Reliability analyzing system for manufacturing processes

A reliability analyzing system for manufacturing processes is disclosed, which comprises a computer system provided with a data memory device, a central processing device and input/output devices, terminals which input/output information into/from said computer system, and output devices for manufacturing sites; whereby said data memory device stores required specifications for each product, works for manufacturing and controlling processes, information relating to items, such as required specifications, works, control items, etc. and information mutually relating different items, and on the basis of the stored information, reliability analysis for each process is effected for all the processes and reliability analysis for each required specification is performed for all the required specifications.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
This invention relates to a reliability analyzing system for manufacturing 
processes, in particular to a reliability analyzing system for 
manufacturing processes permitting to analyze the reliability of 
manufacturing and controlling processes and to effect the quality control 
of manufacturing and controlling processes in view of securing 
specifications i.e. quality required to products with respect to 
manufacturing and controlling processes therefor. 
2. Description of the Prior Art 
Hitherto, as reliability analyzing methods for manufacturing processes, are 
known "Process FMEA" (cf. e.g. Ford: RELIABILITY METHODS, Failure Mode and 
Effects Analysis for Processes-Module XIV-A, RELIABILITY OFFICE, NORTH 
AMERICAN AUTOMOTIVE OPERATIONS, January (1972), which is a method 
developed for reliability analysis of manufacturing processes on the basis 
of the FMEA (Failure Mode and Effects Analysis) method utilized for 
reliability analysis for machinery and tools or systems, and Shimakura and 
Haneda: QEC activities for IC production, "Hinshitsu" (Quality), Vol. 10, 
No. 3, pp. 135-203 (1980)). 
"Process FMEA" is a method by which defective modes (failure modes) 
expected to appear during each process are enumerated; the causes giving 
rise to the defective modes and their influences on products are 
extracted; and the contents are described in the form of a list for every 
defective mode of a process. However, since the method is based on 
descriptions in the form of a list, its descriptive capacity is low and 
its utilization is limited to analysis of separate defective modes. 
Consequently, it is not suitable to analyze the reliability of 
manufacturing and controlling processes as a whole. That is, by "Process 
FMEA", influences of the defective modes and the causes of their 
occurrence are described separately for each of the defective modes, and 
the relation between each of the defective modes and the quality required 
to the product are not treated in a clear manner. As a result, it has 
drawbacks that influences on the products provoked by a plurality of 
defective modes are not clear and further latent defective phenomena are 
overlooked, etc. Moreover "Process FMEA" is unsuitable for the reliability 
analysis concerning the positive aspects of the quality, such as increase 
of the process capacity, shortening of the process, quality guarantee by 
process changes, etc., because inter-relationships between different 
processes are not clear. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
In view of removing these drawbacks of the prior art system described above 
and excluding deficiencies in the manufacturing and controlling processes 
for products, an object of this invention is to provide a reliability 
analyzing system for manufacturing processes permitting to analyze and 
confirm whether the required specifications are satisfactorily fulfilled 
in manufacturing and inspecting processes and to effect quality control of 
the manufacturing processes on the basis of analysis results thus 
obtained. 
In order to achieve this object, a reliability analyzing system for 
manufacturing processes according to this invention is characterized in 
that it comprises a computer system provided with a data memory device, a 
central processing device and input/output devices, terminals which 
input/output information into/from said computer system, and output 
devices for manufacturing sites, whereby said data memory device stores 
required specifications for each product, works for manufacturing and 
inspecting processes, information relating to items, such as required 
specifications, works, control items, etc. and information mutually 
relating different items, works, control items for said works, and 
required specifications relating to said control items are extracted for 
each process from information thus stored; schemes are formed on the basis 
of this extracted information and outputted to an output device, such as a 
display device; said schemes are analyzed; in the case where said schemes 
should be corrected, correction and replacement of each item and mutual 
relation of said stored information from said terminals are effected an 
arbitrary number of times; works which influence said required 
specifications and the control items for said works are extracted; schemes 
are formed on the basis of this extracted information and outputted to an 
output device, such as a display device; said schemes are analyzed; in the 
case where said schemes should be corrected, correction and replacement of 
each item and mutual relation of said stored information; and in this 
manner reliability is analyzed for each process and required specification 
.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
Hereinbelow an embodiment of this invention will be explained, referring to 
the drawings. 
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of influence schemes for a defective 
work used for this invention and FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of 
guarantee schemes for a required quality used for this invention. 
Both in FIGS. 1 and 2, in the horizontal direction, a plurality of layers 
are formed in the order of required quality (obstruction factor), control 
item, guarantee method, work, and process, and in the vertical direction 
is arranged the order of works in the process. 
FIGS. 1 and 2 show a same format, but different contents. FIG. 1 is a 
diagram, where a defective work at work A2, hatched in the figure, has 
influences on the side of the required quality, and on the other hand FIG. 
2 is a diagram, where what sort of works should be done and how it should 
be done as well as for the control, to what attention should be payed, so 
that a required quality Q11, hatched in the figure, is guaranteed, are 
analyzed. (A5 indicates a control work which is to be done.) In this case 
the required specification is one of the specifications required by users, 
e.g. for video devices a good quality of sound and image, etc. Obstruction 
factors Q51-Q56 are e.g. where a loosened screw is, etc.; control items 
F1-F7 are e.g. to fasten a screw, etc.; guarantee method M1-M8 are e.g. 
jigs and methods for fastening screws; works A1-A4 are works for each 
worker, etc., e.g. works for fastening screws, etc.; and processes P1-P3 
represent assemblies and flows of the works for each workers. 
In FIG. 1, attention is payed to deficiencies which can appear in each of 
the processes or works; causal sequencies, on what required qualities the 
deficiencies have influences, are analyzed; and necessary control items or 
guarantee methods are set up in order that the required qualities may be 
satisfactorily guaranteed in the works. 
In FIG. 2, whether the controls necessary for a certain required quality 
are carried out, whether works relating to the required quality are not 
done after the termination of the controls, etc. are analyzed, and 
drawbacks in the design and the processes are extracted. Usually designers 
of a product design the product, taking the required qualities into 
account, but production engineers and process designers for manufacture 
and control are subject to forget the required qualities, because they 
design the production process, considering often only how the product is 
produced just as designed with a high efficiency. 
According to this invention, the specifications required to the product and 
the contents of works in the production process are compared with each 
other and reliability of the quality guarantee for the manufacturing and 
inspecting processes is analyzed by checking whether the required 
specifications are satisfactorily secured by the manufacturing and 
controlling processes. Analysis results thus obtained are reflected 
immediately in the manufacturing and inspecting processes. Between the 
required specifications and the manufacturing processes exists very 
complicated relation as a whole, whose number of items is 50-2000. 
