Stock flow management system and method

• US 20070156536A1
• Filed: 12/30/2005
• Published: 07/05/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SAP SE
• Original Assignee: SAP AG (SAP SE)
• Inventors: Harel, Orit, Holzman, Ziv, Alfandary, Shai, Diga, Michal, Libfeld, Zahi, Hadari, Malkiel
• Granted Patent: US 8,417,591 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

A computer program product tangibly embodied in an information carrier includes instructions that, when executed, perform operations that modify stock levels of a storage location in a logistic environment system. The operations include receiving information indicating a stock level change at storage location database objects that each represent a storage location for stock in a logistic environment. A storage location database object has associated with it a rule, a stock amount value specifying an amount of stock for the storage location, and a threshold that indicates a stock level to be maintained for the storage location. The operations also include determining, using the rule, if the stock level change would cause the stock amount value to cross the threshold, and if so, generating a request to modify the amount of stock at the storage location so that the stock amount value does not cross the threshold.

Claims

1. A computer program product tangibly embodied in an information carrier, the computer program product including instructions that, when executed, perform operations that modify stock levels of a storage location in a logistic environment system, the operations comprising:

receiving information indicating a stock level change at storage location database objects that each represent a storage location for stock in a logistic environment, wherein a storage location database object has associated with it a rule, a stock amount value specifying an amount of stock for the storage location, and a threshold that indicates a stock level to be maintained for the storage location;

determining, using the rule, if the stock level change would cause the stock amount value to cross the threshold; and

if so

generating a request to modify the amount of stock at the storage location so that the stock amount value does not cross the threshold.

2. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein the rule is associated with multiple storage location database objects.

3. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein the storage location represented by the storage location database object is one of multiple levels of a hierarchy of storage locations.

4. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein the stock level change is based on expected stock level changes or current stock level changes.

5. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein the operations further comprise determining if the stock level change would cause the stock amount value to cross a second threshold, wherein the second threshold is associated with the storage location database object and indicates a second stock level to be maintained for the storage location.

6. The computer program product of claim 5, wherein the operations further comprise generating a second request to remove or add stock to the storage location so that the stock amount value does not cross the second threshold.

7. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein the operations further comprise assigning to the request a priority that indicates a status of urgency to complete the request relative to other requests.

8. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein the stock level indicated by the threshold is a replenishment level that indicates a stock level at which the storage location should receive more stock.

9. The computer program product of claim 8, wherein the operations further comprise associating with the generated request a stock identifier that specifies the stock to be received at the storage location.

10. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein the stock level indicated by the threshold is a cleanup level that indicates a stock level at which stock should be removed from the storage location.

11. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein the storage location database object represents a storage location that is a resource that manipulates stock.

12. The computer program product of claim 11, wherein the resource is a vehicle for moving the stock.

13. The computer program product of claim 11, wherein the resource is a human worker for moving the stock.

14. The computer program product of claim 11, wherein the resource is production machinery that executes operations on stock.

15. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein the storage location database object represents a storage location that is a container for holding stock.

16. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein the threshold is based on constraints decomposed from a global maximizing function that takes into account the requirements of multiple storage locations in the logistic environment.

17. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein the information indicating the stock level change is selected from a group consisting of an incoming stock request, an outgoing stock request, a user-initiated replenishment request, a user-initiated clean-up request, a timer event indicating a predetermined amount of time has past, and a request to run a report.

18. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein the operations further comprising receiving a user assigned value for the threshold.

19. A logistic environment system for maintaining stock levels by an object representing a storage location, comprising:

a storage location database object that represents a storage location for stock in a logistic environment, wherein the storage location database object is adapted to receive information indicating a stock level change;

a stock amount value associated with the storage location database object, wherein the stock amount value specifies an amount of stock for the storage location;

a threshold associated with the storage location database object, wherein the threshold indicates a stock level to be maintained for the storage location; and

a set of rules associated with the storage location database object that determine if the stock level change would cause the stock amount value to cross the threshold and that initiate a request to remove or add stock to the storage location so that the stock amount value does not cross the threshold.

