Inventory management and recommendation tool

• US 20080082427A1
• Filed: 09/29/2006
• Published: 04/03/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Inventors: Ioerger, Cori Lynn, Gandhi, Dipen Arvind, Howard, Barbara Ellen, Wagner, James Edward, Nicholson, Simon, Morford, Raymond Scott, Sturch, Kimberly Gail
• Application Number:
  US11/529,474
• Publication Number:
  US 20080082427A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/28
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders

Abstract

A computer system for an inventory management and recommendation tool is provided. The computer system has a platform, at least one input device, and a central processing unit in communication with the platform and the at least one input device. The central processing unit is configured to obtain a list of parts and select a product configuration for performing inventory analysis. The central processing unit is also configured to obtain part attributes for the parts included in the selected product configuration and filter the part attributes. Furthermore, the central processing unit is configured to generate an inventory recommendation based on the filtered part attributes for the selected product configuration.

Claims

1. A computer-readable medium, tangibly embodied, including an inventory management tool, the computer-readable medium comprising instructions for:

obtaining a list of parts;

selecting a product configuration for performing inventory analysis;

obtaining part attributes for the parts included in the selected product configuration;

filtering the part attributes; and

generating an inventory report based on the filtered part attributes for the selected product configuration.

2. The computer-readable medium of claim 1, further including instructions for:

creating one or more custom formulas using a plurality of the part attributes; and

displaying the results of the custom formula in the inventory report.

3. The computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein one of the part attributes indicates whether a part must be maintained in inventory.

4. The computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the inventory report compares the number of part attributes common to the selected product configuration and another product configuration.

5. The computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the inventory report is a suggested hourly consumption report that displays parts needed during a maintenance interval of the selected product configuration.

6. The computer-readable medium of claim 5, further including instructions for modifying the maintenance interval by changing at least one of time interval or a mileage interval.

7. The computer-readable medium of claim 5, further including instructions for generating the suggested hourly consumption report for a plurality of products.

8. A method for providing an inventory management tool, comprising:

obtaining a list of parts;

selecting a product configuration for performing inventory analysis;

obtaining part attributes for the parts included in the selected product configuration;

filtering the part attributes; and

generating an inventory recommendation based on the filtered part attributes for the selected product configuration.

9. The method of claim 8, further including:

creating one or more custom formulas using a plurality of the part attributes; and

displaying the results of the custom formula in the inventory report.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein one of the part attributes indicates whether a part must be maintained in inventory.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the inventory report compares the number of part attributes common to the selected product configuration and another product configuration.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein the inventory report is a suggested hourly consumption report that displays parts needed during a maintenance interval of the selected product configuration.

13. The method of claim 12, further including modifying the maintenance interval by changing at least one of a time interval or a mileage interval.

14. The method of claim 12, further including generating the suggested hourly consumption report for a plurality of products.

15. A computer system, comprising:

a platform;

at least one input device; and

a central processing unit in communication with the platform and the at least one input device, the central processing unit configured to;

obtain a list of parts;

select a product configuration for performing inventory analysis;

obtain part attributes for the parts included in the selected product configuration;

filter the part attributes; and

generate an inventory recommendation based on the filtered part attributes for the selected product configuration.

16. The computer system of claim 15, wherein the central processing unit is further configured to:

create one or more custom formulas using a plurality of the part attributes; and

display the results of the custom formula in the inventory report.

17. The computer system of claim 15, wherein one of the part attributes indicates whether a part must be maintained in inventory.

18. The computer system of claim 15, wherein the inventory report compares the number of part attributes common to the selected product configuration and another product configuration.

19. The computer system of claim 15, wherein the inventory report is a suggested hourly consumption report that displays parts needed during a maintenance interval of the selected product configuration.

20. The computer system of claim 19, wherein the central processing unit is further configured to:

modify the maintenance interval by changing either a time interval or a mileage interval; and

generate the suggested hourly consumption report for a plurality of products.