Management device, management method, production system, and program

Abstract

A management device (100) comprises: a first communication unit (108) that acquires monitoring data (Da) indicating a status when a component (P) was mounted on a board (B) using equipment, and unit status data indicating a status of a unit included in the equipment; and a processing unit (102) that simultaneously displays, on a first display unit (104), a production-related index, which is an index specified on the basis of the monitoring data (Da) and related to production of a mounted board that is the board (B) on which the component (P) has been mounted, and the status of the unit indicated by the unit status data.

Description

Management device, management method, production system, and program

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a management device for mounting components on a substrate, etc.

[0002] In a mounting line that produces a mounted substrate by a component mounting operation of mounting components on a substrate, the performance of the units used in the mounting line is maintained by performing maintenance on the units. Here, Patent Document 1 discloses a production management device that manages the production status of a production line that is the mounting line. This production management device acquires warning information from each of a plurality of production facilities included in the production line and displays the warning information. These production facilities correspond to units and are equipped with sensors. And warning information based on the value measured by the sensor is displayed as the state of the unit. Thereby, it is possible to determine whether maintenance of the unit is necessary.

[0003] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2018-124848

[0004] However, in the management device of Patent Document 1 described above, there is room for improvement in support for improving the efficiency of the component mounting operation.

[0005] Therefore, the present disclosure provides a management device that can more appropriately support the improvement of the efficiency of the component mounting operation.

[0006] A management device according to an aspect of the present disclosure includes an acquisition unit that acquires monitoring data indicating a situation when components are mounted on a substrate using equipment and unit status data indicating the status of units included in the equipment, and an index specified based on the monitoring data, which is a production-related index related to the production of a mounted substrate that is a substrate on which components are mounted, and a processing unit that simultaneously displays on a display unit the status of the units indicated by the unit status data.

[0007] These comprehensive or specific embodiments may be implemented as a system, method, integrated circuit, computer program, or recording medium such as a computer-readable CD-ROM, or as any combination of a system, method, integrated circuit, computer program, and recording medium. Furthermore, the recording medium may be a non-temporary recording medium.

[0008] The management device disclosed herein can more effectively support the efficiency of component mounting work.

[0009] Further advantages and effects of one aspect of this disclosure will be made apparent from the specification and drawings. Such advantages and / or effects are provided by several embodiments and configurations described in the specification and drawings, but not all configurations are necessarily required.

[0010] Figure 1 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a production system in an embodiment. Figure 2 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a component mounting device in an embodiment. Figure 3 is a diagram showing a partial example of the A-A cross-section in Figure 2. Figure 4 is a block diagram showing an example of the functional configuration of the management device and the mounting line in an embodiment. Figure 5 is a diagram showing an example of data transmitted from the mounting line to the management device in an embodiment. Figure 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of processing operation by the processing unit of the management device in an embodiment. Figure 7 is a diagram showing another example of data transmitted from the mounting line to the management device in an embodiment. Figure 8 is a diagram showing an example of unit status data in an embodiment. Figure 9 is a diagram showing an example of countermeasure candidate information stored in the countermeasure storage unit in an embodiment. Figure 10 is a diagram showing an example of countermeasure implementation information stored in the countermeasure storage unit in an embodiment. Figure 11 is a diagram illustrating the unit status in an embodiment. Figure 12 is a diagram showing an example of the first selection screen displayed on the first display unit in an embodiment. Figure 13 is a diagram showing an example of the second selection screen displayed on the first display unit in an embodiment. Figure 14 is a diagram showing an example of the management screen displayed on the first display unit in an embodiment. Figure 15 is a diagram showing another example of the management screen displayed on the first display unit in an embodiment. Figure 16 shows yet another example of the management screen displayed on the first display unit in the embodiment. Figure 17 shows an example of the management screen displayed on the first display unit after the action execution button is selected in the embodiment. Figure 18 shows yet another example of the management screen displayed on the first display unit in the embodiment. Figure 19 is a flowchart showing an example of the processing operation of the management device in the embodiment. Figure 20 is a flowchart showing an example of the management screen generation process by the management device in the embodiment.

[0011] A management device according to a first aspect of this disclosure includes an acquisition unit that acquires monitoring data indicating the status when components were mounted on a substrate using equipment and unit status data indicating the status of units included in the equipment, and a processing unit that simultaneously displays on a display unit an indicator identified based on the monitoring data, which is an indicator related to the production of a mounted substrate, which is a substrate on which components are mounted, and the status of the unit indicated by the unit status data. The equipment may also be called a table.

[0012] This allows the equipment's production-related indicators and the status of the units included in that equipment to be displayed simultaneously, making it easy for operators to see how the production-related indicators and the unit status are related. For example, if a unit is malfunctioning and the production-related indicators have deteriorated beyond a predetermined range, the operator can determine that the unit's condition is likely the cause of the deterioration in the production-related indicators. The operator can then easily bring the production-related indicators back within the predetermined range by performing maintenance on that unit. On the other hand, if a unit is functioning normally and the production-related indicators have deteriorated beyond a predetermined range, the operator can determine that the unit's condition is not the cause of the deterioration in the production-related indicators. As a result, the cause of the deterioration in production-related indicators can be identified early and countermeasures can be implemented. This allows for more appropriate support for improving the efficiency of component mounting work.

[0013] Furthermore, in the management device according to the second embodiment, the processing unit may display the status of the unit as the status of the unit. Note that the second embodiment may be subordinate to the first embodiment.

[0014] This allows the operator to easily understand the unit's status, for example, by displaying the unit's status as abnormal or normal.

[0015] Furthermore, in the management device according to the third embodiment, the state of the unit may include the degree of abnormality of the unit. The third embodiment may be subordinate to the second embodiment.

[0016] This allows the degree of the unit's abnormality to be displayed, for example, as a percentage, enabling the operator to understand the unit's condition in more detail. The degree of abnormality is not limited to a percentage; it may be displayed in stages, such as abnormal, warning, near-normal, or normal.

[0017] Furthermore, in the management device according to the fourth embodiment, the processing unit may display information regarding maintenance performed on the unit as the status of the unit. Note that the fourth embodiment may be subordinate to any one of the first to third embodiments.

[0018] This allows the operator to easily understand the maintenance status of a unit, as the unit's status is displayed as a history, such as the date and time maintenance was performed on that unit.

[0019] Furthermore, in the management device according to the fifth embodiment, the acquisition unit acquires unit status data for each of the multiple units included in the equipment corresponding to the production-related indicators that fall outside a predetermined range, and the processing unit identifies the unit status data from among the multiple unit status data that indicates the greatest degree of abnormality as the status of the unit, and displays the degree of abnormality shown in the identified unit status data. Note that the fifth embodiment may be subordinate to any one of the first to fourth embodiments.

[0020] This allows the system to display the degree of abnormality of the worst-performing unit, even if the equipment corresponding to the deteriorating production indicators includes multiple units. Therefore, operators can easily identify the condition of the unit that is most likely to be the cause of the deterioration in production indicators.

[0021] Furthermore, in the management device according to the sixth embodiment, the acquisition unit may acquire unit status data for each of the multiple units included in the equipment corresponding to the production-related indicators that are outside a predetermined range, the processing unit may estimate the factors causing the production-related indicators to be outside a predetermined range, identify one of the multiple units based on the estimated factors, and display the status of the identified unit. Note that the sixth embodiment may be dependent on any one of the first to fourth embodiments.

[0022] This allows the system to display the status of the unit that is considered to be the cause of the deterioration in production-related indicators, even if the equipment corresponding to the deterioration includes multiple units. Therefore, operators can easily understand the status of the unit that is considered to be the cause of the deterioration in production-related indicators.

[0023] Furthermore, in the management device according to the seventh embodiment, the processing unit may further display a countermeasure candidate area on the display unit, and the countermeasure candidate area may include, for each of the one or more maintenance items for the unit in the displayed state, as a countermeasure candidate for bringing the production-related indicators that are outside the predetermined range into the predetermined range. Note that the seventh embodiment may be subordinate to any one of the first to sixth embodiments.

[0024] This allows, for example, an operator who determines that the displayed unit status is likely to be a factor in the deterioration of production-related indicators to easily select one or more maintenance items included in the area of ​​potential countermeasures. In other words, by selecting one item and performing maintenance on that item, the operator can easily and quickly restore the unit status to normal and easily and quickly bring the production-related indicators back within a predetermined range.

[0025] Furthermore, in the management device according to the eighth embodiment, the processing unit may display at least one of the following as production-related indicators: a numerical value relating to the quality of the mounted substrate, a numerical value relating to errors in handling the components, and the cycle time for mounting the components onto the substrate. Note that the eighth embodiment may be subordinate to any one of the first to seventh embodiments. For example, the numerical value relating to quality may be the defect rate, and the numerical value relating to errors may be the number of errors or the error rate regarding the adsorption or recognition of components. Also, the cycle time can be said to be productivity.

[0026] This makes it easy to understand the production status of mounted circuit boards using the equipment.

[0027] Furthermore, in the management device according to the ninth embodiment, the processing unit may display the time progression of the production-related indicators when displaying them. Note that the ninth embodiment may be subordinate to any one of the first to eighth embodiments.

[0028] This allows operators to easily see how production-related indicators are related to the status of units over time. For example, operators can easily see how a unit is performing when production-related indicators are changing significantly.

