WO2018168060A1

WO2018168060A1 - Picking management system and picking management method

Info

Publication number: WO2018168060A1
Application number: PCT/JP2017/040026
Authority: WO
Inventors: 頼子風間; 中野　定樹; 野口　大輔
Original assignee: 株式会社日立製作所
Priority date: 2017-03-13
Filing date: 2017-11-07
Publication date: 2018-09-20
Also published as: JP6748592B2; JP2018150124A

Abstract

The present invention adjusts work progress between multiple zones. This picking management system 202 for a warehouse in which a plurality of transport shelves DS for storing articles are arranged has a plurality of transport vehicles AC, a management device 400, and a transport vehicle controller WCS-B420. A transport vehicle AC transports each of the plurality of transport shelves DS. The management device 400 manages order information for giving instructions on picking an article. The transport vehicle controller WCS-B420 controls the movement of each of the transport vehicles on the basis of the instructions from the management device 400. The transport vehicle controller WCS-B420 sets a movable zone for each of the plurality of transport vehicles AC.

Description

Picking management system and picking management method

The present invention relates to a picking management system for picking articles and a picking management method.

There is an operation of picking an article according to an order from a warehouse in which the article is stored, and shipping from the warehouse through, for example, inspection and packing. Goods that can be shipped are collectively loaded into a delivery vehicle and delivered to a destination. However, since there is a customer's time requirement at the time of delivery of goods, the delivery vehicles often arrive at the warehouse at a predetermined time and are loaded all at once. For this reason, if any part of the picking work progress is delayed, it may lead to a departure delay of the delivery vehicle, and a great loss may occur.

In a warehouse, there is an operation of taking out an article from a shelf in which a large number of articles are stored, and an operator often takes out a predetermined article by moving around the warehouse while referring to a list. If it is possible to reduce the time for searching for and moving the article, work efficiency is increased. Therefore, there is a system in which a shelf in which the target article is stored is moved to a worker by a transport vehicle. Patent Document 1 discloses that in the system in which the transport vehicle transports shelves, the travel distance of the transport vehicle is shortened by temporarily placing the shelves near the picking work station.

JP 2014-224000 A

However, in the technique of Patent Document 1, since the work area overlaps between a plurality of transport vehicles, the distance to which the transport vehicle moves is large when the transport vehicle has a wide area and a work station is installed. Becomes longer and the conveyance efficiency is reduced.

Furthermore, the technique of Patent Document 1 does not set a movement zone for each transport vehicle. Therefore, in Patent Document 1, when each worker picks in each zone divided into a plurality of areas in the warehouse, a technique for dealing with when a difference in work progress between the zones is naturally not disclosed. .

An object of the present invention is to adjust work progress among a plurality of zones.

In the picking management system and the picking management method according to the present invention, a picking management system for a warehouse in which a plurality of transport shelves for storing articles is arranged includes a plurality of transport vehicles, a management device, and a transport vehicle controller. The transport vehicle transports each of the plurality of transport shelves. The management device manages order information that instructs picking of an article. The transport vehicle controller controls the movement of each of the transport vehicles based on an instruction from the management device. The transport vehicle controller. A movable zone was set up for each of the transport vehicles.

A wide work area can be divided into a plurality of zones, the travel distance of the transport vehicle can be shortened, and the work progress between the plurality of zones can be adjusted.

Explanatory drawing of the picking operation | work in the warehouse which concerns on Example 1. FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a picking management system according to Embodiment 1. FIG. Explanatory drawing of the layout of the zone in a warehouse and work area which concerns on Example 1. FIG. 1 is a functional configuration diagram of a picking management system according to Embodiment 1. FIG. Explanatory drawing of the order management data which concerns on Example 1. FIG. Explanatory drawing of the inventory management data which concerns on Example 1. FIG. Explanatory drawing of the processing flow of the leveling function part which concerns on Example 1. FIG. FIG. 9 is a functional configuration diagram of a picking management system according to a second embodiment. Explanatory drawing of the management data which manages the work progress which concerns on Example 2. FIG. Explanatory drawing of the screen which displays the work progress state which concerns on Example 2. FIG. FIG. 10 is a functional configuration diagram of a picking management system according to a third embodiment. Explanatory drawing of the processing flow of the shelf position determination part which concerns on Example 3. FIG.

The first embodiment is a system for leveling the work amount among a plurality of zones to be described later when order information is received for the picking management system 202 in the shipping operation, and will be described with reference to FIGS.

