Patent Publication Number: US-2021182762-A1

Title: Work instruction system and work instruction method

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     The present application claims priority from Japanese application JP 2019-224216, filed on Dec. 12, 2019, the contents of which is hereby incorporated by reference into this application. 
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to a work instruction system and a work instruction method. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     JP-A-2018-180588 (PTL 1) discloses a background art of this technical field. PTL 1 discloses that in order to give a work instruction accurately and appropriately, an accurate work time is measured from an operation history of a facility and a work engagement time of a worker collected by an area sensor, and the work instruction is provided to the worker appropriately. 
     CITATION LIST 
     Patent Literature 
     PTL 1: JP-A-2018-180588 
     SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
     Technical Problem 
     The technique disclosed in PTL 1 proposes a system that combines the area sensor that detects that a worker is positioned in a work area determined for each facility and operation performance of the facility are combined to accurately acquire a start date and time and an end date and time of work, and to present an appropriate work instruction to the worker based on these pieces of information. However, the technique disclosed in PTL 1 determines whether the work is in-progress by using only information on presence or absence of the worker at a facility location and an operating status of the facility. Therefore, it may falsely detect the start date and time and the end date and time of the work when a part or a product as a work target is absent. 
     An object of the invention is to provide an accurate and appropriate work instruction in accordance with progress of a production site. 
     Solution to Problem 
     The present application includes a plurality of devices for solving at least a part of the problems described above. An example of the devices is as follows. In order to solve the above problems, in a work instruction system according to one aspect of the invention including a production progress management device and a work instruction device. The work instruction system is characterized by: the production progress management device includes a communication unit configured to communicate with the work instruction device, a product signal storage unit configured to store a product signal including position information of a product, a product in-progress process estimation unit configured to estimate an in-progress process of the product using the position information of the product, and a production progress estimation and update unit configured to estimate production progress of the product in accordance with a change in the position information of the product and update production progress information, and the work instruction device includes a communication unit configured to communicate with the production progress management device, a production progress storage unit configured to store the production progress information, a data collection unit configured to obtain progress management information updated from the production progress management device via the communication unit, a recommended work generation unit configured to generate recommended work information by using the updated production progress information for a predetermined product, and an output unit configured to display a work instruction based on a production plan of the product and the recommended work information. 
     Advantageous Effect 
     According to the invention, it is possible to provide an accurate and appropriate work instruction in accordance with progress of a production site. As a result, it is possible to optimize production indices in accordance with a purpose, such as improvement of an operation rate of a manufacturing device, increase of a production volume, reduction of manufacturing lead time, and compliance of delivery time, thereby implementing a manufacturing site with high productivity. Problems, configurations and effects other than those described above will be clarified by description of the following embodiment. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a diagram showing a configuration example of a work instruction system according to a first embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a diagram showing a configuration example of a production progress management device. 
         FIG. 3  is a diagram showing an example of a data structure of a production performance storage unit. 
         FIG. 4  is a diagram showing an example of a data structure of a production plan information storage unit. 
         FIG. 5  is a diagram showing an example of a data structure of a production progress storage unit. 
         FIG. 6  is a diagram showing an example of a data structure of a worker signal storage unit. 
         FIG. 7  is a diagram showing an example of a data structure of a facility performance storage unit. 
         FIG. 8  is a diagram showing an example of a data structure of a product signal storage unit. 
         FIG. 9  is a diagram showing an example of a data structure of a product in-progress process storage unit. 
         FIG. 10  is a diagram showing an example of a data structure of a position and process information storage unit. 
         FIG. 11  is a diagram showing an example of a hardware configuration of the production progress management device. 
         FIG. 12  is a diagram showing an example of a flow of a product in-progress process estimation processing. 
         FIG. 13  is a diagram showing an example of a flow of production progress estimation and update processing. 
         FIG. 14  is a diagram showing an example of a flow of a production progress estimation processing in the production progress estimation and update processing. 
         FIG. 15  is a diagram showing another example of the flow of the production progress estimation processing. 
         FIG. 16  is a diagram showing a configuration example of a work instruction device. 
         FIG. 17  is a diagram showing an example of a data structure of a process information storage unit. 
         FIG. 18  is a diagram showing an example of a data structure of a start rule storage unit. 
         FIG. 19  is a diagram showing an example of a data structure of a start rule priority storage unit. 
         FIG. 20  is a diagram showing an example of a flow of a recommended work generation processing. 
         FIG. 21  is a diagram showing an example of a flow of a start rule priority update processing. 
         FIG. 22  is a diagram showing an example of an output screen of the recommended work generation processing. 
         FIG. 23  is a diagram showing another example of the output screen of the recommended work generation processing. 
         FIG. 24  is a diagram showing another example of the output screen of the recommended work generation processing. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
     Hereinafter, an embodiment of the invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The same components are denoted by the same reference symbols in principle throughout all the drawings for describing the embodiment, and the repetitive description thereof is omitted. In the following embodiment, it is needless to say that constituent elements (including element steps and the like) are not necessarily essential unless when particularly specified and considered to be obviously essential in principle. In addition, it is needless to say that expressions “formed of A”, “made of A”, “having A”, and “including A” do not exclude elements other than A unless when particularly specified that A is the only element thereof. Similarly, in the following embodiment, shapes, position relationships, and the like of constituent elements and the like include those substantially approximate or similar to the shapes or the like unless when particularly specified and considered to be obviously not the case in principle. 
     In a factory in a company that runs a manufacturing industry, with respect to a product to be produced, a future production plan is often drafted based on a production facility used in each production process and time input in each production facility, so that daily production activities are performed in accordance with the production plan. In such a manufacturing site, due to various factors such as workers, facilities, and products themselves, various delays with respect to the plan can occur. 
     Therefore, it is difficult to perform the production activities according to the production plan. If a flow shop that arranges manufacturing facilities according to a flow of production is adopted as a factory layout, since an upstream process and a downstream process are physically adjacent to each other, a delay occurring in the upstream process and trouble occurring in the downstream process can be relatively easily checked from other processes. For example, it has a feature that when a worker newly starts work in his or her own process under charge, even if the work of the process under charge cannot be performed according to the production plan due to the delay of work in the upstream process, it is easy to predict when a work target such as a part or a product instructed in the production plan will arrive in the process based on observation by visual observation, inquiry, or the like by the worker. 
     However, in a factory in which the manufacturing facilities are collectively arranged for each function like a job shop, since the upstream process and the downstream process do not match a physical layout, it can be said as relatively difficult to know the delay occurring in the upstream process and the trouble occurring in the downstream process. In order to know the delay and trouble at early stages, it is necessary to accurately acquire and utilize a production progress status. 
     In the technique disclosed in PTL 1, not only the start date and time and the end date and time of the work as described above may be falsely detected, but also when the technique is applied to work such as assembly that does not necessarily require facilities, the start date and time and the end date and time of the work cannot be accurately estimated from only presence or absence information of the worker. 
       FIG. 1  is a diagram showing a configuration example of a work instruction system according to a first embodiment of the invention. A work instruction system  10  includes a work instruction device  100  and a production progress management device  200 , and a network  999  that connects the work instruction device  100  and the production progress management device  200  to each other to enable communication. The work instruction system  10  connects with an external manufacturing execution system (MES)  300  via the network  999  to communicate with each other. 