[0029] Furthermore, the production system according to the first aspect of this disclosure comprises a control device according to any one of the first to ninth aspects described above, and a mounting line including at least one of a printing device and a component mounting device, wherein at least one of the printing device and the component mounting device has the aforementioned equipment. The printing device is also called a solder printing device.

[0030] This makes it possible to achieve the same effects and advantages as the control device according to the first embodiment.

[0031] Furthermore, the management method according to the first aspect of this disclosure is a computer-based management method that acquires monitoring data indicating the status when components were mounted on a substrate using equipment, and unit status data indicating the status of units included in the equipment, and simultaneously displays on a display unit a production-related indicator which is an indicator related to the production of a mounted substrate, which is a substrate on which components are mounted, and the status of the unit indicated by the unit status data.

[0032] This makes it possible to achieve the same effects and advantages as the control device according to the first embodiment.

[0033] The comprehensive or specific embodiments of the above-described management device may be implemented as a system, method, integrated circuit, computer program, or recording medium such as a computer-readable CD-ROM, or as any combination of the system, method, integrated circuit, computer program, or recording medium. Furthermore, the recording medium may be a non-temporary recording medium.

[0034] The embodiments will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

[0035] The embodiments described below are all comprehensive or specific examples. The numerical values, shapes, materials, components, arrangement and connection configurations of components, steps, and the order of steps shown in the following embodiments are examples only and are not intended to limit this disclosure. Furthermore, among the components in the following embodiments, those not described in the independent claim representing the highest-level concept will be described as optional components.

[0036] Furthermore, each figure is a schematic diagram and not necessarily a strictly accurate representation. Also, the same component is denoted by the same reference numeral in each figure.

[0037] (Embodiment) [Production System] Figure 1 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of the production system in this embodiment.

[0038] In this embodiment, the production system 1 comprises three mounting lines L (i.e., mounting lines L1 to L3) and a control device 100. In the example shown in Figure 1, the production system 1 has three mounting lines L, but it is not limited to three; it may have one, two, or four or more.

[0039] Each of the assembly lines L1 to L3 has multiple pieces of equipment for producing assembled circuit boards. These lines produce boards by performing solder printing, component mounting, and reflow soldering on boards brought in from the upstream side, and then transport the produced boards downstream. Each of the aforementioned pieces of equipment is also referred to as a table. Furthermore, component mounting may include solder printing.

[0040] The management device 100 calculates and displays indicators related to the production of each mounted circuit board on mounting lines L1 to L3 (or multiple pieces of equipment). The management device 100 communicates with these mounting lines L1 to L3 via wireless or wired connection. The wireless connection may be Wi-Fi®, Bluetooth®, ZigBee®, or low-power wireless technology.

[0041] The assembly line L1 includes a line management device 200, a substrate supply device M1, a substrate transfer device M2, a solder printing device M3, component mounting devices M4 and M5, an inspection machine M6, a reflow machine M7, and a substrate recovery device M8. The devices included in the assembly line L1, other than the line management device 200, are arranged in the following order and connected in series: substrate supply device M1, substrate transfer device M2, solder printing device M3, component mounting devices M4 and M5, inspection machine M6, reflow machine M7, and substrate recovery device M8. These devices other than the line management device 200 are hereinafter referred to as work machines. The assembly line L1 does not need to include all of the above work machines, as long as it includes the substrate supply device M1, at least one component mounting device, inspection machine M6, and substrate recovery device M8. Furthermore, the mounting line L1 may include, in addition to the above-mentioned work machines, a soldering device for applying solder to the substrate, a component insertion machine for mounting radial or axial components to the substrate, and so on. Also, the arrangement order of each work machine is not limited to the order described above. For example, the inspection machine M6 may be placed after the reflow machine M7 or the substrate recovery device M8. Alternatively, the functions of the inspection machine M6 may be provided by the component mounting device M4, component mounting device M5, reflow machine M7, or substrate recovery device M8.

[0042] The line management device 200 retrieves the component library generated by the management device 100 from the management device 100 and causes each work machine included in the mounting line L1 to produce mounted boards based on that component library.

[0043] The substrate supply device M1 supplies substrates to be used for the mounted boards produced on the mounting line L1 to the solder printing device M3 via the substrate transfer device M2. The solder printing device M3 performs the solder printing operation described above. In other words, the solder printing device M3 screen prints solder onto the substrates it receives from the substrate transfer device M2.

[0044] Each of the component mounting devices M4 and M5 performs the above-described component mounting operation of mounting one or more components on one or more substrates. Note that the mounting line L1 includes two component mounting devices M4 and M5, but the number of devices is not limited to two, and may be one or three or more. Also, it can be said that the mounting substrates are substantially produced by the component mounting operations of these component mounting devices M4 and M5.

[0045] The inspection machine M6 inspects the components mounted on the substrate by the component mounting devices M4 and M5, and notifies the management device 100 of the inspection results via the line management device 200.

[0046] The reflow device M7 performs the above-described reflow operation. That is, the reflow device M7 heats the substrate on which components are mounted, which is carried in from the component mounting devices M4 and M5 via the inspection machine M6, cures the solder on the substrate, and joins the electrode portions of the substrate and the components. Specifically, the reflow device M7 melts and solidifies the solder for component joining by performing heating according to a predetermined heating profile. Thereby, the components are solder-joined to the substrate. The substrate recovery device M8 recovers the substrate on which the solder joining has been performed from the reflow device M7.

[0047] The mounting lines L2 and L3 also have the same configuration as the mounting line L1. In the present embodiment, each of the mounting lines L1 to L3 has the same configuration, but they may have different configurations from each other. Also, in the present embodiment, the mounting lines L1 to L3 include the line management device 200, but the line management device 200 may be provided independently of each of the mounting lines L1 to L3, or may be incorporated in each of the mounting lines L1 to L3.

[0048] [Component Mounting Device] Figure 2 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a component mounting device M4. In the present embodiment, the component mounting device M5 also has the same configuration as the component mounting device M4. In the present embodiment, the conveyance direction of the substrate B is referred to as the X-axis direction, and the direction perpendicular to the X-axis direction is referred to as the Y-axis direction. The X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction are directions along the horizontal plane. Further, the direction perpendicular to the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction is referred to as the Z-axis direction. The plus side and the minus side of the X-axis direction are the downstream side and the upstream side in the conveyance direction of the substrate B, respectively, and the plus side and the minus side of the Y-axis direction are the rear side (or the back side) and the front side (or the front side) in the front-rear direction, respectively. The plus side and the minus side of the Z-axis direction are the upper side and the lower side in the vertical direction, respectively. In FIG. 2, the upper surface of the component mounting device M4 is shown.

[0049] The component mounting device M4 includes a base 4, a substrate conveyance mechanism 5, two component supply units 6, two X-axis beams 9, a Y-axis beam 8, two mounting heads 10, two component recognition cameras 11, and two substrate recognition cameras 12.

[0050] The substrate conveyance mechanism 5 includes two rails along the X-axis direction and is disposed at the center of the base 4. The substrate conveyance mechanism 5 conveys the substrate B carried in from the upstream side and positions and holds the substrate B at a position for performing component mounting work.

[0051] The two component supply units 6 are arranged so as to sandwich the substrate conveyance mechanism 5 in the Y-axis direction. A plurality of feeders 7 are arranged in parallel along the X-axis direction in each component supply unit 6. The feeder 7 supplies the component to a position (hereinafter referred to as the component take-out position) where the component is taken out by the mounting head 10 by pitch-feeding the component tape containing the component in the tape feeding direction.

[0052] Note that a tray feeder, a stick feeder, a bulk feeder, or the like may be arranged in the component supply unit 6. The tray feeder supplies the component from a tray containing the component. The stick feeder supplies the component from a stick case containing the component. The bulk feeder supplies the component from a bulk case containing the component.

[0053] The Y-axis beam 8 is positioned along the Y-axis direction at one end of the base 4 in the X-axis direction (the right side in Figure 2). Each of the two X-axis beams 9 is coupled to the Y-axis beam 8 so as to be movable in the Y-axis direction while remaining aligned with the X-axis direction.

[0054] The mounting head 10 is mounted on each of the two X-axis beams 9 so as to be movable in the X-axis direction. The mounting head 10 is equipped with a plurality of vertically movable nozzle holders 10a. A suction nozzle 10b for adsorbing and holding parts is attached to the tip of each nozzle holder 10a (see Figure 3).

[0055] Each of the two mounting heads 10 moves in the X-axis and Y-axis directions by driving the Y-axis beam 8 and the X-axis beam 9. As a result, each of the two mounting heads 10 picks up components from the component pick-up position of the feeder 7 located in the component supply unit 6 corresponding to the mounting head 10 using the suction nozzle 10b, and mounts them on the mounting point (or planned mounting position) of the substrate B positioned by the substrate transport mechanism 5.

[0056] Each of the two component recognition cameras 11 is positioned between one of the two component supply units 6 and the substrate transport mechanism 5. The component recognition camera 11 captures an image of a component as the mounting head 10, which has taken a component from the component supply unit 6, moves above the component recognition camera 11. In other words, the component recognition camera 11 recognizes the holding position of a component by capturing an image of the component while it is held by the mounting head 10.

