Method and system for managing inventory in a supply chain

• US 20030216975A1
• Filed: 11/26/2002
• Published: 11/20/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/26/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Ford Motor Company
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Hindinger, John, Aquinto, Vince, Ramsey, David George, OʼConnor, Michael K., Montey, Paul D., Weems, Robyn P.
• Application Number:
  US10/305,219
• Publication Number:
  US 20030216975A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/28
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders

Abstract

Computer-implemented method and system enables suppliers to manage real-time manufacturer inventory levels. A client-server (e.g., Internet-based) architecture communicates with at least one inventory database. Supplier/user input defines a supplier and manufacturer plant to which the supplier supplies goods. A listing of goods the supplier supplies to the manufacturer plant is displayed at the client computer. For goods listed, the current manufacturer balance-on-hand for that good, the number of days before the manufacturer balance-on-hand will be depleted, and an indicator if the current manufacturer balance-on-hand is below a predefined level is also displayed. The user/supplier inputs a promise to supply one or more goods having a current manufacturer balance-on-hand below the predefined level (e.g., low, critical, etc.). Another indicator indicates whether supplier shipped and in-transit quantities for the good reconcile with manufacturer received quantity for the good. A user/supplier may challenge the posted manufacturer received quantity for the good.

Claims

1. A computer system enabling suppliers to monitor and manage real-time manufacturer inventory levels for supplied goods, the computer system comprising a client-server architecture in operable communication with at least one database of real-time manufacturer inventory information for supplied goods wherein at least one computer server is operably configured to:

receive input defining a supplier and a manufacturer plant to which the supplier supplies goods;

present output including a listing of at least one good the supplier supplies to the manufacturer plant and, for each good listed, the current manufacturer balance-on-hand for that good, the number of days before the manufacturer balance-on-hand will be depleted, and an indicator if the current manufacturer balance-on-hand is below a predefined level; and

receive input from the supplier promising to supply at least one good having a current manufacturer balance-on-hand below the predefined level.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein input from the supplier promising to supply the at least one good is received without providing output to the supplier including a manufacturer'"'"'s request that the supplier supply the at least one good.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein goods include parts, assemblies or raw materials.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein a second indicator identifies any listed goods having a manufacturer balance-on-hand level below a second predefined level.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the at least one computer server is additionally configured to output, for each good listed, an indication as to whether supplier shipped an in-transit quantities for the good reconciles with the manufacturer'"'"'s received quantity for the good.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein the at least one computer server is additionally configured to receive input challenging the manufacturer'"'"'s received quantity for the good.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the at least one computer server is additionally configured to present output including a bulletin board having one or more manufacturer messages for the supplier.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the at least one computer server is additionally configured to receive input defining packaging specification information for goods the supplier supplies to the manufacturer plant.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein the packaging specification information includes an indication as to whether shipments has been confirmed by the supplier.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein the at least one computer server is additionally configured to present output including a transaction register displaying historical inventory transaction information for a specified good.

11. The system of claim 1 wherein the client-server architecture is implemented on the Internet.

12. A computer-implemented method enabling suppliers to monitor and manage real-time manufacturer inventory levels for supplied goods, the method implemented in a client-server architecture in operable communication with at least one database of real-time manufacturer inventory information for supplied goods, the method comprising:

receiving input at a client computer defining a supplier and a manufacturer plant to which the supplier supplies goods;

displaying at the client computer a listing of at least one good the supplier supplies to the manufacturer plant and, for each good listed, the current manufacturer balance-on-hand for that good, the number of days before the manufacturer balance-on-hand will be depleted, and an indicator if the current manufacturer balance-on-hand is below a predefined level; and

receiving input at the client computer defining a promise to supply at least one good having a current manufacturer balance-on-hand below the predefined level.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the promise to supply the at least one good is received without providing the supplier with a manufacturer'"'"'s request that the supplier supply the at least one good.

14. The method of claim 12 wherein goods include parts, assemblies or raw materials.

15. The method of claim 12 additionally comprising shipping the promised goods from the supplier to the manufacturer.

16. The method of claim 12 additionally comprising displaying an indicator at the client computer indicating any listed goods that have a manufacturer balance-on-hand level below a second predefined level.

17. The method of claim 12 additionally comprising displaying an indicator at the client computer indicating whether supplier shipped and in-transit quantities for the good reconcile with manufacturer received quantity for the good.

18. The method of claim 17 additionally comprising receiving input at the client computer challenging the manufacturer received quantity for the good.

19. The method of claim 12 additionally comprising displaying at the client computer a bulletin board having one or more manufacturer messages for the supplier.

20. The method of claim 12 additionally comprising receiving input at the client computer defining packaging specification information for goods the supplier supplies to the manufacturer plant.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein the packaging specification information includes an indication as to whether a shipment has been confirmed by the supplier.

22. The method of claim 12 additionally comprising displaying at the client computer a transaction register presenting historical inventory transaction information for a specified good.

23. The method of claim 12 wherein the method is implemented over the Internet.