Method and system of restricted substance management and recycling

• US 7,167,836 B2
• Filed: 11/05/2001
• Issued: 01/23/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/05/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ford Motor Company
• Original Assignee: Ford Motor Company
• Inventors: Kovacic, Frank, Gottselig, Bernd, Nelson, John Lincoln, Srikiran, Pratapa, Gilbert, Richard J., Xu, Bing Chang, Zhang, Holly
• Primary Examiner(s): Borissov; Igor N.
• Application Number:
  US09/682,988
• Publication Number:
  US 20030088424A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,905 Days
• Field of Search: 705/28, 705/29, 705/1, 705/7, 705/8, 705/10, 705/11, 707/102, 707/104.1, 700/107, 700/106
• US Class Current: 705/28
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/30 Administration of product recycling or disposal
• CPC Class Codes: Y02W 90/00 Enabling technologies or technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to greenhouse gas [GHG] emissions mitigation

Abstract

A method is provided of restricted substance management and recycling in a manufacturing environment. The method includes the steps of inputting restricted substances and recycle content data of parts supplied by a supplier for a vehicle into a computer system of a vehicle manufacturer. The method also includes the steps of reviewing the inputted data and determining parts with banned or recycled content or substances over predetermined thresholds. The method further includes the steps of reporting the determined parts to the supplier and vehicle manufacture.

Claims

1. A computer method of restricted substance management and recycling in a vehicle manufacturing environment, said method comprising the steps of:

inputting restricted substances and recycle content data of parts supplied by a vehicle supplier for a vehicle into a computer system of a vehicle manufacturer;

reviewing the inputted data and determining parts with banned or recycled content or substances over predetermined thresholds; and

reporting the determined parts to the vehicle supplier and the vehicle manufacture.

2. A computer method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said step of inputting comprises inputting data of restricted substances and recycle content by a the vehicle supplier.

3. A computer method as set forth in claim 2 wherein said step of inputting further comprises validating the inputted data.

4. A computer method as set forth in claim 2 wherein said step of inputting further comprises saving partial inputted data.

5. A computer method as set forth in claim 2 wherein said step of inputting further comprises acknowledging receipt of inputted data.

6. A computer method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said step of reviewing comprises analyzing inputted data for compliance with a restricted substance management standard.

7. A computer method as set forth in claim 6 wherein said step of reviewing further comprises comparing the inputted data to list of banned substances.

8. A computer method as set forth in claim 7 wherein said step of reviewing further comprises determining whether there are any banned substances.

9. A computer method as set forth in claim 8 wherein said step of reviewing further comprises sending a non-compliance notification to the vehicle supplier and vehicle manufacturer if there are any banned substances.

10. A computer method as set forth in claim 8 wherein said step of reviewing further comprises comparing the inputted data to a list of CAS numbers of substances with threshold content limits if there are no banned substances.

11. A computer method as set forth in claim 10 wherein said step of reviewing further comprises determining whether there are any substances with threshold content limits.

12. A computer method as set forth in claim 11 wherein said step of reviewing further comprises, for each substance, comparing the inputted mass ratio against a specific TCL for CAS number if there are substances with threshold content limits.

13. A computer method as set forth in claim 12 wherein said step of reviewing further comprises determining whether there are any reported substances with a mass ratio greater than the specific TCL.

14. A computer method as set forth in claim 13 wherein said step of reviewing further comprises sending a non-compliance notification to the vehicle supplier and vehicle manufacturer if there are any reported substances with a mass ratio greater than the specific TCL.

15. A computer method as set forth in claim 13 wherein said step of reviewing further comprises determining whether there is no single substance over the TCL or banned if there are no reported substances with a mass ratio greater than the specific TCL or there are no substances with TCL.

16. A computer method as set forth in claim 13 wherein said step of reviewing further comprises sending a compliance notification to the vehicle supplier and vehicle manufacturer if there is no single substance over TCL or banned.

17. A computer method of restricted substance management and recycling in a vehicle manufacturing environment, said method comprising the steps of:

inputting data of restricted substances and recycle content of parts supplied by a vehicle supplier for a vehicle into a computer system of a vehicle manufacturer;

validating the inputted data;

saving partial inputted data;

acknowledging receipt of inputted data by the vehicle manufacturer to the vehicle supplier;

reviewing the inputted data and determining parts with banned or recycled content or substances over predetermined thresholds;

sending a non-compliance notification to the vehicle supplier and the vehicle manufacturer if there are determined parts; and

sending a compliance notification to the vehicle supplier and the vehicle manufacturer if there are no determined parts.