Abstract:
An environmental information system arranged to effectively provide environmental information. The information system has a product constitution information storage section for storing product constitution information including information on parts and/or raw materials constituting each of products, an environmental information storage section for storing environmental information about each product, the parts and/or the raw materials, and an integrated environmental information forming subsystem for forming integrated environmental information with respect to each product on the basis of the product constitution information and the environmental information. The formation system provides a user with environmental information about the products according to information on user&#39;s attribute.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates to a technique for managing environmental information and, more particularly, to a technique for managing environmental information about products. 
   2. Related Background Art 
   In general, a design system is used to manage, in designing of a product, product constitution information, drawings, parts specifications, etc. A procurement system is used to manage procurement results, i.e., information on parts and dealers, information on parts and raw materials, etc. Such design and procurement systems and environmental information about parts are not linked with each other, and it is difficult to obtain environmental information about a product. To obtain environmental information about a product, it is necessary to manually check information used in the design system, information used in the procurement system, and environmental information about parts and materials with each other. The process of manually checking such information is complicated and requires a great deal of labor. 
   On the other hand, makers, etc., are requested to consider environmental problems and to produce products friendly to environmental, and there is a demand for a system which enables effective use of environmental information. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   In view of the above-described circumstances, an object of the present invention is to provide a system and method for processing environmental information effectively and a recording medium on which a program for processing environmental information is recorded. 
   To achieve this object, according to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided an environmental information system comprising a product constitution information storage section for storing product constitution information including information on parts and/or raw materials constituting each of products, an environmental information storage section for storing environmental information about each product, the parts and/or the raw materials, and integrated environmental information forming means for forming integrated environmental information with respect to each product on the basis of the product constitution information and the environmental information. 
   According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an environmental information system comprising a product constitution information storage section for storing product constitution information including information on raw materials constituting each of products, a raw material environmental information storage section for storing environmental information about the raw materials, and integrated environmental information forming means for forming integrated environmental information with respect to each product on the basis of the product constitution information and the environmental information about the raw materials. 
   According to still another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an environmental information system for forming environmental data about products, the system comprising environmental data forming means for forming environmental data about each product from design data, ordering data based on the design data, material data on the order-receiving side, hazardous chemical substance data originally input, and user information. 
   According to yet another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of processing environmental information, comprising the steps of storing product constitution information including information on parts and/or raw materials constituting each of products, storing environmental information about each product, the parts and/or the raw materials, and forming integrated environmental information with respect to each product on the basis of the product constitution information and the environmental information. 
   According to a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of processing environmental information, comprising the steps of storing product constitution information including information on raw materials constituting each of products, storing environmental information about the raw materials, and forming integrated environmental information with respect to each product on the basis of the product constitution information and the environmental information. 
   According to still a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of processing environmental information, comprising the steps of storing user information, searching environmental information about products according to the user information and on the basis of a data base in which the environmental information is stored, and displaying a result of a search through the environmental information obtained in the searching step. 
