An assistance method for execution of a format change in an automatic machine can include dividing the format change into an orderly succession of operations for the removal of components designed for the old format and installation of components designed for the new format; communicating the orderly succession of removal and installation operations to an operator; electronically and automatically detecting the actual presence or absence of a component designed for the old or new format before communicating to the operator the operation for removal or installation of the component; electronically and automatically detecting the actual absence or presence of a component designed for the old or new format after having communicated to the operator; and communicating to the operator the operation following an operation for the removal or installation of a component only after having electronically and automatically checked for the actual absence or presence of the component.

A data processing device includes: a collector that collects setting values in operating elements that control a production process for a product at prescribed intervals and collects brand information indicating a brand of the product; a first processor that performs a statistical process for the setting values, obtains representative values for the setting values as operation performance values while the product of the brand indicated in the brand information is being produced, and generates a performance value database; a second processor that performs a statistical process for operation performance values associated with brand information indicating a next brand to be produced in the production process among the operation performance values included in the performance value database, and obtains optimal setting values in the operating elements for producing the product of the next brand; and an outputter that outputs the obtained setting values.

A production schedule creating method includes: a schedule information acquiring step of acquiring production schedule information including a production sequence for producing a plurality of models of products, a commenceable time point, and a production deadline time point; a preparation time calculating step of calculating a preparation time taken for arrangement work of arranging members on arrangement means, for each of a plurality of models; a production time point calculating step of calculating a production commencing time point and a production end time point for each of the plurality of models; a schedule satisfaction determining step of determining whether or not a schedule satisfying condition is satisfied, for each of the plurality of models; and a sequence changing step of changing a sequence for producing an unsatisfied model that does not satisfy the schedule satisfying condition, in a case where the unsatisfied model is present.

A production schedule creating method includes: a schedule information acquiring step of acquiring production schedule information including a production sequence for producing a plurality of models of products, a commenceable time point, and a production deadline time point; a preparation time calculating step of calculating a preparation time taken for arrangement work of arranging members on arrangement means, for each of a plurality of models; a production time point calculating step of calculating a production commencing time point and a production end time point for each of the plurality of models; a schedule satisfaction determining step of determining whether or not a schedule satisfying condition is satisfied, for each of the plurality of models; and a sequence changing step of changing a sequence for producing an unsatisfied model that does not satisfy the schedule satisfying condition, in a case where the unsatisfied model is present.

Method for controlled changeover of a container treatment machine having a plurality of RFID reading devices, a control unit and one or more treatment modules, every treatment module having a plurality of remote indicators, and one or more exchangeable handling parts equipped with RFID transponders for unambiguous identification, including displaying, via the remote indicators, predetermined target identifiers for the handling parts which are transmitted by the control unit; displaying, via the remote indicators, actual identifiers for the handling parts that are retrieved from the RFID transponders via the RFID reading devices; comparing respective actual identifiers for the handling parts with respective target identifiers therefor, and signaling when a change of the handling part is required if the actual identifier deviates from the respective target identifier, or signaling that a handling part is correctly used if the actual identifier corresponds to the respective target identifier.

A product changeover method for production line includes: determining, in response to a product changeover instruction, size information of a product to be produced; determining correspondingly, based on the size information of the product to be produced, a target value of a control parameter for at least one flexible module in a production device; and sending the target value corresponding to the control parameter of the at least one flexible module to a controller of a corresponding flexible module so as to process an incoming material of the product to be produced.

An assistance method for execution of a format change in an automatic machine can include dividing the format change into an orderly succession of operations for the removal of components designed for the old format and installation of components designed for the new format; communicating the orderly succession of removal and installation operations to an operator; electronically and automatically detecting the actual presence or absence of a component designed for the old or new format before communicating to the operator the operation for removal or installation of the component; electronically and automatically detecting the actual absence or presence of a component designed for the old or new format after having communicated to the operator; and communicating to the operator the operation following an operation for the removal or installation of a component only after having electronically and automatically checked for the actual absence or presence of the component.

A data processing device includes: a collector that collects setting values in operating elements that control a production process for a product at prescribed intervals and collects brand information indicating a brand of the product; a first processor that performs a statistical process for the setting values, obtains representative values for the setting values as operation performance values while the product of the brand indicated in the brand information is being produced, and generates a performance value database; a second processor that performs a statistical process for operation performance values associated with brand information indicating a next brand to be produced in the production process among the operation performance values included in the performance value database, and obtains optimal setting values in the operating elements for producing the product of the next brand; and an outputter that outputs the obtained setting values.

A production plan optimization apparatus includes a traveling salesman problem formulation unit for formulating a problem regarding determining a sequence in which a plurality of workpieces are processed as a traveling salesman problem that satisfies a delivery date constraint based on a delivery date specified for at least one of the plurality of workpieces and a sequence constraint specified for at least one of combinations of the plurality of workpieces and also minimizes a sum of changeover times associated with switching of the workpieces and a processing sequence determination unit for calculating a solution to the traveling salesman problem, by using an annealing processing unit for searching for an optimal solution to a combinatorial optimization problem by simulated annealing or quantum annealing, and determining the sequence in which the plurality of workpieces are processed based on a result of the calculation.

A system and method for automatically detecting the type of product being processed in an industrial machine and switching to the corresponding product model without manual operator input. The system includes a detection module configured to determine the product type based on real-time data such as visual classification, lot number association, or processing schedule. Upon identifying the product type, a model selection engine automatically activates the appropriate product model from among multiple models stored on the machine. This automation eliminates the risk of human error associated with manual switching, improves operational reliability, and ensures accurate processing for environments where multiple product types are handled on the same equipment.