Source: http://www.freshpatents.com/-dt20140605ptan20140152668.php
Timestamp: 2015-03-06 02:33:35
Document Index: 620327195

Matched Legal Cases: ['Application No. 2012', 'art 800', 'art 800', 'art 800', 'art 800', 'art 800', 'art 800', 'art 800', 'arts 800', 'art 800', 'art 800', 'art 800', 'art 800', 'art 800', 'art 800', 'art 800', 'art 800', 'art 800', 'art 800', 'art 800', 'art 800', 'art 800', 'art 800', 'art 800', 'art 800']

Information Processing Apparatus And Method And Non-transitory Computer Readable Medium (Fuji Xerox) FreshPatents Stats n/a views for this patent on FreshPatents.comUpdated: March 03 2015 TOP 200 Companiesfiling patents this week
Information processing apparatus and method and non-transitory computer readable medium Information processing apparatus and method and non-transitory computer readable mediumAn information processing apparatus includes the following elements. A first receiver receives a first QFD chart having axes, items formed in a hierarchical structure being appended to each axis. A second receiver receives a second QFD chart different from the first QFD chart. An integrating unit integrates the first and second QFD charts into a third QFD chart. Concerning axes of the first and second QFD charts having the same axis name, if part of an item name in a highest hierarchical level of items on the axis of the first QFD chart coincides with that of the second QFD chart and if remaining parts do not coincide with each other, the integrating unit sets the consistent parts as an item name in a highest level of the third QFD chart and sets the inconsistent parts as item names in a second highest level of the third QFD chart.Related Terms: Computer Readable Charts Hierarchical Browse recent Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd. patentsUSPTO Applicaton #: #20140152668 - Class: 345440 (USPTO) - Inventors: Tomoyuki Ito, Michiaki Yasuno, Satoru Inakage, Hiroshi Umemoto The Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20140152668, Information processing apparatus and method and non-transitory computer readable medium.
This application is based on and claims priority under 35 USC 119 from Japanese Patent Application No. 2012-266808 filed Dec. 5, 2012.
The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus and method, and a non-transitory computer readable medium.
According to an aspect of the invention, there is provided an information processing apparatus including the following elements. A first receiver receives a first quality function deployment chart (QFD) having at least three axes, items which are formed in a hierarchical structure being appended to each of the axes, an axis name being appended to each of the axes, and an item name being appended to each of the items. A second receiver receives a second QFD, which is different from the first QFD. An integrating unit integrates the first QFD and the second QFD into a third QFD. Concerning an axis of the first QFD and an axis of the second QFD having the same axis name, if part of an item name positioned in a highest hierarchical level of items associated with the axis of the first QFD coincides with part of an item name positioned in a highest hierarchical level of items associated with the axis of the second QFD and if a remaining part of the item name of the first QFD does not coincide with a remaining part of the item name of the second QFD, the integrating unit sets the consistent parts to be an item name in a highest hierarchical level of items on an associated axis of the third QFD and sets the inconsistent parts to be item names in a second highest hierarchical level of items on the associated axis of the third QFD.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating conceptual modules forming an information processing apparatus according to a first exemplary embodiment;
FIG. 2 illustrates a system configuration for implementing the first exemplary embodiment;
FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an example of processing according to the first exemplary embodiment;
FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an example of processing according to the first exemplary embodiment;
FIG. 5 illustrates an example of a Quality Function Deployment (QFD) chart A to be processed according to the first exemplary embodiment;
FIG. 6 illustrates an example of a QFD chart B to be processed according to the first exemplary embodiment;
FIG. 7 illustrates an example of a processing result (integrated QFD chart) according to the first exemplary embodiment;
FIGS. 8A, 8B, and 8C illustrate an example of processing according to the first exemplary embodiment;
FIG. 9 is a block diagram illustrating conceptual modules forming an information processing apparatus according to a second exemplary embodiment;
FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example of processing according to the second exemplary embodiment;
FIG. 11 illustrates an example of the data structure of an axis item table;
FIG. 12 illustrates an example of processing for displaying and selecting axis names;
FIG. 13 illustrates an example of processing for displaying and selecting axis items;
FIG. 14 illustrates a display example of a selected axis name and selected items;
FIG. 15 illustrates a display example of a parts/members QFD chart;
FIG. 16 illustrates a display example of a system QFD chart;
FIG. 17 is a flowchart illustrating another example of processing according to the second exemplary embodiment; and
FIG. 18 illustrates an example of the hardware configuration of a computer implementing an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
Prior to a description of exemplary embodiments of the present invention, a technology which serves as a base of the exemplary embodiments will first be discussed. This discussion will be given for the purpose of easy understanding of the exemplary embodiments.
