Methods and systems for processing stock in a storage facility

• US 20050256775A1
• Filed: 05/14/2004
• Published: 11/17/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SAP SE
• Original Assignee: SAP AG (SAP SE)
• Inventors: Epp, Joachim, Schapler, Daniela, Adler, Tobies
• Granted Patent: US 9,026,455 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/22
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/203 Inventory monitoring

Abstract

Systems and methods are disclosed for processing stock. The systems and methods may include identifying at least a first transfer order, a second transfer order, a first processing unit order, and a second processing unit order. In addition, the systems and methods may include creating an initial work order based at least on the first transfer order and the second transfer order. Furthermore, the systems and methods may include detecting the handling of the first transfer order by a first processing unit and the handling of the second transfer order by a second processing unit, and associating the first transfer order and the second transfer order with the first processing unit order and the second processing unit order respectively.

Claims

1. A method for processing stock, the method comprising:

defining an initial work order for a plurality of transfer orders and a plurality of processing units, where each transfer order relates to handling of stock and the plurality of processing units transfer the stock according to the transfer orders;

associating, as stock is handled by a particular processing unit, the particular processing unit with the transfer order related to the handled stock; and

creating a new work order reflecting the handling of the stock by the particular processing unit according to the transfer order related to the handled stock.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein defining the initial work order further comprises linking the plurality of transfer orders with the initial work order.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising de-linking the plurality of transfer orders from the initial work order.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein associating comprises:

detecting associations between the transfer orders and the processing units based on stock associated with particular transfer orders being processed by respective processing units;

linking particular transfer orders with particular processing unit orders when the association between the particular transfer orders and the processing units are respectively detected; and

removing links between the transfer orders and the initial work order when the association between the transfer orders and the processing units are detected respectively.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein detecting the association between the first transfer orders and the processing units comprises receiving handling signals including stock identifiers associated with the respective transfer orders, the handling signals indicating at least which processing unit is processing stock associated with a particular transfer order.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the handling signals are produced using at least one of a bar code or a radio frequency identification (RFID) associated with the stock associated with the first transfer order.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising monitoring the performance of transfer orders handled by respective processing units.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein monitoring the performance includes monitoring the transfer of stock associated with a respective transfer order by a respective processing unit from a first area to a second area.

9. The method of claim 7, further comprising reallocating ones of the processing units based upon the monitored performance wherein the monitored performance indicates a volume of transfer orders already processed by the respective processing units relative to volume of transfer orders linked to the initial work order.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the processing units is controlled by a storage facility operator.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the processing units comprises a motorized vehicle, a non-motorized vehicle, a truck, a fork lift, a fork truck, a pallet jack, a dolly, and a hand truck.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein stock associated with the transfer orders are configured in a random placement in a first area.

13. A method for processing stock, the method comprising:

identifying a plurality of transfer orders and a plurality of processing unit;

creating an initial work order based on the plurality of transfer orders;

detecting handling of stock associated with a particular one of the transfer orders by a particular one of the processing units; and

establishing, based on the detected handling, a new work order for the particular transfer order and the particular processing unit.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein creating the initial work order comprises linking the plurality of transfer orders with the initial work order.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising de-linking the plurality of transfer orders from the initial work order.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein detecting handling of stock associated with a particular one of the transfer orders comprises:

detecting associations between the transfer orders and the processing units based on stock associated with particular transfer orders being processed by respective processing units;

linking particular transfer orders with particular processing unit orders when the association between the particular transfer orders and the processing units are respectively detected; and

removing links between the transfer orders and the initial work order when the association between the transfer orders and the processing units are detected respectively.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein detecting the association between the first transfer orders and the processing units comprises receiving handling signals including stock identifiers associated with the respective transfer orders, the handling signals indicating at least which processing unit is processing stock associated with a particular transfer order.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the handling signals are produced using at least one of a bar code or a radio frequency identification (RFID) associated with the stock associated with the first transfer order.

19. The method of claim 13, further comprising monitoring the performance of transfer orders handled by respective processing units.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein monitoring the performance includes monitoring the transfer of stock associated with a respective transfer order by a respective processing unit from a first area to a second area.

21. The method of claim 19, further comprising reallocating ones of the processing units based upon the monitored performance, wherein the monitored performance indicates a volume of transfer orders already processed by the respective processing units relative to volume of transfer orders linked to the initial work order.

22. The method of claim 13, wherein at least one of the processing units is controlled by a storage facility operator.

23. The method of claim 13, wherein at least one of the processing units comprises a motorized vehicle, a non-motorized vehicle, a truck, a fork lift, a fork truck, a pallet jack, a dolly, and a hand truck.