[0057] The substrate recognition camera 12 is attached to the plate 9a to which the mounting head 10 is mounted. Therefore, the substrate recognition camera 12 moves integrally with the mounting head 10. As the mounting head 10 moves, the substrate recognition camera 12 moves above the substrate B positioned by the substrate transport mechanism 5, and captures images of substrate marks (not shown) provided on the substrate B to recognize the position of the substrate B. When the mounting head 10 mounts components onto the substrate B, the operation of the component mounting work, in which components are mounted at the planned mounting position, is corrected based on the component recognition result by the component recognition camera 11 and the position recognition result of the substrate recognition camera 12.

[0058] Furthermore, such a component mounting apparatus M4 can be said to have two tables Tb. Each of the two tables Tb has, for example, a component supply unit 6, an X-axis beam 9, a mounting head 10, and a substrate recognition camera 12. Note that the table Tb can be any group of units that includes at least one unit included in the work machine, such as a feeder 7, a mounting head 10, or a suction nozzle 10b. For example, the table Tb may be the entire mounting line L or the work machine, or it may include only one unit such as a feeder 7 or a suction nozzle 10b.

[0059] Figure 3 is a diagram that partially shows an example of the A-A cross-section in Figure 2. Component mounting devices M4 and M5 have the function of mounting components P onto the substrate B.

[0060] As shown in Figure 3, the parts supply unit 6 comprises a feeder base 13a, a plurality of feeders 7 mounted on the feeder base 13a, and a trolley 13 that supports the feeder base 13a.

[0061] The trolley 13 is configured to be detachably attached to the component mounting devices M4 and M5, and is further equipped with a cassette holder 15. The cassette holder 15 is configured to hold multiple component reels C. The component reels C store component tapes 14 in a wound state. Each of the multiple component reels C is held in the upper holding position Hu or the lower holding position Hd of the cassette holder 15. The component tapes 14 pulled out from the component reels C held by the cassette holder 15 are mounted on the feeder 7. The feeder 7 may be placed on a feeder base 13a provided on the base 4 without using the trolley 13. Alternatively, the trolley 13 may hold the component reels C instead of the cassette holder 15.

[0062] Each suction nozzle 10b attached to the mounting head 10 picks up and moves the component P supplied from the feeder 7 to the component picking position, thereby mounting the component P to the planned mounting position on the substrate B.

[0063] In this embodiment, as described above, the component mounting devices M4 and M5 have the same configuration, but they may have different configurations.

[0064] [Functional Configuration of Control Device and Assembly Line] Figure 4 is a block diagram showing examples of the functional configurations of the control device 100 and the assembly lines L1 to L3.

[0065] The management device 100 includes a management control unit 101, a processing unit 102, a first input unit 103, a first display unit 104, a countermeasure storage unit 105, a monitoring data storage unit 106, a unit status storage unit 107, and a first communication unit 108.

[0066] The processing unit 102 calculates production indicators for each mounted board of mounting lines L1 to L3 (or multiple pieces of equipment) based on multiple monitoring data sequences stored in the monitoring data storage unit 106. These production indicators are also referred to as production-related indicators. Furthermore, the processing unit 102 simultaneously displays these production-related indicators and the unit status indicated by the unit status data sequence stored in the unit status storage unit 107 on the first display unit 104. A unit is a component included in each work machine, or it may be the work machine itself. In this embodiment, the processing unit 102 also functions as an acquisition unit for acquiring maintenance implementation information, which will be described later.

[0067] The first input unit 103 receives input operations from, for example, an operator of the production system 1, and outputs a signal corresponding to that input operation to at least one of the management control unit 101 and the processing unit 102. Such a first input unit 103 may include, for example, a keyboard, a touch sensor, a touchpad, or a mouse.

[0068] The first display unit 104 displays, for example, production-related indicators and the status of the unit calculated by the processing unit 102. Specific examples of the first display unit 104 include, but are not limited to, liquid crystal displays, plasma displays, or organic EL (Electro-Luminescence) displays.

[0069] The countermeasure storage unit 105 is a recording medium for storing information regarding countermeasures against deterioration of production-related indicators. Deterioration of production-related indicators means that the values ​​indicated by those indicators fall outside a predetermined range, and countermeasures mean means or methods to bring those values ​​within the predetermined range. The monitoring data storage unit 106 is a recording medium for storing monitoring data sequences showing the monitoring results for each of the mounting lines L1 to L3. The unit status storage unit 107 is a recording medium for storing unit status data sequences showing the status of each unit included in each work machine. For example, these recording media may be hard disks, ROMs (Read Only Memory), RAMs (Random Access Memory), or semiconductor memory. Such recording media may be volatile or non-volatile.

[0070] The first communication unit 108 communicates with each of the implementation lines L1 to L3. For example, the first communication unit 108 receives the above-mentioned monitoring data sequence from each of the implementation lines L1 to L3 and stores it in the monitoring data storage unit 106. The first communication unit 108 also receives the above-mentioned unit status data sequence from each of the implementation lines L1 to L3 and stores it in the unit status storage unit 107. It can also be said that the first communication unit 108 is configured as an acquisition unit that acquires the monitoring data sequence and the unit status data sequence.

[0071] The management control unit 101 controls the processing unit 102, the first display unit 104, the countermeasure storage unit 105, the monitoring data storage unit 106, the unit status storage unit 107, and the first communication unit 108.

[0072] The management device 100 may be configured as a single device or as multiple devices. For example, the management device 100 may consist of a first device including a first input unit 103 and a first display unit 104, and a second device including all components other than the first input unit 103 and the first display unit 104. In this case, the first device may be located in the same factory as the mounting lines L1 to L3, and the second device may be located on a cloud server outside that factory. Alternatively, the entire management device 100 may be provided on the cloud server or located in the aforementioned factory.

[0073] The mounting line L1 comprises a line control unit 201, a second input unit 203, a second display unit 204, a second communication unit 208, a plurality of work machines 210, and a plurality of sensors 211. The plurality of work machines 210 are component mounting devices M4 and M5, and each work machine 210 contains one or more tables Tb. In addition, the components other than the plurality of work machines 210 included in the mounting line L1 may be provided in the line management device 200 or in any of the work machines 210.

[0074] Each of the multiple sensors 211 detects the state of each unit contained in each of the multiple work machines 210, and generates unit state data indicating the detection result. This generates a unit state data sequence.

[0075] The second input unit 203, like the first input unit 103 of the control device 100, receives input operations from, for example, an operator of the production system 1, and outputs an input signal corresponding to that input operation to the line control unit 201. Such a second input unit 203 may include, for example, a keyboard, a touch sensor, a touchpad, or a mouse.

[0076] The second display unit 204 displays information corresponding to the input signal, for example, in response to control by the line control unit 201. Specific examples of the second display unit 204 include, but are not limited to, liquid crystal displays, plasma displays, or organic EL displays.

[0077] The second communication unit 208 communicates with the management device 100. For example, the second communication unit 208 receives parts library and production data from the first communication unit 108 of the management device 100. Also, when the second communication unit 208 acquires a series of monitoring data generated based on the monitoring results of multiple work machines 210, it transmits that series of monitoring data to the first communication unit 108 of the management device 100. Furthermore, when the second communication unit 208 acquires a series of unit status data generated based on the detection results of multiple sensors 211, it transmits that series of unit status data to the first communication unit 108 of the management device 100.

[0078] The multiple work machines 210 include a substrate supply device M1, a substrate transfer device M2, a solder printing device M3, component mounting devices M4 and M5, an inspection machine M6, a reflow device M7, and a substrate recovery device M8.

[0079] The line control unit 201 controls each component in the mounting line L1 other than the line control unit 201 itself. For example, the line control unit 201 controls each component based on operator input operations received by the second input unit 203. The line control unit 201 also causes the multiple work machines 210 to perform the solder printing, component mounting, and reflow operations based on the component library and production data received by the second communication unit 208. The line control unit 201 also monitors the multiple work machines 210. As a result, the line control unit 201 generates a monitoring data sequence that shows the status when the mounting line L1 (or each table Tb included in the mounting line L1) was mounting component P onto the substrate B, and transmits this monitoring data sequence from the second communication unit 208 to the management device 100.

[0080] [Monitoring Data Column] Figure 5 shows an example of data transmitted from the implementation lines L1 to L3 to the management device 100.

[0081] Each of the mounting lines L1 to L3 monitors its own component mounting operation while component mounting is being performed and transmits a monitoring data sequence Dx, which indicates the monitoring results, to the management device 100. This monitoring data sequence Dx consists of a sequence of multiple monitoring data Da. In other words, each of the mounting lines L1 to L3 repeatedly transmits the monitoring data Da to the management device 100, for example, periodically. Specifically, the monitoring data sequence Dx is transmitted from the second communication unit 208 to the first communication unit 108.

[0082] [Processing Operation of the Control Device] Figure 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of the processing operation performed by the processing unit 102 of the control device 100.

