JPH0929921A - Plate making process advance control apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To omit the labor of telephonic or direct negotiation and the resetting labor of a schedule at a time of an additional order or the alteration of specifications by calculating the required times at every processes on the basis of processing data inputted in relation to printed matter and forming the schedules of the respective processes on the basis of the required times to output them. SOLUTION: A whole advance control server 10 to which specifications such as the number of pages of printed matter, a manuscript size, the number of characters, the quantity of processing data or the appointed data of delivery at a time of the reception of an order are inputted calculates the taking-in of a photograph, a layout and an output work time on the basis of a process model and parameters such as the quantity of photographic data, the number of characters, the processing capacity of a worker or work content during simultaneous advance and subsequently form schedules showing work content and a data on the basis of these work times to allot the parts concerned within the schedules to photograph taking-in, layout and output advance control servers 20, 30, 40 on the basis of the contents of the schedules. The respective output advance control servers 20-40 display the schedules and allot the work content and time to respective calculators 231 -233 , 331 -333 , 431 -433 .

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a plate making process progress management system for managing the progress of a plate making process such as plate making, printing and processing.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Normally, the printing industry is different from the general manufacturing industry in that it accepts orders for printed materials and produces various printed materials according to the contents of this order by the delivery date. Therefore, during production of one printed matter, an additional order for another printed matter may be placed. At this time, add the printed matter to the original format, digital data type, paper format,
In order to satisfy the system used in processing and to produce by a limited delivery date, we call or direct negotiation with each process department and forcibly change the order of manuscripts,
People run around the factory with their manuscripts in order to deliver them to the necessary process departments.

Further, when the specifications of the printed matter that has been ordered are changed, the order of the originals is adjusted as described above. As described above, in the plate-making process progress management system, the state of each process changes sequentially, so that it is impossible to accurately grasp the state of each process and appropriately manage the schedule, and the process is all managed manually. It is the current situation.

On the other hand, due to recent advances in computerization technology, originals have been converted into digital data and recorded on a floppy disk or the like, facilitating management by a computer. This kind of digital data can be easily read / written from each process department via the network. For this reason, when the delivery time is tight, digital data can be directly transferred between the operator who processes the data and the customer without going through the progress management staff or sales staff.
It may be updated.

[0005]

However, in the plate making process progress management system as described above, when there is an additional order or a specification change, telephone or direct negotiation is performed to change the order of the manuscripts, thus lowering work efficiency. There's a problem. In addition, since the process is manually managed in the case of an additional order or specification change, it takes time and effort to reset the schedule of the process, and there is a problem that the process management is likely to make an error.

Further, since the change in the work content and progress is recognized in the computer, when the operator updates the digital data without contacting the person in charge of progress management, the person in charge of progress management checks the current state of the digital data. I could not grasp it, there was a conflict between the schedule and the actual state,
There is a problem that reduces the management consistency.

The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned circumstances, and it is possible to omit the telephone, direct negotiation and the effort of resetting the schedule when making an additional order or changing the specifications, and to improve the consistency of management. The purpose is to provide a process progress management system.

[0008]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a plate making process progress management system for producing a printed matter comprising a plurality of types of processes, which is a condition for inputting at least a processing data amount relating to the printed matter. Based on the input means, the process time calculating means for calculating the required time for each of the steps based on the processing data amount input from the condition input means, and the required time calculated by the step time calculating means A plate making process progress management system including a schedule output means for creating and outputting a schedule for each process.

The invention according to claim 2 is, in the plate-making process progress management system according to claim 1, a progress degree collecting means for collecting a progress degree for each of the steps during execution of the schedule. And a schedule correction unit that calculates at least a time required for a process that is delayed from the schedule based on the progress level collected by the progress level collection unit and corrects the schedule based on the calculation result. It is a platemaking process progress management system.

Further, in the invention corresponding to claim 3, in the plate making process progress management system according to claim 1, the process time calculating means has the process time calculated based on the processing data amount. Based on the reference time calculation unit that calculates the reference processing time by totalizing / averaging each process, and the reference processing time calculated by the reference time calculation unit and the preset correction coefficient, each process described above. It is a plate making process progress management system including a required time calculating unit for calculating a required time for each.

