Engineering process for procuring components/peripherals

• US 7,047,228 B1
• Filed: 10/19/1999
• Issued: 05/16/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/19/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Dell USA LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Inventors: Murphy, Paul J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Alam, Shahid
• Assistant Examiner(s): FLEURANTIN, JEAN B
• Application Number:
  US09/420,696
• Time in Patent Office: 2,401 Days
• Field of Search: 707 1- 10, 707100-1041, 707200-206, 705/9, 705/28, 705/29, 700 97- 98, 700106-107, 700103-104, 700/117, 700/182, 790213-219, 717/100, 717/103
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99931 Database or file accessing

Abstract

A system and method of component procurement efficiently provides a centralized location for storing and retrieving component data. The engineering method is for procuring a manufactured component through a plurality of development stages. According to one embodiment, the method includes providing a database for storing information related to procuring the manufactured component, sharing the database among a plurality of relevant parties such as a manufacturer and a supplier and inputting data into the database by at least one of the relevant parties during a development stage of the manufactured component. The method also includes modifying the database at each development stage if necessary. The database holds data related to procurement of components for a computer system and is accessible to a manufacturer and at least one outside vendor. The database includes a pointer for locating data related to at least one of the development stages. The data in the database includes procurement-related data such as production information, testing information, regulatory information, and cost information. The database is stored on a memory and includes a plurality of partitions, each partition relating to manufacturing the component. The database also includes a plurality of fields within each partition, the plurality of fields for logging information related to a plurality of manufacturing development stages. The database also includes a plurality of storage locations for storing data related to the plurality of partitions.

Claims

1. A method for procuring a manufactured component through a plurality of development stages, the method comprising:

providing a database for storing information related to procuring the manufactured component;

sharing the database among a plurality of relevant parties, at least one of the relevant parties comprising an outside vendor;

inputting data into the database by at least one of the relevant parties during a development stage of the manufactured component; and

modifying the database at each development stage of the manufactured component if necessary.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the database holds data related to procurement of a plurality of components for a computer system.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

providing a pointer in the database, the pointer locating data related to at least one of the development stages of the manufactured component.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the relevant parties include a manufacturer and at least one supplier.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the data includes:

production information;

testing information;

regulatory information; and

cost information.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the database is stored on a memory and includes:

a plurality of partitions, each partition relating to manufacturing the component;

a plurality of fields within each partition, the plurality of fields for logging information related to a plurality of manufacturing development stages; and

a plurality of storage locations for storing data related to the plurality of partitions;

wherein the database is accessible to a manufacturer and said outside vendor.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the database is accessible via one of an internet connection to a network, an intranet connection to a network and both an internet and intranet connection to a network.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the database is accessible via a transportable memory.

9. A database stored on a memory for use in manufacturing a component, the database comprising:

a plurality of partitions, each partition relating to manufacturing the component;

a plurality of fields within each partition, the plurality of fields for logging information related to a plurality of manufacturing development stages; and

a plurality of storage locations for storing data related to the plurality of partitions;

wherein the database is accessible to a manufacturer and at least one outside vendor.

10. The database of claim 9 wherein the database is accessible via one of an internet connection to a network, an intranet connection to a network, and both an internet and intranet connection to a network.

11. The database of claim 9 wherein the database is accessible via the memory being transportable.

12. The database of claim 9 wherein the database is capable of activating a plurality of programs for viewing and editing the data, the plurality of programs enabling the manufacturer and the at least one outside vendor to view and edit identical data.

13. The database of claim 12 wherein the plurality of programs are read-only viewers.

14. The database of claim 9 wherein the plurality of fields includes a plurality of comment fields.

15. The computer system of claim 9 wherein the plurality of partitions includes a plurality of forms for inputting and viewing data.

16. The database of claim 15 wherein the plurality of forms include at least one of an evaluation form, a regulatory form, a reliability form, a design review form, a manufacturability form, a documentation form, a system test form, a mechanical form, a bench test form and a report form.

17. A method of procuring a computer component comprising:

providing a database stored on a memory, the database including;

a plurality of partitions, each partition relating to manufacturing the component;

a plurality of fields within each partition, the plurality of fields for logging information related to a plurality of manufacturing development stages; and

a plurality of storage locations for storing data related to the plurality of partitions, and providing access to the database by a manufacturer and at least one outside vendor.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the database is accessible via one of an internet connection to a network, an intranet connection to a network, and both an internet and intranet connection to a network.

19. The method of claim 17 wherein the database is contained in a transportable memory.

20. The method of claim 17 further comprising:

enabling the manufacturer and the at least one outside vendor to view identical data via a plurality of programs for viewing and editing the data.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein the plurality of programs are read-only viewers.

22. The method of claim 17 wherein the plurality of fields includes a plurality of comment fields.

23. The method of claim 17 wherein the plurality of partitions includes a plurality of forms for inputting and viewing data.

24. The method of claim 23 wherein the plurality of forms include at least one of an evaluation form, a regulatory form, a reliability form, a design review form, a manufacturability form, a documentation form, a system test form, a mechanical form, a bench test form and a report form.

25. The method of claim 17 wherein the plurality of partitions includes:

a second subset of the plurality of fields for inputting data related to test results.

34. The method of claim 17, further comprising limiting access of said at least one outside vendor to at least a portion of said database.

35. The method of claim 17, further comprising providing a plurality of security levels to limit access to said database.

36. The method of claim 17, wherein said at least one vendor provides technical documentation to said database.

26. A computer system comprising:

a processor;

system memory coupled to the processor;

a memory coupled to the processor, the memory including a database for use in manufacturing a component, the database including;

a plurality of partitions, each partition relating to manufacturing the component;

a plurality of fields within each partition, the plurality of fields for logging information related to a plurality of manufacturing development stages; and

a plurality of storage locations for storing data related to the plurality of partitions;

wherein the database is accessible to a manufacturer and at least one outside vendor.

27. The computer system of claim 26 wherein the database is accessible via a computer network.

28. The computer system of claim 26 wherein the database is accessible via the memory being transportable.

29. The computer system of claim 26 wherein the database includes a plurality of programs for editing and viewing the data, the plurality of programs enabling the manufacturer and the at least one outside vendor to view identical data.

30. The computer system of claim 26 wherein the plurality of viewers are read-only viewers.

31. The computer system of claim 26 wherein the plurality of fields includes a plurality of comment fields.

32. The computer system of claim 26 wherein the plurality of partitions includes a plurality of forms for inputting and viewing data.

33. The computer system of claim 32 wherein the plurality of forms include at least one of an evaluation form, a regulatory form, a reliability form, a design review form, a manufacturability form, a documentation form, a system test form, a mechanical form, a bench test form and a report form.