DESCRIPTION
TITLE OF INVENTION: OPERATION GUIDANCE SETTING SUPPORT APPARATUS, OPERATION SUPPORT SYSTEM, AND
COMPUTER PROGRAM TECHNICAL FIELD [0001]
The present invention relates to an operation guidance setting support apparatus, an operation support system, and a computer program that support setting of guidance provided to operators in production lines. BACKGROUND ART [0002]
Various operation support systems for supporting operations in production lines for operators in production processes of the production lines are proposed. For example, PATENT LITERATURE 1 discloses an operation support system for building up know-how of production to be used for the guidance (such as operation instruction information and risk notification information) provided to operators and for registering and holding, in a database, guidance rules expressed by the guidance and application conditions. In the operation support system, input operations are introduced to the operators in the registration of the guidance rules, and even operators without knowledge of the operations can register the guidance rules.
CITATION LIST PATENT LITERATURE [0003]
PATENT LITERATURE 1: Japanese Patent No. 4351725 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION TECHNICAL PROBLEM [0004]
In production lines with similar production processes and the like, guidance provided to the operators in the production lines may be similar. A production company with production plants at a plurality of locations often has similar production lines in the production plants. In such a case, if guidance rules set in a production line can be converted and set in another similar production line, the setting operations of the guidance rules in the production lines are facilitated, and the operations can be more efficient. However, the names of setting items of the guidance rules may not be the same even between similar production lines, and there is a problem that simple conversions of the guidance rules are difficult. [0005]
For example, one of the setting items related to the application conditions of the guidance rules is "comparison target" indicating an item as a target of determining whether to output the guidance. The "comparison target" in the registration of risk-predicting guidance in production denotes a data item
of production command information of the production lines (for example, information transmitted by-messages to guidance computers or process controlling computers of the production lines from a production planning computer system through a communication network) . However, the names of the data item may not be the same, such as "material size" and "product size", depending on the production line even if the names indicate the same meaning and content. This may occur not only between production lines that are not similar to each other, but also between production lines similar to each other. Therefore, guidance rules of a production line cannot be used as guidance rules of another production line, and the guidance rules need to be set in each production line.
[0006]
The present invention has been made in view of the problem, and an object of the present invention is to enable conversion of guidance rules from a production line to another production line to support setting registration operations of the guidance rules by operators and the like. SOLUTION TO PROBLEM
[0007]
To solve the problem, an aspect of the present invention provides an operation guidance setting support apparatus that supports setting, to production lines, guidance rules at least defining content of guidance and production conditions
requiring outputting the guidance, the operation guidance setting support apparatus including: a common definition term storage unit that associates a plurality of production line terms, which are used to describe the guidance rules of the production lines managed by the operation guidance setting support apparatus and which have the same meaning and content, with common definition terms which have the meaning and content and that stores the production line terms and the common definition terms; a common notation management unit that creates common notation rules described to be applicable to the production lines based on the guidance rules set in the production lines; and a common notation rule storage unit that stores the common notation rules, wherein the common notation management unit creates guidance rules, which are described by converting the production line terms describing the guidance rules of the production lines managed by the operation guidance setting support apparatus into the common definition terms associated with the production line terms, as the common notation rules and provides one or a plurality of possible conversion rules, which are guidance rules described to be suitable for a production line as a setting location of the guidance rules by converting the common notation rules stored in the common notation rule storage unit into the production line terms used to describe the guidance rules in the production line, to a line management apparatus that
manages the production line.
[0008]
The operation support apparatus of the present invention can further include a common definition term registration processing unit that manages the common definition term storage unit. The common definition term registration processing unit displays a common definition term registration screen for registering the common definition terms on a display device, records the common definition terms in the common definition term storage unit based on registration content of a new common definition term inputted by an operator on the common definition term registration screen, displays a setting screen for associating the common definition terms with the plurality of production line terms on the display device, associates the plurality of production line terms with the common definition terms with the same meaning and content as the production line terms based on registration content of the production line terms inputted by the operator in input areas of the production line terms corresponding to the common definition terms on the setting screen, and records the plurality of production line terms and the common definition terms in the common definition term storage unit.
[0009]
The common definition term registration processing unit may display possible production line
terms to be associated with the common definition terms in the input areas of the production line terms corresponding to the common definition terms on the setting screen. [0010]
The common definition term registration processing unit may display the possible production line terms to be associated with the common definition terms in the input areas of the production line terms corresponding to the common definition terms on the setting screen in descending order of similarity with the common definition terms. [0011]
The common notation management unit may further store information of the production line that has provided the guidance rules in the common notation rule storage unit.
The common notation rule storage unit may further store classification information, which is for classifying the common notation rules based on classification conditions set to the common notation rules, in the common notation rule storage unit. [0012]
The common notation management unit may determine a display order of the plurality of possible conversion rules based on the information of the production line that has provided the guidance rules or the classification information. [0013]
The common notation management unit may notify the line management apparatus of at least one of the production lines managed by the operation guidance setting support apparatus of the registration of the new common notation rule when the new common notation rule is recorded in the common notation rule storage unit . [0014]
To solve the problem, another aspect of the present invention provides an operation support system including: a plurality of line management apparatuses that manage guidance for notifying operators in production lines; and an operation guidance setting support apparatus that supports setting, to the production lines, guidance rules at least defining content of the guidance and production conditions requiring outputting the guidance, the plurality of line management apparatuses and the operation guidance setting support apparatus being connected to each other through a network, each of the plurality of line management apparatuses including: a guidance rule storage unit that stores the guidance rules set to the production line managed by the line management apparatus; an input unit to which setting information of the guidance rules set to the production line is inputted; and a guidance management unit that records the guidance rules in the guidance rule storage unit based on the setting information, the operation guidance setting support
apparatus including: a common definition term storage unit that associates a plurality of production line terms, which are used to describe the guidance rules of the production lines managed by the operation guidance setting support apparatus and which have the same meaning and content, with common definition terms which have the meaning and content and that stores the production line terms and the common definition terms; a common notation management unit that creates common notation rules described to be applicable to the production lines based on the guidance rules set in the production lines; and a common notation rule storage unit that stores the common notation rules, wherein the common notation management unit creates guidance rules, which are described by converting the production line terms describing the guidance rules of the production lines managed by the operation guidance setting support apparatus into the common definition terms associated with the production line terms, as the common notation rules and provides one or a plurality of possible conversion rules, which are guidance rules described to be suitable for a production line as a setting location of the guidance rules by converting the common notation rules stored in the common notation rule storage unit into the production line terms used to describe the guidance rules in the production line, to a line management apparatus that manages the production line, and the line management
apparatus that has received the conversion rules displays the possible conversion rules and registers the conversion rules based on an operation of the operator for the displayed possible conversion rules. [0015]
To solve the problem, another aspect of the present invention provides a computer program for causing a computer to use an operation guidance setting support apparatus to support setting, to production lines, guidance rules at least defining content of guidance and production conditions requiring outputting the guidance, the computer program causing the computer to execute: a step of referencing a common definition term storage unit that associates a plurality of production line terms, which are used to describe the guidance rules of the production lines managed by the operation guidance setting support apparatus and which have the same meaning and content, with common definition terms which have the meaning and content and that stores the production line terms and the common definition terms and creating guidance rules, which are described by converting the production line terms describing the guidance rules of the production lines managed by the operation guidance setting support apparatus into the common definition terms associated with the production line terms, as the common notation rules; a step of recording the created common notation rules in the common notation rule
storage unit; and a step of instructing to provide one or a plurality of possible conversion rules, which are guidance rules described to be suitable for a production line as a setting location of the guidance rules by converting the common notation rules stored in the common notation rule storage unit into the production line terms used to describe the guidance rules in the production line, to a line management apparatus that manages the production line. ADVANTAGEOUS EFFECTS OF INVENTION
[0016]
According to the present invention, a plurality of production line terms with the same meaning and content in a plurality of production lines are associated with common definition terms, and common notation rules created using the common definition terms are created. Subsequently, one or a plurality of possible conversion rules, which are guidance rules described to be suitable for a production line as a conversion destination by converting the common notation rules into production line terms in the production line, are provided. Therefore, conversion of guidance rules from a production line to another production line is possible, and setting registration operations of guidance rules can be supported. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0017]
[Fig. 1] Fig. 1 is a schematic explanatory diagram showing a schematic configuration of an operation
support system according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[Fig. 2] Fig. 2 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of the operation support system according to the embodiment.