<Example of shipping work>
FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a delivery operation in a warehouse.

The warehouse has an article storage area 101 and a work area 102. In the storage area 101, a plurality of transport shelves DS and a plurality of transport vehicles AC are arranged. Each transport shelf DS carries one or more kinds of articles. Each transport vehicle AC moves under the control of a management device 204 described later.

Specifically, the transport vehicle AC moves to the designated transport shelf DS. When the transport vehicle AC gets under the transport shelf DS, the transport vehicle DS lifts the transport shelf DS directly above by a jack mechanism (not shown) provided on the upper surface of the transport vehicle AC. Thereafter, the transport vehicle AC moves to the designated work stations WS1 and WS2 in the work area 102 while lifting the transport shelf DS. For the sake of explanation, when the work stations WS1 and WS2 are not distinguished from each other, they are described as work stations WS. When the transport vehicle AC arrives at the work station WS, the transport vehicle AC stands by until the unloading operation is completed, and when the unloading operation is completed, the transport vehicle AC is returned to the original position. In this embodiment, the transport vehicle AC is used as a moving device that moves the transport shelf DS. Each conveyance vehicle AC may be fixed to each conveyance shelf DS.

In the work area 102, a plurality of work stations WSi (i is an integer satisfying 1 ≦ i ≦ n. N is an integer of 2 or more and indicates the total number of work stations WS. In this embodiment, n = 2. ). The work station WSi has a terminal Ti, a gate Gi, and a belt conveyor B. The terminal Ti is a computer that displays information and is operated by the worker Wi. The gate Gi is formed in a frame shape, and has a plurality of openings through which articles picked from the transport shelf DS pass. The belt conveyor B is an apparatus for placing an article picked from the transport shelf DS in a container, for example.

<Example of management device>
FIG. 2 is a system configuration diagram illustrating an example of a management apparatus.

The picking management system 202 includes a management device 204, a plurality of transport vehicle controllers WCS-B1 to WCS-B3 205 to 207, and a plurality of transport vehicles 208 to 210.

1 is divided into zones set for each of a plurality of transport vehicles 208 to 210, and a management apparatus when one or more transport shelves DS exist in one zone will be described. When the storage area 101 becomes large, the travel distance of the transport vehicles 208 to 210 becomes long. Therefore, the travel distance of the transport vehicles 208 to 210 can be shortened by dividing into small areas called zones. . Furthermore, when there is a limit to the number of transport vehicles 208 to 210 that can be managed by one transport vehicle controller (WCS-B), by installing transport vehicle controllers WCS-B1 to WCS-B3 205 to 207 for each zone, A large-scale picking management system that does not limit the number of transport vehicles 208 to 210 can be constructed.

Here, a zone is composed of a wide area divided into certain sections. The transport shelf DS in the zone is transported to the work station WS by the transport vehicles 208 to 210. A transport shelf DS in a certain zone is transported to one or more specific work stations WS. A specific work station WS is associated with a zone. The zone division setting method may be divided on the basis of the size of the area, on the basis of the category of the article stored in the transport shelf DS, or on the basis of the stored article vendor. It may be separated. Furthermore, the number of shelves and zone separation may be set according to the delivery frequency of stored articles. The zone setting method is not limited to this.

Each zone has one or more transport vehicles 208 to 210, and there are transport vehicle controllers WCS-B1 to WCS-B3 205 to 207 for controlling the transport vehicles 208 to 210 in each zone. Since the transport vehicle controller WCS-Bi manages the transport vehicles 208 to 210 in each zone, i = M when zones for M areas are set. Note that each of the transport vehicle controllers WCS-Bi 205 to 207 may manage a plurality of zones with one transport vehicle controller WCS-B instead of managing each zone one by one. Since the storage area 101 is divided into zones, the work station WS also belongs to each zone.

The management device 204 manages a plurality of transport vehicle controllers WCS-B 205 to 207. The management device 204 manages order data received from a WMS (Warehouse Management System) 201 and assigns orders to the respective transport vehicle controllers WCS-B1 to WCS-B3 205 to 207. Furthermore, the management apparatus 204 can control each work of leaving, entering, and replenishing by giving a work instruction to the work station WS in each zone.

The WMS 201 allocates the managed order data not only to the management device 204 but also to the other device management device 203. Therefore, the WMS 201 has a function of receiving work progress from the management device 204 and the other device management device 203 and controlling order data according to the work progress.

FIG. 3 shows a device layout in the warehouse.

