INFORMATION PROCESSING APPARATUS, INFORMATION PROCESSING METHOD, AND NON-TRANSITORY COMPUTER READABLE MEDIUM

An information processing apparatus includes: a processor configured to: associate each of manufacturing processes of one of products with one of job elements each representing a detail of a job; and display the job elements in a schedule setting area of a screen, and in response to selection of one of the job elements, display displayed job elements that are included in the job elements and that represent respective jobs for manufacturing processes of an associated product that is one of the products and is a product of the manufacturing process associated with the selected job element, the displayed job elements being displayed in the schedule setting area in a form differentiated from a form for a job element associated with a manufacturing process of a different product that is included in the products and is different from the associated product.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is based on and claims priority under 35 USC 119 from Japanese Patent Application No. 2021-152570 filed Sep. 17, 2021.

BACKGROUND

(i) Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to an information processing apparatus, an information processing method, and a non-transitory computer readable medium.

(ii) Related Art

Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 6-161514 discloses a production management system for managing a production system that is provided with one or more workstations where an object is processed in each of processes and that manufactures products in lots via the workstations for the processes. The production management system includes a memory, a display device, a first display controller, a second display controller, a plan change input unit, and a plan change controller. The memory stores job plan data generated in advance. The job plan data is composed of at least the combination of a process code for distinguishing the process, a workstation code for distinguishing the workstation, a lot code for distinguishing the lot, and date data representing a date and time when a job is performed. The display device is capable of displaying a workstation load state and a lot process state on the screen. The first display controller reads out job plan data related to a specified workstation from the job plan data stored in the memory and causes the display device to display the workstation load state representing blocks each for a date and time when a job associated with the lot code related to the specified workstation is to be performed. The blocks are represented with one axis representing date and the other representing load by using time. The second display controller causes the display device to display the lot process state on the basis of the job plan data stored in the memory. The lot process state is composed of a date and time when a job associated with the specified lot code is to be performed, a process, and a workstation list. The plan change input unit specifies a date block to be moved and a location as a moving destination in the workstation load state displayed on the display device. The plan change controller replaces, in the memory, at least date data in the job plan data corresponding to the date block specified by the plan change input unit with the date data represented by the specified location. The first display controller corrects the displaying of the workstation load state by moving the date block specified by the plan change input unit to the specified location. In response to the replacement of the job plan data in the memory, the second display controller corrects the displaying of the lot process state in accordance with the content of the data replacement.

SUMMARY

In factories where products are made to order, manufacturing is managed for each product in accordance with a workflow representing the flow of manufacturing processes from order to shipping.

To set a job schedule for a product, a person in charge is thus required to comprehend a workflow specified for the product and then to set the schedule according to the workflow.

Aspects of non-limiting embodiments of the present disclosure relate to an information processing apparatus, an information processing method, and a non-transitory computer readable medium by which in accordance with the flow of manufacturing processes specified on a product basis, a user may set a schedule for jobs in the manufacturing processes without verifying a workflow chart representing the flow of the manufacturing processes.

According to an aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided an information processing apparatus including: a processor configured to: associate each of manufacturing processes of one of products with one of job elements each representing a detail of a job; and display the job elements in a schedule setting area of a screen, and in response to selection of one of the job elements, display displayed job elements that are included in the job elements and that represent respective jobs for manufacturing processes of an associated product that is one of the products and is a product of the manufacturing process associated with the selected job element, the displayed job elements being displayed in the schedule setting area in a form differentiated from a form for a job element associated with a manufacturing process of a different product that is included in the products and is different from the associated product.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Hereinafter, an exemplary embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. The same components and the same steps are denoted by the same reference numerals throughout the drawings, and description thereof is not repeated.

FIG.1is a view illustrating an example configuration of a process management system1that receives order information regarding a product from an external apparatus6and manages manufacturing processes of the product according to the received order information. The type of the product regarding which the order information is managed in the process management system1is not limited, and order information regarding any type of product may be managed; however, an example of managing order information regarding a printed material such as a book, a brochure, or a flier is hereinafter used to describe the process management system1.

