SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

• US 20080294488A1
• Filed: 05/22/2008
• Published: 11/27/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/25/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hussmann Corporation (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Hussmann Corporation (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Higgins, Michael J., Hostetler, Brian, Gipson, Dennis G., Roche, John, Gupta, Manish G.
• Granted Patent: US 9,218,585 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/7.26
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06316 Sequencing of tasks or work
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06393 Score-carding, benchmarking or key performance indicator [KPI] analysis
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0832 Special goods or special handling procedures, e.g. handling of hazardous or fragile goods
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders

Abstract

A method of transporting commodities in a supply chain management system including a supply chain. The method includes providing a database and a network in communication with the database, which is accessible by at least one member of the supply chain via the network. The method also includes providing a container and supporting one or more commodities using the container, assigning at least one sensor to the commodities, sensing a condition of the commodities and generating a signal indicative of the commodity condition, identifying information related to the commodities, acquiring data related to identifying the commodity information, distributing the signal and the acquired data over the network, storing the signal and the acquired data in the database, monitoring the commodities via the network, and managing at least one of storage and transport of the commodities through the supply chain based on the signal and the acquired data.

Claims

1. A method of transporting commodities in a supply chain management system including a supply chain, the method comprising:

accessible accessing by at least one member of the supply chain a database via a network;

supporting one or more commodities with a transport device;

transporting the transport device through the supply chain;

assigning at least one sensor to the transport device supporting the commodities;

relating the at least one sensor to the commodities;

sensing at least one condition of the commodities using the sensor and generating a signal indicative of the at least one commodity condition;

identifying information related to the commodities supported by the transport device;

acquiring data related to identification of the commodities from the sensor;

distributing the signal indicative of the at least one commodity condition and the acquired data over the network;

communicating the signal and the acquired data to the database;

monitoring the commodities throughout the supply chain via the network; and

managing at least one of storage and transport of the commodities through the supply chain based on the signal and the acquired data communicated to the database.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising relating the sensor to the commodities when the commodities are produced.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising relating the sensor to the commodities when the commodities are prepared for transport through the supply chain.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein identifying the information related to the commodities includes determining at least one of an identity of the commodities, weather conditions during harvest of the commodities, and manufacturing conditions during production of the commodities.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising associating at least one data storage device to a predetermined quantity of commodities;

transmitting the acquired data to the data storage device;

identifying the commodities using the data storage device;

assigning the sensor to the data storage device; and

acquiring data related to the commodities from the sensor via the data storage device.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising linking the sensor to the data storage device;

and

communicating the link between the sensor and the data storage device to the database.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein identifying the commodities using the data storage device includes accessing at least a portion of a history associated with the commodities in the data storage device.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising assigning the sensor to the commodities at any point in the supply chain.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing process controls associated with the commodities;

communicating the process controls to the database;

implementing the process controls via the network; and

managing at least one of storage and transport of the commodities in the supply chain using the process controls.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein managing the commodities includes monitoring at least one of loading and unloading of the commodities within the supply chain.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing a pallet and supporting one or more commodities on the pallet, the pallet configured to be transported through the supply chain.

12. A method of transporting commodities in a supply chain management system including a supply chain, the method comprising:

accessing by one or more members of the supply chain a database via a network;

transporting a commodity through the supply chain;

monitoring characteristics of the supply chain associated with the commodity using at least one sensor;

acquiring data representative of the characteristics of the supply chain from the sensor, the acquired data including at least one of historical data, current data, and expected conditions; and

retrieving from the database over the network via an input device a predicted shelf life of the commodity that is based on data acquired from the sensor.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising retrieving the predicted shelf life that is one of a specific expiration date and a period of time in which the commodity is predicted to remain viable.

14. The method of claim 12, further comprising generating a report including the predicted shelf life;

communicating the report to the database; and

accessing the report via the network.

15. The method of claim 12, further comprising associating a data storage device with the commodity;

and

encoding the predicted shelf life into the data storage device.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising encoding the date on which the predicted shelf life is encoded into the data storage device.

17. The method of claim 12, further comprising

substantially continuously acquiring the data representative of the characteristics of the supply chain from the sensor;

and

updating the shelf life prediction based on the most recent data acquired by the sensor.

18. The method of claim 12, further comprising

providing a scanner in communication with the database via the network for

retrieving the predicted shelf life over the network.

19. A method of transporting commodities in a supply chain management system including a supply chain, the method comprising:

accessing by one or more members of the supply chain a database via a network;

managing the commodities during at least one of storage and transport of the commodities through the supply chain via a transport system including a process control system having process controls;

implementing the process controls of the process control system;

determining criteria associated with at least one of storage and transport of the commodities in the supply chain using the process controls;

maintaining the commodities within predetermined conditions based on the criteria determined by the process controls;

arranging the commodities for transport based on the determined criteria; and

moving the arranged commodities through the supply chain using the transportation system.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising

communicating the criteria determined by the process controls to the database;

and

maintaining the commodities within the predetermined conditions based on the criteria communicated to the database.

