PRODUCT EFFICIENCY CALCULATOR SYSTEM AND METHOD

• US 20090089159A1
• Filed: 09/28/2007
• Published: 04/02/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Diversey Incorporated (Sealed Air)
• Original Assignee: Diversey Incorporated (Sealed Air)
• Inventors: Daggett, Daniel A., Hamilton, John D., Ren, Shijin
• Granted Patent: US 7,996,327 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/14.170
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/083 Shipping
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0832 Special goods or special handling procedures, e.g. handling of hazardous or fragile goods
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0215 Including financial accounts

Abstract

A method of using a computer system to inform a consumer about an efficiency associated with an improved packaging configuration for a cleaning product relative to a standard packaging configuration for the cleaning product. The method comprises inputting values from the consumer into the computer system using an input device and storing the input values in a memory, using a processor to calculate a packaging space efficiency and a packaging material efficiency, and using the processor to calculate a total cost savings from using the improved packaging configuration. The method further comprises calculating a storage cost savings based on the shipping-associated packaging space efficiency and the storage cost per unit volume; calculating a disposal cost savings based on the packaging material efficiency and the disposal cost per unit weight; adding the storage cost savings and the disposal cost savings; and displaying output to the consumer using the output device.

Claims

1. A method of using a computer system to inform a consumer about an efficiency associated with an improved packaging configuration for a cleaning product relative to a standard packaging configuration for the cleaning product, the computer system comprising an input device, an output device, a memory, and a processor, the method comprising:

inputting values from the consumer into the computer system using the input device and storing the input values in the memory, the input values including at least one of,

a number of units of cleaning product that are purchased by the consumer per year in the standard packaging configuration;

a number of units of cleaning product that are purchased by the consumer per year in the improved packaging configuration;

a volume of the cleaning product in one unit of the standard packaging configuration;

a volume of the cleaning product in one unit of the standard packaging configuration;

a concentration of the cleaning product in the standard packaging configuration;

a concentration of the cleaning product in the improved packaging configuration;

a shipping distance; and

a transportation fuel efficiency;

using the processor to calculate a packaging space efficiency comprising calculating a reduction in a shipping volume, a storage volume, or a disposal volume required to deliver one unit volume of end-use cleaning product using the improved packaging configuration compared to the standard packaging configuration, based on the volume and concentration of cleaning product in the standard packaging configuration and the volume and concentration of cleaning product in the improved packaging configuration;

using the processor to calculate a packaging material efficiency comprising calculating a reduction in the weight of plastic packaging material required to deliver one unit volume of end-use cleaning product using the improved packaging configuration as compared to the weight of plastic packaging material required to deliver one unit volume of end-use cleaning product using the standard packaging configuration, based on the volume and concentration of cleaning product in the standard packaging configuration and the volume and concentration of cleaning product in the improved packaging configuration;

calculating using the processor a total cost savings from using the improved packaging configuration comprising

calculating a storage cost savings based on the shipping-associated packaging space efficiency and the storage cost per unit volume;

calculating a disposal cost savings based on the packaging material efficiency and the disposal cost per unit weight; and

adding the storage cost savings and the disposal cost savings; and

displaying to the consumer using the output device at least one of the following values

the total cost, the disposal cost savings, or the storage cost savings for the standard packaging configuration;

the total cost, the disposal cost, or the storage cost for the improved packaging configuration;

the packaging space efficiency; and

the packaging material efficiency.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the standard packaging configuration is a 2.5 gallon pail, a 5 gallon pail, or a ready-to-use container.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the improved packaging configuration is a bag-in-box, a ready-to-dispense container, or a container with a built-in measuring spout.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the cleaning product in the improved packaging configuration is more concentrated than the cleaning product in the standard packaging configuration.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the shipping cost for the standard packaging configuration or the improved packaging configuration is determined based on at least one of the transportation fuel efficiency and the shipping distance.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the packaging material efficiency and the packaging space efficiency is determined based on a user-defined value.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the packaging material efficiency and the packaging space efficiency is determined based on a default value.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the packaging material efficiency and the packaging space efficiency is determined based on the concentration of the cleaning product in the standard packaging configuration and the concentration of the cleaning product in the improved packaging configuration.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the packaging material efficiency and the packaging space efficiency is determined based on the volume in one unit of the cleaning product in the standard packaging configuration and the volume in one unit of the cleaning product in the improved packaging configuration.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein displaying to the consumer using the output device at least one value comprises displaying a non-numerical representation of the at least one value.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the cleaning product is a liquid cleaning product.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein displaying to the consumer using the output device at least one value further comprises displaying a reduction in the amount of carbon dioxide associated with the use of the improved packaging configuration.

13. A computer-based system for informing a consumer about an efficiency of an improved packaging configuration for a cleaning product, said system comprising:

a processor; and

a storage medium operably coupled to the processor, wherein the storage medium includes,

program instructions executable by the processor for

inputting values from the consumer into the computer system using an input device and storing the input values in a memory, the input values including at least one of,

a number of units of cleaning product that are purchased by the consumer per year in the standard packaging configuration;

a number of units of cleaning product that are purchased by the consumer per year in the improved packaging configuration;

a volume of the cleaning product in one unit of the standard packaging configuration;

a volume of the cleaning product in one unit of the standard packaging configuration;

a concentration of the cleaning product in the standard packaging configuration;

a concentration of the cleaning product in the improved packaging configuration;

a shipping distance; and

a transportation fuel efficiency;

using the processor to calculate a packaging space efficiency comprising calculating a reduction in a shipping volume, a storage volume, or a disposal volume required to deliver one unit volume of end-use cleaning product using the improved packaging configuration compared to the standard packaging configuration, based on the volume and concentration of cleaning product in the standard packaging configuration and the volume and concentration of cleaning product in the improved packaging configuration;

