Vendor-managed inventory system and method
First Claim
1. A vendor-managed inventory (VMI) system for providing vendor-managed inventory services over an electronic communications network, the system comprising a VMI hub system, a buyer system, a plurality of vendor systems and an external network which interconnects all these systems, wherein the VMI hub system comprises a hub server, the hub server comprising:
- a current period inventory setting module provided for calculating minimum inventory thresholds and maximum inventory thresholds of different materials for various periods, and setting current period inventory thresholds for various materials;
an inventory information processing module provided for comparing a current stock of a material and its current period inventory thresholds, and determining if the current stock of the material has fallen below a minimum inventory threshold or exceeded a maximum inventory threshold;
an alert signal generating module provided for generating a first alert signal when the current stock of the material has fallen below the minimum inventory threshold, or generating a second alert signal when the current stock of the material has exceeded the maximum inventory threshold; and
a delivery information management module provided for generating a material replenishment record according to the first alert signal, or generating a notice according to the second alert signal.
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Abstract
A vendor-managed inventory system includes a VMI hub system (10), a buyer system (20), a plurality of vendor systems (30) and an external network (40) interconnecting all these systems. The VMI hub system stores and manages materials for the buyer system and the vendor systems, which can significantly reduce inventory control costs for the systems at the same time. The VMI hub system has a hub server (100) including a current period inventory setting module (1000), a material requirements information management module (1002), an inventory information processing module (1004), an alert signal generating module (1006), a delivery information management module (1008), and an inventory information updating module (1010). A related vendor-managed inventory method is also disclosed in the present invention.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. A vendor-managed inventory (VMI) system for providing vendor-managed inventory services over an electronic communications network, the system comprising a VMI hub system, a buyer system, a plurality of vendor systems and an external network which interconnects all these systems, wherein the VMI hub system comprises a hub server, the hub server comprising:
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a current period inventory setting module provided for calculating minimum inventory thresholds and maximum inventory thresholds of different materials for various periods, and setting current period inventory thresholds for various materials;
an inventory information processing module provided for comparing a current stock of a material and its current period inventory thresholds, and determining if the current stock of the material has fallen below a minimum inventory threshold or exceeded a maximum inventory threshold;
an alert signal generating module provided for generating a first alert signal when the current stock of the material has fallen below the minimum inventory threshold, or generating a second alert signal when the current stock of the material has exceeded the maximum inventory threshold; and
a delivery information management module provided for generating a material replenishment record according to the first alert signal, or generating a notice according to the second alert signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A computer-based vendor-managed inventory method, comprising the steps of:
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updating inventory information of a material;
determining whether a current stock of the material has fallen below a minimum inventory threshold; and
if the current stock of the material has fallen below the minimum inventory threshold;
generating a first alert signal;
generating a material replenishment record, and sending the material replenishment record to a corresponding vendor system; and
receiving the material delivered by the vendor system, and generating a delivery record.
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13. A computer-based vendor-managed inventory method, comprising the steps of:
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updating inventory information of a material;
determining whether a current stock of the material has fallen below a minimum inventory threshold; and
if the current stock of the material has not fallen below the minimum inventory threshold;
determining whether the current stock of the material has exceeded a maximum inventory threshold; and
if the current stock of the material has exceeded the maximum inventory threshold;
generating a second alert signal; and
generating a notice transferred to a corresponding vendor system in order to notify the vendor not to deliver the material for a current period. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15)
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Specification