As the structure of a technology or a product becomes complicated, the number of cause-and-effect relationships between factors forming the technology or the product becomes increasing, and also, the cause-and-effect relationships are interacted with each other. It is thus difficult to understand the associations between factors. This may bring about the following problems.
(1) it takes time to find cause-and-effect relationships between factors of a technology or a product, thereby decreasing the efficiency in designing and developing the technology or the product.
(2) It is more likely to overlook a problem, and when a problem is found, a designing or developing process has to be suspended and reexamined.
(3) If manufacturing of a product continues without realizing the existence of a problem, quality problems occur.
(4) If an unexpected problem occurs, it takes time to construct a technology for analyzing a phenomenon of the problem, which causes a delay in addressing the problem.
One of the measures to be taken against the above-described problems which may effectively function is a method of analyzing and visualizing factors based on Quality Function Deployment (QFD).
QFD is a method for clarifying targets, problems, and actions to be taken so that customer/client requirements in terms of the quality can be reflected in product manufacturing in various stages, such as product planning, product developing, etc.
A typical form of QFD is a matrix indicating relationships between items of “quality requirements” extracted from items of customer/client requirements and items of “quality characteristics” extracted from factors to be considered in terms of a technology. QFD may also represent relationships between items of “quality requirements” or items of “quality characteristics” in the form of a triangle attic. By applying weights to items of “quality requirements”, items of “planning requirements” (indicating which characteristics will satisfy customers/clients) may be extracted. Also, by associating items of “quality characteristics” with product design values, items of “design requirements” (product specifications) can be extracted. As a result of examining the above-described relationships, relationships among targets, problems, and actions to be taken can be clarified. That is, a QFD chart is a chart in which plural item lists are deployed on axes orthogonal to each other and cause-and-effect relationships between items on adjacent axes are represented in the form of a matrix.
In order to improve QFD, the following proposal has been made. Not only the use of items of “quality requirements” and “quality characteristics”, but also various deployments, such as “parts deployment”, “technology deployment”, and “task deployment”, are performed according to the circumstances, and then, obtained cause-and-effect relationships between items are represented by two-dimensional tables. Moreover, a computer program for displaying these tables is produced, and the items and matrix cells are linked to information on a network, thereby utilizing QFD as a frame for storing and sharing information.
However, some products, such as printers and medical instruments, function in a complicated manner such that many parts/members and plural physical phenomena are interrelated with each other. In the development of such a product, there are a huge number of items to be handled, and also, it is difficult to sufficiently describe relationships between design characteristics and quality requirements by using a simple frame, such as a combination of “quality requirements” and “quality characteristics” or a combination of “parts deployment” and “technology deployment”. Moreover, a process for manufacturing a product is established in coordination of many departments, such as technology development, parts/members development, system development, and manufacturing departments. Accordingly, two-dimensional tables may be created, and symbols representing that “these items may be related” and “these items may not be related” may be assigned. However, unless the entire relationships between design characteristics and quality requirements including a mechanism of a phenomenon “why these items may be related” or “why these items may not be related” can be understood at a glance, it is difficult to utilize QFD in an actual designing and developing process. That is, the manufacturing steps for parts and members and the quality of a manufactured product are indirectly related to each other with various intermediate characteristics therebetween. Unless tables having appropriate intermediate characteristics and configurations are provided, it is difficult to clarify relationships between the manufacturing steps and the quality. The product design conditions and the product quality are also indirectly related to each other with various intermediate characteristics therebetween. Unless tables having appropriate intermediate characteristics and configurations are provided, it is difficult to clarify the relationships between the design conditions and the quality.
Additionally, in many cases, the definition of intermediate characteristics is ambiguous, which makes it difficult to standardize QFD charts. As a result, the use of QFD charts in an actual designing and developing process has not been promoted.
The above-described problems may be addressed by preparing a system which implements the following operations. A cause-and-effect relationship table having axes indicating appropriately defined intermediate characteristics is created. Then, such cause-and-effect relationships are displayed such that the entire relationships between intermediate characteristics can be observed at a glance. The input of items, which are likely to be numerous, positioned on an axis and formation and display of matrices can also be easily performed. However, such a table has three or more axes, and, in particular, when there are a large number of items, a table becomes complicated and large, which may impair the formation of a table. In order to address such a problem, a table may be divided and created by several people, and then, divided tables may be integrated later, thereby significantly reducing the operation load. In this case, the appropriate integration of axes of divided tables is a major factor.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating conceptual modules forming an information processing apparatus 100 according to a first exemplary embodiment.