According to this invention, as indicated in FIGS. 1 and 2, only the items 
for each process or those relating to each required quality are extracted 
and displayed as a multi-layer structure scheme. In this way, the mutual 
relations between the required specifications and the manufacturing 
processes are clarified in a visually easily comprehensible form and 
individual fragmental knowledges thus extracted are integrated in a 
system, permitting thus to analyze the whole system. 
Next a method used for the reliability analyzing system for the 
manufacturing and inspecting processes will be described in a concrete 
sequence. 
(i) The required specifications (required qualities) for a product and 
works in the manufacturing processes are interrelated through obstruction 
factors and control items and the whole data are inputted in a data file 
so that they can be controlled in a unified manner. 
(ii) Specifying a certain direction or domain in the noticed items, such as 
individual processes, required qualities, etc., the related items in the 
domain are arranged for each of the items of different conception, such as 
required qualities, obstruction factors, control items, works, etc. and 
stored in a table of intercept items. 
(iii) The items stored in said table of intercept items are divided into a 
plurality of layers for each of items of different conception are arranged 
in the order of required quality, obstruction factor, control item and 
work in one direction and in the order of the work flow in the direction 
which is perpendicular to the former. A multi-layer structure scheme (cf. 
FIGS. 1 and 2) is formed by connecting mutually related items among them, 
which scheme is then outputted. 
(iv) A multi-layer structure scheme (FIG. 1) consisting of items 
intercepted for each of the processes is outputted and reliability 
analysis for each of the processes is carried out by using this scheme. In 
the case where the scheme should be corrected, the necessary corrections 
concerning items or interrelations therebetween are inputted. The contents 
of the data file are thus renewed and a multi-layer structure scheme is 
again outputted, basing on the contents of the renewed data file. This 
procedure is repeated a necessary number of times. 
(v) The multi-layer structure scheme (FIG. 2) consisting of items 
intercepted for each of the required qualities is outputted and total 
reliability analysis for the processes is carried out by using the scheme 
and noticing a specified required quality. In the case where the scheme 
should be corrected, the necessary corrections concerning items or 
interrelations therebetween are inputted. The contents of the data file 
are thus renewed and a multi-layer structure scheme is again outputted, 
basing on the contents of the renewed data file. This procedure is 
repeated a necessary number of times. 
(vi) Work instructions are given to the manufacturing processes, basing on 
the contents of the data file. Moreover, the work sequence of the 
manufacturing and controlling processes is modified every day and work 
instructions are given to the manufacturing processes. 
FIG. 3 is a flow chart showing a procedure of reliability analysis and 
evaluation for manufacturing and controlling processes representing an 
embodiment according to this invention. 
In FIG. 3, the steps .circle.1 - .circle.6 to the system sequence (i) 
described above; (ii) and (iii) are realized by processing in a computer; 
and the steps .circle.7 and .circle.10 correspond thereto. Further, 
the steps .circle.7 - .circle.9 correspond to the system sequence (iv); 
the steps .circle.10 - .circle.12 correspond to the system sequence (v); 
and the step .circle.15 corresponds to the system sequence (vi). That 
is, the steps .circle.1 - .circle.6 are preparatory works and represent 
a procedure for the preparation of a draft of input data. In the steps 
.circle.7 - .circle.9 an influence scheme for defective works indicated 
in FIG. 1 is outputted for each of the processes and reliability is 
examined by using it. In the case where the influence scheme for defective 
works should be corrected, every time the necessary corrections are 
inputted by terminals. Then, returning to the step .circle.7 , the 
modified items described above are realized for all the processes. The 
steps .circle.10 - .circle.12 output a required quality guarantee scheme 
indicated in FIG. 2 for each of the required qualities and reliability is 
examined by using it. In the case where the required quality guarantee 
scheme scheme should be corrected, every time the necessary corrections 
are inputted by terminals. Then, returning to the step .circle.10 , the 
modified items described above are realized for all the processes. 
In the steps, .circle.13 - .circle.14 , countermeasures against the 
problematical points pointed out through the examination mentions above 
are prepared and the results thus obtained are corrected by terminals and 
inputted. The step .circle.15 carries out verification and approval of 
the final results and outputs commands in the form of "work instructions" 
to the manufacturing and controlling processes. 
Further, in FIG. 3, the single line blocks are those where operations are 
effected manually. On the other hand, the double line blocks are those 
where operations are effected by support systems (terminals, the computer, 
etc.). Objects of the examination in the step .circle.1 in FIG. 3 are 
product specifications, design specifications, catalogues, claim 
information, examples of deficiencies, etc. and those in the step 
.circle.3 are processes, works, quality control items, quality guarantee 
methods, deficiency potential (quality obstruction factors), etc. 
Furthermore, the step .circle.5 includes pickup of lacunes in the 
quality control item for each of the processes. Further, input data of the 
step .circle.6 include item content data and data concerning the 
interrelation between different items. Moreover, the analysis and 
evaluation in the step .circle.8 include e.g. quality obstruction 
factor, pickup of lacunes in the quality control item, pickup of points 
where the content of a quality control item is not clear, examination of 
whether the adopted quality guarantee method is adequate or not, etc. The 
analysis and evaluation in the step .circle.11 include e.g. pickup of 
lacunes in the quality control item, pickup of lacunes in the examination 
item (required quality which has not been verified during the process), 
pickup of doubled examination items, pickup of deficiencies in the design, 
examination of sufficiency from the viewpoint of both the aspects, 
manufacturing and control, etc. 
FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the system construction representing the 
embodiment according to this invention. 
In FIG. 4, the reference numeral 1 denotes a computer center; 2 is a 
terminal room; and 3 represents manufacturing sites. In the computer 
center 1, analysis, intercept, drawing, correction, copy, division, 
unification, etc. of inputted commands are realized by a central 
processing unit (CPU) 11; a card reader 12 effects input of new data; an 
output device 13 outputs influence schemes for defective works, required 
quality guarantee schemes, work instructions, etc. in large quantities; 
and a data memory device 14 stores item data, data relating to the 
interrelation between different items, etc. Further, in the terminal room 
2, various sorts of commands and corrected data are inputted by means of a 
keyboard 21, and influence schemes of defective works, required quality 
guarantee schemes, etc. obtained as results are displayed in a display 
device 22. Images of the display device 22 can be printed on paper by 
means of a hard copy output device 23. In the manufacturing sites 3, 
control tables, such as work instructions, are outputted by output devices 
31a, 31b, . . . for each of workers in the manufacturing and controlling 
processes 32. In addition, output devices 31a, 31 b, etc. can be replaced 
by output results from the output device 13 or the hard copy output device 
23. Moreover, the card reader 12 in the computer center 1 can be replaced 
by the keyboard 21. 
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the flow of processing for the system indicated 
in FIG. 4. 
The arrows indicated in full line represent flow of principal information 
and those indicated in broken line represent flow of supplementary 
information. 