21. The method of claim 19, further comprising

determining criteria associated with loading the commodities into a transport vehicle using the process controls;

and

loading the commodities into the transport vehicle based on the determined loading criteria.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising

dynamically monitoring loading of the commodities into a commodity compartment of the transport vehicle using at least one electronic curtain in the commodity compartment.

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising dynamically monitoring the commodities during transport through the supply chain using the electronic curtain.

24. The method of claim 22, further comprising dynamically monitoring unloading of the commodities from the transport vehicle using the electronic curtain.

25. The method of claim 19, further comprising

monitoring at least one condition of commodities that are left unattended in the transportation system for a predetermined time period;

and

generating an alarm in response to the at least one condition representative of a detrimental condition adversely affecting a shelf life of the commodities.

26. The method of claim 19, further comprising

auditing the transportation system with regard to compliance of the transportation system with predetermined operating parameters;

generating audit findings based on the audit of the transportation system;

communicating the audit findings to the database; and

analyzing the audit findings via the network.

27. A method of transporting commodities in a supply chain management system including a supply chain, the method comprising:

accessing by one or more members of the supply chain a database via a network, the database including predetermined conditions associated with one or more commodities to be transported through the supply chain;

assigning at least one sensor to the commodities;

monitoring at least one condition of the commodities using the sensor;

communicating data representative of the at least one commodity condition to the database via the network;

providing a process control system including process controls;

implementing the process controls to determine one or more operating parameters associated with at least one of storage and transport of the commodities in the supply chain;

managing the at least one commodity condition throughout the supply chain based on the data and the predetermined operating parameters;

monitoring assets of the supply chain using the process controls;

managing the assets via the network;

monitoring personnel management in the supply chain using the process controls;

managing the personnel management via the network;

managing the commodities during at least one of storage and transport in the supply chain based on the predetermined operating parameters; and

maintaining the commodities within the predetermined conditions.

28. The method of claim 27, further comprising controlling access to at least one of the commodities, facilities, and information related to the commodities in the supply chain using the process control system.

29. The method of claim 27, further comprising

implementing the process controls to determine operating parameters associated with the personnel management;

determining operating parameters of the personnel management using the process controls;

auditing one or more of the members with regard to compliance with the personnel management;

generating audit findings based on the audit;

communicating the audit findings to the database; and

analyzing the audit findings via the network.

30. The method of claim 27, further comprising communicating information related to each of the members to the database;

and

managing access by the members to the commodities and information related to the commodities;

dynamically scheduling personnel within the supply chain based on member accessibility to the commodities; and

communicating the personnel scheduling to the database.

31. The method of claim 30, further comprising

establishing personnel access privileges within the supply chain;

communicating the personnel access privileges to the database;

modifying the personnel access privileges using the access control system; and

communicating the modified personnel access privileges to the database.

32. The method of claim 27, further comprising

certifying members of the supply chain for a predetermined time period;

and

communicating information related to member certification to the database.

33. The method of claim 32, further comprising

generating a reminder related to re-certification of at least one of the members based on the information communicated to the database;

and

delivering the reminder to the appropriate members via the network based on a predetermined schedule.

34. The method of claim 32, wherein certifying members includes certifying members to produce the commodities according to the predetermined operating parameters.

35. The method of claim 32, wherein certifying members includes certifying members to at least one of handle, process, store, load, unload, and transport the commodities according to the predetermined operating parameters.

36. The method of claim 32, further comprising proposing at least one of future training and re-certification processes to at least one of the members.

37. The method of claim 27, further comprising

determining a time period that particular personnel of one or more members have handled the commodities;

communicatincl the time period to the database;

determining payroll consequences for the members associated with the personnel; and

at least partially determining a cost associated with the commodities based on the payroll consequences.

38. The method of claim 27, further comprising scheduling personnel to predetermined tasks via the network based on the commodities being handled.

39. The method of claim 27, further comprising

providing a security monitoring system;

implementing the process controls to determine operating parameters associated with the security monitoring system;

determining operating parameters of the security monitoring system using the process controls;

securing the commodities within the supply chain based on the predetermined operating parameters using the security monitoring system; and

monitoring access to the commodities in the supply chain using the security monitoring system.

40. The method of claim 39, further comprising certifying facilities within the supply chain that handle the commodities with regard to compliance with the predetermined operating parameters of the security monitoring system.

41. The method of claim 39, wherein certifying the facilities with regard to compliance with the predetermined operating parameters of the security monitoring system includes restricting access to the assets within the supply chain that are integral to maintaining the commodities at predetermined conditions.

42. The method of claim 41, further comprising generating an alarm in response to violation of at least one of the predetermined operating parameters of the security monitoring system.

