Group determination method and group determination apparatus

A method for dividing a plurality of types of mounting boards that are production targets into a plurality of groups of the mounting boards which are common in an arrangement of a plurality of component suppliers of a plurality of component mounters, in two component lines or more each including the plurality of the component mounters capable of attaching and detaching a component supply carriage, which can dispose the plurality of the component suppliers for supplying components, the method comprising:

• a set-up changing work time calculation step of calculating a set-up changing work time necessary for executing set-up changing work for changing the mounting boards that are the production targets in the two component mounting lines or more, based on the number of workers assigned for production in the two component mounting lines or more in each time zone, and the number of workers necessary for the set-up changing work necessary when the mounting board is changed in each of the two component mounting lines or more in the each time zone;
• and
• a production completion time calculation step of calculating a production completion time which includes the set-up changing work time and at which the production of all the mounting boards that are the production targets is completed,
• a group determining step of determining the plurality of the groups of the mounting boards so that the production completion time is shortened within a predetermined time period in the two component mounting lines or more;
• and
• a producing step of producing the plurality of types of the mounting boards in the two or more component mounting lines according to the determined groups.