In the warehouse, a transport vehicle picking zone in which a plurality of transport vehicles AC are picked is disposed, and an adjacent device picking zone in which other devices are picked is adjacent to the transport vehicle picking zone. Each picking zone is connected by a belt conveyor B, and picked articles carried out from the picking zone are transported to the assortment area. In the assembling area, the articles are aggregated for each shipping destination ID, and subsequently, in the inspection area, it is confirmed whether the picking article matches the order, and is packed and shipped for each shipping destination in the packing area. Note that this layout is an example, and assortment may be performed in each picking zone. Furthermore, the connection method between picking zones is not limited to this. Further, a package shipped to the same shipping destination between the picking zones may be relayed and picked.

For example, a case where an article shipped to the shipping destination ID 100 includes an article A and an article B will be described. The article A is stored in the transport shelf S1 belonging to the zone Z1, and the article B is stored in the transport shelf S2 belonging to the zone Z2. If the zone Z1 is upstream of the belt conveyor B, the shipping box containing the article A picked in the zone Z1 is transported on the belt conveyor B, and the article B is put into the same shipping box in the zone Z2. The As a result, when the belt conveyor B is transported to the final picking zone, all the items in the order are arranged in the shipping box shipped to one shipping destination. Furthermore, you may use the conveyance vehicle AC other than the belt conveyor B as a conveyance mechanism. In this case, since the direction of transportation is not constrained, for example, the shipping box can be transported from zone Z1 to zone Z2, or from zone Z2 to zone Z1, etc., so by changing the transportation direction according to work progress, Relay picking can be performed more efficiently. The transport mechanism is not limited to this.

FIG. 4 is a functional configuration diagram of the management apparatus 204.

The management apparatus 400 includes an allocation unit 401, a leveling determination unit 402, a leveling function unit 403, an instruction creation unit 404, and an instruction transmission unit 405.

When the management device 400 receives the order data from the WMS 201, the allocation unit 401 allocates the order data to each transport vehicle controller WCS-B 420. The allocation unit 401 determines the order allocation according to the articles included in the transport shelf DS arranged in each zone.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of order management data.

As shown in FIG. 5, the order includes, for example, an order ID for each order, a product ID indicating the type of article, the number to be shipped, a shipping destination ID indicating the shipping destination, and the like. The order is represented by one line for each product ID. For example, order ID1 and order ID2 are the same shipping destination ID. However, these order ID1 and order ID2 are expressed by two lines. However, the order data information is not limited to this.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of inventory management data.

Items included in the transport shelf DS are managed as inventory management. As shown in FIG. 6, the inventory management data is distinguished by, for example, an inventory management ID, and a product ID corresponding to each inventory management ID, the number of products stored, and a shelf ID of a stored transport shelf DS. The zone ID in which the transport shelf DS is installed is included. However, the inventory management data is not limited to this.

Return to FIG. The allocating unit 401 collates the order data with the inventory management data and determines a zone to which the order is allocated. For example, since the order ID 1 is a request for taking out the product ID A, if the article is included in the transport shelf ID S1 and the transport shelf S1 belongs to the zone ID Z1, the order 1 is in the zone Z1. Allocated as an order to process.

The leveling determination unit 402 determines whether there is a bias in work in each zone.

FIG. 7 shows an explanatory diagram of the processing flow of the leveling function unit.

This will be described according to the determination flow shown in FIG. In the zone difference evaluation step 701, for example, when there are n zones from Z1 to Zn, for example, when the leveling reference is the work end time, the time when the work of the order assigned to each zone is finished is calculated. Next, in leveling determination step 702, if there is a difference equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold in the work end time calculated in step 701, it is determined to perform leveling.

If the determination result in S702 is true (S702: YES), the leveling function unit 403 determines a shelf to be moved between zones in the moving shelf determination step 703. In order to level the work between the zones, the number of order lines is first averaged between the zones. When the order processed in zone Z1 is 100 lines and the order processed in zone Z2 is 180 lines, the order of zone Z1 is increased by 40 lines to 140 lines, and the order of zone Z2 is decreased by 40 lines to 140 lines. It is. Next, the number of shelves is leveled. In order to reduce 40 lines from zone Z2, orders that can be collected on the smallest number of shelves are extracted. For example, if the transport shelf S1 belongs to the zone Z2 and the number of lines of an order for taking out a plurality of articles stored in the transport shelf S1 is 40, the number of lines of the order is only 40 transport lines. Are extracted by determining that they can be aggregated.

