Inventory management system for reducing overall warehouse and pipeline inventory
First Claim
1. A system for tracking items within a central warehouse, said system being configured to perform the steps of:
- assigning a first identification indicia to an item within said central warehouse;
updating a database to associate said first identification indicia with said item;
receiving a request to reallocate said item from a first entity to a second entity;
in response to receiving said request, reallocating said item from said first entity to said second entity;
in response to said item being reallocated from said first entity to said second entity, assigning a second identification indicia to said item; and
updating said database to associate said second identification indicia with said item.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A computer system for use in reducing overall pipeline inventory within a distribution network that includes a central warehouse that is: (1) adjacent a transportation hub; and (2) configured to store sufficient component parts to provide a regular stream of parts to each of a plurality of manufacturing facilities. The computer system is preferably configured for coordinating the transportation of a regular stream of parts to each of the manufacturing facilities by transporting component parts from the central warehouse to the manufacturing facilities primarily via an expedited delivery service performed using the transportation hub. The expedited delivery service may include, for example, guaranteed delivery within one or two days. This reduces the overall pipeline and warehouse inventory within the distribution network by reducing the average transit time for each part, and by reducing the amount of safety stock that is needed to support the operations of the manufacturing facilities.
56 Citations
40 Claims
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1. A system for tracking items within a central warehouse, said system being configured to perform the steps of:
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assigning a first identification indicia to an item within said central warehouse;
updating a database to associate said first identification indicia with said item;
receiving a request to reallocate said item from a first entity to a second entity;
in response to receiving said request, reallocating said item from said first entity to said second entity;
in response to said item being reallocated from said first entity to said second entity, assigning a second identification indicia to said item; and
updating said database to associate said second identification indicia with said item. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. A system for tracking parts at a central warehouse, said system being configured for:
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assigning a first part number to a part within said central warehouse;
updating a database to associate said first part number with said part;
receiving an indication that said part has been modified;
in response to receiving said indication, assigning a second part number to said part; and
updating a database to associate said second part number with said part. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7)
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8. A method of distributing parts, said method comprising the steps of:
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providing a central warehouse adjacent a transportation hub;
maintaining sufficient parts within said central warehouse to provide a regular stream of parts to each of a plurality of manufacturing facilities; and
providing a regular stream of parts to each of said manufacturing facilities by transporting component parts from said central warehouse to each of said manufacturing facilities primarily via an expedited delivery service performed using said transportation hub. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A method of storing and allocating parts comprising the steps of:
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storing a plurality of parts in a central warehouse; and
allowing a user to reallocate said plurality of parts from a first entity to a second entity without requiring said plurality of parts to be physically moved from said central warehouse. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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32. A method of tracking items within a central warehouse, said method comprising the steps of:
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assigning a first identification indicia to an item within said central warehouse;
updating a database to associate said first identification indicia with said item;
reallocating said item from a first entity to a second entity;
in response to said item being reallocated from said first entity to said second entity, assigning a second identification indicia to said item; and
updating said database to associate said second identification indicia with said item. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34)
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35. A method of tracking parts at a central warehouse, said method comprising the steps of:
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assigning a first part number to a part within said central warehouse;
updating a database to associate said first part number with said part;
modifying said part;
in response to said part being modified, assigning a second part number to said part; and
updating a database to associate said second part number with said part. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37, 38, 39)
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40. A computer system for use in a distribution network, said distribution network comprising a central warehouse that is adjacent a transportation hub, and said central warehouse being configured to store sufficient component parts to provide a regular stream of parts to each of a plurality of manufacturing facilities, said computer system being configured for:
coordinating the transportation of a regular stream of parts to each of said manufacturing facilities by transporting component parts from said central warehouse to each of said manufacturing facilities primarily via an expedited delivery service performed using said transportation hub.
Specification