POWER RATE PLAN SELECTION SUPPORT APPARATUS, METHOD, AND PROGRAM
Background of t h e Invention
The p r e s e n t i n v e n t i o n r e l a t e s t o a power r a t e plan s e l e c t i o n
support apparatus andmethod c o n f i g u r e d t o d r a f t a production plan
f o r a product produced i n a f a c t o r y , and t o a program t h e r e f o r .
Duetorecentpowershortages, power s u p p l i e r shavebeenurging
power c u s t o m e r s t o suppress consumption of power by r a i s i n g a power
r a t e a n d s e t t i n g v a r i o u s power r a t e p l a n s . The power r a t e i s m a i n l y
determinedbasedonadailytime-slot-basispowerusageandacontract
demanddeterminedby an annual peak (maximumconsumption) of power,
and hence it is necessary t o c a r r y out production a c t i v i t i e s i n
c o n s i d e r a t i o n thereof even i n a manufacturing i n d u s t r y .
As a technology f o r reducing t h e power r a t e , t h e r e a r e given
Japanese Patent Laid-open P u b l i c a t i o n No. H11-221739 and Japanese
Patent No. 3910540. Japanese Patent Laid-open P u b l i c a t i o n No.
H11-221739 d i s c l o s e s a technology f o r a l l o c a t i n g product groups
t o time s l o t s i n such a n o r d e r t h a t a product groupwhichuses higher
power is a l l o c a t e d t o a time s l o t having a higher c o n t r a c t demand.
Further, Japanese Patent No. 3910540 d i s c l o s e s a technology f o r
s e l e c t i n g t h e power r a t e plan t o be recommended from power r a t e
plans and t i m e - s l o t - b a s i s power consumption information on a power
customer.
Productsproducedinthemanufacturingindustrydifferinpower
consumptiondependingona kindor process t h e r e o f . Therefore, when
a production plan is developed in consideration of only delivery
dates of the products, there is a fear in that the contract demand
may be exceeded because processes requiring high power consumption
are carried out in the same time period or that a power rate may
increasebecause productionactivities concentrate on the time slot
having a high power rate.
According to the technology disclosed in Japanese Patent
Laid-open Publication No. H11-221739, the production plan is
developed merely by sequentially allocating manufacturing times
to time slots so as not to exceedapre-definedvalue ofthe contract
demand, and hence it is not possible to achieve further reduction
in the power rate. Further, according to the technology disclosed
inJapanesePatentNo. 3910540,thepowerrateplancanberecommended
in accordance with a specific power consumption pattern, but the
production of products in the manufacturing industry cannot handle
the above-mentioned excess in contract demand caused because
processes requiring high power consumption are carried out in the
same time period or other such situation.
Summary of the Invention
Therefore, it is an object ofthe present invention to provide
a device which develops a production plan for a product produced
in a factory, in particular, a device which supports development
of the production plan and selection of a power rate plan in order
to reduce an annual power rate in consideration of a plurality of
power rate plans.
In order to solve the above-mentionedproblem, one embodiment
of the invention of this application is, for example, a power rate
planselection support apparatus, including: a storagedevicewhich
stores: power rate plan information including a power rate plan
andaprice of apower rate in the power rate plan; power consumption
information including a process for producing a product and a power
consumption for the process; and production plan information
including the process for producing the product and a date on which
the process is carried out; a power rate calculation part which
calculates the power rate under each power rate plan based on the
power rate plan information, the power consumption information,
and the production plan information; a production plan adjustment
partwhichgeneratesanotherproductionplaninformationbyshifting
a schedule for carrying out each process based on the production
plan information; a recommended power rate plan determination part
which selects at least one of the power rate plans based on a power
rate under each power rate plan and a plurality of pieces of the
productionplaninformation;andanoutputcontrolpartwhichoutputs,
toanoutput device, the selectedpowerrateplansandtheproduction
plan information of the selected power rate plans.
According to one embodiment of the present invention, it is
possible to perform the selection of the power rate plan and the
draftingoftheproductionplanwhichminimizethepower rate. This
can reduce a total power rate for producing the product.
Brief Description of the Drawings
In the accompanying drawings:
F I G . 1 i s a b l o c k d i a g r a m i l l u s t r a t i n g a c o n f i g u r a t i o n e x a m p l e
of an overall system according to a first embodiment of the present
invention;
F I G . 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a processing
flow according to the first embodiment;
F I G . 3 is a table showing an example of order information
according to the first embodiment;
F I G . 4 is a table showing an example of product process
information according to the first embodiment;
F I G . 5 is a table showing an example of process/work time
information according to the first embodiment;
F I G . 6 is a table showing an example of resource information
according to the first embodiment;
F I G . 7 is a table showing an example of power consumption
information according to the first embodiment;
F I G . 8 is a table showing an example of power rate plan
information according to the first embodiment;
F I G . 9 is atable showing anexample of recommendedpower rate
plan information according to the first embodiment;
F I G . 10 is a table showing an example of production plan
information according to the first embodiment;
F I G . 11 is a table showing an example of process/allocation
time information according to tne first embodiment;
F I G . 12 is a table showing an example of work-time production
plan information acco~ding ,tc the first embodiment;
F I G . 13 is a diagram illustrating an example of a production
plan schedule before adjustment according tothe first embodiment;
F I G . 14 is a diagram illustrating an example of a detailed
processing flow for calculating a total power rate under each rate
plan according to the first embodiment;
F I G . 15isatableshowinganexampleofdate/powerconsumption
information according to the first embodiment;
F I G . 16 is a table showing an example of process/power rate
information according to the first embodiment;
F I G . 17 is a table showing an example of total power rate
information according to the first embodiment;
F I G . 18 is a diagram illustrating an example of a detailed
processing flow for adjusting a production plan according to the
first embodiment;
F I G . 19 is a diagram illustrating an example of adjustment
of the production plan schedule according to the first embodiment;
F I G . 20 is a table showing an example of plan-specific power
rate information according to the first embodiment;
F I G . 21 is a diagram illustrating an example of an output screen
according to the first embodiment;
F I G . 22 is a diagram illustrating an example of the output
screen according to the first embodiment;
F I G . 23 is a diagram illustrating an example of the output
screen according to the first embodiment;
F I G . 24 is a table showing another example of the resource
information;
5 F I G . 25 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example
of an overall systemaccording to a secondembodiment ofthe present
invention;
F I G . 26 is a diagram illustrating an example of a processing
flow according to the second embodiment;
10 F I G . 27 is a table showing an example of power rate plan
information according to the second embodiment;
F I G . 28 is a table showing an example of power resource
information according to the second embodiment;
F I G . 29 is a table showing an example of power selling price
15 information according to the second embodiment;
F I G . 30 is a table showing an example of power resource
adjustment result information according to the second embodiment;
F I G . 31 is a table showing an example of total power rate
information according to the second embodiment;
20 F I G . 32 is a table showing an example of work-timepower resource
adjustment information according to the second embodiment;
F I G . 33 is a table showing an example of plan-specific power
rate information according to the second embodiment;
F I G . 34 is a table showing an example of recommended power
25 rate plan information according to the second embodiment; and
FIG. 35 is a diagram illustrating an example of an output screen
according to the second embodiment.
Description of the Preferred Embodiments
Now, a detailed description is made of embodiments of the
present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings.
(First embodiment)
First, a first embodiment of the present invention is
described.
FIG. 1 illustrates an example of a system configuration
according to the first embodiment. FIG. 2 illustrates an example
of a processing flow according to the first embodiment.
First, the system configuration is described with reference
toFIG.1. InFIG.1, forexample, apowerrateplanselectionsupport
apparatus 10 is an information processing device such as a server
or a PC, and is owned by an enterprise, a factory in which a product
ismanufactured, or the like. Thepower rateplan selectionsupport
apparatus 10 includes an input/output unit 100, a storage unit 200,
and an arithmetic unit 300.
Theinput/outputunit100, forexample, acquiresdatanecessary
for the processing unit 300 to perform processing, and outputs a
processing result. Specifically, for example, the input/output
unit 100 includes an input device such as a keyboard or a mouse,
a communication device which communicates to/from the outside, a
recording/reproduction device such as a disc-type storage medium,
and an output device such as a display, a printer, or a speaker.
The storageunit200 is, forexample, a storagedevice capable
of reading and writing such as a hard disk drive or a memory. The
storage unit 200 includes input information 210 used for the
5 processing by the processing unit 300, which is described later,
and output information 220 which stores the processing result
! obtained by the processing unit 300, which is described later.
The input information 210 includes order information 211,
productprocessinformation212, process/worktimeinformation213,
10 resource information 214, power consumption information 215, and
1 power rate plan information 216. Further, the output information
220 includes recommended power rate plan information 221 and
production plan information 222. Details thereof are described
later.
15 The processing unit 300 is a processor such as a CPU used for
acquiring necessary data and outputting the processing result to
the output information220 ofthe storage unit200. The processing
unit 300 includes a memory part 310 and a process execution part
320. T h e p r o c e s s e x e c u t i o n p a r t 3 2 0 i s a n a c t u a l p a r t w h i c h e x e c u t e s
20 arithmetic processing. The memory part 310 serves as a work area
for the arithmetic processing executed by the process execution
part 320.
The process execution part 320 includes a data acquisition
part 321, aproductionplan draftingpart 322, apower rate calculation
25 part 323, a production plan adjustment part 324, a delivery date
determination part 325, a recommendedpower rate plan determination
part 326, and an output control part 327. An arbitrary technology
may be used for realization thereof, but it is assumed here that
those parts are realized by reading software stored in the storage
unit 200, the memory part 310, or the like and by executing the
software by the process execution part 320.
