Systems and methods for automatically resolving bin errors

• US 20080082429A1
• 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: Stein, Andrew C., Duncan, Tammi L.
• Application Number:
  US11/529,485
• Publication Number:
  US 20080082429A1
• 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

Systems and methods are provided for automatically resolving bin errors. In one implementation, a system is provided that includes a difference analyzer that stores a record of a discrepancy involving stock. The system also includes an inventory server comprising a database of inventory records. The inventory server identifies a negative bin quantity or a no bin situation due to the discrepancy. When the inventory server identifies a negative bin quantity situation, the inventory server determines whether the negative bin quantity falls within a tolerance value. When the inventory server identifies a no bin situation, the inventory server determines whether a bin exists for a product number and a country of origin associated with the stock identified in the discrepancy.

Claims

1. A system for automatically resolving bin errors, the system comprising:

a difference analyzer that stores a record of a discrepancy involving stock; and

an inventory server comprising a database of inventory records, wherein the inventory server identifies a negative bin quantity or a no bin situation due to the discrepancy, and

when the inventory server identifies a negative bin quantity situation, the inventory server determines whether the negative bin quantity falls within a tolerance value, and

when the inventory server identifies a no bin situation, the inventory server determines whether a bin exists for a product number and a country of origin associated with the stock identified in the discrepancy.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein when the negative bin quantity falls within the tolerance value, the inventory server automatically posts the negative bin quantity to a financial department, and when the negative bin quantity does not fall within the tolerance value, the inventory server automatically transmits an inventory count document to a clerk.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein when the inventory server determines that a bin does not exist for the product number and country of origin, the inventory server determines whether a quantity of the stock identified in the claim falls within a tolerance value.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein if the quantity of the stock falls within the tolerance value, the inventory server automatically posts the quantity to a financial department.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein if the quantity of the stock does not fall within the tolerance value, the inventory server determines whether a bin exists for the product number matching the stock identified in the discrepancy.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein if a bin exists, the inventory server transmits an inventory count document to a clerk, and if a bin does not exist, the inventory server transmits a report to prompt an investigation.

7. A method for automatically resolving bin errors, the method comprising:

receiving a discrepancy involving stock;

storing a record of the discrepancy in a difference analyzer;

identifying a negative bin quantity or a no bin situation due to the discrepancy; and

when a negative bin quantity is identified, determining whether the negative bin quantity falls within a tolerance value, and

when a no bin situation is identified, determining whether a bin exists for a product number and a country of origin matching the stock identified in the discrepancy.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein when the negative bin quantity falls within the tolerance value, the method further comprises:

automatically posting the negative bin quantity to a financial department, and wherein the negative bin quantity does not fall within the tolerance value, the method further comprises;

automatically transmitting an inventory count document to a clerk.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein when a bin does not exist for the product number and country of origin, the method further comprises:

determining whether a quantity of the stock identified in the discrepancy falls within a tolerance value.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein if the quantity of the stock falls within the tolerance value, the method further comprises:

automatically posting the quantity to a financial department.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein if the quantity of the stock does not fall within the tolerance value, the method further comprises:

determining whether a bin exists for the product number matching the stock identified in the discrepancy

12. The method of claim 11, wherein a bin exists, the method further comprises:

transmitting an inventory count document to a clerk, and wherein a bin does not exist, the method further comprises;

transmitting a report prompting an investigation of the discrepancy.

13. A computer-readable medium storing instructions executable by a process for resolving bin errors according to a method, the method comprising:

receiving a discrepancy involving stock;

storing a record of the discrepancy in a difference analyzer;

identifying a negative bin quantity or a no bin situation due to the discrepancy; and

when a negative bin quantity is identified, determining whether the negative bin quantity falls within a tolerance value, and

when a no bin situation is identified, determining whether a bin exists for a product number and a country of origin matching the stock identified in the discrepancy.

14. The computer-readable medium of claim 13, wherein when the negative bin quantity falls within the tolerance value, the method further comprises:

automatically posting the negative bin quantity to a financial department, and wherein the negative bin quantity does not fall within the tolerance value, the method further comprises;

automatically transmitting an inventory count document to a clerk.

15. The computer-readable medium of claim 13, wherein when a bin does not exist for the product number and country of origin, the method further comprises:

determining whether a quantity of the stock identified in the discrepancy falls within a tolerance value.

16. The computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein if the quantity of the stock falls within the tolerance value, the method further comprises:

automatically posting the quantity to a financial department.

17. The computer-readable medium of claim 16, wherein if the quantity of the stock does not fall within the tolerance value, the method further comprises:

determining whether a bin exists for the product number matching the stock identified in the discrepancy

18. The computer-readable medium of claim 17, wherein a bin exists, the method further comprises:

transmitting an inventory count document to a clerk, and wherein a bin does not exist, the method further comprises;

transmitting a report prompting an investigation of the discrepancy.