| Class / Patent application number | Description | Number of patent applications / Date published |
|---|
| 705029000 | Itemization of parts, supplies, or services (e.g., bill of materials) | 65 |
| 20080201245 | ON-DEMAND MONITORING OF COMPONENT CONVERGENCE FOR CUSTOMER SOLUTION INTEGRATION - A system and method for coordinating delivery of components to manage solution delivery and installation to customers. When a customer order for components is received, a component tracking device is configured to be placed within one or more pre-designated areas of a customer site. Each component to be shipped to the customer site is tagged with a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag that is associated with the order. The tracking device is used to detect the presence of each component at the pre-designated areas within the customer site. An RFID reader in the tracking device detects the presence of a component by reading the RFID tag on the component. Data about the presence of each component is recorded. An installation team may be notified when the recorded data indicates that a number of components in the order have been detected within the pre-designated areas of the customer site. | 08-21-2008 |
| 20080208719 | Expert system for optimization of retail shelf space - A business rules engine works with an optimization engine through various user interfaces to facilitate increased efficiency in retail space planning. Rules and models are built from templates that are stored in a repository. Business analysts and retail space planners both have access to the repository to develop models and rules. A project consists of a selection of rules and models from the repository along with selected data from various data sources. A scenario is created for the project by specifying constraints, parameters, and optimization objectives. The optimization engine processes the scenario and attempts to find an optimum solution. when a perfect solution (100%) cannot be found, the optimization engine evaluates the various criteria in the scenario and relaxes requirements until an acceptable solution is found. The output of the optimization engine can automatically be provided as graphical visualizations such as plan-o-grams, graphs, charts, and other forms. | 08-28-2008 |
| 20080235117 | Method of boxing fuel injectors - An efficient method of boxing fuel injectors with a good yield where a predetermined quality is secured in a predetermined number of fuel injectors forming a set for one engine, that is, a method of boxing fuel injectors, a first number of which are scheduled to be mounted in an engine, in a single box in a second number larger than the first number, provided with a step of measuring a characteristic value for the second number of fuel injectors, wherein when the first number of the characteristic values forms a set, the number of combinations of the characteristic values where a total value of this one set's worth of the characteristic values becomes a first management value or less when selecting one set's worth of the characteristic values from the second number of the characteristic values, is defined as the “number of good part combinations”, and the number of possible combinations of one set's worth of the characteristic values is defined as the “number of possible combinations”, the fuel injectors being boxed in a single box so that the number of the good part combinations becomes a rate of a fourth management value or more to the number of possible combinations. | 09-25-2008 |
| 20080288373 | Method for Assisting Selection of a Build Ahead Configuration For Use in Supplying an Ordered Product - A method is provided for use in connection with build ahead configurations (BAC's), for enabling a manufacturer to quickly identify the available BAC that is most suitable for use in completing a product order. In one embodiment, directed to a method for increasing efficiency in constructing individual products of a particular product type, each individual product has an associated specification set. A number of BAC's are initially constructed, wherein each BAC comprises an at least partially complete product of the particular type, and likewise has an associated specification set. An order is received for an individual product of the particular type, wherein the order defines each specification in the specification set for the ordered product. Respective specifications for the ordered product are compared with the specifications of each BAC, in order to calculate a metric for each BAC, wherein the metric for a given BAC represents the effort required to modify the given BAC to conform to all specifications set of the ordered product. | 11-20-2008 |
| 20080301012 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR DISTRIBUTING COMPUTER MODELED PRODUCT DESIGN AND MANUFACTURE DATA TO PERIPHERAL SYSTEMS - Methods and systems for interfacing computer modeled design and manufacture data from an Manufacturing Process Planning (MPP) system to peripheral computer systems, via an integration server interface, that resolves data transfer format conflicts between the MPP system and the peripheral systems and facilitates the use of predetermined data standards of a business entity to be universally used despite incongruous computer systems. | 12-04-2008 |
| 20090006223 | Method and system for checking a bill of material - A method and a system for checking a bill of material (BOM) are provided. Firstly, a transforming unit transforms an initial configuration list of a product into a BOM. Next, a model number corresponding to the product is chosen from an input unit. Then, the product is pictorialized by a pictorializing unit according to the model number and the BOM to generate and display a virtual machine of the product on a display unit. Lastly, the displayed virtual machine provides users to determine that the BOM is correct or not. | 01-01-2009 |
| 20090063309 | System And Method For Automating Engineering Processes For Build-To-Order Projects - A system, method and software product automate engineering processes for build-to-order (BTO) products. A request for quote (RFQ) for a BTO product is received from a BTO user. A DNA product string is generated based on information contained in the RFQ, the DNA product string defining the BTO product. The DNA product string is validated against pre-defined business rules and a model of the BTO product is generated based on the DNA product string. A quote for the BTO product is determined based upon the RFQ, the model and the DNA product string. The quote includes one or more of a price, a delivery schedule and a bill of materials. | 03-05-2009 |