The process management system1is employed in a factory where a product is made to order from a customer (in the example in this exemplary embodiment, a printing factory where printed materials are made). As illustrated inFIG.1, the process management system1includes a printer2, a finishing machine4, a viewing machine8, and a process management apparatus10.

The process management apparatus10is connected to, via a communication network3, for example, the external apparatus6installed outside the printing factory and is also connected, via a communication network5, to the printer2, the finishing machine4, and the viewing machine8that are installed in the printing factory.

The communication network3is a communication network such as the Internet to which a large number of unspecific apparatuses are connected. The communication network5is a communication network to which apparatuses permitted in advance are connected, such as a corporate local area network (LAN) built up in the printing factory. The connection form of the communication network3and the communication network5is not limited and may be any of a wired network, a wireless network, and the combination of a wired network and the wireless network.

The process management apparatus10includes an order information management unit12and a controller14and acquires order information regarding the printed material from the external apparatus6.

The order information management unit12stores the order information acquired from the external apparatus6in a memory device and manages the order information in a centralized manner.

In accordance with the order information provided for each of printed materials managed by the order information management unit12, the controller14generates information indicating the flow of manufacturing processes (hereinafter, referred to as a workflow) of the ordered printed material and job cards35each representing details of a job for each manufacturing process (seeFIG.3).

The manufacturing processes of the printed material include, for example, manufacturing processes required to be performed from an order for a printed material to shipping such as a printing process for printing characters and images on the paper sheets, a finishing process for making a paper sheet uneven (called embossing), a binding process for binding printed paper sheets, and a delivery process for delivering a finished printed material to a place specified in the order information. Note that the above-described manufacturing processes of the printed material are examples, and the manufacturing processes of the printed material include a manufacturing process required to make the ordered printed material. The manufacturing processes of the printed material thus vary on occasions, depending on the ordered printed material.

Each job card35is an example of a job element generated for each manufacturing process of the printed material and includes, for example, an identification for distinguishing a printed material to be made and an identification for distinguishing a component to be made in the manufacturing process. The component denotes a component of the printed material. For example, if the printed material is a book, the printed material is roughly composed of a cover and text. The separately manufacturable printed material component such as the cover or the text is referred to as a component of the printed material. In other words, the job card35is information card representing the details of a job for each manufacturing process of the ordered printed material.

In contrast, the viewing machine8is used to set a job schedule for the ordered printed material in the following manner. A process manager (hereinafter, referred to as a user) who sets a job schedule in accordance with the flow of the manufacturing processes of the ordered printed material operates the viewing machine8and assigns a job for each manufacturing process of the ordered printed material to a manufacturing facility such as the printer2or the finishing machine4. Specifically, the user performs an operation for assigning a job card35to a manufacturing facility by using the viewing machine8and thereby sets the job schedule for the ordered printed material.

The viewing machine8thus requests the process management apparatus10to display a schedule setting screen7(seeFIG.3), in accordance with the operation by the user. The schedule setting screen7is used to set the schedule for a job in the manufacturing process of the ordered printed material.

In response to receiving the request for displaying the schedule setting screen7, the controller14of the process management apparatus10performs control to generate screen data regarding the schedule setting screen7including the job cards35in each manufacturing process of the ordered printed material and then transmit the screen data to the viewing machine8. The schedule setting screen7is thereby displayed by the viewing machine8. The displaying of the schedule setting screen7by the controller14thus denotes, for example, performing the control to generate the screen data regarding the schedule setting screen7and then transmit the screen data to the viewing machine8. Even if the user is present in a remote place where the user is not touch the process management apparatus10, transmitting the screen data regarding the schedule setting screen7to the viewing machine8causes the user to set the schedule.