[0083] The processing unit 102 of the management device 100 acquires a monitoring data sequence Dx from each of the mounting lines L1 to L3 via the first communication unit 108. The monitoring data sequence Dx consists of a sequence of monitoring data Da that is repeatedly transmitted while the component mounting work is being performed, and indicates the content of the component mounting work. In a specific example, the monitoring data Da shows, for each type of component P, the work time, which is the time spent performing the component mounting work to mount that type of component P onto the substrate B, and the actual number during that work time (i.e., the number of mounting operations, mounting points, pick-up errors, recognition errors, and defects for that type of component P). The number of mounting operations is sometimes also called the pick-up count. The number of mounting points is the number of times that type of component P was mounted onto the substrate B. The number of pick-up errors is the number of pick-up errors in which the pick-up nozzle 10b could not properly pick up that type of component P. The number of recognition errors is the number of recognition errors in which the component recognition camera 11 could not properly recognize that type of component P. The number of defects is the number of mounting errors in which a component P of that type was not correctly mounted to the mounting position on the substrate B. A suction error includes at least one of the following: an error in which the suction nozzle 10b failed to pick up a component P of that type, and an error in which the suction nozzle 10b picked up a component P of that type in an abnormal orientation. A recognition error includes at least one of the following: an error in which the orientation of a component P of that type held by the suction nozzle 10b cannot be recognized, and an error in which the component P of that type that should be held by the suction nozzle 10b cannot be recognized. The orientation of a component P is at least one of the center position, front / back, and supply direction of the component P. A mounting error includes at least one of the following: an error in which a component P of that type is not on the mounting substrate, an error in which the misalignment amount of a component P of that type exceeds an allowable value, and an error in which the suction nozzle 10b was unable to mount a component P of that type to the substrate B and took it back (hereinafter also called a take-back error). A take-back error is detected by measuring the flow rate of air sucked into the suction nozzle 10b after component mounting using a flow rate sensor.

[0084] Each of the mounting lines L1 to L3, when component mounting work is performed, aggregates the actual number of component P of each type (number of mounting operations, number of mounted points, number of pick-up errors, number of recognition errors, number of defects) for each type of component P during the work time. For example, the line control unit 201 aggregates the number of mounting operations, number of mounted points, number of pick-up errors, and number of recognition errors by monitoring component mounting devices M4 and M5. The line control unit 201 then aggregates the number of mounting errors, excluding the aforementioned take-back errors, by monitoring the inspection results of the mounted substrate by the inspection machine M6, and includes the number of take-back errors in the number of defects. The line control unit 201 also aggregates the number of the aforementioned take-back errors in the number of defects by monitoring component mounting devices M4 and M5. For each work time during which component mounting work is performed, the line control unit 201 generates monitoring data Da indicating the work time and the aggregated actual numbers (number of mounting operations, number of mounted points, number of pick-up errors, number of recognition errors, number of defects) for that work time. Furthermore, each time the line control unit 201 generates monitoring data Da, it causes the second communication unit 208 to transmit the monitoring data Da to the management device 100.

[0085] In a specific example, as shown in Figure 6, the monitoring data Da shows the actual number of component Pa (number of mounting operations, number of mounted points, number of pick-up errors, number of recognition errors, number of defects) for component Pa of type a during working time t, as shown by (Aa1, Ab1, Ac1, Ad1, Ae1). Furthermore, the monitoring data Da also shows the actual number of component P (number of mounting operations, number of mounted points, number of pick-up errors, number of recognition errors, number of defects) for each of the other multiple component types during working time t, similar to component Pa. As an example, working time t may be 1 minute or any other time. Alternatively, instead of working time t, the actual number of component Pa (component Pa of type a) may be aggregated by the number of mounted boards produced.

[0086] When the processing unit 102 of the control device 100 acquires a monitoring data sequence Dx containing such monitoring data Da from its mounting line L, it calculates production-related indicators for each type of component P based on the monitoring data sequence Dx and cumulative period information De. The production-related indicators are indicators related to the production of mounted boards, and include, for example, productivity, cumulative number of adsorption errors, cumulative number of recognition errors, adsorption error rate, recognition error rate, and defect rate. The cumulative period information De indicates the period corresponding to the calculated production-related indicators. The period indicated by the cumulative period information De is also called the cumulative period and may be arbitrarily set by the operator.

[0087] In a specific example, the calculation date in Figure 6 indicates the day on which the production-related indicators were calculated. The production-related indicators corresponding to each calculation date in Figure 6 are production-related indicators based on the cumulative number of actual component mounting operations in which component Pa was picked up by component mounting devices M4 and M5 over a cumulative period. Productivity is, for example, the number of mounting operations per unit time, and CPH (chips per hour) is used as one specific example of the unit of productivity. Alternatively, productivity may be the reciprocal of CPH, i.e., the cycle time. The cumulative number of pick-up errors is the number of pick-up errors accumulated over that cumulative period, and the cumulative number of recognition errors is the number of recognition errors accumulated over that cumulative period. The pick-up error rate is, for example, the ratio of the number of pick-up errors for a particular product type to the number of times the pick-up nozzle 10b attempted to pick up component P of that product type (i.e., the number of mounting operations or pick-ups) for that product type. The recognition error rate is, for example, the ratio of the number of recognition errors for a particular product type to the number of times the suction nozzle 10b attempted to pick up a component P of that product type (i.e., the number of mounting operations or number of pick-ups). ppm (parts per million) is one specific unit used for both the pick-up error rate and the recognition error rate. The defect rate is, for example, the ratio of the number of defects for a particular product type to the number of mounted components P of that product type (i.e., the number of mounted parts). Similar to the pick-up error rate and the recognition error rate, ppm is one specific unit used for the defect rate.

[0088] In other words, for each of the multiple varieties of component P, the processing unit 102, at predetermined calculation points, accumulates the actual number of component P of that variety (number of mounting operations, number of mounting points, number of suction errors, number of recognition errors, number of defects) shown in the monitoring data column Dx over the cumulative period at that calculation point. Then, the processing unit 102 calculates the (productivity, cumulative number of suction errors, cumulative number of recognition errors, suction error rate, recognition error rate, defect rate) of component P of that variety from the actual number accumulated over that cumulative period. For example, the processing unit 102 calculates (Af1, Ag1, Ah1, Ai1, Aj1, Ak1) as the (productivity, cumulative number of suction errors, cumulative number of recognition errors, suction error rate, recognition error rate, defect rate) of component Pa at the first calculation point T1 (for example, day 1). Furthermore, the processing unit 102 calculates (Af2, Ag2, Ah2, Ai2, Aj2, Ak2) as the (productivity, cumulative number of suction errors, cumulative number of recognition errors, suction error rate, recognition error rate, and defect rate) of part Pa at the second calculation time point T2 (for example, day 2).

[0089] Furthermore, the processing unit 102 may calculate the above-mentioned production-related indicators for each table Tb.

[0090] [Unit Status Data Column] Figure 7 shows another example of data transmitted from the implementation lines L1 to L3 to the management device 100.

[0091] Each of the implementation lines L1 to L3 transmits a unit status data sequence Dy, which indicates the state of the unit detected by the multiple sensors 211, to the management device 100. This unit status data sequence Dy consists of a sequence of multiple unit status data Db. In other words, each of the implementation lines L1 to L3 transmits the unit status data Db to the management device 100 repeatedly, for example, periodically. Specifically, the unit status data sequence Dy is transmitted from the second communication unit 208 to the first communication unit 108.

[0092] Figure 8 shows an example of unit status data Db.

[0093] The unit status data Db, as shown in Figure 8 for example, indicates the state of each unit included in each table Tb as measured values. These measured values ​​are obtained by detection by the sensor 211. Specifically, the unit status data Db shows the measured values ​​A11, A12, and A13 of units U11, U12, and U13 included in table Tb1, respectively. Furthermore, the unit status data Db shows the measured values ​​of units U21, U22, and U23 included in table Tb2, respectively. Note that tables Tb1 and Tb2 are different tables Tb as described above. In addition, if other tables Tb are included in the mounting lines L1 to L3, the unit status data Db shows the measured values ​​of each unit included in those tables Tb.

[0094] Furthermore, the unit measurements shown by the unit status data Db and unit status data column Dy can be considered an example of unit status data that indicates the status of the units included in table Tb.

[0095] [Countermeasure Storage Unit] Figure 9 shows an example of countermeasure candidate information stored in the countermeasure storage unit 105.

[0096] The countermeasure candidate information 105a indicates one or more countermeasure candidates for each unit state to address the deterioration of production-related indicators that may occur as a result of that state. For example, as shown in Figure 9, the countermeasure candidate information 105a indicates countermeasure candidates C11 and C12 for unit state C1, and countermeasure candidates C21 and C22 for unit state C2. Unit states C1 and C2 are, for example, unit states such as nozzle clogging, and countermeasure candidates C11, C12, C21, and C22 are candidates for countermeasures such as maintenance of the suction nozzle 10b.

[0097] Figure 10 shows an example of countermeasure implementation information stored in the countermeasure storage unit 105.

[0098] The countermeasure implementation information 105b indicates the date and time when one or more maintenance actions were performed on each unit as part of the countermeasures described above. For example, as shown in Figure 10, the countermeasure implementation information 105b shows "yy1 / mm1 / dd1 / h1:m1", "yy2 / mm2 / dd2 / h2:m2", and "yy3 / mm3 / dd3 / h3:m3" as the date and time of the countermeasures performed on unit U11 (i.e., the date and time of the countermeasures). Note that "yy" and the following number indicate the year, "mm" and the following number indicate the month, and "dd" and the following number indicate the day. Also, "h" and the following number indicate the hour, and "m" and the following number indicate the minute.

[0099] Figure 11 is a diagram illustrating the unit state.

[0100] As shown in Figure 11, the unit status is classified into one of the following categories for each unit status item: abnormal, warning, near-normal, and normal. It should be noted that each of these categories—abnormal, warning, near-normal, and normal—can also be considered a degree of abnormality.

