System, method and computer program product for distributor/supplier selection in a supply chain management framework

• US 20030069774A1
• Filed: 04/13/2001
• Published: 04/10/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/13/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Restaurant Services Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Restaurant Services Incorporated
• Inventors: Smith, Mark Alan, Menninger, Anthony Frank, Greene, Edward Arthur, Hoffman, George Harry, Burk, Michael James
• Application Number:
  US09/834,924
• Publication Number:
  US 20030069774A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/8
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06375 Prediction of business process outcome or impact based on a proposed change
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06393 Score-carding, benchmarking or key performance indicator [KPI] analysis
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0201 Market modelling; Market analysis; Collecting market data

Abstract

A system, method and computer program product are disclosed for distributor/supplier selection in a supply chain utilizing a network. Information relating to a plurality distributors/suppliers of a supply chain is collected. At least one of the distributors/suppliers is selected based on the collected information. A contract is then populated based on the selected distributors/suppliers. The contract mandates that the selected distributors/suppliers provide supply chain data. The supply chain is then managed utilizing the supply chain data.

Claims

1. A method for distributor/supplier selection in a supply chain utilizing a network, comprising the acts of:

a) collecting information relating to a plurality distributors/suppliers of a supply chain;

b) selecting at least one of the distributors/suppliers based on the collected information;

c) populating a contract based on the selected distributors/suppliers, the contract mandating that the selected distributors/suppliers provide supply chain data; and

d) managing the supply chain utilizing the supply chain data.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the management of the supply chain includes tracking benchmark performance utilizing the supply chain data.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the management of the supply chain includes monitoring adherence to the contract utilizing the supply chain data.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the information is collected in response to a plurality of requests for proposal transmitted to the distributors/suppliers utilizing the network.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the distributors/suppliers are selected based on a least cost analysis.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the least cost analysis involves entities selected from the group consisting of a price of product, a cost of shipping the product, and a cost of re-distribution of the product.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the least cost analysis involves a price of product, a cost of shipping the product, and a cost of re-distribution of the product.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein the least cost analysis involves capacities of the distributors/suppliers and requirements of a plurality of outlets of the supply chain.

9. The method of claim 5, wherein the least cost analysis includes a tiered least cost analysis.

10. The method of claim 5, wherein the least cost analysis is standardized.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the management of the supply chain includes collecting profit information utilizing the supply chain data in real-time.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the management of the supply chain includes paying the selected distributors/suppliers rebates.

13. A system for distributor/supplier selection in a supply chain utilizing a network, comprising:

a) logic for collecting information relating to a plurality distributors/suppliers of a supply chain;

b) logic for selecting at least one of the distributors/suppliers based on the collected information;

c) logic for populating a contract based on the selected distributors/suppliers, the contract mandating that the selected distributors/suppliers provide supply chain data; and

d) logic for managing the supply chain utilizing the supply chain data.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the management of the supply chain includes tracking benchmark performance utilizing the supply chain data.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein the management of the supply chain includes monitoring adherence to the contract utilizing the supply chain data.

16. The system of claim 13, wherein the information is collected in response to a plurality of requests for proposal transmitted to the distributors/suppliers utilizing the network.

17. The system of claim 13, wherein the distributors/suppliers are selected based on a least cost analysis.

18. The system of claim 13, wherein the management of the supply chain includes collecting profit information utilizing the supply chain data in real-time.

19. The system of claim 13, wherein the management of the supply chain includes paying the selected distributors/suppliers rebates.

20. A computer program product for distributor/supplier selection in a supply chain utilizing a network, comprising:

a) computer code for collecting information relating to a plurality distributors/suppliers of a supply chain;

b) computer code for selecting at least one of the distributors/suppliers based on the collected information;

c) computer code for populating a contract based on the selected distributors/suppliers, the contract mandating that the selected distributors/suppliers provide supply chain data; and

d) computer code for managing the supply chain utilizing the supply chain data.