The component arranging operation supporting apparatus 4 includes a control unit 24, and the barcode reader 25 functioning as an identification information acquiring unit. The control unit 24 and the barcode reader 25 are connected so as to communicate with each other by a communication tool such as a communication cable 26. The communication tool may be wireless. The operator brings a read surface into contact with the barcode label 16 of the supply reel 14, and thus, the barcode reader 25 reads the component ID of the component held by the carrier tape 15 which is accommodated so as to be wound around the supply reel 14. Thus, the control unit 23 can acquire the component ID. As stated above, the barcode reader 25 acquires the identification information related to the component given to the component supply member. The acquisition of the component ID is not limited to the aforementioned method. For example, the input unit such as a keyboard may be provided in the component arranging operation supporting apparatus 4, and the operator may input the component ID through the input unit.

The control unit 24 has a storage region, and the production data 18 received from the data creating apparatus 3 is stored in the storage region. The control unit 24 has a function of performing a “component comparing process” and an “alternative component registering process”, to be described below, by using the component ID acquired by the barcode reader 25.