     The network  999  is, for example, any one of a communication network using a part or all of a general public line such as a local area network (LAN), a wide area network (WAN), a virtual private network (VPN), or Internet, or a mobile phone communication network. 
     The work instruction device  100  generates a work instruction based on production information acquired from the manufacturing execution system  300  and progress information acquired from the production progress management device  200 . The production progress management device  200  manages the production progress based on the production information acquired from the manufacturing execution system  300 , estimates and updates the progress in accordance with a status, and returns an updated result to the manufacturing execution system  300 . The work instruction device  100  and the production progress management device  200  will be described later in detail. 
     The manufacturing execution system  300  manages all pieces of information related to production execution of a factory including manufacturing performance information, production plan information, production progress information, and the like, and transmits the manufacturing performance information, the production plan information, the production progress information, and the like to the work instruction device  100  and the production progress management device  200  at a predetermined time or in response to requests from the work instruction device  100  and the production progress management device  200 . 
       FIG. 2  is a diagram showing a configuration example of the production progress management device. The production progress management device  200  includes a storage unit  210 , a control unit  220 , an input unit  230 , an output unit  240 , and a communication unit  250 . 
     The storage unit  210  includes a production performance storage unit  211 , a production plan storage unit  212 , a production progress storage unit  213 , a worker signal storage unit  214 , a facility performance storage unit  215 , a product signal storage unit  216 , a product in-progress process storage unit  217 , and a position and process information storage unit  218 . 
     The production performance storage unit  211  stores information for specifying work (processing) of a process, a date and time at which the work (processing) is started, the date and time at which the work (processing) is completed, a production facility that performs the work (processing), and a worker who performs the work (processing) for each product such as a part or a product. 
       FIG. 3  is a diagram showing an example of a data structure of a production performance storage unit  211 . The production performance storage unit  211  stores information acquired from the manufacturing execution system  300  by an MES data collection unit  221  to be described later, and is updated as needed in a production progress estimation and update processing to be described later. 
     The production performance storage unit  211  includes a product ID column  211   a , a type name column  211   b , a number column  211   c , a process name column  211   d , a process No column  211   e , a previous process completion date and time column  211   f , a start date and time column  211   g , a completion date and time column  211   h , a facility ID column  211   i , and a worker ID column  211   k.    
     The product ID column  211   a , the type name column  211   b , the number column  211   c , the process name column  211   d , the process No column  211   e , the previous process completion date and time column  211   f , the start date and time column  211   g , the completion date and time column  211   h , the facility ID column  211   i , and the worker ID column  211   k  are associated with each other. 
     The product ID column  211   a  stores information for specifying a product ID, which is identification information capable of uniquely identifying a product such as each product or part. 
     The type name column  211   b  stores information for specifying a type of the product specified in the product ID column  211   a.    
     The number column  211   c  stores information for specifying a quantity of products included in the products specified in the product ID column  211   a.    
     The process name column  211   d  stores information for specifying a process name for identifying a process in which the product specified in the product ID column  211   a  is processed. 
     The process No column  211   e  stores information for specifying the number, counting from a first process, of the process in the process name column  211   d  with respect to the product specified in the product ID column  211   a.    
     The previous process completion date and time column  211   f  stores information for specifying the date and time at which a previous process of the process specified in the process name column  211   d  with respect to the product specified in the product ID column  211   a  is completed. 
     The start date and time column  211   g  stores information for specifying the date and time at which a processing of the process specified in the process name column  211   d  with respect to the product specified in the product ID column  211   a  is started. 
     The completion date and time column  211   h  stores information for specifying the date and time at which the processing of the process specified in the process name column  211   d  with respect to the product specified in the product ID column  211   a  is completed. 
     The facility ID column  211   i  stores information for specifying a facility ID used in the processing of the process specified in the process name column  211   d  in a period from the start date and time specified in the start date and time column  211   g  to the end date and time specified in the completion date and time column  211   h  of the product specified in the product ID column  211   a.    
     The worker ID column  211   k  stores information for specifying a worker ID in charge of the processing of the process specified in the process name column  211   d  in the period from the start date and time specified in the start date and time column  211   g  to the completion date and time specified in the completion date and time column  211   h  of the product specified in the product ID column  211   a.    
     The description will return to  FIG. 2 . The production plan storage unit  212  stores a production plan. 
       FIG. 4  is a diagram showing an example of a data structure of the production plan storage unit. The production plan storage unit  212  stores information acquired from the manufacturing execution system  300  by the MES data collection unit  221  to be described later. 
     The production plan storage unit  212  includes a product ID column  212   a , a type name column  212   b , a number column  212   c , a process name column  212   d , a process No column  212   e , a scheduled start date and time column  212   f , a scheduled completion date and time column  212   g , a facility ID column  212   h , a worker ID column  212   i , and a planned date column  212   k.    
     The product ID column  212   a , the type name column  212   b , the number column  212   c , the process name column  212   d , the process No column  212   e , the scheduled start date and time column  212   f , the scheduled completion date and time column  212   g , the facility ID column  212   h , the worker ID column  212   i , and the planned date column  212   k  are associated with each other. 
     The product ID column  212   a  stores information for specifying a product ID, which is identification information capable of uniquely identifying a product such as each product or part. 
     The type name column  212   b  stores information for specifying a type of the product specified in the product ID column  212   a.    
     The number column  212   c  stores information for specifying a quantity of products included in the products specified in the product ID column  212   a.    
     The process name column  212   d  stores information for specifying a process name for identifying a process in which the product specified in the product ID column  212   a  is processed. 
     The process No column  212   e  stores information for specifying the number, counting from a first process, of the process in the process name column  212   d  with respect to the product specified in the product ID column  212   a.    
     The scheduled start date and time column  212   f  stores information for specifying a planned value of a date and time at which the processing of the process specified in the process name column  212   d  with respect to the product specified in the product ID column  212   a  is started. 
     The scheduled completion date and time column  212   g  stores information for specifying a planned value of a date and time at which the processing of the process specified in the process name column  212   d  with respect to the product specified in the product ID column  212   a  is completed. 
     The facility ID column  212   h  stores information for specifying a facility ID of a plan used in the processing of the process specified in the process name column  212   d  in a period from a scheduled start date and time specified in the scheduled start date and time column  212   f  to a scheduled completion date and time specified in the scheduled completion date and time column  212   g  of the product specified in the product ID column  212   a.    
     The worker ID column  212   i  stores information for specifying a worker ID of the plan in charge of the processing of the process specified in the process name column  212   d  in the period from the scheduled start date and time specified in the scheduled start date and time column  212   f  to the scheduled completion date and time specified in the scheduled completion date and time column  212   g  of the product specified in the product ID column  212   a.    
     The planned date column  212   k  stores information for specifying a planned date for the processing in the charge of the worker with the worker ID specified in the worker ID column  212   i  using a facility with the facility ID specified in the facility ID column  212   h  in the process specified in the process name column  212   d  in the period from the scheduled start date and time specified in the scheduled start date and time column  212   f  to the scheduled completion date and time specified in the scheduled completion date and time column  212   g  with respect to the product specified in the product ID column  212   a.    
