Method and apparatus providing a supply chain management system useful in outsourced manufacturing
First Claim
1. A method of automatically identifying and resolving one or more discrepancies in an outsourced manufacturing supply chain in which a plurality of supply chain partners participate, the method comprising the computer-implemented steps of:
- communicating to a direct contract manufacturer a forecast for a product, wherein the direct contract manufacturer is a manufacturer of the product and is a supply chain partner in the plurality of supply chain partners;
receiving a master schedule and a gross demand for the product from the direct contract manufacturer;
receiving first supply chain event information representing one or more first supply chain events from three or more supply chain partners at three or more respective levels of a supply chain at a database with which each of the supply chain partners communicate over a network;
periodically applying one or more rules to the first supply chain event information;
generating one or more alerts pertaining to one or more discrepancies that are found in the supply chain event information, based on applying the rules;
communicating one of the alerts to the three or more supply chain partners at the three or more respective levels of the supply chain who are participating in a transaction to which the discrepancies relate;
receiving second information that represents a second supply chain event that resolves the alert;
resolving the alert in the database based on the second information; and
periodically escalating the alert to one or more pre-defined parties associated with each of the supply chain partners who are participating in the transaction to which the discrepancies relate, until the second information is received.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method is disclosed for automatically identifying and resolving one or more discrepancies in an outsourced manufacturing supply chain in which a plurality of supply chain partners participate. According to this aspect, information representing one or more supply chain events is received from each of the supply chain partners in a database with which each of the supply chain partners may communicate over a public network. One or more rules are applied periodically to the supply chain event information, resulting in generating one or more alerts pertaining to one or more discrepancies that are found in the supply chain event information. The alerts are communicated to the supply chain partners who are participating in a transaction to which the discrepancies relate. Each alert remains active until second information is received that represents a second supply chain event that resolves the alert. According to one feature, the alerts are periodically escalated until they are resolved. A hub-and-spoke supply chain management system that facilitates the foregoing method, and other features, is also disclosed. In other aspects, the invention encompasses a computer apparatus, a computer readable medium, and a carrier wave configured to carry out the foregoing steps.
95 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A method of automatically identifying and resolving one or more discrepancies in an outsourced manufacturing supply chain in which a plurality of supply chain partners participate, the method comprising the computer-implemented steps of:
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communicating to a direct contract manufacturer a forecast for a product, wherein the direct contract manufacturer is a manufacturer of the product and is a supply chain partner in the plurality of supply chain partners; receiving a master schedule and a gross demand for the product from the direct contract manufacturer; receiving first supply chain event information representing one or more first supply chain events from three or more supply chain partners at three or more respective levels of a supply chain at a database with which each of the supply chain partners communicate over a network; periodically applying one or more rules to the first supply chain event information; generating one or more alerts pertaining to one or more discrepancies that are found in the supply chain event information, based on applying the rules; communicating one of the alerts to the three or more supply chain partners at the three or more respective levels of the supply chain who are participating in a transaction to which the discrepancies relate; receiving second information that represents a second supply chain event that resolves the alert; resolving the alert in the database based on the second information; and periodically escalating the alert to one or more pre-defined parties associated with each of the supply chain partners who are participating in the transaction to which the discrepancies relate, until the second information is received. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A computer-readable medium carrying one or more sequences of instructions for automatically identifying and resolving one or more discrepancies in an outsourced manufacturing supply chain in which a plurality of supply chain partners participate, which instructions, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to carry out the steps of:
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communicating to a direct contract manufacturer a forecast for a product, wherein the direct contract manufacturer is a manufacturer of the product and is a supply chain partner in the plurality of supply chain partners; receiving a master schedule and a gross demand for the product from the direct contract manufacturer; receiving first supply chain event information representing one or more first supply chain events associated with three or more supply chain partners at three or more respective levels of a supply chain, wherein receiving the first supply chain event information includes receiving the first supply chain information at a database with which each of the supply chain partners communicate over a network; periodically applying one or more rules to the first supply chain event information; generating one or more alerts pertaining to one or more discrepancies that are found in the supply chain event information, based on applying the rules; communicating one of the alerts to the three or more supply chain partners at three or more respective levels of the supply chain who are participating in a transaction to which the discrepancies relate; receiving second information that represents a second supply chain event that resolves the alert; resolving the alert in the database based on the second information; and periodically escalating the alert to one or more pre-defined parties associated with each of the supply chain partners who are participating in the transaction to which the discrepancies relate, until the second information is received.
