply referred to as "deterioration level") reaches a specified standard for waste oil. If oils and fats with a degree of deterioration exceeding the specified standard for waste oil continue to be used, for example, in the case of mineral oil, it can cause machinery to break down, and in the case of cooking oil, it can significantly reduce the quality of cooking. Therefore, businesses that use oils and fats need to accurately understand the degree of deterioration of the oils and fats, and discard them at the appropriate time and replace them with new oil.

[0003] Examples of index values ​​indicating the degree of deterioration of oils and fats (hereinafter referred to as "deterioration index values") include acid value (AV), total polar compound amount (TPM), color, viscosity increase rate, anisidine value, carbonyl value, smoke point, tocopherol content, iodine value, refractive index, amount of volatile components, and composition of volatile components. These deterioration index values ​​can be measured using various sensors, imaging devices, etc.

[0004] For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a method for measuring the acid value of a target oil or fat from the RGB color information of the colored test piece calculated by referring to the acid value corresponding to the calculated RGB color information of the color bar, in which a colored test piece immersed in the target oil or fat and a color bar composed of multiple colors corresponding to the acid value are simultaneously photographed with a camera, RGB color information of the colored test piece and the color bar are calculated from the photographed content, and the acid value of the target oil or fat is measured from the calculated RGB color information of the colored test piece.

[0005] Furthermore, for example, Patent Document 2 discloses a method of measuring the capacitance in oil by immersing a sensor having an electrode part in the oil, and detecting the TPM value, which indicates the amount of polar compounds (polar molecular weight) contained in the oil, from the measured value.

[0006] JP 2020-38207 A Patent No. 6395243 A

[0007] However, even if the deterioration index value of oils and fats is measured with high accuracy using the methods described in Patent Documents 1 and 2, if, for example, employees of a business operator do not actually discard oil at the appropriate time, oils and fats that should be discarded may continue to be used, or conversely, oils and fats that do not yet need to be discarded may be discarded.

[0008] In particular, when oils and fats that do not yet need to be discarded are discarded, the number of times they are replaced with new oil is greater than necessary, and businesses end up wasting new oil.However, at present, there is no way to determine whether the costs associated with oils and fats are appropriate.

[0009] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an oil and grease management device and an oil and grease management method that are capable of optimizing and managing costs related to oil and grease.

[0010] [1] In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention is a grease management device that manages costs related to grease and oils, and includes a difference calculation unit that calculates the difference between an actual regeneration replacement count, which is the actual number of times the grease and oil are regenerated or replaced at a business that uses the grease and oil, and an appropriate regeneration replacement count, which is the appropriate number of times the grease and oil are regenerated or replaced according to the business, and an information notification unit that outputs a notification signal to notify cost-related information, which is information related to the cost, based on the difference between the actual regeneration replacement count and the appropriate regeneration replacement count calculated by the difference calculation unit.The information notification unit is characterized in that, when the difference calculation unit calculates that the actual regeneration replacement count is greater than the appropriate regeneration replacement count, it outputs a first notification signal to notify information indicating that the cost is optimized as the cost-related information, and when the difference calculation unit calculates that the actual regeneration replacement count is less than or equal to the appropriate regeneration replacement count, it outputs a second notification signal to notify information indicating that the cost has been optimized as the cost-related information.

[0011] [2] Preferably, in the grease management device described in [1], when the actual regeneration and replacement count is equal to or less than the appropriate regeneration and replacement count, the difference calculation unit further calculates the difference between the actual regeneration and replacement count and the improper regeneration and replacement count, which is less than the appropriate regeneration and replacement count and is set as the number of regenerations or replacements at which the grease is expected to continue being used in a state where it has reached the point of being discarded, and the information notification unit is characterized in that when the difference calculation unit calculates that the actual regeneration and replacement count is equal to or less than the improper regeneration and replacement count, it outputs a third notification signal to notify information that the grease has been used too much.

[0012] [3] Preferably, in the oil and grease management device described in [1], the appropriate number of regeneration and replacement times is a value calculated based on data related to the business operator's sales.

[0013] [4] Preferably, the grease management device described in [3] further includes a data acquisition unit that acquires data on the sales amount of each of a plurality of stores operated by the business operator, an average sales calculation unit that calculates the average sales amount of the plurality of stores based on the sales amount of each of the plurality of stores acquired by the data acquisition unit, and an average regenerative replacement count calculation unit that calculates the average number of regenerative replacements for each of the plurality of stores based on the sales amount of each of the plurality of stores acquired by the data acquisition unit and the average sales amount calculated by the average sales calculation unit, and is characterized in that the difference calculation unit calculates the difference between the average regenerative replacement count calculated by the average regenerative replacement count calculation unit as the appropriate regenerative replacement count for each of the plurality of stores and the actual regenerative replacement count.

[0014] [5] Preferably, in the grease management device described in [4], the average sales calculation unit further calculates a sales coefficient corresponding to the sales amount of each of the multiple stores based on the calculated average sales amount, and the average regeneration replacement count calculation unit calculates the average regeneration replacement count for each of the multiple stores based on the actual regeneration replacement count for each of the multiple stores and the sales coefficient for each of the multiple stores calculated by the average sales calculation unit.

[0015] [6] Preferably, the grease management device described in [4] further includes a grouping unit that groups the plurality of stores by industry, the data acquisition unit acquires data related to industry information of the plurality of stores, the grouping unit groups the plurality of stores based on the industry information acquired by the data acquisition unit, and the average sales calculation unit, the average regeneration and replacement count calculation unit, and the difference calculation unit each perform processing on a group basis grouped by the grouping unit.

[0016] [7] Preferably, the oil and grease management device described in [4] further includes an inappropriate range, which is a range of regeneration replacement times that is expected to deviate significantly from the appropriate regeneration replacement times, and an inappropriateness determination unit that determines whether the actual regeneration replacement times are included in the inappropriate range, and the average sales calculation unit, the average regeneration replacement times calculation unit, and the difference calculation unit each perform calculations by excluding from the plurality of stores any store whose actual regeneration replacement times are determined by the inappropriateness determination unit to be included in the inappropriate range.

[0017] [8] Preferably, in the oil and grease management device described in [1], the appropriate number of regeneration and replacement times is a value set based on the actual number of regeneration and replacement times in the past of the operator.

[0018] [9] The present invention also provides a method for managing costs related to grease and oil using a grease management device, the method including: a difference calculation step in which the grease management device calculates the difference between an actual regeneration / replacement count, which is the actual number of times the grease and oil are regenerated or replaced at a business that uses the grease, and an appropriate regeneration / replacement count, which is the appropriate number of times the grease and oil are regenerated or replaced according to the business; and an information notification step in which the grease management device outputs a notification signal for notifying cost-related information, which is information about the cost, based on the difference between the actual regeneration / replacement count and the appropriate regeneration / replacement count calculated in the difference calculation step. In the information notification step, if the actual regeneration / replacement count is calculated to be greater than the appropriate regeneration / replacement count, the grease management device outputs a first notification signal for notifying, as the cost-related information, information indicating that cost optimization is necessary; and if the actual regeneration / replacement count is calculated to be equal to or less than the appropriate regeneration / replacement count in the difference calculation step, the grease management device outputs a second notification signal for notifying, as the cost-related information, information indicating that the cost has been optimized.

[0019]

[10] Preferably, in the grease management method described in [9], in the difference calculation step, if the actual regeneration replacement count is equal to or less than the appropriate regeneration replacement count, the grease management device further calculates the difference between the actual regeneration replacement count and an improper regeneration replacement count, which is less than the appropriate regeneration replacement count and is set as the number of regenerations or replacements at which the grease is expected to continue being used in a state where it has reached the point of being discarded, and in the information notification step, if the actual regeneration replacement count is calculated to be equal to or less than the improper regeneration replacement count, the grease management device outputs a third notification signal to notify information that the grease has been used too much.

[0020]

[11] Preferably, in the grease management method described in [9], the appropriate number of regeneration replacements is a value calculated based on data related to the business operator's sales.

[0021]

[12] Preferably, the grease management method described in

[11] further includes a data acquisition step in which the grease management device acquires data on the sales amount of each of a plurality of stores operated by the business operator, an average sales calculation step in which the grease management device calculates the average sales amount of the plurality of stores based on the sales amount of each of the plurality of stores acquired in the data acquisition step, and an average regenerative replacement count calculation step in which the grease management device calculates the average regenerative replacement count for each of the plurality of stores based on the actual regenerative replacement count for each of the plurality of stores and the average sales amount calculated in the average sales calculation step, and is characterized in that in the difference calculation step, the grease management device calculates the difference between the average regenerative replacement count calculated in the average regenerative replacement count calculation step and the actual regenerative replacement count for each of the plurality of stores as the appropriate regenerative replacement count for each of the plurality of stores.

