Patent ID: 7660645

Claim:
A production management method for a production line including a series of processes that includes a plurality of key processes performed by a same processing apparatus, the method comprising: using a storage portion to classify the series of processes into a plurality of groups that each includes an associated one of the key processes performed by the same processing apparatus; storing, in an algorithm storage unit, plural algorithms that each defines a different method for determining priority orders for the key processes performed by the same processing apparatus; using a counting unit to obtain a number of in-process products that are present in each group of the plurality of groups; using an input device to select one of the plural algorithms; using a determining unit to determine priority orders of the key processes performed by the same processing apparatus based on the obtained number of the in-process products in each group and the selected algorithm; and executing each of the key processes with the same processing apparatus in an order that is based on the determined priority orders.