Automatic article conveying system and automatic article conveying method

Provided is an automatic conveying technique capable of reducing load on a management system and promptly formulating and reviewing an operation plan. One preferred aspect of the invention includes: a plurality of conveying vehicles including a first conveying vehicle and a second conveying vehicle; and a management system configured to control the plurality of conveying vehicles. The management system is configured to formulate, for the plurality of conveying vehicles, an operation plan to be executed in a plurality of conveying operations collectively performed by the plurality of conveying vehicles. The management system is configured to determine by calculation that the first conveying vehicle is to perform a first conveying operation among the plurality of conveying operations, notify the other conveying vehicles including the second conveying vehicle of the first conveying operation, and cause the first conveying vehicle to perform the first conveying operation. The management system is configured to determine by calculation a second conveying operation to be performed by the second conveying vehicle among conveying operations that are not to be performed by the other conveying vehicles including the first conveying vehicle among the plurality of conveying operations, notify the other conveying vehicles of the second conveying operation, and cause the second conveying vehicle to perform the second conveying operation. The second conveying operation is calculated such that the plurality of conveying operations collectively performed by the plurality of conveying vehicles have a higher conveying efficiency.