Order control apparatus capable of reducing input operation by an input unit

Abstract: In an order control apparatus including a first memory area (1) for memorizing item information in correspondence to item numbers, a second memory area (2) for memorizing structure information in correspondence to the item numbers, and a third memory area (3), a control section (4) stores in the third memory area an order number and an ordered item number received as order information from an input unit (7). Simultaneously, the control section reads from the first memory area the item information corresponding to the item number coincident with the ordered item number and stores the readout item information in the third memory area. The control section furthermore reads from the second memory area the structure information corresponding to the item number coincident with the ordered item number and stores the readout structure information in the third memory area with the order number added to the structure information as a parent order number. Alternatively, the structure information with the parent order number coincident with the order number may be acquired by searching a content of the third memory area. An order developing section (5) develops the item information and the structure information stored in the third memory area into manufacture instruction information.

Description: Background of the Invention: This invention relates to an order control apparatus for use in a production control system and, in particular, to an order control apparatus for use in developing order information relating to an ordered product into manufacture instruction information. A production control system utilizing a production order number (called "seiban" in the art) and another production control system based on material requirement planning (abbreviated to MRP) are well known in the art. For example, such systems are disclosed in Japanese Patent Prepublications (A) Nos. 30953/1992, 251050/1987, and 342241/1993. This invention is most suitable for use in the production control system utilizing the production order number. However, this invention is also applicable to the MRP-based production control system, as will later be described. A conventional order control apparatus for use in the production control system utilizing a production order number comprises an item information memory area, a structure information memory area, and an order memory area. The item information memory area memorizes, in correspondence to each of item numbers representative of items of products, each item information representative of a manufacturing feature of each of the products. Likewise, the structure information memory area memorizes, in correspondence to each of the item numbers, each structure information relating to component parts of each of the products. The order memory area memorizes, when receives an order number representative of an ordered product and an ordered item number representative of an item of the ordered product as order information, stores the order information. More specifically, the item information memory area memorizes, in correspondence to each of the item numbers, each lead time of each of the products and each name of each of the products as each item information. The lead time is equivalent in meaning to a time interval required to manufacture each product. The structure information memory area memorizes, as each structure information, component item numbers representative of component items of the component parts of each of the products and unit amounts of the component parts of each of the products in correspondence to each parent item number representative of a parent item constituted by the component parts of each of the products. The unit amount is equivalent in meaning to the number of each of the component items required in manufacturing a single product in the manner which will become clear as the description proceeds. The above-mentioned conventional order control apparatus stores in the order memory area the order information received from an input unit and manages only the order information independently of the item information and the structure information. Thus, the order information is not related to the item information and the structure information corresponding thereto. Every time when new order information is supplied from the input unit, the order control apparatus must request the input unit so that the input unit inputs to the order control apparatus the item information and the structure information corresponding to the new order information. In this event, it is essential to carry out input operation of the item information and the structure information by an operator by using the input unit. After the item information and the structure information are stored in the item information memory area and the structure information memory area, respectively, the order control apparatus stores the order information in the order memory area and makes an order developing section execute calculation as required. The order developing section thereby produces manufacture instruction information. In the above-mentioned conventional order control apparatus, the order information is not related to the item information and the structure information corresponding thereto. For example, in case of an individual order production in which a specification of the product is determined by the order, it is necessary for the input unit to renew the item information and the structure information so as to meet the specification determined by every order. Summary of the Invention: It is therefore an object of this invention to provide an order control apparatus which is capable of reducing input operation of item information and structure information by an input unit. It is another object of this invention to provide an order control apparatus of the type described, in which an input unit is not almost required to input item information and structure information. Present invention is defined in independant claim 1. Preferred embodiments are discribed in the depending claims. According to an aspect of this invention, there is provided an order control apparatus comprising: an item information memory area for preliminarily memorizing, in correspondence to each of item numbers representative of items of products, each item information representative of a manufacturing feature of each of the products; a structure information memory area for preliminarily memorizing, in correspondence to each of the item numbers, each structure information relating to component parts of each of the products; an order/structure memory area; a control section connected to the item information memory area, the structure information memory area, and the order/structure memory area and supplied as order information with an order number representative of an ordered product and with an ordered item number representative of an item of the ordered product for storing the order number and the ordered item number in the order/structure