| 20090125425 | AUDITABLE MERCHANDISE DELIVERY USING AN ELECTRONIC BILL OF LADING - A method for auditable tracking of a shipment is described. The method includes providing instructions for execution on a server and for execution on a mobile device. The instructions for execution on the server include at least one code segment configured to: receive a request from a shipper to ship a plurality of goods, receive logistics information from a logistics company in response to the request form the shipper, receive from the shipper a bill of lading (BOL), and receive from the logistics company data identifying a quantity of the plurality of goods that was delivered. The instructions for execution on the mobile device include at least one code segment configured to: enable a user to edit the BOL responsive to an inspection by the user of the delivered plurality of goods, and provide the edited BOL to the server, the shipper, and the logistics company. | 05-14-2009 |
| 20090164345 | System and method for management and control of containerized freight - A system and method for managing containerized freight is disclosed. The system generates a 3-D view of a containerized freight terminal that is rendered on a display. The 3-D view includes rendered scale models of all the containers, vessels, buildings and equipment within the freight yard and according to stored information relating to such. The rendered 3-D view is updated as changes are made to the stored information and according to user input related to the desired point of view and perspective. The rendered scale models may be selectively visually coded or displayed according to pre-determined criteria. | 06-25-2009 |
| 20090171816 | ATTRIBUTE BASED INVENTORY USAGE AND STOCKING - A novel and non-obvious method, system and apparatus for controlling inventory stocking and usage based on part attributes. A method for controlling inventory stocking and usage based on part attributes that can include establishing a stock footprint, which maps stocking locations to attributes on a part, establishing a usage strategy, which maps a prioritized list of attributes to a part request order type, establishing a usage characteristic set, which maps a set of usage characteristics to the usage strategy, receiving a request order, and, applying the established usage strategy to the received request order based on matching a characteristic set of the received request order with the usage characteristic set of the established usage strategy. | 07-02-2009 |
| 20090177560 | METHOD AND DEVICE FOR PARTS MANAGEMENT - A parts management method is performed by a parts management device for managing parts used to produce an assembly product. Firstly, parts identification information and number of parts corresponding to an assembly product of which production is started are read from a storage device, respectively, as used-parts identification information and a used number. Secondly, parts container information of a parts container that accommodates parts used for an assembly product of which production is started is read from a storage device that stores parts container information, for each parts container. Then, parts container information that includes an updated number of parts is written into a storage device. The updated number of parts is obtained by subtracting the number of used parts from number of parts identified by the used-parts identification information read in the firstly reading. | 07-09-2009 |
| 20090204514 | Systems, Methods, and Media for Managing Shared Inventory in a Virtual Universe - Generally speaking, systems, methods and media for managing shared inventory in a virtual universe are disclosed. Embodiments of the method may include receiving notification of a user session being established between a user and a virtual universe simulator. The method may also include accessing a list of shared inventory items for the user where the list of shared inventory items includes one or more shared inventory items each having an inventory source associated with it. Embodiments may also include retrieving at least one shared inventory item from its associated inventory source and passing the retrieved shared inventory item to the virtual universe simulator. Further embodiments may include retrieving an updated listing for the shared inventory items from their associated inventory sources and passing the updated shared inventory item list to the virtual universe simulator. Further embodiments may include passing metadata for shared inventory items to the virtual universe simulator. | 08-13-2009 |
| 20090222360 | MANAGING CONSISTENT INTERFACES FOR BUSINESS OBJECTS ACROSS HETEROGENEOUS SYSTEMS - A business object model, which reflects data that is used during a given business transaction, is utilized to generate interfaces. This business object model facilitates commercial transactions by providing consistent interfaces that are suitable for use across industries, across businesses, and across different departments within a business during a business transaction. In some operations, software creates, updates, or otherwise processes information related to an individual material bill of material and/or an order tracking view business object. | 09-03-2009 |
| 20090240604 | Method and apparatus for data acquisition in an asset health management system - An asset management system includes a controller area network bus and a data acquisition module connected to the controller area network bus. The data acquisition module has a plurality of analog input channels. One or more sensor systems are connected to the input channels with the input channels receiving analog signals from the sensor systems. The data acquisition module passively conditions the received analog signals prior to digital conversion. | 09-24-2009 |
| 20090248549 | MAINTAINING A RUNNING LIST OF PACKED TRAVEL ARTICLES - A system and method for maintaining a running list of a plurality of travel articles that are packed in one or more travel containers. A transponder having a unique locator tag is disposed on each travel article that is packed. A current packing distribution list is stored in memory and generated by a tracking controller, which utilizes (i) information relating to one or more packed travel articles and (ii) an identification of the travel container(s) in which the travel article(s) is/are packed. Moreover, the current packing distribution list is updated depending on whether the packed travel articles have been added to or removed from a particular travel container. If the current packing distribution list is determined to be optimizable, an optimized packing distribution list is generated and serves as the new current packing distribution list. The current packing distribution list is stored and displayed. | 10-01-2009 |