The data acquisition part 321acquires information necessary
for processing described later from the input informatior! 210, and
storesthe informationinthememorypart 310. The production plan
drafting part 322 acquires a production plan including a start date
and an end date of production of a product to be evaluated (hereinafter
referred to as "evaluation target product") from the order
information 211. The power rate calculation part 323 calculates
a total power rate under each power rate plan, which is necessary
to produce the evaluation target product. The production plan
adjustment part 324 shifts a process within the production plan
for each evaluation target product acquired by the production plan
drafting part 322. The delivery date determination part 325
determines whether or not the production plan for each evaluation
target product subjected to the shift satisfies a delivery date
ofeachevaluationtargetproduct. The recommendedpower rate plan
determination part 326 acquires the power rate plan to be recommended
based on the production plan, the total power rate under each
production plan, and the like. The output control part 327 stores
a recommended power rate plan acquired by the recommended power
rate plan determination part 326 and the production plan having
the recommended power rate plan in the storage unit 200 or the like
in associationwith eachother, and further outputsthe recommended
power rate plan and the production plan to the input/output unit
5 100.
Note that, a part or all of the data acquisition part 321,
the production plan drafting part 322, the power rate calculation
part 323, the production plan adjustment part 324, the delivery
date determination part 325, the recommended power rate plan
10 determination part 326, the output control part 327, and the like
described above may be included in another information processing
apparatus or the like connected via the communication device or
the like of the input/output unit 100. Further, a part or all of
the pieces of information within the storage unit 200 may be also
15 included in another information processing apparatus, another
storage device, or the like connected via the communication device
or the like of the input/output unit 100.
Here, the respective pieces of information included in the
storage unit 200 are described in detail.
20 The order information 211is information formanaging a kind,
adeliverydestination, thedeliverydate, andthelikeoftheproduct
ordered by a customer or the like. FIG. 3 shows an example of the
orderinformation211. InFIG. 3 , t h e o r d e r i n f o r m a t i o n 2 1 1 i n c l u d e s
information such as an order ID 2111, a product ID 2112, a product
25 name 2113, a delivery destination 2114, and a delivery date 2115.
Specifically, for example, the order information 211 exemplified
in FIG. 3 indicates that an order indicated by an order ID 2111
of "001" is processed by delivering a product having a product ID
and a product name of "POI" and "product a", respectively, to a
delivery destination of "A1 Company" by a delivery date of
"2012/05/01".
Theproductprocessinformation212isinformationformanaging
processes necessary to manufacture the product, a sequence of the
respective processes, and the like. FIG. 4 shows an example of the
product process information 212. In FIG. 4, the product process
information 212 includes information such as a product ID 2121,
a process ID 2122, a process name 2123, and a parent process ID
2124. Specifically, for example, the product process information
212 exemplified in FIG. 4 indicates that the product indicated by
the product ID 2121of "POI" is manufacturedthrough four processes
whose process IDS and process names are "M11" and "board
manufacturing", "M12"and"caseman~facturing""~M 13"and"assembly",
and"M14"and"te~ting"r~e spectively. Further, theproductprocess
information 212 exemplified in FIG. 4 indicates that the processes
whose process IDS and process names are "M11" and "board
manufacturing" and "M12" and "case manufacturing", respectively,
are followed by the process whose process ID and process name are
"M13"and"assembly", respectively. Itisalsoindicatedthat, after
that, the process whose process ID and process name are "M14" and
"testing", respectively, is carried out, and then manufacturing
of the product is finished. Note that, in this embodiment, the
product such as a control board, which is shipped after a board
and a case are manufactured in separate lines, then assembled, and
subjected to different kinds of tests including a load test, is
5 employed as a subject, but the present invention is not limited
thereto.
The process/work time information 213 is information for
managing a department in charge of each process, a manufacturing
time, and the like. FIG. 5 shows an example of the process/work
10 time information 213. In FIG. 5, t h e p r o c e s s / w o r k t i m e i n f o r m a t i o n
213 includes information such as a process ID 2131, amanufacturing
department ID 2132, and a manufacturing time 2133. Specifically,
for example, the process/work time information 213 exemplified in
FIG. 5 indicates that the department having a manufacturing
15 department ID of "D01" is in charge of the process having a process
ID 2131 of "M11" and that the manufacturing time required for the
process is "120" (h) .
The resource information 214 is information for managing a
manufacturingcapacityandthe1ikeofeachmanufacturingdepartment.
20 FIG. 6 shows an example of the resource information 214. In FIG.
6, the resource information 214 includes information such as a
manufacturingdepartmentID2141andamanufacturingcapacity2142.
Specifically, forexample, theresource information214 exemplified
in FIG. 6 indicates that the department having the manufacturing
25 department IDof "D01" has amanufacturingcapacityof "24" (h/day),
that is, a manufacturing capacity corresponding to 24 hours per
day.
The power consumption information 215 is information for
managingpowerconsumsd foreachprocess andthe like. FIG. 7 shows
5 an example of the power consumption information 215. In FIG. 7,
the power consumption information 215 includes information such
as a process ID 2151 and a power consumption 2152. Specifically,
for example, the power consumption information 215 exemplified in
FIG. 7 indicates that power of "25" (kW) is consumed for the process
10 having a process ID 2151 of "M11".
I The power rate plan information 216 is information for managing
I
I a unit price used for calculating the power rate based on an annual
I
maximum power consumption used in the factory or the like, a power
usage, and the like. FIG. 8 shows an example of the power rate plan
15 information 216. In FIG. 8, the power rate plan information 216
includes information such as a rate plan ID 2161, a charge type
2162, an application start date 2163, an application end date 2164,
a start time 2165, an end time 2166, and a unit price 2167.
Here, the power rate plan information 216 exemplifiedin FIG.
20 8 indicates an example in which the charge type 2162 includes two
types of "basic" and "usage". The former (whose rate plan ID 2161
and charge type 2162 are "FPO1" and "basic", respectively) is a
rate plan indicating the unit price corresponding to the annual
maximum power consumption. Specifically, for example, the power
25 r a t e p l a n i n f o r m a t i o n 2 1 6 e x e m p l i f i e d i n FIG. 8indicates anexample
in which the rate plan whose rate plan ID 2161 and charge type 2162
are "FPO1" and "basic", respectively, has a unit price of "1,500"
(yen/kW), that is, 1,500 yen per 1 kW. On the other hand, the latter
(whose rate plan ID 2161 and charge type 2162 are "FP02" or "FP03"
and "usage", respectively) is a rate plan inwhich chargingis based
on theunit price correspondingtothe power usage, and it is assumed
in this embodiment that the unit prices are defined between an
application start date and an application end date and between a
start time and an end time. Specifically, for example, the power
rate plan information 216 exemplifiedin FIG. 8 indicates an example
in which the rate plan whose rate plan ID 2161 and charge type 2162
are "FP02" and "usage", respectively, in the second record has a
unit price of "10" (yen/kWh) , that is, 10 yen per 1 kwh in a time
slot from "0:001' to "8:OO" during a period from "2012/04/01" to
"2012/06/30".
Therecommendedpowerrateplaninformation221isinformation
for managing information on the power rate plan to be recommended
and the like which is acquired by the processing unit 300 in processing
describedlater. Here, the power rate plan tobe recommendedwhich
is acquired in the processing described later is referred to as
"recommended power rate plan". FIG. 9 shows an example of the
recommended power rate plan information 221. In FIG. 9, the
recommended power rate plan information 221 includes information
such as a recommendation ID 2211, a plan ID 2212, a rate plan ID
2213, a charge type 2214, a contract demand 2215, a total power
rate2216, a n e v a l u a t i o n p e r i o d s t a r t 2 2 1 7 , andanevaluationperiod
end 2218. Specifically, for example, the recommended power rate
plan information 221 exemplified in FIG. 9 indicates that the
recommendedpowerrateplanhavinga recommendation ID2211of "R01"
5 means that, in a case where the production is carried out in accordance
with the production plan indicated by a plan ID 2212 of "PP03",
I
1 the rate plan whose rate plan ID and charge type are "FPO1" and
"basic", respectively, has a contract demand and a total power rate
of "55" (kW) and "99" (ten thousand yen) and the rate plan whose
10 rate plan ID and charge type are "FP02" and "usage", respectively,
has a total power rate of "37" (ten thousand yen).
Theproductionplaninformation222isinformationformanaging
theproductionplanfortheproductbasedonwhichtheabove-mentioned
recommended power rate plan information 221 is obtained. FIG. 10
15 shows an example of the production plan information 222. In FIG.
10, the production plan information 222 includes information such
as a plan ID 2221, an order ID 2222, a product ID 2223, a process
ID 2224, a start date 2225, and an end date 2226. Specifically,
for example, the production plan information 222 exemplified in
20 FIG. 10 indicates that, in the production plan having a plan ID
2221 of "PP03", the process of "M11" among processes for producing
the product having the product ID of "P01" included in the order
havingtheorder IDof "001" is tohave theworkstartedon "2012/04/lO"
and ended on "2012/04/15". Note that, the production plan
25 information 222 exemplified in FIG. 10 shows an example of the
p r o d u c t i o n p l a n t h a t h a s b e e n a d j u s t e d b y p r o c e s s i n g d e s c r i b e d l a t e r .
Next, operations ofthe respective functions ofthe power rate
plan selection support apparatus 10 illustratedin FIG. ldescribed
above are described in accordance with the flowchart exemplified
5 inFIG. 2.
First, the data acquisition part 3 2 1 a c q u i r e s t h e i n f o r m a t i o n
necessary for the processing, and stores the information in the
memory part 310 (S100). The information input at this time is, for
example, an evaluation target period, the order information 211,
10 the product process information 212, the process/work time
information213,theresourceinformation214,thepowerconsumption
information 215, and the power rate plan information 216. Those
pieces of information may be acquired arbitrarily, and may be, for
example, acquired via the communication device of the input/output
15 unit100andthecommunicationnetwork, readfromanexternal storage
device of the input/output unit 100, or input by a user by using
the input device such as a keyboard or a mouse through an interface
displayed on the display or the like of the input/output unit 100.