Next, select the shelf to be moved between zones. As described above, by moving the transport shelf S1 from the zone Z2 to the zone Z1, if the number of order lines is equal between the zones, the transport shelf S1 is moved to the zone Z1, and instead from the zone Z1 to the transport shelf that is not related to the order. Move S2 to zone Z2. Next, it is determined whether or not the transport shelf S1 is a shelf that can be moved to the zone Z2 (S704). For example, when the transport shelf S1 is arranged at a position where access to the zone Z2 is not possible (S704: NO), it is determined that the movement is impossible. When the transport shelf S1 is a movable transport shelf (S704: YES), a shelf movement instruction for moving the transport shelf S1 to the zone Z2 is selected. Here, for simplicity, an example has been shown in which the number of order lines between zones can be made common by moving only the transport shelf S1. However, in general, there are a plurality of transport shelves to be moved. Furthermore, by replacing a plurality of transport shelves, there may occur a case where the number of order lines between zones cannot be completely matched. Therefore, it is sufficient that the difference in the number of order lines is within a predetermined fluctuation range. The determination may be made.

The leveling function unit 403 may determine at which position the transport shelf to be moved is placed in the transport destination zone. For example, the articles stored in the transport shelf S1 match the order of 40 rows. In addition to being included in the zone Z2, for each transport shelf S, the number of order lines that can be satisfied is obtained, and the order of degree of order match of the transport shelf S1 is determined. For example, if the order line number match of the transport shelf S1 is 40 and the number of matches is the third largest in the zone Z2, the transport shelf S1 is arranged as close to the work station WS2 as possible. Therefore, the transport shelf S2 to be moved from the zone Z2 to the zone Z1 instead of the transport shelf S1 can be selected from the vicinity of the work station WS2, thereby reducing the transport distance of the transport shelf. Here, instead of the degree of order match, for example, the probability of an article to be delivered may be obtained from a past shipment history or the like, and the arrangement of the transport shelves may be determined based on the article delivery probability. A transport shelf storing articles with a very high shipment rate based on past history is arranged near the work station WS, and conversely, transport includes only articles that have never been shipped from the past shipping history. The shelf is arranged at a position far from the work station WS.

The instruction creation unit 404 adds the moving transport shelf selected by the leveling function unit 403 and the transport destination zone and the arrangement information in the zone to the shelf movement list (S705).

Return to FIG. The instruction transmission unit 405 instructs the transport controller WCS-Bi 420 with the movement instruction created by the instruction creation unit 404.

The transport vehicle controller WCS-Bi 420 is a transport vehicle controller that controls the transport vehicle AC in each zone, and has a function of giving an instruction to the transport vehicle AC in the zone.

The transport vehicle controller WCS-Bi 420 includes an instruction receiving unit 407, a transport vehicle assignment unit 408, a route creation unit 209, a transport vehicle instruction transmission unit 410, and a transport vehicle management unit 411.

The instruction receiving unit 407 receives the movement instruction information from the instruction transmitting unit 405.

The transport vehicle assignment unit 408 selects the transport vehicle AC to which the received movement instruction information is assigned. The transport vehicle AC refers to information on positions and work states of a plurality of transport vehicles AC managed by a transport vehicle management unit 411 described later, and selects the transport vehicle AC to which no work instruction is assigned. Alternatively, a transport vehicle AC that is not assigned a work instruction near the transport shelf S to be moved may be searched, and the transport vehicle AC located at the closest location may be selected.

The route creation unit 409 moves below the transport shelf S according to the movement instruction information, lifts the transport shelf S, and creates a route to the designated transport destination. The route is determined by calculating the shortest route from the current position to the destination. The route creation unit 409 has been described as a function within the transport vehicle controller WCS-Bi 420. However, the route creation unit 409 may be mounted on the control device of the transport vehicle 412. In this case, since the route of the transport vehicle 412 can be searched in the transport vehicle 412, the calculation cost of the transport vehicle controller WCS-Bi 420 can be suppressed.

When the route creation unit 409 creates an instruction to move from the zone Z1 to the zone Z2, since the transport vehicle controllers WCS-B1 and WCS-B2 differ between zones, the boundary for switching the transport vehicle controllers WCS-B1 and WCS-B2 Go through the path through the location. The boundary position for system switching is a predetermined position, and by passing through the boundary position, the transport vehicle controllers WCS-B1 and WCS-B2 can be switched between zones. One boundary position or a plurality of boundary positions may be provided. Here, the case where the transport vehicle AC moves between zones while holding the corresponding transport shelf DS has been described as an example. However, the transport vehicle AC1 may not move between zones, and the transport shelf DS may be handed over to another transport vehicle AC2 at the boundary position. In this case, it is not necessary to switch the transport vehicle controllers WCS-B1 and WCS-B2 in the transport vehicle AC1, so that the picking management system 202 can be simplified.