24. The method of claim 13, wherein stock associated with the transfer orders are configured in a random placement in a first area.

25. A method for processing stock, the method comprising:

identifying at least a first transfer order, a second transfer order, a first processing unit order, and a second processing unit order;

creating an initial work order based at least on the first transfer order and the second transfer order;

detecting the handling of the first transfer order by a first processing unit and the handling of the second transfer order by a second processing unit; and

associating the first transfer order and the second transfer order with the first processing unit order and the second processing unit order, respectively.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein associating the first transfer order and the second transfer order with the first processing unit order and the second processing unit order respectively, comprises:

detecting an association between the first transfer order and a first processing unit when stock associated with the first transfer order is processed by the first processing unit;

linking the first transfer order with the first processing unit order when the association between the first transfer order and the first processing unit is detected;

removing a first link between the first transfer order and the initial work order when the association between the first transfer order and the first processing unit is detected;

detecting an association between the second transfer order and a second processing unit when stock associated with the second transfer order is processed by the second processing unit;

linking the second transfer order with the second processing unit order when the association between the second transfer order and the second processing unit is detected; and

removing a second link between the second transfer order and the initial work order when the association between the second transfer order and the second processing unit is detected.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein detecting the association between the first transfer order and the first processing unit comprises receiving a first handling signal including a first stock identifier associated with the first transfer order, the first handling signal indicating at least that the first processing unit is processing the stock associated with the first transfer order.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the first handling signal is produced using at least one of a bar code or a radio frequency identification (RFID) associated with the stock associated with the first transfer order.

29. The method of claim 26, wherein detecting the association between the second transfer order and the second processing unit comprises receiving a second handling signal including a second stock identifier associated with the second transfer order, the second handling signal indicating at least that the second processing unit is processing the stock associated with the second transfer order.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein the second handling signal is produced using at least one of a bar code or a radio frequency identification (RFID) associated with the stock associated with the second transfer order.

31. The method of claim 25, further comprising monitoring the performance of transfer orders handled by respective processing units.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein monitoring the performance includes monitoring the transfer of stock associated with a respective transfer order by a respective processing unit from a first area to a second area.

33. The method of claim 31, further comprising reallocating at least one of the first processing unit and the second processing unit based upon the monitored performance, wherein the monitored performance indicates a volume of transfer orders already processed by the respective processing units relative to volume of transfer orders linked to the initial work order.

34. The method of claim 25, wherein at least one of the first processing unit and the second processing unit is controlled by a storage facility operator.

35. The method of claim 25, wherein at least one of the first processing unit and the second processing unit comprises a motorized vehicle, a non-motorized vehicle, a truck, a fork lift, a fork truck, a pallet jack, a dolly, and a hand truck.

36. The method of claim 25, wherein stock associated with the first transfer order and stock associated with the second transfer order are configured in a random placement in a first area.

37. A system for processing stock, the system comprising:

a memory storage for maintaining a database; and

a processing unit coupled to the memory storage, wherein the processing unit is operative to;

identify at least a first transfer order, a second transfer order, a first processing unit order, and a second processing unit order;

create an initial work order based at least on the first transfer order and the second transfer order;

detect the handling of the first transfer order by a first processing unit and the handling of the second transfer order by a second processing unit; and

associate the first transfer order and the second transfer order with the first processing unit order and the second processing unit order, respectively.

38. The system of claim 37, wherein the processing unit operative to associate the first transfer order and the second transfer order with the first processing unit order and the second processing unit order respectively, is further operative to:

detect an association between the first transfer order and a first processing unit when stock associated with the first transfer order is processed by the first processing unit;

link the first transfer order with the first processing unit order when the association between the first transfer order and the first processing unit is detected;

remove a first link between the first transfer order and the initial work order when the association between the first transfer order and the first processing unit is detected;

detect an association between the second transfer order and a second processing unit when stock associated with the second transfer order is processed by the second processing unit;

link the second transfer order with the second processing unit order when the association between the second transfer order and the second processing unit is detected; and

remove a second link between the second transfer order and the initial work order when the association between the second transfer order and the second processing unit is detected.

39. The system of claim 38, wherein the processing unit is further operative to receive a first handling signal including a first stock identifier associated with the first transfer order, the first handling signal indicating at least that the first processing unit is processing the stock associated with the first transfer order.

40. The system of claim 39, wherein the first handling signal is produced using at least one of a bar code or a radio frequency identification (RFID) associated with the stock associated with the first transfer order.