memory area as a current order number and a current ordered item number, the control section being furthermore for reading, as corresponding item information from the item information memory area, the item information corresponding to the item number coincident with the ordered item number and for storing the corresponding item information in the order/structure memory area as current item information, the control section being furthermore for reading, as corresponding structure information from the structure information memory area, the structure information corresponding to the item number coincident with the ordered item number and for storing the corresponding structure information in the order/structure memory area as current structure information with the order number added to the current structure information as a parent order number; and an order developing section connected to the order/structure memory area for developing the current item information and the current structure information into manufacture instruction information. According to another aspect of this invention, there is provided an order control apparatus comprising: an item information memory area for preliminarily memorizing, in correspondence to each of item numbers representative of items of products, each lead time of each of the products as each item information representative of a manufacturing feature of each of the products; a structure information memory area for preliminarily memorizing, as each structure information relating to component parts of each of the products, component item numbers representative of component items of the component parts of each of the products and unit amounts of the component parts of each of the products in correspondence to each parent item number representative of a parent item constituted by the component parts of each of the products; an order/structure memory area; a control section connected to the item information memory area, the structure information memory area, and the order/structure memory area and supplied as order information with an order number representative of an ordered product and with an ordered item number representative of an item of the ordered product for storing the order number and the ordered item number in the order/structure memory area as a current order number and a current ordered item number, the control section being furthermore for reading, as a corresponding lead time from the item information memory area, the lead time corresponding to the item number coincident with the ordered item number and for storing the corresponding lead time in the order/structure memory area as a current lead time, the control section being furthermore for reading, as corresponding component item numbers and corresponding unit amounts from the structure information memory area, the component item numbers and the unit amounts corresponding to the item number coincident with the ordered item number and for storing the corresponding component item numbers and the corresponding unit amounts in the order/structure memory area as current component item numbers and current unit amounts with the order number added to the current component item numbers and the current unit amounts as a parent order number; and an order developing section connected to the order/structure memory area for developing the current lead time and the current unit amounts into a requisite amount, a due date, and a scheduled start date for each of the component items represented by the current component item numbers to store the requisite amount, the due date, and the scheduled start date for each of the component items and to produce the requisite amount, the due date, and the scheduled start date for each of the component items as manufacture instruction information. Brief Description of the Drawing: Fig. 1 is a block diagram of an order control apparatus according to an embodiment of this invention; Fig. 2 is a view for use in describing item information memorized in an item information memory area of the order control apparatus illustrated in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a view for use in describing structure information memorized in a structure information memory area of the order control apparatus illustrated in Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a view for use in describing information stored in an order/structure memory area of the order control apparatus illustrated in Fig. 1; and Fig. 5 is a flow chart for use in describing an operation of the order control apparatus illustrated in Fig. 1. Description of the Preferred Embodiment: Description will now be made as regards an embodiment of this invention with reference to the drawing. Referring to Fig. 1, an order control apparatus according to one embodiment of this invention comprises an item information memory area 1, a structure information memory area 2, an order/structure memory area 3, a control section 4 connected to the item information memory area 1, the structure information memory area 2, and the order/structure memory area 3, and an order developing section 5 connected to the order/structure memory area 3. A delivery request information memory area 6 is connected to the order developing section 5. An input unit 7 is connected to the control section 4. Referring to Fig. 2, the item information memory area 1 preliminarily memorizes, in correspondence to each of item numbers representative of items of products, each name of each of the products and each lead time of each of the products as each item information representative of a manufacturing feature of each of the products. For example, the item information memory area 1 memorizes " AUTOMOBILE" and "15 DAYS" as the name and as the lead time, respectively, in correspondence to an item number A. The item information memory area 1 memorizes "HANDLE" and "1 DAY" as the name and as the lead time, respectively, in correspondence to an item number B. Likewise, the item number memory area 1 memorizes "TIRE" and "1 DAY" as the name and as the lead time, respectively, in correspondence to an item number C. Referring to Fig. 3, the structure information memory area 2 preliminarily memorizes, as each structure information relating to component parts of each of the products, component item numbers B, C, ... representative of component items of the component parts of each of the products and unit amounts 1, 4, ... of the component parts of each of the products in correspondence to each parent item number A representative of a parent item constituted by the component parts of each of the products. As described above, the name of the component item represented by the component item number B is " HANDLE". The unit amount of the handle is equal to one. The name of the component item represented by the component item number C is "TIRE" and the unit amount of the tire is equal to four. Fig. 4 shows the order/structure memory area 3. Fig. 5 shows a flow chart for describing an operation of the order control apparatus illustrated in Fig. 1. Referring