Inventory management system and method including real-time alarms

• US 20050049943A1
• Filed: 08/17/2004
• Published: 03/03/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/27/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Chen, QiongShuai, Luo, Sheng Chi
• Application Number:
  US10/920,761
• Publication Number:
  US 20050049943A1
• 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

An inventory management system includes a plurality of corporation client computers (10), a corporation website (13), a server (12), and a database (15). Each corporation client computer provides an interactive user interface for user to perform inventory management. The corporation website is connected to the server, and provides an operating platform for inventory management. The server includes a plurality of function modules for timely managing inventory information, in order to control procurement operations and automatically generate alarm signals when inventory abnormalities occur. The database stores inventory information including material names, material quantities, storage locations, serial numbers for the storage locations, inventory ages, and names of suppliers. A related inventory management method is also disclosed.

Claims

1. An inventory management system comprising:

a plurality of corporation client computers, each corporation client computer providing an interactive user interface for users to perform inventory management; and

a server, comprising;

an inventory information maintaining module for maintaining inventory information;

an inventory status recording module for automatically recording inventory information; and

an alarm signal generating module for automatically generating alarm signals when inventory abnormalities occur, and for transmitting the alarm signals to one or more corresponding operators; and

a database for storing inventory information.

2. The inventory management system according to claim 1, wherein the inventory status recording module comprises:

an inventory quantity analyzing device for analyzing inventory quantities for the materials, and for determining whether a current inventory quantity for any material exceeds its preset inventory threshold;

an inventory age analyzing device for calculating one or more inventory ages for each material, and determining whether any material comprises dead stock; and

an inventory variation recording device for automatically recording inventory variations occurring in storage locations.

3. The inventory management system according to claim 2, wherein an inventory age for a material can be calculated by subtracting a time of initial warehousing of the material from a current time, and for a material already shipped to a buyer, an inventory age can be calculated by subtracting an initial warehousing time from a shipment time.

4. The inventory management system according to claim 2, wherein the inventory variations occur when materials in storage locations are shipped to buyers, when the storage locations receive purchased materials or returned materials, and when operators in the storage locations process discards.

5. The inventory management system according to claim 1, wherein the inventory abnormalities include excess inventories, dead stocks, shipment abnormalities, and delivery abnormalities.

6. The inventory management system according to claim 1, wherein the alarm signals are transmitted to the operators through e-mails, mobile phone messages or voice messages.

7. A computer-based inventory management method, comprising the steps of:

searching for inventory quantities for various materials;

recording the inventory information and generating statistical statements according to the inventory information;

determining whether the inventory quantity for any material exceeds its preset inventory threshold, and generating an alarm signal in respect of the material and transmitting the alarm signal to one or more corresponding operators if the inventory quantity of any material exceeds its preset inventory threshold;

calculating one or more inventory ages for each material if the inventory quantity of any material does not exceed its preset inventory threshold;

determining whether any material comprises dead stock, based on the inventory ages of the material, and generating an alarm signal in respect of the material and transmitting the alarm signal to one or more corresponding operators if any material comprises dead stock;

recording any inventory variation occurring in any storage location; and

determining whether any inventory variation is abnormal, and generating an alarm signal in respect of the material and transmitting the alarm signal to one or more corresponding operators if any inventory variation is abnormal.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein an inventory age for a material can be calculated by subtracting a time of initial warehousing of the material from a current time, and for a material already shipped to a buyer, an inventory age can be calculated by subtracting an initial warehousing time from a shipment time.

9. The method according to claim 7, wherein each material has a preset standard maximum acceptable inventory age, and if a calculated inventory age of a material exceeds its preset standard maximum acceptable inventory age, the material is considered a dead stock.

10. The method according to claim 7, wherein the inventory variations occur when materials in storage locations are shipped to buyers, when the storage locations receive purchased materials or returned materials, and when operators in the storage locations process discards.

11. The method according to claim 7, wherein the inventory abnormalities include excess inventories, dead stocks, shipment abnormalities, and delivery abnormalities.

12. A computer-based inventory management method, comprising the steps of:

searching for inventory quantities for various materials;

recording the inventory information and generating statistical statements according to the inventory information;

determining whether the inventory quantity for any material exceeds its preset inventory threshold, and generating an alarm signal in respect of the material and transmitting the alarm signal to one or more corresponding operators if the inventory quantity of any material exceeds its preset inventory threshold;

calculating one or more inventory ages for each material if the inventory quantity of any material does not exceed its preset inventory threshold;

determining whether any material comprises dead stock, based on the inventory ages of the material, and generating an alarm signal in respect of the material and transmitting the alarm signal to one or more corresponding operators if any material comprises dead stock.