| 20090276339 | RECEIVING CHECK AND BALANCE SYSTEM - A method for managing and fulfilling inventory requests is provided. Material orders originating from a customer are received at a material hub. Each order originates from a customer and contains a request for parts. The material orders are aggregated into a consolidated order reflecting an aggregate quantity of each part ordered. A material request list is generated identifying a total number of each part to be delivered to the location. The parts are retrieving from inventory and delivered to the location. Parts can be contained in a package which includes a scannable identifier for encoding a type of the part and a quantity of the part contained in the package. Prior to delivery, the identifier can be scanned and the quantity of each part being delivered is determined. The quantity of parts being delivered is compared to the number of parts identified by the materials request list. | 11-05-2009 |
| 20090287590 | Multi-Supplier Transaction and Payment Programmed Processing System and Approach - In an example embodiment, a computer-based contract-management approach processes transactions involving at least one supplier (i.e., seller or sellers) fulfilling one or more sub-components of the transaction. Each of the suppliers (e.g., as well as other transaction parties) reference the transaction when communicating transaction information such as invoices, regardless of which sub-component of the transaction the seller is involved with. The invoices are associated with the transaction using the transaction referenced in each invoice and each supplier is accordingly paid for its performance of the sub-component of the transaction with which it is involved. From a buyer's perspective, the transaction is processed in accordance with the sub-components associated with the at least one supplier. Per each supplier, the transaction is processed generally two-dimensionally (via buyer and via suppliers), thus generally isolating (where desirable) each supplier from the sub-components of the transaction for which it is not a participant. | 11-19-2009 |
| 20090292627 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MONITORING CONSUMABLE USAGE AND MANAGING CONSUMABLE INVENTORY - The subject application is directed to a system and method for monitoring consumable usage and managing consumable inventory. An order for a document processing device consumable is first received from a user account, and an inventory value corresponding to each received order is then stored. Consumable full, empty, and low status data is then received from each document processing device associated with the user account. The inventory value is then decremented during each transition reflected in the status data to a full level. An order for additional consumables is then indicated for the user account when the inventory level is decremented to a preselected trigger amount. Imminent replacement data is then generated corresponding to each document processing device having a low level consumable status. The inventory value is then compared to the imminent replacement data and an order is indicated for additional consumables based upon the comparison results | 11-26-2009 |
| 20090319401 | Techniques for efficient allocation of stock items - Embodiments of the present invention provide techniques for determining one or more inventory items from an inventory for fulfilling an items order. In one embodiment, one or more sets of inventory items are selected from available inventory to fulfill orders in such a way that a minimum number of inventory item sets are allocated for fulfilling the order. This in turn reduces the number of picks that must be made when gathering inventory items for an order. The inventory items sets may include standard pack quantities and/or indivisible items. | 12-24-2009 |
| 20090327105 | Managing Consistent Interfaces for Business Objects Across Heterogeneous Systems - A business object model, which reflects data that is used during a given business transaction, is utilized to generate interfaces. This business object model facilitates commercial transactions by providing consistent interfaces that are suitable for use across industries, across businesses, and across different departments within a business during a business transaction. In some operations, software creates, updates, or otherwise processes information related to a freight order, a maintenance plan, a maintenance task list, a request for supplier freight quote, and/or a supplier freight quote business object. | 12-31-2009 |
| 20100023432 | Takeoff List Palette For Guiding Semi-Automatic Quantity Takeoff From Computer Aided Design Drawings - Embodiments of the present invention enable users to efficiently guide semi-automatic quantity takeoff from computer aided design (CAD) drawings by selecting multiple drawing objects and/or multiple instances of drawing objects as the target of subsequent commands. In some embodiments, the user supplements an automated portion of a quantity takeoff from a CAD drawing by selecting one or more drawing objects in a takeoff palette. The user defines the dimension (e.g., linear) to quantify and optionally the parameter to be quantified (e.g., length) for the selected drawing objects simultaneously. The quantity takeoff engine quantifies the instances associated with the selected drawing objects, performs takeoff calculations, and updates a workbook accordingly. To further facilitate the analysis of the CAD drawing, the user simultaneously selects one or more drawing objects and/or one or more instances of drawing objects to view and organize (e.g., filter, search, etc.) by properties in a properties palette. | 01-28-2010 |
| 20100042516 | Part Number Set Substitution - An improved manufacturing system for controlling the interchangeability of sets of parts during product installation. In response to receiving a request for an order, a parts list is created for the order. The illustrative embodiments determine whether each part in the parts list is present in current inventory stock. If any of a first group of parts in the parts list is not present in current inventory stock, the illustrative embodiments allow for determining that a second group of parts in the current inventory stock is a valid substitution group for replacing the first group of parts, wherein the number of parts in the first group of parts is not equal to the number of parts in the second group of parts. The illustrative embodiments then update the order by replacing the first group of parts in the parts list with the identified second group of parts. | 02-18-2010 |
