Tracking and management of logistical processes

• US 20080162204A1
• Filed: 12/28/2006
• Published: 07/03/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Inventors: Kaiser, John J., Thach, Keith E.
• Application Number:
  US11/646,365
• Publication Number:
  US 20080162204A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/7
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0639 Performance analysis of employees; Performance analysis of enterprise or organisation operations
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06395 Quality analysis or management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management

Abstract

A method is provided for managing a plurality of processes associated with a supply chain network. The method may include accumulating performance data relating to each of the plurality of processes and comparing the accumulated performance data against a predetermined threshold value. The method may also include assigning a performance indicator to the plurality of processes based on the comparison between the accumulated performance data and the predetermined threshold value. The method may further include displaying a first detail level of data relating to the accumulated performance data, and displaying a second detail level of data relating to the accumulated performance data, the second detail level being different from the first detail level.

Claims

1. A method for managing a plurality of processes associated with a supply chain network, the method comprising:

accumulating performance data relating to each of the plurality of processes;

comparing the accumulated performance data against a predetermined threshold value;

assigning a performance indicator to the plurality of processes based on the comparison between the accumulated performance data and the predetermined threshold value;

displaying a first detail level of data relating to the accumulated performance data; and

displaying a second detail level of data relating to the accumulated performance data, the second detail level being different from the first detail level.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first detail level of data allows a user to evaluate the aggregated performance of the supply chain network.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises:

determining whether the performance of each of the plurality of processes exceeds, meets, or fails to meet the predetermined threshold value.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein accumulating performance data includes accumulating current performance data.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein displaying the first detail level of data relating to the accumulated performance data includes grouping together processes and displaying an associated performance indicator for those processes.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the processes are grouped together by client.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the processes are grouped together by process type.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein displaying the second detail level of data includes grouping together processes performed at a particular facility for the client and displaying an associated performance indicator for those processes.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein displaying the second detail level of data relating to the accumulated performance data includes grouping together processes of the process type that are performed at a particular facility and displaying an associated performance indicator for those processes.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein accumulating performance data relating to each of the plurality of processes comprises:

assigning at least one performance metric to the plurality of processes; and

tracking the current performance of each of the plurality of processes with the assigned at least one performance metric.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the at least one performance metric includes one of time, cost, velocity, quantity, quality, and capacity.

12. The method of claim 5, wherein displaying the first detail level of data relating to the accumulated performance data includes representing a group of processes as an icon on a flowchart and displaying an associated performance indicator proximate the icon for the group.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises:

displaying a third detail level of data relating to the accumulated performance data, the third detail level displaying details of selected data displayed in the second detail level.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the method further comprises:

displaying a fourth detail level of data relating to the accumulated performance data, the fourth detail level displaying details of selected data displayed in the third detail level.

15. A computer readable medium containing programming instructions for evaluating the performance of a plurality of processes, the programming instructions comprising:

accumulating performance data relating to each of the plurality of processes;

comparing the accumulated performance data against a predetermined threshold value;

assigning a performance indicator to the plurality of processes based on the comparison between the accumulated performance data and the predetermined threshold value;

displaying a first detail level of data relating to the accumulated performance data; and

displaying a second detail level of data relating to the accumulated performance data, the second detail level being different from the first detail level.

16. The medium with the programming instructions of claim 15, wherein the programming instructions further comprise:

determining whether the performance of each of the plurality of processes exceeds, meets, or fails to meet the predetermined threshold value.

17. The medium with the programming instructions of claim 15, wherein displaying the first detail level of data relating to the accumulated performance data includes grouping together processes and displaying an associated performance indicator for those processes.

18. The medium with the programming instructions of claim 17, wherein the processes are grouped together by one of process type and client.

20. The medium with programming instructions of claim 15, wherein displaying the first detail level of data relating to the accumulated performance data includes representing a group of processes as an icon on a flowchart and displaying an associated performance indicator proximate the icon for the group.

19. The medium with the programming instructions of 18, wherein displaying the second detail level of data includes further grouping together processes by facility and displaying an associated performance indicator for those processes.