43. The method of claim 27, further comprising

comparing the sensed commodity condition with the predetermined conditions communicated to the database;

determining whether the sensed condition is outside the predetermined conditions;

delivering instructions to electronic controls of one or more of the assets based on the comparison of the sensed condition and the predetermined conditions; and

maintaining the commodities within the predetermined conditions using the assets.

44. The method of claim 43, further comprising

notifying the appropriate member if the sensed condition remains unchanged after the instructions are delivered in response to the sensed parameter being outside the predetermined condition;

and

initiating a corrective action to correct the sensed condition.

45. The method of claim 27, further comprising

implementing the process controls to determine operating parameters associated with the assets;

determining operating parameters of the assets using the process controls; and

certifying the assets of the supply chain with regard to compliance with the predetermined operating parameters.

46. The method of claim 45, further comprising

implementing the process controls to determine operating parameters associated with a transportation system of the supply chain;

determining operating parameters of the transportation system using the process controls;

certifying transport vehicles of the transportation system based on the predetermined operating parameters; and

expediting clearance of the certified transport vehicles at control points within the supply chain.

47. The method of claim 27, further comprising regulating at least one of work flow, timing, and qualitative measurements of the commodities using the process controls.

48. The method of claim 47, further comprising managing production of the commodities by controlling the characteristics of the commodities when the commodities are produced using the process controls.

49. The method of claim 27, further comprising

auditing a process of at least one member with regard to compliance of the process with the predetermined operating parameters;

generating audit findings based on the audit;

communicating the audit findings to the database; and

analyzing the audit findings via the network and comparing the findings with the predetermined operating parameters.

50. The method of claim 27, further comprising arranging the commodities in the supply chain for transport based on the predetermined operating parameters.

51. The method of claim 27, wherein communicating data representative of the at least one commodity condition includes acquiring data related to storage and transport of the commodities at predetermined time intervals.

52. The method of claim 51, further comprising

accessing the acquired data via the network;

and

selectively altering the condition of the commodities based on the acquired data.

53. The method of claim 52, further comprising manually requesting data related to the commodities within the supply chain.

54. The method of claim 52, further comprising

monitoring the at least one condition in near-real time;

and

automatically altering the condition of the commodities without direct human intervention based on at least one of a historical condition and the near-real time condition monitored by the sensor.

55. The method of claim 27, further comprising

accessing the data communicated to the database in near-real time;

and enabling logistical decisions regarding storage and transport of the commodities throughout the supply chain based on the near-real time access to the data.

56. The method of claim 55, wherein enabling logistical decisions includes determining whether the commodities should be routed to a destination that is different from an original destination.

57. The method of claim 55, wherein enabling logistical decisions includes managing inventory of the commodities within the supply chain.

58. The method of claim 27, further comprising transporting the commodities within the supply chain based on a business practice of first commodity expiring, first commodity out.

59. The method of claim 27, further comprising

acquiring data related to characteristics of the supply chain;

and

redirecting commodities in the supply chain based on the acquired data.

60. The method of claim 27, further comprising communicating a location of commodities within the supply chain between members of the supply chain via the network.

61. A method of trading commodities in a supply chain having a plurality of members, the method comprising:

accessing by one or more of the plurality of members a database via a network;

moving commodities through the supply chain;

assigning at least one sensor to the commodities;

monitoring at least one condition of the commodities using the sensor;

communicating data representative of the at least one commodity condition to the database via the network;

implementing a trading system via the network; and

trading commodities within the supply chain using the trading system.

62. The method of claim 61, further comprising trading commodities during transport of the commodities prior to reaching an end destination.

63. The method of claim 61, further comprising

purchasing commodities from a producer;

and

selling the commodities to bidders in a futures market based at least in part on the at least one condition monitored during progress of the commodities through the supply chain.

64. The method of claim 63, further comprising

bidding on the commodities via the trading system;

and

acquiring a desired quantity and quality of commodities.

65. The method of claim 64, further comprising providing accurate price controls for the commodities within the trading system based on the data communicated to the database.

66. A method of operating a supply chain management system including a supply chain having a plurality of members, the method comprising:

accessing by one or mere ef the plurality of members a database via a network;

moving one or more commodities through the supply chain;

assigning at least one sensor to the commodities;

monitoring at least one condition of the commodities using the sensor;

communicating data representative of the at least one condition of the commodities to the database via the network;

enabling access to the database by a consumer via an online access system; and

tracking in near real-time at least one of a history and a predicted shelf life of the commodities using the online access system.

67. The method of claim 66, further comprising

accessing the data in the database;

verifying whether commodities with desirable characteristics are available via the online access system; and

obtaining information from the database related to the location to which the commodities are intended to be delivered.

68. The method of claim 66, further comprising

accessing the data in the database;

and

obtaining a detailed history of the commodities from inception of the commodities.

69. The method of claim 66, further comprising

displaying the commodities at a retail location;

and

allowing access by the consumer to near real-time data associated with the commodities that are on display at the retail location.

70. The method of claim 66, further comprising managing access by the consumer to the online access system.