Management system for supervising operator

A management system for supervising an operator within an operation area with a processing apparatus installed therein has an imaging camera for capturing an image of the operator and a control unit. The control unit stores an area map that includes information about the processing apparatus and the positions of the processing apparatus, acquires identifying information regarding the operator on the basis of the image captured by the imaging camera, and extracts traffic lines of the operator. A management unit records the traffic lines of the operator and the identifying information of the operator, in relation to each other on the area map.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a management system for supervising an operator within an operation area.

Description of the Related Art

While an operator in an operation area provided with a plurality of processing apparatus is operating the processing apparatus to process a workpiece, the operator and the supervisor try to make improvements day after day and elaborate on the operation area based on the improvements for increased operation efficiency. For example, guidance information is provided in the operation area to prevent the operator from making mistakes, and the layout of the processing apparatus is altered to reduce the traffic lines of the operator.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2008-305177, for example, discloses a technology in which a lot case that stores a lot to be processed next by the operator is caused to emit light on the basis of the positional information of the operator and lot information of the lot, thereby indicating the lot case to the operator. The disclosed technology makes it possible to indicate the lot case to the operator efficiently.

In the process of developing suggestions for improvement, it is important to find problems to be improved, such as wastes, excesses, etc. It is impossible to start thinking about suggestions for improvement unless problems to be improved are extracted, and it is impossible to develop viable suggestions for improvement unless problems to be improved are accurately grasped. The operator who actually engages in processing workpieces and the supervisor who supervises the operation area and the operator are not liable to spot problems because of stereotypes that they have come to acquire due to their working experiences.

One solution would be to invite an outside consultant to the operation area and have them point out problems thereof, so that improvements would be made to solve the problems. However, the fee to be paid for such an outside consultant is likely to be prohibitively high. In addition, in view of more deepened improvements having been made and more problems having been solved, it becomes difficult for even a consultant to point out new problems.

To keep the efficiency of operations in the operation area at a high level, it is necessary for the supervisor to appropriately supervise the operator to make the operator perform daily operations properly and efficiently even before attempts are made to come up with improvements. Any suggested improvements will not be effective enough if the operator does not follow procedures and rules and does not work appropriately.

Operation areas in factories for manufacturing semiconductor device chips, for example, are often run on an around-the-clock basis by a minimum number of operators working on processing apparatus. The number of supervisors for supervising the operators is also limited. As those limited supervisors fail to supervise the operation areas at all times, they may not fully grasp the operation areas even when the operators are not working appropriately, and hence the operation areas may be run inefficiently while the supervisor remains ignorant of the situation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

When starting to attempt to make improvements and managing operators, the behaviors of the operators within the operation areas need to be recorded accurately and in detail. A detailed inspection of the recorded behaviors of the operators makes it easier to find problems of the operation areas and the operators and to supervise the operators appropriately. Particularly, in attempts to make deeper improvements, since it is effective to pay attention to and solve problems caused by individual operators, it is desirable to record the behaviors of the operators individually in detail. The individual records of the behaviors of the operators will lead to an efficient guidance to be given to those operators who tend to fail to follow procedures and rules.

However, producing detailed records causes a lot of trouble recording the operator's behaviors. For example, additional personnel are required to produce detailed records, and the operators may be forced to behave in a special way for making detailed records. When the cost required for records increases, the expenses for running the operation areas become high, resulting in a reduction in the monetary efficiency of the operations, which is problematic by itself. Furthermore, the more detailed the records are, the higher the possibility that the records will contain mistakes becomes.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a management system which will solve the above problems and automatically records the behaviors of an operator without forcing the operator to behave in a special way.

