Inventory management system for reducing overall warehouse and pipeline inventory
First Claim
1. A method of distributing parts, said method comprising the steps of:
- providing a central warehouse adjacent a transportation hub;
maintaining sufficient parts within said central warehouse to provide a regular stream of parts to each of a plurality of manufacturing facilities;
providing a regular stream of parts to each of said manufacturing facilities by transporting component parts from said central warehouse to each of said manufacturing facilities primarily via an expedited delivery service performed using said transportation hub, said step of providing said regular stream of parts comprising transporting a particular part from said central warehouse to a particular one of said manufacturing facilities; and
after said particular part has been assembled into a finished product a said particular manufacturing facility, transporting said finished product back to said central warehouse via said transportation hub.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A computer system for use in reducing overall pipeline inventory within a distribution network that includes a central warehouse that is: (1) adjacent a transportation hub; and (2) configured to store sufficient component parts to provide a regular stream of parts to each of a plurality of manufacturing facilities. The computer system is preferably configured for coordinating the transportation of a regular stream of parts to each of the manufacturing facilities by transporting component parts from the central warehouse to the manufacturing facilities primarily via an expedited delivery service performed using the transportation hub. The expedited delivery service may include, for example, guaranteed delivery within one or two days. This reduces the overall pipeline and warehouse inventory within the distribution network by reducing the average transit time for each part, and by reducing the amount of safety stock that is needed to support the operations of the manufacturing facilities.
65 Citations
29 Claims
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1. A method of distributing parts, said method comprising the steps of:
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providing a central warehouse adjacent a transportation hub;
maintaining sufficient parts within said central warehouse to provide a regular stream of parts to each of a plurality of manufacturing facilities;
providing a regular stream of parts to each of said manufacturing facilities by transporting component parts from said central warehouse to each of said manufacturing facilities primarily via an expedited delivery service performed using said transportation hub, said step of providing said regular stream of parts comprising transporting a particular part from said central warehouse to a particular one of said manufacturing facilities; and
after said particular part has been assembled into a finished product a said particular manufacturing facility, transporting said finished product back to said central warehouse via said transportation hub. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method of distributing parts, said method comprising the steps of:
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providing a central warehouse adjacent a transportation hub;
maintaining sufficient parts within said central warehouse to provide a regular stream of parts to each of a plurality of manufacturing facilities;
providing a regular stream of parts to each of said manufacturing facilities by transporting component parts from said central warehouse to each of said manufacturing facilities primarily via an expedited delivery service performed using said transportation hub, wherein;
said component parts comprise one or more electronic components; and
said method further comprises the step of loading software onto said one or more electronic components at said central warehouse. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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Specification