The controller14also transmits reservation data according to the job schedule set on the schedule setting screen7by the user to the printer2or the finishing machine4assigned the job card35, via the communication network5. More than one printer2and more than one finishing machine4may be present. It goes without saying that the manufacturing facility serving as a transmission destination of the reservation data may include a manufacturing facility other than the printer2and the finishing machine4, such as an inspection device that inspects the printed material.

The process management apparatus10in the process management system1that performs the steps as described above is configured by using, for example, a computer20.

FIG.2is a view illustrating an example configuration of an electrical system in the process management apparatus10configured by using the computer20.

The computer20includes a central processing unit (CPU)21serving as an example of a processor configured to implement the functions of the order information management unit12and the controller14illustrated inFIG.1, a read only memory (ROM)22storing an information processing program causing the computer20to function as the process management apparatus10, a random access memory (RAM)23used as a temporary work area of the CPU21, a nonvolatile memory24, and an input/output interface (I/O)25. The CPU21, the ROM22, the RAM23, the nonvolatile memory24, and the I/O25are connected to each other via a bus26.

The nonvolatile memory24is an example of a memory device in which information stored therein is kept even though power supplied to the nonvolatile memory24is disconnected. For example, a semiconductor memory is used therefor, but a hard disk may be used. The nonvolatile memory24stores a parameter such as connection destination information (for example, an IP address) regarding the printer2, the finishing machine4, the external apparatus6, or the viewing machine8each of which is connected to the process management apparatus10, for example, via a corresponding one of the communication network3and the communication network5.

In contrast, the I/O25is connected to, for example, a communication unit27, an input unit28, and a display unit29.

The communication unit27is connected to the communication network3and the communication network5and has a communication protocol for performing data communication with the printer2, the finishing machine4, the external apparatus6, and the viewing machine8.

The input unit28is a device that receives an instruction from an operator of the process management apparatus10and notifies the CPU21of the instruction. For example, a button, a touch panel, a keyboard, a pointing device, a mouse, and other devices are used therefore.

The display unit29is a device that displays information processed by the CPU21. For example, a liquid crystal display, and an organic electro luminescence (EL) display are used therefore.

The computer20may be configured by using cloud computing. In this case, the computer20is remotely controlled, for example, from the viewing machine8via the communication network5. Accordingly, the computer20does not necessarily require the input unit28and the display unit29.

The schedule setting screen7displayed on the viewing machine8by the process management apparatus10will then be described.

FIG.3is a view illustrating an example of the schedule setting screen7. The schedule setting screen7includes a schedule setting area30, a display selection area31, a menu area32, and a workflow display area40.

The schedule setting area30is an area where the user sets a job schedule for each ordered printed material.

The display selection area31is an area where the user selects a display style of a job schedule to be set on the schedule setting screen7for each ordered printed material.

The menu area32is an area where the display style of the content of the display on the schedule setting screen7is set in accordance with a display form selected in the display selection area31. Specifically, in the menu area32, a date and time range for setting the job schedule, that is, a displayed period in a calendar34and an enlargement/reduction ratio, that is, a scale of characters and figures displayed in the schedule setting area30and the workflow display area40are set.

The workflow display area40is an area for displaying a workflow chart41representing the workflow of the ordered printed material.

The schedule setting screen7illustrated inFIG.3represents an example of the schedule setting screen7on which the Equipment/material & shift button is selected in the display selection area31. When the Equipment/material & shift button is selected, an assignable job card35and the calendar34are displayed for each manufacturing facility on the schedule setting screen7. The assignable job card35is displayed in the column of an unassigned process33. When the user drags a job card35displayed in the column of the unassigned process33and drops the job card35into one of dates displayed in the calendar34, a job represented by the dropped job card35is assigned to a date corresponding to the drop position of the job card35.

If the date intended to be assigned the job has already been assigned a different job represented by a different one of the job cards35, the job to be newly assigned is assigned to a time frame subsequent to the time frame of the already assigned different job. In this case, as illustrated inFIG.3, the job card35representing the newly assigned job is displayed below the job card35representing the already assigned different job in the same date field in the calendar34. That is, the schedule setting area30is designed to see the order of the jobs from the display locations of the respective job cards35in the calendar34.