Generally, modules are software (computer programs) components or hardware components that can be logically separated from one another. Accordingly, the modules of exemplary embodiments of the invention are not only modules of a computer program, but also modules of a hardware configuration. Thus, the exemplary embodiments will also be described in the form of a computer program for allowing a computer to function as those modules (a program for causing a computer to execute program steps, a program for allowing a computer to function as corresponding units, a computer program for allowing a computer to implement corresponding functions), a system, and a method. While expressions such as “store”, “storing”, “being stored”, and equivalents thereof are used for the sake of description, such expressions indicate, when the exemplary embodiments relate to a computer program, storing the computer program in a storage device or performing control so that the computer program is stored in a storage device. Modules may correspond to functions based on a one-on-one relationship. In terms of implementation, however, one module may be constituted by one program, or plural modules may be constituted by one program. Conversely, one module may be constituted by plural programs. Additionally, plural modules may be executed by using a single computer, or one module may be executed by using plural computers in a distributed or parallel environment. One module may integrate another module therein. Hereinafter, the term “connection” includes not only physical connection, but also logical connection (sending and receiving of data, giving instructions, reference relationship among data elements, etc.). The term “predetermined” means being determined prior to a certain operation, and includes the meaning of being determined prior to a certain operation before starting processing of the exemplary embodiments, and also includes the meaning of being determined prior to a certain operation even after starting processing of the exemplary embodiments, in accordance with the current situation/state or in accordance with the previous situation/state. If there are plural “predetermined values”, they may be different values, or two or more of the values (or all the values) may be the same. A description having the meaning “in the case of A, B is performed” is used as the meaning “it is determined whether case A is satisfied, and B is performed if it is determined that case A is satisfied”, unless such a determination is necessary.
A system or an apparatus may be realized by connecting plural computers, hardware units, devices, etc., to one another via a communication medium, such as a network (including communication based on a one-on-one correspondence), or may be realized by a single computer, hardware unit, device, etc. The terms “apparatus” and “system” are used synonymously. The term “system” does not include merely a man-made social “mechanism” (social system).
Additionally, every time an operation is performed by using a corresponding module or every time each of plural operations is performed by using a corresponding module, target information is read from a storage device, and after performing the operation, a processed result is written into the storage device. Accordingly, a description of reading from the storage device before an operation or writing into the storage device after an operation may be omitted. Examples of the storage device may be a hard disk, a random access memory (RAM), an external storage medium, a storage device using a communication line, a register within a central processing unit (CPU), etc.
The information processing apparatus 100 of the first exemplary embodiment includes, as shown in FIG. 1, a chart-A receiving module 110A, a chart-B receiving module 110B, a chart integrating module 120, a relationship checking module 130, a relationship-inconsistency handling module 140, and a display module 150.
The information processing apparatus 100 is utilized for supporting design and development in order to improve the efficiency in developing technologies and products and also to enhance the qualities of technologies and products. More specifically, the information processing apparatus 100 is utilized for creating a QFD chart by integrating plural QFD charts formed by several operators in cooperation with each other or by one operator.
The chart-A receiving module 110A is connected to the chart integrating module 120. The chart-A receiving module 110A receives a QFD chart A. A QFD chart includes at least three axes. Items formed in a hierarchical structure are appended to each of the axes. An axis name is appended to each axis, and an item name is appended to each item. A matrix into which cause-and-effect relationships between items may be input may be deployed between two adjacent axes. Specific examples of QFD charts will be discussed later with reference to FIGS. 9 through 17. The QFD chart A, for example, a QFD chart A shown in FIG. 5, is a subject to be integrated. Although it is not shown, items in a small classification level are appended to each of axes of QFD charts shown in FIGS. 5, 6, and 7. More specifically, items in two levels, such as large and small classification levels, are appended to, for example, a first axis 510, of the QFD chart A shown in FIG. 5. Items in three levels, such as large, medium, and small classification levels, are appended to, for example, a second axis 720, of a QFD chart shown in FIG. 7.
The chart-B receiving module 110B is connected to the chart integrating module 120. The chart-B receiving module 110B receives a QFD chart B. The QFD chart B is different from the QFD chart A, otherwise there is no point in integrating the QFD charts A and B. The QFD chart B is, for example, a QFD chart B shown in FIG. 6.
