System and method for shipping material

• US 6,862,577 B2
• Filed: 05/31/2001
• Issued: 03/01/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Gagne, Robert R., Norton, Margaret M., Mayville, William A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Fischetti, Joseph A.
• Application Number:
  US09/870,923
• Publication Number:
  US 20020184119A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,370 Days
• Field of Search: 705/29, 705/28, 700/107
• US Class Current: 705/29
• 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 system and method for interactive inquiry and editing throughout the life cycle of the shipping request by the requester and various approving managers. Once the request is approved, shipping labels are automatically printed, and any necessary domestic or export documentation is electronically prepared by the application software. The application is adapted to provide each processing or approving party with the created shipping documentation upon request. All information received and relied upon by this process is saved in a database for tracking the shipping material, and for auditing the shipping process.

Claims

1. A method for electronically acquiring request and authorization information and documentation for the shipping of material, comprising:

providing an electronic database adapted to receive a shipping instruction from a requester;

electronically verifying said requester against said electronic database to ensure a proper requester;

providing fields in said electronic database for approvals of said shipping instruction;

notifying electronically said requester'"'"'s approving manager or, approving manager designee of said request for an initial approval;

verifying electronically said approving manager or said approving manager designee against an electronic manager delegation database to ensure a proper authorization;

providing electronically for a document link within said electronic database to view said request;

prompting electronically said approving manager or said approving manager designee to assign a status for said request;

notifying electronically a requester'"'"'s manager when said approving manager designee provides authorizations;

determining electronically from said request which next required approving manager or next required approving manager designee should be notified for awareness documentation, or approval;

notifying electronically said next required approving manager or said next required approving manager designee after said initial approval;

prompting electronically said requester to prepare documents for moving goods and materials to a designated shipping location;

notifying electronically said requester continuously via electronic mail of the status of said request;

notifying electronically said requester of approved request after all approvals have been granted;

generating electronically shipping documentation at said requester'"'"'s initiation; and

storing in a database information for tracking said shipment material and auditing said method.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein verifying said requester comprises electronically matching identification of said requester to an allowed or denied requester database.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein notifying said requester'"'"'s approving manager or approving manager designee of said request for an initial approval comprises notifying via electronic mail.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising electronically copying said approving manager if said designee gives approval.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein notifying said requester'"'"'s approving manager or approving manager designee of said request for an initial approval further comprises verifying electronically said approving manager or said approving manager designee.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein verifying said approving manager or said approving manager designee comprises notifying by electronic mail.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein providing for a document link within said electronic database to view said request further provides for viewing all contents of said request in its entirety.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein providing for a document link within said electronic database to view said request further provides for adapting said request to allow said approving manager or said approving manager designee to edit said request.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein said step of allowing said approving manager or said approving manager designee to edit said request includes providing for an edit softkey for said manager to elect.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein said step of prompting said approving manager or said approving manager designee to assign a status for said request further includes electronically canceling said request in its entirety when said request is denied.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein said step of prompting said approving manager or said approving manager designee to assign a status for said request further includes prompting electronically said approving manager or said designee to electronically save said request.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein said step of notifying the next required approving manager or next required approving manager designee after said initial approval includes notifying via electronic mail.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein said step of prompting said requester to prepare documents for moving goods and materials to a designated shipping location further includes automatically preparing move/ship ticket documents.

14. The method of claim 1 further comprising notifying a sensitive material coordinator if precious metals are involved in said shipment, said notification performed via electronic mail.

15. The method of claim 1 further comprising notifying a hazardous materials coordinator if hazardous materials are involved in said shipment, said notification performed via electronic mail.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein said hazardous material coordinator is prompted to assign a status through said document link and edit functions.

17. The method of claim 1 wherein after any editing is performed to said request, notification to save said request electronically delivered.

18. The method of claim 1 further comprising notifying electronically said requester after said request has been denied.

19. The method of claim 1 including automatically canceling said request immediately upon receiving a disapproval.