Thefollowingdescriptionismadeontheassumptionthatanevaluation
20 target period of "2012/04/01" to "2013/03/31" is input to acquire
the order information 211 to the power rate plan information 216
exemplified in FIG. 3 to FIG. 8.
Subsequently, the production plan draftingpart 322 acquires
the production plan for each ordered product based on the order
25 information 211, the product process information 212, the
process/work time information 213, the resource information 214,
and the like which are stored in the memory part 310 (S110). A
technology for drafting the production plan may be employed I
arbitrarily, and no particular limitations are imposed thereon.
5 Examples ofthe technology fordraftingtheproductionplaninclude
I
I
1
forward expansion for determining a start timing and an end timing
ofeachprocess startingatthepresenttimeinorderfromtheproduct
having the earliest delivery date and backward expansion for
determining the start timing and the end timing of each process
10 from the delivery date toward the present time. A developed
production plan may be acquired by any one of those technologies,
or may be acquired by another technology. For example, there is
Japanese Patent Laid-open Publication No. 2005-216074 as a
technology foracquiringthedevelopedproductionplan. Note that,
15 it is assumed here that the production plan drafting part 322 uses
an arbitrary production plan drafting technology to acquire
process/allocationtimeinformation 311, work-time productionplan
information 312, and the like described below and store the
process/allocation time information 311, the work-time production
20 plan information 312, and the like in the memory part 310 or the
like.
Here, the process/allocation time information 311 and the
work-time production plan information 312 are described in detail.
First, the process/allocation time information 311 is
25 described. Theprocess/allocationtimeinformation 311shows, for
example, how much time is allocated to which process in order to
produce the product whose order has been received for each order.
FIG. llshows an example o f t h e p r o c e s s / a l l o c a t i o n t i m e information
311. In FIG. 11, the process/allocation time information 311
5 includes information such as an order ID 3111, a product ID 3112,
a process ID 3113, a manufacturing department ID 3114, a work date
3115, and an allocated time 3116. Specifically, for example, the
process/allocation time information 311 exemplified in FIG. 11
indicates that, with regard to the product having the product ID
10 of "POI" included in the order having the order ID of "OOl", the
process of "M13" performed in a department of "D03" is allocated
to "2012/04/25" for "12" (hr).
Subsequently, the work-time production plan information 312
is described. The work-time production plan information 312 shows
15 a work start date, a work end date, and the like of each process
for producing the product whose order has been received for each
developedproductionplan. FIG.12showsanexampleofthework-time
production plan information 312. In FIG. 12, the work-time
production plan information 312 includesinformation such as aplan
20 ID 3121, an order ID 3122, a product ID 3123, a process ID 3124,
a start date 3125, and an end date 3126. The work-time production
plan information 312 is different from the above-mentioned
production plan information 222 in that the work-time production
plan information 312 serves to acquire the respective pieces of
25 information stored in the output information 220.
Here, the production plan shown in the work-time production
plan information 312 exemplified in F I G . 12 is described. F I G . 13
is a diagram for illustrating the production plan shown in the
work-time production plan information 312 exemplified in F I G . 12.
5 The work-time production plan information 312 exemplified in F I G .
12 shows an example in which, in the production plan of "PPOl",
in order to produce the product having the product I D of "Pol" included
in the order having the order ID of "OOl", the first process "M11"
(board manufacturing) is to be started on "2012/04/15" while the
10 final process "M14" (testing) is to be ended on "2012/05/01". In
this production plan, the respective processes for producing the
product are performed as shown in a schedule 4001 illustrated in
F I G . 13 or the like.
The following description is made on the assumption that the
15 process/allocation time information 311 shown in F I G . 11 and the
work-time production plan information 312 shown in F I G . 12 are
acquired by the processing of the production plan drafting part
322.
Returning to F I G . 2, the description is continued. The power
20 rate calculation part 323 calculates the total power rate under
each power rate plan by using the production plan acquired by the
productionplandraftingpart322,thepowerconsumptioninformation
215 foreachprocess, andthepower rateplaninformation216 (S120).
Note that, as shown in F I G . 8 as an example, the power rate plan
25 information 216 according to this embodiment shows an example of
being formedof the two types of a "basic" rate anda rate corresponding
to the "usage", and a case where another charge type exists can
be handled by adding a record to the power rate plan information
216. Detailed processing of S120 is described below.
5 FIG. 14 is anexampleofa flowchartillustratingthedetailed
processing of S120. First, the power rate calculation part 323
acquires an allocated time and a power consumption for each product
process (S1200) . To that end, for example, the power rate calculation
part 323 acquires the work start date, the work end date, the allocated
10 time, and the like for each product process of the product whose
order has been received, from the order ID 3111, the product ID
3112, the process ID 3113, the work date 3115, the allocated time
3116, and the like within the process/allocation time information
311. In addition, the power rate calculation part 323 acquires the
15 power consumption of the product process from the process ID 2151,
the power consumption 2152, and the like within the power consumption
information 215. Specifically, for example, the power rate
calculation part 323 acquires, from the process/allocation time
information 311 exemplified in FIG. 11, three work dates 3115 of
20 "2012/04/25", "2012/04/26", and "2012/04/27" as work dates for the
product process whose order ID 3111, product ID 3112, and proeess
ID3113are"001", "POl",and"M13", respectively, andthreeallocated
times 3116 of "12" (h), "24" (h), and "24" (h) as allocated times
corresponding tothe respective workdates. In addition, the power
25 rate calculation part 323 acquires, from the power consumption
information 215 exempl~fted In FIG. 7, the power consumption 2152
of "3" (kW) corresponding to the process ID 2151 of "M13".
Subsequently, the?power rate calculation part 323 calculates
thedate-basispowerconsumption (S1201). Tothat end, forexample,
5 the power rate calculation part 323 adds the work-date-basis power
consumption based on the respective pieces of information acquired
in S1200. Specifically, for example, in the case of the
process/allocation time information 311 exemplified in F I G . 11,
three processes having the process ID 3113 of "M13", "M12", and
10 "M11" are carried out on the work date 3115 of "2012/04/25".
Therefore, the power rate calculation part 323 acquires "33" (kW)
by summing up power consumptions of "3" (kW) , "5" (kW) , and "25"
(kW) of the processes "M1311, "M12", and "M11" acquired in the
processing of S1200. The power rate calculation part 323 performs
15 suchprocessingonawork-datebasis, andstoresthework-date-basis
power consumption in the memory part 310 or the like as date/power
consumption information 313. F I G . 15 shows an example of the
date/powerconsumptioninformation 313. In FIG. 15, thedate/power
consumption information 313 includes a work date 3131 and a power
20 consumption 3132.
Returningto F I G . 14, thedescriptioniscontinued. Thepower
rate calculation part 323 extracts amaximumvalue ofthe date-basis
power consumption, and calculates a monthly power rate (S1202).
To that end, for example, the power rate calculation part 323
25 calculates the monthly basic rate of the power from the work date
3131, the power consumpt~on3 132, anutheilkewithinthe date/power
consumption information 313 and the rate plan ID 2161, the charge
type 2162, the unit price 2-16?, and the like within the power rate
plan information 216. Specifically, for example, in a case of the
5 basic rate for April, the power rate calculation part 323 acquires
the maximum value of the date-basis power consumption "80" (kW)
in April and the like from the work date 3131, the power consumption
3132, and the like within the date/power consumption information
313 exemplifiedin FIG. 15. Inaddition, thepower rate calculation
10 part 323 acquires the charge type 2162 of "basic", the unit price
2167 of "1,500" (yen/kW), and the like within the power rate plan
information 216 exemplifiedin FIG. 8. The power rate calculation
part 323 calculates the basic rate for April as 120,000 yen (=80
(kW) ~1,500 (yen/kW) ) or the like from the maximum value of the power
15 consumption "80 (kW) ", a unit price of "1,500 (yen/kW) l1 for a charge
type of "basic", and the like.
After that, the power rate calculation part 323 determines
whether or not power rate calculation of S1201 and S1202 has been
performedforaportioncorrespondingtotheevaluationtargetperiod
20 acquired in SlOO (S1203). When it is determined as a result that
thepowerratecalculationhasbeencompleted, theprocedureadvances
to the processing of S1204 described later, and if the power rate
calculation has not been completed, the power rate calculation part
323 executes the processing of S1201 and S1202 for another date.
Here, in the above-mentioned processing of S1202 for a given
month, the power rate calculation part 323 performs the power rate
calculationdescribedlaterbyusingthemaximumvalueintheprevious
month and earlier when the maximum value of the power consumption
is smallerthanthemaximumvalue in the previousmonth andearlier,
5 and otherwise, performsthe power rate calculation described later
by using the maximum value of the power consumption in the given
month. In thismanner, thepower rate calculationpart 323 identifies
the maximum value of the power consumption during the evaluation
target period, and calculates the basic rate of the power rate plan
10 in S150. The following description is made on the assumption that
the power consumption in April is maximum during the evaluation
target period.
Subsequently, in order to calculate the power rate
corresponding to the usage, the power rate calculation part 323
15 allocates the processes to the times on a date basis in such an
orderthata process having a higher power consumption is allocated
to a time having a lower unit price (S1204) . To that end, for example,
the power rate calculation part 323 acquires a targeted product,
a targeted date, and the manufacturing department, the process,
20 and the like relating to the work carried out on the targeted date,
from the order ID 3111 to the process ID 3113, the work date 3115,
and the like within the process/allocation time information 311.