Each of the functions is carried out through conversation treatment 100 
between users and treatment processes. That is, in the conversation 
treatment 100, the commands inputted by terminals are decomposed and 
inputted information is transformed into internal code, and in addition 
guidance messages, error messages, etc. are outputted. Input processing 
101 stores data concerning each of the items of sort A, sort B, . . . 
(hereinbelow called item data) in respective item tables 110a, 110b, . . . 
, flow sequence of same sort of items in item sequence tables 120a, . . . 
according to the sort, and interrelations between different items in item 
interrelation tables 130. A data preparation and deletion process 102 
copies, divides, and unifies existing item tables 110a, 110b, . . . , item 
sequence tables 120a, . . . , and item interrelation tables 130, 
respectively, and prepares their tables by forming data for other objects 
or deletes some of their tables. An intercept process 103 follows 
interrelations in intercept directions (i.e. to higher rank, to lower 
rank, or to both) in interrelation tables 130, starting from items where 
intercept operations begin; extracts the items in intercept domains from 
item tables 110a, 110b, . . . ; and sets them in intercepted item tables 
150 for each of the layers. In this case, correspondence between the order 
of the layers and the sort of items is determined by the table 140. A 
multi-layer structure arrangement process 104 determines the arrangement 
of the multi-layer items and sets them in an item arrangement table 160, 
arranging the items of the intercepted item table 150 on the basis of the 
interrelations between different items in the item interrelation table 130 
according to the order of the layers in one direction and according to the 
order of the item sequence tables 120a, . . . in the direction which is 
perpendicular to the former, and at the same time prepares a 
correspondence table 170 relating the lebels and the layers. A drawing 
process 105 determines lines representing interrelations between different 
items in the multi-layer structure scheme on the basis of the item 
arrangement table 160 and the item interrelation table 130 and sets the 
coordinates in an interrelation table 180. A display process 106 prepares 
transmission data corresponding to a domain which is to be displayed in 
one image in the multi-layer structure scheme, basing on the data in the 
intercepted item table 150, the item arrangement table 160, the 
level-layer correspondence table 170 and the interrelation line table 180. 
A correction process 107 renews the item tables 110a, 110b, . . . the item 
sequence table 120a, . . . , and the item interrelation table 130, 
corresponding to corrected contents. A list preparation process 108 
prepares layer lists, item lists, item interrelation lists, etc. in the 
form of a list preparation table 190 on the basis of the data in the 
intercepted item table 150 and item interrelation table 130. A list 
display process 109 prepares transmission data of work instructions, a 
summarizing table of the items and that of the item interrelations. 
Before the content of each of the processes mentioned above is described 
more in detail, the structure of the tables, with which the system is 
provided, will be explained. 
For this system, the 3 sorts of tables, i.e. item tables 110a, 110b, . . . 
, item sequence tables 120a, . . . and item interrelation tables 130 are 
prepared in the data memory device 14 and the data remain stored after the 
termination of the analysis. For one analysis object there exist so many 
item tables as the number of sorts of items and so many item sequence 
tables 120a, . . . as the number of sorts of items for which the flow 
sequence between different items should be specified. The correspondence 
table 140 for the sorts of items and the layer number is a fixed table. On 
the other hand the intercepted item table 150, the item arrangement table 
160, the level-layer correspondence table 170, the interrelation line 
table 180 and the list preparation table 190 are temporary tables, which 
are prepared and used only during analysis operations. Next a construction 
method for these tables will be explained. 
In this embodiment the sorts of items are, as it is clearly shown in FIGS. 
1 and 2, 5 sorts; required quality (quality obstruction factor), quality 
control item, quality guarantee method, work and process, and for the 2 
sorts of items, work and process, flow sequence is specified. Hereinbelow 
the 5 sorts of items, required quality (quality obstruction factor), 
quality control item, quality guarantee method, work and process, are 
represented for simplicity by Q, F, M, A and P, respectively. This system 
is provided with 5 item tables 110a, 110b, 110c, 110d and 110e, 
corresponding to 5 sorts of items, Q, F, M, A and P. All these tables have 
a same table structure. 
FIG. 6 is a construction scheme of an item table used for this invention. 
Data of each item in the item table consist of item ID, item content and 
attribute. An item ID is used as a reference key. An item content is a 
sentence expressing an item. An attribute consists principally of numbers 
and as one of its modes of use, it is used for differentiating the 
manufacturing works from the controlling works in the work item. FIG. 6 
shows a list type structure, but it can be expressed in any form, e.g. in 
a form, in which the data of each item 111a, 111b, . . . are connected 
successively by using pointers. 
FIG. 7 is a construction scheme showing an example of item interrelation 
tables used for this invention. 
An item interrelation table 130 consists of interrelation data 131a, 131b, 
. . . . Each of the interrelation data 131a, . . . consists of two item 
IDs and two pointers 132, 133 added to them, and shows that two items 
having these item IDs are interrelated with each other. For example, the 
interrelation data 131a signify that the item e.sub.1 is interrelated with 
the item e.sub.3. The sequential relationship of 2 item IDs in the 
interrelation data indicates the direction of the interrelation. The 
pointer 132 at the front side in the interrelation data signifies that the 
item ID at the front side is interrelated with the same item ID and the 
pointer 133 at the rear side signifies that the iteem ID at the rear side 
is connected successively with the same item ID. This form can be replaced 
by another, e.g. by a matrix form. Furthermore it can be so constructed 
that each of the interrelation data 131a, 131b, . . . is successively 
connected by using pointers. 
FIG. 8 is a construction scheme of an item sequence table for the 2 items, 
i.e. work (A) and process (P), used for this invention. 
One of the construction methods for the item sequence tables 120a, 120b, . 
. . is not to prepare physically any table in practice, but to divide an 
item ID 121 consisting of an item of sort A and an item of sort P into two 
parts, sign part 122 and number part 123, whereby a number representing 
the flow sequence is inscribed, in the number part 123. By another method, 
the flow sequence is comprised as an attribute. Moreover, at the top of 
the sign part 122, is written one of Q, F, M, A and P representing the 
sort of items. 
FIG. 9 is a construction scheme of a correspondence table 140 indicating 
the relation between the sort of items and the sequential number of layers 
used for this invention. 
This correspondence table 140 consists of the sort of items 141 and a flag 
142 indicating whether the indication of the flow sequence between 
different items is necessary or not. 
In this table 140, the sort of items, which is at the i-th position, means 
that its sequential number of layers is i. If the flag 142, which is at 
the i-th position, is 1, it means that the i-th layer is one for which the 
flow sequence between different items is specified. To the contrary, if it 
is 0, it means that the flow sequence is not specified for it. 
FIG. 10 is a construction scheme of an intercepted item table 150 used for 
this invention. 
An intercepted item table 150 consists of 3 parts, an intercepted item data 
list 151, an intercepted item number counter 152, and a layer domain 
indication list 153. Item data 154a, . . . of the intercepted item data 
list 151 consist of an item ID, an item content and an attribute. A layer 
domain indication list 153 consists of a plurality of lines, each of which 
is composed by 2 pointers 155 and 156 indicating a domain of the layer. 