In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a management system for supervising an operator within an operation area with a processing apparatus installed therein, including an imaging camera for capturing an image of the operator, a controller and an indicator. The controller includes an area map recorder unit for storing an area map that includes information about the processing apparatus installed in the operation area and information about the positions of the processing apparatus, an identifying information acquirer unit for acquiring identifying information regarding the nature of the operator on the basis of the image captured by the imaging camera, a traffic line extractor unit for extracting traffic lines of the operator from the image captured by the imaging camera, and a management unit connected to the area map recorder unit, the identifying information acquirer unit, and the traffic line extractor. The management unit has a function to record the traffic lines of the operator which have been extracted by the traffic line extractor unit and the identifying information of the operator, in relation to each other on the area map read from the area map recorder unit.

In the management system according to the aspect of the invention, the controller further may include an appropriate pattern storage unit for storing an appropriate pattern predefined for the traffic patterns of the operator, and a decision unit connected to the management unit, the appropriate pattern storage unit, and the indicator. The decision unit may have a function to perform a decision process for reading the appropriate pattern from the appropriate pattern storage unit and determining whether the recorded traffic lines and the appropriate pattern agree or disagree with each other. The indicator may have a function to indicate the result of the decision process performed by the decision unit.

In the management system according to the aspect of the invention, the controller may further include an operation menu controller unit connected to the management unit and the processing apparatus, for controlling an operation menu for operating the processing apparatus. The management unit may have a function to send the identifying information of the operator to the operation menu controller unit when the operator enters a control area established with respect to the processing apparatus, and the operation menu controller unit may have a function to display an operation menu suitable for the operator on a control panel of the processing apparatus.

The identifying information may be acquired using a face of the operator, a bar code, or a two-dimensional code that is included in the image of the operator captured by the imaging camera. The imaging camera may be mounted on the processing apparatus installed in the operation area. The identifying information may include orientation information representing the orientation of a body of the operator.

The management system according to the present invention is able to accumulate data about the behaviors of the operator without forcing the operator to perform special operations, using an indication or the like that is included in the captured image of the operator. The management system can also record the behaviors of the operator in detail and in an objective way on the basis of the image captured by the imaging camera. As the behaviors of the operator are automatically recorded, there will be no mistake in recording the behaviors of the operator.

The management system according to the present invention makes it possible to make suggestions for improvement based on the area map because the traffic lines of the operators are recorded on the area map. Since the traffic lines of the operators are distinguishably recorded, problems caused individually by the operators can be detected and suggestions for improvement can be made for the respective operators.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

A management system according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described below. First, an operation area to which the management system is applied will be described below with reference toFIG. 1.FIG. 1shows in plan an operation area1by way of example. As shown inFIG. 1, a plurality of processing apparatus3(3athrough3g) are disposed in the operation area1. An operator5for operating the processing apparatus3(3athrough3g) works in the operation area1. In the operation area1, the operator5wears working clothes bearing a target11to be imaged for acquiring identifying information, to be described later, of the operator5. The operator5delivers a work lot7to be processed to one of the processing apparatus3for processing the lot7, attaches the work lot7to the processing apparatus3, and then operates the processing apparatus3to process the work lot7. InFIG. 1, the operator5processes the work lot7on the processing apparatus3a. The processing apparatus3may be interconnected by a feeder, not shown, which delivers the work lot7successively to the processing apparatus3without manual intervention of the operator5.

The operation area1belongs to a factory for manufacturing semiconductor device chips, for example. The processing apparatus3are processing apparatus used in the manufacture of semiconductor device chips, such as a cutting apparatus, a grinding apparatus, a film formation apparatus, an exposing apparatus, an etching apparatus, a coating apparatus, a cleaning apparatus, etc. The operator5is an operator for handling the processing apparatus3, and the work lot7contains a plurality of semiconductor wafers or the like that are to be processed simultaneously. The operation area1may be a clean room, and the operator5may enter the clean room while wearing a clean suit. The clean suit may be printed with a code or the like that serves as the target11to be imaged for acquiring identifying information of the operator5.