[Fig. 3] Fig. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of configuration of a guidance rule table stored in a guidance rule storage unit.
[Fig. 4] Fig. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of configuration of an application condition table stored in the guidance rule storage unit. [Fig. 5] Fig. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of configuration of a common definition term storage unit.
[Fig. 6] Fig. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of configuration of a common notation rule table stored in a common notation rule storage unit. [Fig. 7] Fig. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of configuration of an application condition table stored in the common notation rule storage unit. [Fig. 8] Fig. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a common definition term registration screen for registering common definition terms. [Fig. 9] Fig. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a setting screen for associating the common definition terms with comparison target names in production lines.
[Fig. 10] Fig. 10 is a timing chart showing a flow of a process until common display rules are created.
[Fig. 11] Fig. 11 is a timing chart showing a flow of
a creation process of conversion rules.
[Fig. 12] Fig. 12 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a conversion rule creation screen for creating the conversion rules.
[Fig. 13] Fig. 13 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of update after the conversion rule creation of the common notation rule table stored in the common notation rule storage unit of Fig. 6.
[Fig. 14] Fig. 14 is a block diagram showing an example of hardware configuration of a line processing unit and a common content processing unit of the operation support system according to the embodiment. DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
[0018]
A preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings. In the present specification and drawings, constituent elements with substantially the same functional configurations are designated with the same reference numerals, and the description will not be repeated. The present embodiment covers and describes an example in which the production lines are production lines of steel production. However, it is obvious that the present invention can be applied in production lines of other types of industry and the like if guidance rules and the like are changed to be suitable for the production lines.
[0019]
<1. Schematic Configuration of Operation Support
System>
A schematic configuration of an operation support system 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described based on Fig. 1. Fig. 1 is a diagram showing the schematic configuration of the operation support system 1 according to the present embodiment. [0020]
In the operation support system 1 according to the present embodiment, line processing units 30 (an A line processing unit BOA and a C line processing unit 30B) and a common content processing unit 20 are mutually connected through a network 10.
The line processing units 30 manage guidance rules of production lines and guide operators of the production lines for operations based on the guidance rules. The line processing units 30 are examples of the line management apparatuses. The common content processing unit 20 creates and manages common notation rules based on the guidance rules of the production lines and uses the common notation rules to apply the guidance rules in a production line to another production line. The common content processing unit 20 is an example of the operation guidance setting support apparatus. A conversion destination of the guidance rules may be a production line in the same factory or may be a production line
in another factory.
[0021]
The line processing unit 30 is an operation support apparatus arranged in each production line. For example, if there are two production lines, an A line and a B line, the A line processing unit 30A that manages the A line and the B line processing unit SOB that manages the B line are arranged as shown in Fig. 1. The line processing units 30 include line terminals 100 (110A and 100B) that individually manage a plurality of production lines, guidance computers 110 (110A and 110B) that execute processes of guiding the operators who operate in the production lines where the operations are performed based on operation information inputted from the line terminals 100, and guidance rule storage units 120
(120A and 120B) that store the guidance rules of the production lines. The guidance rules define application conditions of the guidance, and specifically, define at least the content of the guidance and production conditions requiring outputting the guidance.