For example, FIG. 10 shows that the first layer comprises the items from 
e.sub.11 to e.sub.1J ; the second layer comprises the items from e.sub.21 
to e.sub.2K ; the third layer comprises the items from e.sub.31 to 
e.sub.3L, the fourth layer comprises the items from e.sub.41 to e.sub.4M, 
and the fifth layer comprises the items from e.sub.51 to e.sub.5N . 
Further, the intercepted item number counter 152 memorizes the number of 
items set in the intercepted item data list 151. 
FIG. 11 is a construction scheme of an item arrangement table used for this 
invention. 
An item arrangement table 160 consists of an item arrangement matrix 161, a 
width counter 162 and a level number counter 163. The items are arranged 
at equal spaces regularly in the horizontal and vertical directions in a 
multi-layer structure scheme and the elements of the item arrangement 
matrix 161 are arranged with a one-to-one correspondence therebetween. The 
line of the item arrangement matrix 161 represents the level number 
counted from the highest items in the multi-layer structure scheme and the 
row represents the position in the direction perpendicular to that of the 
level. Further, in an element (i, j) 164 of the item arrangement matrix 
161, when an item exist at the corresponding position in the multi-layer 
structure scheme, its line number (hereinbelow called item number) in the 
intercepted item list 151 relating to the item is set. To the contrary, 
when there exists no corresponding item, 0 is set there. The level number 
counter 163 memorizes the number of levels in the multi-layer structure 
scheme. On the other hand the width counter 162 memorizes the maximum 
value among the widths of the levels in the multi-layer structure scheme. 
FIG. 12 is a construction scheme of a level-layer correspondence table 170 
used for this invention. 
The level-layer correspondence table 170 describes the smallest 171 and the 
largest 172 among the levels of the items contained in one layer. Each of 
the line numbers corresponds to the layer sequence number i. 
FIG. 13 is a construction scheme of an interrelation line table 180 used 
for this invention. 
Each of the interrelation line data 181a, 181b, . . . of the interrelation 
line table 180 consists of the item number at the beginning side 182 of 
the interrelation line, the item number at the ending side 183, areas 
184a, 184b, . . . where the coordinates of the beginning point, bending 
points and the ending point of the interrelation line are set, and the 
attribute representing the sort of the interrelation line 185. In this 
embodiment, since an interrelation line has at most 4 bending points, 
there exist 6 position coordinate set areas 184a, 184b, 184c, 184d, 184e 
and 184f. The position coordinates of each of the points in the 
interrelation line are represented by a pair of coordinates X and Y. These 
coordinates are set successively in the order of the beginning point, the 
bending points and the ending point 184a, 184b, . . . , and in the case 
where any position coordinate set area is not used, 0 is set there. 
FIG. 14 is a diagram for explaining the interrelation lines in FIG. 13. 
By taking the interrelation between an item (E) 186 and an item (G) 188 
indicated in FIG. 14 as an example, the item number of the item E is 
stored in the area 182 in FIG. 13; the item number of the item G in the 
area 183; coordinates of the beginning point c, a bending point d, a 
bending point e and the ending point f in areas 184a, 184b, 184c and 184d, 
respectively, as interrelation line data. In areas 184e and 184d 0 is set 
and attributes representing full lines are stored in an area 185. 
Moreover, in the case where the item (E) 186 is interrelated with an item 
(H) 189, areas from 184a to 184d in FIG. 13 are filled. 
FIG. 15 is a scheme showing an example of list preparation tables used for 
this invention. 
List preparation tables 190 are different according to the sort of lists, 
i.e. control table, summarizing list of items, summarizing list of 
interrelations, etc. FIG. 15 indicates a construction method for the list 
preparation table 190 in the case of a work instruction table, which is 
one of control tables. 
FIG. 16 is a scheme showing an example of work instruction manuals used for 
this invention. 
A work instruction manual is a list, in which, as indicated in FIG. 16, the 
name of the manufacturing process 197b, the name of the process 197a, the 
name of workers who are in charge of the process 197c and the work 
procedure 198a are inscribed and further the content of the work 198b, the 
quality control items 198c for the work, the required qualities 198d on 
which the required qualities 198d have influences, and remarks 198e are 
inscribed according to the sequence of the work procedure 198a. 
The list preparation table 190 indicated in FIG. 15 consists of 4 lists, 
i.e. a process item list 191, a work item list 192, a quality control item 
list 193 and a required quality list 194. Each of the item lists is a list 
of item data consisting of an item ID, an item content, an attribute as 
well as a pointer (A) 195 and a pointer (B) 196. The pointer (A) 195 and 
the pointer (B) 196 of each of the item lists 191, 192 and 193 indicate 
the first position and the last position, respectively, of the relating 
items in the item lists 192, 193 and 194. In the work item list 192 the 
items are arranged according to the flow sequence. 
The outline of the tables has been above explained. Now treatment of the 
system by using these tables will be explained. 
This analyzing system is realized in a conversation form by using the 
commands indicated in Table 1. 
TABLE 1 
______________________________________ 
CODE COMMAND FUNCTION 
______________________________________ 
1 TREE Intercept and display from the multi- 
layer structure schemes 
2 AMEND Correction of data 
3 LIST Edition and display of various lists 
4 FILE Preparation and deletion of data 
5 END Termination of the system 
______________________________________ 
Hereinbelow, for each of the commands, their function will be explained. 
(1) The TREE command has a function to intercept items from object data 
specified by its operand and to display multi-layer structure schemes on 
the display device 22 indicated in FIG. 4. In this case the direction and 
the domain of the intercept as well as the intercept beginning item are 
inputted as supplementary inputs. There are 3 sorts of intercepts, i.e. 
direction toward higher rank, direction toward lower rank and both 
directions. Further, for specifying the intercept domain, there are two 
methods, one according to which 2 layers are specified and the other 
according to which the number of levels is specified. In the case where 
layers are specified, items are intercepted from those belonging to the 2 
specified layers and the layers comprised therebetween. 
FIG. 17 is a scheme showing combinations of the direction and the domain of 
intercept used for this invention. 
For specifying the domain of layers, there are 15 methods therefor, as 
indicated in FIG. 17. In the case where levels are specified, items are 
intercepted from those whose level difference from the intercept beginning 
item is smaller than the specified number of levels. Schemes obtained by 
using the combinations in the domain shown in FIG. 17 can be used as 
results of an analysis either in course or terminated. 
For example, in order that an influence scheme for a defective work is 
displayed, the direction toward higher rank as an intercept direction, the 
whole domain (Q-P) as an intercept domain and the process item as an 
intercept beginning item are specified. To the contrary, when the required 
quality is specified as the intercept beginning item and items are 
intercepted in the whole domain toward lower rank, a required quality 
guarantee scheme is displayed. Further, it is also possible to specify a 
plurality of items as the intercept beginning item. 