     The description will return to  FIG. 2 . The production progress storage unit  213  stores information on a position and state of the in-progress product in the factory. 
       FIG. 5  is a diagram showing an example of a data structure of the production progress storage unit  213 . The production progress storage unit  213  stores information acquired from the manufacturing execution system  300  by the MES data collection unit  221  to be described later, and is then updated as needed by a production progress estimation and update unit  227  to be described later. 
     The production progress storage unit  213  includes a product ID column  213   a , a type name column  213   b , a number column  213   c , an input date column  213   d , a completion request date column  213   e , a process No column  213   f , a process name column  213   g , a state column  213   h , a start date and time  213   i , and a previous process completion date and time column  213   k.    
     The product ID column  213   a , the type name column  213   b , the number column  213   c , the input date column  213   d , the completion request date column  213   e , the process No column  213   f , the process name column  213   g , the state column  213   h , the start date and time  213   i , and the previous process completion date and time column  213   k  are associated with each other. 
     The product ID column  213   a  stores information for specifying a product ID, which is identification information capable of uniquely identifying each product such as a product or a part. 
     The type name column  213   b  stores information for specifying a type of the product specified in the product ID column  213   a.    
     The number column  213   c  stores information for specifying a quantity of products included in the products specified in the product ID column  213   a.    
     The input date column  213   d  stores information for specifying a date on which the product specified in the product ID column  213   a  is input in the first process in a case of already being produced, or information for specifying an input date in a case before the input. 
     The completion request date column  213   e  stores information for specifying a completion date of the product specified in the product ID column  213   a.    
     The process No column  213   f  stores information for specifying the number, counting from the first process, of the process in which the product specified in the product ID column  213   a  is in-progress. In the case before the input of the product specified in the product ID column  213   a , the process No column  213   f  is a blank column. 
     The process name column  213   g  stores information for specifying a process name for identifying a process in which the product specified in the product ID column  213   a  is processed. 
     The state column  213   h  stores information for specifying a state of the product specified in the product ID column  213   a . In the case before the input of the product specified in the product ID column  213   a , the state column  213   h  is a blank column. 
     The start date and time column  213   i  stores information for specifying a date and time at which the processing of the process specified in the process No column  213   f  with respect to the product specified in the product ID column  213   a  is started. In the case before the input of the product specified in the product ID column  213   a  or in a case where the state column  213   h  is waiting or stopped, the start date and time column  213   i  is a blank column. 
     The previous process completion date and time column  213   k  stores information for specifying a date and time at which a processing of a previous process of the process specified in the process No column  213   f  with respect to the product specified in the product ID column  213   a  is completed. 
     The description will return to  FIG. 2 . The worker signal storage unit  214  stores information for specifying a position of the worker and a change thereof and information for specifying the used facility. 
       FIG. 6  is a diagram showing an example of a data structure of the worker signal storage unit. The worker signal storage unit  214  stores position information of the worker in time series. The worker signal storage unit  214  stores information related to the position of the worker collected by a worker signal collection unit  223  to be described later. 
     Specifically, the worker signal storage unit  214  includes a worker ID column  214   a , an X coordinate column  214   b , a Y coordinate column  214   c , a position change column  214   d , an area column  214   e , a facility ID column  214   f , and a date and time column  214   g.    
     The worker ID column  214   a , the X coordinate column  214   b , the Y coordinate column  214   c , the position change column  214   d , the area column  214   e , the facility ID column  214   f , and the date and time column  214   g  are associated with each other. 
     The worker ID column  214   a  stores information for specifying a worker ID, which is identification information capable of uniquely identifying a person in charge of the work in each manufacturing process of a product. 
     The X coordinate column  214   b  stores information for specifying an X coordinate on a plane in a workplace of the worker specified in the worker ID column  214   a . A position in the workplace can be shown using two axes including an X axis and a Y axis that are orthogonal to each other, and positions on the axes are respectively referred to as an X coordinate and a Y coordinate. 
     The Y coordinate column  214   c  stores information for specifying a Y coordinate on the plane in the workplace of the worker specified in the worker ID column  214   a.    
     The position change column  214   d  stores information for specifying whether a change occurs in a position on the plane in the workplace of the worker specified in the worker ID column  214   a . Whether a change occurs in the position is determined in accordance with changes in the X coordinate and the Y coordinate, but when a change amount in the position is very small, it is often considered that no changes occur in the position. For example, when moving only one step, it is often considered that the position does not change. Therefore, for example, when change amounts of the X coordinate and the Y coordinate of the position information of the worker are less than a predetermined threshold value, it may be considered that no changes occur in the position, or when an area preliminarily partitioned at a predetermined position in the workplace does not change, it may also be considered that no changes occur in the position. 
     The area column  214   e  stores information indicating which one among predetermined areas on the plane in the workplace the worker specified in the worker ID column  214   a  is in. 
     The facility ID column  214   f  stores information indicating a manufacturing facility in the workplace used by the worker specified in the worker ID column  214   a.    
     The date and time column  214   g  stores information for specifying a date and a time at which a worker signal is recorded. 
     The description will now return to  FIG. 2 . The facility performance storage unit  215  stores time series information related to state information of the facility. 
       FIG. 7  is a diagram showing an example of a data structure of the facility performance storage unit  215 . The facility performance storage unit  215  stores information collected by a facility performance collection unit  224  to be described later. 
     Specifically, the facility performance storage unit  215  includes a facility ID column  215   a , a state column  215   b , a state change column  215   c , and a date and time column  215   d.    
     The facility ID column  215   a , the state column  215   b , the state change column  215   c , and the date and time column  215   d  are associated with each other. 
     The facility ID column  215   a  stores information for specifying a facility ID which is identification information capable of uniquely identifying a manufacturing facility responsible for part of the manufacturing process of each product. 
     The state column  215   b  stores information for specifying an operating state of the facility specified in the facility ID column  215   a . The operating state of the manufacturing facility includes a plurality of states such as “stopped”, “idle”, and “operating”. 
     The state change column  215   c  stores information for specifying whether a change occurs in the operating state of the facility specified in the facility ID column  215   a . Whether a change occurs in the operating state is determined in accordance with transition of the state, but it is often considered that no changes occur in the state even when a plurality of states are present in an output in the operating state (temperature, speed, throughput, and the like). For example, even when a speed changes from an output of 5 kilometer per hour to an output of 7 kilometer per hour, it is often considered that no changes occur in the state (both are the operating state). However, in some situations, depending on the manufacturing facilities, it should be considered that the state changes. Therefore, a definition of the change of the state may be provided for each manufacturing facility. 
     The date and time column  215   d  stores information for specifying a date and a time at which facility performance is recorded. 
     The description will return to  FIG. 2 . The product signal storage unit  216  stores position information of a product such as a part or a product in time series. 
       FIG. 8  is a diagram showing an example of a data structure of the product signal storage unit. The product signal storage unit  216  stores information collected by a product signal collection unit  225  to be described later. 
     Specifically, the product signal storage unit  216  includes a product ID column  216   a , an X coordinate column  216   b , a Y coordinate column  216   c , a position change column  216   d , an area column  216   e , a facility ID column  216   f , a date and time column  216   g , and a process estimation column  216   h.    