The chart integrating module 120 is connected to the chart-A receiving module 110A, the chart-B receiving module 110B, the relationship checking module 130, the relationship-inconsistency handling module 140, and the display module 150. The chart integrating module 120 integrates a QFD chart A and a QFD chart B into a single QFD chart C. This will be described more specifically. It is now assumed that, concerning an axis of the QFD chart A and an associated axis of the QFD chart B having the same axis name, part of an item name positioned in the highest hierarchical level of items associated with the axis of the QFD chart A coincides with that of the QFD chart B and the remaining part of the item name of the QFD chart A does not coincide with that of the QFD chart B. In this case, when integrating the QFD chart A and the QFD chart B into a new QFD chart C, the chart integrating module 120 sets the consistent part of the item name to be an item name in the highest hierarchical level of items on an associated axis of the QFD chart C and sets the inconsistent parts of the item name to be item names in the second highest hierarchical level of items on the associated axis of the QFD chart C.
In the above-described example, “an axis of the QFD chart A and an associated axis of the QFD chart B having the same axis name” means that the two axes are located at the same position of the QFD charts A and B. If the two associated axes do not have the same axis name, a message indicating that such QFD charts are not subjects to be integrated may be displayed on a display device, such as a display. For example, if the name of an axis of the QFD chart A is “performance”, an associated axis having the name “performance” of the QFD chart B is a subject to be integrated. In the QFD charts A and B shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, respectively, a second axis 520 and a second axis 620 are subjects to be integrated.
In the above-described example, a case in which “part of an item name positioned in the highest hierarchical level of items associated with the axis of the QFD chart A coincides with that of the QFD chart B and the remaining part of the item name of the QFD chart A does not coincide with that of the QFD chart B” will be discussed more specifically. Items associated with an axis of the QFD chart A and those of the QFD chart B having the same axis name are subjects to be integrated. The items are formed in a hierarchical structure having, for example, large, medium, and small classification levels. Even if there is only one level (for example, a large classification level), an item classified under this level may be considered to form a hierarchical structure. An item name is appended to each hierarchical level. It is then determined whether part of an item name appended to the highest hierarchical level (the large classification level in the above-described example) of the QFD chart A coincides with part of the item name of the QFD chart B and whether the remaining part of the item name of the QFD chart A does not coincide with that of the QFD chart B. For example, the item name of the highest hierarchical level appended to the second axis 520 shown in FIG. 5 and that of a second axis 620 shown in FIG. 6 are respectively “performance of handle” and “performance of cooking container”. In this case, part (word) of the item name “performance” of the QFD chart A and that of the QFD chart B coincide with each other, and the remaining parts “handle” and “cooking container” do not coincide with each other. Accordingly, the item name of the QFD chart A and the item name of the QFD chart B are subjects to be integrated. A determination as to whether an item name of the QFD chart A and that of the QFD chart B partially coincide with each other (hereinafter may be referred to as “partial matching”) may be made by conducting morphological analysis on the item name. More specifically, the item name is divided into plural words and the above-described determination may be made by comparing the divided words. Alternatively, the item name may be divided into groups of consecutive character strings according to character types (Hiragana (Japanese character type), Katakana (Japanese character type), Kanji (Chinese character type), alphabetic characters, numeric characters, etc.), and the above-described determination may be made by comparing the divided groups of character strings. In this case, it is possible that Japanese particles (as in English prepositions), for example, “No” in Japanese, which means “of” in English, be not subjects to be compared.
A description “setting the consistent part of the item name to be an item name in the highest hierarchical level and setting the inconsistent parts of the item name to be item names in the second highest hierarchical level” will be discussed more specifically. In the above-described example, the consistent part is “performance”, and “performance” is set to be an item name in the highest hierarchical level of an associated axis of the QFD chart C. Then, “handle” and “cooking container” are set to be item names in the second highest hierarchical level of the axis of the QFD chart C. That is, as in the QFD chart C shown in FIG. 7, items within a second axis 720 are divided into a large classification item 721 (“performance”), a medium classification item 722 (“cooking container”), and a medium classification item 723 (“handle”).
Concerning an axis of the QFD chart A and an associated axis of the QFD chart B having the same axis name, if item names of items associated with the axis of the QFD chart A and the hierarchical structure of the items coincide with those of the QFD chart B, the chart integrating module 120 integrates two associated items into a single item in the QFD chart C. This integration processing is performed when items associated with two axes perfectly match each other (perfect matching). “Perfect matching” means that the number of hierarchical levels, the number of items in each hierarchical level, and the item names in each hierarchical level of the QFD chart A perfectly match those of the QFD chart B. “Two associated items” are an item of the QFD chart A and an item of the QFD chart B which are subjected to be compared with each other to determine whether they coincide with each other. For example, the first axis 510 shown in FIG. 5 and the first axis 610 shown in FIG. 6 are an example of two associated items which coincide with each other, and they are integrated into a first axis 710 shown in FIG. 7.