[0022]
The common content processing unit 20 is an operation guidance setting support apparatus that enables conversion of the guidance rules between a plurality of production lines to support setting
(creating) the guidance rules in the production lines. The common content processing unit 20 includes a
common notation rule management computer (hereinafter, "management computer" as necessary) 210 that creates and manages common notation rules based on the guidance rules set in the production lines managed by the common content processing unit 20 and that manages production line terms used in the guidance rules of the production lines, a common definition term storage unit 220 that stores the common notation rules, a common notation rule storage unit 230 that stores the common notation rules, and a common notation management terminal 200 that operates the management computer 210. The production line terms are terms handled in one or a plurality of production lines, and the terms may be different (or not similar) between the production lines even if the terms denote the same (or similar) meaning and content. The production lines managed by the common content processing unit 20 are production lines managed by the line processing units 30 that can mutually communicate with the common content processing unit 20. [0023]
The guidance rules of the production lines are set by the line terminals 100 of the production lines and are recorded in the guidance rule storage units 120 by the guidance computers 110. When the guidance computers 110 record a new guidance rule in the guidance rule storage units 120 of the production lines, the guidance computers 110 transmits the
guidance rule to the management computer 210 through the network 10. The method of setting the guidance rules is described, for example, in Japanese Patent No. 4351725. The entire content described in Japanese Patent No. 4351725 can be incorporated into the present specification. [0024]
Meanwhile, the management computer 210 associates the production line terms used in the guidance rules of the production lines with the common definition terms based on input information from the common notation management terminal 200 and records the terms in the common definition term storage unit 220. The common definition terms are terms defined to link the production line terms of the production lines used in the same meaning and content. The production line terms used in the same meaning and content between different production lines can be identified through the common definition terms. As described, the "production line terms used to describe the guidance rules of the production lines" associated with the common definition terms are not limited to the terms having precisely the same meaning and content, but may be terms having similar meaning and content. [0025]
When the management computer 210 receives a newly registered guidance rule from the line processing units 30 of the production lines, the management
computer 210 converts the guidance rule into a common notation rule and records the common notation rule in the common notation rule storage unit 230. The common notation rules are rules describing the production line terms of the guidance rules registered in the production lines by the common definition terms to be applicable to other production lines. In the present embodiment, the management computer 210 converts the common definition terms of the common notation rules into the production line terms suitable for the production line managed by the line terminal 100 as a request source in response to a request from the line terminal 100 of the production line to create possible conversion rules and provides the possible conversion rules to the line terminal 100. The operator who registers the guidance rules of the production lines creates a new guidance rule based on the possible conversion rules. The operator may be a worker of the production lines or may be other personnel. There may be one or a plurality of possible conversion rules. The operator of the line terminals 100 may change the content of the possible conversion rules. Therefore, even if the number of the conversion rules provided to the line terminals 100 is one, the conversion rule serves as a possible conversion rule. [0026]
In this way, in the operation support system 1 according to the present embodiment, the guidance
rules set in the production lines are managed as common notation rules, and the common notation rules are used to convert the guidance rules of a conversion source into the guidance rules of a conversion destination. Therefore, the guidance rules of a production line can be converted to the guidance rules of another production line. As a result, the guidance rules can be converted between a plurality of production lines, especially between a plurality of similar production lines, and the guidance rules can be easily set. Hereinafter, a configuration of the operation support system 1 and an example of an operation support method by the operation support system 1 will be described in detail. [0027]
<2. Functional Configuration of Operation Support System>
An example of a functional configuration of the operation support system 1 according to the present embodiment will be described based on Figs. 2 to 7. Fig. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of the functional configuration of the operation support system 1 according to the present embodiment. Fig. 3 is a diagram showing an example of configuration of a guidance rule table stored in the guidance rule storage units 120. Fig. 4 is a diagram showing an example of configuration of an application condition table stored in the guidance rule storage units 120.
Fig. 5 is a diagram showing an example of configuration of the common definition term storage unit 220. Fig. 6 is a diagram showing an example of configuration of a common notation rule table stored in the common notation rule storage unit 230. Fig. 7 is a diagram showing an example of configuration of an application condition table stored in the common notation rule storage unit 230. [0028]
In Fig. 2, as described, the operation support system 1 of the present embodiment includes: the line processing units 30 (the A line processing unit 30A and the C line processing unit 30B) that manage the guidance rules of two production lines (the A and C lines) and that guide the operators of the production lines for the operations based on the guidance rules, individually for each production line; and the common content processing unit 20 that creates and manages the common notation rules and that uses the common notation rules to convert the guidance rules in a production line into the guidance rules of another production line. Since the A line processing unit 30A that manages the A line and the C line processing unit 30B that manages the C line have the same configurations, only the configuration of the A line processing unit 30A will be described in detail. In the present embodiment, the line processing units 30 are individually arranged for each production line. Therefore, the number of the line processing units 30
is determined in accordance with the number of the production lines with operations supported by the operation support system 1, and the number of the line processing units 30 is not limited to two. One line processing unit 30 may execute processes in a plurality of production lines. [0029]
The A line processing unit 30A includes the line terminal 100A, the guidance computer 110A, and the guidance rule storage unit 120A. The line terminal 100A includes an input unit 102A that receives information, a display processing unit 104A that executes a display control process to display information such as guidance rules on a display unit 106A, and the display unit 106A that displays the information. Information inputted by an input device "such as a keyboard, a mouse, and a touch panel arranged on the display unit 106A" is inputted to the input unit 102A. Examples of the information inputted to the input unit 102A include setting information related to the setting of the guidance rules and operation information for operating the display content of the display unit 106A. The input unit 102 outputs the setting information to the guidance computer 110A when the setting information of the guidance rule is inputted and outputs the operation information to the display processing unit 104A when the operation information is inputted. [0030]
The display processing unit 104A receives the display information outputted from the guidance computer 110A and executes a display process of converting the display information into information for display on the display unit 106A. When the operation information is received from the input unit 102A, the display processing unit 104A executes a display process for changing the display content of the display unit 106A in accordance with the operation information. The information subjected to the display process by the display processing unit 104A is outputted to the display unit 106A. A display unit, such as a liquid crystal display and an organic EL display, can be used for the display unit 106A. The line terminal 100A can include, for example, a speaker that outputs sound as an output device that outputs information. [0031]
The guidance computer 110A is an information processing apparatus that manages the guidance rule set to the production line and is an information processing apparatus that includes, for example, an interface unit 112A and a guidance management unit 114A. The interface unit 112A transmits and receives information to and from the line terminal 100A and the management computer 210 mutually connected through the network 10. For example, the interface unit 112A transmits the setting information of the guidance rules inputted from the input unit 102A to
the guidance management unit 114A and transmits the guidance rules set by the guidance management unit 114A to the management computer 210. The guidance management unit 114A creates the guidance rules based on the setting information of the guidance rules to record the guidance rules in the guidance rule storage unit 120A and transmits the recorded guidance rules to the management computer 210.
[0032]
The guidance rule storage unit 120A stores the guidance rules set in each production line (A line here) . The guidance rule storage unit 120A stores, for example, a guidance rule table 1210 as shown in Fig. 3 and an application condition table 1220 as shown in Fig. 4.
[0033]
The guidance ,rule table 1210 stores the guidance rules indicating content of the guidance, application conditions of the guidance, and the like. As shown for example in Fig. 3, the guidance rule table stores a guidance ID 1211 for identifying the guidance rules, an application condition combination formula 1212 indicating production conditions for outputting the guidance, a registration date 1213 of the guidance rules, a related file 1214 indicating documents or the like related to the content of the guidance, a comment 1215 as the content of the guidance to be outputted, an output timing 1216, and the like. The example shown in Fig. 3 sets a guidance rule that
outputs guidance "Carry Out 1000 on the occasion of Size Shift" at a timing of "Welding Completion" when application condition combination formulas "1 and 2" are satisfied. [0034]
The application condition table 1220 stores the content of the application conditions of the guidance rules. As shown for example in Fig. 4, the application condition table 1220 stores a guidance ID 1221 of the guidance rules using the application conditions, a formula ID 1222 for identifying a formula constituting the application conditions (the application condition combination formula), a determination method 1223 showing a method of determining the application conditions, a comparison target 1224 showing an item to be determined, comparison formulas 1225 and 1227 indicating determination content for determining the comparison target, values 1226 and 1228 of the comparison formulas, and the like. [0035]
In the example shown in Fig. 3, a logical production of the formula IDs "1" and "2" is set as the application condition of the guidance rule of the guidance ID "1". Based on Fig. 4, a current size (thickness) is compared with a size (thickness) of a previous material in the formula ID "1" to determine whether the current size (thickness) has "increased" from the previous material and to determine whether
the size (thickness) is "1.5" times "or greater (>)" than the previous material. In the formula ID "2", whether the current material is "the same ( = ) " as a material "111" is determined. Therefore, a guidance rule indicating that the guidance of the guidance ID "1" is outputted when the formulas are satisfied at the same time is registered in the guidance rule table 1210 and the application condition table 1220. A line processing unit similar to the A line processing unit 30A with such a configuration is individually arranged in each production line.