| 20100057592 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR FREIGHT TRACKING AND MONITORING - System, methods, and computer program products are provided for enhanced freight tracking and monitoring. The system may track the location of a freight shipment within a carrier's transportation network from the time it is picked up by a carrier from a consignor until it is delivered to a consignee, provide for weight determinations and shipping re-classifications of the freight shipment during transport, and provide real-time status information and reports to the carrier, consignor, and/or consignee. | 03-04-2010 |
| 20100057593 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR FREIGHT TRACKING AND MONITORING - System, methods, and computer program products are provided for enhanced freight tracking and monitoring. The system may track the location of a freight shipment within a carrier's transportation network from the time it is picked up by a carrier from a consignor until it is delivered to a consignee, provide for weight determinations and shipping re-classifications of the freight shipment during transport, and provide real-time status information and reports to the carrier, consignor, and/or consignee. | 03-04-2010 |
| 20100057594 | AUTOMATIC LOANER PART REPLACEMENT TO PREVENT SYSTEM CALLBACK - A system for automatically replacing loaner parts within a loaner system to prevent loaner system callback. In response to selecting a loaner system within loaner inventory data, it is determined whether the selected loaner system is required to be returned based on a target return date for the selected loaner system. In response to determining that the selected loaner system is not required to be returned, a notification is automatically generated and sent to a customer to return expiring loaner parts within the selected loaner system based on loaner part rules. A part replacement order is automatically generated for replacement loaner parts for each of the expiring loaner parts. Then, the replacement loaner parts are automatically shipped to the customer to replace the expiring loaner parts to prevent callback of the selected loaner system. | 03-04-2010 |
| 20100070390 | SYSTEM AND METHOD TO MANAGE ASSEMBLIES WITH UNCERTAIN DEMANDS CONTAINING COMMON PARTS - A system and method for planning common-use parts in such a way that operating inventory levels are reduced without introducing more risk of parts outages. One embodiment comprises determining use of at least one common component in a plurality of product models, receiving a forecast for the plurality of product models that use the common component, computing a demand correction factor for each of the forecasts, and determining inventory requirements for the at least one common component based at least in part on the respective forecasts and demand correction factors. | 03-18-2010 |
| 20100088201 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DETERMINING A BILLING STRATEGY FOR DOCUMENTS BASED ON COLOR ESTIMATIONS IN AN IMAGE PATH - Disclosed herein is a method and system for determining a billing structure for outputting documents using an image processing apparatus. If image data of the document includes color pixels, a billing structure is determined based on an estimated total color pixel count. The color pixels of the image data are counted in a device independent space and the total color pixel count of the image data to be output in a device dependent space is estimated. Based on the estimation, a billing structure is chosen. Processing and determining a billing structure based on image data in the device independent space avoids charging a customer for color print job when only a small amount of color pixels are printed. It also encourages determining charges independently of the marking engine or output device. | 04-08-2010 |
| 20100106626 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR TRACKING INVENTORY HISTORY - A method and system of managing inventory of consumables stored in containers including associating with a container a sensor configured to determine an indication of the amount of an attribute, such as an indication of an amount of substance stored in the container, and storing the indication of amount at various times as a usage history. | 04-29-2010 |
| 20100121742 | COMPUTER SYSTEM FOR MANAGING PART ORDER PLACEMENT - If a product to be produced is modified, a computer system for assisting quick specification of a part necessary for the new production and its quantity and placement of the order of the part on condition that parts unrelated to the modification are used as they are. The computer system for managing part order placement based on a production plan realizes a function of developing parts needed for the production of the type of a product and the quantities of parts according to the type, comparing the parts and their quantities for first and second types when production change from the fist type the parts of which are ordered to the second type is inputted, and calculating the difference between the quantities needed for the production of the second type and those of the first type, and a function of displaying the parts needed for the production of the second type and their quantities in association with the difference on a display screen. | 05-13-2010 |
| 20100161453 | PROCESS FOR LOGISTICS MANAGEMENT INVOLVING INVENTORY DRIVER PROFILING - A system for creating an inventory profile is disclosed. The system includes a computer system and at least one input device coupled to a processor. The processor is configured to receive inventory data associated with a group of parts within an inventory and classify each part into one class selected from a plurality of classes. The processor determines a number of days of demand coverage associated with each class and compares the number of days of demand coverage with a corresponding demand coverage value. The processor also determines a difference between the number of days of demand coverage for each class and a corresponding demand coverage value and generates an inventory profile reporting the days of demand coverage for each class associated with the group of parts. The inventory profile indicates the difference between the number of days of demand coverage for each class and the corresponding demand coverage value. | 06-24-2010 |