If, concerning an axis of the QFD chart A and an associated axis of the QFD chart B having the same axis name, the name of an item positioned in the highest hierarchical level of items associated with the axis of the QFD chart A coincides with that of the QFD chart B and the names of the items positioned in levels other than the highest hierarchical level do not coincide with each other, the chart integrating module 120 disposes two inconsistent items (having different item names) in parallel in an associated level of the QFD chart C. For example, if both item names in the large classification level are “performance”, and item names in the medium classification level do not coincide with each other, the item names are disposed, such as those in a second axis 720 shown in FIG. 7. This result is the same result of integrating the second axis 520 shown in FIG. 5 and the second axis 620 shown in FIG. 6.
If, concerning an axis of the QFD chart A and an associated axis of the QFD chart B having the same axis name, the chart integrating module 120 has determined that the name of an item positioned in the highest hierarchical level of items associated with the axis of the QFD chart A is different from that of the QFD chart B, it displays, on a display device, such as a display, a message indicating that it is not possible to integrate the QFD chart A and the QFD chart B. In this case, “the names of items in the highest hierarchical level are different” means that the names of the items do not even partially coincide with each other.
If an item on each of two adjacent axes of one QFD chart (QFD chart A) and an item of the associated axis of another QFD chart (QFD chart B) have been integrated, the chart integrating module 120 causes the relationship checking module 130 and the relationship-inconsistency handling module 140 to perform corresponding processing. A case in which “an item on each of two adjacent axes of one QFD chart and that of another QFD chart have been integrated” means that an item on each of two adjacent axes of one QFD chart perfectly matches an item of the associated axis of another QFD chart. That is, an item within an axis of the QFD chart A (or that of the QFD chart B) can be copied as an item of an associated axis of the QFD chart C. The above-described case does not apply to a case in which an item of only one axis of one QFD chart and that of another QFD chart have been integrated and if items of the other axes of the QFD charts are disposed in parallel.
The relationship checking module 130 is connected to the chart integrating module 120 and the relationship-inconsistency handling module 140. The relationship checking module 130 checks whether or not values, which represent relationships between items, input in elements (cells) forming a matrix between two adjacent axes of one QFD chart are different from those of another QFD chart. For example, if values input in elements within a first-axis/second-axis correlation matrix 515 of the QFD chart A shown in FIG. 5 are different from those within a first-axis/second-axis correlation matrix 615 of the QFD chart B shown in FIG. 6, the relationship checking module 130 causes the relationship-inconsistency handling module 140 to perform processing. If the values within the first-axis/second-axis correlation matrix 515 are not different from those within the first-axis/second-axis correlation matrix 615, the relationship checking module 130 supplies information indicating that there is no inconsistency between the values within the two matrices to the chart integrating module 120. Then, the chart integrating module 120 sets the matrix (including the values representing relationships between items) of the QFD chart A (or the QFD chart B) to be a matrix of the QFD chart C. That is, in the QFD chart A, the QFD chart B, and the QFD chart C, two corresponding axes (including items) are identical, and the matrix between these axes is also identical. In this case, cells of the QFD chart A to be compared with cells of the QFD chart B are cells located at the same position of the matrices. The position of a cell is specified by corresponding items of the two axes.
The relationship-inconsistency handling module 140 is connected to the chart integrating module 120 and the relationship checking module 130. If it is determined by the relationship checking module 130 that values input in cells forming a matrix between two adjacent axes of one QFD chart are different from those of another QFD chart, the relationship-inconsistency handling module 140 selects one of the following two error handling types. In one error handling type, information indicating that integration processing will not be performed since it is not possible to integrate two QFD charts is displayed. In the other error handling type, values input in corresponding cells of one of the QFD charts are set. Which of the error handling types will be selected may be determined in advance, or may be selected through an operation performed by an operator. Then, in accordance with the error handling type selected by the relationship-inconsistency handling module 140, the chart integrating module 120 displays information indicating that integration processing will not be performed since it is not possible to integrate two QFD charts, or sets values in corresponding cells of one of the QFD charts.
The display module 150 is connected to the chart integrating module 120. The display module 150 displays the QFD chart C created by the chart integrating module 120 on a display device, such as a display.