to Figs. 1 to 5, the input unit 7 inputs a production order number 100 (Fig. 4), an order number 123456 (Fig. 4) representative of an ordered product, and an ordered item number A (Fig. 4) representative of an item of the ordered product to the control section 4 as order information. When receives the production order number 100, the order number 123456, and the ordered item number A as the order information from the input unit 7, the control section 4 stores the production order number 100, the order number 123456, and the ordered item number A in the order/structure memory area 3. In this event, the order number 123456 and the ordered item number A are stored in the order/structure memory area 3 as a current order number and a current ordered item number (step 20 in Fig. 5). The control section 4 furthermore reads, as a corresponding lead time from the item information memory areal, the lead time of 15 days corresponding to the item number coincident with the ordered item number A and stores the corresponding lead time in the order/structure memory area 3 as a current lead time. Simultaneously, the control section 4 reads from the item information memory area 1 the name of "AUTOMOBILE" corresponding to the item number coincident with the ordered item number A and stores the name in the order/structure memory area 3 (step 21). When the corresponding lead time is not present in the item information memory area 1, the control section 4 requests the input unit 7 so that the input unit 7 inputs the corresponding lead time to the control section 4. When receives the corresponding lead time from the input unit 7 as received lead time, the control section 4 stores the received lead time as the current lead time in the order/structure memory area 3 and the received lead time and the ordered item number in the item information memory area 1 (step 21). The control section 4 furthermore reads; as corresponding component item numbers and corresponding unit amounts from the structure information memory area 2, the component item numbers B and C and the unit amounts 1 and 4 corresponding to the item number coincident with the ordered item number A and stores the corresponding component item numbers and the corresponding unit amounts in the order/structure memory area 3 as current component item numbers and current unit amounts with the order number 123456 added to the current component item numbers and the current unit amounts as a parent order number. Simultaneously, the control section 4 reads from the item information memory area 1 the names "HANDLE" and "TIRE" corresponding to the item numbers coincident with the component item numbers B and C. The names thus read are also stored in the order/structure memory area 3 (step 22). When the corresponding component item numbers and the corresponding unit amounts are not present in the structure information memory area 2, the control section 4 searches, as the corresponding component item numbers and the corresponding unit amounts by using the order number 123456 as a search key, previous component item numbers and previous unit amounts previously stored in the order/structure memory area 3 with the parent order number coincident with the order number 123456 added to the previous component item numbers and the previous unit amounts. The control section 4 transcribes the corresponding component item numbers and the corresponding unit amounts in the order/structure memory area 3 as the current component item numbers and the current unit amounts with the parent order number coincident with the order number 123456 added to the current component item numbers and the current unit amounts (step 23). Although the step 23 is carried out subsequently to the step 22 in Fig. 5, the step 23 may be carried out subsequently to the step 21 and instead of the step 22. In this case, no matter whether or not the corresponding component item numbers and the corresponding unit amounts are present in the structure information memory area 2, the control section 4 searches, as the corresponding component item numbers and the corresponding unit amounts by using the order number 123456 as the search key, previous component item numbers and previous unit amounts previously stored in the order/structure memory area 3 with the parent order number coincident with the order number 123456 added to the previous component item numbers and the previous unit amounts. Thereafter, the control section 4 transcribes the corresponding component item numbers and the corresponding unit amounts in the order/structure memory area 3 as the current component item numbers and the current unit amounts with the parent order number coincident with the order number 123456 added to the current component item numbers and the current unit amounts, like in the step 23. When the corresponding component item numbers and the corresponding unit amounts are not present in the structure information memory area 3, the control section 4 requests the input unit 7 so that the input unit 7 inputs the corresponding component item numbers and the corresponding unit amounts to the control section4. When receives the corresponding component item numbers and the corresponding unit amounts from the input unit 7 as received component item numbers and received unit amounts, the control section 4 stores the received component item numbers and the received unit amounts as the current component item numbers and the current unit amounts in the order/structure memory area 3 with the order number 123456 added to the current component item numbers and the current unit amounts as the parent order number (step 24). The order developing section 5 develops the current lead time and the current unit amounts into a requisite amount, a due date, and a scheduled start date for each of the component items represented by the current component item numbers. The order developing section 5 stores the requisite amount, the due date, and the scheduled start date for each of the component items and produces the requisite amount, the due date, and the scheduled start date for each of the component items as manufacture instruction information (step 25). In presence of a prospective production item (namely, the item managed or controlled by the MRP), the order developing section 5 supplies the delivery request information memory area 6 with delivery request information (including, for example, an item number, a requested delivery date, and a requested number) for the prospective production item (step 26). As described above, according to this invention, the order/structure memory area stores not only the order information but also a combination of the structure information and the item information. Therefore, an order control apparatus according to this invention is capable of reducing input operation of the item information and the structure information by the input unit. That is, the input unit is not almost required to input the item information and the structure information in the order control apparatus according to this invention.