The operation area1is provided with one or more imaging cameras4. InFIG. 1, the imaging cameras4include an imaging camera4amounted on the ceiling of the operation area1and an imaging camera4bmounted on the processing apparatus3. The imaging cameras4serve as part of the management system according to the present embodiment, and have a function to send captured images to a management unit, to be described later, of the management system. The imaging cameras4may have a function to change their imaging directions as instructed by the management unit. The imaging cameras4may also have a function to change their imaging directions to track the operator5as it moves in order to obtain detailed information about the behavior of the operator5. The imaging cameras4may add information as to the imaging directions to the images captured thereby.

The identifying information of the operator5will be described below. The identifying information of the operator5refers to information regarding the nature of a predetermined operator5, information about the predetermined operator5themselves, etc. For example, the identifying information of the operator5includes information used to supervise the operator5working in the operation area1, such as a personal number assigned to the operator5by a person who supervises the operator5, the name of the operator5, the department to which the operator5belongs, the managerial position of the operator5, the authority of the operator5, the level of skill of the operator5, etc. When the management system records the behavior of the operator5working in the operation area1together with the identifying information, the management system accumulates information useful for improving operations.

The target11to be imaged for acquiring the identifying information will be described below. The target11to be imaged for acquiring the identifying information refers to an indication or the like to be analyzed for acquiring the identifying information of the operator5. When images are captured by the imaging cameras4, the target11is included in the captured images, and the management system according to the present embodiment analyzes the target11in the captured images. The target11may include, for example, a string of characters or a code, etc. printed on working clothes, a clean suit, a helmet, or the like worn by the operator5. The code may be a bar code, a two-dimensional code, or the like. If the identifying information of the operator5is embedded in the code or the like, the management system can obtain the identifying information of the operator5by analyzing the code or the like.

Even if not all the identifying information is contained in the code or the like, the management system2can obtain the identifying information of the operator5providing the personal number of the operator5is contained in the code or the like. Specifically, if all the identifying information is registered in relation to the personal number of the operator5in the management system2, then the personal number of the operator5may be read from the imaged target11, and the information registered in relation to the personal number of the operator5may be retrieved as the identifying information of the operator5. Moreover, the code or the like may not contain any of the identifying information of the operator5, but may contain an inherent number or the like assigned individually to the working clothes or the like, for example. When the operator5enters the operation area1, information joining the operator5and the working clothes worn by the operator5may be registered in the management system2. Then, the management system2may read the inherent number or the like assigned individually to the working clothes or the like from the code or the like attached to the working clothes or the like, retrieve the information registered in relation to the inherent number or the like, and obtain the identifying information of the operator5who is wearing the working clothes or the like.

As described above, even if the identifying information of the operator5is not partly or wholly contained in the target11to be imaged for acquiring identifying information, the management system2can acquire the identifying information of the operator5by analyzing the imaged target11. The target11to be imaged for acquiring identifying information may not be a printed string of characters, a code, or the like. Alternatively, for example, physical features of the operator5may be registered in relation to the identifying information of the operator5in the management system2, and the management system2may acquire the identifying information of the operator5by reading the physical feature from the captured images and analyzing the physical feature. Specifically, the face of the operator5, for example, may be registered in relation to the identifying information of the operator5in the management system2, and the management system2may identify the operator5from the face thereof included in the captured images and acquire the identifying information of the operator5from the identified face. In this case, the face of the operator5serves as the target11to be imaged for acquiring identifying information.

FIG. 4shows by way of example an image13captured by the imaging camera4bmounted on the processing apparatus3. As shown inFIG. 4, the captured image13includes codes printed on the working clothes or the like worn by the operator5. The captured image13also includes the face, denoted by11a, of the operator5. If the face11aof the operator5has been registered in relation to the identifying information of the operator5in the management system2, then the management system2can acquire the identifying information of the operator5using the face11aof the operator5. As shown inFIG. 4, a plurality of codes may be applied to the working clothes or the like worn by the operator5. These codes may not be identical to each other. The codes may include information about the regions of the working clothes or the like where the codes are applied. If this is the case, then the direction in which the operator5faces can be acquired as part of the identifying information of the operator5from the codes. Specifically, for example, as shown inFIG. 4, the codes applied to the working clothes worn by the operator5include a code11bpositioned on the head of the operator5, a code11cpositioned on the left-hand side of the operator5, a code11dpositioned on the right-hand side of the operator5, and a code11epositioned on the forehead of the operator5. Furthermore, the codes on the working clothes may also include, as shown inFIGS. 2 and 3, a code11fpositioned on the back of the head of the operator5, a code11gpositioned on the back of the operator5, and a code11hpositioned on the front of the operator5. Information about the orientation of the body of the operator5and the orientation of the face of the operator5can be acquired by analyzing these codes.