FIG. 2 illustrates a system configuration for implementing the first exemplary embodiment (or a combination of the first exemplary embodiment and a second exemplary embodiment). The system configuration shown in FIG. 2 is a configuration in which items described in a QFD chart are associated with pieces of information stored in a DB 290 apparatus and users are allowed to share these pieces of information.
Information processing apparatuses 100A, 100B, and 1000 and the DB apparatus 290 are connected to one another with a communication line 299. The information processing apparatuses 100A, 100B, and 100C each correspond to the information processing apparatus 100 shown in FIG. 1. The DB apparatus 290 stores, for example, a QFD chart A created by the information processing apparatus 100A through an operation performed by an operator A, and a QFD chart B created by the information processing apparatus 100B through an operation performed by an operator B. Then, the information processing apparatus 100C reads the QFD chart A and the QFD chart B stored in the DB apparatus 290 through an operation performed by an operator C and integrates the QFD chart A and the QFD chart B into a QFD chart C. That is, the QFD chart A and the QFD chart B, which are parts of the QFD chart C, are created through operations performed by the operator A and the operator B, respectively. Then, the QFD chart A and the QFD chart B are integrated into the QFD chart C through an operation performed by the operator C.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an example of processing according to the first exemplary embodiment.
In step S302, the chart-A receiving module 110A receives a QFD chart A. The QFD chart A may be a QFD chart shown in FIG. 5.
In step S304, the chart-B receiving module 110E receives a QFD chart B. The QFD chart B may be a QFD chart shown in FIG. 6.
In step S306, the chart integrating module 120 determines whether the QFD chart A and the QFD chart B contain the same word in an item name in a large classification level of items. If the result of step S306 is YES, the process proceeds to step S308. If the result of step S306 is NO, the process proceeds to step S314. In the QFD charts shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, there is the same word in associated axes of the QFD charts, and thus, the process proceeds to step S308. More specifically, there are the same words in associated axes, such as “saucepan” and “quality”, in the first axis 510 and the first axis 610, “performance” in the second axis 520 and the second axis 620, “structures and physical properties” in a third axis 530 and a third axis 630, and “steps/materials” in a fourth axis 540 and a fourth axis 640.
In step S308, the chart integrating module 120 determines whether the item names in associated axes of the QFD chart A and the QFD chart B perfectly match each other. If the result of step S308 is YES, the process proceeds to step S310. If the result of step S308 is NO, the process proceeds to step S312. Since the item name “quality of saucepan” in the first axis 510 perfectly matches that of the first axis 610, the process proceeds to step S310. On the other hand, there are different words in item names between the second axes 520 and 620, the third axes 530 and 630, and the fourth axes 540 and 640, and thus, the process proceeds to step S312.
In step S310, the chart integrating module 120 integrates items having the same item name of a small classification level and disposes different item names of small classification levels in parallel. If the item names within the axis of the QFD chart A perfectly match those of the QFD chart B, as well as the positions of the items in the hierarchical levels, the chart integrating module 120 integrates these items. “Integrating of items” means that the items within an axis of one of the QFD charts are copied onto an associated axis of a new QFD chart (QFD chart C). If items in hierarchical levels lower than the large classification level of an axis of one QFD chart are different from those of another QFD chart, both items are disposed in parallel in associated axis of a new QFD chart (QFD chart C). “Disposing items in parallel” means that items of associated axes of both QFD charts are copied as items of an associated axis of the QFD chart C. Accordingly, the number of items of the axis of the QFD chart C is equal to the total number of items of the associated axis of the QFD chart A and those of the QFD chart B.
In step S312, the chart integrating module 120 sets the same word in the associated axes of the QFD chart A and the QFD chart B to be an item name in a large classification level of the QFD chart C and disposes different words in parallel in a classification level lower than the large classification level of the QFD chart C. The chart integrating module 120 also disposes items in parallel in a small classification level in the QFD chart C. More specifically, the second axis 720 including the large classification level 721 and the medium classification levels 722 and 723 is generated from the second axes 520 and 620 shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, respectively. A third axis 730 including a large classification level 731 and medium classification levels 732 and 733 is generated from the third axes 530 and 630 shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, respectively. A fourth axis 740 including a large classification level 741 and medium classification levels 742 and 743 is generated from the fourth axes 540 and 640 shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, respectively.
In step S314, the display module 150 displays information indicating the possible occurrence of an error. If it is found in step S306 that the names of the items in a large classification level do not even partially coincide with each other, the display module 150 issues a warning to indicate that the QFD chart A and the QFD chart B are not subjects to be integrated.