After the job is assigned to the manufacturing facility, the process management apparatus10updates a load factor and a margin time of each of the dates for the manufacturing facility assigned the job, on the basis of information associated with the job card35representing the details of the assigned job. The job card35is thus associated in advance with working hours required to perform the job represented by the job card35for each manufacturing facility allowed to be assigned the job. The process management apparatus10updates the load factor and the margin time on the basis of the working hours associated with the job card35assigned to the manufacturing facility and hours of operation allowed per day of the manufacturing facility. Note that the job card35is also associated with details of order information, such as the delivery date of the ordered printed material, the orderer of the printed material, and the number of copies printed. Hereinafter, all of the details displayed in the schedule setting area30are collectively referred to as a schedule table.

For example, if the user selects a job card35on the schedule setting screen7, the workflow chart41representing the workflow of the printed material associated with the selected job card35is displayed in the workflow display area40. The workflow display area40does not have to be displayed in advance on the schedule setting screen7. For example, at the beginning of displaying the schedule setting screen7, the process management apparatus10displays only the schedule setting area30without displaying the workflow display area40on the schedule setting screen7. If the user selects a job card35on the schedule setting screen7, the process management apparatus10may display the workflow display area40on the schedule setting screen7together with the workflow chart41for the printed material associated with the selected job card35.

In the workflow chart41, one or more icons42represented by respective figures of, for example, the job details are displayed for each manufacturing process, and the flow of the manufacturing processes of the printed material, that is, the order of the manufacturing processes of the printed material is represented by using a line connecting the icons42. Each icon42is accompanied by a character string such as Printing or Binding representing the job details of the manufacturing process.

The phrase “the user selects a job card35” denotes that the user moves the cursor to a job card35, for example, with the mouse and then left-clicks the job card35.

Highlighting on Schedule Setting Screen

Actions of the process management apparatus10will then be described.FIG.4is a flowchart illustrating an example flow of displaying steps performed by the CPU21when the user one of the job cards35on the schedule setting screen7. The information processing program in which the displaying steps are described is stored in advance, for example, in the ROM22of the process management apparatus10. The CPU21of the process management apparatus10reads the information processing program stored in the ROM22and performs the displaying steps.

In step S10inFIG.4, the CPU21acquires a workflow of a printed material from the nonvolatile memory24. The printed material is associated with the selected job card35. The CPU21refers to the acquired workflow and identifies a manufacturing process of a component associated with the selected job card35.

In step S20, the CPU21displays the workflow chart41in the workflow display area40in such a manner that the display form of the manufacturing process identified in step S10is differentiated from the display form of manufacturing processes other than the manufacturing process of the printed material associated with the selected job card35. The displaying steps illustrated inFIG.4is then terminated.

Note that highlighting denotes displaying a specific piece of information of pieces of information of the same type in a display form differentiated from the display form of a piece of information other than the specific piece of information.

FIG.5is a view illustrating an example of highlighting the manufacturing process of the component associated with the selected job card35. InFIG.5, the job card35represented by using a dotted line is the job card35selected by the user. After the user selects the job card35, the CPU21displays, in the workflow display area40, the workflow chart41including an icon42that represents the manufacturing process of the component associated with, for example, the job card35and that is surrounded by a dotted line. The highlighting in which the icon42is surrounded by the dotted line is an example. As long as a display form enables the user to know the manufacturing process of the component associated with the job card35in the manufacturing processes of the printed material, any display form may be used, as a matter of course. For example, the CPU21may highlight the icon42in such a manner that, for example, the color, the background color, or the size of the icon42is differentiated from those of the other icons42. Alternatively, the CPU21may blink the icon42intended to be highlighted.

Correspondence of a job to be assigned to a manufacturing facility by using a job card35with the component and the manufacturing process that are associated with the job in the workflow of the ordered printed material is visually represented in the schedule setting area30and the workflow display area40.