   According to still a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided an environmental information processing method in which environmental data about products are formed, the method comprising the steps of storing design data, ordering data based on the design data, material data on the order-receiving side, hazardous chemical substance data, and user information, respectively and forming environmental data about each product from the design data, the ordering data, the material data, the hazardous chemical substance data, and the user information. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a diagram showing the configuration of an environmental information system according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a diagram showing the configuration of the environmental information system connected to a network; 
       FIG. 3  is a diagram showing the structure of a data base; 
       FIG. 4  is a diagram showing the relationship between tables in the data base; 
       FIG. 5  is a diagram showing the relationship between parts and raw materials constituting a product; 
       FIGS. 6A ,  6 B,  6 C,  6 D and  6 E are diagrams showing examples of tables; 
       FIG. 7  is a flowchart of processing in the product environmental specification management system; 
       FIG. 8  is a diagram showing a login window; 
       FIG. 9  is a diagram showing a product environment home page window; 
       FIG. 10  is a diagram showing a product environmental information search window; 
       FIG. 11  is a diagram showing a product environmental information search result list window; 
       FIGS. 12A ,  12 B and  12 C are diagrams showing tables for displaying the product environmental information search result list window; 
       FIG. 13  is a diagram showing a product environmental information reference/registration window; 
       FIGS. 14A and 14B  are diagrams showing tables for displaying the product environmental information reference/registration window; 
       FIG. 15  is a diagram showing a product raw material list window; 
       FIGS. 16A ,  16 B,  16 C,  16 D and  16 E are diagrams showing tables for displaying the product raw material list window; 
       FIG. 17  is a diagram showing a product/unit chemical substance list window; 
       FIGS. 18A ,  18 B,  18 C,  18 D,  18 E,  18 F,  18 G,  18 H,  18 I and  18 J are diagrams showing tables for displaying the product/unit chemical substance list window; 
       FIG. 19  is a diagram showing a detailed product/unit chemical substance list window; 
       FIG. 20  is a diagram showing a case where parts/raw material information is shared between a plurality of corporations; 
       FIG. 21  is a diagram showing the network configuration of a parts/material environmental information sharing system in which parts/material environmental information is shared between corporations; 
       FIG. 22  is a diagram showing an example of a client terminal display; and 
       FIG. 23  is a diagram showing details of flow of parts/material environmental information between corporations. 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     FIG. 1  shows an example of the configuration of an environmental information system according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
   A parts/material/price scale information system (procurement system)  24  prepares parts information, raw material information and price scale information (ordering data) on the basis of a data base  24   a  and supplies these kinds of information to a procurement information data warehouse  21  through an interface  23 . More specifically, the system  24  supplies information shown in  FIGS. 6B to 6D , for example. 
     FIG. 6B  shows electrical parts information including items: “part ID”, “size”, “process step”, “dealer”, “maker”, “type”, etc.  FIG. 6C  shows worked parts information including items: “part ID”, “size”, “process step”, “dealer”, “maker”, “material”, “grade”, “color”, “coloring”, and “weight”.  FIG. 6D  shows material information (material data) including items: “kind of material”, “maker”, “material symbol”, “grade”, “ID”, “coloring”, “type”, etc. 
   Referring to  FIG. 1 , a green (environmental) procurement on-line search system  25  supplies, for example, environmental information about each part and raw materials (hazardous chemical substance content data), as shown in  FIG. 6E , to the procurement information data warehouse  21  through the interface  23 .  FIG. 6E  shows substance-contained-in-material information as an example of environmental information. Items of substance-contained-in-material information shown in  FIG. 6E  are “kind of material”, “maker”, “material symbol”, “grade”, “ID”, “coloring”, “type”, the existence/nonexistence of a “content of prohibited substance” (“Y”: existence, “N”: nonexistence), the existence/nonexistence of a “content of substance to be reduced” (“Y”: existence, “N”: nonexistence), the existence/nonexistence of a “content of substance to be controlled” (“Y”: existence, “N”: nonexistence, and a “substance number” of such substances (a prohibited substance, a substance to be reduced, a substance to be controlled). Apart from ordinary prohibited substances or substances to be reduced, a substance to be controlled is designated as a substance to be prohibited or reduced under the control according to a regulation specially established in a corporation or the like which operates this system. These kinds of environmental information (e.g., information on hazardous substances) are used to enable use of parts friendly to environmental and row materials and, hence, designing and manufacture of products friendly to environmental. 
   Prohibited substances and substances to be reduced are determined on the basis of governmental regulations or treaties between nations. A data base is prepared in which data on substances controlled under laws is recorded in accordance with respective governmental regulations and treaties. Prohibited substances or the like are prescribed based on this data base. Prohibited substances or the like may be determined according to strictest regulations. In this embodiment, regulations according to a country for which a product is destined and a treaty is selected. Also, a country may be separately designated to make a search for relating information. 
   Referring again to  FIG. 1A , a hazardous substance registration system  11  in a product environmental specification management system  1  can register hazardous substances (regulation data) in a product hazardous chemical substance master data base  12 . Data on hazardous substances in the data base  12  is supplied to the data warehouse  21  through an interface  22 . This data on hazardous substances is also used as environmental information. 
   The data warehouse  21  supplies the above-described information to an all-parts environmental data base  4  and to a material data base  5 . 