[0011]

Therefore, in the invention according to claim 1, by taking the above-mentioned means, at least the processing data amount concerning the printed matter is inputted by the condition input means, and the process time calculating means is inputted by the condition input means. The required time is calculated for each process based on the amount of processed data, and the schedule output means creates and outputs the schedule of each process based on the required time calculated by the process time calculation means. In addition, it is possible to omit the effort of telephone, direct negotiation and re-setting of schedule in case of additional order or specification change, and improve the consistency of management.

In the invention according to claim 2, the progress level collecting means collects the progress level for each process during execution of the schedule, and the schedule correcting means collects the progress levels collected by the progress level collecting means. The time required for at least the step delayed from the schedule is calculated based on the degree, and the schedule is corrected based on the calculation result. Therefore, in addition to the action corresponding to claim 1, the accuracy of the schedule is improved. You can

Further, in the invention according to claim 3, the process time calculating means according to claim 1 has a reference time calculating section and a required time calculating section, and the reference time calculating section is based on the processing data amount. The calculated process time is aggregated / averaged for each process to calculate the reference process time, and the required time calculation unit calculates the reference process time calculated by the reference time calculation unit and the preset correction coefficient. Since the required time is calculated for each process based on, it is possible to improve the accuracy of the schedule in addition to the effect corresponding to claim 1.

[0014]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of a plate making process progress management system according to the first embodiment of the present invention. In this platemaking process progress management system, the overall progress management server 10
The photo capture progress management server 20, the layout progress management server 30, and the output progress management server 40 are connected via a network 50. The photo capture progress management server 20, the layout progress management server 30, and the output progress management server 40 are individually provided with barcode input devices 21, 31, 41 and barcode output devices 22, 3, respectively.
2 and 42, and 3 respectively via the network 51
Work computers 23 ₁ to 23 ₃ , 33 _{1 to} 33 ₃ , 4
3 ₁ to 43 ₃ and each of these work computers 23 ₁
~ 23 _3, 33 _to 333, 43 ₁ to 43 ₃ are individually scanner input-output device 24 _{1-24 3} consisting of a display and output machine, 34 _{1-34 3} has 44 _{1-44 3} ing.

Here, the overall progress management server 10 is shown in FIG.
3 has a function of creating a schedule indicating each process and the scheduled execution date and time of each process and giving this schedule to each progress management server according to the procedure shown in FIG. When the work is interrupted, it has a function of changing the schedule and giving the changed schedule to the progress management servers 20 to 40.

The photo capture progress management server 20 has a function of allocating work to each of the computers 23 ₁ to 23 ₃ based on a schedule given from the overall progress management server 10 and, for example, a photo delivered in a manuscript bag. , A function of confirming arrival of a manuscript and a manuscript specification, which cannot be confirmed online, by a bar code input by the bar code input device 21, and a function of confirming input of digital data transmitted online via the networks 50 and 51. And the function of outputting a barcode from the barcode output device 22 of its own in response to the completion of the photo capturing work.

The progress management server 30 for the layout, and the ability to assign tasks to each computer 33 _to 333 based on a schedule provided by the entire progress management server 10,
Bar code output device 22 of photo management progress management server 20
The bar code output from the bar code input device 3
When a bar code is input in 1, the function to detect the end of the photo capturing work and start the layout work, and the function to output the bar code from the own bar code output device 32 in response to the completion of the layout work Has.

The output progress management server 40 has a function of assigned tasks to each computer 43 _{1-43 3} based on a schedule provided by the entire progress management server 10, the progress management server 30 for the layout bar code output unit 32 When the barcode output from the barcode input device 41 of the own machine is entered, the function of detecting the end of the layout job and starting the output job, and the function of the own machine corresponding to the completion of the output job It has a function of outputting a barcode from the barcode output device 42.

