To prevent a productivity reduction due to workpiece retention in a production line having a plurality of manufacturing apparatus arranged in series or parallel.

By a workpiece acceptance control method, an apparatus comprising a storage means for storing a time interval of workpiece input to a downstream manufacturing apparatus and a communication means for upstream and downstream manufacturing apparatus controls workpiece acceptance intervals by outputting acceptance enabling signals to the upstream manufacturing apparatus at the fixed time intervals in response to input completion signal inputs to the downstream manufacturing apparatus.