METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PRODUCTION LINE FAULT MANAGEMENT

摘要

A method and apparatus controlling a production line including at least one work station operable in one of a normal production posture and at least one extraordinary production posture for producing products and a checking station located downstream of the work station for making a quality check to provide a quality audit result for each of the products transferred in succession from the work station. Trouble data are provided in succession for respective troubles which have occurred in the work station. The trouble data are accumulated to provide trouble history data specifying each of the troubles in relation to a nature of the corresponding trouble, a cause of the corresponding trouble, and a stoppage time required to restore the work station so as to remove the corresponding trouble. A failure signal is produced when the work station ceases to function due to a trouble. The failure signal indicates detected nature and cause of the trouble. A stoppage time is estimated from the trouble history data based on the detected trouble nature and cause when the failure signal occurs. A first command is produced to restore the work station when the estimated stoppage time is less than a predetermined time. Alternatively, a second command is produced to place the work station into the extraordinary production posture when the estimated stoppage time exceeds a predetermined value.