When a multi-layer structure scheme should be displayed and it cannot be 
put together in one image, it is possible to change the display domain by 
using a SHIFT subcommand and to see the whole scheme in this way. The 
shift of the display domain is carried out so that the coordinates 
specified by operands of the SHIFT subcommand is located at the left and 
upside corner of the image. Moreover the system is provided with a REPEAT 
subcommand, which effects intercept for which the intercept direction and 
domain remain unchanged and only the intercept beginning item is changed. 
Table 2 indicates these subcommands. 
TABLE 2 
______________________________________ 
CODE SUBCOMMAND FUNCTION 
______________________________________ 
1 SHIFT Shift of display domain 
2 REPEAT Display of multi-layer structure 
scheme after modification of inter- 
cept beginning item 
3 JUMP Termination of display of multi- 
layer structure scheme 
______________________________________ 
(2) The AMEND command has a function to correct partly object data 
specified by its operand. For various corrections subcommands indicated in 
Table 3 are set. 
For specifying the AMEND command is used a method, by which an item ID is 
divided into two parts, sign part 122 and number part 123, as indicated in 
FIG. 8, and one of Q, F, M, A and P, which indicate the sort of items, is 
inscribed at the top of the sign part 122. Owing to this, it is also 
possible to know the sort of items by the item ID. 
TABLE 3 
______________________________________ 
CODE SUBCOMMAND FUNCTION 
______________________________________ 
1 ADD Addition of items 
2 DELETE Deletion of items 
3 MODIFY Modification of item contents 
4 CONNECT Addition of interrelations between 
items 
5 CUT Deletion of interrelations between 
items 
6 UNIFY Unification of items 
7 INSERT Insertion of items 
8 CHANGE Modification of item ID 
9 JUMP Termination of correction 
______________________________________ 
The ADD subcommand in Table 3 inputs item IDs, item contents and attributes 
as supplementary inputs and adds the items to the object data. Next, the 
DELETE subcommand inputs item IDs as supplementary inputs and thus deletes 
the items in the object data. The MODIFY subcommand input items IDs and 
correction contents as supplementary inputs, and thus corrects the item 
contents. The CONNECt and CUT subcommands input item IDs of the items of 
high rank and item IDs of the items of lower rank, which are interrelated 
with each other, as supplementary inputs, and thus interrelates object 
data and deletes interrelations therebetween, respectively. The UNIFY 
subcommand inputs item IDs of unifying and unified items as its operands 
and thus unifies a plurality of items into one item. The INSERT subcommand 
inputs item IDs, item contents and attributes as supplementary inputs 
between the items having the item IDs specified by its operand and other 
items interrelated to the items, and thus inserts new items. 
FIGS. 18A and 18B are schemes showing examples of insertion by means of an 
INSERT subcommand. 
In the case where the quality control items F1, F2 and F3 are interrelated 
with the work item A1, as indicated in FIG. 18A, A1 is inputted as an item 
ID into the operand. Next, the quality guarantee methods M1, M2 and M3 
indicated in FIG. 18B are inputted as supplementary inputs between the 
quality control items F1, F2 and F3, and thus the quality guarantee method 
can be inserted between the work items and the quality control items. 
The CHANGE subcommand has a function to change item IDs. One of the 
examples of utilization of this subcommand is modification of flow 
sequence for work items. 
The JUMP subcommand effects the termination of a treatment by an AMEND 
command. 
(3) The LIST command has a function to intercept the necessary parts from 
object data specified by its operand and to display them in the display 
device 22 in the form of control tables, summarizing lists of items, or 
summarizing lists of interrelations between different items. 
Table 4 shows subcommands set for the display of various lists. 
TABLE 4 
______________________________________ 
CODE SUBCOMMAND DISPLAY LIST.sup.. FUNCTION 
______________________________________ 
1 TABLE Control table 
2 ITEMS Summary of items 
3 RELATIONS Summary of interrelations between 
different items 
4 JUMP Termination of display of lists 
______________________________________ 
The TABLE subcommand specifies the sort of control items by using its 
operand. For example, in the case where work instructions are specified by 
this operand, when an item ID in the process item and the name of a worker 
are inputted as supplementary input, the work instructions are indicated 
to the worker who will be in charge of the work. 
The ITEMS and RELATIONS subcommands specify the sort of items etc. 
indicated by its operand display a summarizing list of items and a 
summarizing list of interrelations between different items, respectively, 
for the items belonging to those specified. The JUMP subcommand terminates 
a treatment of the LIST command. 
(4) The FILE command prepares data by copy, division or unification, and 
also deletes data. Table 5 shows these subcommands for preparing and 
deleting data. 
TABLE 5 
______________________________________ 
CODE SUBCOMMAND FUNCTION 
______________________________________ 
1 COPY Copy of data 
2 DIVIDE Division of data 
3 MERGE Unification of data 
4 CLEAR Deletion of data 
5 JUMP Termination of preparation or 
deletion of data 
______________________________________ 
The COPY subcommand registers existing data specified by its operand as 
data belonging to another object. The DIVIDE subcommand divides existing 
data specified by its operand just as the TREE command, by specifying the 
direction and the domain of intercept and the intercept beginning item and 
registers the data thus divided as data belonging to another object. The 
MERGE subcommand has a function to unify data belonging to 2 objects 
specified by its operand and to register the data thus unified as data 
belonging to another object. The JUMP subcommand terminates a treatment of 
the FILE command. 
FIGS. 19A and 19B are schemes showing preparation of data, which are to be 
analyzed, by means of a FILE command. 
FIG. 19A shows a case where analoguous data are used and FIG. 19B indicates 
a case where a part of existing data is used. 
The former is a method, by which existing data belonging to an analogueous 
object are copied by using a COPY subcommand and the data thus copied are 
corrected by using an AMEND command. The latter is a method, by which data 
belonging to an object, which is to be analyzed, are prepared by dividing 
a part of existing data in the required quality part, etc. belonging to an 
object which is to be utilized by using a DIVIDE command and by unifying 
the data thus obtained with partial data newly prepared by using a MERGE 
subcommand. 
(5) The END command has a function to terminate the system. 
Among the functions meentioned above the TREE and LIST commands can output 
displays to the output device 13 besides the display device 22 indicated 
in FIG. 4. Moreover the TABLE subcommand of the LIST command can output 
displays also to output devices at the manufacturing sites 31a, 31b, . . . 
. 
The system is provided with, besides the functions described above, support 
programs by batch, such as input of data, output of multi-layer structure 
schemes and various lists to the output device 13, dump and reload of 
data, etc. 
The input of data has a function to newly register object data coming from 
the card reader 12 and to add items or interrelations between different 
items to existing object data. Since the output of multi-layer structure 
schemes and various lists is essentially identical to that for the 
treatment by the TREE and LIST commands of the conversation system, it is 
no more described. 
