Analysis apparatus, analysis method and computer readable medium

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2022308561-A1
Application number	US-202217687687-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Mar 7, 2022
Priority date	Mar 26, 2021
Publication date	Sep 29, 2022
Grant date	—

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 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.

2 . The analysis apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising:
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.

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

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

5 . The analysis apparatus according to claim 3 , further comprising a monitoring load calculation unit configured to calculate, when the target work is automatized, a change in a monitoring load on the operator for the target work performed automatically.

6 . The analysis apparatus according to claim 4 , further comprising a monitoring load calculation unit configured to calculate, when the target work is automatized, a change in a monitoring load on the operator for the target work performed automatically.

7 . The analysis apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein the work cost calculation unit is configured to calculate a 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 automatizing the target work.

8 . The analysis apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein the work cost calculation unit is configured to calculate a 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 automatizing the target work.

9 . The analysis apparatus according to claim 3 , further comprising
a work history storage unit configured to store a history of work performed by the operator in the target plant under operation, wherein the work cost calculation unit is configured to calculate the first workload based on the history of the work stored in the work history storage unit.

10 . The analysis apparatus according to claim 4 , further comprising
a work history storage unit configured to store a history of work performed by the operator in the target plant under operation, wherein the work cost calculation unit is configured to calculate the first workload based on the history of the work stored in the work history storage unit.

11 . The analysis apparatus according to claim 3 , further comprising
a work history storage unit configured to store a history of work performed by the operator in an existing plant under operation, wherein the work cost calculation unit is configured to calculate the first workload based on the history of the work stored in the work history storage unit.

12 . The analysis apparatus according to claim 4 , further comprising
a work history storage unit configured to store a history of work performed by the operator in an existing plant under operation, wherein the work cost calculation unit is configured to calculate the first workload based on the history of the work stored in the work history storage unit.

13 . The analysis apparatus according to claim 11 , wherein
the work history storage unit is configured to store a history of work before automation and a history of work after automation when work is automatized in the existing plant; and the work cost calculation unit is configured to calculate the first workload and the second workload based on a history of the work stored in the work history storage unit.

14 . The analysis apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein
the work cost calculation unit is configured to calculate a change in the work cost when automatized for a plurality of pieces of the target work; and the analysis apparatus further comprises a work extraction unit, which is configured to extract work that should be automatize, based on a change in a plurality of the work costs that are calculated by the work cost calculation unit.

15 . The analysis apparatus according to claim 14 , further comprising
a risk storage unit configured to store risk assessment information for evaluating a risk occurred when automatized for the plurality of pieces of the target work of the target plant, wherein the work extraction unit is configured to extract work that should be automatized further based on the risk assessment information.

16 . The analysis apparatus according to claim 15 , wherein the risk storage unit is configured to store, as the risk assessment information, information related to a case where work in an existing plant is automatized.

17 . The analysis apparatus according to claim 15 , further comprising a risk assessment generation unit 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.

18 . The analysis apparatus according to claim 15 , further comprising a risk assessment generation unit configured to produce, for a target apparatus to be a target of 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.

19 . A analysis method, comprising calculating a change in a work cost of a target plant when at least some target work is automatized among work of an operator required to operate the target plant.

20 . A computer readable medium having a program recorded thereon, when executed by the computer, causing the computer to execute calculating a change in a work cost of a target plant when at least some target work is automatized among work of an operator required to operate the target plant.

Assignees

• Yokogawa Electric Corp

Inventors

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

Classifications

• G06Q10/06393 Primary

  Score-carding, benchmarking or key performance indicator [KPI] analysis · CPC title

• G05B19/41865

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

• G05B2219/25419

  Scheduling · CPC title

• G06Q10/063 Primary

  Operations research, analysis or management · CPC title

• G05B2219/25011

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