using the processor to calculate a packaging material efficiency comprising calculating a reduction in the weight of plastic packaging material required to deliver one unit volume of end-use cleaning product using the improved packaging configuration as compared to the weight of plastic packaging material required to deliver one unit volume of end-use cleaning product using the standard packaging configuration, based on the volume and concentration of cleaning product in the standard packaging configuration and the volume and concentration of cleaning product in the improved packaging configuration;

calculating using the processor a total cost savings from using the improved packaging configuration comprising,

calculating a storage cost savings based on the shipping-associated packaging space efficiency and the storage cost per unit volume;

calculating a disposal cost savings based on the packaging material efficiency and the disposal cost per unit weight; and

adding the storage cost savings and the disposal cost savings to produce the total cost savings; and

displaying to the consumer using the output device at least one of the following values,

the total cost savings, the disposal cost savings, or the storage cost savings for the standard packaging configuration;

the total cost, the disposal cost, or the storage cost for the improved packaging configuration;

the packaging space efficiency; and

the packaging material efficiency.

14. The computer-based system of claim 13, wherein the cleaning product is a liquid cleaning product.

15. The computer-based system of claim 13, wherein displaying to the consumer using the output device at least one value further comprises displaying a reduction in the amount of carbon dioxide associated with the use of the improved packaging configuration.

16. A graphical user interface for display on a computer system for informing a consumer about an efficiency of an improved packaging configuration for a cleaning product, comprising:

an introduction page comprising,

a navigation panel for navigating to another page;

a general information and input page comprising,

a package information panel for displaying information pertaining to packaging configurations,

a product consumption panel for entering an amount of product consumed, and

a navigation panel for navigating to another page;

a packaging material efficiency page comprising,

a plastics savings panel for displaying an amount of plastics saved by using the improved packaging configuration, and

a navigation panel for navigating to another page;

a packaging space efficiency page comprising,

a warehouse savings panel for displaying an amount of warehouse space saved by using the improved packaging configuration, and

a navigation panel for navigating to another page;

a transportation efficiency page comprising,

a distance input panel for entering a shipping distance for the cleaning product, and

a fuel efficiency input panel for entering a transportation fuel efficiency and for displaying a reduction in fuel consumption and pollutant generation from using the improved packaging configuration,

a navigation panel for navigating to another page; and

a cost benefits page comprising,

a landfill cost panel for entering a cost of landfilling waste and for displaying a landfill cost savings from using the improved packaging configuration,

a warehouse cost panel for entering a cost of warehouse storage and for displaying a warehouse cost savings from using the improved packaging configuration,

a total cost savings panel for displaying a total cost savings from using the improved packaging configuration, and

a navigation panel for navigating to another page.

17. The graphical user interface of claim 16, further comprising:

a dilution page, the dilution page comprising an annual consumption panel, a dilution rate panel, and a navigation panel for navigating to another page.

18. The graphical user interface of claim 16, wherein the packaging space efficiency page further comprises a landfill volume savings panel for displaying an amount of landfill space saved by using the improved packaging configuration.

19. The graphical user interface of claim 16, wherein the cleaning product is a liquid cleaning product.

20. A computer-readable medium, comprising:

first instructions executable on a computational device for inputting values from the consumer into the computer system using the input device and storing the input values on the storage media, the input values including at least one of a number of units of cleaning product that are purchased by the consumer per year in the standard packaging configuration;

a number of units of cleaning product that are purchased by the consumer per year in the improved packaging configuration;

a volume of the cleaning product in one unit of the standard packaging configuration;

a volume of the cleaning product in one unit of the standard packaging configuration;

a concentration of the cleaning product in the standard packaging configuration;

a concentration of the cleaning product in the improved packaging configuration;

a shipping distance; and

a transportation fuel efficiency;

second instructions executable on the computational device for using the processor to calculate a packaging space efficiency comprising calculating a reduction in a shipping volume, a storage volume, or a disposal volume required to deliver one unit volume of end-use cleaning product using the improved packaging configuration compared to the standard packaging configuration, based on the volume and concentration of cleaning product in the standard packaging configuration and the volume and concentration of cleaning product in the improved packaging configuration;

third instructions executable on the computational device for using the processor to calculate a packaging material efficiency comprising calculating a reduction in the weight of plastic packaging material required to deliver one unit volume of end-use cleaning product using the improved packaging configuration as compared to the weight of plastic packaging material required to deliver one unit volume of end-use cleaning product using the standard packaging configuration, based on the volume and concentration of cleaning product in the standard packaging configuration and the volume and concentration of cleaning product in the improved packaging configuration;

fourth instructions executable on the computational device for calculating using the processor a total cost savings from using the improved packaging configuration comprising calculating a storage cost savings based on the shipping-associated packaging space efficiency and the storage cost per unit volume;

calculating a disposal cost savings based on the packaging material efficiency and the disposal cost per unit weight; and

adding together the storage cost savings plus the disposal cost savings; and

fifth instructions executable on the computational device for displaying to the consumer using the output device at least one of the total cost, the disposal cost savings, or the storage cost savings for the standard packaging configuration;

the total cost, the disposal cost, or the storage cost for the improved packaging configuration;

the packaging space efficiency; and

the packaging material efficiency.

21. The computer-readable medium of claim 20, wherein the cleaning product is a liquid cleaning product.

22. The computer-readable medium of claim 20, wherein fifth instructions executable on the computational device for displaying to the consumer using the output device further comprises displaying a reduction in the amount of carbon dioxide associated with the use of the improved packaging configuration.