     The product ID column  216   a , the X coordinate column  216   b , the Y coordinate column  216   c , the position change column  216   d , the area column  216   e , the facility ID column  216   f , the date and time column  216   g , and the process estimation column  216   h  are associated with each other. 
     The product ID column  216   a  stores information for specifying a product ID, which is identification information capable of uniquely identifying an individual product. 
     The X coordinate column  216   b  stores information for specifying an X coordinate on a plane in the workplace of the product specified in the product ID column  216   a . A position in the workplace can be shown using two axes including an X axis and a Y axis that are orthogonal to each other, and positions on the axes are respectively referred to as an X coordinate and a Y coordinate. 
     The Y coordinate column  216   c  stores information for specifying a Y coordinate on a plane in the workplace of the product specified by the product ID column  216   a.    
     The position change column  216   d  stores information for specifying whether a change occurs in the position on the plane in the workplace of the product specified in the product ID column  216   a . Whether a change occurs in the position is determined in accordance with changes in the X coordinate and the Y coordinate, but when a change amount in the position is very small, it is often considered that no changes occur in the position. For example, when moving only on the same work table, it is often considered that the position does not change. Therefore, for example, when change amounts of the X coordinate and the Y coordinate of the position information of the product are less than predetermined threshold values, it may be considered that no changes occur in the position, or when an area preliminarily partitioned at a predetermined position in the workplace does not change, it may be also considered that no changes occur in the position. 
     The area column  216   e  stores information indicating which one among predetermined areas on the plane in the workplace the product specified in the product ID column  216   a  is in. 
     The facility ID column  216   f  stores information indicating a manufacturing facility in the workplace operating for the product specified in the product ID column  216   a.    
     The date and time column  216   g  stores information for specifying a date and a time at which a product signal is recorded. 
     The process estimation column  216   h  stores information indicating whether a process estimation processing is performed. For example, when the process estimation processing is performed, “1” is stored, and otherwise “0” is stored. 
     The description will return to  FIG. 2 . The product in-progress process storage unit  217  stores information on an in-progress process of the product such as a part or a product in time series. 
       FIG. 9  is a diagram showing an example of a data structure of the product in-progress process storage unit. The product in-progress process storage unit  217  stores information stored in the product signal storage unit  216  by a product in-progress process estimation unit  226  to be described later, and information generated based on information stored in the position and process information storage unit  218  to be described later. 
     Specifically, the product in-progress process storage unit  217  includes a product ID column  217   a , a facility ID column  217   b , a process name column  217   c , a process ID column  217   d , a date and time column  217   e , and a position change column  217   f.    
     The product ID column  217   a , the facility ID column  217   b , the process name column  217   c , the process ID column  217   d , the date and time column  217   e , and the position change column  217   f  are associated with each other. 
     The product ID column  217   a  stores information for specifying a product ID, which is identification information capable of uniquely identifying an individual product. 
     The facility ID column  217   b  stores information indicating a manufacturing facility in the workplace operating for the product specified in the product ID column  217   a.    
     The process name column  217   c  stores information for specifying a process name for identifying a process in which the product specified in the product ID column  217   a  is processed. 
     The process ID column  217   d  stores information for specifying the number, counting from a first process, of the process in the process name column  217   c  with respect to the product specified in the product ID column  217   a.    
     The date and time column  217   e  stores information for specifying a date and a time at which the record is recorded. 
     The position change column  217   f  stores information for specifying whether a change occurs in the position on the plane in the workplace of the product specified in the product ID column  217   a.    
     The description will return to  FIG. 2 . The position and process information storage unit  218  stores information that associates the position information and the in-progress process. 
       FIG. 10  is a diagram showing an example of a data structure of the position and process information storage unit. The position and process information storage unit  218  is updated by the product in-progress process estimation unit  226  to be described later. 
     The information stored in the position and process information storage unit  218  must be periodically updated so as to correspond to a change of process design information or a layout change of the factory. 
     The position and process information storage unit  218  includes an area column  218   a , a facility ID column  218   b , a facility attribute column  218   c , a coordinate 1 column  218   d , a coordinate 2 column  218   e , a coordinate 3 column  218   f , a coordinate 4 column  218   g , and a process name column  218   h , and the columns are associated with each other. 
     The area column  218   a  stores information for identifying a predetermined area on the plane in the workplace. 
     The facility ID column  218   b  stores information indicating a manufacturing facility in the workplace which is disposed and operated in a specified area in the area column  218   a.    
     The facility attribute column  218   c  stores information for specifying an attribute of the facility specified in the facility ID column  218   b . For example, the facility attribute column  218   c  stores information of a process such as “processing”, “assembly” and the like in which the facility is used, and information of an intermediate process between processes such as “parts storage” and the like in which the facility is used. 
     The coordinate 1 column  218   d , the coordinate 2 column  218   e , the coordinate 3 column  218   f , and the coordinate 4 column  218   g  store information for specifying coordinates of four corners of the area specified in the area column  218   a.    
     The process name column  218   h  stores information for specifying a process name for identifying a process performed in the area specified in the area column  218   a.    
     The description will return to  FIG. 2 . The control unit  220  of the production progress management device  200  includes the MES data collection unit  221 , an MES data update unit  222 , the worker signal collection unit  223 , the facility performance collection unit  224 , the product signal collection unit  225 , the product in-progress process estimation unit  226 , and the production progress estimation and update unit  227 . 
     The MES data collection unit  221  acquires and updates information stored in the production performance storage unit  211 , the production plan storage unit  212 , and the production progress storage unit  213  from the manufacturing execution system  300  at a predetermined time (for example, every day) or at a designated time. 
     The MES data update unit  222 , when designated by the production progress estimation and update unit  227 , transfers the information stored in the production performance storage unit  211  and the production progress storage unit  213  for updating the manufacturing execution system  300 . 
     The worker signal collection unit  223  collects a position signal of the worker at a predetermined time (for example, every day) or at a designated time, and stores the collected position signal in the worker signal storage unit  214 . Here, a method of collecting the position signal of the worker uses methods capable of acquiring information stored in the worker ID column  214   a , the X coordinate column  214   b , the Y coordinate column  214   c , and the date and time column  214   g  included in the worker signal storage unit  214 , that is, the coordinates in the workplace and the date and time. The worker signal collection unit  223  uses the information stored in the position change column  214   d  and the information stored in the position and process information storage unit  218  to generate and store the information to be stored in the area column  214   e  and the facility ID column  214   f , if necessary. 
     The facility performance collection unit  224  collects an operation signal that is performance of the facility at a predetermined time (for example, every day) or at a designated time, and stores the collected operation signal in the facility performance storage unit  215 . Here, a method for collecting the facility performance uses methods capable of acquiring information of the facility ID column  215   a , the state column  215   b , and the date and time column  215   d  included in the facility performance storage unit  215 , that is, the operating state and the date and time of the facility. The facility performance collection unit  224  specifies and stores the information stored in the state change column  215   c , that is, whether a change occurs in the state since a previous collection, if necessary. 