| 20100223163 | Populating Fleet Maintenance Data Using 2D Feature Recognition - Methods and systems for populating fleet maintenance data using 2D feature recognition are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method of determining a configuration of a vehicle includes surveying the vehicle using an imaging device to generate 2D imagery of a configuration of the vehicle. The generated 2D imagery of the configuration may be compared to a survey library of 2D images to identify a part in the configuration. Existing data from legacy systems may be extracted for the part. The part may be added to a bill of materials and used to create a 3D model of the vehicle. | 09-02-2010 |
| 20100250403 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CREATING A BUILD SET AND BILL OF MATERIALS FROM A MASTER SOURCE MODEL - A system and method for creating a build set and a BOM from user selected options from a single source model. | 09-30-2010 |
| 20100262521 | ONLINE MERCHANTS TO THIRD PARTY WAREHOUSE PROVIDERS BROKER AND ORDER FULFILLMENT SYSTEM - An online merchants to third party warehouse providers broker and order fulfillment system is coupled with different third party warehouse providers that each operate one or more third party warehouses and a plurality of online merchants that use the services provided by the third party warehouse providers. The online merchants to third party warehouse providers broker and order fulfillment system includes an order fulfillment server to provide a common merchant interface to the services provided by the third party warehouse providers, a common warehouse interface to allow each of the different third party warehouse provider to communicate with the order fulfillment server in a common way including the status of the services they provide and allows each of the different third party warehouse providers to review all services requested by them, and a system operator interface to allow system operators to manage the third party warehouses including creating disaster recovery plans in case of a warehouse failure and generating a reverse invoice for each third party warehouse. | 10-14-2010 |
| 20100268625 | Test Machine for an Automated Light - A moving light tester includes plural sensors, each of which can test a function of the moving light. A conveyor can move the light between the sensors. Once tested, information about the test is used to characterize the light, to determine if it needs repair, or can be re rented. The information can also be used to create inventory lists, and bills for damage. The testing can include automated testing for gobos, colors, noise, heating and movement, or other tests. | 10-21-2010 |
| 20100274686 | Automated Purchase Assembly Conversion Process To Support A Dynamic Configure-To-Order Production Operation - A computer implemented method, a tangible computer usable medium, and a data processing system allocate materials to an automated purchase assembly conversion process to support a dynamic configure-to-order production operation. A configure-to-order backlog order is analyzed to determine demand for a particular purchase assembly. If the demand for the particular purchase assembly can be filled with an on-hand purchase assembly in inventory, the on-hand purchase assembly in inventory is allocated to fill the demand. If the demand for the particular purchase assembly can not be filled with an on-hand purchase assembly in inventory, a determination is made as to whether the demand for the particular purchase assembly can be filled by reallocating other similar on-hand purchase assembly in inventory and on-hand individual parts. If the demand for the particular purchase assembly can be filled by reallocating other on-hand purchase assembly in inventory and on-hand individual parts, the on-hand purchase assembly in inventory and the on-hand individual parts are reallocated to fill the demand. | 10-28-2010 |
| 20110010276 | AUTOMOTIVE CORE FULFILLMENT SYSTEM AND METHOD - A system and method for facilitating acquisition of automotive core parts from automotive recyclers for remanufacture includes identifying automotive cores and determining the value of the cores with a core fulfillment system. The system identifies automotive cores for an auction house and uses an aggregate value of the cores to determine a value of a vehicle up for bidding. Vehicle or part type information is compared to automotive core descriptions, automotive interchange numbers, and core supplier indicators to identify the automotive cores. A core value is assigned to the identified automotive cores, and an aggregate value of core inventory is determined based upon a total of assigned core values. A vehicle evaluation page can be displayed to the bidder showing the identified automotive cores and an aggregate core value indicating an offer for purchase price that a core supplier will pay to the bidder for the vehicle up for bidding. | 01-13-2011 |
| 20110161209 | Bill of Material Synchronization - A method performed by a computing system configured to synchronize a source bill of material with a target bill of material includes, in response to a determination by the physical computing system that a revision has been applied to a source node from a tree structure representing the source bill of material since a corresponding target node from a tree structure representing the target bill of material was last updated, calculating a change from the source node to the target node with the physical computing system, and updating, with the physical computing system, the target node with the revision if the calculated change matches a stored difference derived from a revision history associated with the source bill of material. | 06-30-2011 |
| 20110173103 | SIDE-BY-SIDE COMPARISON OF ASSOCIATIONS FOR MULTI-LEVEL BILLS OF MATERIAL - A method includes receiving first parameters and second parameters for a comparison of a first multilevel bill of material and a second multilevel bill of material. Internal items based on the first parameters are compared to determine differences between the internal items in the first multilevel bill of material and the second multilevel bill of material. If an internal item matches in the first multilevel bill of material and the second multilevel bill of material, associations for the matched internal item are compared based on the second parameters to determine differences between the associations in the first multilevel bill of material and the second multilevel bill of material. A report is generated showing a result of the comparing of the internal items and the comparing of the associations, wherein the report shows unmatched internal items and unmatched associations for matched first items. The report can then be displayed. | 07-14-2011 |