   A parts configuration information system (design system)  26  prepares product constitution information, information on parts specifications and the like (design data) as shown in  FIG. 6A  on the basis of a parts configuration information data base  26   a , and supplies this information to a parts configuration information data base  3  through an interface  2 .  FIG. 6A  shows parts configuration information including items: “parent part ID”, “parent part size”, “parent part file division”, “parent part process step”, “child part ID”, “child part size”, “child part file division”, “child part process step”, and “number” (the number of parts or the like used). The upper section of  FIG. 6A  shows the relationship between a parent part and child parts constituting the parent part, as expressed in a tree structure shown in the lower section of  FIG. 6A . 
   Referring to  FIG. 1 , a product information registration and updating system  10  can register and update product information (including environment information of a product) through a Web server  8 . A product environmental specification application (computer program)  6  is executed to form and register, in a product environmental specification data base  7 , integrated product environmental information on the basis of product information registered and updated by the product information registration and updating system  10 , the parts configuration information data base  3 , the all-parts environmental data base  4 , and the material data base  5 . At the time of this formation and registration, product environment keys are assigned to products in one-to-one correspondence with each other, thereby forming product information including data on various parts and/or raw materials. 
   A user can refer to product environmental information in the product environmental specification data base  7  through the Web server  8  and the product environmental specification  6  by using a product environmental specification reference system  9 . For example, if an instruction is provided to totalize the amount of each of raw materials used, the total weights of materials determined on the basis of the weights of the materials used in parts and the numbers of parts are displayed in descending order. Also, if an instruction is provided to totalize the amount of each of hazardous chemical substances, the total contents of the hazardous chemical substances determined on the basis of the contents of the hazardous chemical substance in raw materials and the weight of the raw materials used are displayed in descending order. 
     FIG. 2  shows a network system in which the above-described product environmental specification management system  1  and systems  9  and  10  are connected to a network  30 . For example, the network  30  is an intracorporate local area network (LAN). The product environmental specification management system  1  has the functions of a data base server, an application server and a Web server, and uses, for example, Windows NT (a product by Microsoft Corporation) as an operating system. The systems  9  and  10  may be provided as one computer having both the functions of the systems  9  and  10  or separate computers respectively having the functions of the systems  9  and  10 . The computer may be, for example, a personal computer on which a Web browser can operate. 
     FIG. 3  shows the internal configuration of the product environmental specification data base  7 , the data bases  3 ,  4 , and  5 , and the external data bases  21  and  26   a  shown in  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 4  shows the relationship between tables in the product environmental specification data base  7 . The data bases  3 ,  4 , and  5  are formed on the basis of the external data bases  21  and  26   a  and include a parts environmental information master  41 , a parts raw material master  42 , a raw material environmental information master  43 , an in-raw-material hazardous chemical substance master  44 , etc. 
   The parts environmental information master  41  has part keys, management items, procurement items, and parts environmental information items. The parts raw material master  42  has parent part keys, raw materials keys, and contents. The raw material environmental information master  43  has raw material keys and environmental information items. The in-raw-material controlled component master  44  has raw material keys, hazardous chemical substance keys, and content ratios. 
   The product environmental specification data base  7  has a product environmental information table  31 , a constitution table  32 , a parts environmental information table  33 , a developed constitution table  34   a , an inversely developed constitution table  34   b , a parts raw material table  35 , a parts raw material environmental information table  36 , an in-raw-material hazardous chemical substance table  37 , product hazardous chemical substance masters  38 , and user management masters  39   c.    
   The product environmental information table  31  has product environmental information keys (product ID keys), management items (preparer, preparation/update date, completion date, status), product environmental information items, item correction information (corrector, correction date). 
   The constitution table  32  has product environmental information keys, parent part keys, part keys, and numbers, and has information (constitution information) on parts and/or materials constituting each product in the product environmental information table  31 . 
   The parts environmental information table  33  has product environmental information keys, part keys, management items, procurement items, and part environmental information items, and has environmental information about parts corresponding to part keys shown in the constitution table  32  (e.g., possibility/impossibility of reuse or the weight of parts used). 
   Each of the developed constitution table  34   a  and the inversely developed constitution table  34   b  has product environmental information keys, an order (line numbers), and part keys, and is temporarily used. 
