Method for processing and redirecting misdirected advanced shipping notices (ASNs)

• US 20090276669A1
• Filed: 04/30/2008
• Published: 11/05/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Inventors: Hoopes, John M., Pettit, Shannon M., Agbodjan-Prince, Pauline C.
• Application Number:
  US12/149,328
• Publication Number:
  US 20090276669A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 714/746
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders

Abstract

A method is disclosed for correcting misdirected Advanced Shipping Notices (ASNs). In one embodiment, the method receives, from a product supplier, a first set of data associated with an ASN, where the first set of data includes an ASN receiving facility identifier. The method also determines a Purchase Order (PO) that is associated with the ASN, where the PO includes a second set of data. The method further compares one or more fields of the first set of data with one or more fields of the second set of data. In addition, the method determines if the ASN was misdirected based on the comparison, and corrects the ASN, when it is determined that the ASN was misdirected.

Claims

1. A method for correcting misdirected Advanced Shipping Notices (ASNs), comprising:

receiving, from a product supplier, a first set of data associated with an ASN, wherein the first set of data includes an ASN receiving facility identifier;

determining a purchase order (PO) that is associated with the ASN, wherein the PO includes a second set of data;

comparing one or more fields of the first set of data with one or more fields of the second set of data;

determining if the ASN was misdirected based on the comparison; and

correcting the ASN, when it is determined that the ASN was misdirected.

2. The method as in claim 1, wherein correcting the ASN is completed before delivery of material associated with the ASN.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein when it is determined that the ASN was misdirected to an incorrect ASN receiving facility, correcting the ASN further includes:

determining if a correct receiving facility, identified by a correct receiving facility identifier, is on the same communications network as an incorrect ASN receiving facility identified by an incorrect ASN receiving facility identifier;

changing, when the correct receiving facility is on the same communications network as the incorrect ASN receiving facility, the incorrect ASN receiving facility identifier to the correct receiving facility identifier; and

requesting, when the correct receiving facility is not on the same communications network as the incorrect ASN receiving facility, the product supplier to resend the ASN to the correct receiving facility identified by the correct receiving facility identifier.

4. The method as in claim 1, wherein the first set of data associated with an ASN includes at least one of a supplier code, an ASN number, a PO number, a part number, a part quantity, and a part price.

5. The method as in claim 1, wherein the second set of data includes at least one of a supplier code, a PO number, a part number, a part quantity, and a part price.

6. The method as in claim 1, wherein the ASN is an EDI 856 message according to the ANSI 12.x standard.

7. The method as in claim 1, further including creating a report listing the one or more misdirected ASNs.

8. The method as in claim 1, further including:

creating a report for each supplier who sends ASNs;

reporting for the supplier at least one of the number of misdirected ASNs, the total number of ASNs, the number of ASNs that were redirected, the number of ASNs that were not redirected, and the number of contacts with the supplier;

reporting for the supplier a supplier name and a supplier code; and

parsing the reported data by time periods.

9. A computer-readable medium including instructions for performing a method, when executed by a processor, for correcting misdirected Advanced Shipping Notices (ASNs), the method comprising:

receiving, from a product supplier, a first set of data associated with an ASN, wherein the first set of data includes an ASN receiving facility identifier;

determining a PO that is associated with the ASN, wherein the purchase order (PO) includes a second set of data;

comparing one or more fields of the first set of data with one or more fields of the second set of data;

determining if the ASN was misdirected based on the comparison; and

correcting the ASN, when it is determined that the ASN was misdirected.

10. The computer-readable medium of claim 9, wherein correcting the misdirected ASN is completed before delivery of material associated with the ASN.

11. The computer-readable medium of claim 9, wherein when it is determined that the ASN was misdirected to an incorrect ASN receiving facility, correcting the ASN further includes:

determining if a correct receiving facility, identified by a correct receiving facility identifier, is on the same communications network as an incorrect ASN receiving facility identified by an incorrect ASN receiving facility identifier;

changing, when the correct receiving facility is on the same communications network as the incorrect ASN receiving facility, the incorrect ASN receiving facility identifier to the correct receiving facility identifier; and

requesting, when the correct receiving facility is not on the same communications network as the incorrect ASN receiving facility, the product supplier to resend the ASN to the correct receiving facility identified by the correct receiving facility identifier.

12. The computer-readable medium of claim 9, wherein the first set of data associated with an ASN includes at least one of a supplier code, an ASN number, a PO number, a part number, a part quantity, and a part price.

13. The computer-readable medium of claim 9, wherein the second set of data includes at least one of a supplier code, a PO number, a part number, a part quantity, and a part price.

14. The computer-readable medium of claim 9, wherein the ASN is an EDI 856 message according to the ANSI 12.x standard.

15. The computer-readable medium of claim 9, further including creating a report listing the one or more misdirected ASNs.

16. The computer-readable medium of claim 9, the method further including:

creating a report for each supplier who sends ASNs;

reporting for the supplier at least one of the number of misdirected ASNs, the total number of ASNs, the number of ASNs that were redirected, the number of ASNs that were not redirected, and the number of contacts with the supplier;

reporting for the supplier a supplier name and a supplier code; and

parsing the reported data by time periods.

17. A system for correcting misdirected Advanced Shipping Notices (ASNs), comprising:

at least one memory storing data and instructions; and

at least one processor configured to access the memory and configured to, when executing the instructions;

receive, from a products supplier, a first set of data associated with an ASN, wherein the first set of data includes an ASN receiving facility identifier;

determine a purchase order (PO) that is associated with the ASN, wherein the PO includes a second set of data;

compare one or more fields of the first set of data with one or more fields of the second set of data;

determine if the ASN was misdirected based on the comparison;

determine if a correct receiving facility is on the same communications network as an incorrect ASN receiving facility; and

correct a misdirected ASN, including;

change, when the correct receiving facility is on the same communications network as the incorrect ASN receiving facility, the incorrect ASN receiving facility identifier to a correct receiving facility identifier; and

request, when the correct receiving facility is not on the same communications network as the incorrect ASN receiving facility, the product supplier to resend the ASN to the correct receiving facility identified by the correct receiving facility identifier.

18. The system as in claim 17, wherein the at least one processor is configured to complete the changing, requesting, and correcting of the misdirected ASN before delivery of material associated with the ASN.

19. The system as in claim 17, wherein the ASN is an EDI 856 message according to the ANSI 12.x standard.

20. The system as in claim 17, wherein the at least one processor is configured to:

create a first report listing one or more ASNs that were misdirected by being sent to an incorrect receiving facility;

create a second report for each supplier who sends ASNs;

report for the supplier at least one of the number of misdirected ASNs, the total number of ASNs, the number of ASNs that were redirected, the number of ASNs that were not redirected, and the number of contacts with the supplier;

report for the supplier a supplier name and a supplier code; and

parse the reported data by time periods.