41. The system of claim 38, wherein the processing unit is further operative to receive a second handling signal including a second stock identifier associated with the second transfer order, the second handling signal indicating at least that the second processing unit is processing the stock associated with the second transfer order.

42. The system of claim 41, wherein the second handling signal is produced using at least one of a bar code or a radio frequency identification (RFID) associated with the stock associated with the second transfer order.

43. The system of claim 37, wherein the processing unit is further operative to monitor the performance of transfer orders handled by respective processing units.

44. The system of claim 43, wherein the processing unit is further operative to monitor the transfer of stock associated with a respective transfer order by a respective processing unit from a first area to a second area.

45. The system of claim 43, wherein the processing unit is further operative to reallocate at least one of the first processing unit and the second processing unit based upon the monitored performance, wherein the monitored performance indicates a volume of transfer orders already processed by the respective processing units relative to volume of transfer orders linked to the initial work order.

46. The system of claim 37, wherein at least one of the first processing unit and the second processing unit is controlled by a storage facility operator.

47. The system of claim 37, wherein at least one of the first processing unit and the second processing unit comprises a motorized vehicle, a non-motorized vehicle, a truck, a fork lift, a fork truck, a pallet jack, a dolly, and a hand truck.

48. The system of claim 37, wherein stock associated with the first transfer order and stock associated with the second transfer order are configured in a random placement in a first area.

49. A computer-readable medium comprising instructions which when executed perform a method for processing stock, the method comprising:

identifying at least a first transfer order, a second transfer order, a first processing unit order, and a second processing unit order;

creating an initial work order based at least on the first transfer order and the second transfer order;

detecting the handling of the first transfer order by a first processing unit and the handling of the second transfer order by a second processing unit; and

associating the first transfer order and the second transfer order with the first processing unit order and the second processing unit order, respectively.

50. The computer-readable medium of claim 49, wherein associating the first transfer order and the second transfer order with the first processing unit order and the second processing unit order respectively, further comprises:

detecting an association between the first transfer order and a first processing unit when stock associated with the first transfer order is processed by the first processing unit;

linking the first transfer order with the first processing unit order when the association between the first transfer order and the first processing unit is detected;

removing a first link between the first transfer order and the initial work order when the association between the first transfer order and the first processing unit is detected;

detecting an association between the second transfer order and a second processing unit when stock associated with the second transfer order is processed by the second processing unit;

linking the second transfer order with the second processing unit order when the association between the second transfer order and the second processing unit is detected; and

removing a second link between the second transfer order and the initial work order when the association between the second transfer order and the second processing unit is detected.

51. The computer-readable medium of claim 50, wherein detecting the association between the first transfer order and the first processing unit comprises receiving a first handling signal including a first stock identifier associated with the first transfer order, the first handling signal indicating at least that the first processing unit is processing the stock associated with the first transfer order.

52. The computer-readable medium of claim 51, wherein the first handling signal is produced using at least one of a bar code or a radio frequency identification (RFID) associated with the stock associated with the first transfer order.

53. The computer-readable medium of claim 50, wherein detecting the association between the second transfer order and the second processing unit comprises receiving a second handling signal including a second stock identifier associated with the second transfer order, the second handling signal indicating at least that the second processing unit is processing the stock associated with the second transfer order.

54. The computer-readable medium of claim 53, wherein the second handling signal is produced using at least one of a bar code or a radio frequency identification (RFID) associated with the stock associated with the second transfer order.

55. The computer-readable medium of claim 49, further comprising monitoring the performance of transfer orders handled by respective processing units.

56. The computer-readable medium of claim 55, wherein monitoring the performance includes monitoring the transfer of stock associated with a respective transfer order by a respective processing unit from a first area to a second area.

57. The computer-readable medium of claim 55, further comprising reallocating at least one of the first processing unit and the second processing unit based upon the monitored performance, wherein the monitored performance indicates a volume of transfer orders already processed by the respective processing units relative to volume of transfer orders linked to the initial work order.

58. The computer-readable medium of claim 49, wherein at least one of the first processing unit and the second processing unit is controlled by a storage facility operator.

59. The computer-readable medium of claim 49, wherein at least one of the first processing unit and the second processing unit comprises a motorized vehicle, a non-motorized vehicle, a truck, a fork lift, a fork truck, a pallet jack, a dolly, and a hand truck.

60. The computer-readable medium of claim 49, wherein stock associated with the first transfer order and stock associated with the second transfer order are configured in a random placement in a first area.