Cost optimization system for supplying parts
First Claim
1. A computer system for estimating the cost of supplying parts to a manufacturing facility at one or more delivery frequencies and a selected supply method, said system comprising:
- first database definition means for defining a first database to simultaneously store cost information for a plurality of alternate supply methods;
option entry means for user selection of at least one of said supply methods for said parts, said supply method impacting the cost of supplying said parts to said manufacturing facility, said option entry means permitting a user to select a nonzero percentage of air transportation and a nonzero percentage of land transportation for said parts over the same leg of a supply route;
data entry means for user entry of delivery frequency data indicating one or more preferred frequencies of delivery to base a cost estimation;
storage means, coupled to said option entry means and said data entry means, for storing said selections and data; and
processing means, coupled to said first database and said storage means, for estimating the cost of supplying said parts at said one or more frequencies of delivery and the selected supply method.
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Abstract
A cost estimation system estimates the cost of supplying parts to a manufacturing facility. The system comprises a first database for storing cost information for various supply methods including air freight, ocean freight, land freight, warehouse storage, plant storage and material handling costs. A user selects a supply method for the parts, and has the option to select a percentage of one type of transportation and a percentage of an alternate type of transportation to serve as a back-up. A user also enters delivery frequency data indicating one or more frequencies of delivery to base a cost estimation. A computer processor then estimates the cost of supplying the parts at the one or more frequencies of delivery and the selected supply method. Finally, the cost estimates are presented to a user.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A computer system for estimating the cost of supplying parts to a manufacturing facility at one or more delivery frequencies and a selected supply method, said system comprising:
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first database definition means for defining a first database to simultaneously store cost information for a plurality of alternate supply methods; option entry means for user selection of at least one of said supply methods for said parts, said supply method impacting the cost of supplying said parts to said manufacturing facility, said option entry means permitting a user to select a nonzero percentage of air transportation and a nonzero percentage of land transportation for said parts over the same leg of a supply route; data entry means for user entry of delivery frequency data indicating one or more preferred frequencies of delivery to base a cost estimation; storage means, coupled to said option entry means and said data entry means, for storing said selections and data; and processing means, coupled to said first database and said storage means, for estimating the cost of supplying said parts at said one or more frequencies of delivery and the selected supply method. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A computer system for estimating the cost of supplying parts to a manufacturing facility, said system comprising:
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first database definition means for defining a first database to store cost information for a plurality of alternate transportation methods for the same leg of a supply route, and cost information for other components of a logistics plan; option entry means for user selection of a nonzero amount of use of one of said transportation methods and a nonzero amount of alternate use of another one of said transportation methods for the same leg of said supply route, and selection from said other components of said logistics plan; storage means, coupled to said option entry means, for storing said selections; and processing means, coupled to said first database and said storage means, for estimating the cost of supplying said parts at the selected amounts of use of said transportation methods for the same leg of said supply route and the other selected components of said logistics plan. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15)
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16. A computer system for estimating the cost of supplying parts to a manufacturing facility at a selected supply method, said system comprising:
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first database definition means for defining a first database to simultaneously store cost information for a plurality of alternate supply methods; option entry means for user selection of at least one of said supply methods for said parts, the selected supply method or methods impacting the cost of supplying said parts to said manufacturing facility, said option entry means permitting said user to select a nonzero percentage of one type of transportation and a nonzero percentage of another type of transportation for said parts over a same leg of a supply route; storage means, coupled to said option entry means, for storing said selection; and processing means, coupled to said first database and said storage means, for estimating the cost of supplying said parts based on a combination of the selected percentages of use of said transportation methods for the same leg of said supply route. - View Dependent Claims (17)
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Specification