System and method for analyzing service loss within a rotable supply chain

• US 20070299748A1
• Filed: 12/21/2006
• Published: 12/27/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/26/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Inventors: Shorter, Bret Allen, Osborne, Cassandra Lea, Ahlers, Amy Michelle, Aspinall, Jennifer Katherine, Kopinski, Christopher Paul, Graves, Andrew James
• Application Number:
  US11/642,534
• Publication Number:
  US 20070299748A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/28
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders

Abstract

A method for analyzing service loss in a rotable supply chain includes receiving, in an inventory management system, an exchange sales order associated with a rotable part. The method also includes establishing a scheduled ship date associated with the exchange sales order. One or more supply chain events associated with an item on an exchange sales order are created, wherein the one or more supply chain events are indicative of the status of the item on an exchange sales order. A cause of service loss associated with the exchange sales order is determined based on the one or more supply chain events if the exchange sales order is not fully shipped by the scheduled ship date. A report is generated summarizing the cause of service loss associated with the exchange sales order.

Claims

1. A method for analyzing service loss in a rotable supply chain comprising:

receiving an exchange sales order associated with a rotable part;

establishing a scheduled ship date associated with the exchange sales order;

creating one or more supply chain events associated with an item on the exchange sales order, wherein the one or more supply chain events are indicative of the status of the item on the exchange sales order;

determining a cause of service loss associated with the exchange sales order based on the supply chain events or predefined rules associated with item on the exchange sales order if the exchange sales order is not fully shipped by the scheduled ship date; and

generating reports summarizing the cause of service loss associated with the exchange sales order.

2. The method of claim 1, further including determining a customer service level based on a total number of exchange sales orders received during the order period and a total number of exchange sales orders fully shipped by the scheduled ship date during the order period.

3. The method of claim 1, further including adjusting an operational aspect associated with a rotable supply chain based on the cause of service loss.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the cause of service loss includes analyzing the one or more supply chain events according to a predetermined hierarchy of events.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the predetermined hierarchy of events is user-configurable.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein generating the report includes generating the report in real-time or at a predetermined interval.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the report includes recommendations for mitigating the cause of service loss associated with the exchange sales order.

8. A computer-readable medium for use on a computer system, the computer-readable medium including computer-executable instructions for performing the method of claim 1.

9. A method for analyzing service loss in a rotable supply chain comprising:

receiving an exchange sales order associated with a rotable part;

establishing a scheduled ship date associated with the exchange sales order;

creating one or more supply chain events associated with an item on an exchange sales order, wherein the one or more supply chain events are indicative of the status of the item on an exchange sales order;

determining a cause of service loss associated with the exchange sales order based on the one or more supply chain events if the exchange sales order is not fully shipped by the scheduled ship date; and

adjusting an operational aspect associated with a rotable supply chain based on the cause of service loss.

10. The method of claim 9, further including determining a customer service level based on a total number of exchange sales orders received during the order period and a total number of exchange sales orders fully shipped by the scheduled ship date during the order period.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein determining the cause of service loss includes analyzing the one or more supply chain events according to a predetermined hierarchy of events.

12. The method of claim 9, further including providing a service loss report summarizing the cause of service loss associated with the exchange sales order.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein providing the service loss report includes generating the report in real-time or at a predetermined interval.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the report includes recommendations for mitigating the cause of service loss associated with the exchange sales order.

15. A computer-readable medium for use on a computer system, the computer-readable medium including computer-executable instructions for performing the method of claim 9.

16. A system for analyzing service loss in a rotable supply chain comprising:

a processor;

an input device communicatively coupled to the processor and configured to receive data associated with inventory management for a supply chain; and

an output device communicatively coupled to the processor and configured to output data from the processor;

wherein the processor is configured to;

receive an exchange sales order associated with a rotable part;

establish a scheduled ship date associated with the exchange sales order;

create one or more supply chain events associated with an item on an exchange sales order, wherein the one or more supply chain events are indicative of the status of the item on an exchange sales order;

determine a cause of service loss associated with the exchange sales order based on the one or more supply chain events if the exchange sales order is not fully shipped by the scheduled ship date; and

generate a report summarizing the cause of service loss associated with the exchange sales order.

17. The system of claim 16, further including determining a customer service level based on a total number of exchange sales orders received during the order period and a total number of exchange sales orders fully shipped by the scheduled ship date during the order period.

18. The system of claim 16, further including adjusting an operational aspect associated with a rotable supply chain based on the cause of service loss.

19. The system of claim 16, wherein determining the cause of service loss includes analyzing the one or more supply chain events according to a predetermined hierarchy of events.

20. The system of claim 16, wherein the report includes recommendations for mitigating the cause of service loss associated with the exchange sales order.