     The product signal collection unit  225  collects a position signal of the product at a predetermined time (for example, every day) or at a designated time, and stores the collected position signal in the product signal storage unit  216 . Here, a method for collecting the position signal of the product uses methods capable of acquiring information stored in the product ID column  216   a , the X coordinate column  216   b , the Y coordinate column  216   c , and the date and time column  216   g  included in the product signal storage unit  216 , that is, the coordinates in the workplace and the date and time. The product signal collection unit  225  uses the information stored in the position change column  216   d  and the information stored in the position and process information storage unit  218  to generate and store the information to be stored in the area column  216   e  and the facility ID column  216   f , if necessary. When the product signal collection unit  225  stores data in the product signal storage unit  216 , the product signal collection unit  225  sets an initial value of the process estimation column  216   h  included in the product signal storage unit  216  to “0 (zero)”. 
     The product in-progress process estimation unit  226  generates information to be stored in the product in-progress process storage unit  217  in accordance with a flow of a product in-progress process estimation processing to be described later at a predetermined time (for example, every day) or at a designated time, and also updates the information of the product signal storage unit  216  in parallel. 
     The production progress estimation and update unit  227  generates information to be stored in the production performance storage unit  211  in accordance with a flow of a production progress estimation processing to be described later at a predetermined time (for example, every day) or at a designated time, and appropriately updates the information stored in the production progress storage unit  213  in parallel. 
     The input unit  230 , for example, is displayed and operated on a screen so as to receive input information input by a keyboard or a mouse. 
     The output unit  240  generates, for example, screen information including information to be output as a result of performing a predetermined processing, and outputs the screen information to the work instruction device  100  and the manufacturing execution system.  300  via the communication unit  250 . 
     The communication unit  250  transmits and receives information to and from other devices via the network  999 . 
       FIG. 11  is a diagram showing an example of a hardware configuration of the production progress management device. The production progress management device  200  can be implemented by a general computer  900  including a central processing unit (CPU)  901 , a memory  902 , an external storage device  903  such as a hard disk drive (HDD), a reading device  905  that reads information from a portable storage medium  904  such as a compact disk (CD) and a digital versatile disk (DVD), an input device  906  such as a keyboard, a mouse, and a barcode reader, an output device  907  such as a display, and a communication device  908  that communicates with another computer via a communication network such as the Internet. Alternatively, the production progress management device  200  can be implemented by a network system including a plurality of the computers  900 . It is needless to say that the reading device  905  may be capable of writing as well as reading the portable storage medium  904 . 
     For example, the control unit  220  can be implemented by loading a predetermined program stored in the external storage device  903  in the memory  902  and executing the program by the CPU  901 , the input unit  230  can be implemented by the CPU  901  using the input device  906 , the output unit  240  can be implemented by the CPU  901  using the output device  907 , the communication unit  250  can be implemented by the CPU  901  using the communication device  908 , and the storage unit  210  can be implemented by the CPU  901  using the memory  902  or the external storage device  903 . 
     The predetermined program may be downloaded into the external storage device  903  from the portable storage medium  904  via the reading device  905  or from the network  999  via the communication device  908 , and then loaded into the memory  902  and executed by the CPU  901 . In addition, the program may be directly loaded into the memory  902  from the portable storage medium  904  via the reading device  905  or from the network via the communication device  908  and executed by the CPU  901 . 
     The work instruction device  100  to be described later can also be implemented by the general computer  900  as shown in  FIG. 11 . 
       FIG. 12  is a diagram showing an example of the flow of the product in-progress process estimation processing. The product in-progress process estimation processing is started at a predetermined time (for example, every day) or when an instruction to start the processing is issued to the production progress management device  200 . 
     First, the product in-progress process estimation unit  226  extracts data whose process estimation column  216   h  has an initial value “0” from data stored in the product signal storage unit  216  (step S 2201 ). 
     Then, the product in-progress process estimation unit  226  repeats processing of steps S 2203  to S 2211  to be described later for all extracted data (steps S 2202  and S 2212 ). 
     The product in-progress process estimation unit  226  determines whether a value of the position change column  216   d  is “0”, that is, whether no changes occur in the position of the product for one piece of the extracted data. When the value is “0” (in case of YES, that is, when no position changes occur), the control proceeds to step S 2204 . When the value is not “0” (in the case of NO, that is, when a position change occurs), the product in-progress process estimation unit  226  proceeds the control to step S 2206  (step S 2203 ). 
     When the value of the position change column  216   d  is “0” (“YES” in step S 2203 ), the product in-progress process estimation unit  226  extracts a process name and a process ID of data having the latest date and time stored in the product in-progress process storage unit  217  for the product ID indicated by the data (step S 2204 ). 
     Then, the product in-progress process estimation unit  226  adds the process name and the process ID extracted in step S 2204  and date and time information at the time of processing to the data (one piece of the extracted data of the product signal storage unit  216  being processed), and stores the process name, the process ID, and the date and time information as new data in the product in-progress process storage unit  217  (step S 2205 ). Then, the product in-progress process estimation unit  226  proceeds the control to step S 2211 . 
     When the value of the position change column  216   d  is not “0” (“NO” in step S 2203 ), the product in-progress process estimation unit  226  extracts a process name and a process ID of a current in-progress process from data stored in the production progress storage unit  213  for the product ID of the data (step S 2206 ). Since only the in-progress processes are stored in the production progress storage unit  213 , only an in-progress process names and process IDs can be acquired. 
     Then, the product in-progress process estimation unit  226  extracts a process name and a process ID of a next process of the current in-progress process from data stored in the production plan storage unit  212  for the product ID of the data (step S 2207 ). 
     Then, the product in-progress process estimation unit  226  extracts a process name list of data in which the area and the facility ID of the position and process information storage unit  218  match the area and the facility ID of the data as an in-progress process candidate (step S 2208 ). 
     Then, the product in-progress process estimation unit  226  searches the extracted in-progress process candidates in an order of a next process name extracted in step  2207  and a current process name extracted in step S 2206 , and if matching, applies the matching process name and process ID of the process to the data and stores the data in the product in-progress process storage unit  217  (step S 2209 ). 
     When no matching processes are present in the previous step (step S 2209 ), the product in-progress process estimation unit  226  stores the data in the product in-progress process storage unit  217  with the process name of the data being “moving” and the “process ID” being blank (step S 2210 ). 
     Then, the product in-progress process estimation unit  226  changes the process estimation column  216   h  of data stored in the product signal storage unit  216  corresponding to the data to “1” (step S 2211 ). 
     Then, the product in-progress process estimation unit  226  determines whether the processing of steps S 2203  to S 2211  is completed for all data, and if non-completed data is present, the control is returned to step S 2203 . When the processing is completed for all the data, the product in-progress process estimation unit  226  ends the product in-progress process estimation processing (step S 2212 ). 
     The above is the flow of the product in-progress process estimation processing. According to the product in-progress process estimation processing, it is possible to detect a change in the process based on a change in the position of the product and estimate the in-progress process. 
       FIG. 13  is a diagram showing an example of a flow of the production progress estimation and update processing. The production progress estimation and update processing are started at the timing when the data of which the value of the position change column  217   f  is “1” is stored in the product in-progress process storage unit  217 . 
     First, the production progress estimation and update unit  227  extracts, from the production progress storage unit  213 , data (referred to as data B) that matches the product ID of the data (referred to as data A) newly stored in the product in-progress process storage unit  217  (step S 2213 ). 