| 20110218890 | ADAPTIVE PRODUCT CONFIGURATION MODEL - The adaptive product conditioning is a computer-implemented method for identifying product configurations that can be provided to customers in reaction to supply imbalances. The methodology uses data mining techniques to collect and analyze business level meta data to coordinate supply and sales goals in terms of optimizing profits or managing product and technology transitions. | 09-08-2011 |
| 20110238537 | WORK IN PROCESS INVENTORY ANALYSIS TOOL - A method of managing work-in-process (WIP) inventory includes receiving inputs, via a user interface of a computer processing device. The inputs correspond to variables defined for modules. Each of the modules includes a set of instructions for determining and quantifying a corresponding WIP inventory driver. The method also includes executing instructions on the inputs by one or more of the modules. The inputs are applied to corresponding modules based on respective variables defined for the modules. The method further includes deriving a quantified WIP inventory resulting from execution of the instructions categorized by corresponding WIP inventory drivers. | 09-29-2011 |
| 20110258087 | ANALYTICS FOR SETTING UP STRATEGIC INVENTORY SYSTEMS TO HANDLE SMALL LOT ORDERS IN THE STEEL INDUSTRY - A method of managing manufacturing production includes determining a plurality of products for manufacture using a production line is disclosed. Each product is specified by composition and production line steps and criteria. Production orders for products are analyzed to determine whether products should be grouped into product-types, and whether product (type) should be made-to-stock or made to order. Queuing theory based analytic methods and optimization based heuristics are used to determine the priority for each product in the production line, taking product substitution opportunities in batch-production into account. Preselected points along the production line are determined for gathering an amount of inventory for each product. This decision is made considering product-differentiation down the line. An established inventory policy for each product at preselected points along the production line requires that inventory is reviewed and an order is placed for additional inventory when on hand inventory reaches a predetermined reorder point. | 10-20-2011 |
| 20120016781 | COOKING SUPPORT SYSTEM, PROGRAM, RECORDING MEDIUM, AND METHOD FOR SUPPORTING PURCHASE AND INVENTORY MANAGEMENT OF COOKING INGREDIENTS - In the case of supporting the purchase and the inventory management of actual foods by a user with respect to necessary foods, a function to support the purchase and the inventory management by which input operations are reduced, and a burden on the user is reduced, is realized. By providing a management method suitable for a food for cooking, the problem regarding the difference which occurs between the inventory information managed by the cooking support system and the purchased food can be solved. Further, a function to support the purchase and the inventory management of necessary foods in a management period type purchase style and in an everyday type purchase style is provided. There are a necessary food information storage means for storing necessary food information; a purchase time and date registration information editing means for editing the necessary food information to the purchase time and date registration information; a purchase time and date registration means for storing the purchase time and date in association with the necessary food information; a purchase information editing means for editing purchase information which is the information capable of being identified for respective purchase groups and purchase times and dates; and an inventory management information acquisition means for acquiring the last cooking time and date from cooking times and dates associated with the necessary food information which is associates with the same purchase group and purchase time and date, and making the acquired time and date to the cooking completion time and date which is the time and date when the inventory becomes empty. | 01-19-2012 |
| 20120036049 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SOFTWARE INTEGRATION AND FACTORY DEPLOYMENT - A software management database contains data structures supporting computer software provisioning for a range of CTO/BTO variations, language variations, region variations, and operating system variations. | 02-09-2012 |
| 20120066099 | AUTOMATIC LOANER PART REPLACEMENT TO PREVENT SYSTEM CALLBACK - A system for automatically replacing loaner parts within a loaner system to prevent loaner system callback. In response to selecting a loaner system within loaner inventory data, it is determined whether the selected loaner system is required to be returned based on a target return date for the selected loaner system. In response to determining that the selected loaner system is not required to be returned, a notification is automatically generated and sent to a customer to return expiring loaner parts within the selected loaner system based on loaner part rules. A part replacement order is automatically generated for replacement loaner parts for each of the expiring loaner parts. Then, the replacement loaner parts are automatically shipped to the customer to replace the expiring loaner parts to prevent callback of the selected loaner system. | 03-15-2012 |
| 20120109789 | IDENTIFYING SOURCE MATERIAL ASSOCIATED WITH FOOD PRODUCTS USING BILL OF MATERIAL - Identifying one or more source units for one or more food items may include assigning a sequence of numbers to a plurality of source units received at a processing entity and assigning a sequence of numbers to a plurality of end product units processed from the plurality of source units at the processing entity. A production rate associated with the end product units may be determined from a bill of materials associated with the end product units. A probability distribution function may be generated using at least the production rate. The probability distribution function maps a range of the sequence numbers associated with the plurality of source units to a range of sequence numbers associated with the end product units. A conversion algorithm may be generated that uses the probability distribution function to determine a source unit associated with a selected end product unit. | 05-03-2012 |