[0022]

[13] Preferably, in the grease management method described in

[12] , in the average sales calculation step, the grease management device further calculates a sales coefficient corresponding to the sales amount of each of the plurality of stores based on the calculated average sales amount, and in the average regeneration replacement count calculation step, the grease management device calculates the average regeneration replacement count for each of the plurality of stores based on the actual regeneration replacement count for each of the plurality of stores and the sales coefficient for each of the plurality of stores calculated in the average sales calculation step.

[0023]

[14] Preferably, the grease management method described in

[12] further includes a grouping step in which the grease management device groups the plurality of stores by industry, and in the data acquisition step, the grease management device acquires data related to industry information of the plurality of stores, and in the grouping step, the grease management device groups the plurality of stores based on the industry information acquired in the data acquisition step, and in each of the average sales calculation step, the average regeneration and replacement count calculation step, and the difference calculation step, the grease management device performs processing on a group-by-group basis obtained in the grouping step.

[0024]

[15] Preferably, the grease management method described in

[12] above further includes an inappropriate range, which is a range of regeneration replacement counts that is expected to deviate significantly from the appropriate regeneration replacement count, and the grease management device further includes an inappropriateness determination step in which the grease management device determines whether the actual regeneration replacement count is within the inappropriate range, and in each of the average sales calculation step, the average regeneration replacement count calculation step, and the difference calculation step, the grease management device performs calculations by excluding from the plurality of stores any store whose actual regeneration replacement count is determined to be within the inappropriate range in the inappropriateness determination step.

[0025]

[16] Preferably, in the grease management method described in [9], the appropriate number of regeneration replacements is a value set based on the actual number of regeneration replacements in the past of the operator.

[0026] According to the present invention, costs relating to oils and fats can be optimized and managed. Problems, configurations, and effects other than those described above will become clear from the following description of each embodiment.

[0027] FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram showing an example of the configuration of a frying oil management system according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration of a cloud server according to the first embodiment. FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram showing the functions of the cloud server according to the first embodiment. FIG. 4 is a table showing various actual values, average values, and differences between the actual values ​​and the average values ​​for 20 stores. FIG. 5 is a graph showing the correlation between the sales coefficient and the number of cans for each store shown in FIG. 4. FIG. 6 is a graph showing the correlation between the sales coefficient and the number of regeneration and replacement times for each store shown in FIG. 4. FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing executed by the cloud server according to the first embodiment. FIG. 8 is a functional block diagram showing the functions of the cloud server according to a second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing executed by the cloud server according to the second embodiment. FIG. 10 is a functional block diagram showing the functions of the cloud server according to a third embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing executed by the cloud server according to the third embodiment. FIG. 12 is a functional block diagram showing the functions of the cloud server according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing executed by the cloud server according to the fourth embodiment.

[0028] As one aspect of the oil and fat management device and oil and fat management method according to each embodiment of the present invention, a device and method for managing the costs associated with cooking oil used when cooking fried foods such as fried chicken, croquettes, and fried chicken at chain stores such as convenience stores, supermarkets, and restaurants will be described below.

[0029] In the following description, cooking fried foods will be referred to as "deep-frying cooking," the fat or oil (edible oil) used in deep-frying will be referred to as "deep-frying oil," and the ingredients to be deep-fried will be referred to as "deep-fried ingredients."

[0030] First Embodiment A first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

[0031] (Configuration of Frying Oil Management System 1) First, the configuration of the frying oil management system 1 that manages frying oil P will be described with reference to FIG.

[0032] FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram showing an example of the configuration of a frying oil management system 1 according to the first embodiment.

[0033] In retail stores such as convenience stores and supermarkets, and eating and drinking establishments such as family restaurants, deep frying is carried out in fryers 2 installed in the stores to provide freshly cooked fried foods to customers.

[0034] The fryer 2 is, for example, an electric type, and includes an oil tank 21 for storing frying oil P and a housing 22 for accommodating the oil tank 21. A plurality of setting switches 23 are provided on the side of the housing 22 for setting the temperature of the frying oil P and the contents of the frying cooking according to the type of frying ingredient Q.

[0035] Although only one fryer 2 is shown in FIG. 1, multiple fryers 2 may be installed in a store depending on the size of the store and the type of fried food Q.

[0036] In order to ensure the quality of fried foods provided to customers, it is necessary to manage the quality of the frying oil P used in deep-frying. Therefore, employees and cooks at each store periodically measure a deterioration index value, which is an index value indicating the degree of deterioration of the frying oil P (hereinafter simply referred to as "degree of deterioration"), and if, for example, the measured deterioration index value of the frying oil P is equal to or greater than the standard value for waste oil, which is a standard index value for the degree of deterioration of the frying oil P at a predetermined time point, the frying oil P is discarded and replaced with new oil.

[0037] Examples of deterioration index values ​​for frying oil P include the acid value (AV) of frying oil P, the polar compound content (PC) of frying oil P, the color of frying oil P, the viscosity of frying oil P, the rate of viscosity increase of frying oil P, the anisidine value of frying oil P, the carbonyl value of frying oil P, the smoke point of frying oil P, the tocopherol content of frying oil P, the iodine value of frying oil P, the refractive index of frying oil P, the amount of volatile components of frying oil P, the composition of volatile components of frying oil P, the flavor of frying oil P, the amount of volatile components of fried foods fried with frying oil P, the composition of volatile components of fried foods fried with frying oil P, and the flavor of fried foods fried with frying oil P. All of these values ​​are parameters that change with the heating time of frying oil P and the frequency of use.

[0038] Each deterioration index value of frying oil P can be measured using a measuring device such as a camera or a sensor. For example, to measure the acid value of frying oil P, a test paper that measures the acid value from the color change of a portion where frying oil P is dropped, or a measuring device that can directly measure the acid value of frying oil P by immersing it in frying oil P, is used. Furthermore, to measure the amount of polar compounds in frying oil P, a measuring device that can directly measure the amount of polar compounds contained in frying oil P by immersing it in frying oil P is used. Furthermore, to measure the amount and composition of volatile components in frying oil P and the amount and composition of volatile components of foods fried in frying oil P, a general-purpose gas sensor (e.g., a semiconductor gas sensor or a quartz crystal resonator gas sensor) is used.

[0039] Other methods for measuring each deterioration index value include, for example, a method using image recognition technology to determine the type and number of fried foods in the frying oil P from an image taken with a camera, and then estimating each deterioration index based on the correlation between the type and number of fried foods and each deterioration index; a method using a spectrometer to measure the spectrum of the frying oil P, and then estimating each deterioration index based on the correlation between the spectrum of the frying oil P and each deterioration index; and a method of estimating each deterioration index value based on the correlation between the number of times the setting switch 23 of the fryer 2 has been operated (i.e., the number of times frying has been performed) and each deterioration index value.

[0040] In addition, when measuring the deterioration index value of frying oil P, it is not necessarily limited to using the above-mentioned measuring device or using the above-mentioned measuring method, and any known measuring device or known measuring method may be used.

[0041] The frying oil management system 1 collects deterioration index values ​​of frying oil P at each store and collectively manages the usage status of frying oil P at each store and the costs related to frying oil P.

[0042] For example, the frying oil management system 1 is composed of a store terminal 3 installed in each store, a cloud server 4 that executes a program that manages the usage of frying oil P at each store and the costs associated with the frying oil P, and a management terminal 5 that allows an administrator managing the frying oil P (for example, a headquarters manager of a company that operates a chain of stores) to check the usage of frying oil P at each store and the costs associated with the frying oil P.

[0043] The store terminal 3 of each store manages the measured deterioration index value of the frying oil P. For example, the store terminal 3 is communicatively connected to an AV measurement sensor 6 for measuring the acid value of the frying oil P, and acquires the measurement value AVm measured by the AV measurement sensor 6. Specifically, at each store, an employee periodically uses the AV measurement sensor 6 to measure the acid value of the frying oil P stored in the oil tank 21 of the fryer 2. When the employee measures the acid value of the frying oil P in the oil tank 21 using the AV measurement sensor 6, the store terminal 3 acquires the measurement value AVm output from the AV measurement sensor 6, associates it with the corresponding fryer 2, and stores it.

[0044] It should be noted that the store terminal 3 and the AV measurement sensor 6 do not necessarily need to be connected so as to be able to communicate with each other. If the store terminal 3 and the AV measurement sensor 6 are not connected so as to be able to communicate with each other, the measurement value (deterioration index value) AVm measured by the AV measurement sensor 6 may be read into the store terminal 3 via an external device, for example, or may be directly input into the store terminal 3 by a store employee.