The transport vehicle instruction transmission unit 410 transmits the route instruction determined by the route creation unit 409 to the transport vehicle 412. The route instruction shows the route from the current position of the transport vehicle 412 to the destination, and includes instructions on the way (for example, lifting, lowering, rotating, etc. the transport shelf DS).

The transport vehicle 412 operates according to instructions from the transport vehicle controller WCS-B420.

The transport vehicle 412 notifies the transport vehicle controller WCS-B 420 of the position and work state of the transport vehicle 412.

The transport vehicle management unit 411 manages the position and work state information of the transport vehicle 412 received from the transport vehicle 412.

According to the present embodiment, the picking management system 202 of the warehouse in which the plurality of transport shelves DS for storing articles are arranged includes the plurality of transport vehicles AC, the management device 400, and the transport vehicle controller WCS-B 420. The transport vehicle AC transports each of the plurality of transport shelves DS. The management device 400 manages order information that instructs picking of an article. The transport vehicle controller WCS-B 420 controls each movement of the transport vehicle based on an instruction from the management device 400. The transport vehicle controller WCS-B420 sets a movable zone for each of the transport vehicles AC. Thereby, the moving area of the transport vehicle in the wide work area can be divided into a plurality of zones, and the moving distance of each transport vehicle AC can be shortened by adjusting the work progress between the plurality of zones in advance. The efficiency of picking work can be improved.

Furthermore, the management device 400 selects a transport shelf DS transported across a plurality of zones set for each of the plurality of transport vehicles AC based on the order information, and standardizes the picking work between the plurality of zones. A standardization function unit 403 is included. Therefore, the picking management system 202 for leveling the work amount between the zones can be realized by moving the transport shelves DS arranged in a plurality of zones between the zones. Thereby, the dispersion | variation in the work completion time between zones decreases, subsequent processes, such as inspection and packing, are performed smoothly and this cost can be reduced.

Further, the transport vehicle controller WCS-B 420 assigns a transport vehicle AC that moves across a plurality of zones, and a route that creates a travel route of the transport vehicle AC selected by the transport vehicle allocation unit 401. And a creation unit 409. Thereby, the movement distance for every conveyance vehicle AC can be decreased.

This embodiment is not limited to the above configuration and processing flow. For example, it has a plurality of transport vehicle controllers WCS-B420, each transport vehicle controller WCS-B420 manages transport vehicles AC and transport shelves DS in one or more zones, and other transport vehicle controllers WCS-B420. The transport shelf DS is moved to a zone managed by. Thereby, each conveyance shelf DS can be managed for each conveyance vehicle controller WCS-B420.

Furthermore, it has a plurality of transport vehicle controllers WCS-B420, each transport vehicle controller WCS-B420 manages transport vehicles AC and transport shelves DS in one or more zones, and other transport vehicle controllers WCS-B420. The transport vehicle AC is moved to a zone managed by the vehicle. Thereby, each conveyance vehicle AC can be managed for each conveyance vehicle controller WCS-B420.

<Hardware configuration example>
The computer includes a processor, a storage device, an input device, an output device, and a communication interface (communication IF). The processor, storage device, input device, output device, and communication IF are connected by a bus.

The processor controls the computer. The storage device becomes a work area of the processor. The storage device is, for example, a non-temporary or temporary recording medium that stores various programs and data. Examples of the storage device include ROM (Read Only Memory), RAM (Random Access Memory), HDD (Hard Disk Drive), and flash memory. The input device inputs data. Examples of the input device include a keyboard, a mouse, a touch panel, a numeric keypad, a scanner, and a barcode reader. The output device outputs data. Examples of the output device include a display and a printer. The communication IF is connected to a network and transmits / receives data.

In the first embodiment, the picking management system 202 that equalizes the work amount after receiving an order from the WMS 201 has been described. In the second embodiment, a picking management system 202 that dynamically levels the amount of work according to the progress of work will be described with reference to FIGS. 8 and 9.

FIG. 8 is a system functional diagram of the management apparatus 400 according to the second embodiment. Parts that overlap with the description of FIG. 4 used in the first embodiment are omitted, and the description will focus on the changes in FIG.

