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Expert configurator

  • US 5,260,866 A
  • Filed: 09/17/1991
  • Issued: 11/09/1993
  • Est. Priority Date: 09/17/1991
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. A multi-level system for constructing a first custom work order for an end item and a plurality of second custom work orders for a plurality of configurable lower-level items necessary for manufacturing the end item, the system comprising:

  • a) order entry configuration means for enabling a customer desiring a particular product to specify features and options corresponding to the product, the product comprising the end item and the configurable lower-level items, the order entry configuration means comprising;

    i) questioning means for presenting a plurality of sets of questions to a user, the sets of questions relating to the features and options of the product; and

    ii) input means for inputting a plurality of sets of answers to the questions, the sets of answers specifying the features and options for the end item and the configurable lower-level items;

    b) options storage means for storing the plurality of sets of answers, the options storage means comprising;

    i) end item data structure means for storing the features and options needed to generate work order requirements to construct the end item; and

    ii) lower-level item data structure means for storing the features and options needed to generate work order requirements to construct the configurable lower-level items; and

    c) manufacturing configuration means for automatically generating the first custom work order to construct the end item and the plurality of second custom work orders to construct the configurable lower-level items, the manufacturing configuration means comprising;

    i) means for accessing the end item data structure means and the lower-level item data structure means in order to retrieve the sets of answers; and

    ii) means for translating the retrieved sets of answers into manufacturing requirements and for generating from the manufacturing requirements the first custom work order and the plurality of second custom work orders for construction of the product, including the end item and the configurable lower-level items, meeting the features and options specified by the customer, the first custom work order corresponding to construction of the end item and the plurality of second custom work orders corresponding to construction of the configurable lower-level items.

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