[0045] The cloud server 4 is one aspect of an oil and fat management device that manages costs related to frying oil P, and in this embodiment, in addition to managing the costs related to frying oil P, it determines and manages the usage status of frying oil P based on the measured value AVm of the acid value of frying oil P measured by the AV measurement sensor 6. That is, in this embodiment, the cloud server 4 includes a cost management processing unit (oil and fat management device) that performs processing to manage the costs related to frying oil P, and a usage status management processing unit that performs processing to determine and manage the usage status of frying oil P.

[0046] For example, the usage status management processing unit of the cloud server 4 counts the number of times the frying oil P used in the fryer 2 has actually been recycled or replaced (hereinafter referred to as the "actual number of regenerations and replacements Nr") based on the magnitude of the measurement value AVm output from the AV measurement sensor 6.

[0047] Here, "recycling" frying oil P means passing deteriorating frying oil P through a filter to remove fried debris, passing frying oil P through a filtering agent to make it similar to new oil (filtration), adding new oil to make up for the amount of frying oil P lost due to oil absorption by the frying ingredients Q, or discarding part of the deteriorating frying oil P and adding new oil (adding oil). Also, "replacing" frying oil P means replacing deteriorating frying oil P with new oil or oil equivalent to new oil.

[0048] When the frying oil P in the fryer 2 is recycled or replaced, the measured value AVm measured by the AV measurement sensor 6 becomes smaller than the previous measured value AVmp (AVm<AVmp) and approaches the acid value of the new oil (AVm≈0.0). When the usage status determination processing unit of the cloud server 4 determines that the measured value AVm acquired from the AV measurement sensor 6 is smaller than the previously acquired measured value AVmp (AVm<AVmp), it counts the actual number of regenerations and replacements Nr as 1.

[0049] The method of counting the number of times Nr that frying oil P is actually recycled and replaced is not limited to the above-mentioned counting method within the cloud server 4, but may also be another method, such as a store employee recording detailed measurements taken with the AV measurement sensor 6 and counting the number.

[0050] The oil and fat management device does not necessarily have to be the cloud server 4 constructed on a communication network as in this embodiment, but may also be a server device installed in, for example, a headquarters center that oversees multiple stores. In this embodiment, the determination and management of the usage status of the frying oil P is performed by the cloud server 4, but this is not limited to this, and may be performed by a server separate and independent from the cloud server 4.

[0051] The management terminal 5 acquires and displays (reports) information relating to the usage status of the frying oil P and information relating to the cost of the frying oil P output from the cloud server 4.

[0052] The "information regarding the usage status of frying oil P" includes the measured acid value AVm, which is an index value of deterioration of frying oil P measured by AV measurement sensor 6, and the actual number of times Nr that frying oil P has been recycled and replaced.

[0053] The "information on the usage status of frying oil P" may not only be output from the cloud server 4, but may also be directly input to the management terminal 5. Specifically, if the actual regeneration and replacement count Nr of frying oil P is counted by a server other than the cloud server 4, it is output from that server to the management terminal 5, and if it is counted by a store employee, it is directly input to the management terminal 5.

[0054] The "information relating to the cost of frying oil P" includes data on the sales amount of each store and information on whether the cost of frying oil P has been optimized.

[0055] The "sales amount" may be the sales amount of only fried foods cooked in frying oil P, or the total sales amount at each store (i.e., including the sales amount of various products other than fried foods cooked in frying oil P).

[0056] Furthermore, the "information regarding whether the cost of frying oil P has been optimized" may be a comment such as "The cost of frying oil P has been optimized" or "Optimization of the cost of frying oil P is necessary," or it may be the specific amount or volume of frying oil P related to the optimization of frying oil P.

[0057] In this embodiment, the management terminal 5 manages the number of actual regeneration and replacement times Nr of frying oil P at each store, as well as the number of cans Ncr of new oil actually held at each store (hereinafter referred to as the "actual number of cans Ncr").

[0058] (Hardware Configuration for Realizing the Functions of Cloud Server 4) Next, the hardware configuration for realizing the functions of the cloud server 4 will be described with reference to FIG.

[0059] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of the hardware configuration of the cloud server 4 according to the first embodiment.

[0060] A computer (e.g., a computer owned by a company that provides a cloud system) that realizes the functions of cloud server 4 includes, as hardware components, a central processing unit (CPU) 40A, a random access memory (RAM) 40B, a read-only memory (ROM) 40C, a hard disk drive (HDD) 40D, and an interface (I / F) 40E. These components are connected to each other via a common bus 40F.

[0061] The CPU 40A is a computing unit that controls the overall operation of the cloud server 4.

[0062] The RAM 40B is a volatile storage medium that allows high-speed reading and writing of information, and is used as a work area when the CPU 40A processes management information, for example.

[0063] The ROM 40C is a read-only non-volatile storage medium, and stores programs such as firmware.

[0064] The HDD 40D is a non-volatile storage medium that can read and write information and has a large storage capacity, and stores an OS (Operating System), control programs for executing various information processes (described later), and application programs.

[0065] The HDD 40D can be substituted with any type of device, such as an SSD (Solid State Drive), as long as it is a non-volatile storage medium that can store and manage information.

[0066] The I / F 40E is a connection interface with a communication network, and is connected to the store terminal 3 of each store, the management terminal 5, and the like.

[0067] The cloud server 4 having such a hardware configuration is an information processing device that realizes processing functions by using the calculation functions of the CPU 40A to process control programs stored in the ROM 40C and control programs and application programs loaded into the RAM 40B from a storage medium such as the HDD 40D.

[0068] Execution of these information processes configures a software control unit including various functional modules in the cloud server 4. A functional block that realizes the functions of the cloud server 4 is configured by combining the software control unit configured in this way with hardware resources including the above configuration.

[0069] The store terminal 3 and the management terminal 5 of each store that are communicably connected to the cloud server 4 also have the same hardware configuration as the above hardware configuration. In addition, if the oil and grease management device is configured as a server device rather than a cloud, the server device will have the above hardware configuration.

[0070] (Functional Configuration of Cloud Server 4) Next, the functional configuration of the cloud server 4 will be described with reference to FIGS.

[0071] FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram showing the functions of the cloud server 4 according to the first embodiment. FIG. 4 is a table showing various actual values, average values, and differences between the actual values ​​and average values ​​for 20 stores. FIG. 5 is a graph showing the correlation between the sales coefficient and the number of cans for each store shown in FIG. 4. FIG. 6 is a graph showing the correlation between the sales coefficient and the number of recycle exchanges for each store shown in FIG. 4.

[0072] The cloud server 4 includes a data acquisition unit 41 , an average sales calculation unit 42 , an average can number calculation unit 431 , an average regeneration / replacement count calculation unit 432 , a difference calculation unit 44 , and an information notification unit 45 .

[0073] The data acquisition unit 41 acquires data relating to the sales amount, the actual number of cans Ncr, and the actual number of regenerative replacements Nr for each store from the management terminal 5. Taking the 20 stores shown in Fig. 4 as an example, the data acquisition unit 41 acquires from the management terminal 5 the sales amount, the actual number of cans Ncr, and the actual number of regenerative replacements Nr, which are part of the "actual values," for each of stores α1 to 5, β1 to 5, γ1 to 5, and δ1 to 5 shown in Fig. 4.

[0074] The average sales calculation unit 42 calculates the average sales amount of the 20 stores based on the sales amounts of each of the stores α1 to 5, β1 to 5, γ1 to 5, and δ1 to 5 acquired by the data acquisition unit 41. Specifically, the average sales calculation unit 42 calculates the total sales amount of the 20 stores by adding up all of the "sales amounts" shown in FIG. 4, and then divides this total sales amount by 20 to calculate the average sales amount of the 20 stores (3,759,740 yen).

[0075] In this embodiment, the average sales calculation unit 42 further calculates sales coefficients corresponding to the sales amounts of each of the stores α1 to 5, β1 to 5, γ1 to 5, and δ1 to 5, based on the calculated average sales amount.

[0076] For example, for store α1, the average sales calculation unit 42 divides the sales amount of 6,166,790 yen by the average sales amount of 3,759,740 yen to calculate a sales coefficient of 1.64. Also, for store δ3, the average sales calculation unit 42 divides the sales amount of 1,559,831 yen by the average sales amount of 3,759,740 yen to calculate a sales coefficient of 0.41.