The management device 400 according to the second embodiment further includes a work progress management unit 801 and a work progress display unit 803 as compared with the management device 400 according to the first embodiment.

The work progress management unit 801 of the management apparatus 400 receives work progress from a work station 802 described later.

As shown in FIG. 9, the work progress is managed for each order ID by the shelf ID of the target transport shelf DS, the zone ID of the assigned zone, and the work progress. The work progress is managed with or without work. The work progress management information is not limited to this.

Return to FIG. The leveling determination unit 402 refers to the work progress information managed by the work progress management unit 801, calculates the remaining work in each zone, and the difference in the remaining work between the zones is a threshold (average number of rows or target rows) described later. It is determined that leveling is performed when the number exceeds.

The leveling function unit 403 changes and assigns the order assigned to the zone Z1 with much remaining work to the zone Z2 with little remaining work. The number of order lines of the remaining work is calculated for each zone, the target zone to be leveled is extracted, and the average number of lines is set.

For example, when the average number of remaining work is 500, assuming that the remaining work is 550 in the zone Z1 and the remaining work is 470 in the zone Z2, it is considered that the transport shelf DS is moved from the zone Z1 to the zone Z2. . Here, not the average number of rows but the number of target rows may be obtained. The number of target rows is the number of order rows that can be worked in the target zone. For example, the number of target rows is determined for each zone according to the area size of each zone, the number of transport shelves DS, the skill of workers, etc. May be. For example, when the worker becomes unable to work due to sudden circumstances, the target row number of the corresponding zone is set to zero. As a result, the difference between the number of remaining work and the number of target rows is remarkably large. Therefore, the leveling determination unit 402 determines execution of leveling, and the transport shelf DS is moved from the zone where the worker stops working to another zone. The work can be continued by moving. As described above, since leveling can be performed according to the warehouse and the work state, it is possible to prevent a delay in work progress.

Next, the number of remaining operations per transport shelf DS is obtained, and the transport shelf DS to be transported between zones is selected. For example, in zone Z1, since 50 lines remain from the average number of remaining work, the transport shelf DS closest to the remaining work of 50 lines is selected. If there is no transport shelf DS with the remaining number of operations of 50 rows, a combination of transport shelves DS that approaches 50 rows with the smallest combination is obtained. Thereby, the movement of the conveyance shelf DS between zones can be reduced as much as possible, and the time required for conveyance can be shortened.

According to the above configuration, the management apparatus 400 calculates the remaining work among the picking work assigned to each of the plurality of zones, and determines that the difference in the remaining work between the plurality of zones has exceeded a predetermined threshold. A work progress management unit 801. Thereby, even while the work is being performed, it is possible to make it difficult for work delays between zones to occur by moving the transport shelf DS according to the work progress of the worker.

Furthermore, when the work progress management unit 801 determines that the threshold value has been exceeded, the leveling function unit 403 assigns the picking work assigned to the zone with a lot of remaining work to another zone. Thereby, the remaining work between zones can be leveled according to work progress.

Furthermore, since the management apparatus 400 has a progress display unit 803 that displays the number of picking operations and the remaining work assigned to each of a plurality of zones, the administrator can easily confirm the progress of the operation.

The work station 802 displays an instruction on the terminal T in the work area 102 and prompts the worker to pick a target article. When the transport vehicle management unit 411 detects that the transport vehicle AC has arrived at the work station 802, it gives a work instruction to the work station 802. The terminal T displays an instruction to take out a specified number of products from a specified frontage of the transport shelf DS. When the work is finished, the worker operates the terminal T to notify the work progress management unit 801 that the work is finished.

The work progress management unit 801 updates the work progress information for each order ID according to the notification information from the work station 802.

The work progress display unit 803 is provided in the management apparatus 204, and visualizes the management information of the work progress management unit 801 and the calculation result of the leveling function unit 403.

FIG. 10 is an example of a display screen for visualization information.

In the display screen, the number of remaining work lines is graphed for each zone, and the expected number of calculations when leveling is executed is simultaneously drawn for each zone. Thus, the leveling can be executed or can be confirmed and executed by the administrator. Further, since the situation for each zone can be confirmed, the administrator can designate the target zone and move the transport shelf DS for leveling. Furthermore, the timing for executing the leveling may be set to be executed at regular intervals. From the display screen, the administrator can decide whether to execute at the administrator's timing, at regular intervals, or automatically when the difference between remaining work zones exceeds a specified threshold. You can choose.