The configuration of the management system2according to the present embodiment and the functions of components thereof will be described below with reference toFIGS. 2 and 3.FIG. 2schematically shows the management system2, the operator5, and the processing apparatus3. The management system2supervises the operation area1and the operator5working in the operation area1. The management system2includes one or more imaging cameras4(4a,4b), a controller6and an indicator18(18a,18b). The imaging cameras4are mounted on the ceiling or wall of the operation area1and one of the processing apparatus3. InFIGS. 2 and 3, the imaging camera4ais mounted on the ceiling of the operation area1and the imaging camera4bis mounted on the processing apparatus3. For recording the behavior of the operator5in the operation area1in detail, the imaging cameras4should preferably be located to compensate each other's blind spots. The imaging cameras4include cameras that are used as general monitoring cameras. If the resolution of the imaging cameras4is high, then it is possible to grasp the identifying information and behaviors of many operators5in detail at the same time. However, if the resolution of the imaging cameras4is too high, then the amount of data of images captured thereby is so large that the management system2needs to be able to process the large amount of image data and hence is expensive to manufacture.

The controller6may be implemented using any type of device capable of processing data, such as a processor. Here, the processor may refer to a hardware built-in data processing device having a circuit physically structured to perform functions expressed in codes or instructions included in computer programs. Examples of the hardware built-in data processing device may include processing devices such as a microprocessor, a central processing unit (CPU), a processor core, a multiprocessor, an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field programmable gate array (FPGA), etc., but the scope of the present invention is not limited thereto.

The components or units of the controller6may be dedicated portions of the processor for performing their respective functions, or they may be representations of different functions performed by the overall controller6in response to control instructions provided from a program code. It is also contemplated that the components or units may be implemented as individual processors performing their respective functions.

In another embodiment the components or units of the controller6may also be implemented as software programs including codes or instruction, which are executed in one or more hardware devices such as a computer processor. Software programs may be hardcoded or programmed directly in a computer processor, or stored in a storage medium and retrieved and executed by the computer processor. Examples of the software program include not only machine language codes prepared by a compiler but also high-level codes executable by a computer by using an interpreter.

A storage medium may be a non-transitory computer-readable recording medium such as magnetic media (e.g., hard disks, floppy disks, and magnetic tapes), optical media (e.g., CD-ROMs and DVDs), magneto-optical media (e.g., floptical disks), and hardware devices specifically configured to store and execute program commands (e.g., ROMs, RAMs, and flash memories).

The controller6includes a management unit8, an area map recorder unit10, an identifying information acquirer unit12, and a traffic line extractor unit14. The controller6may also include an appropriate pattern storage unit16, a decision unit20, and an operation menu controller unit22.

The functions of the components of the management system2will be described below. First, the management unit8is connected to the other units, described above, of the controller6, and has a function to control those units. The management unit8has a memory, not shown, for storing information, etc. sent from the other components of the controller6. The area map recorder unit10has a function to store and record a basic area map that includes information about the processing apparatus3installed in the operation area1and information about the layout of the processing apparatus3. The area map recorder unit10stores the basic area map including the above information before the operation area1starts to operate.