[0077] The average can number calculation unit 431 calculates an approximate quadratic curve shown by the dashed dotted line in FIG. 5 based on the actual can number Ncr for each store α1 to 5, β1 to 5, γ1 to 5, and δ1 to 5 acquired by the data acquisition unit 41 and the sales coefficient calculated by the average sales calculation unit 42, and calculates the average can number Ncb for each store α1 to 5, β1 to 5, γ1 to 5, and δ1 to 5.

[0078] For example, for store β4, the average can number calculation unit 431 applies a sales coefficient of 2.43 to the approximate quadratic curve in Figure 5 and calculates the average number of cans Ncb to be 20 cans (Ncb = 20). Also, for store δ3, the average can number calculation unit 431 applies a sales coefficient of 0.41 to the approximate quadratic curve in Figure 5 and calculates the average number of cans Ncb to be 8 cans (Ncb = 8).

[0079] Similar to the average can number calculation unit 431, the average regeneration replacement count calculation unit 432 calculates an approximate quadratic curve shown by the dotted line in Figure 6 based on the actual regeneration replacement count Nr for each store α1 to 5, β1 to 5, γ1 to 5, and δ1 to 5 acquired by the data acquisition unit 41 and the sales coefficient calculated by the average sales calculation unit 42, and calculates the average regeneration replacement count Nb for each store α1 to 5, β1 to 5, γ1 to 5, and δ1 to 5.

[0080] For example, in the case of store β4, the average regenerative replacement count calculation unit 432 applies a sales coefficient of 2.43 to the approximate quadratic curve in Figure 6 to calculate the average regenerative replacement count Nb as 19 (Nb = 19). Also, in the case of store δ3, the average regenerative replacement count calculation unit 432 applies a sales coefficient of 0.41 to the approximate quadratic curve in Figure 6 to calculate the average regenerative replacement count Nb as 6 (Nb = 6).

[0081] The average regeneration / replacement count Nb calculated by the average regeneration / replacement count calculation unit 432 corresponds to the appropriate regeneration / replacement count, which is the appropriate number of times that frying oil P is recycled or replaced for each of the stores α1-5, β1-5, γ1-5, and δ1-5. This "appropriate regeneration / replacement count" is the expected number of times that frying oil P is recycled or replaced at the appropriate regeneration / replacement timing set based on the degree of deterioration at the time of oil disposal in each of the stores α1-5, β1-5, γ1-5, and δ1-5.

[0082] The difference calculation unit 44 calculates the difference Nd between the actual number of regenerative replacements Nr and the average number of regenerative replacements Nb at each of the stores α1 to 5, β1 to 5, γ1 to 5, and δ1 to 5. In this embodiment, the difference calculation unit 44 also calculates the difference Ncd between the actual number of cans Ncr and the average number of cans Ncb at each of the stores α1 to 5, β1 to 5, γ1 to 5, and δ1 to 5.

[0083] Then, in each store α1 to 5, β1 to 5, γ1 to 5, δ1 to 5, if the difference Nd between the actual regeneration replacement count Nr and the average regeneration replacement count Nb is a positive number (Nd > 0), that is, if the actual regeneration replacement count Nr is greater than the average regeneration replacement count Nb (Nr > Nb), the difference calculation unit 44 calculates the amount of frying oil P that can be used to reduce costs.

[0084] For example, in the case of store β4, the difference Nd between the actual regenerative replacement count Nr (=23) and the average regenerative replacement count Nb (=19) is 4 (=23-19), and the actual regenerative replacement count Nr is greater than the average regenerative replacement count Nb (Nr>Nb). Here, if the capacity of the oil tank 21 of the fryer 2 installed in store β4 is 18 liters, the difference calculation unit 44 calculates that the amount of oil in the frying oil P that can be used to reduce costs is 72 liters (=18 liters x 4 times).

[0085] On the other hand, if the difference Nd between the actual regeneration replacement count Nr and the average regeneration replacement count Nb is 0 or a negative number (Nd≦0), that is, if the actual regeneration replacement count Nr is less than or equal to the average regeneration replacement count Nb (Nr≦Nb), there is no need to reduce the cost of the frying oil P, and therefore the difference calculation unit 44 does not calculate the amount of oil in the frying oil P that can be reduced in cost.

[0086] For example, in the case of store δ3, the difference Nd between the actual number of regenerative replacements Nr (= 6) and the average number of regenerative replacements Nb (= 6) is 0 (= 6 - 6) (Nd ≦ 0), and the actual number of regenerative replacements Nr is less than or equal to the average number of regenerative replacements Nb (Nr ≦ Nb), so the difference calculation unit 44 does not calculate the amount of frying oil P that can be used to reduce costs.

[0087] In this embodiment, if the actual regenerative replacement count Nr is equal to or less than the average regenerative replacement count Nb (Nr≦Nb, Nd≦0), the difference calculation unit 44 further calculates the difference Ndi between the actual regenerative replacement count Nr and the improper regenerative replacement count Ni. This "improper regenerative replacement count Ni" is a count that is less than the average regenerative replacement count Nb (appropriate regenerative replacement count) (Ndi<Nb) and is the number of regenerations or replacements that are expected to result in continued use of the frying oil P after it has reached the point of being discarded. For example, the improper regenerative replacement count Ni is set to approximately 20% less than the appropriate regenerative replacement count (eight times if the appropriate regenerative replacement count is 10 times).

[0088] For stores where the difference calculation unit 44 calculates that the actual number of regeneration and replacement times Nr is greater than the average number of regeneration and replacement times Nb (Nr > Nb, Nd > 0), the information notification unit 45 outputs a first notification signal to the management terminal 5 to notify information indicating that cost optimization related to frying oil P is necessary.

[0089] For example, when the management terminal 5 receives the first notification signal for store β4 from the information notification unit 45, it displays the following information indicating that costs related to frying oil P need to be optimized: "Actual number of regeneration / replacement times: 23 times," "Average number of regeneration / replacement times: 19 times," and "Comment: There is a possibility of reducing costs by 72 liters!"

[0090] In addition, for stores where the difference calculation unit 44 calculates that the actual number of regeneration and replacement times Nr is less than or equal to the average number of regeneration and replacement times Nb (Nr≦Nb, Nd≦0), the information notification unit 45 outputs to the management terminal 5 a second notification signal notifying information that the cost related to frying oil P has been optimized or a third notification signal notifying information that the frying oil P has been used up too much.

[0091] Specifically, the information notification unit 45 outputs a second notification signal to the management terminal 5 for stores where the difference Ndi between the actual regenerative replacement count Nr and the improper regenerative replacement count Ni calculated by the difference calculation unit 44 is a positive number (Ndi > 0), that is, for stores where the actual regenerative replacement count Nr is greater than the improper regenerative replacement count Ni (Nr > Ni).

[0092] For example, when the management terminal 5 receives the second notification signal for store δ3 from the information notification unit 45, it displays the following information indicating that the cost of frying oil P has been optimized: "Actual number of regeneration / replacement times: 6 times," "Average number of regeneration / replacement times: 6 times," and "Comment: It is being used efficiently!"

[0093] On the other hand, for stores where the difference Ndi between the actual regeneration and replacement count Nr and the improper regeneration and replacement count Ni calculated by the difference calculation unit 44 is 0 or a negative number (Ndi≦0), that is, where the actual regeneration and replacement count Nr is less than or equal to the improper regeneration and replacement count Ni (Nr≦Ni), the information notification unit 45 determines that although cost reduction of the frying oil P is unnecessary, the frying oil P is being continued to be used in a state where it has reached the point of being discarded, and a warning is required. Therefore, in this case, the information notification unit 45 outputs a third notification signal to the management terminal 5.

[0094] For example, in store α1, the average regenerative replacement count Nb is 10, while the actual regenerative replacement count Nr is 5, meaning that cost reductions for the frying oil P are unnecessary. However, if the improper regenerative replacement count Ni is set to 8, which is 20% less than the average regenerative replacement count Nb, the actual regenerative replacement count Nr will be less than or equal to the improper regenerative replacement count Ni (Nr≦Ni), and the information notification unit 45 will output a third notification signal for store α1 to the management terminal 5. When the management terminal 5 receives the third notification signal for store α1 from the information notification unit 45, it will display the following information indicating that the frying oil P has been overused: "Actual regenerative replacement count: 5," "Average regenerative replacement count: 10," "Improper regenerative replacement count: 8," and "Comment: Too much oil! Please regenerate and replace at the appropriate time."

[0095] In addition, in this embodiment, the information notification unit 45 outputs a can number notification signal to the management terminal 5, together with any of the first to third notification signals, to notify information regarding the number of cans of new oil purchased at each store α1 to 5, β1 to 5, γ1 to 5, and δ1 to 5.

