System and method for automatically releasing collections of goods for shipment

• US 6,529,797 B2
• Filed: 03/05/2001
• Issued: 03/04/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/05/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Inventors: Hunt, Brian J., Roder, Larry L., Franzetti, Mariely, Bickley, Branden Clark, Williams, Richard M., Muir, William B., Pape, Mark A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ellis, Christopher P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Crawford, Gene O
• Application Number:
  US09/799,857
• Publication Number:
  US 20020123944A1
• Time in Patent Office: 729 Days
• Field of Search: 700/213, 700/214, 700/216, 700/226, 198/349.5, 414/273, 705/28
• US Class Current: 700/216
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0875 Itemisation or classification of parts, supplies or services, e.g. bill of materials

Abstract

A method for shipping items from a distribution facility according to customer orders may include a step of determining that the distribution facility contains all items requested in a customer order. The method may also include a step of determining that the requested items are a less-than-trailer-load (LTL) shipment. In response to determining that the distribution facility contains the requested items, a determination may be made as to whether sufficient pallet-build squares are available in the distribution facility to accommodate the requested items. In response to determining that sufficient pallet-build squares are available, the requested items may be automatically transported to an LTL dock in the distribution facility via one or more of the available pallet-build squares.

Claims

1. A method for manufacturing and shipping items from a manufacturing facility according to customer orders, the method comprising:

assembling products according to customer orders in an assembly unit of the manufacturing facility;

determining that a distribution facility of the manufacturing facility contains all items requested in a customer order;

determining that the requested items are a less-than-trailer-load (LTL) shipment;

in response to determining that the distribution facility contains the requested items, automatically determining whether sufficient pallet-build squares are available in the distribution facility to accommodate the requested items; and

in response to determining that sufficient pallet-build squares are available, automatically transporting the requested items to an LTL dock in the distribution facility via one or more of the available pallet-build squares, the requested items including assembled products from the assembly unit.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of automatically transporting the requested items to an LTL dock comprises:

determining that an automated storage and retrieval system (ASRS) within the distribution facility contains one or more of the requested items; and

in response to determining that the ASRS contains one or more of the requested items, automatically transporting the one or more requested items from the ASRS to the LTL dock.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of determining that the distribution facility contains all requested items is performed automatically in response to a manufacturing event.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the manufacturing event comprises at least one event selected from the group consisting of:

detecting that assembly of a product for an order has been completed;

detecting that assembly of all products for an order has been completed;

detecting that the distribution facility has received a product for an order;

detecting that the distribution facility has received all products for an order;

detecting that the distribution facility has received an article for an order; and

detecting that the distribution facility has received all articles for an order.

5. A manufacturing facility comprising:

an assembly unit that assembles products according to customer orders;

a distribution facility that includes;

two or more pallet-build squares;

a less-than-trailer-load (LTL) dock; and

a control system that;

determines that the distribution facility contains all items requested in a customer order;

determines that the requested items are a less-than-trailer-load (LTL) shipment;

in response to determining that the distribution facility contains the requested items, automatically determines whether sufficient pallet-build squares among the two or more pallet-build squares are available to accommodate the requested items; and

in response to determining that sufficient pallet-build squares are available, automatically transports the requested items to the LTL dock via one or more of the available pallet-build squares, the requested items including assembled products from the assembly unit.

6. The manufacturing facility of claim 5, further comprising an automated storage and retrieval system (ASRS) from which the control system obtains one or more of the requested items.

7. The manufacturing facility of claim 5, wherein the control system comprises:

at least one input device that detects at least one manufacturing event, the control system determining that the distribution facility contains all requested items automatically, in response to the at least one input device detecting the at least one manufacturing event.

8. The manufacturing facility of claim 7, wherein the at least one input device comprises a barcode scanner.