FIG. 20 is a flow chart of the whole process of a conversation type support 
system according to this invention. 
In the user ID input processing (Step 200), the user IDs and pass words set 
for the user IDs are inputted for the purpose of secret protection, and 
also initial values for various work areas are set. 
The user ID check (Step 300) checks whether the previously inputted user ID 
and pass words are identical to those registered in a registration list or 
not. When the user ID is not yet registered or when the pass words are not 
identical, the processing of the system is terminated. When the user ID is 
registered and the pass words are not identical, it proceeds to the 
comnand input analysis processing (Step 400). In the command input 
analysis processing, commands inputted by a terminal are transformed into 
the codes indicated in Table 1, and adequacy of the name of the analysis 
object data inputted as its operand and presence or absence of 
corresponding registration are checked. If it is normal, the analysis 
object data having the name are treated according to the processes 
described below. If some errors are found, the processing outputs error 
messages and waits for re-input of commands. In Step 500 the processing 
transmits the control to a corresponding processing according to the code 
of the command. When one of the steps, intercept and display of a 
multilayer structure scheme (Step 600), correction of data (Step 700), 
edition and display (Step 800) and data preparation and deletion (Step 
900) terminates, the processing returns again to the command input 
analysis processing (Step 400) and the process described above is 
repeated. 
FIG. 21 is a flow chart of the intercept and display process for the 
multi-layer structure scheme of FIG. 20. 
In Step 610, the process effects the intercept direction and domain input 
processing. That is, the intercept direction and domain are inputted by a 
terminal and their adequacy is checked. If there are no errors, they are 
transformed into internal codes and the control is transmitted to the 
succeeding processing. lf some errors are found, the processing outputs 
error messages and waits for re-input of commands. In addition, 
combinations of the intercept directions and domains are those indicated 
in FIG. 17. Next, in Step 620, the intercept beginning item input process 
is effected, that is, item IDs of the intercept beginning item are 
inputted by a terminal. The process checks whether those item IDs are 
present in item tables 110a, 110b, . . . 110e of the analysis object data, 
and if there is none, the process outputs error messages and waits for 
re-input of commands. If they are present, the process proceeds to the 
following intercept processing. The intercept processing in Step 630 is 
indicated in the flow chart of the intercept process of FIG. 22 in detail. 
In FIG. 22, whether there are specifications of the intercept beginning 
items or not is checked by judgment in Step 631. If there are some, the 
intercept direction is checked by judgment in Step 636, and if there is 
none, it proceeds to judgment of the intercept direction in Step 632. In 
Step 632, what is the intercept direction, i.e. direction toward higher 
rank, direction toward lower rank, or both directions, is judged. 
Depending on this judgment, one of the Steps 633, 634 and 635 is carried 
out. Step 633 finds all the items having no relation toward higher rank 
(that is, items having an item ID, which is not in the preceding item IDs 
of each of the interrelation data 131a, . . . in the interrelation table 
130 in FIG. 7, and at the same time existing in the item table 110a, . . . 
), referring to the item tables 110a, 110b, . . . and the item 
interrelation table 130, and adopts them as intercept beginning items. 
Step 634 adopts all the items belonging to the item tables 110a, . . . 110e 
as intercept beginning items. Step 633 intercepts all the items having no 
relation toward lower rank, referring to the item tables 110a, . . . , 
110e and the item interrelation table 130. When one of Steps 633, 634 and 
635 terminates, Step 636 judges the intercept direction. If it is the 
direction toward lower rank, Step 638 is effected. If it is the direction 
toward higher rank or both directions, the process of Step 637 is carried 
out. Step 637 reads out the intercept beginning items belonging to 
intercept domains from the item tables 110a, . . . and sets them in the 
intercepted item lists 151 in the intercepted item table 150 indicated in 
FIG. 10. Next, for the item IDs existing in the item list 151, if there 
are some related data identical to succeeding item IDs of the 
interrelation data in the interrelation table 130 indicated in FIG. 7, the 
items having preceding item IDs of the interrelation data are read out 
from the item tables 110a, . . . and only when the items thus read out are 
in intercepted items, they are set for each of the layers in the item list 
151 without any duplication. However, concerning the correspondence 
between the sort and the layer of the items, the table 140 should be 
referred to. The processings described above are successively repeated for 
all the items set in the item list 151. Moreover, in this procedure, the 
intercepted item number counter 152 and the layer domain indication list 
153 are renewed. When Step 637 terminates, Step 638 judges the intercept 
direction. When it is the direction toward lower rank or both directions, 
the process of Step 639 is effected, and when it is the direction toward 
higher rank the intercept process is terminated. The process in Step 639 
reads out, just as in Step 637, the related items successively, starting 
from the intercept beginning items, referring to the item tables 110a, . . 
. and the item interrelation table 130, and sets the item data of the 
items within the intercept domains in the intercepted item list 151 for 
each of the layers without duplicatibn. Moreover, the intercepted item 
number counter 152 and the layer domain indication list 153 are renewed. 
The intercepted item table 150 is prepared by the intercept procedure 
described above. 
Returning to FIG. 21, the following Step 640 carries out the multi-layer 
structure arrangement process and divides the items in the intercepted 
item table 150 in different layers and levels for each of the layers, on 
the basis of the interrelation data of the item interrelation table 130. 
That is, the horizontal coordinate of the items in the multi-layer 
structure scheme indicated in FIG. 1 is determined. Next, the vertical 
coordinate of the items in FIG. 1 is determined by using the item 
interrelation table 130 so that the items of sort A and those of sort P 
are arranged in the vertical direction in the order of the item sequence 
table 120a and 120b. The item arrangement thus determined is inscribed in 
the item arrangement table 160 indicated in FIG. 11 and at the same time 
the level-layer correspondence table 170 indicated in FIG. 12 is prepared. 
In the drawing process of Step 650, the interrelations between different 
items set in this item arrangement table 160 are read out from the item 
interrelation table 130 indicated in FIG. 7. Then, the interrelation lines 
representing interrelations therebetween are drawn and the coordinates of 
their starting, bending and ending points are set in the interrelation 
line table 180 indicated in FIG. 13. 
The display process in Step 660 draws a rectangular box at a corresponding 
position on the image screen of the display device 22 for each of the 
items in the item arrangement table 160, and displays an item ID and an 
item content of a corresponding item therein, reading out them from the 
intercepted item table 150. However, the form of the box can be varied 
according to the attribute of the item. The coordinates of the 
interrelation line data 181a, . . . of the interrelation line table 180 
are transformed into corresponding coordinates on the image screen of the 
display device 22 and the interrelation lines are indicated thereon in 
different lines depending on their attribute in the order of their 
starting, bending and ending points. Finally, the termination of each of 
the layers are drawn, referring to the level-layer correspondence table 
170 and the sort of items is displaced for each of the layers. As 
explained above, after having displayed the multi-layer structure scheme, 
the system proceeds to the subcommand input analysis process in the 
following Step 670. This input analysis process transforms the subcommand 
inputted by a terminal into the codes indicated in Table 2, and checks 
adequacy of its operand. If there are no errors, the system proceeds to 
the following Step 680, and if some errors are found, it outputs error 
messages and waits for re-input of another subcommand. The judgment in 
Step 680 directs the processing depending on the code of the subcommand. 