[0096] For example, when the management terminal 5 receives a can number notification signal for store β5 from the information notification unit 45, it displays information regarding the number of cans of new oil, such as "actual number of cans: 24 cans," which indicates the number of cans of new oil actually purchased at store β5, and "average number of cans: 16 cans," which indicates the average number of cans of new oil purchased at store β5.

[0097] Furthermore, if the actual number of cans Ncr is greater than the average number of cans Ncb and the difference Ncd is large, there is a possibility that there is a large inventory of new oil cans, so the management terminal 5 may display information indicating that it is necessary to optimize the cost of frying oil P. Note that the determination of whether there is a large inventory of new oil cans may be performed by the cloud server 4, and the can number notification signal may include information indicating that it is necessary to optimize the cost of frying oil P, or the management terminal 5 may make the determination based on the can number notification signal.

[0098] For example, in the case of store β5, Ncr > Ncb and Ncd = 8 cans, so there is a possibility that the number of new oil cans in stock at store β5 is large, and in addition to the information ``Actual number of cans: 24 cans'' and ``Average number of cans: 16 cans,'' management terminal 5 displays the information ``Comment: There is an excess of new oil cans in stock. Adjust the number of new oil cans ordered!''

[0099] (Processing Executed in Cloud Server 4) Next, the flow of processing executed in the cloud server 4 will be described with reference to FIG.

[0100] FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing executed by the cloud server 4 according to the first embodiment.

[0101] In the cloud server 4, first, the data acquisition unit 41 acquires the sales amount, actual number of regeneration and replacements Nr, and actual number of cans Ncr for each store α1 to 5, β1 to 5, γ1 to 5, and δ1 to 5 output from the management terminal 5 (step S401; data acquisition step).

[0102] Next, the average sales calculation unit 42 calculates the average sales amount (3,759,740 yen in the case of the 20 stores shown in Figure 4) based on the sales amounts of each store α1 to 5, β1 to 5, γ1 to 5, and δ1 to 5 obtained in step S401 (step S402; average sales calculation step).

[0103] In this embodiment, the average sales calculation unit 42 then calculates sales coefficients corresponding to the sales amounts of each store α1 to 5, β1 to 5, γ1 to 5, and δ1 to 5 based on the average sales amount calculated in step S402 (3,759,740 yen in the case of the 20 stores shown in Figure 4) (step S403).

[0104] Next, the average can number calculation unit 431 calculates the average can number Ncb for each store α1-5, β1-5, γ1-5, δ1-5 based on the actual can number Ncr for each store α1-5, β1-5, γ1-5, δ1-5 obtained in step S401 and the sales coefficient calculated in step S403 (step S404).

[0105] In addition, the average regenerative replacement count calculation unit 432 calculates the average regenerative replacement count Nb for each store α1-5, β1-5, γ1-5, δ1-5 based on the actual regenerative replacement count Nr for each store α1-5, β1-5, γ1-5, δ1-5 obtained in step S401 and the sales coefficient calculated in step S403 (step S404; average regenerative replacement count calculation step).

[0106] Next, the difference calculation unit 44 calculates the difference Ncd (= Ncr - Ncb) between the actual number of cans Ncr and the average number of cans Ncb at each store α1 to 5, β1 to 5, γ1 to 5, and δ1 to 5, and the difference Nd (= Nr - Nb) between the actual number of regenerative replacements Nr and the average number of regenerative replacements Nb (step S405; difference calculation step).

[0107] The processing from step S401 to step S405 is referred to as basic calculation processing (step S400). In this embodiment, this basic calculation processing (step S400) includes the steps of obtaining the actual number of cans Ncr for each of stores α1 to 5, β1 to 5, γ1 to 5, and δ1 to 5, calculating the average number of cans Ncb, and calculating the difference Ncd between the actual number of cans Ncr and the average number of cans Ncb. However, this is not limited to these steps, and it is sufficient if the processing includes at least various steps for calculating the difference Nd between the actual number of regenerative replacements Nr and the average number of regenerative replacements Nb for each of stores α1 to 5, β1 to 5, γ1 to 5, and δ1 to 5.

[0108] Next, for stores where the difference Nd (= Nr - Nb) between the actual number of regeneration and replacement times Nr and the average number of regeneration and replacement times Nb calculated in step S405 is greater than 0 (i.e., a positive number; Nd > 0, Nr > Nb) (step S406 / YES), the difference calculation unit 44 calculates the amount of frying oil P that can be used to reduce costs (step S407).

[0109] Then, for a store where the actual regeneration / replacement count Nr is greater than the average regeneration / replacement count Nb (Nr>Nb) (step S406 / YES), the information notification unit 45 outputs a first notification signal containing information about the cost-reducing amount of frying oil P calculated in step S407 to the management terminal 5 (step S408; information notification step). In this embodiment, in step S408, the information notification unit 45 outputs a can number notification signal together with the first notification signal to the management terminal 5.

[0110] On the other hand, for stores where the actual regenerative replacement count Nr is less than or equal to the average regenerative replacement count Nb (Nr≦Nb) (step S406 / NO), the difference calculation unit 44 further calculates the difference Ndi (=Nr−Ni) between the actual regenerative replacement count Nr and the improper regenerative replacement count Ni.

[0111] Then, for a store where the difference Ndi between the actual regenerative replacement count Nr and the improper regenerative replacement count Ni is greater than 0 (i.e., a positive number; Ndi>0, Nr>Ni) (step S409 / YES), the information notification unit 45 outputs a second notification signal to the management terminal 5 (step S410; information notification step). In this embodiment, in the same way as in step S408, the information notification unit 45 outputs a can number notification signal together with the second notification signal to the management terminal 5 in step S410.

[0112] On the other hand, for a store where the difference Ndi between the actual regenerative replacement count Nr and the improper regenerative replacement count Ni is equal to or less than 0 (i.e., 0 or a negative number; Ndi≦0, Nr≦Ni) (step S409 / NO), the information notification unit 45 outputs a third notification signal to the management terminal 5 (step S411; information notification step). In this embodiment, in the same way as in steps S408 and S410, in step S411, the information notification unit 45 outputs a can number notification signal together with the third notification signal to the management terminal 5.

[0113] The processing in cloud server 4 ends when the processing in steps S408, S410, and S411 is executed.

[0114] In this way, the cloud server 4 calculates the difference Nd between the actual regeneration and replacement count Nr of each store α1-5, β1-5, γ1-5, δ1-5 that uses frying oil P and the appropriate regeneration and replacement count (in this embodiment, the average regeneration and replacement count Nb), which is the appropriate number of regeneration and replacement times of frying oil P for each store α1-5, β1-5, γ1-5, δ1-5, and based on the magnitude of this difference Nd, outputs a notification signal to the management terminal 5 to notify cost-related information about the frying oil P, thereby enabling each store α1-5, β1-5, γ1-5, δ1-5 (or a business operator operating each store α1-5, β1-5, γ1-5, δ1-5) to optimize and manage the costs related to the frying oil P.

[0115] Furthermore, in this embodiment, while the cost of the frying oil P is optimized, for a store where the actual regeneration / replacement count Nr is equal to or less than the improper regeneration / replacement count Ni (Nr≦Ni) and the store has used too much frying oil P, the cloud server 4 can issue a third notification signal to the management terminal 5 to alert the store. This allows for management that achieves both optimization of the cost of the frying oil P and maintenance of the quality of the frying oil P.

[0116] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the cloud server 4 uses the average number of regeneration and replacement times Nb calculated based on data related to sales at each store α1 to 5, β1 to 5, γ1 to 5, δ1 to 5 as the appropriate number of regeneration and replacement times for each store α1 to 5, β1 to 5, γ1 to 5, δ1 to 5. This results in an appropriate number of regeneration and replacement times that is in line with the actual sales of each store α1 to 5, β1 to 5, γ1 to 5, δ1 to 5, and therefore makes it possible to optimize the costs related to frying oil P more accurately than if an arbitrarily set appropriate number of regeneration and replacement times were used.

[0117] In this embodiment, sales coefficients are used as data relating to sales at each of the stores α1 to 5, β1 to 5, γ1 to 5, and δ1 to 5, but the data is not limited to this and the sales amounts themselves may be used.

[0118] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the average number of regenerative replacements Nb is used as the appropriate number of regenerative replacements for each store α1-5, β1-5, γ1-5, δ1-5, but this is not limited to this. For example, a value arbitrarily set in advance for each store α1-5, β1-5, γ1-5, δ1-5 may be used, or a value set based on the actual number of regenerative replacements Nrp in the past at each store α1-5, β1-5, γ1-5, δ1-5 may be used (see the fourth embodiment described below).