[0036]
The common content processing unit 20 includes the common notation management terminal 200, the common notation rule management computer 210, the common definition term storage unit 220, and the common notation rule storage unit 230. The common notation management terminal 200 is a terminal for operating the management computer 210 that registers the common definition terms and that creates the common notation rules. The common notation management terminal 200 can be configured in the same way as the line terminals 100 and includes, for example, an input unit 202, a display processing unit 204, and a display unit 206.
[0037]
Information inputted by an input device "such as a keyboard, a mouse, and a touch panel arranged on the display unit 106A" is inputted to the input unit
202. Examples of the information inputted to the input unit 202 include common definition term registration information for registering the common definition terms, common definition term setting information for setting the common definition term table, and operation information for operating the display content of the display unit 206. Among the information inputted from the input unit 202, the common definition term registration information and the common definition term setting information are outputted to the management computer 210, and the operation information is outputted to the display processing unit 204. [0038]
The display processing unit 204 receives display information outputted from the management computer 210 and executes a display process of converting the display information into information for display on the display unit 206. When the display processing unit 204 receives operation information from the input unit 202, the display processing unit 204 executes a display process of changing the display content of the display unit 206 according to the operation information. The information subjected to the display process by the display processing unit 204 is outputted to the display unit 206. A display device, such as a liquid crystal display and an organic EL display, can be used for the display unit 206. Like the line terminals 100, the common
notation management terminal 200 can include, for example, a speaker that outputs sound as an output device that outputs information. [0039]
The management computer 210 is an information processing apparatus that manages the common definition terms and that creates and manages the common notation rules and is an information processing apparatus including an interface unit 212, a common definition term registration processing unit 214, and a common notation management unit 216. The interface unit 212 exchanges information with the line processing units 30A and BOB and the common notation management terminal 200 through the network 10 and outputs inputted or created information to the common definition term registration processing unit 214 and the common notation management unit 216. [0040]
The common definition term registration processing unit 214 updates the common definition term table stored in the common definition term storage unit 220 based on the common definition term registration information and the common definition term setting information inputted from the common notation management terminal 200. The configuration of the common definition term storage unit 220 will be described later. [0041]
The common notation management unit 216
references the common definition term storage unit 220 to create the common notation rules based on the guidance rules set in the line processing units 30 and records the common notation rules in the common notation rule storage unit 230. The common notation management unit 216 acquires the common notation rules from the common notation rule storage unit 230 in accordance with requests from the line processing units 30. The common notation management unit 216 converts the acquired common notation rules into possible conversion rules applicable to the production line of the request source and outputs the possible conversion rules to the line processing unit 30 as the request source. [0042]
The common definition term storage unit 220 associates the terms with the same meaning and content used in the production lines with the common definition terms and stores the terms. As shown for example in Fig. 5, the common definition term storage unit 220 stores a common definition term 221, a data type 222 of the common definition terms, a definition 223 of the common definition terms, and a comparison target name 224 which denotes "item names used in the production lines (the production line terms)" corresponding to the common definition terms. In the example shown in Fig. 5, the production line terms corresponding to the common definition term "Input-Side Physical No." are "Operation No." in the A line,

"Input-Side Coil No." in the B line, and "Input-Side Coil No." in the C line. As the common definition term storage unit 220 unifies and manages the comparison target names, the common content processing unit 20 can recognize the relationship between the comparison target names (production line terms) in the production lines. [0043]
The common notation rule storage unit 230 is a storage unit that stores the common notation rules and stores, for example, a common notation rule table 2310 as shown in Fig. 6 and an application condition table 2320 as shown in Fig. 7. [0044]
The common notation rule table 2310 stores the common notation rules created based on the guidance rules set in the production lines and stores, for example, a guidance ID 2311 for identifying the common notation rules, an application condition combination formula 2312, a registration date 2313 of the common notation rules, a related file 2314 indicating documents or the like related to the content of the guidance, a comment 2315 as the content of the outputted guidance, an output timing 2316, the number of registered lines 2317 indicating the number of production lines in which the guidance rules based on the common notation rules are set, a registered line 2318 indicating the production lines converted the guidance rules , and the like. The
number of registered lines 2317 and the registered line 2318 are used as information in a creation process of possible conversion rules described below or in management of the conversion status of the guidance rules of the production lines. If the registered line 2318 is stored, the number of registered lines 2317 can be calculated. Therefore, the number of registered lines 2317 does not have to be stored in the common notation rule table 2310. [0045]
The application condition table 2320 stores the content of the application conditions of the common notation rules. The application condition table 2320 stores, for example, a guidance ID 2321 of the common notation rules using the application conditions, a formula ID 2322 for identifying the formulas constituting the application conditions, a determination method 2323 indicating a method of determining the application conditions, a comparison target 2324 indicating items to be determined, comparison formulas 2325 and 2327 indicating the determination content for determining the comparison targets, and values 2326 and 2328 of the comparison formulas. The comparison target 2324 of the application condition table 2320 of the common notation rule storage unit 230 stores common definition terms. The setting value varies in each production line in an item in which "*" is registered, and the operator sets the value when the line
processing units 30 convert the common notation rules
to create the guidance rules.
[0046]
The common notation rules are created based on the guidance rules set in the production lines, and the configuration of the common notation rule storage unit 230 is basically similar to the configuration of the guidance rule storage unit 120. However, it is only necessary that the common notation rule storage unit 230 only store information required to create the common notation rules, and the common notation rule storage unit 230 does not have to store, for example, the related file 2314 and the output timing 2316 of the common notation rule table and the values 2326 and 2328 of the comparison formulas of the application condition table. [0047]
The functional configuration of the operation support system 1 has been described. Next, an example of a setting method of the guidance rules of the production lines in the operation support system 1 will be described. As for the guidance rules in the production lines, the guidance rules can be independently set in each production line. However, in the operation support system 1 according to the present embodiment, the guidance rules set in another production line can be converted to set the guidance rules. Hereinafter, an example of a setting method of new guidance rules by the conversion of the
guidance rules in the operation support system 1
according to the present embodiment will be described.