   The parts raw material table  35  has product environmental information keys, parent part keys, raw material keys, and contents, and has information on raw materials of parts corresponding to part keys in the constitution table  32 . 
   The raw material environmental information table  36  has product environmental information keys, raw material keys, and environmental information items, and has environmental information (e.g., the existence/nonexistence of hazardous substances or allowance/prohibition of recycling) about raw materials corresponding to raw material keys in the part raw material table  35 . 
   The in-raw-material hazardous chemical substance (controlled component) table  37  has product environmental information keys, raw material keys, hazardous chemical substance (controlled component) keys, and content ratios, and has information on chemical substances in raw materials corresponding to raw material keys in the parts raw material table  35 . 
   The product hazardous chemical substance masters  38  have hazardous chemical substance keys and CAS numbers (ID numbers of chemical substances generally used) and have information on chemical substances corresponding to hazardous chemical substance keys in the in-raw-material hazardous chemical substance table  37 . 
   Data items on raw-materials and hazardous chemical substances can be totalized with respect to each product by searching the tables  31  to  37 . 
     FIG. 5  illustrates the tables shown in  FIG. 4  as a part constitution diagram of a product relating to use of. In  FIG. 5 , “EI” denotes environmental information. The product EI (environmental information) is constituted by parts A to D, for example. Part A is constituted by child parts a 1  to a 3 . Part B has child parts b 1  to b 3  and has a raw material contained-in-product O. Part C has raw material contained-in-product O and P and has chemical substances V and W. The raw material contained-in-product P has material EI (environmental information). The part D has part EI (environmental information) and has a chemical substance X. 
     FIG. 7  is a flowchart showing a processing of the product environmental specification application  6  using the systems  9  and  10  shown in  FIG. 1 . The systems  9  and  10  perform processing by using a Web browser. 
   In step S 1 , logging-in processing is performed by displaying a logging-in window shown in  FIG. 8 . Referring to  FIG. 8 , a user can log in by inputting a user ID  51  and a password  52  and clicking a login button  53  with a mouse. Only predetermined users are allowed to log in and unauthorized access to the system by other persons is prevented. A password change button  54  is used to change the password  52 . 
   In step S 2 , menu processing is performed by displaying a product information home page shown in  FIG. 9 . Referring to  FIG. 9 , if the user clicks an item  61  “Search for Product Environmental Information” with the mouse, the process advances to step S 3  and the user can search for and refer to environmental information already prepared with respect to each product. By clicking an item  62  “Search for parts Environmental Information” with the mouse, the user can search for and refer to environmental information about parts or a product used from the parts and materials. By clicking an item  63  “Reference to Masters” with the mouse, the user can refer to the contents of various masters including product chemical substances. By clicking an item  64  “Comparison of Product Assessments” with the mouse, the user can refer to and compare assessment targets with respect to products. Only an administrator can click an item  65  “Administer Menu” to newly prepare, finish or delete product environmental information. By clicking an item  66  “End”, the user terminates the session and logs out. 
   In step S 3 , search processing is performed by displaying a product environmental information search window shown in  FIG. 10 . If a return button  71  shown in  FIG. 10  is clicked, the process returns to display of the window shown in  FIG. 9 . If an item  70  “Explanation” is clicked, an explanation of a search method is displayed. The user may select a search key item  75  and input a corresponding search key word  76 , or may select one of some alternatives at  77 . Search key items  75  are, for example, “Product Genre”, “Order No.”, “Product Name”, etc. If a plurality of search condition items are provided, the AND (logical product) of them is used. 
   A result display method may be selected by setting a display pattern  78 , ordered items  79 , and ascending or descending order  80 . Ordered items  79  are, for example, an order number, and an environment correction number. 
   When a number check button  72  is thereafter clicked, the number of results corresponding to the above-described search conditions is displayed in a right bottom section in the window. It is possible to cancel the above-described search conditions by clicking a condition reset button  74 . A click on a search result display button  73  leads the process to advance to step S 4 , thereby search results displayed. 