[0119] Similarly, in this embodiment, the average number of cans Ncb is used as the appropriate number of cans for each of the stores α1 to 5, β1 to 5, γ1 to 5, and δ1 to 5. However, this is not limited to this. For example, a value that is arbitrarily set in advance for each of the stores α1 to 5, β1 to 5, γ1 to 5, and δ1 to 5 may be used, or a value that is set based on the past actual number of cans Ncrp for each of the stores α1 to 5, β1 to 5, γ1 to 5, and δ1 to 5 may be used (see the fourth embodiment described below).

[0120] Second Embodiment Next, a cloud server 4A according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Fig. 8 and Fig. 9. In Fig. 8 and Fig. 9, components common to those described for the cloud server 4 according to the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted. The same applies to the third and fourth embodiments below.

[0121] Fig. 8 is a functional block diagram showing functions of a cloud server 4A according to the second embodiment of the present invention, and Fig. 9 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing executed by the cloud server 4A according to the second embodiment.

[0122] In this embodiment, unlike the cloud server 4 in the first embodiment, the cloud server 4A divides each store α1 to 5, β1 to 5, γ1 to 5, and δ1 to 5 by industry and then executes the basic calculation process (step S400).

[0123] Specifically, as shown in FIG. 8, the cloud server 4A includes a data acquisition unit 41A, an average sales calculation unit 42A, an average number of cans calculation unit 431A, an average number of regeneration and replacement calculation unit 432A, a difference calculation unit 44A, an information notification unit 45, and in addition, a grouping unit 46.

[0124] The data acquisition unit 41A acquires from the management terminal 5 the sales amount, actual number of regeneration and replacements Nr, and actual number of cans Ncr of each store α1-5, β1-5, γ1-5, δ1-5, as well as business type information (e.g., Chinese restaurant, delicatessen, pork cutlet restaurant, fried chicken restaurant, etc.) of each store α1-5, β1-5, γ1-5, δ1-5.

[0125] The grouping unit 46 groups the stores α1 to 5, β1 to 5, γ1 to 5, and δ1 to 5 by business type based on the business type information acquired by the data acquisition unit 41 A. For example, if, among the stores α1 to 5, β1 to 5, γ1 to 5, and δ1 to 5, stores α1 to 5 and β1 to 5 are in business type X and stores γ1 to 5 and δ1 to 5 are in business type Y, the grouping unit 46 groups the stores α1 to 5 and β1 to 5 into a group of business type X and stores γ1 to 5 and δ1 to 5 into a group of business type Y.

[0126] The average sales calculation unit 42A, the average can number calculation unit 431A, the average regeneration / replacement count calculation unit 432A, and the difference calculation unit 44A each execute processing for each group grouped by the grouping unit 46.

[0127] In the above example, the average sales calculation unit 42A, the average number of cans calculation unit 431A, the average number of regeneration and replacement calculation unit 432A, and the difference calculation unit 44A each perform processing within the industry group X for stores α1 to 5 and β1 to 5, and within the industry group Y for stores γ1 to 5 and δ1 to 5.

[0128] As shown in FIG. 9, in the cloud server 4A, first, the data acquisition unit 41A acquires the business type information of each of the stores α1 to 5, β1 to 5, γ1 to 5, and δ1 to 5 from the management terminal 5 (step S411).

[0129] Next, the grouping unit 46 determines whether each of the stores α1 to 5, β1 to 5, γ1 to 5, and δ1 to 5 belongs to industry group X or industry group Y based on the industry information acquired in step S411 (step S412; grouping step).

[0130] The stores α1 to β1 to β5 that have been grouped into the business type X group in step S412 proceed to the first basic calculation process (step S413). In this first basic calculation process (step S413), the processes of steps S401 to S405 shown in FIG. 7 are executed within the business type X group.

[0131] That is, in the first basic calculation process (step S413), the average sales calculation unit 42A adds up the sales amounts of stores α1 to 5 and β1 to 5 (10 stores) and divides the total sales amount by 10 to calculate the average sales amount of stores α1 to 5 and β1 to 5.

[0132] Next, the average can number calculation unit 431A calculates the average can number Ncb for each of the stores α1 to 5 and β1 to 5 based on the actual can number Ncr for the stores α1 to 5 and β1 to 5 and the average sales amount for the stores α1 to 5 and β1 to 5.

[0133] Similarly, the average regenerative exchange count calculation unit 432A calculates the average regenerative exchange count Nb for each of stores α1 to 5 and β1 to 5 based on the actual regenerative exchange count Nr for stores α1 to 5 and β1 to 5 and the average sales amount for stores α1 to 5 and β1 to 5.

[0134] Then, the difference calculation unit 44A calculates the difference Ncd between the actual number of cans Ncr and the average number of cans Ncb for each store α1 to 5, β1 to 5, and the difference Nd between the actual number of regeneration replacements Nr and the average number of regeneration replacements Nb for each store α1 to 5, β1 to 5.

[0135] On the other hand, the stores γ1 to γ5 and δ1 to δ5 that were grouped into the business type Y group in step S412 proceed to the second basic calculation process (step S414). In this second basic calculation process (step S414), the processes of steps S401 to S405 shown in FIG. 7 are executed within the business type Y group.

[0136] That is, in the second basic calculation process (step S414), the average sales calculation unit 42A adds up the sales amounts of stores γ1 to 5 and δ1 to 5 (10 stores) and divides the total sales amount by 10 to calculate the average sales amount of stores γ1 to 5 and δ1 to 5.

[0137] Next, the average can number calculation unit 431A calculates the average can number Ncb for each of the stores γ1 to 5 and δ1 to 5 based on the actual can number Ncr for the stores γ1 to 5 and δ1 to 5 and the average sales amount for the stores γ1 to 5 and δ1 to 5.

[0138] Similarly, the average regenerative exchange count calculation unit 432A calculates the average regenerative exchange count Nb for each of stores γ1 to 5 and δ1 to 5 based on the actual regenerative exchange count Nr for stores γ1 to 5 and δ1 to 5 and the average sales amount for stores γ1 to 5 and δ1 to 5.

[0139] Then, the difference calculation unit 44A calculates the difference Ncd between the actual number of cans Ncr and the average number of cans Ncb for each store γ1 to 5, δ1 to 5, and the difference Nd between the actual number of regenerative replacements Nr and the average number of regenerative replacements Nb for each store γ1 to 5, δ1 to 5.

[0140] After the processing of step S413 or step S414 is executed, the processing proceeds to steps S406 to S411, similar to the cloud server 4 according to the first embodiment.

[0141] Since the number of times frying oil P is recycled and replaced varies depending on the cooking contents, by executing processing by the average sales calculation unit 42A, average can number calculation unit 431A, average number of recycling and replacement calculation unit 432A, and difference calculation unit 44A on an industry basis, as in the cloud server 4A of this embodiment, it is possible to accurately optimize the costs related to frying oil P.

[0142] Third Embodiment Next, a cloud server 4B according to a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 10 and 11. FIG.

[0143] Fig. 10 is a functional block diagram showing functions of a cloud server 4B according to the third embodiment of the present invention, and Fig. 11 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing executed by the cloud server 4B according to the third embodiment.

[0144] The cloud server 4B of this embodiment includes a data acquisition unit 41, an average sales calculation unit 42B, an average number of cans calculation unit 431B, an average number of regeneration and replacement calculation unit 432B, a difference calculation unit 44B, an information notification unit 45, as well as an inappropriateness determination unit 47 and a memory unit 48.

[0145] The inappropriateness determination unit 47 determines whether the actual regenerative replacement count Nr acquired by the data acquisition unit 41 is within the inappropriate range Z. This "inappropriate range Z" is a range of regenerative replacement counts that is expected to deviate significantly from the appropriate regenerative replacement count (average regenerative replacement count Nb), and is stored in advance in the storage unit 48. The inappropriate range Z includes two types of ranges: a range Z1 of regenerative replacement counts that exceeds the appropriate regenerative replacement count, and a range Z2 of regenerative replacement counts that is below the appropriate regenerative replacement count.

[0146] The inappropriate range Z1 on the side exceeding the appropriate number of regeneration / replacement times is the range of the number of regeneration / replacement times in which frying oil P that is still in a state where it can be used (a state where there are no quality problems) is expected to be frequently regenerated or replaced, and is set to, for example, a range of the number of regeneration / replacement times that is expected to be 20% or more higher than the appropriate number of regeneration / replacement times.

[0147] On the other hand, the inappropriate range Z2 below the appropriate number of regeneration / replacement times is the range of number of regeneration / replacement times within which it is assumed that the frying oil P will continue to be used (overused) at the point where it has reached the point of being discarded, and is set to, for example, a range of number of regeneration / replacement times within which it is assumed that the number of regeneration / replacement times will be 20% or less below the appropriate number of regeneration / replacement times.