In the second embodiment, the example in which the transport shelf DS is moved to another zone has been described. In the third embodiment, a method of determining a position to return the transport shelf DS after moving the transport shelf DS from another zone will be described.

FIG. 11 is a functional diagram in which a shelf position determination unit 1101 of the transport shelf DS is added. FIG. 12 is a processing flow in the shelf position determination unit 1101. FIG. 11 is a diagram in which functions are added to the functional diagram described with reference to FIG. 8. Here, the added functions will be mainly described.

At the work station 802, when an operator picks a predetermined article from the transport shelf DS, a notice of picking completion is received. The work station 802 notifies the work progress management unit 801 of the received information.

The work progress management unit 801 manages the progress information of the work station 802 and notifies the transfer shelf position determination unit 1101 when the work related to the transfer shelf DS transferred to the work station 802 is completed.

The transport shelf position determination unit 1101 determines a position for returning the transport shelf DS. When the transport shelf DS has been transported from another zone Z1, first, it is searched whether there is a space in which the transport shelf DS can be placed in the zone Z2 to which the transport shelf DS belongs at that time (S1201). For example, when another transport shelf DS is being transported and is vacant (S1201: YES), the space is set as a search target. Further, a spare space provided in the zone Z2 may be used. If a plurality of vacant spaces are found in the zone Z2, the number of times of leaving the articles stored in the transport shelf DS is obtained, and the remaining number of scheduled transports of the transport shelf DS is calculated. The other transfer shelves DS are calculated in the same manner, and the scheduled transfer times of the transfer shelves DS are ranked (= shelf rank calculation) (S1203). For example, all of the vacant and non-vacant spaces in the zone Z2 are divided into a plurality of cases according to the shelf rank in the order closer to the work station 802. Of the vacant spaces, the space closest to the shelf rank of the transport shelf DS is selected (S1204), and the position where the transport shelf DS is returned is determined (S1205). If an empty space is not found in the zone Z2 (S1201: NO), the process is repeated until an empty space is found in another zone Z1, Z3,... (S1202). At this time, the free space search in another zone is performed from the space adjacent to the zone Z2. Thereby, the conveyance distance for returning the conveyance shelf DS can be shortened.

The shelf position determining unit 1101 transmits the instruction to the instruction creating unit 404 after determining the position to return the transport shelf DS.

The instruction creation unit 404 receives the shelf installation position determined by the transport shelf position determination unit 1101 and creates an instruction including the position to return the shelf from the current position of the transport shelf DS.

The instruction transmission unit 405 transmits the instruction information received from the instruction creation unit 404 to the transport vehicle controller WCS-B420.

The method for determining the position to return the shelf DS when the transport shelf DS moves from another zone has been described. However, the transport shelf DS may be returned to the original zone and further to the original shelf installation position. At that time, since the position of the transport shelf DS is fixed, for example, when an article is added for warehousing or replenishment work, the corresponding work station WS that calls the transport shelf DS in a short time is easily determined. be able to. In addition, for example, when visually confirming the transport shelf DS and stored articles in a disaster such as an earthquake or an emergency, the inventory can be easily confirmed visually.

According to the above configuration, when the transport shelf DS is transported from another zone, the position where the transport shelf DS is returned in as short a time as possible can be determined.

Furthermore, the management apparatus 400 includes a shelf position determination unit 1101 that determines a position where the transport shelf DS moved between a plurality of zones is installed, and the shelf position determination unit 1101 stores the transport shelf DS at the end of the picking operation. Based on the position, an installation position is determined such that the movement distance of the transport shelf DS is shortened. Thus, the moving distance of the transport shelf DS can be shortened according to the position of the transport shelf DS that moves to another zone each time the picking operation is completed.

Furthermore, the management apparatus 400 includes a shelf position determination unit 1101 that determines a position where the transport shelf DS moved between a plurality of zones is installed. The shelf position determination unit 1101 calculates the number of conveyances of the conveyance shelf DS based on the remaining work of the conveyance shelf DS at the end of the picking work, and selects the installation position of the conveyance shelf according to the calculated number of shipments. Thereby, the moving distance of the transport shelf DS can be shortened according to the dispatch frequency of the transport shelf DS that moves to another zone each time the picking operation is completed.

Information such as programs, tables, and files for realizing each function is recorded on a memory, a hard disk, a storage device such as an SSD (Solid State Drive), or an IC (Integrated Circuit) card, an SD card, or a DVD (Digital Versatile Disc). It can be stored on a medium.