   In step S 4 , a window shown in  FIG. 11  is displayed which contains a list of the results of the product environmental information search. If a return button  86  shown in  FIG. 11  is clicked, the process returns to display of the window shown in  FIG. 10 . If an item  84  “Explanation” is clicked, an explanation of a search result display method is displayed. In a search result list  85  are displayed order numbers, statuses, environment correction numbers, preparation information (preparers and preparation dates), product names, introduction dates, product genres, and product environmental information (e.g., average power consumption during operation, maximum power consumption during operation), etc. If an item  82  “Next  15  Results” is clicked, the next  15  results are displayed in search result list  85 . If an item  83  “Download All Results” is clicked, all the results become downloadable. When one of product information buttons  81  is clicked, the process advances to step S 5  and information on the corresponding product is displayed. 
   Display of the above-described search result list  85  is performed by using tables shown in  FIGS. 12A to 12C .  FIG. 12A  shows a user master table containing user IDs, passwords, product genre groups, and user names. Product genres are determined with respect to each user.  FIG. 12B  shows a list system parameter table according to product genre grouping shown in  FIG. 12A . This table contains a product genre group and items ATTR (e.g., order No., file division, status).  FIG. 12C  shows a product environmental information table corresponding to the items ATTR shown in  FIG. 12B . This table contains product environmental information keys (order No., file division, correction No.), preparation/update dates, user names, statuses, and product environmental information items (average power consumption during operation, the amount of metal consumed, disassembly time, the amount of ozone generated). 
   Data corresponding to display items extracted from the list system parameter table ( FIG. 12B ) is obtained by searching the product environmental information table ( FIG. 12C ) to be displayed in the window shown in  FIG. 11 . 
   In step S 5 , a product environmental information reference/registration window shown in  FIG. 13  is displayed. If a return button  90  shown in  FIG. 13  is clicked, the process returns to display of the window shown in  FIG. 11 . If an item  96  “Explanation” is clicked, an explanation of this window is displayed. A click on an item  91  “List of Product Raw Materials” leads the process to advance to step S 6 , in which is displayed a list of the results of totalization of respective raw materials for different purposes, e.g., resin materials and pressed materials. A click on an item  92  “List of Product Chemical Substances” leads the process to advance to step S 7 , in which is displayed a list of chemical substances in the materials of products in a form classified in accordance with an intracorporate standard. 
   A click on an item  93  “Display of Constitution Information” triggers display of a list of parts configurations, in which items to be displayed can be selected from display patterns. A click on an item  94  “Search for Information on Items in Product Category” triggers a search for items in the ordered category. The results of this search are shown in a list according to a selected display pattern. 
   As product assessment information  95 , each of “Common Information”, “Energy Saving”, “Space Saving”, “Resource Saving”, “Long Life”, “Recoverability”, “Decomposability”, “Separability”, “Recyclability”, “Environmental Friendliness”, “Disposability (Reducing Hazardous Substances)”, “Packaging”, “Information Disclosure”, and “Environmental Management” can be selected, referred to or registered. Data on one of these items referred to or registered is displayed in an area  97 . A click on a Download button  100  triggers downloading of information already registered. A click on an Add button  101  triggers addition of data in the area  97 . A click on a Clear button  102  triggers clearing the area  97  of the information. A click on a Register button  98  triggers registering as product assessment information the information displayed in the area  97 . A click on a reset button  99  triggers resetting to the initial state. 
     FIGS. 14A and 14B  show tables for displaying the window shown in  FIG. 13 .  FIG. 14A  shows an input system parameter table containing a genre group and items ATTR (order No., file division, environment correction No., preparation date, preparer user name, status), etc.  FIG. 14B  shows a product environmental information table corresponding to the items ATTR shown in  FIG. 14A . This table contains product environmental information keys (order number, file division, environment correction No.), preparation dates, preparer user names, statuses, product environmental information items (average power consumption during operation, the amount of metal consumed, disassembly time, the amount of ozone generated). 
   Input items set in the input system parameter table ( FIG. 14A ) according to genres for the login user are extracted, as are those in the case of the product environmental information search result list window ( FIG. 11 ). Data is obtained by searching the product environmental information table ( FIG. 14B ) on the basis of the input items extracted from the input system parameter table ( FIG. 14A ) to be displayed in the product environmental information reference/registration window ( FIG. 13 ). 