After finishing the processing shown in the flowchart of FIG. 3, the display module 150 may display the QFD chart C on a display device, such as a display. However, at this time, in the QFD chart C, values are not yet input into the cells in a matrix disposed between two axes. In order to set values in the cells of matrices of the QFD chart C by utilizing values input in the cells of matrices of the QFD chart A and those in the QFD chart B, processing indicated in the flowchart of FIG. 4 is performed.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an example of processing according to the first exemplary embodiment. The processing indicated in this flowchart is performed after finishing the processing indicated in the flowchart of FIG. 3.
In step S402, the chart integrating module 120 determines whether an item on each of two adjacent axes of one QFD chart (QFD chart A) and that of another QFD chart (QFD chart B) have been integrated. If the result of step S402 is YES, the process proceeds to step S404. If the result of step S402 is NO, the process proceeds to step S410.
In step S404, the relationship checking module 130 determines whether values input in the cells of a matrix disposed between the two adjacent axes of the QFD chart A coincide with those of the QFD chart B. If the result of step S404 is YES, the process proceeds to step S406. If the result of step S404 is NO, the process proceeds to step S408. In this case, “values input in cells of a matrix of the QFD chart A coincides with those of the QFD chart B” indicates that there is no inconsistency between the cells of the QFD chart A and those of the QFD chart B. That is, the determination results of the relationships between the items of the QFD chart A created by the operator A are the same as those of the QFD chart B created by the operator B.
In step S406, the chart integrating module 120 sets values indicating the relationships between items in cells. That is, the chart integrating module 120 sets the values within the cells of the QFD chart A (or the QFD chart B) in the associated cells of the QFD hart C.
In step S408, the chart integrating module 120 performs an inconsistency handling operation selected by the relationship-inconsistency handling module 140. More specifically, as stated above, the chart integrating module 120 displays information indicating that integration processing will not be performed since it is not possible to integrate the two QFD charts, or sets values within corresponding cells of one of the QFD charts in a new QFD chart.
In step S410, the chart integrating module 120 sets the values input in cells of the QFD charts. That is, the chart integrating module 120 sets all the values within a matrix between the two adjacent axes of the QFD chart A in an associated matrix of the QFD chart C and sets all the values within a matrix between the two adjacent axes of the QFD chart B in an associated matrix of the QFD chart C.
Then, the display module 150 displays the QFD chart C on a display device, such as a display. For example, if the QFD chart A shown in FIG. 5 and the QFD chart B shown in FIG. 6 are received, the display module 150 displays the QFD chart C shown in FIG. 7. The medium classification item 722 corresponds to the second axis 620 shown in FIG. 6, the medium classification item 723 corresponds to the second axis 520 shown in FIG. 5, the medium classification item 732 corresponds to the third axis 630 shown in FIG. 6, the medium classification item 733 corresponds to the second axis 530 shown in FIG. 5, the medium classification item 742 corresponds to the fourth axis 640 shown in FIG. 6, and the medium classification item 743 corresponds to the fourth axis 540 shown in FIG. 5. A first-axis/second-axis correlation matrix (handle) 715A corresponds to the first-axis/second-axis correlation matrix 515 shown in FIG. 5, and a first-axis/second-axis correlation matrix (cooking container) 715E corresponds to the first-axis/second-axis correlation matrix 615 shown in FIG. 6. A second-axis/third-axis correlation matrix (handle) 725A corresponds to the second-axis/third-axis correlation matrix 525 shown in FIG. 5, and a second-axis/third-axis correlation matrix (cooking container) 725B corresponds to the second-axis/third-axis correlation matrix 625 shown in FIG. 6. A third-axis/fourth-axis correlation matrix (handle) 735A corresponds to the third-axis/fourth-axis correlation matrix 535 shown in FIG. 5, and a third-axis/fourth-axis correlation matrix (cooking container) 735B corresponds to the third-axis/fourth-axis correlation matrix 635 shown in FIG. 6.
As a modified example of the first exemplary embodiment, the chart integrating module 120 may perform processing in the following manner. It is now assumed that, concerning an axis of the QFD chart A and an associated axis of the QFD chart B having the same axis name, as a result of sequentially extracting items associated with this axis both in the QFD charts A and B starting from the highest hierarchical level of the items, an item name positioned in a certain level of the QFD chart A coincides with that in the same level of the QFD chart B, and item names positioned in levels lower than this certain level of the QFD chart A do not coincide with those of the QFD chart B. In this case, the chart integrating module 120 integrates the QFD chart A and the QFD chart B into the QFD chart C by setting consistent item names to be a common item name in the associated hierarchical level of the QFD chart C and by disposing inconsistent item names in parallel in a corresponding hierarchical level of the QFD chart C. In the above-described case, items are formed in a hierarchical structure, and item names in higher hierarchical levels of one QFD chart coincide with those of another QFD chart, while item names in lower hierarchical levels of the two QFD charts do not coincide with each other. When sequentially checking item names from a higher level to a lower level, if there are item names which do not coincide with each other in a certain level, it is assumed that item names in levels lower than this certain level do not coincide with each other.