Furthermore, the control lines and information lines indicate what is considered necessary for explanation, and do not necessarily indicate all control lines and information lines necessary for mounting. In practice, it can be considered that almost all the components are connected to each other.

202 ... Picking management system, 204 ... Management device, 205 ... Carrier controller WCS-B1, 206 ... Carrier controller WCS-B2, 207 ... Carrier controller WCS-B3, 303 ... Leveling function unit, 308 ... Carrier allocation 309 ... route creation unit, 400 ... management device, 420 ... conveyance vehicle controller WCS-B, 801 ... work progress management unit, 803 ... progress display unit, shelf position determination unit 1101, AC ... conveyance vehicle, DS ... conveyance shelf

Claims

A warehouse picking management system in which a plurality of transport shelves for storing articles are arranged,
A plurality of transport vehicles for transporting each of the plurality of transport shelves;
A management device for managing order information for instructing picking of the article;
A transport vehicle controller that controls the movement of each of the transport vehicles based on an instruction from the management device;
The picking management system in which the carrier controller sets a zone that can be moved for each of the plurality of carriers.
The management device selects a transport shelf to be transported across the plurality of zones set for each of the plurality of transport vehicles based on the order information, and equalizes picking work between the plurality of zones Having a leveling function unit,
The picking management system according to claim 1.
The management device calculates a remaining work among the picking work assigned for each of the plurality of zones, and determines that a difference in the remaining work between the plurality of zones exceeds a predetermined threshold. Having
The picking management system according to claim 1.
The management device selects a transport shelf to be transported across the plurality of zones set for each of the plurality of transport vehicles based on the order information, and equalizes picking work between the plurality of zones Has a leveling function unit,
When the leveling function unit determines that the work progress management unit has exceeded the threshold value, the picking work assigned to the zone with a lot of remaining work is assigned to another zone.
The picking management system according to claim 3.
The carrier controller is
A transport vehicle assigning unit for assigning a transport vehicle that moves across the plurality of zones;
A route creation unit that determines a travel route of the transport vehicle allocated to the transport vehicle allocation unit;
The picking management system according to claim 1.
The management device has a progress display unit that displays the number of picking operations assigned to each of the plurality of zones and the remaining operations.
The picking management system according to claim 1.
A plurality of the transport vehicle controllers;
Each transport vehicle controller manages the transport vehicle and the transport shelf in one or more of the zones, and moves the transport shelf to a zone managed by another transport vehicle controller.
The picking management system according to claim 1.
A plurality of the transport vehicle controllers;
Each transport vehicle controller manages the transport vehicle and the transport shelf in one or more of the zones, and moves the transport vehicle to a zone managed by another transport vehicle controller.
The picking management system according to claim 1.
The management device has a shelf position determination unit that determines a position to install a transport shelf moved between the plurality of zones,
The shelf position determination unit determines an installation position based on a position of the transport shelf at the end of the picking operation so that a moving distance of the transport vehicle is shortened;
The picking management system according to claim 4.
The management device has a shelf position determination unit that determines a position to install a transport shelf moved between the plurality of zones,
The shelf position determination unit calculates the number of times the transport shelf is transported based on the remaining work of the transport shelf at the end of the picking operation,
Select an installation position of the transport shelf according to the calculated number of transports,
The picking management system according to claim 4.
A warehouse picking management method in which a plurality of transport shelves for storing articles are arranged,
A transport vehicle controller that controls the movement of each of the plurality of transport vehicles that transport each of the plurality of transport shelves based on an instruction from a management device that manages order information that instructs the picking of the article, the transport vehicle controller Picking management method that sets a movable zone for each car.
Picking work between the plurality of zones by selecting a transport shelf to be transported across the plurality of zones set for each of the plurality of transport vehicles by the standardization function unit of the management device. Standardize the
The picking management method according to claim 11.
The work progress management unit of the management device calculates a remaining work among the picking work assigned to each of the plurality of zones, and determines that a difference in the remaining work between the plurality of zones exceeds a predetermined threshold. if you did this,
The picking work assigned to the zone with a lot of remaining work is assigned to another zone by the standardization function unit.
The picking management method according to claim 12.
By the transport vehicle assignment unit of the transport vehicle controller, assign a transport vehicle that moves between the plurality of zones,
The route creation unit of the transport vehicle controller creates a travel route of the transport vehicle assigned to the transport vehicle assignment unit.
The picking management method according to claim 11.
The progress display unit of the management device displays the number of picking operations assigned to each of the plurality of zones and the remaining work.
The picking management method according to claim 11.