Patent ID: 7571178

Claim:
A process step management apparatus provided corresponding to a process step in which a product handled in a preceding process step is input and then output after predetermined processing, the apparatus comprising: a storage device storing processing information in the process step corresponding thereto, the processing information being a part of information for management of the process step corresponding thereto; means for detecting input of a product to a process step which is managed by the process step management apparatus, the product having an attached record medium that records product identification information, the product identification information being another part of the information for management of the process step corresponding thereto; means for detecting output of the product from the process step which is managed by the process step management apparatus; means for obtaining date and time information on the input of the product and date and time information on the output of the product; means for reading the product identification information recorded on the record medium attached to the product; means for storing the read product identification information and the obtained date and time information on the input and output in the storage device, the read product identification information and the obtained date and time information maintaining a correspondence with each other; and means for recording the obtained date and time information on the input and output and identification information on the process step management apparatus in the record medium, the obtained date and time information and identification information maintaining a correspondence with each other, wherein the recording the obtained date and time information on the input and output and identification information on the process step management apparatus in the record medium comprises: a first recording of information on the record medium at a first process step, and a second recording of information on the record medium at a second process step after a reading of the first recording of information.