System and method for managing product development
First Claim
1. A method for managing product development, the method comprising:
- storing technical requirements data for a product including product data, material data, and packaging data in a structured relational database;
linking unstructured documents to the technical requirements data within the structured relational database;
grouping technical requirements data into technical requirements summaries to define a finished product;
linking the technical requirements summaries for the finished product to facilitate user navigation and searchability among related technical requirements summaries;
recording changes made to the technical requirements data and associated user identification information;
storing approval information for the technical requirements data in the relational database; and
electronically communicating approved technical requirements data for use in manufacturing and distributing the finished product.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system, method, and computer readable storage medium for managing product development include a relational database containing draft, approved, and archived versions of product, package, materials, process, and artwork technical data for use by product development personnel in providing a structured set of data output for use in a supply chain. In one embodiment, the relational database includes objects having data to describe design requirements of a finished product component such as a formula, material, package, and the like. Text documents may be linked to the relational data structure by reference to provide design requirements not amenable to a structured data format, such as test methods, process instructions, and the like. The system, method, and computer readable storage medium provide for electronic communication and electronic approval of data subsets while tracking changes and archiving previous versions for subsequent access or reference. System validation and ongoing change control provide necessary support for products in regulated industries.
95 Citations
72 Claims
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1. A method for managing product development, the method comprising:
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storing technical requirements data for a product including product data, material data, and packaging data in a structured relational database;
linking unstructured documents to the technical requirements data within the structured relational database;
grouping technical requirements data into technical requirements summaries to define a finished product;
linking the technical requirements summaries for the finished product to facilitate user navigation and searchability among related technical requirements summaries;
recording changes made to the technical requirements data and associated user identification information;
storing approval information for the technical requirements data in the relational database; and
electronically communicating approved technical requirements data for use in manufacturing and distributing the finished product. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 42)
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31. A system for managing product development, the system comprising:
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a technical requirements data module for a product including product data, material data, and packaging data in a structured relational database;
a module for linking unstructured documents to the technical requirements data within the relational database;
a module for grouping technical requirements data into technical requirements summaries to define a finished product;
a module for linking the technical requirements summaries for the finished product to facilitate user navigation among related technical requirements summaries;
a module for recording changes made to the technical requirements data and associated user identification information;
a module for storing approval information for the technical requirements data in the relational database; and
a module for electronically communicating approved technical requirements data for use in manufacturing and distributing the finished product. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54)
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55. A computer readable storage medium having stored data representing instructions executable by a computer to manage product development, the computer readable storage medium comprising:
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instructions for storing technical requirements data for a product including product data, material data, and packaging data in a structured relational database;
instructions for linking unstructured documents to the technical requirements data within the structured relational database;
instructions for grouping technical requirements data into technical requirements summaries to define a finished product;
instructions for linking the technical requirements summaries for the finished product to facilitate user navigation among related technical requirements summaries;
instructions for recording changes made to the technical requirements data and associated user identification information;
instructions for storing approval information for the technical requirements data in the relational database; and
instructions for electronically communicating approved technical requirements data for use in manufacturing and distributing the finished product. - View Dependent Claims (56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72)
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Specification