[0101] For example, if the unit is a mounting head 10, the status items for the mounting head 10 include filter clogging and nozzle holder sliding. Filter clogging is an item relating to the degree of clogging of the filter provided in the air passage within the mounting head 10. Nozzle holder sliding is an item relating to the sliding of the nozzle holder 10a.

[0102] Sensor 211 detects filter clogging and outputs the detection result as a measured value. This measured value may be, for example, the flow rate of air flowing through the filter. The unit status corresponding to the filter clogging of the mounting head 10 is classified into one of the following categories: abnormal, warning, near-normal, or normal, by comparing the measured air flow rate with the specified flow rate range.

[0103] Other sensors 211 detect nozzle holder sliding and output the detection result as a measured value. This measured value may be, for example, the torque of the motor used to raise and lower the nozzle holder 10a. The unit state corresponding to the nozzle holder sliding of the mounting head 10 is classified into one of the following categories: abnormal, warning, near-normal, or normal, by comparing the measured torque with the torque specification range.

[0104] When the unit is a suction nozzle 10b, the status items for the suction nozzle 10b include nozzle clogging and nozzle tip status. Nozzle clogging is an item relating to the degree of clogging of the suction nozzle 10b. Nozzle tip status is an item relating to the brightness of the tip of the suction nozzle 10b.

[0105] The sensor 211 detects nozzle clogging and outputs the detection result as a measured value. This measured value may be, for example, the air flow rate. The unit state corresponding to nozzle clogging of the suction nozzle 10b is classified into one of the following categories: abnormal, warning, near-normal, or normal, by comparing the measured air flow rate with the specified flow rate range.

[0106] Other sensors 211 detect the state of the nozzle tip and output the detection result as a measured value. This measured value may be, for example, the brightness of the tip of the suction nozzle 10b. The unit state corresponding to the state of the nozzle tip of the suction nozzle 10b is classified into one of the following categories: abnormal, warning, near-normal, or normal, by comparing the measured brightness with the specified brightness range. Note that if the brightness is high, the above-mentioned recognition errors may increase.

[0107] If the unit is a feeder 7, then one of the status items for that feeder 7 is feeder feeding accuracy. Feeder feeding accuracy is an item relating to the positional accuracy of the parts P supplied to the aforementioned parts extraction position by the pitch feeding by the feeder 7.

[0108] Sensor 211 detects the feeder feeding accuracy and outputs the detection result as a measured value. This measured value may be, for example, the amount of misalignment of part P relative to the part removal position. The unit status corresponding to the feeder feeding accuracy of feeder 7 is classified into one of the following categories: abnormal, warning, near-normal, or normal, by comparing the measured amount of misalignment with the specified range of misalignment.

[0109] Here, an abnormal unit status means the measured value is outside the specified range. Normal, near-normal, and warning unit statuses mean the measured value is within the specified range. The specified range includes the first, second, and third ranges. In other words, the specified range is classified into the first range (closest to outside the specified range), the second range (second closest to outside the specified range), and the third range (farthest from outside the specified range). A warning unit status means the measured value is within the third range, near-normal means the measured value is within the second range, and a warning means the measured value is within the first range.

[0110] [Screen display example] If the production-related indicator calculated based on the monitoring data column Dx stored in the monitoring data storage unit 106 falls outside a predetermined range, the processing unit 102 displays a selection screen on the first display unit 104.

[0111] Figure 12 shows an example of the first selection screen displayed on the first display unit 104.

[0112] First, the processing unit 102 displays, for example, the first selection screen 301 shown in Figure 12 on the first display unit 104. The first selection screen 301 is a screen for selecting the mounting line L where a problem has occurred, which is an event in which production-related indicators have fallen outside a predetermined range (i.e., deterioration of production-related indicators). The display of this first selection screen 301 notifies the operator of the occurrence of the problem. This first selection screen 301 includes a line selection button Bt1 for selecting mounting line L1, a line selection button Bt2 for selecting mounting line L2, and a line selection button Bt3 for selecting mounting line L3. Here, the line selection buttons corresponding to the mounting line L where the problem has occurred (in the example shown in Figure 12, line selection buttons Bt1 and Bt3) may have strings attached to notify that a problem has occurred, and only those line selection buttons may be displayed in a selectable state.

[0113] An operator viewing such a first selection screen 301 can, for example, perform an input operation to the first input unit 103 to select a line selection button corresponding to the desired mounting line L from the first selection screen 301. For example, the operator selects line selection button Bt1 corresponding to mounting line L1. When the processing unit 102 receives an input signal from the first input unit 103 indicating that line selection button Bt1 has been selected, it displays a second selection screen on the first display unit 104 for selecting one table Tb from a plurality of tables Tb included in the mounting line L1.

[0114] Figure 13 shows an example of the second selection screen displayed on the first display unit 104.

[0115] The processing unit 102 displays, for example, the second selection screen 302 shown in Figure 13 on the first display unit 104. The second selection screen 302 is a screen for selecting the table Tb in which a problem has occurred, which is an event in which production-related indicators fall outside a predetermined range. This second selection screen 302 includes a table selection button Bt11 for selecting table Tb1, a table selection button Bt12 for selecting table Tb2, a table selection button Bt13 for selecting table Tb3, and a table selection button Bt14 for selecting table Tb4. Here, the table selection buttons corresponding to the table Tb in which the problem has occurred (in the example shown in Figure 13, table selection buttons Bt11 and Bt12) may have a string attached to notify that a problem has occurred, and only that table selection button may be displayed in a state where it can be selected.

[0116] When an operator sees such a second selection screen 302, they select a table selection button corresponding to the desired table Tb from the second selection screen 302 by, for example, performing an input operation to the first input unit 103. For example, the operator selects the table selection button Bt11 corresponding to table Tb1. When the processing unit 102 receives an input signal from the first input unit 103 indicating that the table selection button Bt11 has been selected, it displays the management screen corresponding to table Tb1 on the first display unit 104.

[0117] Figure 14 shows an example of a management screen displayed on the first display unit 104.

[0118] The processing unit 102 displays, for example, the management screen 310 shown in Figure 14 on the first display unit 104. The management screen 310 includes status display areas 311 and 312, an indicator display area 313, a countermeasure candidate area 314, and a legend area 315.

[0119] Status display areas 311 and 312 are areas that show the status of a unit included in table Tb1. For example, the unit is a suction nozzle 10b. In this case, status display area 311 shows the nozzle tip state of the suction nozzle 10b as the unit state, and status display area 312 shows nozzle clogging of the suction nozzle 10b as the unit state. Status display areas 311 and 312 also show the change in the unit state over time. For example, status display area 311 shows that the nozzle tip state has transitioned from normal to near-normal to warning, and then to abnormal. Similarly, status display area 312 shows that the nozzle clogging has transitioned from normal to near-normal to warning, and then to abnormal. The horizontal position (left-right direction in Figure 14) in status display areas 311 and 312 indicates the time, date and time, year, month, and day. The unit states of normal, near-normal, warning, and abnormal may also be color-coded.

[0120] The indicator display area 313 shows a graph (specifically, a bar graph) of production-related indicators at each calculation point in time. The horizontal axis of the graph indicates the time, date, year, month, and day, while the horizontal axis indicates the production-related indicator in which a problem has occurred. In the example in Figure 14, the production-related indicators are the cumulative number of pick-up errors and the cumulative number of recognition errors. Note that the time scale of the horizontal axis of the graph in the indicator display area 313 is the same as the time scale of the width of the status display areas 311 and 312.

[0121] The countermeasure candidate area 314 shows one or more countermeasure candidates to bring the production-related indicators where problems are occurring within a predetermined range. These one or more countermeasure candidates are maintenance items for the unit corresponding to the unit status shown in the status display areas 311 and 312 (in the example of Figure 14, the suction nozzle 10b). The countermeasure candidate area 314 also includes a countermeasure execution button Bt21. When the operator executes one of the one or more countermeasure candidates as a countermeasure, they select the countermeasure execution button Bt21 by performing an input operation to the first input unit 103. When this countermeasure execution button Bt21 is selected, the processing unit 102 updates the information of the unit corresponding to the unit status shown in the status display areas 311 and 312 (in the example of Figure 14, the suction nozzle 10b) in the countermeasure implementation information 105b. In other words, the processing unit 102 obtains the date and time when maintenance for the suction nozzle 10b was performed as a countermeasure from the internal clock of the management device 100 as maintenance implementation information, and adds this maintenance implementation information to the countermeasure implementation information 105b. That date and time may also be the date and time when the action execution button Bt21 was selected.

[0122] Legend area 315 displays the legend for unit status and the legend for production-related indicators.

[0123] When the processing unit 102 displays such a management screen 310, it first generates an indicator display area 313 for production-related indicators that fall outside a predetermined range from among the multiple production-related indicators calculated for table Tb1. In the example in Figure 14, the production-related indicator that falls outside the predetermined range is the cumulative number of recognition errors. The processing unit 102 determines that a problem has occurred with the cumulative number of recognition errors because the cumulative number of recognition errors has reached 20, and generates an indicator display area 313 for the cumulative number of recognition errors. The horizontal axis of the graph included in the indicator display area 313 shows the display period from before to after the timing when the problem occurred.