Note that for the operation step inFIG.4, the example in which the user selects one job card35has been described; however, the user may select multiple job cards35. In this case, each manufacturing process of the component associated with the corresponding job card35is highlighted in the workflow display area40.

For the displaying steps illustrated inFIG.4, correspondence of the job represented by the selected job card35with the job associated with the manufacturing process in the workflow of the printed material associated with the selected job card35has been described. However, the CPU21may perform the steps in opposite correspondence.

FIG.6is a flowchart illustrating an example flow of displaying steps performed by the CPU21when the user selects one of the icons42each representing a manufacturing process of a component of an ordered printed material in the workflow chart41.

In step S30inFIG.6, the CPU21refers to the job cards35associated with the manufacturing processes of a printed material, the manufacturing processes being displayed in the workflow chart41in the workflow display area40. The CPU21identifies a job card35associated with the manufacturing process represented by the selected icon42.

In step S40, the CPU21displays the job card35identified in step S30in the schedule setting area30in a form differentiated from a form for the other job cards35associated with the manufacturing processes other than the selected manufacturing process and then terminates the displaying steps illustrated inFIG.6.

In highlighting the job card35, the CPU21may cause the workflow display area40not to be displayed on the schedule setting screen7in accordance with an instruction from the user. Not displaying the workflow display area40on the schedule setting screen7causes the schedule setting area30to be displayed in a larger area than in the case where the workflow display area40is displayed on the schedule setting screen7. The schedule setting using the job card35in the schedule setting area30is thus performed easier and the set schedule table may be easier to see than in the case where the workflow display area40is displayed on the schedule setting screen7.

Examples of highlighting the job card35include display forms in which the line type or the thickness of the border of the job card35, at least one of the background color, the character color, and the border color of the job card35is changed, the shape of the job card35is changed, and the job card35blinks; however, it goes without saying that any display form distinguishable from those of the other job cards35may be used.

Correspondence of the job associated with the selected manufacturing process with the manufacturing facility where and the time when the job is to be performed is represented visually in the schedule setting area30and the workflow display area40.

For the operation step inFIG.6, the example where the user selects one of the icons42has been described; however, the user may select multiple icons42from the workflow chart41. In this case, job cards35associated with the manufacturing processes respectively represented by the selected icons42are highlighted in the schedule setting area30. Together with each job card35, the assignment state of the job represented by the job card35, such as the manufacturing facility assigned the job card35and a date in the calendar34may also be highlighted.

Another example of displaying based on a relationship between the job card35and the workflow of the printed material will then be descried.

FIG.7is a flowchart illustrating an example flow of displaying steps performed by the CPU21when the user selects one of the job cards35on the schedule setting screen7.

In step S50inFIG.7, the CPU21acquires, from the nonvolatile memory24, a workflow of the printed material associated with the selected job card35. The CPU21refers to the acquired workflow and thereby identifies all of manufacturing processes included in the workflow.

In step S60, the CPU21identifies job cards35associated with each manufacturing process identified in step S50.In step S70, the CPU21displays each job card35identified in step S60in the schedule setting area30in a display form differentiated from a display form for job cards35associated with printed materials different from the printed material associated with the selected job card35. The CPU21then terminates the displaying steps illustrated inFIG.7.

Only the job cards35for the printed material associated with the job card35selected by the user from among the job cards35for the multiple printed materials displayed in the schedule setting area30are thereby highlighted. The schedule for the manufacturing processes of the printed material associated with the selected job card35is thus displayed by using the job cards35displayed at the respective positions in the schedule setting area30.