Next, the operation of the plate making progress management system configured as described above will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. Now, 2 with a total of 5 pictures and text areas
It is assumed that a printed matter corresponding to one A4 original is ordered from the business computer (not shown) to the overall progress management server 10 (ST1: condition input means). It should be noted that at the time of ordering, specifications such as at least the number of pages of printed matter, the size of the original, the number of characters, the amount of processed data, and the delivery date are input to the overall progress management server 10.

The overall progress management server 10 includes the process model shown in FIG. 4 and the photograph data amount x (byte) which is the parameter shown in FIG. 5, the number of characters y, the document size, the processing capacity of the operator (A4 size per unit time) (N sheets), based on the contents (M types) of the work in progress at the same time, the photo taking work time, the layout work time, and the output work time are set to the following (1) to (3).
It is calculated according to the formula (ST2: process time calculating means).

[0021]

[Equation 1]

Thereafter, the entire progress management server 10
Based on the calculated photo capturing work time, layout work time and output work time, as shown in FIG. 6, a schedule showing work contents and work date and time is created (ST3: schedule output means), and the contents of the schedule are created. In accordance with this, corresponding portions in the schedule are respectively assigned to the photo capturing progress management server 20, the layout progress management server 30, and the output progress management server 40 (ST4).

Each of the progress management servers 20 to 40 displays the schedule based on the assigned schedule, for example, as shown in FIG. 7 (ST5: schedule output means), and the contents of work on each computer 23, 33, 43. And assign work dates. Each computer 23, 33, 43
The work is executed according to the operation of the worker based on the assigned work content and work date and time.

As a result, the effort of setting the schedule can be omitted. In addition, when all the processes are progressing according to the schedule, from the viewpoint of analyzing / updating the schedule, there are cases in which a new work is entered and a case where a sudden correction / change is entered. Since it is the same, it is possible to omit the telephone and direct negotiation and the effort of resetting the schedule when making an additional order or changing the specifications, and it is possible to improve the consistency of management.

Next, the case where the schedule does not match the actual work will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. The overall progress management server 10 determines whether or not there is a delay in the process based on the schedule (ST11: progress degree collecting means), and inquires of the progress management server of the process indicating the delay in the determination result of the progress of the work (ST12: Progress collection means).

In response to this inquiry, the progress management server notifies the overall progress management server 10 of the work progress. Based on the progress of the received work, the overall progress management server 10 calculates the correction work time by using, for example, the process model shown in FIG. 8 and the following expression (4) (ST13: schedule correction means) and calculates the correction work time. The schedule is corrected based on the result (ST14: schedule correction means), and the corrected schedule is given to each progress management server 20-40.

[0027]

[Equation 2]

The progress management servers 20 to 40, based on this modified schedule, perform the same calculation on each computer 2 as described above.
Allocation to 3, 33, 43. As a result, the accuracy of the schedule can be improved in addition to the labor saving described above.

Next, a case where another work is interrupted during the work shown in FIG. 6 will be described. Now, it is assumed that, immediately after the start of the capturing work shown in FIG. 6, an unplanned request for capturing two photographs is received.

The overall progress management server 10 is similar to the above.
The photograph taking work time is calculated corresponding to these two photographs, and the schedule is corrected based on the calculation result. The correction procedure at this time is as follows (a) to (c). (A) As shown in FIG. 9, an unscheduled photo capturing work time is captured and added to the schedule. (B) Since the photo capturing work can be processed in parallel, FIG.
As shown in FIG. 7, the individual computers 23 ₁ to 23 ₃ share the photo capturing work so as to minimize the total photo capturing work time. (C) Correct the schedule based on the sharing result.

As a result, as described above, even in the case of an additional order, the labor of resetting the schedule can be omitted, and the consistency of management can be improved. As described above, according to the first embodiment, the processing data amount relating to the printed matter is calculated from the business computer to the overall progress management server 10.
Since the overall progress management server 10 calculates the required time for each process based on the processing data amount and the like, and also creates and outputs the schedule of each process based on each of the required time. In addition, it is possible to omit the effort of telephone, direct negotiation and re-setting of schedule in case of additional order or specification change, and improve the consistency of management.