Further, the power rate calculation part 323 acquires the time slot
and the like in which the unit price of the power rate is lowest
25 in the targeted rate plan on the targeted date, from the rate plan
ID 2161 to the unit price 2167 and the like w.ithin the power rate
plan information 216. Further, the power rate calculation part 323
acquires the process having the highest power consumption and the
like on the targeted date from the process ID 2151 to the power
5 consumption 2152 and the like within the power consumption
information 215. Based on those pieces of acquired information,
the power rate calculation part 323 allocates the processes to the
times on the targeted date in such an order that the process having
a higher power consumption is allocated to the time having a lower
10 unit price.
As a specific example, a description is made of a case where
the targeted date within the process/allocation time information
311 exemplified in FIG. 11 is "2012/04/25" with the targeted rate
plan being "FP02" relating to "usage". First, the power rate
15 calculation part 323 extracts the allocated time 3116 of "12" (h)
forthemanufacturingdepartment1D3114of"D03"fromrecordshaving
the work date 3115 of "2012/04/25" within the process/allocation
time information 311 exemplified in FIG. 11, and extracts records
in which the workdate "2012/04/25"is includedin a range indicated
20 by the application start date 2163 and the application end date
2164 (in the case ofthe power rate plan information 216 exemplified
in FIG. 8, the application start date 2163 "2012/04/011' and the
application end date 2164 "2012/06/30") from among records whose
rate plan ID 2161 and charge type 2162 are "FP02" and "usage",
25 respectively, withinthepowerrateplaninformation216exemplified
in FIG. 8. Then, the power rate calculation part 323 allocates the
processes to the time slots based on the extracted records in such
an order that the process having a higher power consumption is
allocated to the time slot having a lower unit price. In the case
5 ofthe process/allocationtime information 311exemplified in FIG.
11, the process carried out in a targeted manufacturing department
on a targeted work date has one kind being the process ID 3113 of
"M13". Therefore, based on the start time 2165 to the unit price
2167 and the like within the power rate plan information 216, the
10 power rate calculation part 323 allocates the allocated time of
"12" (h) for the process "M1311 in such a manner that 8 (h) and 2
(h) are allocated to "0:OO to 8:0011 and 1122:00 to 24:0011 being the
time slots having the lowest unit price, respectively, and the
remaining 2 (h) is allocated to "8: 00 to 10: 00" being the time slot
15 having the second lowest unit price. Note that, when there are a
plurality of processes whose work is carried out in the targeted
manufacturing department on the targeted work date, the power rate
calculation part 323 performs the above-mentioned processing for
the processes in descending order of the power consumption 2152
20 within the power consumption information 215. In the same manner
as in the above-mentioned configuration, the power rate calculation
part 323 allocates the processes to be carried out in the other
manufacturing departments (having manufacturing department IDS of
"D02", "DOl", and the like) on the targeted work date.
Then, the power rate calculation part 323 calculates the
time-slot-basis power usage-for each date from time-slot-basis
processes acquired in the processing of S1204 and the power
consumption, to thereby calculate the power rate (S1205).
Specifically, for example, the power rate calculation part 323
5 acquires a power consumption for the process subjected to the
processing of S1204 fromthe process ID 2151, the power consumption
2152, and the like within the power consumption information 215.
In addition, the power rate calculation part 323 calculates the
time-slot-basis power usage and the power rate from each time slot
10 allocated to each process acquired in S1204, the unit price 2167
being the unit price for the time-slot-basis power consumption,
the process-by-process-basis power consumption acquired as
describedabove, andthelike, andstorescalculationresultsthereof
inthememorypart310 orthelikeasprocess/power rate information
15 314.
As a specific example, a description is made of a case where
the workdate is "2012/04/25", themanufacturingdepartment is "DO3",
and the process is "M13" within the process/allocation time
information 311 exemplified in FIG. 11. In this case, as described
20 above, the power rate calculation part 323 allocates the work of
the process "M13" to the time slots of "0:OO to 8:00", "22:OO to
24: OO", and "8: 00 to 10: 00" as 8 (h) , 2 (h) , and 2 (h) , respectively.
In the case of the power consumption information 215 exemplified
in FIG. 7, the power consumption for the process "M13" is "3" (kW),
25 and in the case of the power rate plan information 216 exemplified
in FIG. 8, the unit prices for the above-mentioned time slots are
rrlO,r rr rlO,r ra nd "14", respectively. Therefore, the power rate
calculation part 323 multiplies times acquired from the allocated
time slots by the power consumption, to thereby calculate the power
5 usages for the time slots as "24" (kwh), "6" (kwh), and "6" (kwh),
respectively. Further, the power rate calculation part 323
multiplies the power usages calculated above by the unit prices,
to thereby calculate the power rates as "240" (yen), "69" (yen),
and "84" (yen), respectively.
FIG. 16 showsanexampleoftheprocess/powerrateinformation
314. In FIG. 16, the process/power rate information 314 includes
a work date 3141, a manufacturing department ID 3142, a start time
3143, an end time 3144, a process ID 3145, a power consumption 3146,
a power usage 3147, a unit price 3148, and a power rate 3149.
15 R e t u r n i n g t o F I G . 1 4 , t h e d e s c r i p t i o n i s c o n t i n u e d . Thepower
rate calculation part 323 determines whether or not the power rate
calculation of S1204 and S1205 has been performed for all the dates
duringthe evaluation target period (S1206). When it is determined
as a result that the power rate calculation has been performed for
20 allthedates, theprocessingofS1207 describedlaterisperformed.
On the other hand, if the power rate calculation has not been performed
for all the dates, the power rate calculation part 323 executes
the processing of S1204 and S1205 for another date.
After calculating the basic rate and the power rate
25 corresponding to the usage described above, the power rate
calculation part 323 calculates the total power rate for the
evaluation target period (S1207). Specifically, for example, the
power rate calculation part 323 calculates the total power rate
by adding up the monthly basic rates acquired in the processing
5 of S1201 and S1202 and the date-basis power rates acquired in the
processing of S1204 and S1205 over the evaluation target period,
and stores calculation results thereof in the memory part 310 or
the like as total power rate information 315.
FIG. 17 shows an example of the total power rate information
10 315. In FIG. 17, the total power rate information 315 includes a
plan ID 3151, a rate plan ID 3152, a charge type 3153, and a total
power rate 3154.
ReturningtoFIG. 14, thedescriptioniscontinued. Thepower
rate calculation part 323 determines whether or not the power rate
15 calculation of S1201 to S1207 has been performed for all the power
rate plans (S1208). When it is determinedas a result that thepower
rate calculation has not been completed, the power rate calculation
part 323 executesthe processing of S1201to S1207 for another power
rate plan. On the other hand, if the power rate calculation has
20 been completed, the power rate calculation part 323 brings the
processing to an end.
Returning to FIG. 2, the description is continued. The
production plan adjustment part 324 adjusts the production plan
acquired by the production plan drafting part 322 in SllO (S130).
25 That is, in order to mainly reduce the basic rate, the production
planadjustment part324 s e q u e n t i a l l y a d j u s t s t h e p r o c e s s e s carried
out on the date exhibiting the maximum value of the power consumption.
Details of processing therefor are described below.
FIG. 18 is an example of a flowchart illustrating details of
5 the processing of S130. In FIG. 18, the production plan adjustment
part 324 first extracts the date on which the power consumption
has the maximum value from the date-basis power consumption
calculatedinS1201 (S1300) . To that end, for example, the production
plan adjustment part 324 extracts the date on which the power
10 consumption has themaximumvalue fromwithinthe evaluation target
period based on the work date 3131, the power consumption 3132,
and the like within the date/power consumption information 313.
As a specific example thereof, in the case of the date/power
consumption information 313 exemplifiedin FIG. 15, the production
15 plan adjustment part 324 extracts two days of "2012/04/28" and
"2012/04/29" being the values of the work date 3131 corresponding
to the power consumption 3132 "80" (kW) being the maximum power
consumption.
Subsequently,theproductionplanadjustmentpart324extracts
20 theprocesswhoseworkis carriedoutonthedate extractedin S1300
(S1301) . To that end, for example, the production plan adjustment
part 324 acquires the order ID, the product ID, the process ID,
and the like of the process including the date extracted in S1300
based on the order ID 3122 to the end date 3126 and the like within
25 thework-timeproductionplaninformation312. Asaspecificexample,
i n t h e case of t h e work-time production plan information 312
exemplified i n FIG. 12, t h e production plan adjustment p a r t 324
e x t r a c t s t h r e e processes whose order I D S , product I D S , and process
I D S a r e "OOl", "POl", and " M 1 4 " , "002", "POll', and "M12", and "003",
5 "POll', and " M 1 1 " a s t h e p r o c e s s e s i n c l u d i n g t h e above-mentioned
"2012/04/28" and "2012/04/29".
Then, i n order t o lower t h e maximum value of t h e power
consumption, t h e production plan adjustment p a r t 324 s h i f t s any
one of t h e processes e x t r a c t e d i n S1301 so a s t o be moved forward
10 or backward (S1302). In a case where a p l u r a l i t y of processes a r e
a p p l i c a b l e , t h e process t o bemoved f orwardor backwardmaybe s e l e c t e d
a r b i t r a r i l y , and t h e s h i f t of t h e process may be any one of moving
forwardandmovingbackward. It is assumedherethattheproduction
plan adjustment p a r t 324 moves forward t h e process f o r t h e product
15 having t h e n e a r e s t d e l i v e r y d a t e a s an example of s h i f t i n g t h e process.