[0124] The processing unit 102 then selects, for example, the unit with the worst unit condition among the multiple units included in table Tb1 at the time the problem occurred, as the unit of interest. The unit with the worst unit condition is the unit corresponding to the measurement value that is furthest from the specification range of each of the multiple units, i.e., the measurement value detected by the sensor 211. In a specific example, the multiple units are the mounting head 10, the suction nozzle 10b, and the feeder 7. The unit conditions of the mounting head 10, both for filter clogging and nozzle holder sliding, are normal. The unit conditions of the suction nozzle 10b, both for nozzle clogging and nozzle tip condition, are abnormal. The unit condition of the feeder feeding accuracy of the feeder 7 is near-normal. In this case, the processing unit 102 selects the suction nozzle 10b as the unit with the worst unit condition (i.e., the unit of interest).

[0125] In the example described above, the processing unit 102 selects the unit with the worst unit condition as the unit of interest, but it may also select a unit based on the factor estimation results as the unit of interest. That is, the processing unit 102 estimates the factors that cause the production-related indicators to fall outside a predetermined range among the multiple units included in table Tb1. Then, based on the estimated factors, the processing unit 102 identifies one unit from the multiple units as the unit of interest. This is how the unit of interest is selected. In a specific example, there may be cases where the production-related indicator, which is the cumulative number of suction misses, falls outside a predetermined range. The cumulative number of suction misses is the number of suction misses of the part P supplied from the nth feeder 7 among the multiple feeders 7 included in table Tb1. In this case, the processing unit 102 identifies the individual number of suction misses for each of the one or more suction nozzles 10b that picked up the part P from the nth feeder 7. The sum of the individual number of suction misses for each of the one or more suction nozzles 10b is the cumulative number of suction misses described above. Then, if there is one or more suction nozzles 10b with a significantly high number of individual suction errors, the processing unit 102 selects that suction nozzle 10b as the unit of interest. On the other hand, if there is no suction nozzle 10b with a significantly high number of individual suction errors among the one or more suction nozzles 10b, the processing unit 102 selects the nth feeder 7 as the unit of interest. Note that the suction nozzle 10b with a significantly high number of individual suction errors may be, for example, a suction nozzle 10b corresponding to an individual suction error count that differs by σ (standard deviation), 2σ, or 3σ or more from the average of the individual suction errors of one or more suction nozzles 10b.

[0126] The processing unit 102 may select one unit selected based on the factor estimation result and one or more units used in combination with the selected unit as units of interest. The method for factor estimation is the same as in the example described above. In a specific example, if the processing unit 102 selects the mounting head 10 included in table Tb1 based on the factor estimation result, it may select at least one of the one or more feeders 7 included in table Tb1 and the one or more suction nozzles 10b included in table Tb1 as units of interest.

[0127] Furthermore, the processing unit 102 may select two or more units as units of interest based on the factor estimation results. That is, if there are multiple feeders 7 included in table Tb1 and one or more suction nozzles 10b that pick up parts P from the multiple feeders 7, then among the multiple combinations including each feeder 7 and suction nozzle 10b, if there is a combination with a significantly high number of suction errors, the processing unit 102 may select the feeder 7 and suction nozzle 10b included in that combination as units of interest.

[0128] In the example described above, the processing unit 102 estimates the factors causing the production-related indicator, which is the cumulative number of mis-applied parts, to fall outside a predetermined range. However, it may also estimate the factors causing the production-related indicator, which indicates the quality of the components P mounted on the substrate B, to fall outside a predetermined range.

[0129] Next, the processing unit 102 identifies the state of the selected unit of interest during the display period (i.e., the unit state) from the unit state data sequence Dy stored in the unit state storage unit 107. Then, the processing unit 102 generates state display areas 311 and 312 that show the transitions in the unit state during the display period, i.e., the unit state transitions.

[0130] Furthermore, the processing unit 102 identifies one or more countermeasure candidates associated with the unit state of the unit of interest from the countermeasure candidate information 105a stored in the countermeasure storage unit 105, and generates a countermeasure candidate area 314 that includes the identified one or more countermeasure candidates. The processing unit 102 may also generate the countermeasure candidate area 314 if there is a correlation between the unit state of the unit of interest and the production-related indicators. For example, if the unit state of the unit of interest is abnormal or a warning at the time the problem occurs, the processing unit 102 may determine that there is a correlation between the worst unit state and the production-related indicators.

[0131] The management screen 310, which includes the countermeasure candidate area 314 generated in this way, status display areas 311 and 312, and indicator display area 313, is displayed on the first display unit 104.

[0132] Figure 15 shows another example of the management screen 310 displayed on the first display unit 104.

[0133] If the operator wants to know more about nozzle clogging, they can, for example, perform an input operation on the first input unit 103, which is configured as a mouse, to place the pointer 316 over the status display area 312 and perform a confirmation input operation by clicking the mouse. This selects the status display area 312. When the processing unit 102 receives an input signal from the first input unit 103 corresponding to the confirmation input operation, it displays a management screen 310 showing the details of the nozzle clogging on the first display unit 104.

[0134] Figure 16 shows yet another example of the management screen 310 displayed on the first display unit 104.

[0135] The processing unit 102 displays a management screen 310 showing details of nozzle clogging on the first display unit 104, for example, as shown in Figure 16. This management screen 310 includes a status detail display area 317. The status detail display area 317 shows a graph related to the degree of abnormality of the nozzle clogging. The horizontal axis of the graph shows time, date and time, year, month and day, etc., similar to the horizontal axis of the indicator display area 313, and the vertical axis shows the degree of abnormality of the nozzle clogging. In other words, in the example of Figure 16, the status detail display area 317 shows the change in the degree of abnormality of the nozzle clogging (i.e., the measured flow rate) over time as a line graph. Note that the time scale of the horizontal axis of the graph in the indicator display area 313 and the time scale of the horizontal axis of the status detail display area 317 are the same.

[0136] The degree of abnormality is defined by the measured value (i.e., flow rate) of the nozzle blockage detected by the sensor 211 and the specification range of that nozzle blockage, and is expressed, for example, as a percentage. If the measured value is the maximum or minimum value of the specification range, the degree of abnormality relative to that measured value is expressed as 100%, and if the measured value is the median value of the specification range, the degree of abnormality relative to that measured value is expressed as 0%. For example, if the degree of abnormality of a nozzle blockage is greater than 100%, the nozzle blockage is classified as abnormal, and if the degree of abnormality of a nozzle blockage is greater than 90% and 100% or less, the nozzle blockage is classified as a warning. For example, if the degree of abnormality of a nozzle blockage is greater than 80% and 90% or less, the nozzle blockage is classified as near-normal, and if the degree of abnormality of a nozzle blockage is 80% or less, the nozzle blockage is classified as normal.

[0137] Furthermore, if the operator wants to know the nozzle tip condition in detail and selects the condition display area 311, the condition detail display area 317, which shows a graph of the degree of abnormality of the nozzle tip condition, will be displayed.

[0138] Figure 17 shows an example of the management screen 310 that is displayed on the first display unit 104 after the countermeasure execution button Bt21 is selected.

[0139] As described above, when the countermeasure execution button Bt21 is selected, the processing unit 102 updates the information of the unit corresponding to the unit status shown in the status display areas 311 and 312 of the countermeasure implementation information 105b (i.e., the unit of interest). In the example shown in Figures 14 to 17, that unit is the suction nozzle 10b. The processing unit 102 then obtains the date and time when maintenance was performed on the suction nozzle 10b as maintenance implementation information and adds that maintenance implementation information to the countermeasure implementation information 105b.

[0140] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 17, the processing unit 102 displays a marker 318 indicating the time or date and time the maintenance was performed in the status display areas 311 and 312, the indicator display area 313, and the status detail display area 317. The marker 318 is, for example, a straight dashed line placed at that time or date and time. Alternatively, instead of the marker 318, an arrow 319 placed in the indicator display area 313 may be displayed. This displays the maintenance history.

[0141] Furthermore, if maintenance of the suction nozzle 10b is performed as a measure to bring production-related indicators within a predetermined range, the status display areas 311 and 312 and the status detail display area 317 will indicate that the unit status has returned to a normal state. The unit status refers to the nozzle tip state and nozzle clogging of the suction nozzle 10b. In addition, the indicator display area 313 will indicate that the cumulative recognition error rate, which is a production-related indicator, falls within a predetermined range after the maintenance is performed.

[0142] In the examples shown in Figures 14 to 16, the management screen 310 does not include the marker 318 or arrow 319, but the processing unit 102 may display the management screen 310 including the marker 318 or arrow 319 on the first display unit 104. In other words, when the table Tb where the problem occurred is selected, the processing unit 102 refers to the countermeasure implementation information 105b in the countermeasure storage unit 105. The processing unit 102 then searches the countermeasure implementation information 105b for maintenance implementation information for the unit corresponding to the unit status shown in the status display areas 311 and 312 (i.e., the unit of interest). If the processing unit 102 finds maintenance implementation information in the countermeasure implementation information 105b, it displays the management screen 310 with the marker 318 or arrow 319 corresponding to that maintenance implementation information.

[0143] Figure 18 shows yet another example of the management screen 310 displayed on the first display unit 104.

[0144] As shown in Figure 18, the management screen 310 does not necessarily have to include status display areas 311 and 312 and a status detail display area 317. Even in this case, the marker 318 or arrow 319 indicates the time or date when maintenance was performed on the unit of interest that is considered to be the cause of the deterioration of production-related indicators. In other words, the maintenance implementation information and the marker 318 or arrow 319 based on that maintenance implementation information can be said to be unit status data that indicates the status of the unit of interest included in the problem occurrence table Tb.