Further, according to the present embodiment, the overall progress management server 10 collects the progress level for the delayed process during execution of the schedule, and at least delays the schedule based on the progress level. Since the time required for the process is calculated and the schedule is corrected based on the calculation result, the accuracy of the schedule can be improved.

Next, a plate making process progress management system according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 11 and 12. The same parts as those in FIG. Is denoted by the subscript a and detailed description thereof is omitted, and only different parts will be described here.

That is, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 11, the overall progress management server 10a calculates the work time by a process model different from that of FIG. An example of process control in the case of processing is shown. Further, in the present embodiment, a database 60 in which attendee information and facility information are stored is connected to the overall progress management server 10a.

Here, the database 60 is readable / writable by the overall progress management server 10a, each progress management server 20-40 and each other computer, and the latest attendee information and facility information are constantly updated. It is something that is remembered.
As shown in FIG. 13, the attendance information includes items such as belonging to each name, work schedule, operable computer and skill level, normal task, operable software and skill level, special skill, and post. It is updated and stored from a computer (not shown) in the general affairs section. As shown in FIG. 14, the equipment information is, for each device name, LAN connection form, address / network name, function, installed software / font, memory configuration, monitor, OS, connected HUB / router. / Ga
There are items such as teWay, for example, the overall progress management server 10
It is updated and stored from a.

As shown in FIG. 15, the overall progress management server 10a can use two computers for cutting out image data, one for capturing illustrations, two for layout, and one for output. The process model is set, and a schedule is created based on the process model. Note that up to four computers 23, 33, 43 can be used at the same time, and are used for image data cutout, illustration capture, layout editing, or output according to an operator's operation. Further, the process model has incidental information, and the incidental information is
As shown in FIG. 16, whether or not division processing is possible for each process name, and preconditions are after completion of the previous process / working is possible even with dummy data,
It is provided with items of operator dependency / computer dependency, previous process name, subsequent process name, related process name, and required skill level.

Further, the overall progress management server 10a refers to the facility information and attendant information in the database 60 based on the created schedule, allocates the processing software to each computer corresponding to the process, and executes the processing. It has a function of assigning employees to work software and computers.

Next, the operation of creating a schedule for processing the item AAA and the item BBB will be described. The overall progress management server 10a, for the item AAA, the item AAA
Based on the item contents of the data amount DT, the difficulty level DF, the device capability MP, and the skill level SK given when the order is received, as shown in the following equation (5), image data cutting, network transfer, and layout editing are performed. The working time ET is calculated individually.

[0039]

(Equation 3)

Further, the overall progress management server 10a is
The working time ET obtained by the equation (5) is periodically aggregated and averaged for each process to obtain the reference processing time PT (ST31: reference time calculating unit).
Is substituted into the following equation (6) including the correction coefficient β, and a work time ET _ave that is more averaged and is easy to correct is obtained for each process (ST32: required time calculation unit).

[0041]

(Equation 4)

Thus, the overall progress management server 10a
When the image data cutout time, the illustration capture time, the layout time, and the expected time of the output time for the item AAA are calculated individually, the cutout time, the illustration capture time, the layout time, and the output time are calculated as shown in FIG. Allocate on the time axis.

The overall progress management server 10a is the item BBB.
With respect to the above, the calculation is executed in the same manner as described above, and as shown in FIG. 18, the cutout time, the illustration acquisition time, the layout time, and the output time are assigned on the time axis.

Subsequently, the overall progress management server 10a advances the layout time and the output time corresponding to the final process in time for the delivery date, as shown in FIG. 19, for each process of the item AAA and the item B.

In this way, the schedules for the items AAA and BBB were created at first glance to meet the delivery date. Next, since the overall progress management server 10a completes the illustration capturing process before the layout start time from a practical point of view, as shown in FIG.
Correct the schedule by dividing the BBB illustration process.