Claims: An order control apparatus comprising: an item information memory area (1) for preliminarily memorizing, in correspondence to item numbers representative of items of products, each item information representative of a manufacturing feature of each of said products; and a structure information memory area (2) for preliminarily memorizing, in correspondence to said item numbers, each structure information respectively relating to component parts of said products; characterized by: an order/structure memory area (3); a control section (4) connected to said item information memory area (1), said structure information memory area (2), and said order/structure memory area (3) for supplying as order information an order number representative of an ordered product and an ordered item number representative of an item of said ordered product, and for storing said order number and said ordered item number in said order/structure memory area (3) as a current order number and a current ordered item number, said control section (4) being further for reading said corresponding item information from said item information memory area (1), the item information corresponding to the item number being coincident with said ordered item number, and for storing said corresponding item information in said order/structure memory area (3) as current item information, said control section (4) being further for reading said corresponding structure information from said structure information memory area (2), the structure information corresponding to the item number being coincident with said ordered item number, and for storing said corresponding structure information in said order/structure memory area (3) as current structure information with said order number added to said current structure information as a parent order number; and an order developing section (5) connected to said order/structure memory area (3) for developing said current item information and said current structure information into manufacture instruction information. An order control apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an input unit (7) for inputting said order number and said ordered item number to said control section (4); characterized in that: said control section (4) being for requesting, when said corresponding item information is not present in said item information memory area (1), said input unit (7) so that said input unit inputs said corresponding item information to said control section (4), said control section (4) being for storing, when receives said corresponding item information from said input unit (7) as received item information, said received item information as said current item information in said order/structure memory area (3) and said received item information and said ordered item number in said item information memory area (1). An order control apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an input unit (7) for inputting said order number and said ordered item number to said control section (4); characterized in that: said control section is for requesting, when said corresponding structure information is not present in said structure information memory area (2), said input unit (7) so that said input unit (7) inputs said corresponding structure information to said control section (4), said control section (4) being for storing, when receives said corresponding structure information from said input unit (7) as received structure information, said received structure information as said current structure information in said order/structure memory area (3) with said order number added to said current structure information as the parent order number. An order control apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an input unit (7) for inputting said order number and said ordered item number to said control section (4), characterized in that: said control section (4) is for searching said corresponding structure information by using said order number as a search key when said corresponding structure information is not present in said structure information memory area (2), previous structure information previously stored in said order/structure memory area (3) with the parent order number being coincident with said order number added to said previous structure information, said control section (4) transcribing said corresponding structure information in said order/structure memory area (3) as said current structure information with the parent order number being coincident with said order number added to said current structure information. An order control apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said item information comprises an item number, a lead time and/or a name of said ordered products respectively. An order control apparatus according to claim 1, 3 or 4, wherein said structure information comprises a component item number, a parent component number and/or a unit amount of component items of said ordered products respectively. An order control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said manufacture instruction information comprises a requisite amount, a due date and/or a scheduled start date of said ordered products respectively.

Inventors: USHIKI HIROFUMI, USHIKI, HIROFUMI
Applicants: NIPPON ELECTRIC CO, NEC CORPORATION
Application year: 1996
Main classification: G05B19
IPC codes: G05B19