20. A method for modifying stock levels of a storage location in a logistic environment system, comprising:

receiving information indicating a stock level change at storage location database objects that each represent a storage location for stock in a logistic environment, wherein a storage location database object has associated with it a rule, a stock amount value specifying an amount of stock for the storage location, and a threshold that indicates a stock level to be maintained for the storage location;

determining, using the rule, if the stock level change would cause the stock amount value to cross the threshold; and

if so

generating a request to modify the amount of stock at the storage location so that the stock amount value does not cross the threshold.

21. A computer program product tangibly embodied in an information carrier, the computer program product including instructions that, when executed, perform operations that manage a removal of stock from a storage location in a logistic environment, the operations comprising:

receiving a trigger event at an electronic storage control object that represents storage attributes for a location that stores stock in a logistic environment, wherein the electronic storage control object accesses a threshold for an attribute value of the stock for the location;

comparing, in response to the received trigger event, a current attribute value of the stock with the threshold; and

transmitting a request to remove at least a portion of the stock from the location if the current attribute value crosses the threshold.

22. The computer program product of claim 21, wherein the location includes a resource used to manipulate the stock.

23. The computer program product of claim 22, wherein the resource is selected from a group consisting of a vehicle for stock transportation, production machinery for stock modification, and packing machinery for stock packaging.

24. The computer program product of claim 21, wherein the request controls a flow of stock in a production process that receives, manipulates, or outputs stock.

25. The computer program product of claim 21, wherein the request controls a flow of stock between storage locations.

26. The computer program product of claim 21, wherein the operations further comprise comparing the current attribute value to a second threshold for an attribute value of the stock at the location.

27. The computer program product of claim 26, wherein the operations further comprise transmitting the request to remove stock if the current attribute value crosses the second threshold.

28. The computer program product of claim 21, wherein the threshold comprises a current system date and the current attribute value of the stock comprises an expiration date of the stock for the location.

29. The computer program product of claim 21, wherein the threshold comprises a quantity of stock and the current attribute value of the stock comprises a current quantity of stock for the location.

30. The computer program product of claim 29, wherein the operations further comprise determining the current quantity of stock using an expected, an instant, an incoming, or an outgoing amount of stock at the location.

31. The computer program product of claim 30, wherein the operations further comprise varying the determination of the current quantity of stock based on user input, a date the determination is performed, or a time the determination is performed.

32. The computer program product of claim 21, wherein the operations further comprise specifying an amount of stock to remove from the location, wherein the amount to remove is based on a value selected from a group consisting of a predefined capacity amount indicating how much the location can hold, a predefined optimum amount indicating a preferred amount for the location to hold, a user-defined amount, or an amount specified by information included in the triggering event.

33. The computer program product of claim 21, wherein the operations further comprise assigning to the request a priority that indicates a status of urgency to complete the request relative to other requests.

34. The computer program of claim 21, wherein the operations further comprise combining an additional value not related to the stock with the threshold of the stock when making the comparison with the current stock attribute.

35. The computer program of claim 34, wherein the additional value is the current date.

36. The computer program of claim 21, wherein the operations further comprise varying the threshold based on a time or date.

37. The computer program of claim 21, wherein the trigger event includes information selected from a group consisting of a request to place stock at the location, a request to retrieve stock stored at the location, and an expiration inquiry.

38. The computer program product of claim 21, wherein the location that stores stock is one of multiple levels of a hierarchy of locations.

39. A logistic environment system for initiating stock removal from a location comprising:

an electronic storage control object that represents storage attributes for a storage location for stock in a logistic environment, wherein the electronic storage control object is adapted to receive a trigger event;

a threshold for an attribute value of the stock at the location, wherein the threshold is accessible by the electronic storage control object; and

a set of rules that compare a current attribute value of the stock with the threshold in response to the received trigger event and that transmit a request to remove at least a portion of the stock from the location if the current attribute value crosses the threshold.

40. A method for managing the removal of stock in a logistic environment system, comprising:

receiving a trigger event at an electronic storage control object that represents storage attributes for a location that stores stock in a logistic environment, wherein the electronic storage control object accesses a threshold for an attribute value of the stock for the location;

comparing, in response to the received trigger event, a current attribute value of the stock with the threshold; and

transmitting a request to remove at least a portion of the stock from the location if the current attribute value crosses the threshold.