To t h a t end, f o r example, t h e production plan adjustment p a r t 324
i d e n t i f i e s t h e order, t h e product, and t h e l i k e having t h e n e a r e s t
d e l i v e r y d a t e from t h e processes e x t r a c t e d i n S1301 based on t h e
order I D 2111, t h e product I D 2112, t h e d e l i v e r y d a t e 2115, and
20 t h e l i k e within t h e order information 211 and t h e order I D 3122
t o t h e end d a t e 3126 and t h e l i k e within t h e work-time production
plan information 312, and s h i f t s t h e s t a r t d a t e and t h e end d a t e
of t h e s e l e c t e d process by s u b t r a c t i o n or t h e l i k e so t h a t t h e end
date o f t h e process e x t r a c t e d a s described above f o r t h e i d e n t i f i e d
25 product becomes e a r l i e r t h a n t h e d a t e e x t r a c t e d a s describedabove.
FIG. 19 is a diagram for illustrating a specific example of
the case where the process is moved forward. In FIG. 19, a schedule
4101 indicates the work-time production plan information 312
exemplified in FIG. 12, and the three processes extracted in S1301
5 areindicatedbythebrokenlines andthe thicklines. In this case,
theproductionplanadjustment part324 identifiestheprocess "M14"
for "001" and "Pol" having the nearest delivery date from among
the above-mentioned processes "M14" for "001" and "POl", "M12" for
"002" and "POl", and "M11" for "003" and "Pol". In addition, the
10 production plan adjustment part 324 shifts the identified process
tobeforetheabove-mentionedtwodays"2012/04/28"and"2012/04/29",
which exhibit the maximum power consumption. A schedule 4102
exemplified in FIG. 19 is an example of a schedule obtained by shifting
the identified process "M14" for "001" and "P01" as described above.
Returning to FIG. 18, the description is continued. The
production plan adjustment part 324 determines whether or not all
the processes after the shift fall within a resource range of each
manufacturing department (S1303). There are no particular
limitations on this processing, but the determination may be
20 performed by, for example, such a conventional production plan
technology as described above in S110. Further, the determination
may be performed by whether or not the process after the shift overlaps
with a process for another product included in another order based
on the order ID 3122 to the end date 3126 and the like within the
25 work-time production plan information 312. When it is determined
as a result that all the processes fall within the resource range,
the procedure advances to the processing of S1304 described later,
and if any one of the processes does not fall within the resource
range, the procedure returns to the processing of S1302 and the
5 production plan adjustment part 324 shifts the applicable process
again.
As a specific example, the case of the schedule 4102 exemplified
in EIG. 19 is described. In this case, a work time for a testing
process (M14) after the shift does not overlap with the testing
10 process for another product included in another order, and hence
the production plan adjustment part 324 determines to advance the
procedure to the processing of S1304 described later.
Returning to FIG. 18, the description is continued.
Subsequently, theproductionplanadjustmentpart324 shiftsanother
15 process for the product relating to the process shifted in S1302
(S1304). To that end, for example, based on the product ID 2121
tothe parent process ID2124 andthe likewithin the product process
information 212, the production plan adjustment part 324 acquires
anotherprocessrelatingtotheproductinvolvingtheprocessshifted
20 in S1302. In addition, based on the order ID 3122 to the end date
3126 and the like within the work-time production plan information
312, the production plan adjustment part 324 shifts the start date
and the end date of each of the acquired other processes by the
amount shifted in the processing of S1302 by subtraction or the
25 like.
A s p e c i f i c e x a m p l e t h e r e o f i s d e s c r i b e d w i t h r e f e r e n c e t o F I G .
19. As described above, t h e schedule 4102 of FIG. 19 i s an example
of t h e schedule obtained by s h i f t i n g t h e s e l e c t e d process " M 1 4 "
f o r "001" and "Pol". The p r o d u c t i o n p l a n a d j u s t m e n t p a r t 324 s h i f t s
5 t h e s t a r t d a t e and t h e end d a t e of each of t h e board ( M l l ) , t h e
case (M12), and t h e assembly (M13), which a r e t h e o t h e r processes
r e l a t i n g t o t h e product "Pol" i n v o l v i n g t h e s e l e c t e d p r o c e s s " M 1 4 " ,
i n accordancewith t h e s h i f t e d " M 1 4 " . Aschedule 4 1 0 3 i s an example
of s h i f t i n g " M l l " , "M12", and "M13", which a r e t h e o t h e r processes
10 r e l a t i n g t o t h e product "P01" involving t h e s e l e c t e d process " M 1 4 "
a s described above.
In t h i s manner, i n t h i s embodiment, t h e production plan
adjustment p a r t 324 s h i f t s t h e a p p l i c a b l e process a t a t i m e so t h a t
t h e work d a t e of t h e a p p l i c a b l e process does not overlap with t h e
15 period e x h i b i t i n g t h e maximum power consumption. The c a l c u l a t i o n
time can be shortened more g r e a t l y by performing t h e s h i f t by t h e
p o r t i o n corresponding t o t h e period e x h i b i t i n g t h e maximum power
consumption a t a t i m e than by simply performing t h e s h i f t on a
day-to-daybasis. However, t h i s embodiment is not l i m i t e d t h e r e t o .
20 For example, t h e production plan adjustment p a r t 324 may perform
t h e s h i f t on a day-to-day b a s i s . In t h i s case, t h e c a l c u l a t i o n of
thepowerratedescribedlatermaybeperformedforeachofschedules
obtainedbyperforming t h e s h i f t ona day-to-daybasis t o , f o r example,
acquire t h e minimum power r a t e . Further, t h e production plan
25 adjustment p a r t 324 may determine whether o r not a p l u r a l i t y of
consecutive dates on which the power consumption has the maximum
value are acquired in S1300, that is, whether or not the dates on
which the power consumption has the maximum value are separated
by a date on which the power consumption does not have the maximum
5 value, and may shift the process at a time as described above in
the case ofthepluralityof consecutive dates and performthe shift
on a day-to-day basis as described above in the case where the dates
are separated. Alternatively, anyone ofthe above-mentionedkinds
of shift may be performed based on the period of the dates on which
10 the power consumption has the maximum value, a combination of the
date on which the power consumption has the maximum value and the
date on which the power consumption does not have themaximumvalue,
or the like. Further, anyone ofthe above-mentioned kinds of shift
maybeperformednotonlyforthe date onwhichthe power consumption
15 has the maximum value but also for dates on which the power
consumptions have a plurality of top values including the maximum
value.
Returning to FIG. 18, the description is continued. The
production plan adjustment part 324 determines whether or not all
20 the processes after the shift fall within the resource range of
each manufacturing department (S1305). There are no particular
limitations on this processing, but the determination may be
performed by, for example, the same processing as S1303. When it
is determined as a result that all the processes fall within the
25 resource range, the production plan adjustment part 324 changes
the work date 3115 and the like within the process/allocation time
information 311 stored in the memory part 310 or the like and the
start date 3125, the enddate 3126, and the like within the work-time
production plan information 312 to the dates after the shift, which
5 are acquired in the processing of S1302, S1304, and the like, and
brings the processing to an end. Here, the production plan adjustment
part 324 may store the dates in new process/allocation time
information 311 and new work-time production plan information 312
instead of updating the process/allocation time information 311,
10 the work-time production plan information 312, and the like, which
are already stored in the memory part 310. On the other hand, when
it is determined above as a result that any one of the processes
does not fall within the resource range, the production plan
adjustment part324 r e t u r n s t h e p r o c e d u r e t o t h e p r o c e s s i n g o f S 1 3 0 4
15 to again shift the applicable process.
As a specific example, the case of the schedule 4103 exemplified
in FIG. 19 is described. In the schedule 4103, the work times for
preprocesses (board manufacturing, case manufacturing, and
assembly) after the shift do not overlap with the same processes
20 foranotherproduct. Therefore, theproductionplanadjustmentpart
324 stores the work date, the start date, the end date, and the
like of each of the processes after the shift, which are acquired
in the above-mentioned processing, in the work date 3115 within
the process/allocation time information 311, the start date 3125
25 and the enddate 3126 within the work-time productionplan information
312, and the like, and brings the adjustment to an end.
Note that, the above-mentioned art is used to adjust the
production plan in this embodiment, but another optimization art
may be used.
5 Returning to the flowchart of F I G . 2, the description is
continued. The delivery date determination part 325 determines
whether or not the delivery dates of all the products are met in
the production plan information adjusted in S130 (S140). When it
is determined as a result that the delivery dates are met, the
10 procedure advances to the processing of S150 described later, and
if any one of the delivery dates is not met, the procedure advances
to the processing of S160 described later.
If the delivery dates of all the products are met, the power
rate calculation part 323 calculates an annual power rate under
15 eachpowerrateplanbasedontheprocess/allocationtimeinformation
311, the work-time production plan information 312, and the like,
which are acquired in the above-mentioned processing (S150). This
p r o c e s s i n g i s t h e s a m e a s t h e p r o c e s s i n g o f S 1 2 0 , andhenceadetailed
description thereof is omitted. The power rate calculation part
20 323 stores the calculated annual power rate under each power rate
plan and the like in the memory part 310 as plan-specific power
rate information 316.
F I G . 20 shows an example of the plan-specific power rate
information 316. In F I G . 20, the plan-specific power rate
25 information 316 includes a plan I D 3161, a rate plan ID 3162, a
charge type 3163, a c o n t r a c t demand 3164, and a t o t a l power r a t e
3165.
Returning t o t h e flowchart of FIG. 2, t h e d e s c r i p t i o n is
continued. The production plan adjustment p a r t 324 determines
whether or not t o continue t h e adjustment of t h e production p l a n
(S160). When it is determined a s a r e s u l t t h a t t h e adjustment is
t o be continued, t h e production plan adjustment p a r t 324 r e t u r n s
the procedure t o t h e processing of S130 t o execute t h e processing
of S130 t o S150. On t h e o t h e r hand, i f t h e adjustment is not t o
be continued, t h e procedure advances t o t h e processing of S170
described l a t e r . Here, t h e determination a s t o whether or not t o
continue t h e adjustment of t h e production plan is performed i n an
a r b i t r a r y m a n n e r . For example, t h e determinationmaybe performed
based on whether o r not a c a l c u l a t i o n count has reached a count
designated i n advance.
