Method and storage medium for managing collaborative forecasting and replenishment

• US 20040117273A1
• Filed: 12/16/2002
• Published: 06/17/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/16/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Murray, Michael P., Henderson, Mark A., Jobson, Thomas A. Jr.
• Granted Patent: US 7,870,041 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/28
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders

Abstract

An exemplary embodiment of the invention relates to a method and storage medium for integrating forecasting and replenishment activities for a networked supply chain including an enterprise and at least one supplier. The method comprises receiving a demand forecast for a first manufacturing cycle from the enterprise, performing a hub inventory assessment, performing a capability assessment, and transmitting a commitment response to the enterprise based upon the demand forecast, the results of the hub inventory assessment, and the results of the capability assessment. The demand forecast is utilized to manage hub inventory for use in a second manufacturing cycle. Other embodiments include a storage medium for implementing the invention.

Claims

1. A method for integrating forecasting and replenishment activities for a networked supply chain, said networked supply chain including an enterprise and at least one supplier, the method comprising:

receiving a demand forecast for a first manufacturing cycle from said enterprise;

performing a hub inventory assessment;

performing a capability assessment;

transmitting a commitment response to said enterprise based upon;

said demand forecast;

results of said hub inventory assessment; and

results of said capability assessment; and

utilizing said demand forecast to manage hub inventory for use in a second manufacturing cycle.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said manufacturing cycle comprises a pre-defined time period.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said commitment response includes a specified quantity of items that will be provided to said enterprise for a stated manufacturing cycle.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein said commitment response includes a minimum supply of items that will be maintained over a specified time period.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said performing said hub inventory assessment includes determining current quantities of items available in storage, said items listed in said demand forecast.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said performing said capability assessment includes determining a quantity of items available for delivery to said enterprise taking into account said demand forecast, available items in said hub inventory, and external sources of supply.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said utilizing said demand forecast to manage hub inventory for use in a second manufacturing cycle includes:

receiving a second demand forecast;

utilizing said second demand forecast to determine whether sufficient quantities of items provided in said second demand forecast are available in said hub inventory; and

conducting replenishment activities in accordance with said second demand forecast.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein said replenishment activities includes at least one of:

utilizing existing inventory to satisfy requirements provided in said demand forecast; and

restocking said hub inventory with additional items operable for satisfying requirements provided in said demand forecast.

9. A storage medium encoded with machine-readable computer program code for integrating forecasting and replenishment activities for a networked supply chain, said networked supply chain including an enterprise and at least one supplier, the storage medium including instructions for causing a computer to implement a method comprising:

receiving a demand forecast for a first manufacturing cycle from said enterprise;

performing a hub inventory assessment;

performing a capability assessment;

transmitting a commitment response to said enterprise based upon;

said demand forecast;

results of said hub inventory assessment; and

results of said capability assessment; and

utilizing said demand forecast to manage hub inventory for use in a second manufacturing cycle.

10. The storage medium of claim 9, wherein said manufacturing cycle comprises a pre-defined time period.

11. The storage medium of claim 9, wherein said commitment response includes a specified quantity of items that will be provided to said enterprise for a stated manufacturing cycle.

12. The storage medium of claim 9 wherein said commitment response includes a minimum supply of items that will be maintained over a specified time period.

13. The storage medium of claim 9 wherein said performing said hub inventory assessment includes determining current quantities of items available in storage, said items listed in said demand forecast.

14. The storage medium of claim 9, wherein said performing said capability assessment includes determining a quantity of items available for delivery to said enterprise taking into account said demand forecast, available items in said hub inventory, and external sources of supply.

15. The storage medium of claim 9, wherein said utilizing said demand forecast to manage hub inventory for use in a second manufacturing cycle includes:

receiving a second demand forecast;

utilizing said second demand forecast to determine whether sufficient quantities of items provided in said second demand forecast are available in said hub inventory; and

conducting replenishment activities in accordance with said second demand forecast.

16. The storage medium of claim 15, wherein said replenishment activities includes at least one of:

utilizing existing inventory to satisfy requirements provided in said demand forecast; and

restocking said hub inventory with additional items operable for satisfying requirements provided in said demand forecast.