Method, system and storage medium for analyzing product delivery

• US 6,499,657 B1
• Filed: 08/17/2000
• Issued: 12/31/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/21/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Peterson, James, Ambrosy, Calman J. III, van Abeelen, Petrus Cornelius A. M., Walker, Peter R., Drake, John H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pitts, Harold I.
• Application Number:
  US09/641,354
• Time in Patent Office: 866 Days
• Field of Search: 235/375, 235/385, 705/28
• US Class Current: 235/375
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management

Abstract

An exemplary embodiment of the invention is a method for analyzing product delivery to customers. The method includes generating a first level product classification corresponding to a number of products and determining delivery data for the first level product classification. The delivery data includes a span value indicative of delivery error for products in the first level product classification. The first level product classification is divided into at least two, second level product classifications. Each second level product classification corresponds to a subset of the first level product classification. Delivery data is determined for each of the second level product classifications. The delivery data includes a span value indicative of delivery error for products in the second level product classifications. Other embodiments of the invention include a system and storage medium for implementing the method.

Claims

1. A method for analyzing product delivery to customers, the method comprising:

generating a first level product classification corresponding to a number of products and determining delivery data for said first level product classification, said delivery data including a span value indicative of delivery error for products in said first level product classification;

dividing said first level product classification into at least two second level product classifications, each second level product classification corresponding to a subset of the first level product classification and determining delivery data for each of said second level product classifications, said delivery data including a span value indicative of delivery error for products in said second level product classifications.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

dividing each of said second level product classifications into at least two third level product classifications, each third level product classification corresponding to a subset of one of the second level product classification and determining delivery data for each of said third level product classifications, said delivery data including a span value indicative of delivery error for products in said third level product classifications.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein:

said third level product classifications are the same for each of said second level product classifications.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein:

said span value is determined by;

receiving a requested delivery date from the customer;

delivering the product to the customer;

determining the actual delivery date of the product to the customer;

determining a difference between the actual delivery date and the requested delivery date, said difference representing delivery error;

obtaining a plurality of delivery errors based on a plurality of product orders;

determining a span value based on the difference between a minimum delivery error and a maximum delivery error.

5. The method of claim 4 further comprising:

limiting the delivery errors considered in determining the span value.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein:

said limiting includes applying an upper limit on the delivery errors.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein:

said upper limit is the 95^th percentile of the delivery errors.

8. The method of claim 5 wherein:

said limiting includes applying a lower limit on the delivery errors.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein:

said lower limit is the 5^th percentile of the delivery errors.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein:

said product classifications are derived based on a plurality of stratification factors.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein:

said stratifications factors include customer factors indicative of the customer ordering the products.

12. The method of claim 10 wherein:

said stratifications factors include product factors indicative of the order products.

13. The method of claim 10 wherein:

said stratifications factors include order factors indicative of the product order.

14. The method of claim 10 wherein:

said stratifications factors include order management factors indicative of processing of product orders by the supplier.

15. The method of claim 10 wherein:

said stratifications factors include order factors indicative of the product order.

16. The method of claim 10 wherein:

said stratifications factors include manufacturing factors indicative of manufacturing of products.

17. The method of claim 10 wherein:

said stratifications factors include distribution factors indicative of delivery of products.

18. A method for analyzing conformity to requested characteristics of a deliverable provided from a provider to a receiver, the method comprising:

generating a first level deliverable classification corresponding to a number of deliverables and determining delivery data for said first level product classification, said delivery data including a span value indicative of conformity to requested characteristics in said first level deliverable classification;

dividing said first level deliverable classification into at least two second level deliverable classifications, each second level deliverable classification corresponding to a subset of the first level deliverable classification and determining delivery data for each of said second level deliverable classifications, said delivery data including a span value indicative of conformity to requested characteristics in said second level deliverable classifications.

19. A method for detecting a process affecting product delivery to customers, the method comprising:

generating a first level product classification corresponding to a number of products and determining delivery data for said first level product classification, said delivery data including a median delivery error for products in said first level product classification;

dividing said first level product classification into at least two second level product classifications, each second level product classification corresponding to a subset of the first level product classification and determining delivery data for each of said second level product classifications, said delivery data including a median delivery error for products in said second level product classifications;

assuming the existence of a process affecting median delivery error for products in said second level product classifications in response to a difference between median delivery error of said at least two second level product classifications; and

dividing each of said second level product classifications into at least two third level product classifications, each third level product classification corresponding to a subset of one of the second level product classification and determining delivery data for each of said third level product classifications, said delivery data including a median delivery error for products in said third level product classifications; and

confirming the existence of said process affecting median delivery error for products in said second level classification if said median delivery error for products in said third level product classifications are substantially equal to said median delivery error of respective second level product classifications.

20. A system for measuring product delivery to customer, the system comprising:

an input unit for receiving a requested delivery date, an actual delivery date, product order factors and stratification factors for a plurality of product shipments;

a classification device for receiving said stratification factors defining a plurality of product classifications and assigning products orders to at least one product classification based on said stratification factors and said product order factors; and

a delivery data computation device for determining a span value for each product classification, said span value indicative of delivery error for products in each product classification;

wherein said product classification includes a first level product classification corresponding to a number of products and at least two second level product classifications, each second level product classification corresponding to a subset of the first level product classification.

21. A storage medium encoded with machine-readable computer program code for analyzing product delivery to customers, the storage medium including instructions for causing a computer to implement a method comprising:

generating a first level product classification corresponding to a number of products and determining delivery data for said first level product classification, said delivery data including a span value indicative of delivery error for products in said first level product classification;

dividing said first level product classification into at least two second level product classifications, each second level product classification corresponding to a subset of the first level product classification and determining delivery data for each of said second level product classifications, said delivery data including a span value indicative of delivery error for products in said second level product classifications.