The area map that is stored by the area map recorder unit10before the operation area1starts to operate is generated by the area map recorder unit10or the management unit8, for example, using a plurality of images captured by the imaging cameras4. The supervisor of the operation area1, the operator5, or the like may add information to the area map thus generated. Behaviors (particularly, traffic lines) of the operator5are recorded in the area map. The area map recorder unit10sends the stored area map to the management unit8in response to a request from the management unit8. The area map recorder unit10also receives an area map where the traffic lines, etc. of the operator5are recorded from the management unit8, and records the received area map therein. The area map recorded in the area map recorder unit10may be output from the management system2in response to a request from the supervisor of the operation area1or the like.

The identifying information acquirer unit12has a function to acquire the identifying information of the operator5using images captured by the imaging cameras4. Specifically, the identifying information acquirer unit12extracts the target11imaged for acquiring the identifying information from the captured images, and analyzes the extracted target11. If the target11imaged for acquiring the identifying information is a code such as a bar code, a two-dimensional code, or the like, then the identifying information acquirer unit12analyzes the code. The identifying information and the target11imaged for acquiring the identifying information have been described above in detail. If not all the identifying information is contained in the code or the like, then the identifying information acquirer unit12sends an inquiry about the result of the analysis of the code or the like to another memory or the like, and acquires the identifying information. The identifying information acquirer unit12then sends the acquired identifying information to the management unit8. The identifying information acquirer unit12also analyzes the face11aof the operator5and extracts features thereof. For example, the identifying information acquirer unit12extracts features of the face11afrom the contours of the right eye, the left eye, the nose, the mouth, the ears, outline of the face, and their relative positional relationships, checks the extracted features against the features of the faces of all operators5stored in the other memory, and identifies the operator5included in the captured images. The identifying information acquirer unit12sends an inquiry to the memory where the identifying information is stored, and acquires the identifying information of the identified operator5. The identifying information acquirer unit12sends the acquired identifying information to the management unit8.

The traffic line extractor unit14has a function to extract traffic lines9of the operator5from the images captured by the imaging cameras4. Specifically, the traffic line extractor unit14focuses on a particular region, e.g., head, of the operator5included in a captured image, and extracts the position of the region. The traffic line extractor unit14performs such an extracting process on each of the captured images and joins the positions extracted from the captured images, thereby extracting the traffic lines9of the operator5. The traffic line extractor unit14sends the extracted traffic lines9to the management unit8. The management unit8cooperates with the area map recorder unit10, the identifying information acquirer unit12, and the traffic line extractor unit14in recording the traffic lines9of the operator5in the operation area1on the area map. In other words, the management unit8records, on the area map read from the area map recorder unit10, the traffic lines9of the operator5extracted by the traffic line extractor unit14in relation to the identifying information of the operator5.

The area map where the traffic lines9of the operator9are recorded is schematically shown by way of example inFIG. 5. As shown inFIG. 5, the management system2according to the present embodiment produces an area map15where the traffic lines9of the operator9are recorded in detail. The area map15where the traffic lines9of the operator5are recorded is useful in coming up with suggestions for improvement about the layout of the processing apparatus3in the operation area1and the behaviors of the operator5. For example, the supervisor of the operation area1grasps the traffic lines9of a plurality of operators5using the area map15, and if the supervisor finds a region where the traffic lines9are too closely packed, then the supervisor can alter the layout of the processing apparatus3in order to make the traffic lines9less closely packed. If the supervisor thinks that the traffic lines9of an operator5are inadequate, then the supervisor can advise the operator5to improve the behaviors of the operator5. When the traffic lines9are displayed on the area map15, renditions of the traffic lines9, such as the colors, thicknesses, etc. of the traffic lines9may be changed over time to allow the supervisor or the like to be aware of the elapse of time instinctively. The supervisor can thus grasp instinctively not only the paths through which the operator5has moved, but also how fast the operator5has moved through the paths and in what sequence the operator5has taken the paths.

