Method of providing dynamic production material replenishment information via an internet

• US 20020107601A1
• Filed: 02/03/2001
• Published: 08/08/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 07/19/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Motor Company
• Original Assignee: Ford Motor Company
• Inventors: Burnard, Mike Robert, DeMuro, Richard Thomas, Chen, Lawton
• Granted Patent: US 6,684,119 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/106
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders

Abstract

A method of providing dynamic production material replenishment information via an internet includes the steps of tracking real-time usage of material used for a product, maintaining the tracked real-time material usage within a computer database on a local computer network and replicating the tracked real-time material usage on a global business network in communication with the local communication network. The method also includes the steps of providing a user internet access to a material usage information web site, identifying if a user has permission to access the material usage information web site and selecting a predetermined attribute of the tracked real-time material usage by the user. The method further includes the steps of providing the tracked real-time material usage on the material usage information web site based on the selected attributes and using the tracked real-time material usage by the user in replenishing the material.

Claims

1. A method of providing dynamic production material replenishment information via an internet comprising the steps of:

tracking real-time usage of material used for a product;

maintaining the tracked real-time material usage within a computer database on a local computer network;

replicating the tracked real-time material usage on a global business network in communication with the local communication network via the internet;

providing a user internet access to a material usage information web site hosted by the global business network;

identifying if a user has permission to access the material usage information web site;

selecting a predetermined attribute of the tracked real-time material usage by the user if the user has permission;

providing the tracked real-time material usage on the material usage information web site based on the selected attribute; and

using the tracked real-time material usage by the user in replenishing the material.

2. A method as set forth in claim 1 including the step of pulling material to an assembly line as part of a material replenishment system for replenishing material used on the assembly line for a product.

3. A method as set forth in claim 1 including the step of incorporating the material in the product.

4. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said step of tracking real-time material usage includes maintaining the tracked real-time material usage information on a local computer network within an assembly plant for the assembly line.

5. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said step of replicating the tracked material usage includes replicating the material usage in real-time.

6. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said step of providing a user internet access includes providing the user access to an Intranet.

7. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said step of identifying a user includes the step of checking a user identification code for the user to determine if the user has permission to access the material usage information web site.

8. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said step of selecting a predetermined attribute includes selecting a component part for obtaining tracked real-time material usage information.

9. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said step of selecting a predetermined attribute includes selecting a time period for obtaining tracked real-time material usage information.

10. A method of providing dynamic production material replenishment information via an internet for production material used on a product in a plant, said method comprising the steps of:

tracking real-time usage information for material used for the product;

maintaining the tracked real-time material usage information within a computer database on a local computer network within the plant, wherein the real-time material usage information is dynamically updated;

replicating the real-time material usage information on a global business network in communication with the local communication network via the internet, wherein the real-time material usage is dynamically updated in real-time;

providing a user internet access to a material usage information web site hosted by the global business network;

identifying if a user has permission to access the material usage information web site;

selecting a predetermined attribute of the real-time material usage information by the user if the user has permission;

providing real-time material usage information on the material usage information web site based on the selected attribute; and

using the real-time material usage information by the user in replenishing the material.

11. A method as set forth in claim 10 including the step of pulling material to an assembly line as part of a material replenishment system for replenishing material used on the assembly line for a product.

12. A method as set forth in claim 10 including the step of incorporating the material in the product.

13. A method as set forth in claim 10 wherein said step of providing a user internet access includes providing the user access to an Intranet.

14. A method as set forth in claim 10 wherein said step of identifying a user includes the step of checking a user identification code for the user to determine if the user has permission to access the material usage information web site.

16. A system as set forth in claim 15 wherein said global business network includes a display for displaying the web site.

17. A system as set forth in claim 15 including an internet infrastructure to allow communication between said local computer network and said global business network.

18. A system as set forth in claim 17 including a telecommunications link between said internet infrastructure and said global business network and said local computer network.

19. A system as set forth in claim 15 including a material tracking device to acknowledge use of a component part on an assembly line for the product.

20. A system as set forth in claim 19 wherein said material tracking device comprises one of a card reader, bar code reader, and material call button located at the assembly line for the product.

21. A system as set forth in claim 19 wherein said local computer network comprises a material computer tracking system network in communication with said material tracking device.

15. A system of providing dynamic production material replenishment information comprising:

a local computer network having a computer database maintaining tracked real-time usage of material used for a product;

a global business network in communication with said local communication network via the internet replicating the tracked real-time material usage;

a supplier computer network in communication with said global business network to allow a user internet access to a material usage information web site hosted by said global business network;

said global business network including a user identification system to identify if a user has permission to access the material usage information web site; and

said global business network allowing selection of a predetermined attribute of the tracked real-time material usage by the user if the user has permission, providing the tracked real-time material usage on the material usage information web site based on the selected attribute and allowing the user to use the tracked real-time material usage in replenishing the material.