Then, b a s e d o n t h e p r o d u c t i o n p l a n information, thepower r a t e
under eachpowerrateplancalculatedbythepowerrate c a l c u l a t i o n
p a r t 3 2 3 , a n d t h e l i k e , therecomrnendedpowerrateplandetermination
p a r t 3 2 6 s e l e c t s a t l e a s t o n e p o w e r r a t e p l a n b a s e d o n a p r e d e t e r m i n e d
condition, and s t o r e s power r a t e plan information thereon and t h e
production plan information i n t h e s t o r a g e u n i t 200 o r t h e l i k e
as t h e recommended power r a t e plan information 221, t h e production
plan information 222, and t h e l i k e , r e s p e c t i v e l y (S170). It is
assumed here t h a t t h e recommended power r a t e plan determination
p a r t 326 s e l e c t s a t l e a s t one power r a t e plan including one having
the minimum power rate, and the like.
As described above, it is assumed here that the total power
rate is determined as ("basic" rate) + (power rate corresponding to
"usage"). Therefore, for example, the recommendedpower rate plan
5 determination part 326 selects a combination of power rate plans
under the same production plan as "basic" and "usage" based on the
plan ID 3161 to the charge type 3163 and the like within the
plan-specific power rate information 316. Then, based on the plan
ID 3161, the total power rate 3165, and the like within the
10 plan-specific power rate information 316, the recommended power
rate plan determination part 326 identifies the plan ID of the
productionplaninwhichthetotalpowerratecorrespondingtorecords
ofthe selectedcombinationisminimum. The recommendedpower rate
plan determination part 326 acquires the order ID, the product ID,
15 the process ID, the start date, the end date, and the like
corresponding to the record including the identified plan ID from
t h e p l a n I D 3 1 2 1 t o t h e e n d d a t e 3 1 2 6 a n d t h e l i k e w i t h i n t h e w o r k - t i m e
production plan information 312. The recommended power rate plan
determination part 326 stores those pieces of information in the
20 storage unit 200 or the like as the recommended power rate plan
information 221, the production plan information 222, and the like.
As a specific example, in the plan-specific power rate
information 316 exemplified in FIG. 20, the combination of power
rate plans is "FPO1" and "FP02" or "FPO1" and "FP03" being a
25 combination of "basic" and "usage". In this case, the production
plan whose plan ID is "PP03" has the lowest total power rate, and
the specific total power rates are "136" (ten thousand yen) in the
combination of "FPO1" and "FP02" and "140" (ten thousand yen) in
the combination of "FPO1" and "FP03". Accordingly, the recommended
5 power rate plan determination part 326 identifies "PP03" as the
production plan in which the total power rate is minimum, and
identifies "FPO1" and "FP02" as the combination of rate plans in
that case. Based on those pieces of information, the recommended
power rate plan determination part 326 acquires the recommended
10 power rate plan information 221 exemplified in FIG. 9 and the
production plan information 222 exemplified in FIG. 10, and stores
the recommendedpower rate plan information 221 and the production
plan information 222 in the storage unit 200 or the like.
Finally, the output control part 327 outputs the acquired
15 pieces of information including the recommended power rate plan
information 221 and the production plan information 222 to the
input/output unit 100 (S18O) . FIG. 21 to FIG. 23 illustrate examples
of screens displayed on the display or the like of the input/output
unit 100 by the output control part 327. Those examples of the screens
20 are described below. Note that, those screens are examples in the
case where the recommended power rate plan information 221 and the
production plan information 222 exemplified in FIG. 9 and FIG. 10,
respectively, and the like are acquired in the above-mentioned
processing.
First, the output control part 327 outputs comprehensive
evaluation results. FIG. '2'1i" llustrates an example of the screen
which displays the comprehensive evaluation results. In FIG. 21,
a screen 5001 is an example in a case of displaying the information
corresponding to a recommendation ID 2211 of "R01" relating to the
5 lowest total power rate within the recommended power rate plan
information 221 exemplified in FIG. 9. Specifically, the screen
5001 is the example in the case of displaying the evaluation target
period, the contract demand 2215 of "55" (kW) relating to the rate
plan ID 2213 of "FPO1" in the charge type 2214 of "basic", the rate
10 plan ID 2213 of "FP02" in the charge type 2214 of "usage", and the
total power rate 136 (=totalpowerrate2216of "99"+"37") ten thousand
yen, which are input in the above-mentioned processing. Here, in
the case of the screen 5001, "*" is displayed after the power rate
plan "FP0211, which indicates that the power rate plan has the lowest
15 total power rate, and a pulldown can be pressed to switch from the
power rate plan "FP02" to the display of the total power rate of
another power rate plan (for example, "FP03") or the production
plandescribedlateras reference information. Further, the screen
5001includes a "display rateplanl'button anda "display production
20 plan" button, and when the user presses those buttons, the output
control part 327 displays screens exemplified in FIG. 22 and FIG.
23, which are described later, on the display or the like of the
input/output unit 100.
FIG. 22 illustrates an example of a screen which displays a
25 rate structure ofthe selectedpowerrateplan. In FIG. 22, a screen
5002 is an example in a case where the power Yate plan information
216 exemplified in FIG. 8 is employed with "FP02" selected as the
power rate plan in FIG.- 21- as- described-above. The output control
part 327 acquires the time-slot-basis power rate of the selected
5 power rate plan based on the rate plan ID 2161 to the unit price
2167 and the like within the power rate plan information 216, and,
for example, displays the screen 5002 exemplified in FIG. 22.
FIG. 23 illustrates an example of a screen which displays
production plan information based on which the selected power rate
10 plan is developed. In FIG. 23, a screen 5003 is an example in a
case where the production plan information 222 exemplified in FIG.
10 is employed with "FP02" selected as the power rate plan in FIG.
21 as described above. The output control part 327 acquires the
start date and the end date of each process for each order ID and
15 each product ID corresponding to the applicable recommendation ID
based on the plan ID 2221 to the end date 2226 within the production
plan information 222, the product ID 2121 to the parent process
ID 2124 within the product process information 212, and the like,
and, for example, displays the screen 5003 exemplified in FIG. 23.
20 As described above, in this embodiment, it is possible to
perform the selection of the power rate plan and the drafting of
the production plan which minimize the power rate. Accordingly,
it is possible to carry out production activities in accordance
with the production plan and the contract based on the power rate
25 planhavingtheminimumpower rate, which can reduce the total power
rate in the factory.
Note that, the resource information 214 is not limited tothe
example shownin FIG. 6. FIG. 24 shows another example ofthe power
rate plan information 216. In FIG. 24, the resource information
5 214includesthemanufacturingdepartmentID2141,themanufacturing
capacity 2142, a start time 2143, and an end time 2144. In this
case, in each of S110, S1204, and the like, when each process is
allocated to the time slot, the process may be allocated only to
a work-enabled time slot (time slot indicated by the start time
10 2143 and the end time 2144) for each manufacturing department ID
and so as not to be allocated to a time slot other than the work-enabled
time slot.
(Second embodiment)
A second embodiment of the present invention is described.
15 The second embodiment described below is different from the
above-mentioned first embodiment in that facilities such as a
photovoltaic generator and a storage battery, which can generate
power in the factory, are provided and the selection of the power
rate plan and the drafting of the production plan are performed
20 in consideration also of power selling and power generation using
the above-mentioned facilities. In the following description, the
same components as those of the above-mentioned first embodiment
are denotedbythe same reference symbols, anddescriptionsthereof
are omitted.
FIG. 25 illustrates an example of a system configuration
according tothe secondembodiment. FIG. 26illustrates anexample
of a flowchart according to the second embodiment.
First, a description is made of FIG. 25. In FIG. 25, the storage
unit 200 is different from that of the above-mentioned first
5 embodiment inthatthestorageunit200 furtherstorespowerresource
information 217, power selling price information 218, and power
resource adjustment result information 223. Further, the
difference lies in that columns described later are added to the
power rate plan information 216. The power resource information
10 217 serves to manage a kind of facility capable of generating power
in the factory and a power generation amount thereof. The power
selling price information 218 serves to manage the unit price used
when the power generated in the factory is soldwithout being consumed.
The power resource adjustment result information 223 serves to,
15 for example, manage a result of adjusting the power generated in
the f a c t o r y b y a p o w e r r e s o u r c e a d j u s t m e n t p a r t 3 2 8 describedlater.
Details thereof are described later.
Further, the arithmetic processing part 320 further includes
the power resource adjustment part 328. In the same manner as in
20 the above-mentioned configuration, it is assumed that the power
resource adjustment part 328 is realized by reading the software
stored in the storage unit 200, the memory part 310, or the like
and executing the software by the arithmetic processing part 320.
Here, t h e i n f o r m a t i o n w i t h i n t h e s t o r a g e u n i t 2 0 0 i s d e s c r i b e d .
First, the power rate plan information 216 according to the
second embodiment is described. F I G . 27 shows an example of the
power rate plan information 216. In F I G . 27, the power rate plan
information 216 includes an applicable lower limit 2168 and an
applicable upper limit 2169. The applicable lower limit 2168, the
5 applicable upper limit 2169, and the like indicate a range of applying
the unit price 2167 corresponding to the same record. The power
rate plan information 216 exemplified in F I G . 27 indicates that
the rate plan having a rate plan I D 2161 of " F P 0 4 " is a plan in
which the contract demand is applied within the range of 0 kW to
10 40 kW, and that the unit price at that time is "1,200" (yen/kW).
Next, the power resource information 217 is described. F I G .
28 shows an example of the power resource information 217. In F I G .