As a result, the schedule is practically in time for the delivery date, but further, the overall progress management server 10a.
Is corrected based on the above-mentioned limitation on the number of computers so that only four computers can be used at the same time at the maximum.

That is, the overall progress management server 10a
With respect to the schedule shown in FIG. 20, the time is reversed from the delivery date and it is confirmed that the total number of computers 23, 33, 43 for processing the item AAA and the item BBB is four or less.

At this time, as shown in FIG.
Since there are 5 computers in TB, TC, and TD, each time TA
~ For both the image data cutout process and the illustration capture process in TD, refer to the supplementary information of the process model to determine whether or not it can be divided, and the fact that the image cutout process can be divided and the illustration capture process A determination result that the division is impossible is obtained.

Thereafter, the overall progress management server 10a
At a time when the number of computers is 5 and there is an image cutting process, the image cutting process is divided so that the number of computers is 4, and the newly generated image cutting process is calculated as shown in FIG. Allocate to a time when the number is small. This allows
The maximum number of computers can be increased to 4, and the number of computers will not exceed 4 even if a new allocation is made.

Thereafter, the overall progress management server 10a
Referring to the process model incidental information, as shown in FIG. 22, each computer 2 is installed in the reverse direction from the delivery date, corresponding to the process flow, such as a computer in which necessary software is installed.
3, 33, 43 are related to each other. This completes the modification of the schedule.

Next, the overall progress management server 10a refers to the attendee information in the database 60 to identify the attendees who can operate the software with the required skill level among the affiliations corresponding to the processes in the schedule. Each computer 23, 33, 4
Assign to 3.

As a result, similarly to the first embodiment, it is possible to omit the labor at the time of making an additional order or changing the specifications, and it is possible to allocate the computers with good consistency, and also to assign the attendants to the computers. You can

Next, a case where the schedule does not match the actual work will be described. Overall progress management server 10
As in the case described above, a appropriately inquires the progress degree of the work from the corresponding progress management server based on the schedule.

The progress management server notifies the overall progress management server 10a of the progress of the work in response to this inquiry.
As shown in FIG. 23, the overall progress management server 10a corrects the schedule based on the notified progress degree, and gives the corrected schedule to each progress management server.

The correction contents at this time are as follows (d) to (e)
It is as follows. (D) As shown in (a) of FIG. 23, when the end of the current process is delayed due to the delay of the previous process or the like but the start time of the next process does not matter, the delay amount of the current process is simply added to the schedule. (E) As shown in (b) of FIG. 23, when the end of the current process is delayed due to the delay of the previous process and the start time of the next process is delayed accordingly, the schedule calculation is executed again and the execution result is displayed. Based on this, the delay between the current process and the next process is added to the schedule. In the figure, we explained the case where the delay between the current process and the next process was added to the schedule because there is no margin in the number of computers, but if there is a margin in the number of computers, divide the process as much as possible and Do not delay the schedule after the process.

Each progress management server allocates to each computer in the same manner as described above based on this corrected schedule. As a result, even when the schedule and the actual work do not match, the schedule can be quickly corrected to improve the accuracy.

As described above, according to the second embodiment, the process progress time calculated by the overall progress management server 10a based on the amount of data is aggregated / averaged for each process to obtain the reference process time PT. In addition to the calculation, the required time is calculated for each process based on each standard processing time PT and the preset correction coefficient β, so that the accuracy of the schedule is improved in addition to the effect of the first embodiment. You can

Further, according to this embodiment, the database 6
Since the facility information and attendant information are included in 0, the created schedule can be assigned to the computer and the attendant can be assigned to the computer. In addition, the present invention can be modified in various ways without departing from the scope of the invention.

[0059]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, at least the processing data amount relating to the printed matter is inputted by the condition inputting means, and the process time calculating means is inputted by the condition inputting means. Based on the above, the required time is calculated for each process, and the schedule output means creates and outputs the schedule of each process based on the required time calculated by the process time calculation means, so that additional orders and specifications can be obtained. It is possible to provide a platemaking process progress management system that can omit the telephone call, direct negotiation when changing, and labor of resetting a schedule, and can improve management consistency.