     Then, the production progress estimation and update unit  227  determines whether the process name and the process No of the data A match the process name and the process No of the data B (step S 2214 ). When the process name and the process No of the data A match the process name and the process No of the data B (“YES” in step S 2214 ), the production progress estimation and update unit  227  proceeds the control to step S 2219  to be described later. 
     When the process name and the process No of the data A do not match the process name and the process No of the data B (“NO” in step S 2214 ), the production progress estimation and update unit  227  proceeds the control to step S 2215 . 
     The production progress estimation and update unit  227  determines whether the value of the state column  213   h  is “started” in the data of the product ID stored in the production progress storage unit  213  (step S 2215 ). When the state is “started” (“YES” in step S 2215 ), the production progress estimation and update unit  227  proceeds the control to the next step S 2216 , and when the state is not “started” (“NO” in step S 2215 ), the control proceeds to step S 2218 . 
     The production progress estimation and update unit  227  adds the data to the production performance storage unit  211  by using the date and time column  217   e  included in the data A as the completion date and time with respect to the data of the product ID stored in the production progress storage unit  213  (step S 2216 ). 
     Then, with respect to the data of the product ID stored in the production progress storage unit  213 , the production progress estimation and update unit  227  updates the process No to the process No of the data A, and inputs the date and time of the data A to the previous process completion date and time column  213   k  (step S 2217 ). 
     Then, the production progress estimation and update unit  227  executes a production progress estimation processing (step S 2218 ). 
     When a change occurs in the production performance storage unit  211  and the production progress storage unit  213 , the production progress estimation and update unit  227  transmits a change point to the manufacturing execution system  300  and the work instruction device  100  via the communication unit  250  by the MES data update unit  222  (step S 2219 ). 
     The above is the flow of the production progress estimation and update processing. According to the production progress estimation and update processing, when new data is added to the product in-progress process storage unit  217  and the process thereof is “started”, estimation of production progress can be performed. 
       FIG. 14  is a diagram showing an example of a flow of the production progress estimation processing in the production progress estimation and update processing. The present example corresponds to a case where only the position information of the product is used in the estimation of the production progress. 
     First, the production progress estimation and update unit  227  determines whether a facility attribute of the product ID specified by the data A corresponds to the “parts storage” (step S 2220 ). Specifically, the production progress estimation and update unit  227  refers to the facility ID column  217   b  having the product ID specified by the data A, and extracts data having the same facility ID from the facility ID column  218   b  of the position and process information storage unit  218 . Then, the production progress estimation and update unit  227  refers to the value of the facility attribute column  218   c  of the extracted data to determine whether the data corresponds to “parts storage”. 
     When the facility attribute corresponds to the “parts storage” (“YES” in step S 2220 ), the production progress estimation and update unit  227  changes the value of the state column  213   h  to “waiting” for the data having the product ID stored in the production progress storage unit  213  (step S 2221 ). Then, the production progress estimation and update unit  227  ends the production progress estimation and update processing. 
     When the facility attribute does not correspond to the “parts storage” (“NO” in step S 2220 ), the production progress estimation and update unit  227  changes the value of the state column  213   h  to “started” for the data having the product ID stored in the production progress storage unit  213 , and stores the value of the date and time column  217   e  of the product in-progress process storage unit  217  related to the product ID specified by the data A in the start date and time column  213   i  (step S 2222 ). Then, the production progress estimation and update unit  227  ends the production progress estimation and update processing. 
     The above is the flow of the production progress estimation processing in the production progress estimation and update processing. According to the production progress estimation processing in the production progress estimation and update processing, when the position of the part or product is changed to the parts storage, progress of the part or product can be changed to “waiting”, and when changed to an attribute other than the parts storage, the progress of the part or product can be changed to “started” and the start date and time can be recorded. 
       FIG. 15  is a diagram showing another example of a flow of the production progress estimation processing. The present example corresponds to a case where not only the position information of the product but also the position information of the worker and facility performance information are used in the estimation of the production progress. In this example, when the position information of the product and information for specifying the position of the worker are in positions of the same process point and the facility in the process operates at the same time, the production progress estimation and update unit  227  performs estimation to determine that the process is working. 
     First, the production progress estimation and update unit  227  determines whether the facility attribute of the product ID specified by the data A corresponds to the “parts storage” (step S 2223 ). Specifically, the production progress estimation and update unit  227  refers to the facility ID column  217   b  having the product ID specified by the data A, and extracts data having the same facility ID from the facility ID column  218   b  of the position and process information storage unit  218 . Then, the production progress estimation and update unit  227  refers to the value of the facility attribute column  218   c  of the extracted data to determine whether the data is “parts storage”. 
     When the facility attribute corresponds to the “parts storage” (“YES” in step S 2223 ), the production progress estimation and update unit  227  changes the value of the state column  213   h  to “waiting” for the data having the product ID stored in the production progress storage unit  213  (step S 2224 ). Then, the production progress estimation and update unit  227  ends the production progress estimation and update processing. 
     When the facility attribute does not correspond to the “parts storage” (“NO” in step S 2223 ), the production progress estimation and update unit  227  reads the value of the date and time column  217   e  of the product in-progress process storage unit  217  related to the product ID specified by the data A, and acquires the presence or absence information of the worker who operates the manufacturing facility at the read date and time (step S 2225 ). 
     Specifically, the production progress estimation and update unit  227  attempts to extract, from the worker signal storage unit  214 , a worker ID from the worker ID column  214   a  related to the facility specified by the value of the facility ID  217   b  at a date and time specified by the value of the read date and time column  217   e , acquires the presence or absence information indicating that the worker is not present when the worker ID cannot be extracted, and acquires the presence or absence information indicating that the worker is present when the worker ID can be extracted. 
     Then, the production progress estimation and update unit  227  reads the value of the date and time column  217   e  of the product in-progress process storage unit  217  related to the product ID specified by the data A, and acquires operating state information of the manufacturing facility at the read date and time (step S 2226 ). 
     Specifically, the production progress estimation and update unit  227  extracts, from the facility performance storage unit  215 , the state column  215   b  related to the facility specified by the value of the facility ID column  217   b  at the date and time specified by the value of the read date and time column  217   e.    
     Then, at the date and time specified by a value of the read date and time column  217   e , the production progress estimation and update unit  227  determines whether the work for the part or the product is started, that is, whether the worker is present and the manufacturing facility operates (step S 2227 ). Specifically, at the date and time specified by the value of the read date and time column  217   e , the production progress estimation and update unit  227  determines whether the information generated by the worker obtained in step S 2225  is “worker present” and the state of the facility obtained in step S 2226  is “operating”. 
     When the worker is present and the manufacturing facility operates (“YES” in step S 2227 ), the production progress estimation and update unit  227  changes the value of the state column  213   h  to “started” for the data having the product ID stored in the production progress storage unit  213 , and stores the value of the date and time column  217   e  of the product in-progress process storage unit  217  related to the product ID specified by the data A in the start date and time column  213   i  (step S 2228 ). Then, the production progress estimation and update unit  227  ends the production progress estimation and update processing. 