28, the power resource information 217 includes a power resource
type I D 2171, a power resource type 2172, a start date 2173, an
15 enddate 2174, a start time 2175, anendtime 2176, apowergeneration
amount 2177, and a unit 2178. In the case of the power resource
information 217 exemplified in F I G . 28, for example, the second
record indicates that a power resource whose power resource type
I D and power resource type are "ERO1" and "photovoltaic",
20 respectively, produces a power generation amount of "32" kW in the
time slot of "8:30n to "17:3OW during the period of "2012/04/01"
to "2012/05/31".
The power selling price information 218 is described. F I G .
29 shows an example of the power selling price information 218.
25 In F I G . 29, the power sellingpriceinformation 218 includes apower
resource type I D 2 1 8 1 a n d a p o w e r s e l l i n g u n i t p r i c e 2 1 8 2 . Thepower
s e l l i n g p r i c e i n f o r m a t i o n 2 1 8 exemplifiedin FIG. 29indicatesthat
the power generated by the power resource having a power resource
type ID of "ERO1" (photovoltaic) can be sold for the unit price
of "1" (ten thousand yen/kW) .
The power resource adjustment result information 223 is
described. FIG. 30showsanexampleofthepowerresourceadjustment
result information 223. In FIG. 30, the power resource adjustment
result information 223 includes a plan ID 2231, a power resource
type ID2232, apower resource type 2233, a consumptionamount2234,
a power selling amount 2235, and a power selling price 2236. The
power resource adjustment result information 223 exemplified in
FIG. 30 indicates that, in the production plan whose plan ID is
"PP0311, ofthe amount of power generatedbythepower resource whose
power resource type ID and power resource type are "ERO1" and
"photovoltaic", respectively, "16" (kW) is to be consumed in the
factory, "16" (kW) is to be sold, and the price for the power selling
is "16" (ten thousand yen).
Next, with reference to FIG. 26, an operation example of the
power rate plan selection support apparatus 10 illustratedin FIG.
25 is described.
First, the data acquisition part 321 acquires information
necessary for the processing, and stores the information in the
memorypart 310 (S100) . This processing is the same as the processing
of SlOO described above in the first embodiment in that the
above-mentioned power resource information 217 and power selling
price information 218 are further acquired. The following
description is made on the assumption that the evaluation target
periodof "2012/04/Ol" to "2013/O3/3lU is input toacquire the order
5 information 211 to the power selling price information 218
exemplified in FIG. 3 to FIG. 7 and FIG. 27 to FIG. 29.
After that, based on the order information 211, the product
process information 2i2, the process/work time information 213,
and the resource information 214, which are stored in the memory
10 part310, t h e p r o d u c t i o n p l a n d r a f t i n g p a r t 3 2 2 d r a f t s t h e p r o d u c t i o n
plan for each ordered product (S110). This processing is the same
as the processing of SllO described above in the first embodiment.
In the same manner as in the above-mentioned processing, it is assumed
herethattheprocess/allocationtimeinformation311,thework-time
15 production plan information 312, and the like exemplified in FIG.
10 and FIG. 11, respectively, are acquired and stored in the memory
part 310 or the like.
Subsequently, the power resource adjustment part 328 adjusts
an amount to be consumed in the factory and a power selling amount
20 in terms of the power generation amount of each power generation
facilitywithinthepower resource information 217 (S115). Tothat
end, based on the power resource type ID 2171, the power resource
type 2172, the power generation amount 2177, and the like within
the power resource information 217, the power resource adjustment
25 part328allocatesthepowergenerationamountofeachpowerresource
to the consumption amount to be consumed in the factory and the
power sellingamounttobe sold. This adjustment ofthe consumption
amount and the power selling amount is arbitrary, andmaybe defined
by, for example, a predetermined expression or an arbitrary ratio.
5 A description is made below of an example in which, in the power
resource information 217 shown in FIG. 28, a half (16 kW) of the
power generation amount having a power resource type of
~photovo1taic"istobe consumed in the factory, while the remaining
half (16 kW) is to be sold.
T h e n , t h e p o w e r r a t e c a l c u l a t i o n p a r t 3 2 3 calculatesthe total
power rate under each power rate plan by using the production plan
acquired by the production plan drafting part 322, the power
consumption information 215 for each process, the power rate plan
information216,theconsumptionamountandthepowersellingamount
15 adjusted in the processing of S115, and the like (S120). In this
processing, the total power rate under each power rate plan is
calculated in accordance with the flowchart exemplified in FIG.
14, butthisprocessingisdifferentfromthatoftheabove-mentioned
first embodiment in the following points.
20 First, when calculating the date-basis power consumption in
S1201andwhencalculatingthetime-slot-basispowerusageinS1205,
the power rate calculation part 323 subtracts therefrom the
consumption amount adjusted in S115, and then calculates the power
rate.
Second, the power rate calculation part 323 determines the
unit price used to calculate the monthly power rate in S1202 based
on a range from an applicable lower limit to an applicable upper
limit indicated by the values of the applicable lower limit 2168
and the applicable upper limit 2169 corresponding to the record
5 having the charge type 2162 of "basic" within the power rate plan
information 216 exemplified in FIG. 27. As a specific example, a
description is made of a case where the maximumvalue of the date-basis
power consumption is 64 (kW). In the case of the power rate plan
information 216 exemplifiedin FIG. 27, the applicable lower limit
10 2168 a n d t h e a p p l i c a b l e u p p e r l i m i t 2 1 6 9 correspondingtotherecord
having the rate plan ID 2161 of "FP04" are "0" and "401', respectively,
and the applicable lower limit 2168 and the applicable upper limit
2169 corresponding to the record having the rate plan ID 2161 of
"FPO1" are "40" and "-", respectively. As described above, the
15 maximum value of the date-basis power consumption is "64" (kW),
and hence the power rate calculation part 323 calculates the power
rate by using "1,500" (yen/kW) being the value of the unit price
2167 corresponding to the record having the rate plan ID 2161 of
"FPO1".
20 Third, in a case where the power selling amount is not zero
in the adjustment of S115, the power rate calculation part 323
calculates a profit from the power selling based on the power resource
type ID 2181, the power selling unit price 2182, and the like within
the power selling price information 218, and calculates the total
25 power rate by, for example, subtracting the profit from the power
rate calculated in the above-mentioned processing.
After ,5120, the power resource adjustment part 328 determines
whether or not to continue the adjustment of the power resource
(S125). This determination is performed in an arbitrary manner.
5 For example, the determination may be performed based on whether
or not the calculation count has reacheda count designated in advance.
When it is determinedas a result that the adjustment is to be continued,
the power resource adjustment part 328 returns the procedure to
the processing of S115 to execute the processing of S115 and S120,
10 and if the adjustment is not to be continued, the procedure advances
to the processing of S130. Note that, when the total power rate
under each of a plurality of power rate plans is acquired in the
above-mentionedprocessing, o n l y a p o w e r r e s o u r c e a d j u s t m e n t r e s u l t
exhibiting the lowest total power rate and a result of the power
15 rate calculationbasedon the adjustment maybe, for example, stored
in the memory part 310 or the like. The following description is
made on the assumption that the processing of S115 and S120 is repeated
toacquire the total power rate information 315, thework-time power
resource adjustment information 317, and the like. Note that, the
20 work-time power resource adjustment information 317 indicates the
consumption amount to be consumed in the factory, the power selling
amount to be sold, and the like obtained by adjusting the power
generation amount produced by each power resource in the
above-mentioned processing.
Here, a description is made of each of the total power rate
information 315 and the work-time power resource adjustment
information 317.
The total power rate information 315 according to the second
embodiment is different from the total power rate information 315
5 described above in the first embodiment in that the former includes
the profit from the power selling. FIG. 31 shows an example of the
total power rate information 315 according tothe secondembodiment.
In FIG. 31, the fourth record indicates that a profit of a total
power rate 3154 of "16" (ten thousand yen) is earned by selling
10 a part of the power generated in the rate plan ID 3152 of "ERO1"
(photovoltaic) .
Next,thework-timepowerresourceadjustmentinformation317
is described. FIG. 32 shows an example of the work-time power
resource adjustment information 317. In FIG. 32, the work-time power
15 resourceadjustment information 317includes aplan ID3171, apower
resource type ID 3172, a power resource type 3173, a consumption
amount 3174, a power selling amount 3175, and a power selling price
3176. The work-time power resource adjustment information 317 is
differentfromtheabove-mentionedpowerresourceadjustmentresult
20 information 223 in that the former is used to acquire each piece
of information within the output information 220.
Returning to FIG. 26, the description is continued. The
production plan adjustment part 324 adjusts the production plan
acquired by the production plan drafting part 322 in SllO (S130).
25 This processing is the same as the above-mentioned processing, and
is t h e r e f o r e omitted. The d e s c r i p t i o n is made here on t h e assumption
t h a t , i n t h e samemanner a s i n t h e above-mentioned f i r s t embodiment,
the production plan information exemplified i n t h e schedule 4103
of FIG. 19 is acquired.
5 Then, t h e d e l i v e r y d a t e determination p a r t 325 determines
whether or not t h e d e l i v e r y d a t e s of a l l t h e products a r e met i n
t h e production plan information adjusted i n S130 ( S 1 4 0 ) . This
processing is t h e same a s t h a t of t h e above-mentioned f i r s t embodiment,
and is t h e r e f o r e omitted. When it is determined a s a r e s u l t t h a t
10 t h e d e l i v e r y d a t e s a r e m e t , theprocedureadvancestoS145described
l a t e r , and i f anyone o f t h e d e l i v e r y d a t e s i s not m e t , t h e procedure
advances t o t h e processing of S160.