The appropriate pattern storage unit16stores therein a predefined pattern appropriate (appropriate pattern) for behaviors (particularly, traffic lines) of the operator5in the operation area1. The appropriate pattern storage unit16is connected to the decision unit20, and has a function to send the stored appropriate pattern to the decision unit20when the decision unit20is to determine whether the behaviors (particularly, traffic lines) of the operator5are appropriate or not. The predefined appropriate pattern is established for the operation area1depending on the operations that the predetermined operator5is required to perform. For example, if the operator5performs operations using the processing apparatus3, an area where the operator5can control the processing apparatus3(control area) is established as an appropriate pattern for the traffic lines. On the other hand, if the operator5performs operations for carrying the work lot7between two of the processing apparatus3, for example, then a path through which the operator5moves over the shortest distance between the two processing apparatus3is established as an appropriate pattern for the traffic lines.

The decision unit20is connected to the appropriate pattern storage unit16, the indicator18, and the management unit8. The decision unit20reads the traffic lines9of the operator5from the management unit8and also reads the appropriate pattern of traffic lines from the appropriate pattern storage unit16. The decision unit20compares the traffic lines9and the appropriate pattern with each other, and determines whether they agree or disagree with each other.

Specifically, if the traffic lines9of the operator5do not deviate from a region set as the appropriate pattern, then the decision unit20decides that the traffic lines9and the appropriate pattern agree with each other, and if the traffic lines9of the operator5deviate from the region set as the appropriate pattern, then the decision unit20decides that the traffic lines9and the appropriate pattern disagree with each other. If the decision unit20decides that the traffic lines9and the appropriate pattern disagree with each other, then the decision unit20may generate information representing how much the traffic lines9of the operator5deviate from the region, etc.

An example of a decision process performed by the decision unit20will be described below with reference to the area map shown inFIG. 5. As shown inFIG. 5, the area map15records therein the traffic lines9of the operator5, allowing the user to grasp in detail the manner in which the operator5has moved between the processing apparatus3. For example, if a region between the processing apparatus3is set as the appropriate pattern, then the decision20decides that those traffic lines9which have portions on a deviation17from the appropriate pattern disagree with the appropriate pattern. The decision unit20may generate information representing the deviation17from the appropriate pattern.

The decision unit20sends the result of the decision process to the management unit8, and the management unit8stores therein the received result of the decision process. The decision unit20also sends the result of the decision process to the indicator18. The indicator18may be disposed within the operation area1, or on one of the processing apparatus3, or outside of the operation area1. The indicator18has a function to indicate the result of the decision process to the operator5or the supervisor of the operation area1. InFIG. 2, the indicator18is shown as including an indicator18amounted on the ceiling of the operation area1and an indicator18bmounted on one of the processing apparatus3. The indicator18may have a function to emit red light or green light, and may emit green light when the result of the decision process shows agreement between the traffic lines9and the appropriate pattern, and may emit red light when the result of the decision process shows disagreement between the traffic lines9and the appropriate pattern. The indicator18may also have a function to generate an alarm sound, and may not be energized when the result of the decision process shows agreement between the traffic lines9and the appropriate pattern, and may produce the alarm sound when the result of the decision process shows disagreement between the traffic lines9and the appropriate pattern. If the period of time taken after the imaging cameras4have imaged the operator5until the indicator18indicates the result of the decision process is sufficiently short, then since the operator5at work can be warned of a deviation from the appropriate pattern on site, the behavior of the operator5can immediately be corrected.

The appropriate pattern storage unit16may store therein a pattern inappropriate (inappropriate pattern) for behaviors (particularly, traffic lines) of the operator5. If this is the case, then when the decision unit20decides that the traffic lines9of the operator9agree with the inappropriate pattern, the indicator18issues a warning to the operator5or the like. Moreover, the management system2according to the present embodiment senses entry of the operator5into the control area of any one of the processing apparatus3, and automatically displays an operation menu suitable for the operator5on a control panel of the processing apparatus3. At this time, the operator5does not need to take any special action on the processing apparatus3.

