Performance-based supply chain management system and method with collaboration environment for dispute resolution

• US 20020099580A1
• Filed: 01/22/2001
• Published: 07/25/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 01/22/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Bizgenics, Inc. (Axway Software SA)
• Original Assignee: FMVP II LP (FirstMark Capital, LLC)
• Inventors: Eicher, Daryl E. Jr., Scelzo, William A., Stowell, David P.M., Pal, Anurag
• Application Number:
  US09/765,347
• Publication Number:
  US 20020099580A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/26.25
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0607 Regulated

Abstract

A performance-based supply chain management system that provides a collaboration environment in which buyers and suppliers to a buyer-supplier engagement may collaborate regarding issues related to one or more key performance indicators identified for the buyer-supplier engagement. The system monitors the key performance indicators and initiates the collaboration module automatically upon determination of a violation with respect to a key performance indicator and/or alerts buyers and suppliers of a value for a key performance indicator in response to which the alerted participants may initiate an on-line collaboration with respect to the key performance indicator.

Claims

1. A performance-based supply chain management system comprising:

an engagement module through which a buyer-supplier engagement is initiated, the buyer-supplier engagement providing an identification of a product to be supplied and at least one key performance indicator (KPI) by which performance of that buyer-supplier engagement is to be monitored;

a monitoring module for monitoring performance of the buyer-supplier engagement through communications exchanged between the buyer and supplier through a server module associated with the monitoring module, the monitoring being based on the at least one identified key performance indicator; and

a collaboration module that enables the buyer and seller participating in a buyer-supplier engagement to collaborate regarding issues related to one or more key performance indicators identified for the buyer-supplier engagement.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the monitoring module initiates the collaboration module automatically upon determination of a violation with respect to a key performance indicator.

3. The system of claim 1 further comprising an alert module that alerts one of the buyer or supplier of a value for a key performance indicator.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein the alert module permits the alerted participant to initiate the collaboration module to collaborate on a resolution with respect to the key performance indicator.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein the alerted participate may invite other participants to collaborate through the collaboration module.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein the alerted participant invites other participants by providing an electronic address.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein the invited participant is sent an electronic message to the electronic address to notify that participant regarding the collaboration.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein the collaboration module provide an open, secure collaboration environment.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein the collaboration module enables the exchange of documents during the collaboration.

11. The system of claim 1 wherein the collaboration module enables participants to close out an issue related to the key performance indicator.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein an alert module escalates the issue and notify another participant if the collaboration participants are unable to close out an issue.

13. The system of claim 1 wherein the collaboration module enables communication between participants in a format that enables extraction of data and dialog exchanged into an archive.

14. The system of claim 13 further comprising a collaboration archive for storing collaborations between participants.

15. The system of claim 14 wherein the collaboration archive stores tradeoff analysis and violation details.

16. The system of claim 14 wherein the engagement module utilizes stored collaboration information as prior performance data for use in enabling buyers and suppliers to enter a buyer-supplier engagement.

17. The system of claim 16 wherein a buyer-supplier matching function is provided by the engagement module and wherein the collaboration information is at least one factor used by the function in selecting potential buyer-supplier matches.

19. The system of claim 18 wherein the monitoring module initiates the collaboration module automatically upon determination of a violation with respect to a key performance indicator.

20. The system of claim 18 further comprising an alert module that alerts one of the buyer or supplier of a value for a key performance indicator.

21. The system of claim 20 wherein the alert module permits the alerted participant to initiate the collaboration module to collaborate on a resolution with respect to the key performance indicator.

22. The system of claim 21 wherein the alerted participate may invite other participants to collaborate through the collaboration module.

23. The system of claim 22 wherein the alerted participant invites other participants by providing an electronic address.

24. The system of claim 23 wherein the invited participant is sent an electronic message to the electronic address to notify that participant regarding the collaboration.

25. The system of claim 18 wherein the collaboration module provide an open, secure collaboration environment.

26. The system of claim 25 wherein the collaboration module enables the exchange of documents during the collaboration.

27. The system of claim 18 wherein the collaboration module enables participants to close out an issue related to the key performance indicator.

28. The system of claim 27 wherein an alert module notifies another participant if the collaboration participants are unable to close out an issue.

29. The system of claim 18 wherein the collaboration module enables communication between participants in a format that enables extraction of data and dialog exchanged into an archive.

30. The system of claim 29 further comprising a collaboration archive for storing collaborations between participants.

31. The system of claim 30 wherein the collaboration archive stores tradeoff analysis and violation details.

32. The system of claim 31 wherein the engagement module utilizes stored collaboration information as prior performance data for use in enabling buyers and suppliers to enter a buyer-supplier engagement.

33. The system of claim 32 wherein a buyer-supplier matching function is provided by the engagement module and wherein the collaboration information is at least one factor used by the function in selecting potential buyer-supplier matches.

35. The method of claim 34 further comprising the step of automatically initiating a collaboration session between a buyer and supplier upon determination of a violation with respect to a key performance indicator for that buyer-supplier engagement.

36. The method of claim 34 further comprising the step of alerting buyer or supplier of a value of a key performance indicator to enable the buyer or supplier to initiate a collaboration session with respect to the key performance indicator.

37. The method of claim 36 wherein the alerted participate invites other participants to collaborate.

38. The method of claim 37 wherein the alerted participant invites other participants by providing an electronic address.

39. The method of claim 38 wherein the invited participant is sent an electronic message to the electronic address to notify that participant regarding the collaboration.

40. The method of claim 34 wherein the collaboration session provided is provide an open, secure collaboration environment.

41. The method of claim 40 further comprising the step of enabling the exchange of documents during the collaboration.

42. The method of claim 34 further comprising the step of enabling participants to close out an issue related to the key performance indicator.

43. The method of claim 34 further comprising the step of alerting another participant if the collaboration participants are unable to close out an issue.

44. The method of claim 34 wherein the server system through which collaboration is provided extracts data and dialog exchanged into an archive.

45. The method of claim 44 further comprising the step of storing collaborations between participants into a collaboration archive.

46. The method of claim 45 wherein the collaboration archive stores tradeoff analysis and violation details.

47. The method of claim 45 further comprising the step of utilizing stored collaboration information as prior performance data for use in enabling buyers and suppliers to enter a buyer-supplier engagement.

18. A server system that enables buyers and suppliers to connect using a terminal device over the Internet to enable performance-based supply chain management, the server system comprising:

an engagement module, operatively connected to at least one buyer terminal device and at least one supplier terminal device, through which a buyer-supplier engagement is initiated, the buyer-supplier engagement providing an identification of a product to be supplied and at least one key performance indicator by which performance of that buyer-supplier engagement is to be monitored;

a monitoring module for monitoring performance of the buyer-supplier engagement through communications exchanged between the buyer terminal device and supplier terminal device, the monitoring being based on the at least one identified key performance indicator; and

a collaboration module that enables the buyer terminal device and seller terminal device to collaborate regarding issues related to one or more key performance indicators identified for the buyer-supplier engagement.

34. A method for performance-based supply chain management comprising the steps of:

enabling a buyer and supplier to initiate a buyer-supplier engagement, the buyer-supplier engagement providing an identification of a product to be supplied and at least one key performance indicator (KPI) by which performance of that buyer-supplier engagement is to be monitored;

monitoring performance of the buyer-supplier engagement through communications exchanged between the buyer and supplier through a server module associated with the monitoring module, the monitoring being based on the at least one identified key performance indicator; and

enabling the buyer and seller participating in a buyer-supplier engagement to collaborate regarding issues related to one or more key performance indicators identified for the buyer-supplier engagement.