This will be described more specifically with reference to FIGS. 8A through 8C. FIGS. 8A through 8C illustrate an example of processing according to the first exemplary embodiment.
A QFD chart 800c shown in FIG. 8C is created by integrating a QFD chart 800a shown in FIG. 8A and a QFD chart 800b shown in FIG. 8B.
The chart integrating module 120 determines that combining processing can be performed since all axis names of axes of the QFD chart 800a coincide with those of the QFD chart 800b. A “quality” axis, which is a first axis, is formed in a hierarchical structure having three levels (large, medium, and small classification levels).
Small classification items a and b in the QFD chart 800a and the QFD chart 800b are classified under the same large classification level a, the same medium classification level A, and the same small classification level starting from the highest level. Accordingly, the small classification items a and b in the QFD charts 800a and 800b are integrated as common classification items a and b classified under the same three levels. Accordingly, in the integrated QFD chart 800c, the small classification items a and b are singly provided.
Small classification items c and d in the QFD chart 800a and small classification items k and m in the QFD chart 800b are classified under the same large classification level α and the same medium classification level A starting from the highest level. Accordingly, the small classification items c and d and k and m are integrated as common classification items c, d, k, and m classified under the same two higher levels. That is, the small classification items c, d, k, and m are disposed in parallel in the same small classification level of the QFD chart 800c. Small classification items e and f in the QFD chart 800a and those in the QFD chart 800b are classified under the same large classification level a, but not under the same medium classification level. Accordingly, the small classification items e and f are integrated as common classification items e and f classified only under the same large classification level α. That is, in the QFD chart 800c, the medium classification items B and E are disposed in parallel in the same medium classification level, and the small classification items e and f are disposed in parallel in the same small classification level but under the different medium classification levels.
Small classification items g and h in the QFD chart 800a and those in the QFD chart 800b are not classified under the same large classification level, and thus, they are not integrated. That is, without being integrated, the large classification items β and γ are disposed in parallel in the same large classification level, the medium classification item C is disposed in the medium classification level, and the small classification items g and h are disposed in parallel in the same small classification level.
Small classification items i and j in the QFD chart 800a and small classification items n and o in the QFD chart 800b are classified under the same medium classification level, but not under the same large classification level, and thus, they are not integrated. That is, without being integrated, the large classification items β and γ are disposed in parallel in the same large classification level, the medium classification item D is disposed in the medium classification level, and the small classification items i, j, n, and o are disposed in parallel in the same small classification level.
The “performance” axis has only one level, and the highest level is the first level. Thus, items having the same item name (capability 1, capability 2, and capability 3) are integrated as common items, and items having different item names (capability 4 and capability 5) are disposed in parallel.
If it is determined by the relationship checking module 130 that there is no inconsistency between values within cells of a matrix of the QFD chart 800a and those of the QFD chart 800b, the chart integrating module 120 copies these values onto the associated cells of the QFD chart 800c. In the cell at the intersection of the small classification item a and the capability 3, ◯ is input in the QFD chart 800a and Δ is input in the QFD chart 800b, and the two values are inconsistent. In this case, the chart integrating module 120 displays a screen to ask a user about which of the values will be used. Alternatively, the chart integrating module 120 may perform an inconsistency handling operation on the basis of the error handling type selected by the relationship-inconsistency handling module 140. More specifically, the chart integrating module 120 may display information indicating that it is not possible to integrate the two QFD charts and may terminate processing. Alternatively, the chart integrating module 120 may specify in advance which of the two QFD charts will be preferentially used.
In the above-described first exemplary embodiment, two QFD charts are integrated by way of example, however, three or more QFD charts may be integrated. In this case, for example, two QFD charts may be integrated first, and then, an integrated QFD chart and a remaining QFD chart may be integrated. This process may be repeated.
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Patent InfoApplication # US 20140152668 A1Publish Date 06/05/2014 Document # 13898918 File Date 05/21/2013 USPTO Class 345440 Other USPTO Classes International Class 06T11/20 Drawings 18 Computer ReadableChartsHierarchical