   In step S 6 , a product raw material list window shown in  FIG. 15  is displayed. If a return button  113  shown in  FIG. 15  is clicked, the process returns to display of the window shown in  FIG. 13 . If an item  114  “Explanation” is clicked, an explanation of this window is displayed. When a kind of process step (e.g., one indicated by “MO” (molded material), or one indicated by “PX” (pressed material))  111  is selected, and when an Execute button  112  is clicked, a list  115  of product raw materials corresponding to the selected process step is displayed. The product raw material list  115  contains the kind of process step, part/material division, maker codes, maker names, material symbols, material names, thickness, the amounts of material used, information about use of recycled resources, recycled material contents, the existence/nonexistence of a prohibited chemical substance (“Y” indicating the existence, “N” indicating the nonexistence), the existence/nonexistence of a prohibited chemical substance (“Y” indicating the existence, “N” indicating the nonexistence), the existence/nonexistence of a chemical substance to be reduced (“Y” indicating the existence, “N” indicating the nonexistence), the existence/nonexistence of a chemical substance to be controlled (“Y” indicating the existence, “N” indicating the nonexistence), recyclability, material display for recycling, identification of a Blue Angel qualified copying machine, identification of a Blue Angel qualified LBP (laser printer), identification of a Blue Angel qualified BJP (bubble jet printer), identification of a Blue Angel qualified BJCRG (cartridge), information about green certificate, comments, the green certification date. If an item  116  “Next  10  Results” is clicked, the next  10  results are displayed in the list  115 . 
   If an item  117  “Download All Results” is clicked, all the results become downloadable. When one of used part buttons  116  related to the raw materials in the list  115  is clicked, information on the corresponding used part is displayed. 
     FIGS. 16A to 16E  show tables for displaying the window shown in  FIG. 15 .  FIG. 16A  shows a selection system parameter table containing the product genre group and the menu ID (DSMENU_ID).  FIG. 16B  shows a menu parameter table corresponding to the menu ID shown in  FIG. 16A . This table contains the product genre group, the menu ID, and data (molded material (resin material), pressed material (metallic material), paper material, etc.) DATA.  FIG. 16C  shows a list system parameter table containing the product genre group, items ATTR (order No., file division, correction No., kind of process step).  FIG. 16D  shows a parts environmental information table corresponding the items ATTR shown in  FIG. 16C . This table contains product environmental information keys (order No., file division, correction No.), part keys (part No., size, file division, process step), dealers, part names, and parts environmental information (part weight, recycling rate, use/non-use of a recycled part, green certification rank).  FIG. 16E  shows a part raw material table corresponding to the kind of process step shown in  FIG. 16C . This table contains product environmental information keys (order No., file division, correction No.), parent part keys (parent part No., parent part size, parent part file division, parent part process step), raw material keys (kind of process step, maker code, material symbol, grade number, coloring number), and contents. 
   With respect to the kind of raw material selected in the menu and displayed, set raw material list items are extracted on the basis of the parameters shown in  FIGS. 16A to 16C , and corresponding data is obtained by searching the part environmental information table ( FIG. 16D ) and the part raw material table ( FIG. 16E ) to be displayed in the window. 
   In step S 7 , a product/unit chemical substance list window shown in  FIG. 17  is displayed. If a return button  121  shown in  FIG. 17  is clicked, the process returns to display of the window shown in  FIG. 15 . If an item  122  “Explanation” is clicked, an explanation of this window is displayed. In a product/unit chemical substance list  127  are displayed control divisions (e.g., prohibition and reduction), classification numbers, classified names, and contents. A click on one of used part buttons  128  related to the chemical substance classes in the list  127  triggers display of information on parts in which a chemical substance in the chemical substance class is used. 
   If an item  125  “Next 10 Results” is clicked, the next 10 results are displayed in the list  127 . If an item  126  “Download All Results” is clicked, all the results become downloadable. A click on an item  123  “Product/Unit Chemical Substance List (Detailed)” leads the process to advance to step S 8 , in which is displayed a window containing a detailed list of product/unit chemical substances, i.e., a detailed list of all chemical substances in a product. A click on an item  124  “Chemical Substance Master Search” triggers a search in the chemical substance master data base. 