     When the worker is absent or the manufacturing facility does not operate (“NO” in step S 2227 ), the production progress estimation and update unit  227  changes the value of the state column  213   h  to “waiting” for the data having the product ID stored in the production progress storage unit  213  (step S 2229 ). Then, the production progress estimation and update unit  227  ends the production progress estimation and update processing. 
     The above is a description of the configuration and operation of the production progress management device  200 . According to the production progress management device  200 , the production process can be estimated by using the position of the product, the position of the worker, and the operating status of the manufacturing facility. That is, it is possible to accurately grasp progress of a production site. 
     Next, the configuration and operation of the work instruction device  100  will be described. 
       FIG. 16  is a diagram showing a configuration example of the work instruction device. The work instruction device  100  includes a storage unit  110 , a control unit  120 , an input unit  130 , an output unit  140 , and a communication unit  150 . 
     The storage unit  110  includes a production performance storage unit  111 , a production plan storage unit  112 , a production progress storage unit  113 , a process information storage unit  114 , a start rule storage unit  115 , and a start rule priority storage unit  116 . 
     The production performance storage unit  111  stores information for specifying work (processing) of a process, a date and time at which the work (processing) is started, the date and time at which the work (processing) is completed, a manufacturing facility that performs the work (processing), and a worker who performs the work (processing) for each product such as apart or a product. The production performance storage unit  111  records the start date and time and end date and time of each process related to the product, and thus can be said as storing the throughput. 
     An example of a specific data structure of the production performance storage unit  111  is similar as that of the production performance storage unit  211  of the production progress management device  200 , and a description thereof is omitted. 
     The production plan storage unit  112  stores information for specifying work (processing) of a process, a scheduled date and time at which the work (processing) is started, a scheduled date and time at which the work (processing) is completed, a scheduled manufacturing facility that performs the work (processing), and a scheduled worker who performs the work (processing) for each product such as a part or a product. 
     An example of a specific data structure of the production plan storage unit  112  is similar as that of the production plan storage unit  212  of the production progress management device  200 , and a description thereof is omitted. 
     The production progress storage unit  113  stores information for specifying the progress and the state for each product such as a part or a product. 
     An example of a specific data structure of the production progress storage unit  113  is similar as that of the production progress storage unit  213  of the production progress management device  200 , and a description thereof is omitted. 
     The process information storage unit  114  stores information on a display process name, a display order thereof, and a process name included in the display process name used at output of the work instruction device  100 . 
       FIG. 17  is a diagram showing an example of a data structure of the process information storage unit. The information stored in the process information storage unit  114  is updated periodically or sporadically as changes occur due to the change of the process design information or the layout change of the factory. 
     The process information storage unit  114  includes a display pattern No column  114   a , a display order No column  114   b , a display process name column  114   c , a type name column  114   d , and a process name column  114   e . The display pattern No column  114   a , the display order No column  114   b , the display process name column  114   c , the type name column  114   d , and the process name column  114   e  are associated with each other. 
     The display pattern No column  114   a  stores information for specifying a display pattern (layout pattern) used in a screen (for example, a production status display area  500   c  in an output screen  500  of  FIG. 22  to be described later) for displaying process information. 
     The display order No column  114   b  stores information on a display order for the display pattern specified in the display pattern No column  114   a.    
     The display process name column  114   c  stores information for specifying a process name. The type name column  114   d  stores information for specifying a type name. The process name column  114   e  stores information for specifying a process name. 
     The description will be returned to  FIG. 16 . The start rule storage unit  115  stores a start rule for determining a work order in the process. The start rule is a rule that determines which process is prioritized when there are a plurality of processes that can be started, or a rule that is predetermined by an operator or a rule that is customarily determined in an industry, such as “first in, first out (FIFO)”, “priority of delivery time”, “in-progress next process”, and “order of instruction”. 
       FIG. 18  is a diagram showing an example of a data structure of the start rule storage unit. The start rule storage unit  115  includes a start rule name column  115   a , an evaluation index column  115   b , and a sort rule column  115   c , and the columns are associated with each other. 
     The start rule name column  115   a  stores information for specifying a name of the start rule. The evaluation index column  115   b  stores information for specifying an index value for determining an order in the start rule. The sort rule column  115   c  stores rules for sorting index values. 
     The description will be returned to  FIG. 16 . The start rule priority storage unit  116  stores information on a priority of start rules. 
       FIG. 19  is a diagram showing an example of a data structure of the start rule priority storage unit. The start rule priority storage unit  116  includes, for each display process name column  116   a , an applicable start rule name column  116   b , a priority score column  116   c , a total number column  116   d , and a number of on time column  116   e . The priority score column  116   c , the total number of cases column  116   d , and the number of on times column  116   e  store information updated by a start rule priority update unit  123  to be described later. 
     The priority score column  116   c  stores a score derived from information stored in the total number of cases column  116   d  and the number of on times column  116   e . For example, a value with a total number of cases as a denominator and the number of on times as a numerator (compliance rate) is stored as a priority score. 
     The description will be returned to  FIG. 16 . The control unit  120  of the work instruction device  100  includes a data collection unit  121 , a recommended work generation unit  122 , and the start rule priority update unit  123 . 
     The data collection unit  121  acquires and updates information stored in the production performance storage unit  111 , the production plan storage unit  112 , and the production progress storage unit  113  from both or one of the production progress management device  200  and the manufacturing execution system  300  at a predetermined time (for example, every day) or at a designated time. For example, the data collection unit  121  acquires and updates the production performance storage unit  211 , the production plan storage unit  212 , and the production progress storage unit  213  from the production progress management device  200 . 
     When designated, the recommended work generation unit  122  starts a recommended work generation processing to be described later to extract a recommended work in the designated process, and displays and outputs the recommended work through the output unit  140 . 
     When designated, the start rule priority update unit  123  starts a start rule priority update processing to be described later to update an index used for priority evaluation of the start rule, and stores and updates the index in the start rule priority storage unit  116 . 
       FIG. 20  is a diagram showing an example of a flow of the recommended work generation processing. The recommended work generation processing is started when the work instruction device  100  issues an instruction to start processing through the input unit  130  together with designation of a process. 
     First, for the designated process, the recommended work generation unit  122  refers to the production plan storage unit  112  to acquire product information scheduled to be worked next, and calculates a scheduled arrival date and time to the process (step S 1201 ). Specifically, the recommended work generation unit  122  calculates the scheduled arrival date and time to the process designated for the product to be worked next in the plan using in-progress process information of the product stored in the production progress storage unit  113  and estimated work time (standard work time) until arrival at the process stored in the production plan storage unit  112  (step S 1201 ). 
     Then, the recommended work generation unit  122  uses the information stored in the production progress storage unit  113  to extract waiting in-progress products in the process (step S 1202 ). 
     Then, the recommended work generation unit  122  extracts the priority of the start rules of the process from the start rule priority storage unit  116  (step S 1203 ). 
     The recommended work generation unit  122  applies the start rule with a highest priority in the process, that is, a highest value of the priority score column  116   c  to rearrange the in-progress products extracted in step S 1202 , and when a process that cannot be ordered by a single start rule is present, the recommended work generation unit  122  sequentially prioritizes the in-progress products by sequentially using start rules with second and subsequent priorities (step S 1204 ). 
