Method for selecting an optimal balance between direct cost and a number of suppliers
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method for selecting an optimal balance between direct cost and a number of suppliers comprising:
- soliciting bids from a plurality of suppliers for a plurality of lots;
receiving at least one bid from a supplier for each lot;
storing the bids from each supplier in a database; and
generating at least a first and second optimal solution from the bids in the database, the first optimal solution having a different number of suppliers than the second optimal solution.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method for selecting an optimal balance between direct cost and a number of suppliers, including soliciting bids from a plurality of suppliers for a plurality of lots, receiving at least one bid from a supplier for each lot, storing the bids from each supplier in a database, and generating at least a first and second optimal solution from the bids in the database, the first optimal solution having a different number of suppliers than the second optimal solution.
-
Citations
23 Claims
-
1. A method for selecting an optimal balance between direct cost and a number of suppliers comprising:
-
soliciting bids from a plurality of suppliers for a plurality of lots;
receiving at least one bid from a supplier for each lot;
storing the bids from each supplier in a database; and
generating at least a first and second optimal solution from the bids in the database, the first optimal solution having a different number of suppliers than the second optimal solution. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
-
-
15. A method for selecting an optimal balance between direct cost and a number of suppliers comprising:
-
identifying at least one of goods and services to be purchased;
soliciting bids from a plurality of bidders for a plurality of lots;
receiving at least one bid from a supplier for each lot;
storing the bids from each supplier in a database;
inputting the bids into an optimization routine, including selecting the number of suppliers for at least a first and second optimal solution;
determining lowest bids received from the number of suppliers for the lots for each optimal solution;
calculating a direct cost from the lowest bids received from the number of suppliers for each optimal solution;
displaying each optimal solution; and
choosing one of the optimal solutions.
-
-
16. A system for selecting an optimal balance between direct cost and a number of suppliers comprising:
-
a database for receiving and storing bid information from a plurality of suppliers for a plurality of lots; and
software for generating at least a first and second optimal solution from the bid information, the first optimal solution having a different number of suppliers than the second optimal solution. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
-
-
19. A machine readable medium that selects an optimal balance between direct cost and a number of suppliers comprising:
-
a first machine readable code that receives and stores bid information from a plurality of suppliers for a plurality of lots;
a second machine readable code that generates at least a first and second optimal solution from the bid information, the first optimal solution having a different number of suppliers than the second optimal solution; and
a third readable code that transmits the optimal solutions to a buyer. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23)
-
Specification