TRANSPORT SCHEDULING FOR LOW MICROBIAL BULK PRODUCTS

• US 20110307288A1
• Filed: 01/20/2011
• Published: 12/15/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/15/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ardent Mills LLC (CHS Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: ConAgra Foods Food Ingredients Company Incorporated (Givaudan SA)
• Inventors: MARINIELLO, ROBERT, GRACE, RYAN T.
• Granted Patent: US 8,260,726 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/7.21
• CPC Class Codes: B08B 3/04 Cleaning involving contact with liquid
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0832 Special goods or special handling procedures, e.g. handling of hazardous or fragile goods
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/1097 Task assignment
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/10 Composition for standardization, calibration, simulation, stabilization, preparation or preservation; processes of use in preparation for chemical testing

Abstract

Transport scheduling and transport processes for low microbial (“LM”) bulk products are described. The transport scheduling and processes facilitate low microbial activity in a LM bulk product during the transport of the LM bulk product.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method comprising:

obtaining a shipping request for a low microbial (LM) bulk product, wherein the shipping request includes a requested receipt date and a product type identifier;

causing at least one processor to calculate a load-out date based on the receipt date;

causing the at least one processor to match the product type identifier of the shipping request to a LMW specification, wherein the LMW specification includes LMW process instructions and a LMW timing threshold, wherein the LMW timing threshold is based on a microbial baseline that indicates a microbial differential over time; and

sending a transport request to a shipping entity, wherein the shipping request includes an identification of the LMW specification to facilitate implementation of the LMW process instructions and the LMW timing threshold as a conditional factor during scheduling of a transport vehicle.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the product type identifier indicates bulk flour.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the product type identifier indicates at least one member of a group comprising:

flour, bran, germ, grain, oat, rye, wheat, barley, sugar, spice, ground vegetable, ground pepper, and ground fruit.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein causing the at least one processor to match the product type identifier of the shipping request to the LMW specification further comprises:

querying a database, having a plurality of LMW specifications for a plurality of LM bulk product types, with the received product type identifier; and

obtaining a LMW specification among the plurality of LMW specifications that includes a product type identifier that matches the product type identifier of the query.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising sending a load-out request to a load-out scheduling module, wherein the load-out request includes an identification of the LMW specification and the load-out date to facilitate preconditioning of the LM bulk product prior to load-out.

6. A computer-readable storage medium having computer executable instructions comprising:

receiving a shipping request for a low microbial (LM) bulk product, wherein the shipping request includes a product type identifier;

obtaining a low microbial wash (LMW) specification that matches the product type identifier, wherein the LMW specification includes LMW process instructions and a LMW timing threshold, wherein the LMW timing threshold is based on a microbial baseline that indicates a microbial differential over time; and

sending a transport request to a shipping entity, wherein the shipping request includes an identification of the LMW specification to facilitate implementation of the LMW process instructions and the LMW timing threshold as a conditional factor during scheduling of a transport vehicle.

7. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 6, wherein the product type identifier indicates bulk flour.

8. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 6, wherein the product type identifier indicates at least one member of a group comprising:

flour, bran, germ, grain, oat, rye, wheat, barley, sugar, spice, ground vegetable, ground pepper, and ground fruit.

9. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 6, wherein obtaining the LMW specification that matches the product type identifier further comprises:

querying a database, having a plurality of LMW specifications for a plurality of LM bulk product types, with the received product type identifier; and

obtaining a LMW specification among the plurality of LMW specifications that includes a product type identifier that matches the product type identifier of the query.

10. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 6, wherein the shipping request further includes a requested receipt date.

11. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 10, further comprising calculating a load-out date based on the receipt date.

12. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 11, further comprising sending a load-out request to a load-out scheduling module, wherein the load-out request includes an identification of the LMW specification and the load-out date to facilitate preconditioning of the LM bulk product prior to load-out.

13. A system comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one memory having computer executable instructions stored thereon, wherein the computer executable instruction are configured for;

receiving a shipping request for a low microbial (LM) bulk product, wherein the shipping request includes a requested receipt date and a product type identifier;

causing the processor to calculate a load-out date based on the receipt date;

causing the processor to match the product type identifier of the shipping request to a LMW specification, wherein the LMW specification includes LMW process instructions and a LMW timing threshold, wherein the LMW timing threshold is based on wherein the LMW timing threshold is based on a microbial baseline that indicates a microbial differential over time; and

sending a transport request to a shipping entity, wherein the shipping request includes an identification of the LMW specification to facilitate implementation of the LMW process instructions and the LMW timing threshold as a conditional factor during scheduling of a transport vehicle.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the product type identifier indicates bulk flour.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein the product type identifier indicates at least one member of a group comprising:

flour, bran, germ, grain, oat, rye, wheat, barley, sugar, spice, ground vegetable, ground pepper, and ground fruit.

16. The system of claim 13, wherein causing the processor to match the product type identifier of the shipping request to the LMW specifications further comprises:

querying a database, having a plurality of LMW specifications for a plurality of LM bulk product types, with the received product type identifier; and

obtaining a LMW specification among the plurality of LMW specifications that includes a product type identifier that matches the product type identifier of the query.

17. The system of claim 13, further comprising sending a load-out request to a load-out scheduling module, wherein the load-out request includes an identification of the LMW specification and the load-out date to facilitate preconditioning of the LM bulk product prior to load-out.