Supply chain/workflow services in a contract manufacturing framework

• US 7,353,180 B1
• Filed: 04/17/2000
• Issued: 04/01/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/17/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Accenture Global Services Limited (Accenture PLC)
• Original Assignee: Accenture LLP (Accenture PLC)
• Inventors: McGowan, Paul, Silverstone, Yaarit
• Primary Examiner(s): Jeanty; Romain
• Application Number:
  US09/551,181
• Time in Patent Office: 2,906 Days
• Field of Search: 707/2, 707 3- 4, 707/100, 707/101, 707/102, 707/104, 705/7, 705/26
• US Class Current: 705/7.11
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/063 Operations research, analysis or management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]

Abstract

The present disclosure provides for affording supply chain/workflow services in a contract manufacturing framework. First, a database including a plurality of service provider data structures is provided, wherein each service provider data structure includes a description of a particular service provider, and wherein the database further includes a request for proposal mechanism. Next, a particular service provider data structure is identified based on a request for proposal from a user utilizing the request for proposal mechanism. Finally, project management services are afforded to the user based on the request for proposal and the identified service provider data structure.

Claims

1. In a contract manufacturing framework, a method of providing access to services comprising:

providing a database including a request for proposal (“

RFP”

) mechanism, a nondisclosure agreement mechanism, a plurality of service provider data structures and a plurality of manufacturer data structures, wherein each service provider data structure includes a description of service provided by a particular service provider, and wherein each manufacturer data structure includes a description of offerings of a particular manufacturer;

identifying a particular data structure based on a request for proposal from a user utilizing the request for proposal mechanism, wherein the user is a service provider or a manufacturer;

receiving nondisclosure agreement data from the user wherein the nondisclosure agreement data is based on a nondisclosure agreement initiated with the nondisclosure agreement mechanism that is independently accessible by both the user and a third party using the contract manufacturing framework to initiate the nondisclosure agreement;

storing the nondisclosure agreement data in the database with the nondisclosure agreement mechanism for later retrieval of the nondisclosure agreement data; and

affording network-based project management services to the user based on the request for proposal and the identified data structure, wherein affording project management services includes managing assets in a network-based supply chain, including optimizing use of service provider assets and manufacturer assets and providing maintenance and service of service provider assets and manufacturer assets.

2. A method as recited in claim 1, further including the step of tracking a status of manufacturing processes performed by the identified service provider.

3. A method as recited in claim 1, further including the step of allowing the user to inquiry service engineers.

4. A method as recited in claim 1, further including the step of allowing the user to inquiry service chemists.

5. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the database is accessed utilizing the Internet.

6. A computer program embodied on a computer readable medium for providing supply chain/workflow services in a contract manufacturing framework comprising:

a code segment for providing a database including a request for proposal (“

RFP”

) mechanism and a plurality of service provider data structures and a plurality of manufacturer data structures, wherein each service provider data structure includes a description of service provided by a particular service provider, and wherein each manufacturer data structure includes a description of offerings of a particular manufacturer;

a code segment for identifying a particular data structure based on a request for proposal from a user utilizing the request for proposal mechanism, wherein the user is a service provider or a manufacturer;

a code segment for receiving nondisclosure agreement data from the user wherein the nondisclosure agreement data is based on a nondisclosure agreement initiated with the nondisclosure agreement mechanism that is independently accessible by both the user and a third party using the contract manufacturing framework to initiate the nondisclosure agreement;

a code segment for storing the nondisclosure agreement data in the database with the nondisclosure agreement mechanism for later retrieval of the nondisclosure agreement data; and

a code segment for affording network-based project management services to the user based on the request for proposal and the identified data structure, wherein affording project management services includes managing assets in a network-based supply chain, including optimizing use of service provider assets and manufacturer assets and providing maintenance and service of service provider assets and manufacturer assets.

7. In a contract manufacturing framework, a method of providing access to services comprising:

logic for providing a database including a request for proposal (“

RFP”

) mechanism and a plurality of service provider data structures and a plurality of manufacturer data structures, wherein each service provider data structure includes a description of service provided by a particular service provider, and wherein each manufacturer data structure includes a description of offerings of a particular manufacturer;

logic for identifying a particular data structure based on a request for proposal from a user utilizing the request for proposal mechanism, wherein the user is a service provider or a manufacturer;

logic for receiving nondisclosure agreement data from the user wherein the nondisclosure agreement data is based on a nondisclosure agreement initiated with the nondisclosure agreement mechanism that is independently accessible by both the user and a third party using the contract manufacturing framework to initiate the nondisclosure agreement;

logic for storing the nondisclosure agreement data in the database with the nondisclosure agreement mechanism for later retrieval of the nondisclosure agreement data; and

logic for affording network-based project management services to the user based on the request for proposal and the identified data structure, wherein affording project management services includes managing assets in a network-based supply chain, including optimizing use of service provider assets and manufacturer assets and providing maintenance and service of service provider assets and manufacturer assets.