Analysis apparatus, analysis method and computer readable medium

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12517498-B2
Application number	US-202217687687-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 7, 2022
Priority date	Mar 26, 2021
Publication date	Jan 6, 2026
Grant date	Jan 6, 2026

Abstract

Provided is an analysis apparatus, including a work cost calculation unit configured to calculate a change in a work cost of a target plant when at least some target work, among work of an operator required to operate the target plant, is automatized. The analysis apparatus may include an automation cost calculation unit configured to calculate an automation cost for automatizing the target work; and a cost comparison unit configured to compare the work cost to the automation cost.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . An analysis apparatus, comprising
at least one processor; a worklist generation unit, in the at least one processor, configured to detect those work operations by an operator that affect each other, and which converts contents of the work operations by the operator that affect each other into a worklist such that the work operations by the operator that affect each other are included in a single piece of work; a work independence determination unit, in the at least one processor, configured to determine an independence of each of the work operations by the operator that affect each other in the worklist; a work cost calculation unit, in the at least one processor, configured to calculate a change in a work cost of a target plant including a device and a pipeline when at least some target work, among the work operations of the operator required to operate the target plant including the device and the pipeline, is automated; an automation cost calculation unit, in the at least one processor, configured to calculate an automation cost for automating the at least some target work; and a cost comparison unit, in the at least one processor, configured to compare the work cost with the automation cost when the target plant is operated for a predetermined period after the automating, whereby the at least some target work is automated when a decrease in the work cost is greater than the automation cost.

2 . The analysis apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the work cost calculation unit is further configured to calculate the change in the work cost, based on a first workload of the operator when the at least some target work is not automated and a second workload of the operator when the at least some target work is automated.

3 . The analysis apparatus according to claim 2 , further comprising
a monitoring load calculation unit, in the at least one processor, configured to calculate, when the at least some target work is automated, a change in a monitoring load on the operator for the at least some target work performed automatically.

4 . The analysis apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein the work cost calculation unit is further configured to calculate the change in the work cost when the operator is allowed to perform another piece of work, provided that the monitoring load on the operator is reduced by automating the at least some target work.

5 . The analysis apparatus according to claim 2 , further comprising
a work history storage unit, in the at least one processor, configured to store a history of work performed by the operator in the target plant including the device and the pipeline under operation, wherein the work cost calculation unit is further configured to calculate the first workload based on the history of the work stored in the work history storage unit.

6 . The analysis apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein
the work history storage unit is further configured to store a first history of the at least some target work performed before the automation and a second history of the at least some target work after the automation when the at least some target work is automated in the target plant including the device and the pipeline; and the work cost calculation unit is further configured to calculate the first workload and the second workload based on the first history and the second history of the at least some target work stored in the work history storage unit.

7 . The analysis apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein
the work cost calculation unit is further configured to calculate the change in the work cost when automated for the at least some target work; and the analysis apparatus further comprises a work extraction unit, in the at least one processor, which is configured to extract those of the work operations of the operator that should be automated, based on a change in a plurality of the work costs that are calculated by the work cost calculation unit.

8 . The analysis apparatus according to claim 7 , further comprising
a risk storage unit, in the at least one processor, configured to store risk assessment information for evaluating a risk occurred when the at least some target work is automated at the target plant including the device and the pipeline, wherein the work extraction unit is further configured to extract those of the work operations of the operator that should be automated further based on the risk assessment information, and the risk assessment information includes a degradation of the device.

9 . The analysis apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein the risk storage unit is further configured to store, as the risk assessment information, information related to a case where the at least some target work in the target plant including the device and the pipeline is automated.

10 . The analysis apparatus according to claim 8 , further comprising
a risk assessment generation unit, in the at least one processor, configured to perform a simulation on a behavior of a target apparatus to be a target of work, and produce the risk assessment information of the work, based on an actual behavior result of the target apparatus when the work is performed and a behavior result according to the simulation.

11 . The analysis apparatus according to claim 8 , further comprising
a risk assessment generation unit, in the at least one processor, configured to produce, for a target apparatus to be a target of the work, the risk assessment information of the work for the target apparatus, based on a difference between an intermediate manufactured product input into the target apparatus and a processed manufactured product output by the target apparatus.

12 . An analysis method, comprising
detecting those work operations by an operator that affect each other, and which converts contents of the work operations by the operator that affect each other into a worklist such that the work operations by the operator that affect each other are included in a single piece of work; determining an independence of each of the work operations by the operator that affect each other in the worklist; changing a work cost of a target plant including a device and a pipeline when at least some target work, among the work operations of an operator required to operate the target plant including the device and the pipeline, is automated; calculating an automation cost for automating the at least some target work; comparing the work cost with the automation cost when the target plant is operated for a predetermined period after the automating; and automating the at least some target work when a decrease in the work cost is greater than the automation cost.

13 . A non-transitory computer readable medium having a program recorded thereon, which when executed by the computer, causing the computer to
detect those work operations by an operator that affect each other, and which converts contents of the work operations by the operator that affect each other into a worklist such that the work operations by the operator that affect each other are included in a single piece of work; determining an independence of each of the work operations by the operator that affect each other in the worklist; changing a work cost of a target plant including a device and a pipeline when at least some target work, among the work operations of an operator required to operate the target plant including the device and the pipeline, is automated; calculating an automation cost for automating the at least some target work; comparing the work cost with the automation cost when the target plant is operated for a

Assignees

• Yokogawa Electric Corp

Inventors

• Ema Nobuaki
• Kambe Takahiro
• Seki Tatenobu
• Annen Masato

Classifications

• G05B2219/25419

  Scheduling · CPC title

• G05B2219/25011

  Domotique, I-O bus, home automation, building automation · CPC title

• G05B2219/24015

  Monitoring · CPC title

• G05B19/41865

  characterised by job scheduling, process planning, material flow · CPC title

• G05B19/41835 Primary

  characterised by program execution · CPC title