The CPU21highlights all the job cards35associated with the manufacturing processes of the printed material associated with the job card35selected by the user in the displaying steps illustrated inFIG.7; however, the job cards35to be highlighted by the CPU21are not limited to these job cards35. For example, in the workflow of the printed material associated with the selected job card35, the CPU21may highlight a job card35associated with the manufacturing process to be performed immediately before the manufacturing process associated with the job card35selected by the user, a job card35associated with the manufacturing process to be performed immediately after the manufacturing process associated with the job card35selected by the user, and the job card35selected by the user. Hereinafter, the job card35associated with the manufacturing process to be performed immediately before the manufacturing process associated with the job card35selected by the user and the job card35associated with the manufacturing process to be performed immediately after the manufacturing process associated with the job card35selected by the user are each referred to as an adjacent job card35. In addition, the manufacturing process to be performed immediately before the manufacturing process associated with the job card35selected by the user is referred to as a previous process, and the manufacturing process to be performed immediately after the manufacturing process associated with the job card35selected by the user is referred to as a subsequent process.

In the workflow of the printed material associated with the job card35selected by the user, the CPU21may also highlight a job card35associated with at least one of a manufacturing process being performed for the component associated with the selected job card35and a manufacturing process scheduled next.

A highlight setting for specifying a job card35to be highlighted in response to the selection of a job card35is selected, for example, by the user.

A job card35is also highlighted from a pop-up menu36displayed, for example, after the user moves the cursor to the job card35with the mouse and right-clicks on the job card35.

FIG.8is a view illustrating an example of the pop-up menu36. The pop-up menu36has, for example, items “Edit estimated required time” for setting working hours required for the job represented by the job card35, “Cancel assignment” for cancelling the job assigned to the manufacturing facility, “Issue printing instruction” for outputting an instruction given by an orderer for the job represented by the job card35, and “Color product” for highlighting the job card35.

The user selects one of colors in the color pallet displayed in response to the selection of the item “Color product” from the pop-up menu36. The CPU21colors the highlight target job card35with the selected color in accordance with the highlight setting set in advance.

FIG.9is a view illustrating an example of colored job cards35. If the highlight setting is set as in the displaying steps illustrated inFIG.7, all of the job cards35associated with the manufacturing processes of the printed material associated with the job card35for which the user selects a color from the pop-up menu36are colored with the color selected by the user, as illustrated inFIG.10.

As has been described, the coloring of the job card35is an example of highlighting of the job card35.

Enlarging/Reducing on Schedule Setting Screen

The CPU21enlarges or reduces the schedule table displayed in the schedule setting area30on the basis of a scale set in the menu area32by the user. Specifically, the CPU21enlarges the schedule table as the scale is set larger, and reduces the schedule table as the scale is set smaller.

FIG.11is a view illustrating a reduced display example of the schedule table displayed in the schedule setting area30illustrated inFIG.10. Reducing the schedule table causes all of the highlighted job cards35to be displayed within the schedule setting area30without the user scrolling the schedule setting area30. The user may thus verify the entire schedule table for the ordered printed material.

FIG.12is a view illustrating an enlarged display example of the schedule table displayed in the schedule setting area30illustrated inFIG.10. Enlarging the schedule table makes it easier to see various pieces of information displayed in the job card35and the calendar34.

The CPU21may autonomously set the scale for the schedule table to display each highlighted job card35in the maximum size in the schedule setting area30. The way of setting the scale is referred to as automatic scale setting.

FIG.13is a view illustrating an example of displaying the schedule table displayed in the schedule setting area30illustrated inFIG.10in the automatic scale setting. Each highlighted job card35is displayed in the maximum size in the schedule setting area30without the user controlling the scale.

Supporting Schedule Setting on Schedule Setting Screen

In the case where the user sets a schedule for a job represented by a job card35on the schedule setting screen7, the user performs the following operations, as has been described. The user drags the job card35displayed in the column of an unassigned process33, drops the job card35into a date in the calendar34, and thereby assigns the job represented by the dropped job card35to the date corresponding to the drop position of the job card35.

The user needs to set the order of jobs in accordance with a predetermined flow of the manufacturing processes of a printed material. For example, it is not possible to perform a job for binding text-printed paper sheets before a job for printing the text.

As described above, there is a job period allowing a job to be performed for each job. Every time the user selects a job card35, the CPU21thus displays the job period allowing the job represented by the selected job card35to be performed in the schedule setting area30after referring to the workflow of the printed material associated with the selected job card35. Hereinafter, the job period allowing the job represented by the selected job card35to be performed is referred to as an assignable period.