[0148] The average sales calculation unit 42B, average can number calculation unit 431B, average regenerative replacement count calculation unit 432B, and difference calculation unit 44B each perform their calculations by excluding stores from the 20 stores α1 to 5, β1 to 5, γ1 to 5, and δ1 to 5 that are determined by the inappropriateness determination unit 47 to have an actual regenerative replacement count Nr that falls within the inappropriate range Z (inappropriate range Z1 above the appropriate regenerative replacement count or inappropriate range Z2 below the appropriate regenerative replacement count).

[0149] In this way, in this embodiment, stores where the actual number of regeneration and replacement times Nr is clearly more or less than the appropriate number of regeneration and replacement times are excluded from the calculation processes in the average sales calculation unit 42B, average can number calculation unit 431B, average number of regeneration and replacement times calculation unit 432B, and difference calculation unit 44B, thereby making it possible to accurately optimize the costs related to frying oil P.

[0150] For example, in the case of store α2, the average number of regenerative replacements Nb (appropriate number of regenerative replacements) is 12, while the actual number of regenerative replacements Nr is 4 (see FIG. 4 ), and the actual number of regenerative replacements Nr falls within the inappropriate range Z2 (≦9.6 times) below the appropriate number of regenerative replacements. Therefore, cloud server 4B excludes the data of store α2 in advance from the calculation processes in average sales calculation unit 42B, average can number calculation unit 431B, average regenerative replacement number calculation unit 432B, and difference calculation unit 44B.

[0151] For example, in the case of store β5, the average number of regenerative replacements Nb (appropriate number of regenerative replacements) is 8, while the actual number of regenerative replacements Nr is 15 (see FIG. 4 ), which falls within the inappropriate range Z1 (≧9.6) that exceeds the appropriate number of regenerative replacements. Therefore, cloud server 4B excludes the data of store β5 in advance from the calculation processes in average sales calculation unit 42B, average can number calculation unit 431B, average regenerative replacement number calculation unit 432B, and difference calculation unit 44B.

[0152] As shown in FIG. 11, in the cloud server 4B, first, the data acquisition unit 41B acquires the actual regeneration and exchange count Nr of each of the stores α1 to α5, β1 to β5, γ1 to γ5, and δ1 to δ5 (step S421).

[0153] Next, the inappropriateness determination unit 47 determines whether there is a store among stores α1 to 5, β1 to 5, γ1 to 5, and δ1 to 5 whose actual regeneration replacement count Nr obtained in step S421 falls within the inappropriate range Z (step S422; inappropriateness determination step).

[0154] In step S422, if there is a store (for example, store α2 and store β5) among stores α1 to 5, β1 to 5, γ1 to 5, and δ1 to 5 whose actual regeneration exchange count Nr is determined to be within the inappropriate range Z (step S422 / YES), proceed to the third basic calculation process (step S423).

[0155] In this third basic calculation process (step S423), the data of stores α1 to 5, β1 to 5, γ1 to 5, and δ1 to 5 is excluded from the data of stores whose actual regeneration exchange count Nr falls within the inappropriate range Z, and then steps S401 to S405 shown in Figure 7 are executed.

[0156] If, for example, among stores α1 to 5, β1 to 5, γ1 to 5, and δ1 to 5, store α2 and store β5 are the only stores whose actual regeneration and replacement count Nr falls within the inappropriate range Z, the average sales calculation unit 42B, average can number calculation unit 431B, average regeneration and replacement count calculation unit 432B, and difference calculation unit 44B will each perform processing on the remaining stores α1, α3 to 5, β1 to 4, γ1 to 5, and δ1 to 5 other than store α2 and store β5.

[0157] On the other hand, in step S422, if there is no store among stores α1 to 5, β1 to 5, γ1 to 5, and δ1 to 5 whose actual regeneration exchange count Nr is determined to be within the inappropriate range Z (step S422 / NO), the process proceeds to the basic calculation process (step S400), and the processes of steps S401 to S405 shown in Figure 7 are directly executed on the data of stores α1 to 5, β1 to 5, γ1 to 5, and δ1 to 5.

[0158] In this embodiment, since the data acquisition unit 41B acquires the actual regenerative exchange number Nr for each store α1 to 5, β1 to 5, γ1 to 5, and δ1 to 5 in step S421, there is no need for the data acquisition unit 41B to acquire the actual regenerative exchange number Nr for each store α1 to 5, β1 to 5, γ1 to 5, and δ1 to 5 again during the third basic calculation process (step S423) and the basic calculation process (step S401).

[0159] After the processing of step S423 or step S400 is executed, the processing proceeds to steps S406 to S411, similar to the cloud server 4 according to the first embodiment.

[0160] In this way, the cloud server 4B excludes data from stores that are expected to use frying oil P that has reached the point of being discarded, and stores that are expected to frequently recycle or replace frying oil P that is still usable, and then performs processing in the average sales calculation unit 42B, average number of cans calculation unit 431B, average number of recycle / replacement calculation unit 432B, and difference calculation unit 44B, thereby making it possible to more accurately optimize the costs related to frying oil P.

[0161] Fourth Embodiment Next, a cloud server 4C according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 12 and 13. FIG.

[0162] Fig. 12 is a functional block diagram showing functions of a cloud server 4C according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 13 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing executed by the cloud server 4C according to the fourth embodiment.

[0163] As shown in FIG. 12, the cloud server 4C according to this embodiment includes a data acquisition unit 41, a difference calculation unit 44C, an information notification unit 45, and a storage unit 49.

[0164] In this cloud server 4C, the difference calculation unit 44C uses the past actual regenerative replacement count Nrp as the appropriate regenerative replacement count and the past actual can count Ncrp as the appropriate can count. The past actual regenerative replacement count Nrp and the past actual can count Ncrp are each values ​​for the previous month, for example, and are stored in the storage unit 49.

[0165] As shown in FIG. 13, in the cloud server 4C, first, the data acquisition unit 41 acquires the actual regeneration and replacement frequency Nr and the actual can number Ncr of each of the stores α1 to α5, β1 to β5, γ1 to γ5, and δ1 to δ5 (step S431).

[0166] Next, the difference calculation unit 44C calculates the difference Nd between the actual regeneration replacement count Nr obtained in step S431 and the past (previous month) actual regeneration replacement count Nrp stored in the memory unit 49, and also calculates the difference Ncd between the actual can number Ncr obtained in step S431 and the past (previous month) actual can number Ncrp stored in the memory unit 49 (step S432).

[0167] After the process of step S432 is executed, the process proceeds to steps S406 to S411, similar to the cloud server 4 according to the first embodiment.

[0168] In this way, both the appropriate number of regeneration replacements and the appropriate number of cans can be determined using past data, and even if the cloud server 4C cannot obtain sales data for each store α1-5, β1-5, γ1-5, and δ1-5 from the management terminal 5, it is possible to optimize the costs related to frying oil P at each store α1-5, β1-5, γ1-5, and δ1-5.

[0169] The above describes each embodiment of the present invention. Note that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments and includes various modifications. For example, the above-described embodiments have been described in detail to clearly explain the present invention, and are not necessarily limited to those including all of the described configurations. Furthermore, it is possible to replace part of the configuration of each embodiment with the configuration of another embodiment, and it is also possible to add the configuration of another embodiment to the configuration of each embodiment. Furthermore, it is also possible to add, delete, or replace part of the configuration of each embodiment with other configurations.

[0170] For example, in each of the above embodiments, the explanation was given assuming the management of costs related to frying oil P at a business that operates multiple stores, but this is not limited to this, and for example, in the case of the fourth embodiment, it can also be applied to a privately run shop that does not have multiple stores.

[0171] Furthermore, in each of the above embodiments, the oil and fat is described as frying oil P, which is edible oil, but the present invention is not limited to this and may be oil and fat such as mineral oil.

[0172] In addition, in each of the above embodiments, the acid value (AV) has been used as an example of a deterioration index value for frying oil P, but it does not necessarily have to be the acid value; any deterioration index value that can be measured using a specific numerical value will suffice.

[0173] In addition, in each of the above embodiments, the cloud servers 4, 4A, 4B, and 4C used the number of times the frying oil P was recycled and replaced, as well as the number of cans of new oil related to the frying oil P, to manage the cost of the frying oil P, but it is not necessarily necessary to use the number of cans of new oil related to the frying oil P.