[0048]
<3. Setting Method of New Guidance Rules by
Conversion of Guidance Rules>
Roughly three processes are executed in the operation support system 1 to set new guidance rules for a line by converting the guidance rules set in another production line. First, a registration process of the common definition terms is executed to comprehensively manage the production line terms used in the production lines. Then, a common notation rule creation process of creating the common notation rules from the guidance rules set in the production lines and a creation process of conversion rule of using the common notation rules to create new guidance rules for the line are executed. [0049] [Registration Process of Common Definition Terms]
A process of registering the common definition terms in the common definition term storage unit 220 using the common notation management terminal 200 will be described based on Figs. 8 and 9. Fig. 8 is a diagram showing an example of a common definition term registration screen 301 for registering the common definition terms. Fig. 9 is a diagram showing an example of a setting screen 311 for associating the common definition terms with the comparison target names (production line terms) in the
production lines. [0050]
To convert the guidance rules between a plurality of production lines, the production line terms used in the production lines and the common definition terms are associated in advance. As a result, the common content processing unit 20 manages terms in different names but used in the same meaning and content. [0051]
The operator uses the common notation management terminal 200 to set and register the common definition terms, and the terms are recorded in the common definition term storage unit 220. The operator may be the manager of the operation support system 1 or may be other personnel. At this point, the display processing unit 204 displays, for example, the common definition term registration screen 301 as shown in Fig. 8 on the display unit 206, and the operator can easily register the common definition terms. The common definition terms, data types of the common definition terms, and definitions of the common definition terms can be registered in the common definition term registration screen 301. When the operator presses an addition button 305 displayed on the common definition term registration screen 301, new common definition terms can be registered in the list of the common definition terms. [0052]
The operator can input arbitrary information in text to input areas 302, 303, and 304 of the common definition terms, the data types, and the definitions of the common definition term registration screen 301. The data types are generally unified. Therefore, the content of possible inputs (such as "Character String" and "Value") may be displayed in the input area 303 in a drop-down format to make the operator select a desired data type from the possible inputs. After inputting the common definition terms, the data types, and the definitions on the common definition term registration screen 301, the operator presses a registration button 306 displayed on the common definition term registration screen 301. As a result, common definition term registration information including the inputted common definition terms, data types, and definitions is outputted to the management computer 210, and the common definition terms are newly registered in the common definition term storage unit 220. [0053]
The operator then performs an operation for associating the common definition terms registered in the common definition term registration screen 301 with the comparison target names of the production lines. The operation may be performed at a timing of the registration of the common definition terms along with the registration or may be performed at an arbitrary timing. The common definition terms and
the comparison target names of the production lines can be associated by, for example, displaying the setting screen 311 as shown in Fig. 9 on the display unit 206. The setting screen 311 displays common definition term registration information 312 of the common definition terms registered in the common definition term registration screen 301. The setting screen 311 also displays input areas 313 of comparison target names for inputting the comparison target names of the production lines (production line terms) corresponding to the common definition terms. The input areas 313 of comparison target names are arranged for each production line, such as areas 313A, 313B, and 313C. [0054]
In the input areas 313 of comparison target names, the comparison target names (production line terms) and units of the comparison target names (production line terms) can be inputted as input items. The input areas 313 of comparison target names may be text input areas to allow the operator to arbitrarily input the input items. However, the arrangement does not have to be this way. For example, possible comparison target names (production line terms) similar to the common definition terms may be displayed as a possible list 314. The display of the possible list 314 can easily associate the production line terms with the common definition terms even if there are a large number of production line terms
used in the production lines, and an inputting error of the comparison target names (production line terms) can be prevented.
[0055]
A higher-level computer that manages the operation support system 1 automatically notifies the management computer 210 of the "comparison target names (production line terms) and units" displayed in the possible list 314 through the network 10. The common definition term registration processing unit 214 of the management computer 210 instructs the display of the "comparison target names (production line terms) and units" acquired from the higher-level computer in the "input areas 313 of comparison target names" for the production lines of the setting screen 311 through the interface unit 212 and outputs the "comparison target names (production line terms) and units" to the display processing unit 204 of the common notation management terminal 200. The display processing unit 204 executes a process to display the comparison target names (production line terms) and units in the "input areas 313 of comparison target names" for production lines of the setting screen 311 in accordance with an instruction from the management computer 210 and displays the comparison target names
(production line terms) and units on the display unit 206 in a list format.
[0056]
All or part of the comparison target names
(production line terms) used in the production lines are displayed on the possible list 314. At this point, the comparison target names (production line terms) with higher similarity with the common definition terms can be displayed higher up on the possible list 314 to facilitate the selection of the comparison target names (production line terms) from the possible list 314 and facilitate the setting of the comparison target names (production line terms). The similarity between the common definition terms and the comparison target names (production line terms) can be determined from, for example, "percentage of characters included in the common definition terms" in the comparison target names (production line terms) and arrays of characters of the comparison target names (production line terms) or can be determined using an existing method. The common definition term registration processing unit 214 or the display processing unit 204 may execute the process of determining the display order of the possible list 314. After inputting the comparison target names (production line terms) of the production lines associated with the common definition terms, the operator uses the input device to press a registration button 315 displayed on the setting screen 311. As a result, the association between the common definition terms and the comparison target names (production line terms) of the production lines is registered in the common
definition term storage unit 220. A possible list may also be displayed for the units of the comparison target names (production line terms) in the same way as for the comparison target names (production line terms).
[0057]
[Creation Process of Common Notation Rule]
An example of a creation process of the common notation rule will be described based on Fig. 10. Fig. 10 is a timing chart showing an example of a flow of a process until the common display rule is created. The present embodiment describes an example in which a guidance rule is newly set and registered in the A line among the production lines.