That is, if the code of the subcommand is "1", the domain of the display 
is corrected to that specified by the operand of the SHIFT subcommand, and 
by returning to Step 660, the display process is effected. If the code of 
the subcommand is "2", the intercept beginning item is changed. That is, 
by returning to Step 620, the intercept beginning item input process is 
carried out. Further, if the subcommand code is "3", the intercept display 
process (Step 600 in FIG. 20) of the multi-layer structure scheme is 
terminated. 
FIG. 23 is a flow chart of the data correction process indicated in FIG. 
20. 
At first, in the subcommand input analysis process in Step 710, a 
subcommand is read out by a terminal, and as the result, the subcommand 
code indicated in FIG. 3 and operand information are obtained. However, if 
errors are found during this procedure, the process outputs error messages 
and waits for re-input of another subcommand. Next, it directs the 
processing to one of Steps 720-790, depending on the subcommand code. 
Then, when one of the processes terminates, returning again to Step 710, 
it proceeds to the subcommand input analysis process. 
When the subcommand code is "1", the item addition process of Step 720 is 
effected; the item ID, the item content and the attribute of items which 
are to be added are inputted as supplementary input; and item data 111a 
consisting thereof are added to the item table 110. 
When the subcommand code is "2", the item deletion process in Step 730 is 
effected; by inputting the item ID of items which are to be deleted, item 
data 111a having the item ID are deleted from the item table 110; and 
further all the interrelation data 131a having the item ID are deleted 
from the item interrelation table 130. 
When the subcommand code is "3", the item content correction process in 
Step 740 is effected, and by inputting the item ID of items which are to 
be corrected and the item content or the attribute which is to be 
corrected by using a terminal, the correction result is inscribed as an 
item content or an attribute of the item data 111a in the item table 110 
having the item ID. When the subcommand code is "4", the item 
interrelation process in Step 750 is effected, by inputting a pair of the 
item ID of an item at the higher rank side and the item ID of an item at 
the lower rank side in the item interrelation table relating different 
items as supplementary inputs; interrelation data 131a consisting of this 
pair are added to the item interrelation table 130. When the subcommand 
code is "5", the item deletion process in Step 760 is effected, and by 
inputting a pair of interrelated item IDs intercepting the interrelation 
as supplementary inputs, the interrelation data 131a consisting of the 
pair of the item IDs which are identical to those of the item IDs thus 
inputted are deleted from the item interrelation table 130. 
When the subcommand code is "6", the item unification process in Step 770 
is effected, and by using the unified item ID and the unifying item ID 
specified by the operand of the subcommand as input information, the item 
data having the unified item ID of the item table 110 are deleted, and if 
one of the item IDs of the pair is identical to the unified item ID for 
each of the interrelation data of the item interrelation table 130, the 
item ID is changed to a unifying ID. 
When the subcommand code is "7", the item insertion process in Step 780 is 
effected. 
FIG. 24 is a flow chart of the item insertion process (Step 780) in FIG. 
23. 
Each processing in FIG. 24 will be explained below by taking the item 
insertion process indicated in FIG. 18 as an example. 
At first an interrelation F1-A1 in the direction toward higher rank from 
the item A1 specified by the operand of a subcommand is read out from the 
item interrelation table 130. Step 782 checks whether one or more items 
should be inserted between the item F1 and the item A1 or not. If some 
items should be inserted, Step 783 is effected, and to the contrary, if no 
items should be inserted, the system proceeds to Step 787. Step 783 inputs 
the item ID, the item content and the attribute of an inserted item M1. If 
the layer to which the inserted item M1 belongs is either the layer to 
which the item F1 belongs or the layer to which the item A1 belongs or one 
of the layers comprised between the two layers, Step 784 is effected. In 
Step 784 the inserted item M1 inputted in Step 783 is added to the item 
table 110. Further, in Step 785, the interrelation between the item of 
higher rank F1 and the inserted item M1 and the interrelation between the 
inserted item M1 and the specified item A1 are added to the item 
interrelation table 130. In Step 786 the interrelation F1-A1 read out in 
Step 781 from the item interrelation table 130 is deleted. By the 
processing described above, the item M1 is inserted between the item M1 
and the item F1. Next, in Step 787, Step 781 is effected for the 
interrelation F2-A1. Moreover, when the insertion processing Steps 781-786 
between the items F3 and A1 terminates, the item insertion processing Step 
780 is terminated by Step 787. 
In the item ID modification Step 790, which is the last in FIG. 23, for the 
item IDs before and after the modification, specified by the operand of 
the subcommand, among the item IDs in the item table 110 and the item 
interrelation table 130, all the item ID which are identical to those 
before the modification are replaced by the item ID after the 
modification. 
FIG. 25 is a summarized flow chart of the edition and display process (Step 
800) for various lists in FIG. 20. 
At first, in the subcommand input analysis processing in Step 810, 
subcommands are read out and as a result, information concerning the 
subcommand codes indicated in Table 4 and operand is obtained. However, in 
this procedure, if some errors are found, the system outputs error 
messages and waits for re-input of the subcommands. Next, Step 820 directs 
the process, as indicated in FIG. 25, depending on the subcommand code. 
When each of the edition and display processes terminates, returning again 
to Step 810, the system proceeds to the subcommand input analysis process. 
Hereinbelow each of the edition and display processes will be explained. 
The edition and display process of a control table is explained, by taking 
the work instruction manual as an example. 
At first, when the subcommand is "1", in Step 830, the item IDs of the 
process item are inputted and set in the process item list 191 of the list 
preparation table 190. In Step 840, the intercept process (Step 630) is 
effected in the direction toward higher rank in a domain of A=P, using the 
process item as an intercept beginning item. As a result, among the items 
set in the intercepted item table 150, the items of the fourth layer are 
set in the work item list 192 in the order of the number part of the item 
ID, and also the pointers 195 and 196 are set. In the same way, for each 
of the items in the work item list 192, the intercept process (Step 630) 
is effected in the direction toward higher rank in a domain of F-P, and 
the items of the second layer in the intercepted item table 150 are set in 
the quality control item list 193. Further, for each of the items of the 
quality control item list 193, intercept is effected in the same way in a 
domain Q-F, and the items of the first layer in the intercepted item table 
150, specifically those whose attribute is 3, are set in the required 
quality list 194. According to the procedure described above, the display 
process of the control table is effected on the basis of the list 
preparation table 190 thus prepared and the work instruction manual is 
displayed on a display terminal 22. 
