1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a management system, a management method, a computer program, and a recording medium to be used for the management of a machine equipped with a driving-power source. More specifically, the present invention relates to a management system, a management method, a computer program, and a recording medium for easily performing the management of each of machines that include mobile- and fixed-model working machines and electric power generators for construction, civil engineering works, and so on, where the management may be of maintenance or overhaul, or maintenance contract to a machine.
2. Description of the Related Art
Regarding the management of each of machines that include mobile- and fixed-model working machines and electric power generators for construction, civil engineering works, and so on, there is provided an operation manual (instruction manual) or the like that sets up and clearly describes the conditions for maintenance, for example, maintenance cycle, overhaul cycle, and part-replacement cycle, for helping that the user determines when the oil needs changing, parts need replacing, or the like.
Thus, the user who bought the machine may perform the maintenance procedure when the machine's operating time or the like meets one of the maintenance conditions described in the operation manual (instruction manual). If the user has to replace a part with new one, for example, he or she will send an order of request for part-replacement to a manufacturer, a sales agency, or the like.
In many cases, these machines are comparatively large-sized and are expensive. Therefore, a maintenance contract is usually made between a purchaser who purchased the machine and the machine's maker or store such that the maintenance is carried out in many cases by a maintenance section of the maker or store.
The person in charge of the maintenance section performs the predetermined procedures of check and maintenance periodically, or performs a part-replacement or a overhaul after the predetermined operation time elapsed. On the other hand, the user who receives the service pays the charge of maintenance contract in a lump sum or in installments.
However, the conventional machine-management method has the problems of the management itself as follows.
(1) The operation manual (instruction manual) specifies maintenance conditions for every model. However, the items (fixed maintenance etc.) to be performed and their target parts to be checked for every operation differ from each other. In addition, there are many check items and parts. Accordingly, leaving the management in user's hands becomes too burdensome for the user, so that the user might omit any item or part (component) from those required in the maintenance. It is noted that such maintenance may be very expensive.
(2) The maker recommends and specifies maintenance standards and maintenance articles, which correspond to each of imaginable cases in service. However, some of the standards cannot be the best for each machine. Depending on the usage conditions and operating conditions of the machine, the time for maintenance required will be shifted from the predetermined period.
(3) The section where the maintenance management is performed is difficult to work out the maintenance as planed. In this case, administrative expenses for performing planned maintenance are needed.
(4) It is difficult to estimate the costs to be expensed throughout the lifetime of the machine.
Furthermore, the conventional management method has the problems in the management of maintenance contract.
(5) The administrative cost described above varies depending on the usage conditions or operating conditions of the machine, so that it is difficult to estimate that cost.
(6) A predicted cost at the time of conducting the maintenance contract may be less than the actual const of the maintenance or may be sharply exceeded from it. Therefore, much effort and much time have been expended on attempting to lessen the difference of such prediction and actual result, sufficient time and many labors were needed for negotiation of a maintenance contract.
Accordingly, one of the objects of the present invention is to provide a management system, a management method, a computer program, and a recording medium, which easily provide information about suitable maintenance management in consideration of usage conditions and operating conditions without burdening the user or the agent with these conditions.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a management system, a management method, a computer program, and a recording medium, by which the above disadvantages can be resolved, and the burden of the both sides that make a maintenance contract can be properly adjusted, and the maintenance contract can be easily fulfilled.