[0145] [Processing Flow] Figure 19 is a flowchart showing an example of the processing operation of the management device 100 in this embodiment.

[0146] First, the processing unit 102 acquires monitoring data sequence Dx from the mounting lines L1 to L3 via the first communication unit 108, and if the production-related indicators based on the monitoring data sequence Dx are deteriorating, it notifies the operator of the problem (step S10). In other words, the processing unit 102 displays the first selection screen 301 and the second selection screen 302 shown in Figures 12 and 13 on the first display unit 104.

[0147] Next, the processing unit 102 determines whether or not the table Tb where the problem occurred has been selected (step S20). That is, the processing unit 102 determines whether or not a table selection button (for example, table selection button Bt11, etc.) shown on the second selection screen 302 has been selected. If the processing unit 102 determines that table Tb has not been selected (No in step S20), it continues the process of step S10. On the other hand, if the processing unit 102 determines that table Tb has been selected (Yes in step S20), it generates a management screen 310 and displays it on the first display unit 104 (step S30). That is, the processing unit 102 displays a management screen 310 on the first display unit 104 that shows production-related indicators and unit status (or maintenance implementation information) of the selected table Tb.

[0148] Next, the processing unit 102 determines whether a unit state has been selected (step S40). That is, the processing unit 102 determines whether a unit state shown on the management screen 310, or more specifically, the state display area 311 or 312 shown in Figure 15, has been selected. If the processing unit 102 determines that a unit state has been selected (Yes in step S40), it generates a management screen 310 that shows the selected unit state in detail and displays it on the first display unit 104 (step S50). In a specific example, the processing unit 102 displays the management screen 310 including the state detail display area 317, as shown in Figure 16, on the first display unit 104. That is, the processing unit 102 updates the management screen 310 generated in step S30. On the other hand, if the processing unit 102 determines that a unit state has not been selected (No in step S40), or executes the process in step S50, it executes the process in step S60.

[0149] In other words, the processing unit 102 determines whether one of the one or more countermeasure candidates shown in the countermeasure candidate area 314 has been implemented as a countermeasure (step S60). In a specific example, the processing unit 102 determines whether the countermeasure execution button Bt21 shown in Figures 14 to 16 has been selected. If the processing unit 102 determines that the countermeasure has been implemented (Yes in step S60), it stores the date and time the countermeasure was executed or implemented as history and confirms the effectiveness of the countermeasure (step S70). In other words, the processing unit 102 writes the date and time the countermeasure was executed or implemented to the countermeasure implementation information 105b in the countermeasure storage unit 105. At this time, the processing unit 102 associates the date and time with the unit of interest and writes it as maintenance implementation information. Furthermore, in confirming the effectiveness of the countermeasure, the processing unit 102 confirms that the degree of abnormality has decreased, and that the production-related indicators corresponding to the problem that occurred have fallen within a predetermined range, as shown in Figure 17.

[0150] Figure 20 is a flowchart showing an example of the process for generating the management screen 310 by the management device 100 in this embodiment. Specifically, Figure 20 is a flowchart showing in detail the process of step S30 in Figure 19.

[0151] When the processing unit 102 generates the management screen 310, it first identifies the unit of interest included in the table Tb selected in step S20 of Figure 19 (step S31). The unit of interest is, for example, the unit with the worst unit state at the time the problem occurred, or a unit based on the cause estimation result.

[0152] Next, the processing unit 102 obtains the unit state data sequence Dy at the time the problem occurred (step S32). Specifically, the processing unit 102 obtains the unit state data sequence Dy from the unit state storage unit 107. The unit state data sequence Dy is obtained from the mounting line L by the first communication unit 108 and stored in the unit state storage unit 107.

[0153] Then, the processing unit 102 identifies the unit status of the unit of interest from the unit status data column Dy and generates a management screen 310 that shows the changes in the unit status and the changes in production-related indicators over time (step S33). Note that the processing unit 102 may also generate a management screen 310 that does not show the unit status, as shown in Figure 18.

[0154] Then, the processing unit 102 determines whether or not the countermeasure history for the unit of interest is retained (step S34). In other words, the processing unit 102 determines whether or not the countermeasure history, which is, for example, the date and time when maintenance on the unit of interest was carried out as a countermeasure against deterioration of production-related indicators, is shown as maintenance implementation information in the countermeasure implementation information 105b of the countermeasure storage unit 105. If the processing unit 102 determines that the countermeasure history is retained (Yes in step S34), it adds the countermeasure history to the management screen 310 (step S35). For example, as shown in Figure 17 or Figure 18, the processing unit 102 adds a marker 318 to the management screen 310 as an example of the countermeasure history. On the other hand, if the processing unit 102 determines that the countermeasure history is not retained (No in step S34), it terminates the management screen 310 generation process.

[0155] As described above, the management device 100 in this embodiment includes an acquisition unit that acquires monitoring data Da indicating the status when component P was mounted on substrate B using the equipment, and unit status data indicating the status of units included in the equipment, and a processing unit 102 that simultaneously displays on the first display unit 104 a production-related indicator which is an indicator related to the production of a mounted substrate B on which component P is mounted, and the status of the unit indicated by the unit status data.

[0156] The equipment is the table Tb described above. The acquisition unit is composed of some functions of the processing unit 102 and the first communication unit 108. The unit status data may be the unit status data Db or unit status data column Dy described above, or it may be the maintenance implementation information (i.e., marker 318 or arrow 319) described above.

[0157] This allows the equipment's production-related indicators and the status of the units included in that equipment to be displayed simultaneously, making it easy for operators to see how the production-related indicators and the unit status are related. For example, if a unit is malfunctioning and the production-related indicators have deteriorated beyond a predetermined range, the operator can determine that the unit's condition is likely the cause of the deterioration in the production-related indicators. The operator can then easily bring the production-related indicators back within the predetermined range by performing maintenance on that unit. On the other hand, if a unit is functioning normally and the production-related indicators have deteriorated beyond a predetermined range, the operator can determine that the unit's condition is not the cause of the deterioration in the production-related indicators. As a result, the cause of the deterioration in production-related indicators can be identified early and countermeasures can be implemented. This allows for more appropriate support for improving the efficiency of component mounting work.

[0158] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the processing unit 102 displays the status of the unit. In other words, the unit status data described above includes unit status data Db, and the unit status indicated by the unit status data Db is displayed.

[0159] This allows the unit's status to be displayed as a unit status, such as abnormal or normal, making it easy for the operator to understand the unit's condition.

[0160] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the state of the unit includes the degree of abnormality of the unit. The degree of abnormality of the unit may be the abnormality level described above.

[0161] This allows the degree of the unit's abnormality to be displayed, for example, as a percentage, enabling the operator to understand the unit's condition in more detail. The degree of abnormality is not limited to a percentage; it may be displayed in stages, such as abnormal, warning, near-normal, or normal.

[0162] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the processing unit 102 displays information regarding maintenance performed on the unit as the unit's status. In other words, the unit status data mentioned above includes maintenance implementation information, and the countermeasure history, such as the date and time indicated by that maintenance implementation information, is displayed. In other words, the marker 318 or arrow 319 mentioned above is displayed.

[0163] This allows the operator to easily understand the maintenance status of a unit, as the unit's status is displayed as a history of countermeasures, such as the date and time maintenance was performed on that unit.

[0164] In this embodiment, the acquisition unit acquires unit status data for each of the multiple units included in the equipment corresponding to the production-related indicators that fall outside a predetermined range. The processing unit 102 then identifies the unit status data that shows the greatest degree of abnormality among the multiple unit status data and displays the degree of abnormality shown in the identified unit status data. These multiple unit status data are the unit status data Db or unit status data column Dy described above.

[0165] This allows the system to display the degree of abnormality of the worst-performing unit, even if the equipment corresponding to the deteriorating production indicators includes multiple units. Therefore, operators can easily identify the condition of the unit that is most likely to be the cause of the deterioration in production indicators.

[0166] In this embodiment, the acquisition unit acquires unit status data for each of the multiple units included in the equipment corresponding to the production-related indicators that fall outside a predetermined range. The processing unit 102 then estimates the factors causing the production-related indicators to fall outside the predetermined range, identifies one unit from the multiple units based on the estimated factors, and displays the status of the identified unit. The identified unit is the unit based on the factor estimation results described above.

[0167] This allows the system to display the status of the unit that is considered to be the cause of the deterioration in production-related indicators, even if the equipment corresponding to the deterioration includes multiple units. Therefore, operators can easily understand the status of the unit that is considered to be the cause of the deterioration in production-related indicators.

[0168] In this embodiment, the processing unit 102 further displays the countermeasure candidate area 314 on the first display unit 104. The countermeasure candidate area 314 includes one or more maintenance items for the displayed unit as countermeasure candidates to bring production-related indicators that are outside a predetermined range into a predetermined range.

[0169] This allows, for example, an operator who determines that the displayed unit status is likely to be a factor in the deterioration of production-related indicators to easily select one or more maintenance items included in the candidate countermeasure area 314. In other words, by selecting one item and performing maintenance on that item, the operator can easily and quickly restore the unit status to normal and easily and quickly bring the production-related indicators within a predetermined range.