In the case where the subcommand code is "2" or "3", the edition and 
display process for each of the summarizing list of items and the 
summarizing list of interrelations is effected. Depending on presence or 
absence of the item specification, there are 2 methods for determining the 
items which are to be displayed. One is processing Step 870, in which the 
item ID of the items, which are to be displayed, is inputted by a 
terminal, and the other is processing Step 860, in which by specifying 
sorts and characteristics of the item, which are to be displayed, the 
items, which are compatible with this condition, are intercepted and set 
in the intercepted item table 150. For the summarizing list of items, in 
Step 881 the items in the intercepted item table 150 are arranged in the 
order of the item ID, a list preparation table 190 is prepared, and in 
Step 891 a summarizing list of items is displayed on the display device 
22. On the other hand, for the summarizing list of item interrelations, in 
Step 882 a list preparation table 190 is prepared by using the intercepted 
item table 150 and the item interrelation table 130 and in Step 892 the 
summarizing list of item interrelations is displayed. 
In the case where the subcommand code is "4", the system returns to Step 
400 in FIG. 20 (RETURN). 
FIG. 26 is a flow chart of the data preparation and deletion process (Step 
900) in FIG. 20. 
In the preparation and deletion of data, each of the functions is performed 
by using the subcommands indicated in Table 5. 
At first, in the subcommand input analysis process in Step 910, subcommands 
are inputted and as a result information concerning the subcommand codes 
and operands indicated in Table 5 is obtained. Next, in Step 920, the 
processing is directed as indicated in FIG. 26, depending on the 
subcommand code and after the termination of the process, by returning to 
Step 910, the subcommand input analysis process is effected. 
In the case where the subcommand code is "1", the data copy process in Step 
930 is effected, and item tables 110a, 110b, . . . , item sequence tables 
120a, . . . and item interrelation table 130 of the existing object data 
specified by the operand of the COPY subcommand are copied respectively 
and registered as new analysis object data specified by the operand. 
In the case where the subcommand code is "2", the data division process in 
Step 940 is effected and data of the objects which are to be divided and 
new analysis data are specified by using the operand of the DIVIDE 
subcommand. For these data of the objects which are to be divided, a 
series of intercept processes (Step 610-630) in FIG. 21 explained for the 
intercept and display process (Step 600) for a multi-layer structure 
scheme mentioned above are effected and the intercept item table 150 is 
prepared. Next, data for the items set in this intercepted item table 150 
are readout from the item tables 110a, . . . and the item sequence tables 
120a, . . . of the data of the objects which are to be divided, and 
registered respectively in the item tables 110a, . . . and the item 
sequence tables of new analysis object data. In the same way, the 
interrelations between items in the intercepted item table 150 are read 
out from the item interrelation table 130 of the data of the objects which 
are to be divided, and registered in the item interrelation table 130 of 
new analysis object data. 
In the case where the subcommand code is "3", the data unification process 
in Step 950 is effected, and 2 data which are objects to be unified and 
new analysis data are specified by using operands of the MERGE subcommand. 
The item tables 110a, . . . , the item sequence table 120a, . . . , and 
the item interrelation table 130 of these data of the objects, which are 
to be unified, are read out, unified respectively, and registered in the 
item tables 110a, . . . , the item sequence tables 120a, . . . , and the 
item interrelation table 130 of the new analysis object data. However, if 
there are items of the data of the objects which are to be unified, whose 
item IDs are identical, whether they are unified to one item or one of 
them is modified is inputted and specified separately for each of them by 
using a terminal. 
In the case where the subcommand code is "4", the data deletion process in 
Step 960 is effected and the item tables 110a, . . . , the item sequence 
table and the item interrelation table of the data of the objects, which 
are to be deleted, specified by the operands of the CLEAR subcommand. 
In the case where the subcommand code is "5", the procedure returns to Step 
400 in FIG. 20 (RETURN). 
The procedure of the on-line conversation type support system has been 
described above. Now, the data input procedure by batch will be explained 
below. 
For a new registration, item tables 110a, 110b, . . . and item sequence 
tables 120a, . . . of the data of the objects, which are to be newly 
prepared, are newly prepared by using item data read in from the card 
reader 12 and then an item interrelation table 130 of the data of the 
objects, which are to be newly prepared, is formed by using interrelation 
data read in consecutively. Moreover, the inputted interrelation data are 
checked so that the situation in direction of the interrelations are 
consistent with the situation in direction between the sorts of items 
defined in the correspondence table 140 between the sort of items and the 
layer number. On the other hand, for an additional registration the 
procedure is principally identical to those for the item addition (Step 
720) of the data correction (Step 700) and for the item interrelation 
addition (Step 740). In this way, it is possible to display influence 
schemes for defective works in each process and required quality guarantee 
schemes for each of the required quality. Thus, since who effects the 
analysis can know at first glance mutual relations between the required 
specifications (required quality) and works in the manufacturing and 
controlling processes, basing on the influence schemes for defective works 
in each process and the required quality guarantee schemes, it is possible 
for him to pick-up unsatisfactory points. Moreover, in the case where 
there are some corrections to be effected in items or interrelations 
between different items, information in the data file can be corrected by 
using the AMEND command. Further, basing on the information in the data 
file after the end of an analysis, it is possible to prepare control 
tables by using the LIST command and to give work instructions, by which 
analysis results are reflected in the manufacturing line. Change of work 
sequence can be easily realized by using the AMEND command and modifying 
the flow sequence and processes of the work items. In addition, by using 
the FILE command and by dividing, unifying or copying data concerning the 
items and the interrelations therebetween for existing analoguous products 
or products before model change, it is possible to utilize effectively 
data thus obtained as data for new products and model changed products. 
Principal advantages of the system according to this invention are as 
follows. 
(i) Since important parts of the manufacturing and controlling processes in 
view of the quality become clear, it is possible to decrease the defective 
rate for a product by ameliorating these parts. 
(ii) Process amelioration, introduction of new installations, etc. can be 
promoted for maintaining or further ameliorating the quality. 
(iii) Since the relations between each of the manufacturing and controlling 
processes and the required qualities for a certain product become clear 
and work instructions can be rapidly and adequately given to the 
manufacturing processes, quality consciousness of workers is increased. 
(iv) Shortening the duration of the reliability for the manufacturing 
processes and ameliorating the quality can be attempted. 
(v) Fluctuations in quality due to changes of works in the manufacturing 
processes can be reduced. 
(vi) When abnormalities are found, countermeasures can be taken rapidly and 
adequately. 
As explained above, according to this invention, since the reliability 
analysis of the manufacturing and controlling processes can be effectively 
carried out, it is possible to exclude defectives with high efficiency in 
the manufacturing and controlling processes and to perform speedy quality 
control in the manufacturing processes.