FIG.14is a flowchart illustrating an example of the flow of scheduling steps performed by the CPU21in the case where the user assigns a job to the manufacturing facility in the schedule setting area30. The information processing program describing the scheduling steps is stored in advance, for example, in the ROM22of the process management apparatus10. The CPU21of the process management apparatus10reads the information processing program stored in the ROM22and performs the scheduling steps.

The user selects one of the job cards35that is not assigned a job schedule. In step S100inFIG.14, the CPU21then refers to the workflow of the printed material associated with the selected job card35and identifies adjacent job cards35adjacent to the selected job card35. For convenience of explanation, the adjacent job cards35each have been assigned a job schedule.

In step S110, the CPU21calculates a job assignable period represented by the selected job card35. Specifically, of the manufacturing processes associated with the respective adjacent job cards35, the CPU21sets a date when the previous process prior to the manufacturing process associated with the selected job card35ends, as the start of the assignable period, and sets a date when the subsequent process subsequent to the manufacturing process associated with the selected job card35starts, as the end of the assignable period. For example, if the finish date of the previous process is Jul. 21, 2021, and if the start date of the subsequent process is Jul. 22, 2021, a period from Jul. 21, 2021 to Jul. 22, 2021 is calculated as the job assignable period represented by the selected job card35. The start time of the manufacturing process is referred to as a start of the manufacturing process, and the end time of the manufacturing process is referred to as an end of the manufacturing process. In the example in this exemplary embodiment, the calendar34is displayed by using a day as a unit, and thus the job represented by the job card35is assigned by using a day as the unit. The start of the manufacturing process and the end of the manufacturing process are thus represented by using a date. If the calendar34is displayed by using an hour as the unit, the start of the manufacturing process and the end of the manufacturing process are represented by using a date and time.

The CPU21may also set, as a job assignable period represented by the selected job card35, a period from a date a predetermined number of days D1 after the finish date of the previous process to a date up to a predetermined number of days D2 before the start date of the subsequent process.

The CPU21naturally sets the job assignable period represented by the selected job card35such that the job assignable period is longer than or equal to working hours required to perform the job represented by the selected job card35. Accordingly, if hours corresponding to the number of days from the finish date of the previous process prior to the manufacturing process associated with the selected job card35to the subsequent process subsequent to the start of the manufacturing process date is shorter than the working hours required to perform the job represented by the selected job card35, the CPU21may output, to the user, a warning to change the schedule for at least one of the previous process and the subsequent process. Outputting the warning to the user denotes making the presence of the warning noticeable by the user. Displaying the warning in the schedule setting area30and vocally notifying the warning with the viewing machine8are each an example of outputting the warning.

In step S120, the CPU21displays the assignable period calculated in step S110in the schedule setting area30.

FIG.15is a view illustrating an example of displaying a job assignable period represented by the selected job card35. As illustrated inFIG.15, the CPU21highlights a job period not allowing the job represented by the selected job card35to be performed, as a job assignment prohibited period37, for example, in the calendar34and thereby indicates the job assignable period represented by the selected job card35. The CPU21may naturally highlight the job assignable period represented by the selected job card35, for example, in the calendar34.

In step S130inFIG.14, the CPU21determines whether the selected job card35is subjected to a drag-and-drop. If the selected job card35is not subjected to a drag-and-drop, the determination in step S130is repeated until the drag-and-drop is performed. If it is determined that the selected job card35is subjected to a drag-and-drop, the processing proceeds to S140.

In step S140, the CPU21determines whether the selected job card35is dropped into a date within the assignable period displayed in the calendar34. If the selected job card35is dropped into a date within the job assignment prohibited period37, the processing proceeds to S150.

In this case, the CPU21may alert the user to assign the job represented by the selected job card35to a date within the assignable period.

