Quantity checking of product purchase orders

• US 20070226067A1
• Filed: 03/23/2006
• Published: 09/27/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/23/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SAP SE
• Original Assignee: SAP AG (SAP SE)
• Inventors: Semmler, Martin, Juettner, Horst, Fuchs, Carsten
• Granted Patent: US 7,424,448 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/26
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0637 Strategic management or analysis, e.g. setting a goal or target of an organisation; Planning actions based on goals; Analysis or evaluation of effectiveness of goals
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/20 Administration of product repair or maintenance
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0633 Lists, e.g. purchase orders, compilation or processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0635 Processing of requisition or of purchase orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0641 Shopping interfaces

Abstract

A computer-implemented method for processing spare parts purchase orders includes receiving, during a manufacturing planning phase, an estimate of the number of the spare parts that will be needed to be produced during a given period to satisfy expected purchase orders for the spare part. The method also includes receiving a user-defined configurable reasonable quantity rule to be used during processing of electronic purchase order information. The method further includes, upon receipt of an electronic purchase order, determining whether a quantity value included in the electronic purchase order is reasonable using the defined reasonable quantity check rule, and if determined unreasonable, generating an indication that the quantity value was determined to be unreasonable.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for processing spare parts purchase orders, the method comprising:

receiving, during a manufacturing planning phase, an estimate of the number of the spare parts that will be needed to be produced during a given period to satisfy expected purchase orders for the spare part;

receiving a user-defined configurable reasonable quantity rule to be used during processing of electronic purchase order information;

upon receipt of an electronic purchase order, determining whether a quantity value included in the electronic purchase order is reasonable using the defined reasonable quantity check rule, and if determined unreasonable, generating an indication that the quantity value was determined to be unreasonable.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the purchase orders are for automobile spare parts and include electronic data entered by agents of automobile dealers.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 2, wherein the reasonable quantity rule is dependent on a particular automobile dealer.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the estimate is made during a part manufacturing cost process.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 4, wherein the estimate includes estimates provided by individual dealers.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the reasonable quantity rule is a percentage value.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 6, wherein the reasonable quantity rule includes a first percentage value that gives warning and a second percentage value that gives an error message.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 7, wherein the method further comprises performing a required confirmation process that the quantity is correct if the quantity of the received purchase order is determined unreasonable based on a comparison with the first percentage value.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 7, wherein the method further comprises forwarding a warning indicator but not performing a required confirmation process that the quantity is correct if the quantity of the received purchase order is determined potentially unreasonable based on a comparison with the second percentage value.

10. A computer program product comprising executable instructions that when executed perform operations comprising:

receiving, during a manufacturing planning phase, an estimate of the number of the spare parts that will be needed to be produced during a given period to satisfy expected purchase orders for the spare part;

receiving a user-defined configurable reasonable quantity rule to be used during processing of electronic purchase order information; and

upon receipt of an electronic purchase order, determining whether a quantity value included in the electronic purchase order is reasonable using the defined reasonable quantity check rule, and if determined unreasonable, generating an indication that the quantity value was determined to be unreasonable.

11. The computer program product of claim 10, wherein the purchase orders are for automobile spare parts and include electronic data entered by agents of automobile dealers.

12. The computer program product of claim 11, wherein the reasonable quantity rule is dependent on a particular automobile dealer.

13. The computer program product of claim 10, wherein the estimate is made during a part manufacturing cost process.

14. The computer program product of claim 13, wherein the estimate includes estimates provided by individual dealers.

15. The computer program product of claim 10, wherein the reasonable quantity rule is a percentage value.

16. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein the reasonable quantity rule includes a first percentage value that gives warning and a second percentage value that gives an error message.

17. The computer program product of claim 16, wherein the method further comprises performing a required confirmation process that the quantity is correct if the quantity of the received purchase order is determined unreasonable based on a comparison with the first percentage value.

18. The computer program product of claim 16, wherein the method further comprises forwarding a warning indicator but not performing a required confirmation process that the quantity is correct if the quantity of the received purchase order is determined potentially unreasonable based on a comparison with the second percentage value.