According to the invention of claim 2, the progress level collecting means collects the progress level for each process during execution of the schedule, and the schedule correcting means collects the progress collected by the progress level collecting means. Based on the degree, the time required for the process that is at least delayed than the schedule is calculated, and the schedule is corrected based on the calculation result. Therefore, in addition to the effect of claim 1, the accuracy of the schedule can be improved. Can provide management system.

Further, according to the invention of claim 3, the process time calculating means of claim 1 has a reference time calculating portion and a required time calculating portion, and the reference time calculating portion is calculated based on the processed data amount. The reference process time is calculated by totaling / averaging the process time for each process, and the required time calculation unit calculates the reference process time based on each reference process time calculated by the reference time calculation unit and the preset correction coefficient. Since the required time is calculated for each process, it is possible to provide the plate making process progress management system capable of improving the accuracy of the schedule in addition to the effect of claim 1.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration of a plate making process progress management system according to a first embodiment of the present invention,

FIG. 2 is a flowchart for explaining the operation in the same embodiment,

FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining the operation in the same embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a schematic view showing a process model in the same example;

FIG. 5 is a list of parameters for working time calculation in the same embodiment;

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing an overall schedule in the embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing a display screen of a layout schedule in the embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a schematic view showing a process model in the same example;

FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram showing a schedule in the middle of correction in the same embodiment;

FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing a modified schedule in the embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration of a plate making process progress management system according to a second embodiment of the present invention,

FIG. 12 is a flowchart for explaining the operation in the embodiment.

FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram showing attendance information in the same example;

FIG. 14 is a schematic diagram showing facility information in the same example;

FIG. 15 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a process model in the example.

FIG. 16 is a schematic diagram showing incidental information of the process model in the example.

FIG. 17 is a schematic diagram showing a schedule in the process of being created in the example.

FIG. 18 is a schematic diagram showing a schedule in the process of being created in the embodiment.

FIG. 19 is a schematic diagram showing a schedule in the process of being created in the embodiment.

FIG. 20 is a schematic diagram showing a schedule in the process of being created in the embodiment.

FIG. 21 is a schematic diagram showing a schedule in the process of being created in the embodiment.

FIG. 22 is a schematic diagram showing a created schedule in the example.

FIG. 23 is a schematic diagram showing a procedure for correcting a schedule in the embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 ... Overall progress management server, 20 ... Photo capture progress management server 21, 31, 41 ... Bar code input device 22,
32, 42 ... Bar code output machine, 23 ₁ to 23 ₃ , 33
_{1 to} 33 ₃ , 43 ₁ to 43 ₃ ... Work computer, 24 ₁ to
24 _{3, 34} 1 _{to 34} 3, 44 ₁ to 44 ₃ ... output device, 30 ... progress management server for the layout, 40 ... progress management server for output, 50, 51 ... network.

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A plate making process progress management system for producing a printed matter comprising a plurality of types of steps, at least a condition input means for inputting a processing data amount relating to the printed matter, and a process inputted from the condition input means. A process time calculating means for calculating a required time for each process based on the amount of data, and a schedule for creating and outputting a schedule for each process based on the required time calculated by the process time calculating means. A plate making process progress management system comprising: an output unit. 2. The plate making process progress management system according to claim 1, wherein during the execution of the schedule, a progress level collecting unit for collecting the progress level for each of the processes, and the progress level collecting unit collects the progress level. Based on the progress level, at least the time required for the process delayed from the schedule is calculated, and based on the calculation result, the schedule correction means for correcting the schedule is provided. system. 3. The plate-making process progress management system according to claim 1, wherein the process time calculation means totalizes / averages the process time calculated based on the processing data amount for each process. A reference time calculation unit that calculates a reference processing time, and a required time calculation that calculates a required time for each of the processes based on each reference processing time calculated by the reference time calculation unit and a preset correction coefficient. A plate-making process progress management system, which is provided with a section.