Optimizing resource plans
First Claim
1. A method for optimizing resource plans across a multi-location supply network, said network including locations for multiple supply points and at least one location for a demand point wherein said supply point provides supply items needed by said demand point according to said resource plans, said method comprising:
- creating planning data, planning data containing information regarding constrained resources, said constrained resources including vessel scheduling information for transporting said supply items from said supply points to said demand point;
creating planning rules based on user-defined strategies, said planning rules identifying acceptable timeframes in which supplies of said supply items must arrive at said demand point in order to meet consumption dates for given orders;
generating a plan based on the planning data and the planning rules, wherein the plan optimally allocates the constrained resources according to the user-defined strategies, said plan providing required consumption dates of said supply items; and
revising the plan in real-time.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention relates to a master resource planning systems and related methods for optimizing resource plans across multiple networks. In particular, the present invention optimizes constrained resources across multiple networks and produces an optimized plan to allocate and coordinate the obtaining, shipping and procurement of limited resources based upon user-defined strategies and supplier/shipper preferences Aspects of the disclosure include creating planning data and planning rules. Planning data contains information regarding constrained resources in the multiple networks. Planning rules are based on user-defined strategies. Additional aspects include generating a plan based on the planning data and the planning rules and revising the plan in real-time. The generated plan optimally allocates the constrained resources according to the user-defined strategies. Certain embodiments disclosed herein employ pegging strategies for handling over and under availability of demanded resources among a variety of competing orders. Other certain embodiments disclosed herein optimize the procurement of resources needed to fulfill orders in part by taking into account limitations in shipping lag times, established transportation schedules, and carrier preferences.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for optimizing resource plans across a multi-location supply network, said network including locations for multiple supply points and at least one location for a demand point wherein said supply point provides supply items needed by said demand point according to said resource plans, said method comprising:
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creating planning data, planning data containing information regarding constrained resources, said constrained resources including vessel scheduling information for transporting said supply items from said supply points to said demand point;
creating planning rules based on user-defined strategies, said planning rules identifying acceptable timeframes in which supplies of said supply items must arrive at said demand point in order to meet consumption dates for given orders;
generating a plan based on the planning data and the planning rules, wherein the plan optimally allocates the constrained resources according to the user-defined strategies, said plan providing required consumption dates of said supply items; and
revising the plan in real-time. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A system for optimizing resource plans across a multi-location supply network, said network including locations for multiple supply points and at least one location for a demand point wherein said supply point provides supply items needed by said demand point according to said resource plans, said system comprising:
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means for creating planning data, planning data containing information regarding constrained resources, said constrained resources including vessel scheduling information for transporting said supply items from said supply points to said demand point;
means for creating planning rules based on user-defined strategies, said planning rules identifying acceptable timeframes in which supplies of said supply items must arrive at said demand point in order to meet consumption dates for given orders;
means for generating a plan based on the planning data and the planning rules, wherein the plan optimally allocates the constrained resources according to the user-defined strategies, said plan providing required consumption dates of said supply items; and
means for revising the plan in real-time.
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20. A computer program product comprising a computer useable medium having computer readable code embodied therein for optimizing resource plans across a multi-location supply network, said network including locations for multiple supply points and at least one location for a demand point wherein said supply point provides supply items needed by said demand point according to said resource plans, said code having instructions comprising:
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creating planning data, planning data containing information regarding constrained resources, said constrained resources including vessel scheduling information for transporting said supply items from said supply points to said demand point;
creating planning rules based on user-defined strategies, said planning rules identifying acceptable timeframes in which supplies of said supply items must arrive at said demand point in order to meet consumption dates for given orders;
generating a plan based on the planning data and the planning rules, wherein the plan optimally allocates the constrained resources according to the user-defined strategies, said plan providing required consumption dates of said supply items; and
revising the plan in real-time.
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Specification