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8. An apparatus for automatically identifying and resolving one or more discrepancies in an outsourced manufacturing supply chain in which a plurality of supply chain partners participate, comprising:
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means for communicating to a direct contract manufacturer a forecast for a product, wherein the direct contract manufacturer is a manufacturer of the product and is a supply chain partner in the plurality of supply chain partners; means for receiving a master schedule and a gross demand for the product from the direct contract manufacturer; means for receiving first supply chain event information representing one or more first supply chain events from each of at least three supply chain partners at least three respective levels of a supply chain at a database with which each of the supply chain partners communicate over a network; means for periodically applying one or more rules to the first supply chain event information; means for generating one or more alerts pertaining to one or more discrepancies that are found in the supply chain event information, based on applying the rules; means for communicating one of the alerts to at least three of the supply chain partners at three or more respective levels of the supply chain who are participating in a transaction to which the discrepancies relate; means for receiving second information that represents a second supply chain event that resolves the alert; means for resolving the alert in the database based on the second information; and means for periodically escalating the alert to one or more pre-defined parties associated with each of the supply chain partners who are participating in the transaction to which the discrepancies relate until the second information is received.
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9. An apparatus for automatically identifying and resolving one or more discrepancies in an outsourced manufacturing supply chain in which a plurality of supply chain partners participate, comprising:
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a network interface that is coupled to the data network for receiving one or more packet flows therefrom; a processor; one or more stored sequences of instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to carry out the steps of; communicating to a direct contract manufacturer a forecast for a product, wherein the direct contract manufacturer is a manufacturer of the product and is a supply chain partner in the plurality of supply chain partners; receiving a master schedule and a gross demand for the product from the direct contract manufacturer; receiving first supply chain event information representing one or more first supply chain events from three or more supply chain partners at three or more respective levels of a supply chain, wherein receiving the first supply chain event information includes receiving the first supply chain information at a database with which each of the supply chain partners communicate over a network; periodically applying one or more rules to the first supply chain event information; generating one or more alerts pertaining to one or more discrepancies that are found in the supply chain event information, based on applying the rules; communicating one of the alerts to the three or more supply chain partners at three or more respective levels of the supply chain who are participating in a transaction to which the discrepancies relate; receiving second information that represents a second supply chain event that resolves the alert; resolving the alert in the database based on the second information; and periodically escalating the alert to one or more pre-defined parties associated with each of the supply chain partners who are participating in the transaction to which the discrepancies relate, until the second information is received. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. An apparatus for automatically identifying and resolving one or more discrepancies in an outsourced manufacturing supply chain in which a plurality of supply chain partners participate, comprising:
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a network interface that is coupled to the data network for receiving one or more packet flows therefrom and is configured to communicate to a direct contract manufacturer a forecast for a product, wherein the direct contract manufacturer is a manufacturer of the product and is a supply chain partner in the plurality of supply chain partners and receive a master schedule and a gross demand for the product from the direct contract manufacturer; an alerts subsystem that is communicatively coupled to a database table that includes first supply chain event information representing one or more first supply chain events from three or more supply chain partners at three or more respective levels of a supply chain; rule logic that is communicatively coupled to the alerts subsystem and that is configured to periodically apply one or more rules to the first supply chain event information and generate one or more alerts pertaining to one or more discrepancies that are found in the supply chain event information, based on applying the rules; and alert delivery logic that is communicatively coupled to the alerts subsystem and that is configured to communicate one of the alerts to the three or more supply chain partners at the three or more respective levels of the supply chain who are participating in a transaction to which the discrepancies relate; wherein the rule logic further is configured to receive second information that represents a second supply chain event that resolves the alert and to resolve resolving the alert in the database table based on the second information; and wherein alert escalation logic further is configured to periodically escalate the alert to one or more pre-defined parties associated with each of the supply chain partners who are participating in the transaction to which the discrepancies relate, until the second information is received. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18)
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Specification