The operation menu controller unit22is connected to the management unit8and the processing apparatus3, and has a function to control operation menus displayed on the control panel of each of the processing apparatus3. When the management unit8detects entry of the operator5into the control area of one of the processing apparatus3on the basis of the images captured by the imaging cameras4, the management unit8sends the identifying information of the operator5to the operation menu controller unit22. In response to the identifying information of the operator5, the operation menu controller unit22displays an operation menu suitable for the operator5on the control panel of the processing apparatus3. The operation menu suitable for the operator5refers to an operation menu that allows the operator to perform operations under the authority which the operator5has, operations to be carried out next by the operator5, etc.

Operators5who may be assigned to the operation area1engage in given operations at suitable processing apparatus3, respectively. The greater the number of required operation steps is and the more the processing apparatus3are involved, the higher the possibility that the operators5will make mistakes becomes. For example, in a factory for manufacturing semiconductor device chips, the processing apparatus3that are installed range over a variety of types, and a single work lot7may be processed in up to several hundred operation steps. Consequently, there is a certain possibility that each operator5will make mistakes while performing operations. The management system2according to present embodiment deals with such a problem as follows: When the controller6detects entry of the operator5into the control area of any one of the processing apparatus3on the basis of the traffic lines9of the operator5and the identifying information of the operator5, the controller6displays an operation menu suitable for the operator5on the control panel of the processing apparatus3. At this time, the operator5does not need to take any special action on the processing apparatus3, such as entering its identifying information into the processing apparatus3, but may operate on the control panel according to the displayed control menu. Accordingly, the operator5is free of an excessive burden, and the possibility that the operator5will make mistakes in performing operations is reduced. When the operator5enters the control area of one of the processing apparatus3which is not scheduled for duty, the controller6may display the unauthorized entry on the control panel of the processing apparatus3, and may make the processing apparatus3uncontrollable, thereby completely eliminating the possibility that the operator5will erroneously control the processing apparatus3which is not scheduled for duty.

As described above, the management system2according to the present embodiment is able to accumulate data about the behaviors of the operator5without forcing the operator5to perform special operations, using a code (identification mark) or the like applied to the working clothes worn by the operator5. The management system2can also record the behaviors of the operator5automatically and in an objective way on the basis of the images captured by the imaging cameras4. As the behaviors of the operator are automatically recorded, there will be no mistake in recording the behaviors of the operator.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, but various changes and modifications may be made in the embodiment. For example, according to the above embodiment, the traffic lines9of the operator5are focused on and described as information about the behaviors of the operator5that are grasped using the imaging cameras4. However, the management system2may accumulate information about the orientation of the operator5, and may detect when the operator5faces in an inappropriate direction, so that the indicator18may give the operator5a warning about the wrong orientation of the operator5. Furthermore, the management system2may monitor control actions on the processing apparatus3, and hence may determine whether the operator5has been performing a given operation at a sufficient level of expertise or not or whether the operator5has not been behaving beyond certain standard limits. If the management system2decides that the operator5has not been performing the given operation at the sufficient level of expertise, then the management system2can take suitable measures, e.g., giving a guidance to the operator5.

The management system2are connected to the processing apparatus3installed in the operation area1, and may acquire information about the availability of the processing apparatus3. If the management system2reviews the availability information together with the image information acquired from the imaging cameras4, the management system2makes it possible to study and offer sophisticated suggestions for improvement. The management system2may also analyze the acquired information in real time to detect a defect in the operation area1, and if the management system2detects such a defect, then it may indicate the defect immediately to the supervisor of the operation area1or the like. The supervisor may then control the management system2to instruct the operator5and the processing apparatus3to deal with the defect. The management system2may also be used to provide healthcare to the operator5. Specifically, the management system2may generate information about the fatigue of the operator5from the activity of the operator5, and may give a rest to the operator5which has fatigued to a certain extent so as to keep the operator5active above a certain level. In addition, the management system5may be used to assess the working posture of the operator5. The management system2thus used for working posture assessment is able to detect operators5who are taking an unnecessarily long rest or operators5who are committing neglect of duty.