[0058]
First, it is assumed that the A line processing unit 30A of the A line has registered a guidance rule for the A line (step S100) . The operator uses the line terminal 100A to input information, such as application conditions of guidance, a related file, a comment, and output timing, from, for example, a guidance rule registration screen. The guidance rule registration screen can be configured, for example, as described in Japanese Patent No. 4351725. Once the registration of the inputted guidance rule is determined, the guidance computer 110A records the guidance rule set by the guidance management unit 114A in the guidance rule storage unit 120A. At the same time, the guidance computer 110A notifies the
common content processing unit 20 of the content of the registered guidance rule and line identification information for identifying the production line for which the guidance rule is registered (step S102) . [0059]
In the common content processing unit 20, when the interface unit 212 receives the notification of the registration of the new guidance rule in the A line, the common notation management unit 216 creates a common notation rule (step S104). The common notation management unit 216 references the common definition term storage unit 220 to create a common notation rule expressed by rewriting the comparison target name (production line term) of the notified guidance rule with a common definition term. For example, it is assumed that a guidance rule of a guidance ID "1" shown in Fig. 3 is newly registered. In this case, the comparison target name (production line term) of the formula ID "1" (see Fig. 4) indicating the application condition is "Size (Thickness)". After acquiring the registration content of the guidance rule of the guidance ID "1", the common notation management unit 216 can reference the common definition term storage unit 220 to recognize that the common definition term corresponding to the comparison target name "Size (Thickness)" of the A line is "Material Thickness" (see Fig. 5). [0060]
The common notation management unit 216 registers the guidance rule, which is expressed by rewriting the comparison target name "Size (Thickness)" of the guidance rule of the guidance ID "1" with the common definition term "Material Thickness", in the common notation rule storage unit 230 as a common notation rule (step S106) . As a result, the comparison target 2324 of the formula ID "1" of the guidance ID "1001" is "material thickness" as shown in Fig. 7 and recorded in the application condition table 2320 of the common notation rule storage unit 230. [0061]
In this way, once the new guidance rule is registered in the production lines, the common notation management unit 216 of the common content processing unit 20 is notified of the registration content through the network 10. The common notation management unit 216 creates the common notation rule and records the rule in the common notation rule storage unit 230. When the common notation rule is newly registered in the common notation rule storage unit 230, the common notation management unit 216 notifies the line processing units 30A and 30B of the update of the common notation rule storage unit 230 through the interface unit 212. After receiving the notification, the line terminals 100 of the line processing units 30A and 30B notify the operator of the update of the common notation rule storage unit 230 through the display unit 106 or the like. As a
result, the operator can recognize that the common notation rule is newly registered. Although the line processing units 30A and 30B of all production lines managed by the common content processing unit 20 are notified of the update of the common notation rule storage unit 230, the arrangement does not have to be this way. For example, in the example shown in Fig. 10, only the A line processing unit 30A may be notified of the update of the common notation rule storage unit 230.
[0062]
[Creation Process of Conversion Rules]
An example of a "creation process of conversion rules" for registering the guidance rules of the production lines using the common notation rules will be described based on Figs. 11 to 13. Fig. 11 is a timing chart showing an example of a flow of the creation process of conversion rules. Fig. 12 is a diagram showing an example of a conversion rule creation screen for creating conversion rules. Fig. 13 is a diagram showing an example of update after the conversion rule creation of the common notation rule table 2310 stored in the common notation rule storage unit 230 of Fig. 6. In the following description, the C line among the production lines is set as the setting location (transfer location), and guidance rules using the common notation rules are created. The conversion rules denote guidance rules created using the common notation rules.
[0063]
The creation of the guidance rules using the common notation rules starts when the common notation management unit 216 is notified of the start of the registration of the guidance rules using the common notation rules (step S200). For example, when the operator of the line terminal 100C of the C line starts creating the guidance rules using the common notation rules, a notification of the start of the operation is outputted to the common notation management unit 216 through an interface unit 112C and the interface unit 212 of the management computer 210 . [0064]
After receiving the notification of the start of the creation of the conversion rules, the common notation management unit 216 starts creating possible conversion rules (step S202) . The possible conversion rules are created by rewriting the common notation rules stored in the common notation rule storage unit 230 into a description (notation) suitable for the production line (C line in the present embodiment) in which the conversion rules are created. After acquiring the common notation rules from the common notation rule storage unit 230, the common notation management unit 216 references the common definition term storage unit 220 to acquire the comparison target names (production line terms) of the C line corresponding to the comparison target
names (common definition terms) of the common notation rules. The common notation management unit 216 rewrites the comparison target names of the common notation rules with the acquired comparison target names (production lines term) of the C line to set the possible conversion rules. [0065]
The possible conversion rules may be created for all common notation rules stored in the common notation rule storage unit 230 or may be created only for the common notation rules applicable to the C line. The common notation rules applicable to the C line denote guidance rules expressed by rewriting the comparison target names (production line terms) with the common definition terms when the comparison target names (production line terms) of the C line corresponding to the comparison target names (common definition terms) of the common notation rules are registered in the common definition term storage unit 220. The possible conversion rules may not be created for the common notation rules for which the C line is registered in the registered line 2318 (see Fig. 6) of the common notation rule table of the common notation rule storage unit 230. This is because if the common notation rules are already registered in the registered line 2318, the common notation rules are created based on the guidance rules set in the C line, or the conversion rules are already created in the C line based on the common
notation rules. [0066]
After creating the possible conversion rules, the common notation management unit 216 transmits the possible conversion rules to the C line processing unit 308 (step S204). [0067]
After the reception of the possible conversion rules from the common notation management unit 216 of the common content processing unit 20, the display processing unit 104C applies display processing to the possible conversion rules, and the C line processing unit 30B displays the possible conversion rules on the display unit 106C. The possible conversion rules are displayed, for example, on a possible conversion rule display screen 321 as shown in Fig. 12. The possible conversion rules created by the common notation management unit 216 are displayed on display areas 322a and 322b for each possible conversion rule on the possible conversion rule display screen 321. Registration buttons 323a and 323b are arranged on the possible conversion rule display screen 321 in conjunction with the display areas 322a and 322b to allow registering the possible conversion rules as the guidance rules of the C line. [0068]
The content of the items displayed in the display areas 322a and 322b of the possible conversion rules can be changed by the operator. This allows the
operator to, for example, change the content of the comment in accordance with the production line or set an item that is unset in the common notation rule because the setting item varies in each production line. The operator adjusts the cursor to the input areas of the items displayed on the possible conversion rule display screen 321 to modify the displayed content or to input information. The input may be disabled in the input areas with items that do not have to be changed, such as the guidance ID. [0069]
The operator, such as a worker, of the C line terminal 100C searches, from the possible conversion rule display screen 321, a possible conversion rule to be set in the C line or a possible conversion rule with content similar to the guidance rule to be set. If the possible conversion rule can be registered without changing the content, the operator presses the registration button 323 on the possible conversion rule display screen 321 corresponding to the possible conversion rule to register the possible conversion rule as the guidance rule of the line (C line in the present embodiment) (step S208) . If a process, such as changing the item content, is necessary for the C line in relation to the possible conversion rule, the operator modifies the item content and creates the guidance rule for the line (step S206) and then registers the guidance rule (step S208) . When the registration button 323 is
pressed, a guidance management unit 114C records the guidance rule in a guidance rule storage unit 120C.
[0070]
The possible conversion rules displayed on the possible conversion rule display screen 321 may be displayed, for example, in descending order of conversions to other production lines based on the number of registered lines of the common notation rule table 2310 of the common notation rule storage unit 230. This is because the guidance rule applied to a large number of production lines can be considered a highly versatile guidance rule. The display of the possible conversion rules in such an order can display the possible conversion rules in descending order of the possibility of application to the C line and can prioritize and present highly usable possible conversion rules to the operator.
