A stored control program includes subperiods into which an operation period from a start to an end of an operation of an automated manufacturing machine is divided. Each subperiod is assigned with an actuator to act and action information about the actuator. The subperiods are sequentially selected one by one as a control target, and feedback control is performed on an action of the actuator assigned to the selected subperiod. This reduces the number of actuators controlled at the same time for controlling the operation of an automated manufacturing machine including many actuators. The control program can thus be executed promptly with an operation control apparatus having ordinary processing capability.

An action chart describing an operation of an automated manufacturing machine includes subperiods into which an operation period from a start to an end of the operation of the automated manufacturing machine is divided. The action chart includes element actions included in the operation of the automated manufacturing machine. The element actions on the action chart are assigned to the subperiods and each include an action identifier including qualitative information about the element action, and a numerical table or numerical parameters. The action chart is read. The action identifiers on the action chart are converted into program elements stored in a manner associated with the action identifiers. A numerical value in the numerical table or the numerical parameters is set for each program element. The program elements are combined together in an order of the subperiods on the action chart.

Element actions of actuators incorporated in an automated manufacturing machine are stored in a manner associated with program elements to perform the element actions. An action chart is used to describe an operation of the automated manufacturing machine, with one element action having an end linked to a start of another element action using a logical operation. The action chart describing the operation of the automated manufacturing machine is read. The element actions on the action chart are converted into the program elements. The program elements are combined together in accordance with the action chart. This allows automatic generation of a control program for controlling the operation of the automated manufacturing machine.

A control program is automatically generated to allow a shorter overall operation time of an automated manufacturing machine. An action chart includes subperiods assigned with element actions of actuators to describe the operation of the automated manufacturing machine. Program elements for the element actions are combined in an order of the subperiods to generate the control program. The action chart includes a parallel processing portion including subperiods and their parallel subperiods. Each parallel subperiod in the parallel processing portion is assigned with an element action of a predetermined selected actuator. Each subperiod in the parallel processing portion is assigned with an element action of another actuator. In the parallel processing portion, the control program is generated by combining, in an order of the parallel subperiods, the program elements for the parallel subperiods and combining, in an order of the subperiods, the program elements for the subperiods.

Element actions of actuators incorporated in an automated manufacturing machine are stored in a manner associated with program elements to perform the element actions. An action chart is used to describe an operation of the automated manufacturing machine, with one element action having an end linked to a start of another element action using a logical operation. The action chart describing the operation of the automated manufacturing machine is read. The element actions on the action chart are converted into the program elements. The program elements are combined together in accordance with the action chart. This allows automatic generation of a control program for controlling the operation of the automated manufacturing machine.