| 20120158554 | PROCESSING A BILL OF MATERIALS - A system may receive an input specification, compose a workflow by connecting an output port of a first one of a plurality of work units to an input port of a second one of the work units, receive a work order associated with the workflow, decompose the workflow into constituent work units upon receipt of the work order, instantiate tasks that correspond to the work units, generate a bill of materials that lists input and output files associated with the tasks based on the tasks and the input specification, and update fields of the bill of materials, the fields indicating states of the input and output files. | 06-21-2012 |
| 20120265654 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CREATING A BUILD SET AND BILL OF MATERIALS FROM A MASTER SOURCE MODEL - A system and method for creating a build set and a BOM from user selected options from a single source model. | 10-18-2012 |
| 20120317001 | IMPLANT INVENTORY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM - An inventory management system manages information related to items, such as implants, used during a medical surgical procedure. The inventory management system includes an inventory management computer and an item inventory database. The inventory management computer executes an inventory management application to process item usage information. The item usage information includes item identification information and quantity information for each item used during performance of the medical surgical procedure. The inventory management application associates the item usage information with a particular surgical case at a particular customer surgical facility. The inventory management computer receives the item usage information from a customer computer at the customer surgical facility via a wide area network, such as the Internet. The item inventory database, which is in communication with the inventory management computer, stores item inventory information reflecting the inventory of items at the customer surgical facility. | 12-13-2012 |
| 20130041786 | Effective Indentification of a Product in a Proprietary Supplier Catalog - Devices, systems, and methods are disclosed which use known characteristics of a part to identify that part's equivalent from a supplier with a proprietary part catalog which contains characteristics defined using different structure, standards and nomenclature. The system tries to identify the correct part number or equivalent to a given part, but the supplier may have a different part numbering system than used by the individuals performing the search. The system then utilizes at least one part characteristic and/or a vehicle identifier and uses them to search the proprietary supplier catalog to retrieve a part record with substantially similar part characteristics. | 02-14-2013 |
| 20130054427 | EXPLOSIONS OF BILL-OF-MATERIALS LISTS - In a parallel explosion unit of a parallel explosion apparatus, a processing unit extracts an end product, extracts an assembly directly constituting the end product, and an determines whether or not a BOM tree having the assembly as a vertex is already broken down. When the BOM tree of the assembly is not yet broken down, the processing unit registers the number of units of each component constituting the assembly in an explosion result list and generates a tree-specific list in which the number of units of each component and a registration position of the component in the explosion result list are recorded. When the BOM tree of the assembly is already broken down, the processing unit adds the number of units of each component recorded in the tree-specific list to the number of units at the registration position of the component likewise recorded in the explosion result list. | 02-28-2013 |
| 20130204754 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR AUTOMATED RETAIL PRODUCT ACCOUNTING - A system and method including collecting image data of a purchase receipt; converting image data to machine readable data; generating a receipt model including at least one line item from the machine readable text data; selecting a product profile to associate with a line item through one of a tiered set of receipt heuristics, that includes: through a direct identifier heuristic, searching for a product identifier from a line item that corresponds to a product profile, and through an approximate match heuristic, calculating a score for the line item compared to at least one product profile of a master product list; and accounting for the selected product profile of the line item. | 08-08-2013 |
| 20130211977 | WAREHOUSE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM - A warehouse management system can include pick platforms, each having an identifier associated therewith. A mobile computing device can be associated with a pick platform based on the identifier and may be associated with one of the pick platforms at a time. A director computing device can be in communication with the mobile computing device and can transmit pick instructions to the mobile computing device based on a currently associated pick platform. | 08-15-2013 |
| 20130275278 | Methods, Systems, and Products for Surveying Facilities - Methods, systems, and products survey equipment, machinery, plants, and other facilities. Facilities data may be overlaid onto a map to generate a graphical mapping. When this graphical mapping is displayed, a selection may be received to create a survey of the facilities. Another selection of a facilities item needing repair may be received, and an action may be associated to the facilities item. An electronic survey file is created that describes the facilities item needing repair. | 10-17-2013 |
| 20130304614 | TICKET-BASED HARVEST LIFE CYCLE INFORMATION MANAGEMENT: SYSTEM AND METHOD - A system and method is presented for gathering data concerning harvests. Data tickets are generated at a point of origination (i.e., the field), local storage, processing, or a customer location. Data tickets may also be generated for supplies delivered to the field. Implements attached to a vehicle in the field (e.g., a tractor) may provide data over a vehicle communication bus about how a field processing task was performed. Data may be extracted from the bus to use in preparing a field processing ticket, possibly in combination with manual entry from field personnel. A harvest data tracking system, based on data tickets, may be used to track the complete life cycle of crop production. | 11-14-2013 |
| 20140006230 | Consistent Interface for Material | 01-02-2014 |