     FIGS. 18A to 18J  show tables for displaying the window shown in  FIG. 17 .  FIG. 18A  shows a list system parameter table containing the product genre group and items ATTR (control division, classification No., classified name).  FIG. 18B  shows a constitution table containing product environmental information keys (order No., file division, correction No.), part keys (part ID, size, file division, process step), and numbers.  FIG. 18C  shows a part raw material table corresponding to the part keys shown in  FIG. 18B  and containing product environmental information keys (order No., file division, correction No.), parent part keys (parent part ID, parent part size, parent part file division, parent part process step), raw material keys (kind of process step, maker code, material symbol, grade number, coloring number), and weights.  FIG. 18D  shows an in-raw-material hazardous chemical substance table corresponding to the raw material keys shown in  FIG. 18C  and containing product environmental information keys (order No., file division, correction No.), raw material keys (kind of process step, maker code, material symbol, grade number, coloring number), hazardous chemical substance keys (classification number, substance number), and contents.  FIG. 18E  shows a typical material master table section corresponding to the classification number in the hazardous chemical substance keys shown in  FIG. 18D . This table section contains the classification No., a classified name, a control division, and a preparation date.  FIG. 18F  shows a substance master table section corresponding to the substance number in the hazardous chemical substance keys shown in  FIG. 18D . This table section contains the substance number, a substance name, a CAS number, a preparation date, etc.  FIG. 18G  is a low-regulation master section.  FIG. 18H  is a label master section.  FIG. 18I  is a chemical substance regulating law master section.  FIG. 18J  is a chemical substance regulating law master section. 
   The part raw material table ( FIG. 18C ) is searched by using the parts keys contained in the constitution table ( FIG. 18B ) to extract raw material keys. The in-raw-material hazardous chemical substance table ( FIG. 18D ) is searched by using the raw material keys to extract contained hazardous chemical substance information. The typical substance master table ( FIG. 18E ) and the substance master table ( FIG. 18F ) are searched from the contained hazardous chemical substance information to display data corresponding to the display items set as display parameters. 
   In step S 8 , a detailed product/unit chemical substance list window shown in  FIG. 19  is displayed. If a return button  131  shown in  FIG. 19  is clicked, the process returns to display of the window shown in  FIG. 17 . If an item  132  “Explanation” is clicked, an explanation of this window is displayed. In a detailed product/unit chemical substance list  135  are displayed control divisions (e.g., prohibition and reduction), classification numbers, classified names, substance numbers, substance names, CAS numbers, and contents. If an item  133  “Next 10 Results” is clicked, the next 10 results are displayed in the list  135 . If an item  134  “Download All Results” is clicked, all the results become downloadable. 
   A click on one of used part buttons  136  related to the chemical substances in the list  135  triggers display of information on parts using the corresponding chemical substance. A click on one of items  137  “Label” triggers display of environmental label information about the corresponding chemical substance. A click on one of items  138  “Law Regulation” triggers display of law regulation information about the corresponding chemical substance. To display this window, the tables shown in  FIGS. 18A to 18J  are also used. 
     FIG. 20  is a diagram showing a case where parts/raw material information in the product environmental specification management system shown in  FIG. 1  is shared between a plurality of corporations, and where designers  210  to  213  in corporations A, B, and C, and part/raw material makers D  214 , and E  215  obtain part/raw material environmental information through a data provision center  200 . 
   In this case, (1) a procedure described below is used. First, the designer (A) 211  in corporation B makes an inquiry about a maker (corporation E in this case), a type and specification items. (2) The data provision center  200  requests the parts/material maker E  215  to make a reply about the type and specification items. (3) The parts/material maker E  215  replies to the data provision center  200  about the requested type and specification items. The data provision center  200  sends the reply to the corporation B designer (A) 211  who made the inquiry. 
     FIG. 21  is a diagram showing the network configuration of a part/material environmental information sharing system  140  for sharing part/material environmental information between corporations. The part/material environmental information sharing system  140  is constituted by a part environment data base  141  and a material environment data base, used for data management, and a maker master  143 , a client master  144  and a product hazardous chemical substance master  145 , used for master management. When a client  148  connected to Internet  146  by a server/TA  149  makes an inquiry (registration investigation) about part/material information, terminal data is collected according to the inquiry and a reply (registration reply) from a part/material maker  147 . 