[0174] 4, 4A, 4B, 4C: Cloud server (oil and grease management device) 41, 41A: Data acquisition unit 42, 42A, 42B: Average sales calculation unit 44, 44A, 44B, 44C: Difference calculation unit 45: Information notification unit 46: Grouping unit 47: Improperty determination unit 432, 432A, 432B: Average regeneration and replacement count calculation unit Nb: Average regeneration and replacement count (appropriate regeneration and replacement count) Ni: Inappropriate regeneration and replacement count Nr: Actual regeneration and replacement count Z: Improperty range

Claims

1. A grease management device that manages costs related to grease and oils, comprising: a difference calculation unit that calculates the difference between an actual regeneration and replacement count, which is the actual number of times the grease and oil are recycled or replaced at a business that uses the grease and oil, and an appropriate regeneration and replacement count, which is the appropriate number of times the grease and oil are recycled or replaced according to the business; and an information notification unit that outputs a notification signal to notify cost-related information, which is information related to the cost, based on the difference between the actual regeneration and replacement count and the appropriate regeneration and replacement count calculated by the difference calculation unit, wherein the information notification unit outputs a first notification signal to notify, as the cost-related information, information indicating that cost optimization is necessary, when the difference calculation unit calculates that the actual regeneration and replacement count is equal to or less than the appropriate regeneration and replacement count, and outputs a second notification signal to notify, as the cost-related information, information indicating that the cost has been optimized.

2. A grease management device as described in claim 1, wherein the difference calculation unit, when the actual regeneration / replacement count is equal to or less than the appropriate regeneration / replacement count, further calculates the difference between the actual regeneration / replacement count and an improper regeneration / replacement count, which is less than the appropriate regeneration / replacement count and is set as the number of regenerations or replacements at which the grease is expected to continue being used in a state where it has reached the point of being discarded, and the information notification unit, when the difference calculation unit calculates that the actual regeneration / replacement count is equal to or less than the improper regeneration / replacement count, outputs a third notification signal to notify information that the grease has been used too much.

3. An oil and grease management device according to claim 1, characterized in that the appropriate number of regeneration and replacement times is a value calculated based on data relating to the business operator's sales.

4. An oil and grease management device as described in claim 3, further comprising: a data acquisition unit that acquires data on the sales amount of each of a plurality of stores operated by the business; an average sales calculation unit that calculates an average sales amount of the plurality of stores based on the sales amount of each of the plurality of stores acquired by the data acquisition unit; and an average regenerative replacement count calculation unit that calculates an average number of regenerative replacements for each of the plurality of stores based on the sales amount of each of the plurality of stores acquired by the data acquisition unit and the average sales amount calculated by the average sales calculation unit, wherein the difference calculation unit calculates the difference between the average regenerative replacement count calculated by the average regenerative replacement count calculation unit and the actual regenerative replacement count for each of the plurality of stores, assuming that the average regenerative replacement count is the appropriate regenerative replacement count.

5. An oil and grease management device as described in claim 4, wherein the average sales calculation unit further calculates a sales coefficient corresponding to the sales amount of each of the plurality of stores based on the calculated average sales amount, and the average regeneration and replacement count calculation unit calculates the average regeneration and replacement count for each of the plurality of stores based on the actual regeneration and replacement count for each of the plurality of stores and the sales coefficient for each of the plurality of stores calculated by the average sales calculation unit.

6. An oil and grease management device as described in claim 4, further comprising a grouping unit that divides the plurality of stores into groups by business type, wherein the data acquisition unit acquires data relating to business type information of the plurality of stores, the grouping unit divides the plurality of stores into groups based on the business type information acquired by the data acquisition unit, and the average sales calculation unit, the average regeneration and replacement count calculation unit, and the difference calculation unit each perform processing on a group basis divided by the grouping unit.

7. An oil and grease management device as described in claim 4, further comprising an inappropriate range of regeneration replacement counts that are expected to deviate significantly from the appropriate regeneration replacement count, and an inappropriateness determination unit that determines whether the actual regeneration replacement count is within the inappropriate range, wherein the average sales calculation unit, the average regeneration replacement count calculation unit, and the difference calculation unit each perform calculations by excluding from the plurality of stores those stores whose actual regeneration replacement counts are determined by the inappropriateness determination unit to be within the inappropriate range.

8. An oil and grease management device according to claim 1, characterized in that the appropriate number of regeneration and replacement cycles is a value set based on the actual number of regeneration and replacement cycles performed by the business operator in the past.

9. A method for managing costs related to oils and fats using an oil and fat management device, comprising: a difference calculation step in which the oil and fat management device calculates the difference between an actual regeneration and replacement count, which is the actual number of times the oil and fat is recycled or replaced at a business that uses the oil and fat, and an appropriate regeneration and replacement count, which is the appropriate number of times the oil and fat is recycled or replaced according to the business; and an information notification step in which the oil and fat management device outputs a notification signal for notifying cost-related information, which is information related to the cost, based on the difference between the actual regeneration and replacement count and the appropriate regeneration and replacement count calculated in the difference calculation step, wherein in the information notification step, the oil and fat management device, if it is calculated in the difference calculation step that the actual regeneration and replacement count is greater than the appropriate regeneration and replacement count, outputs a first notification signal for notifying, as the cost-related information, information indicating that cost optimization is necessary; and if it is calculated in the difference calculation step that the actual regeneration and replacement count is equal to or less than the appropriate regeneration and replacement count, outputs a second notification signal for notifying, as the cost-related information, information indicating that the cost has been optimized.

10. A method for managing grease and oil as claimed in claim 9, wherein, in the difference calculation step, if the actual regeneration / replacement count is equal to or less than the appropriate regeneration / replacement count, the grease and oil management device further calculates the difference between the actual regeneration / replacement count and an improper regeneration / replacement count which is less than the appropriate regeneration / replacement count and is set as the number of regenerations or replacements at which the grease and oil are expected to continue being used in a state where they have reached the point of being discarded; and, in the information notification step, if the actual regeneration / replacement count is calculated to be equal to or less than the improper regeneration / replacement count in the difference calculation step, the grease and oil management device outputs a third notification signal to notify information that the grease and oil have been used too much.

11. A method for managing oils and fats according to claim 9, characterized in that the appropriate number of times for regeneration and replacement is a value calculated based on data relating to the sales of the business operator.

12. A method for managing grease and oils as set forth in claim 11, further comprising: a data acquisition step in which the grease and oil management device acquires data on the sales amount of each of a plurality of stores operated by the business; an average sales calculation step in which the grease and oil management device calculates an average sales amount of the plurality of stores based on the sales amount of each of the plurality of stores acquired in the data acquisition step; and an average regenerative replacement count calculation step in which the grease and oil management device calculates an average regenerative replacement count for each of the plurality of stores based on the actual regenerative replacement count of each of the plurality of stores and the average sales amount calculated in the average sales calculation step, wherein in the difference calculation step, the grease and oil management device sets the average regenerative replacement count calculated in the average regenerative replacement count calculation step as the appropriate regenerative replacement count for each of the plurality of stores and calculates the difference between the average regenerative replacement count and the actual regenerative replacement count.

13. A method for managing grease and oil as set forth in claim 12, wherein, in the average sales calculation step, the grease and oil management device further calculates a sales coefficient corresponding to the sales amount of each of the plurality of stores based on the calculated average sales amount, and, in the average number of regeneration and replacement calculation step, the grease and oil management device calculates the average number of regeneration and replacement corresponding to each of the plurality of stores based on the actual number of regeneration and replacement for each of the plurality of stores and the sales coefficient for each of the plurality of stores calculated in the average sales calculation step.

14. A method for managing grease and oil as set forth in claim 12, further comprising a grouping step in which the grease and oil management device groups the plurality of stores by industry; in the data acquisition step, the grease and oil management device acquires data relating to industry information of the plurality of stores; in the grouping step, the grease and oil management device groups the plurality of stores based on the industry information acquired in the data acquisition step; and in each of the average sales calculation step, the average regeneration and replacement count calculation step, and the difference calculation step, the grease and oil management device executes processing on a group-by-group basis obtained in the grouping step.

15. A method for managing grease and oils as set forth in claim 12, characterized in that an inappropriate range is defined as a range of regeneration replacement counts that is expected to deviate significantly from the appropriate regeneration replacement count, and the grease and oil management device further includes an inappropriateness determination step in which the actual regeneration replacement count is determined to be within the inappropriate range, and in each of the average sales calculation step, the average regeneration replacement count calculation step, and the difference calculation step, the grease and oil management device performs calculations by excluding from the plurality of stores those stores whose actual regeneration replacement counts are determined to be within the inappropriate range in the inappropriateness determination step.

16. A method for managing grease and oil as described in claim 9, characterized in that the appropriate number of times of regeneration and replacement is a value set based on the actual number of times of regeneration and replacement in the past of the business operator.

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