[0170] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the processing unit 102 displays at least one of the following as production-related indicators: a numerical value related to the quality of the mounted substrate, a numerical value related to errors in handling the component P, and the cycle time required for mounting the component P onto the substrate B. For example, the numerical value related to quality may be the defect rate, and the numerical value related to errors may be the number of errors or the error rate regarding the adsorption or recognition of component P. Also, the cycle time can be said to be productivity.

[0171] This makes it easy to understand the production status of mounted circuit boards using the equipment.

[0172] Furthermore, in this embodiment, when the processing unit 102 displays production-related indicators, it displays the time progression of the production-related indicators. For example, the processing unit 102 displays the time progression of production-related indicators using a line graph, as shown in the indicator display area 313.

[0173] This allows operators to easily see how production-related indicators are related to the status of units over time. For example, operators can easily see how a unit is performing when production-related indicators are changing significantly.

[0174] Furthermore, the production system 1 in this embodiment includes a control device 100 and a mounting line L that includes at least one of a solder printing device M3 and component mounting devices M4 and M5. At least one of the solder printing device M3 and component mounting devices M4 and M5 has the equipment described above.

[0175] This makes it possible to achieve the same effects and advantages as the control device 100 according to the first embodiment.

[0176] Although a control device 100 and a control method relating to one or more embodiments have been described above based on each embodiment, this disclosure is not limited to these embodiments. Various modifications of the above embodiments that a person skilled in the art can conceive of may also be included in this disclosure, as long as they do not depart from the spirit of this disclosure, and forms combining several embodiments may also be included in this disclosure.

[0177] For example, in the above embodiment, unit maintenance is performed as a countermeasure against the deterioration of production-related indicators when the operator selects the countermeasure execution button Bt21. However, the processing unit 102 may automatically perform the countermeasure by controlling the mounting lines L1 to L3. The processing unit 102 may also accept a setting to switch between manual and automatic operation. When manual operation is set, the processing unit 102 performs the countermeasure according to the operator's selection of the countermeasure execution button Bt21, and when automatic operation is set, the countermeasure is performed automatically regardless of the operator's selection of the countermeasure execution button Bt21.

[0178] In the above embodiment, one or more components included in the management device 100 and the implementation line L may be implemented by dedicated hardware or by executing software programs suitable for those components. One or more components may be implemented by a program execution unit such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) or processor reading and executing software programs recorded on a recording medium such as a hard disk or semiconductor memory. Here, the software that implements the management device 100 and the like in the above embodiment causes a computer to execute each step of the flowchart shown in Figures 19 and 20.

[0179] The following cases are also included in this disclosure.

[0180] (1) The one or more components described above may specifically be a computer system consisting of a microprocessor, ROM (Read Only Memory), RAM (Random Access Memory), a hard disk unit, a display unit, a keyboard, a mouse, etc. A computer program is stored in the RAM or hard disk unit. The microprocessor operates according to the computer program, thereby enabling one or more components to perform their functions. Here, a computer program is composed of a combination of multiple instruction codes that indicate commands to the computer in order to achieve a predetermined function.

[0181] (2) The one or more components described above may be comprised of a single system LSI (Large Scale Integration). The system LSI is a highly functional LSI manufactured by integrating multiple components onto a single chip, and specifically, it is a computer system comprising a microprocessor, ROM, RAM, etc. The RAM stores a computer program. The system LSI achieves its function by operating the microprocessor in accordance with the computer program.

[0182] (3) The above one or more components may consist of a detachable IC card or a standalone module. The IC card or module is a computer system consisting of a microprocessor, ROM, RAM, etc. The IC card or module may include the above-mentioned multi-functional LSI. The IC card or module achieves its function by the operation of the microprocessor according to the computer program. The IC card or module may be tamper-resistant.

[0183] (4) The disclosure may also be the methods described above. Alternatively, it may be a computer program that implements these methods using a computer, or a digital signal consisting of a computer program.

[0184] Furthermore, this disclosure may also refer to a computer program or digital signal recorded on a computer-readable recording medium, such as a flexible disk, hard disk, CD (Compact Disc)-ROM, DVD, DVD-ROM, DVD-RAM, BD (Blu-ray® Disc), semiconductor memory, etc. Alternatively, it may refer to a digital signal recorded on such a recording medium.

[0185] Furthermore, this disclosure may also include the transmission of computer programs or digital signals via telecommunications lines, wireless or wired communication lines, networks such as the Internet, data broadcasting, etc.

[0186] Alternatively, the program or digital signal may be carried out by another independent computer system by recording and transferring it on a recording medium, or by transferring the program or digital signal via a network or the like.

[0187] This disclosure can be used, for example, in a management device for mounting components onto a substrate.

[0188] 1 Production System 4 Base 5 Substrate Transport Mechanism 6 Parts Supply Unit 7 Feeder 8 Y-axis Beam 9 X-axis Beam 9a Plate 10 Mounting Head 10a Nozzle Holder 10b Suction Nozzle 11 Parts Recognition Camera 12 Substrate Recognition Camera 13 Cart 13a Feeder Base 14 Parts Tape 15 Cassette Holder 100 Management Device 101 Management Control Unit 102 Processing Unit (Acquisition Unit) 103 First Input Unit (Input Unit) 104 First Display Unit (Display Unit) 105 Countermeasure Storage Unit 105a Countermeasure Candidate Information 105b Countermeasure Implementation Information 106 Monitoring Data Storage Unit 107 Unit Status Storage Unit 108 First Communication Unit (Acquisition Unit) 200 Line Management Device 201 Line Control Unit 203 Second Input Unit 204 Second Display Unit 208 210 Second Communication Unit 211 Work Machine 211 Sensor 301 First Selection Screen 302 Second Selection Screen 310 Management Screen 311, 312 Status Display Area 313 Indicator Display Area 314 Countermeasure Candidate Area 315 Legend Area 316 Pointer 317 Status Details Display Area 318 Marker 319 Arrow a, b Type B Substrate Bt1, Bt2, Bt3 Line Selection Button Bt11, Bt12, Bt13, Bt14 Table Selection Button Bt21 Countermeasure Execution Button C Parts Reel C1, C2, C3 Unit Status C11, C12, C21, C22, C31, C32 Countermeasure Candidate Da Monitoring Data Db Unit Status Data De Cumulative Period Information Dx Monitoring Data Column Dy Unit Status Data Column Hu Upper holding position Hd Lower holding position L Mounting line L1, L2, L3 Mounting line M1 Board supply device M2 Board transfer device M3 Solder printing device M4, M5 Component mounting device M6 Inspection machine M7 Reflow device M8 Board recovery device P, Pa, Pb Component T1, T2 Calculation point Tb, Tb1, Tb2, Tb3, Tb4 Table U11, U12, U13, U21, U22, U23 Unit

Claims

1. A management device comprising: an acquisition unit that acquires monitoring data indicating the status when components were mounted on a circuit board using equipment and unit status data indicating the status of units included in the equipment; and a processing unit that simultaneously displays on a display unit a production-related indicator, which is an indicator related to the production of a mounted circuit board on which components are mounted, and the status of the unit indicated by the unit status data.

2. The management device according to claim 1, wherein the processing unit displays the status of the unit as the status of the unit.

3. The management device according to claim 2, wherein the status of the unit includes the degree of abnormality of the unit.

4. The management device according to claim 1, wherein the processing unit displays information regarding maintenance performed on the unit as the status of the unit.

5. The management device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the acquisition unit acquires unit status data for each of a plurality of units included in the equipment corresponding to the production-related indicators that fall outside a predetermined range, and the processing unit identifies the unit status data from among the plurality of unit status data that shows the greatest degree of abnormality as the status of the unit, and displays the degree of abnormality shown in the identified unit status data.

6. The management device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the acquisition unit acquires unit status data for each of a plurality of units included in the equipment corresponding to the production-related indicator that falls outside a predetermined range, the processing unit estimates the factors causing the production-related indicator to fall outside the predetermined range, identifies one of the plurality of units based on the estimated factors, and displays the status of the identified unit.

7. The control device according to claim 2, wherein the processing unit further displays a countermeasure candidate area on the display unit, and the countermeasure candidate area includes each of the one or more maintenance items for the displayed state of the unit as a countermeasure candidate for bringing the production-related indicators that are outside the predetermined range into the predetermined range.

8. The control device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the processing unit displays at least one of the following as production-related indicators: a numerical value relating to the quality of the mounted substrate, a numerical value relating to errors in handling the components, and the cycle time required for mounting the components onto the substrate.

9. The control device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the processing unit displays the time progression of the production-related indicators when displaying them.

10. A production system comprising the control device described in claim 1 and a mounting line including at least one of a printing device and a component mounting device, wherein at least one of the printing device and the component mounting device has the equipment described above.

11. A computer-based management method comprising: acquiring monitoring data indicating the status when components were mounted on a circuit board using equipment, and unit status data indicating the status of units included in the equipment; and simultaneously displaying on a display unit the production-related indicators, which are indicators related to the production of mounted circuit boards, which are circuit boards on which components are mounted, and the status of the units indicated by the unit status data.

12. A program that causes a computer to acquire monitoring data showing the status when components were mounted on a circuit board using equipment, and unit status data showing the status of units included in the equipment, and simultaneously display on a display unit a production-related indicator, which is an indicator related to the production of mounted circuit boards, which are circuit boards on which components are mounted, and the status of the units shown by the unit status data.

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