[0071]
Alternatively, an item of classification information indicating the classification of the common notation rules may be added to the common notation rule table 2310 of the common notation rule storage unit 230, and the display order of the possible conversion rules may be determined based on the classification. For example, the common notation rules can be classified by classification conditions, such as "position at production line (operation location)", "object of guidance notified by common notation rule (such as quality management and risk
prevention)", "importance of guidance", and "proficiency of operation". If a plurality of classification items are set, the operator can set the display order of the possible conversion rules. This can facilitate the operator to find a possible conversion rule to be used from a large number of possible conversion rules. [0072]
Meanwhile, when the guidance rule is newly registered using the possible conversion rule, the guidance management unit 114C notifies the common notation management unit 216 of the common content processing unit 20 of information indicating the completion of the registration of the guidance rule based on the possible conversion rule (step S210) . After receiving the notification of the information, the common notation management unit 216 of the common content processing unit 20 updates the information of the number of registered lines 2317 and the registered line 2318 of the converted common notation rule on the common notation rule table 2310 of the common notation rule storage unit 230 (step S212) . [0073]
For example, it is assumed that a new guidance rule based on a possible conversion rule of the guidance ID "1001" is registered in the C line processing unit 30B. The guidance management unit 114C of the C line processing unit 30B outputs the line identification information for identifying the
production line and the guidance ID of the converted common notation rule to the common notation management unit 216. The common notation management unit 216 increases the number of registered lines 2317 of the guidance ID "1001" by one as shown in Fig. 13 on the common notation rule table 2310 of the common notation rule storage unit 230 shown in Fig. 6 and further records information indicative of the conversion in the field of the C line of the registered line 2318. [0074]
In this way, the redisplay of a rule that is already converted can be prevented in the creation of the possible conversion rule by storing and managing the information of the converted production line in the common notation rule storage unit 230. The display order of the possible conversion rules can also be determined based on the number of registered lines. [0075]
The setting method of the guidance rules in the operation support system 1 according to the present embodiment has been described. According to the operation support system 1, the common definition terms are defined for the comparison target names (production line terms) used in the production lines to associate the terms of the production lines with the same meaning and content. Once the guidance rules are registered in the production lines, the
common notation management unit 216 of the management computer 210 creates the common notation rules written by the common definition terms based on the guidance rules. Meanwhile, to create the guidance rules by converting the common notation rules in the production lines, the common notation management unit 216 creates the possible conversion rules describing the common notation rules in accordance with the production lines and provides the possible conversion rules to the line processing units 30 of the production lines. In this way, according to the operation support system 1 of the present embodiment, the production line terms used to describe the guidance rules of the production lines are managed in association with the common definition terms, and the guidance rules of the production lines are managed in a versatile notation. More specifically, the common content processing unit 20 unifies and manages guidance rules set in a production line. As a result, the guidance rules between two or more similar production lines can be easily converted. [0076] <4. Example of Hardware Configuration>
An information processing apparatus 400, such as a computer, can realize the line terminals 100 of the line processing units 30, the guidance computer 110 of the line processing units 30, the common notation management terminal 200 of the common content processing unit 20, and the management computer 210
of the common content processing unit 20 of the operation support system 1 according to the present embodiment. As shown for example in Fig. 14, the information processing apparatus 400 includes a CPU
(Central Processing Unit) 401, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 402, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 403, a bus 404, an interface 405, an input device 406, an output device 407, a storage device 408, and a communication device 409.
[0077]
The CPU 401 functions as an arithmetic processing unit and a control device and controls general operations inside the line terminals 100 and the like in accordance with various programs. The CPU 401 may be a microprocessor. The ROM 402 stores programs, arithmetic parameters, and the like used by the CPU 401. The RAM 403 temporarily stores programs used in the execution of the CPU 401, parameters that properly change in the execution, and the like. The components are connected to each other through the bus 404. The bus 404 is connected to the interface 405 that mutually connect the input device 406, the output device 407, the storage device 408, and the communication device 409.
[0078]
The input device 406 is constituted by an input unit for the user to input information, such as a mouse, a keyboard, a touch panel, a button, a microphone, a switch, and a lever, an input control
circuit that generates an input signal based on input by the operator and that outputs the input signal to the CPU 401, and the like. The operator of the line terminal 100 and the like can operate the input device 406 to input various data to the line terminal 100 and the like or to instruct a processing operat ion. [0079]
The output device 407 includes a display device, such as a CRT (Cathode Ray Tube) display device, a liquid crystal display (LCD) device, an OLED (Organic Light Emitting Diode) device, and a lamp. The output device 407 further includes a sound output device, such as a speaker and a headphone. [0080]
The storage device 408 is a device for data storage constituted as an example of a storage unit of the line terminal 100 or the like and is constituted by, for example, an HDD (Hard Disk Drive). The storage device 408 drives, for example, a hard disk and stores programs executed by the CPU 401 and various data. The communication device 409 is a communication interface constituted by, for example, a communication device for connection with a communication network 410. Examples of the communication device 409 include a wireless LAN (Local Area Network)-compliant communication device, a wireless USB-compliant communication device, and a communication device for wired communication.
[0081]
The information processing apparatus 400 can include a storage medium reader-writer embedded or attached to the information processing apparatus 400. The storage medium reader-writer reads out information recorded in a removable recording medium, such as an installed magnetic disk, an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, and a semiconductor memory and outputs the information to the RAM 403. The information processing apparatus 400 can include an interface connected to an external device, and for example, the interface can be used as an end connection with an external device that can transmit data by USB (Universal Serial Bus) or the like. [0082]
The series of processes in the operation support system 1 according to the present embodiment may be executed by dedicated hardware or may be executed by software. For example, a general-purpose or dedicated computer can execute programs to realize the series of processes when the software executes the series of processes. [0083]
Although a preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the attached drawings, the present invention is not limited to the example. It is apparent for a person with normal knowledge of the technical field of the present invention that various modified
examples or correction examples are conceivable within the technical concept described in CLAIMS, and it is to be understood that the examples obviously belong to the technical scope of the present invention. [0084]
For example, although the line processing units 30 of the production lines are notified of the registration of a common notation rule every time a common notation rule is registered in the common notation rule storage unit 230 in the embodiment, the present invention is not limited to the example. For example, the line processing units 30 may be periodically (for example, every day) notified of the registration of the common notation rule. [0085]
Although the possible conversion rules are transmitted to the line processing unit 30 of the request source in response to a request from the line processing unit 30 in the embodiment, the present invention is not limited to the example. For example, the operator of the common content processing unit 20 may designate a transfer destination (line processing unit 30) of the possible conversion rules to transmit the possible conversion rules to the transfer destination designated by the common content processing unit 20. [0086]
Although the guidance rules are applied to an
existing production line (C line) in the embodiment, the present invention is not limited to the example. More specifically, the guidance rules may be applied to a newly installed production line. In that case, the common content processing unit 20 adds an item for the newly installed production line to the common definition term storage unit 220, the common notation rule table 2310, and the like. In that case, ""creation process of common notation rules (see Fig. 10)" and "creation process of conversion rules (see Fig. 11)"" for the newly installed production line are executed after the association of the production line terms of the newly installed production line with the common definition terms. [0087]
A computer can execute a program to realize the embodiment of the present invention described above. Means for supplying the program to a computer, for example, a computer-readable recording medium such as a CD-ROM recording the program, or a transmission medium for transmitting the program can also be applied as an embodiment of the present invention. A program product, such as a computer-readable recording medium recording the program, can also be applied as an embodiment of the present invention. The program, the computer-readable recording medium, the transmission medium, and the program product are included in the scope of the present invention.
INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY [0088]
The present invention is usable to notify operators in production lines of guidance.
It should be noted that the above embodiments merely illustrate concrete examples of implementing the present invention, and the technical scope of the present invention is not to be construed in a restrictive manner by these embodiments. That is, the present invention may be implemented in various forms without departing from the technical spirit or main features thereof.

CLAIMS
1. An operation guidance setting support apparatus that supports setting, to production lines, guidance rules at least defining content of guidance and production conditions requiring outputting the guidance, the operation guidance setting support apparatus comprising:
a common definition term storage unit that associates a plurality of production line terms, which are used to describe the guidance rules of the production lines managed by the operation guidance setting support apparatus and which have the same meaning and content, with common definition terms which have the meaning and content and that stores the production line terms and the common definition terms;
a common notation management unit that creates common notation rules described to be applicable to the production lines based on the guidance rules set in the production lines; and
a common notation rule storage unit that stores the common notation rules, wherein
the common notation management unit
creates guidance rules, which are described by converting the production line terms describing the guidance rules of the production lines managed by the operation guidance setting support apparatus into the common definition terms associated with the
production line terms, as the common notation rules and
provides one or a plurality of possible conversion rules, which are guidance rules described to be suitable for a production line as a setting location of the guidance rules by converting the common notation rules stored in the common notation rule storage unit into the production line terms used to describe the guidance rules in the production line, to a line management apparatus that manages the production line.
2. The operation guidance setting support apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising
a common definition term registration processing unit that manages the common definition term storage unit, wherein
the common definition term registration processing unit
displays a common definition term registration screen for registering the common definition terms on a display device, records the common definition terms in the common definition term storage unit based on registration content of a new common definition term inputted by an operator on the common definition term registration screen,
displays a setting screen for associating the common definition terms with the plurality of production line terms on the display device, associates the plurality of production line terms
with the common definition terms with the same meaning and content as the production line terms based on registration content of the production line terms inputted by the operator in input areas of the production line terms corresponding to the common definition terms on the setting screen, and records the plurality of production line terms and the common definition terms in the common definition term storage unit .
3. The operation guidance setting support
apparatus according to claim 2, wherein
the common definition term registration processing unit displays possible production line terms to be associated with the common definition terms in the input areas of the production line terms corresponding to the common definition terms on the setting screen.
4. The operation guidance setting support
apparatus according to claim 3, wherein
the common definition term registration processing unit displays the possible production line terms to be associated with the common definition terms in the input areas of the production line terms corresponding to the common definition terms on the setting screen in descending order of similarity with the common definition terms.
5. The operation guidance setting support
apparatus according to claim 3, wherein
the common notation management unit further
stores information of a production line that has provided the guidance rules in the common notation rule storage unit.
6. The operation guidance setting support
apparatus according to claim 5, wherein
the common notation rule storage unit further stores classification information, which is for classifying the common notation rules based on classification conditions set to the common notation rules, in the common notation rule storage unit.
7. The operation guidance setting support
apparatus according to claim 6, wherein
the common notation management unit determines a display order of the plurality of possible conversion rules based on the information of the production line that has provided the guidance rules or the classification information.
8. The operation guidance setting support
apparatus according to claim 2, wherein
the common notation management unit notifies the line management apparatus of at least one of the production lines managed by the operation guidance setting support apparatus of the registration of the new common notation rule when the new common notation rule is recorded in the common notation rule storage unit .
9. An operation support system comprising:
a plurality of line management apparatuses that manage guidance for notifying operators in production
lines; and
an operation guidance setting support apparatus that supports setting, to the production lines, guidance rules at least defining content of the guidance and production conditions requiring outputting the guidance,
the plurality of line management apparatuses and the operation guidance setting support apparatus being connected to each other through a network,
each of the plurality of line management apparatuses comprising:
a guidance rule storage unit that stores the guidance rules set to the production line managed by the line management apparatus;
an input unit to which setting information of the guidance rules set to the production line is inputted; and
a guidance management unit that records the guidance rules in the guidance rule storage unit based on the setting information,
the operation guidance setting support apparatus compri sing:
a common definition term storage unit that associates a plurality of production line terms, which are used to describe the guidance rules of the production lines managed by the operation guidance setting support apparatus and which have the same meaning and content, with common definition terms which have the meaning and content and that stores
the production line terms and the common definition terms;
a common notation management unit that creates common notation rules described to be applicable to the production lines based on the guidance rules set in the production lines; and
a common notation rule storage unit that stores the common notation rules, wherein
the common notation management unit
creates guidance rules, which are described by converting the production line terms describing the guidance rules of the production lines managed by the operation guidance setting support apparatus into the common definition terms associated with the production line terms, as the common notation rules and
provides one or a plurality of possible conversion rules, which are guidance rules described to be suitable for a production line as a setting location of the guidance rules by converting the common notation rules stored in the common notation rule storage unit into the production line terms used to describe the guidance rules in the production line, to a line management apparatus that manages the production line, and
the line management apparatus that has received the conversion rules displays the possible conversion rules and registers the conversion rules based on an operation of the operator for the displayed possible
conversion rules.
10. A computer program for causing a computer to use an operation guidance setting support apparatus to support setting, to production lines, guidance rules at least defining content of the guidance and production conditions requiring outputting the guidance, the computer program causing the computer to execute:
a step of referencing a common definition term storage unit that associates a plurality of production line terms, which are used to describe the guidance rules of the production lines managed by the operation guidance setting support apparatus and which have the same meaning and content, with common definition terms which have the meaning and content and that stores the production line terms and the common definition terms and creating guidance rules, which are described by converting the production line terms describing the guidance rules of the production lines managed by the operation guidance setting support apparatus into the common definition terms associated with the production line terms, as the common notation rules;
a step of recording the created common notation rules in the common notation rule storage unit; and
a step of instructing to provide one or a plurality of possible conversion rules, which are guidance rules described to be suitable for a production line as a setting location of the guidance
rules by converting the common notation rules stored in the common notation rule storage unit into the production line terms used to describe the guidance rules in the production line, to a line management apparatus that manages the production line.