     The recommended work generation unit  122  extracts work time of each in-progress process and the in-progress process in which the work can be completed before the scheduled arrival date and time calculated in step S 1201  in an order from in-progress process with the highest priority (step S 1205 ). 
     The recommended work generation unit  122  sets the in-progress work thus extracted as the recommended work and outputs the recommended work through the output unit  140  (step S 1206 ). The above is a flow of the recommended work generation processing. According to the recommended work generation processing, the scheduled arrival date and time of the product to arrive can be specified with reference to a processing start date and time, and the recommended work can be specified by applying an implementation rule. For example, when a significant delay occurs in a manufacturing process of a certain product, a person in charge of the downstream process may be forced to make a decision of whether to start manufacturing another product or to wait for arrival, whereas the recommended work generation processing can display and output this, so that the person in charge of the downstream process can start optimal work without hesitation and an influence of delay can be minimized. 
       FIG. 21  is a diagram showing a flow of the start rule priority update processing. The start rule priority update processing is executed for all the products stored in the production progress storage unit  113  when the state is changed to “started”. 
     First, the start rule priority update unit  123  extracts necessary information from the production progress storage unit  113  for the product for which a manufacturing processing is started (step S 1207 ). 
     Next, the start rule priority update unit  123  extracts relevant information from the production performance storage unit  111  and the production plan storage unit  112  (step S 1208 ). 
     Then, the start rule priority update unit  123  extracts all start rules of the process stored in the start rule priority storage unit  116  with respect to the process in which work of a target product is started (step S 1209 ). 
     Then, the start rule priority update unit  123  determines compliance or non-compliance of the completion date and time of the process for all the extracted rules, and updates the information (the priority score, the total number of cases, and the number of on times) of the start rule priority storage unit  116  (step S 1210 ). Various methods can be adopted for calculating the priority score. For example, a value with the total number of cases as the denominator and the number of on times as the numerator may be used as the priority, or a value obtained by adding a predetermined correction value to the value may be calculated. The value is not limited to this, and may be any value that is derived using a predetermined performance value. 
     The above is the flow of the start rule priority update processing. According to the start rule priority update processing, the priority score and the like of the start rule can be updated according to the performance. 
       FIG. 22  shows an example of an output screen of the recommended work generation processing. The output screen  500  is an example of output information of the work instruction device  100 . The output screen  500  includes a display process selection area  500   a , a work instruction display area  500   b , and the production status display area  500   c.    
     When displayed on the output unit  140 , a production status of each process is output to the production status display area  500   c . An arrangement of the processes in the production status display area  500   c  is determined in accordance with the display pattern stored in the process information storage unit  114 . For example, the output unit  140  outputs a graph showing which process is performed for each product in a grid pattern. 
     For example, the recommended work generation unit  122  accesses the production plan storage unit  112  to specify the processes in an order from the closer scheduled start dates and times, and accesses the production performance storage unit  111  to extract an in-progress product indicating the value in the completion date and time column does not elapse. Then, the recommended work generation unit  122  accesses the production progress storage unit  113  and the production plan storage unit  112  to calculate and specify a current process of the in-progress product and arrival time from the process to each process. Then, the output unit  140  lays out the production status along the display pattern so as to output the production status to the production status display area  500   c . At that time, it is desirable to distinguish between the started products and the waiting products in each process. The output unit  140  lays out a work plan based on the production plan so as to display the work plan in the work instruction display area  500   b.    
     In the production status display area  500   c , the planned value of production throughput of each process and the performance value indicating a degree of arrival thereof may be graphed and shown. Accordingly, when the throughput is sufficiently obtained even when the delay occurs, it is possible to make a determination that there is no need to perform a special work change. 
       FIG. 23  is a diagram showing another example of the output screen of the recommended work generation processing. An output screen  510  is an example of the output information of the work instruction device  100 . The output screen  510  includes a product information display area  510   a  and a schedule display area  510   b . The output screen  510  is displayed as a separate screen in the work instruction display area  500   b  of the output screen  500  when an input targeting the displayed product is received, for example, when a click input is performed. 
     In the schedule display area  510   b , a schedule of implementation processes for a predetermined product whose horizontal axis is a time axis, such as a Gantt chart, is displayed. 
       FIG. 24  is a diagram showing another example of the output screen of the recommended work generation processing. An output screen  520  is an example of the output information of the work instruction device  100 . The output screen  520  includes a display process selection area  520   a , a work instruction display area  520   b , and a recommended work display area  520   c.    
     In the output screen  520 , an input is received in the display process selection area  520   a  via the input unit  130 . When the input is received in the display process selection area  520   a , the output unit  140  displays a work plan based on the production plan on the work instruction display area  520   b  for the input process, and lays out the recommended work specified based on the recommended work generation processing so as to display the recommended work on the recommended work display area  520   c.    
     The above is a configuration example of the work instruction system according to the first embodiment of the invention. According to the first embodiment, it is possible to accurately perform an appropriate work instruction in accordance with the progress of the production site. 
     The embodiment described above has been described in detail for easy understanding of the invention, and the invention is not necessarily limited to include all configurations described above. Apart of a configuration of one embodiment can be replaced with a configuration of another embodiment, and the configuration of another embodiment can also be added to the configuration of one embodiment. A part of the configuration of the embodiment may be deleted. 
     Units, configurations, functions, processing units, and the like described above may be partially or entirely implemented by hardware such as through design using an integrated circuit. The units, configurations, functions, and the like described above may be implemented by software by a processor interpreting and executing a program for implementing respective functions. Information such as a program, a table, and a file for implementing each function can be placed in a memory, a recording device such as a hard disk, or a recording medium such as an IC card, an SD card, or a DVD. 
     Control lines and information lines according to the embodiment described above indicate what is considered necessary for the description, and not all of the control lines and the information lines are necessarily shown in a product. Actually, it may also be considered that almost all of the configurations are connected to each other. As described above, the invention has been described centering on the embodiment. 
     REFERENCE SIGN LIST 
     
         
           10 : work instruction system 
           100 : work instruction device 
           110 : storage unit 
           111 : production performance storage unit 
           112 : production plan storage unit 
           113 : production progress storage unit 
           114 : process information storage unit 
           115 : start rule storage unit 
           116 : start rule priority storage unit 
           120 : control unit 
           121 : data collection unit 
           122 : recommended work generation unit 
           123 : start rule priority update unit 
           130 : input unit 
           140 : output unit 
           150 : communication unit 
           200 : production progress management device 
           210 : storage unit 
           211 : production performance storage unit 
           212 : production plan storage unit 
           213 : production progress storage unit 
           214 : worker signal storage unit 
           215 : facility performance storage unit 
           216 : product signal storage unit 
           217 : product in-progress process storage unit 
           218 : position and process information storage unit 
           220 : control unit 
           221 : MES data collection unit 
           222 : MES data update unit 
           223 : worker signal collection unit 
           224 : facility performance collection unit 
           225 : product signal collection unit 
           226 : product in-progress process estimation unit 
           227 : production progress estimation and update unit 
           230 : input unit 
           240 : output unit 
           250 : communication unit 
           300 : manufacturing execution system 
           999 : network