| 20140025545 | AUTOMATED LABEL AND VERIFICATION SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR FILLING CUSTOMER ORDERS OF MEDICAL ITEMS - Systems and methods for filling a customer order. An automated label and verification machine is used to print and apply patient labels to products containing medical items and then verify the product label and patient label on each of the products. In order to supply the automated label and verification machine with a batch of different products making up the customer order, a user is sent to a storage carousel and prompted to pick the products from storage locations rotated into location adjacent to a door in the cage surrounding the storage carousel. The use of the storage carousels maximizes the number of distinct products and amount of those products that may be stored in close relation to the automated label and verification machine, thereby making the process more space and time efficient. | 01-23-2014 |
| 20140040081 | DETERMINING AN ESTIMATED QUANTITY OF A CONSTITUENT COMPONENT - An identification of a constituent component is received. In response to receiving the identification, an estimated quantity of the constituent component in a product mix is determined, where the determining is based on bills of materials for corresponding product assemblies, and a data structure that stores information containing at least one metric for each of a plurality of components, the at least one metric indicating an impact of the corresponding component on an environment. | 02-06-2014 |
| 20140067628 | COMPUTERIZED SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PARTS PACKAGING MANAGEMENT - A computerized system and method for parts packaging management is disclosed. The computerized system and method identifies parts “change points” to facilitate related packaging changes. The identification of “change points” or differences in parts between models allows a packaging representative to manage related packaging changes. Identifying data for every vehicle produced by the manufacturer is entered in a database. A packaging lead representative is assigned to every new vehicle. Change points or parts differences between every model for every vehicle are identified by comparing a bill of materials for the old model with a bill of materials for the new model. The computerized system and method supports the creation of a model-based structure to facilitate tracking of packaging approvals for each new part. | 03-06-2014 |
| 20150112843 | SUBSTITUTION OF WORK PRODUCTS - A method comprises the steps of analyzing a given work product to determine one or more constituents used in the given work product, determining a given work product profile associated with the given work product based at least in part on the one or more constituents used in the given work product, comparing the given work product profile with one or more other work product profiles to determine a subset of the one or more other work product profiles similar to the given work product profile, and selecting one or more substitute work products having respective work profiles in the subset as substitutes for the given work product. The analyzing, determining, comparing and selecting steps are performed by at least one processor device. | 04-23-2015 |
| 20150339626 | PRODUCT INTELLIGENCE ENGINE - In one example, a product intelligence engine for visualizing matching and non-matching ones of asynchronously-modifiable functional parts, physical parts, and virtual parts of a variant of a product. | 11-26-2015 |
| 20150356504 | INTEGRATED PLM BASED LIBRARY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM AND METHOD - Methods for specification based augmented search. The specification based augmented search includes determining input characteristics based on a design and a user, identifying design rules associated with the input characteristics, traversing a library for library nodes including specifications that contain the design rules, displaying a plurality of library elements that correspond to the library nodes including the specifications that contain the design rules, receiving a selection of a library element from the plurality of library elements displayed, and returning a library object associated with the library element. | 12-10-2015 |
| 20150379466 | PRODUCT CONFIGURATION GENERATING DEVICE, CONFIGURATION GENERATING METHOD, AND PROGRAM - A BOM of a product which is used at a plurality of sites is acquired from a BOM input unit. With respect to each component configuration in the BOM, specifications with variations in past demand at or above a given level are accepted as variation specification information. On the basis of the variation specification information, the component specification to be segmented is extracted from the BOM and a BOM to be changed is generated. On the basis of the BOM to be changed, the component configuration of the | 12-31-2015 |
| 20160086131 | STORAGE SYSTEM - A storage method includes: transmitting request including usage information relating to use of article from service relay server to warehouse management server; transmitting, from warehouse management server to delivery management device, instruction to deliver one-or-more articles packed by user to warehouse; generating detailed information about one-or-more articles in warehouse management server; storing image data obtained by capturing image of one-or-more articles that have been stored, and detailed information in warehouse management server; service relay server transmitting, to user terminal, image data and detailed information acquired from warehouse management server; requesting affiliate server corresponding to usage information to provide optional service for one-or-more articles that have been stored; in response to request from user terminal, requesting warehouse management server to return one-or-more articles that have been stored to user; and requesting by warehouse management server the delivery management device to return one-or-more articles. | 03-24-2016 |
| 20160162836 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PERFORMING SERIALIZATION OF DEVICES - A serialization service module is provided for configuring an asset management system to provide a secure means of generating, assigning to chips (or other electronic objects or devices), and tracking unique serial numbers. To provide this service, a controller connects through a secure, encrypted connection to appliances at a manufacturer's location. Agents can then request serial number values from an appliance by product name. The serial numbers are generated by the appliance, metered, and provided to the agents. The serial numbers are then injected sequentially into each die in a chip manufacturing process using the agent. A log is reported to the controller. | 06-09-2016 |
| 20160203441 | Inventory Management and Tracking | 07-14-2016 |