I f t h e d e l i v e r y d a t e s of a l l t h e products a r e m e t , t h e power
resource adjustment p a r t 328 a d j u s t s t h e amount t o be consumed i n
15 t h e f a c t o r y and t h e power s e l l i n g amount i n t e r m s of t h e power
generationamountofeachpowergeneration f a c i l i t y w i t h i n t h e p o w e r
r e s o u r c e information 217 ( S 1 4 5 ) . The power r a t e c a l c u l a t i o n p a r t
323 c a l c u l a t e s t h e annual power r a t e under each power r a t e plan
based on t h e production plan information acquired i n t h e
20 above-mentionedprocessing (S150). I n a d d i t i o n , thepowerresource
adjustment p a r t 328 determines whether o r not t o continue t h e
adjustment o f t h e power resource ( S 1 5 5 ) . When it is determined a s
a r e s u l t t h a t t h e adjustment is t o be continued, t h e power resource
adjustment p a r t 328 r e t u r n s t h e procedure t o t h e processing of S145
25 t o execute t h e processing of S145 and S150. On t h e o t h e r hand, i f
the adjustment is not to be continued, the procedure advances to
the processing of S160. The processing of S145 to S155 is the same
as the processing of S115 to S125, and hence a detailed description
thereof is omitted.
5 Afterthat,theproductionplanadjustmentpart324determines
whether or not to continue the adjustment of the production plan
(S160). When it is determined as a result that the adjustment is
to be continued, the production plan adjustment part 324 returns
the procedure to the processing of S13O to again execute the processing
10 of S130 to S155. On the other hand, if the adjustment is not to
be continued, the procedure advances to the processing of S170.
The description is made here on the assumption that the production
plan information222 exemplifiedin F I G . 10,
rate information 316 exemplified in F I G . 33, the recommended power
15 rate plan information 221 exemplified in F I G . 34, and the like are
generated. Note that, theplan-specificpower rateinformation
exemplifiedin F I G . 3 3 i s d i f f e r e n t f r o m t h a t o f t h e first embodiment
in that, in the same manner as the above-mentioned total power rate
information 315, the former includes the profits from the power
20 selling.
Subsequently, based on the production plan information, the
power rate under each power rate plan calculated by the power rate
calculation part 323, and the like, the recommended power rate plan
determination part 326 identifies the production plan information
25 including the lowest power rate under each power rate plan, and
stores the power rate plan information thereon and the production
plan information as the recommended power rate plan information
221,theproductionplaninformation222, andthelike, respectively.
In addition, the recommended power rate plan determination part
5 326 stores power resource adjustment results relating to the
above-mentioned production plan in the power resource adjustment
result information 223 (S170). This processin gisthe same as that
of the above-mentioned first embodiment, and hence a detailed
description thereof is omitted. It is assumed here that the
10 recommended power rate plan determination part 326 acquires the
recommended power rate plan information 221 exemplified in F I G .
34, the production plan information 222 exemplified in F I G . 10,
the power resource adjustment result information 223 exemplified
in F I G . 30, and the like.
15 Finally, theoutput controlpart327 outputsthestoredpieces
ofinformationincludingtherecommendedpowerrateplaninformation
221, the production plan information 222, and the power resource
adjustment result information 223 to the input/output unit 100 (S18O) .
F I G . 35 illustrates an example of a screen which displays the
20 information acquired in the second embodiment on the display or
the like of the input/output unit 100. A screen 5101 exemplified
in F I G . 35 is different from the screen 5001 exemplified in F I G .
21inthat, forexample, powerresourceadjustmentresult information
is further displayed. When the "display rate plan" button and the
25 "display production plan" button are pressed on the screen 5101,
the above-mentioned screen 5002 exgniplified in FIG. 22, the
above-mentioned screen 5003 exemplified in FIG. 23, and the like
are displayed, respectively.
As describedabove, according tothis embodiment, in addition
5 tothe effects shown in the above-mentioned first embodiment, even
when a power generation facility is provided in the factory or the
like, it is possible to adjust the amount of power to be consumed
in the factory or the like and the amount of power to be sold.
Accordingly, it is possible to make use of the power generated in
10 the factory so as to minimize the total power rate.

We claim:
1. Apowerrateplanselectionsupportapparatus, comprising:
I a storage device which stores:
I
power rate plan information comprising a power rate plan
5 and a price of a power rate in the power rate plan;
power consumption information comprising aprocess for
producing a product and a power consumption for the process; and
production plan information comprisingtheprocess for
producing the product and a date on which the process is carried
10 out;
a power rate calculation part which calculatesthe power rate
under eachpower rate planbasedon the power rate plan information,
the power consumption information, and the production plan
information;
15 a production plan adjustment part which generates another
production plan information by shifting a schedule for carrying
out each process based on the production plan information;
arecommendedpowerrateplandeterminationpartwhichselects
at least one of the power rate plans based on a power rate under
20 each power rate plan and a plurality of pieces of the production
plan information; and
an output control part which outputs, to an output device,
the selected power rate plans and the production plan information
of the selected power rate plans.
25
2. A power rate plan selection support apparatus according
to claim 1, wherein the recommended power rate plan determination
part selects the power rate plan in which the power rate under each
power rate plan is minimum and which corresponds to each of the
5 plurality of pieces of the production plan information.
3. A power rate plan selection support apparatus according
to claim 1, wherein:
the power rate calculation part calculates a date-basis total
10 power consumption under each power rate plan based on the power
rate plan information, the power consumption information, and the
production plan information; and
the production plan adjustment part extracts a process whose
work is performed during a period including a date on which the
15 power consumption has a maximum value based on the date-basis total
power consumption and the production plan information, and shifts
the schedule so that the extracted process is prevented from
overlapping with the period.
20 4. A power rate plan selection support apparatus according
to claim 1, wherein:
the storage device further stores:
power resource information comprising a power resource
and a power generation amount produced by the power resource; and
25 power selling price information comprising the power
resource and a power selling price of power generated by the power
resource;
the power rate plan selection support apparatus further
comprises a power resource adjustment part which divides the power
5 generation amountproducedbythe power resource into a consumption
amount being an amount to be consumed for producing the product
and a power selling amount being an amount of power to be sold,
for each power resource, based on the power resource information;
thepowerratecalculationpartcalculatesthepowerrateunder
10 each power rate plan based on the consumption amount and the power I
selling amount obtained by the dividing, the power rate plan
information, the power consumption information, and the production
plan information;
the recommended power rate plan determination part selects
15 at least one of the power rate plans based on the power rate under
each power rate plan, the plurality of pieces of the production
plan information, and a plurality of the consumption amounts and
power selling amounts obtained by the dividing; and
the output control part outputs, to the output device, the
20 selected power rate plan, the production plan information of the
selected power rate plan, and the consumption amount and the power
selling amount obtained by the dividing.
5. A power rate plan selection support apparatus according
25 to claim 2, wherein:
the production plan adjustment-part extracts, in a case where
dates on which the power consumption has a maximum value are
consecutive. a process whose work is performed during a period
including the dates on which the power consumption has the maximum
5 value, and shifts the schedule so that the extracted process is
prevented from overlapping with the period; and
the production plan adjustment part shifts. in a case where
the dates on which the power consumption has the maximum value are
not consecutive, a process whose work is performed during a period
10 including the dates on which the power consumption has the maximum
value, on a day-to-day basis.
6. A power rate plan selection support method to be executed
by a apparatus,
15 the apparatus comprising a storage device and an
processor, the storage device being configured to store:
power rate plan information comprising a power
rate plan and a price of a power rate in the power rate plan;
power consumption information comprising a
20 process for producing a product and a power consumption for the
process; and
production plan information comprising the
process for producing the product and a date on which the process
is carried out,
I I 25 the power rate plan selection support method comprising:
calculating,-bythea~paratus,t nepowerrateundereachpower
r a t e plan based on t h e power r a t e plan information, t h e power
consumption i n f o r m a t i o n i . ~ a n dt h e ~ r o d u c t i o np lan information;
generating, by t h e apparatus, another production p l a n
5 information by s h i f t i n g a schedule f o r carrying out each process
based on t h e production plan information;
s e l e c t i n g , by t h e apparatus, a t l e a s t one of t h e power r a t e
plansbasedonapowerrateundereachpowerrateplanandaplurality
of pieces of t h e production plan information; and
o u t p u t t i n g , b y t h e a p p a r a t u s , t o a n o u t p u t d e v i c e , t h e s e l e c t e d
power r a t e plans a n d t h e p r o d u c t i o n p l a n i n f o r m a t i o n o f t h e s e l e c t e d
power r a t e p l a n s .
7 . A power r a t e plan s e l e c t i o n support program f o r a computer,
t h e computer comprising a s t o r a g e device and an processor,
t h e s t o r a g e device being configured t o s t o r e :
power r a t e plan information comprising a power
r a t e plan and a p r i c e of a power r a t e i n t h e power r a t e plan;
power consumption information comprising a
process f o r producing a product and a power consumption f o r t h e
process; and
production plan information comprising t h e
process f o r producing t h e product and a d a t e on which t h e process
is c a r r i e d out,
t h e power r a t e plan s e l e c t i o n support programcontrolling t h e
computer to execute the steps of: -
calculating the power rate under each power rate plan based
on the power rate pLarii-inf.ormat-iont, hepswe~eonsumptioni nformation,
and the production plan information;
5 generating another production plan information by shifting
a schedule for carrying out each process based on the production
plan information;
selectingat least one ofthepower rateplansbasedon apower
rate under each power rate plan and a plurality of pieces of the
10 production plan information; and
outputting, toanoutput device, the selectedpowerrateplans
and the production plan information of the selected power rate plans.
8. A power rate plan selection support apparatus,
substantially as herein described with reference to accompanying
15 drawings and examples.
9. A power rate plan selection support method,
substantially as herein described with reference to accompanying
drawings and examples.
10. A power rate plan selection support program,
20 substantially as herein described with reference to accompanying
drawings and examples.