Automated generation of reports reflecting statistical analyses of supply chain processes
First Claim
1. A method for performing statistical analysis on at least one monitored aspect of a product supply chain, comprising steps of:
- (a) storing, in memory accessible to at least one processor, first data reflecting at least one first determined value of at least one monitored aspect of a first shipment of at least one first item occurring in the supply chain;
(b) storing, in memory accessible to the at least one processor, second data reflecting at least one second determined value of at least one monitored aspect of a second shipment of at least one second item occurring in the supply chain; and
(c) using the at least one processor to automatically generate at least one report reflecting a statistical analysis of the first data and the second data.
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Abstract
A product supply chain may be viewed not just as a series of discrete, unrelated shipment transactions, but as a “process” (or pipeline) that can be subject to statistical process control. The present invention is directed to novel systems and methods for collecting data concerning one or more aspects of a supply chain, for performing statistical analysis on the collected data to facilitate the identification of anomalies or inefficiencies in the process, and for communicating the results of such statistical analysis to those responsible for the supply chain so that remedial measures may be taken, if appropriate. Among other things, a method for performing statistical analysis on at least one monitored aspect of a product supply chain is disclosed that involves storing, in memory accessible to at least one processor, first data reflecting at least one first determined value of at least one monitored aspect of a first shipment of at least one first item occurring in the supply chain, and storing, in memory accessible to the at least one processor, second data reflecting at least one second determined value of at least one monitored aspect of a second shipment of at least one second item occurring in the supply chain. The at least one processor is used to automatically generate at least one report reflecting a statistical analysis of the first data and the second data.
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Citations
85 Claims
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1. A method for performing statistical analysis on at least one monitored aspect of a product supply chain, comprising steps of:
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(a) storing, in memory accessible to at least one processor, first data reflecting at least one first determined value of at least one monitored aspect of a first shipment of at least one first item occurring in the supply chain;
(b) storing, in memory accessible to the at least one processor, second data reflecting at least one second determined value of at least one monitored aspect of a second shipment of at least one second item occurring in the supply chain; and
(c) using the at least one processor to automatically generate at least one report reflecting a statistical analysis of the first data and the second data. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. A system for performing statistical analysis on at least one monitored aspect of a product supply chain, comprising:
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at least one memory having stored therein first data reflecting at least one first determined value of at least one monitored aspect of a first shipment of at least one first item occurring in the supply chain, and having further stored therein second data reflecting at least one second determined value of at least one monitored aspect of a second shipment of at least one second item occurring in the supply chain; and
at least one processor, coupled to the at least one memory, configured to automatically generate at least one report reflecting a statistical analysis of the first data and the second data. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60)
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61. A system for performing statistical analysis on at least one monitored aspect of a product supply chain, comprising:
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means for storing first data reflecting at least one first determined value of at least one monitored aspect of a first shipment of at least one first item occurring in the supply chain;
means for storing second data reflecting at least one second determined value of at least one monitored aspect of a second shipment of at least one second item occurring in the supply chain; and
means, coupled to the means for storing first data and the means for storing second data, for automatically generating at least one report reflecting a statistical analysis of the first data and the second data.
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62. A computer-readable medium for use with at least one processor included in a system including at least one memory having stored therein first data reflecting at least one first determined value of at least one monitored aspect of a first shipment of at least one first item occurring in a supply chain, and having further stored therein second data reflecting at least one second determined value of at least one monitored aspect of a second shipment of at least one second item occurring in the supply chain, the computer-readable medium having a plurality of instructions stored thereon which, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to perform a step of:
automatically generating at least one report reflecting a statistical analysis of the first data and the second data. - View Dependent Claims (63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85)
Specification