     FIG. 22  is a diagram showing an example of display of terminals at client  148 . 
   Client  148  can refer to environmental information about any part through a part information search window  150  and can also obtain information through electric parts, mechanism material, packaging material, and auxiliary material support  151  windows. Client  148  can also read information in a window for a new product introduction reference  152  to parts/materials registered by a parts/material maker without registration investigation by the client, and information in a window for an enterprise environmental tendency information reference  153  about parts/material makers. 
     FIG. 23  shows details of the above-described information flow. 
   First, client  148  obtains information by making investigation  154  into part/material environmental information existing in the part/material environmental information sharing system  140 . In the case of absence of the desired information, a data provision center  139  sends an environmental investigation request  155  to part/material maker  147 . Part/material maker  147  makes part/material environmental information investigation. Client  148  is then informed of new part/material investigation results  157 . 
   Units/products and unit/products makers, as an alternative to parts/materials and parts/material makers, may also be used. In such a case, a unit/product environmental information sharing system is formed in place of part/material environmental information sharing system to enable consumers, corporations and government agencies to search and refer to information in a crossover manner. 
   In this embodiment, as described above, a design system, a procurement system and environmental information data base are linked to enable acquisition of product information on the basis of information on parts and raw materials constituting a product. The information system of the present invention also enables environmentally friendly designing and manufacturing using parts/raw material environmental information and product environmental information while considering environmental problems. Further, the information system can be used for product environmental information investigation at the time of green purchase by a consumers, a corporation or a government agency. 
   The information system of the present invention also makes it possible to grasp raw materials used in a product and hazardous substances contained in the materials and is, therefore, advantageously effective in determining a product recycling method and in preventing environmental pollution upon the waste disposal. In designing a product, reference to parts/raw material information and product information, including environmental information, in accordance with the present invention contributes to the improvement in the reliability of the product. It also contributes to the reduction in the number of kinds of raw materials used in the product, thereby improving the facility with which the materials of the product are separated. Therefore the information system of the present invention is effective in promoting recycling and in reducing the amount of hazardous chemical substance waste. 
   Referring back to  FIG. 1 , the parts or raw materials constituting a product in the parts constitution information system  26  may be changed as a result of a design change. It is desirable to reconstruct the product environmental specification data base  7  each time the constitution information supplied from the parts constitution information system  26  to the product environmental specification management system  1  is changed. However, if the product environmental specification data base  7  is frequently reconstructed, the load on the product environmental specification management system  1  becomes so large that users cannot refer to the data base  7 . Therefore the data base  7  may be reconstructed only when the constitution information is substantially changed. For example, the data base  7  may be changed when a raw material constituting a product is changed or when the number of parts or raw materials constituting a product is changed. 
   When the data base  7  is reconstructed, it is desirable that the contents of the data base  7  in the past should be maintained. For example, when a product is supplied to the market, a plurality of corresponding models varying in design exist mixedly on the market. In such a case, the contents of the data base  7  can be referred to obtain information on each of the plurality of models if the information on the previous models is maintained. 
   The information system of the present invention can cope with regulations under laws in various countries. 
   The present invention also comprises supplying a program code for software for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiment and performing the functions by processing in accordance with a program stored in a system computer (CPU or MPU). 
   In such a case, the software program code itself realizes the functions of the above-described embodiment, and the program code itself and means for supplying the program code to the computer, e.g., a recording medium on which the program code is stored, constitute the present invention. Examples of the recording medium for storing such a program code are a floppy disk, a hard disk, an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, a compact disc-read only memory (CD-ROM), a magnetic tape, a nonvolatile memory card, and a read only memory (ROM). 
   The above-described embodiment of the present invention illustrates only an example of implementation of the invention and is not construed as limiting the technical scope of the invention. That is, the present invention can be implemented in other various forms without departing from its technical spirit or from its essential features. 
   According to the present invention, as described above, environmental information about parts or raw materials used in a product can be controlled, which is remarkably effective in preventing environmental pollution when the product is disposed of. Reference to this information in designing the product contributes to the improvement in reliability of the product and also contributes to the reduction in the number of raw materials used in the product to facilitate separation of the product materials. The present invention is therefore effective in promoting recycling and reducing the amount of hazardous chemical waste.