METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PRODUCT MEASUREMENT VALIDATION

• US 20080033782A1
• Filed: 08/01/2006
• Published: 02/07/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/01/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Doyle, Robin J., Doyle, Timothy C.
• Application Number:
  US11/461,550
• Publication Number:
  US 20080033782A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/10
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/00 Administration; Management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0201 Market modelling; Market analysis; Collecting market data

Abstract

A method and system for product measurement validation is provided. The method includes receiving a product sales file from a number of retail entities, the product sales file including records of universal product code (UPC) data and measured values of products. The method also includes grouping the records in each of the product sales files by product and supplier identifiers and determining a consistency value for each product. The consistency value is determined by comparing the measured value of the product to a validation value assigned to the product via the UPC, the validation value representing a target measurement for the product. The consistency value is further determined by graphing measurement values and identifying any deviance resulting from the comparing and analyzing results of the graphing by product identifier and supplier identifier to determine whether the measured values of a product provided by a supplier are consistent with the validation value.

Claims

1. A method for product measurement validation, comprising:

receiving a product sales file from each of a number of retail entities, the product sales file including records of universal product code (UPC) data and measured values of products purchased over a specified period of time, each of the records corresponding to a product purchased;

grouping the records in each of the product sales files by product identifier and supplier identifier provided in the corresponding UPCs;

determining a consistency value for each product by product identifier, comprising;

comparing the measured value of the product to a validation value assigned to the product via the UPC, the validation value representing a target measurement for the product;

graphing measurement values and identifying any deviance resulting from the comparing;

analyzing results of the graphing by product identifier and supplier identifier to determine whether the measured values of a product provided by a supplier are consistent with the validation value; and

generating and distributing a report to suppliers reflecting results of the graphing and analyzing.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the UPC data for each of the products further includes a description and a cost per unit of measure.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the measured values represent at least one of a weight and a height of the product.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the weight is obtained via a scale and the UPC data is obtained by a reader, the weight and the UPC data transmitted to a processor in communication with the scale and the reader at a self-checkout system.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the consistency value reflects one of:

in-line, indicating that, for a supplier, measured values of products scanned are consistent with the validation value for the product identifier;

over, indicating that, for a supplier, measured values of products scanned are on average, over the validation value for the product identifier;

under, indicating that, for a supplier, measured values of products scanned are on average, under the validation value for the product identifier; and

over and under, indicating that, for a supplier, measured values of products scanned are on average, equally over and under the validation value for the product identifier.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the report directs the supplier to take action, the action based upon the consistency value, and including at least one of:

no action where the consistency value reflects the supplier is in-line; and

adhere to the validation value with respect to future product deliveries where the consistency value reflects the supplier is one of over, under, and over and under.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the validation value is a weight range for a product that is agreed upon by a retailer of the product and the supplier.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the product is produce.

9. A system for product measurement validation, comprising:

a host system; and

a validation application executing on the host system, the validation application implementing a method, comprising;

receiving a product sales file from each of a number of retail entities, the product sales file including records of universal product code (UPC) data and measured values of products purchased over a specified period of time, each of the records corresponding to a product purchased;

grouping the records in each of the product sales files by product identifier and supplier identifier provided in the corresponding UPCs;

determining a consistency value for each product by product identifier, comprising;

comparing the measured value of the product to a validation value assigned to the product via the UPC, the validation value representing a target measurement for the product;

graphing measurement values and identifying any deviance resulting from the comparing;

analyzing results of the graphing by product identifier and supplier identifier to determine whether the measured values of a product provided by a supplier are consistent with the validation value; and

generating and distributing a report to suppliers reflecting results of the graphing and analyzing.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the UPC data for each of the products further includes a description and a cost per unit of measure.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the measured values represent at least one of a weight and a height of the product.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the weight is obtained via a scale and the UPC data is obtained by a reader, the weight and the UPC data transmitted to a processor in communication with the scale and the reader at a self-checkout system.

13. The system of claim 9, wherein the consistency value reflects one of:

in-line, indicating that, for a supplier, measured values of products scanned are consistent with the validation value for the product identifier;

over, indicating that, for a supplier, measured values of products scanned are on average, over the validation value for the product identifier;

under, indicating that, for a supplier, measured values of products scanned are on average, under the validation value for the product identifier; and

over and under, indicating that, for a supplier, measured values of products scanned are on average, equally over and under the validation value for the product identifier.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the report directs the supplier to take action, the action based upon the consistency value, and including at least one of:

no action where the consistency value reflects the supplier is in-line; and

adhere to the validation value with respect to future product deliveries where the consistency value reflects the supplier is one of over, under, and over and under.

15. The system of claim 9, wherein the validation value is a weight range for a product that is agreed upon by a retailer of the product and the supplier.

16. The system of claim 9, wherein the product is produce.