In step S150, the CPU21thus outputs the warning to the user by displaying, for example, a message “Not possible to assign the job to the specified date” on the schedule setting screen7. In response to this, the user receiving the warning again drags the job card35and drops the job card35into a date within the assignable period. The processing thus proceeds to S130, and the CPU21again determines whether the selected job card35is subjected to a drag-and-drop.

The CPU21repeats steps S130to S150until the selected job card35is dropped into a date within the assignable period displayed in the calendar34.

In contrast, if the user drags and drops the job card35into an area38inFIG.15, it is determined in the determination in step S140that the selected job card35is dropped into a date within the assignable period displayed in the calendar34, and thus the processing proceeds to S160.

In step S160, the CPU21settles the schedule such that the job represented by the dropped job card35is performed with the manufacturing facility associated with the drop position of the job card35on the date corresponding to the drop position of the job card35.

The scheduling steps illustrated inFIG.14is then terminated.

The example in which the unit of the period displayed in the calendar34is a day has heretofore been described; however, the CPU21may display the period after changing the unit of the period to be displayed in the calendar34to a specified period in accordance with an instruction from the user, such as 30 minutes, one hour, six hours, or a week. In this case, the CPU21displays the assignable period in the schedule setting area30on the basis of the unit of the period to be displayed in the calendar34.

If the unit of the period to be displayed in the calendar34is, for example, an hour, a job may be assigned to a manufacturing facility by using an hour as the unit. If the unit of the period to be displayed in the calendar34is an hour, the load factor and the margin time displayed in the calendar34are displayed by using an hour as the unit. Note that assigning a job by using an hour as the unit denotes assigning a job to a one hour period, for example, from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. on July 21. If the assigned job is not to be finished within one hour, the job is also assigned to a subsequent period resulting from the division using an hour as the unit.

The process management apparatus10does not necessarily have to display the schedule setting screen7on the viewing machine8. If the user is present in a place where the user is able to touch the process management apparatus10, the schedule setting screen7may be displayed on the display unit29. Whether to display the schedule setting screen7on the viewing machine8or on the process management apparatus10depends on the setting by the user.

An aspect of the process management apparatus10has been described by using the exemplary embodiment. However, the form as the process management apparatus10is an example, and the scope thereof is not limited to the scope of the described exemplary embodiment. Various modifications or improvements may be made to the exemplary embodiment described above without departing from the spirit of the disclosure. An exemplary embodiment to which the modification or the improvement is made may also be included in the technical scope of the present disclosure. For example, the order of the displaying steps illustrated inFIGS.4,6, and7and the scheduling steps illustrated inFIG.14may be changed without departing from the spirit of the disclosure.

In the exemplary embodiment above, the case where the displaying steps and the scheduling steps are implemented by software has been described as an example. However, steps equivalent to the displaying steps illustrated inFIGS.4,6, and7and the scheduling steps illustrated inFIG.14may be performed by hardware. In this case, the displaying steps and the scheduling steps are processed more quickly than in the case of the implementation by the software.

In the exemplary embodiment, the example in which the ROM22stores the information processing program; however, the storage place of the information processing program is not limited to the ROM22. The information processing program of the present disclosure may also be provided in such a manner as to be recorded in a computer-readable storage medium. For example, the information processing program may be provided in such a manner as to be recorded in an optical disk such as a compact disc (CD)-ROM or a digital versatile disc (DVD)-ROM. The information processing program may also be provided in such a manner as to be recorded in a portable semiconductor memory such as a universal serial bus (USB) memory or a flash memory.

The ROM22, the nonvolatile memory24, the CD-ROM, the DVD-ROM, the USB memory, and the memory card are each an example of a non-transitory storage medium.

Further, the process management apparatus10may download the information processing program from a memory device connected to the communication unit27via the communication network3and store the downloaded information processing program in the non-transitory storage medium. In this case, from the non-transitory storage medium, the CPU21of the process management apparatus10reads the information processing program downloaded from the memory device and performs the displaying steps and the scheduling steps.