System and a method, including software and hardware, for providing real-time and synchronization views of supply chain information

• US 7,443,282 B2
• Filed: 05/05/2005
• Issued: 10/28/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/05/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
• Original Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
• Inventors: Huang, Cheng-Wei, Lei, Ho-Chun, Tu, Mengru, Wu, Chuan-Yu, Lo, Kuo-Sue
• Primary Examiner(s): Bugg; George A
• Assistant Examiner(s): BLOUNT, ERIC
• Application Number:
  US11/122,054
• Publication Number:
  US 20060250248A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,272 Days
• Field of Search: 340/572.1, 340/10.1, 340/10.3, 340 104- 1052, 235/385, 700/215, 700221-227
• US Class Current: 340/10.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling

Abstract

A system and method, including software and hardware, for providing an accurate, real-time, and synchronized view of supply chain information. The system utilizes various RFID technologies (like an RFID tag, an RFID reader, and an RFID middleware software) to collect and manage data in real time. It then implements a synchronization mechanism to synchronize supply chain data from various data sources within and across a company in near real time fashion to allow different types of enterprise users, both internal and external, to access the synchronized information and take synchronized action within an appropriate timeframe.

Claims

1. An RFID (Radio Frequency Identification)-enabled Real-time Supply Chain Synchronization System (R2SCSS), comprising:

an RFID and Sensor Gateway Component for receiving information from a Tag and Reader Layer;

an Information Buffer Management Component at least communicating with the RFID and Sensor Gateway Component, wherein the Information Buffer Management Component is an interface between an RFID Middleware Layer and a Data Synchronization Layer;

a Database/Extraction Transformation and Loading (ETL) Component at least communicating with the Information Buffer Management Component;

a Real-time Product Information Synchronization Component, a Real-time Manufacturing Synchronization Component, a Real-time Inventory Synchronization Component and a Real-time Demand Fulfillment Synchronization Component communicating with each other to form a Core Component, wherein the Core Component communicates with the Information Buffer Management Component and the Database/Extraction Transformation and Loading (ETL) Component;

a Data Warehouse communicating with the Information Buffer Management Component, the Database/Extraction Transformation and Loading (ETL) Component and the Core Component; and

a Web Portal Component communicating with the Core Component for use by a user.

2. The system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising an Application Administrating Component for monitoring software operations of the system.

3. The system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a System Administrating Component for monitoring software and hardware operations of the system.

4. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the Database/Extraction Transformation and Loading (ETL) Component comprises a Data Import Module, a Data Synchronization Process Module, a Raw Data Processing data model, a Product Information Synchronization Data Model, a Manufacturing Information Synchronization Data Model, an Inventory Information Synchronization Data Model, an Information Synchronization Process Module, an Unified Data Module, an Information Refresh and Load Switching Module and a Data Warehouse;

wherein the Data Import Module is used to receive information from different data sources and initially filter and transform the data, and the initial preprocessing data is stored in the Raw Data Processing Data Model;

wherein the Data Synchronization Process Module is used to further process data that is cached in the Raw Data Processing Data Model for ensuring completeness and unity of the data, and then transmit individual data to the Product Information Synchronization Data Model, the Manufacturing Information Synchronization Data Model and the Inventory Information Synchronization Data Model via an Extraction Transformation and Loading (ETL) procedure;

wherein the Raw Data Processing data model is a cached area for storing the initial preprocessing data, and then the initial preprocessing data is transmitted to the Data Synchronization Process Module and the Information Synchronization Process Module to perform further processes;

wherein the Product Information Synchronization Data Model is used to store synchronal master data and planning Bill of Material (BOM) data;

wherein the Manufacturing Information Synchronization Data Model is used to store synchronal producing and manufacturing information and relevant processing information;

wherein the Inventory Information Synchronization Data Model is used to store synchronal inventory information, warehouse information and material flow information;

wherein the Information Synchronization Process Module is used to further process and extract data stored in the Product Information Synchronization Data Model, the Manufacturing Information Synchronization Data Model and the Inventory Information Synchronization Data Model to ensure completeness and unity of data;

wherein the Unified Data Module communicates with the Information Synchronization Process Module;

wherein the Information Refresh and Load Switching Module works with a Demand Fulfillment Synchronization Engine to implement a unique information building plus data caching and switching mechanism to achieve fast turnaround of operational data from the Raw Data Processing data model, the Product Information Synchronization Data Model, the Manufacturing Information Synchronization Data Model and the Inventory Information Synchronization Data Model; and

wherein the Data Warehouse is used to store operational data that mainly comes from the Product Information Synchronization Data Model, the Manufacturing Information Synchronization Data Model and the Inventory Information Synchronization Data Model, and operational metadata that mainly comes from the Unified Data Module for use in complex data analysis and data mining.

5. The system as claimed in claim 4, wherein the Real-time Product Information Synchronization Component comprises a Master Data Synchronization Module, a Supply Chain Planning Bill of Material (BOM) Management Module, a Product/Component E-Pedigree Management Module, a Product Sourcing Module, a Product Data Change Management Module and a Query and Report Module;

wherein the Master Data Synchronization Module is used to receive preprocessing data from the Data Synchronization Process Module, classify and process the preprocessing data, and store the data in the Product Life cycle Management (PLM) Information Synchronization Data Model;

wherein the Supply Chain Planning Bill of Material (BOM) Management Module is used to acquire relevant item master data to build supply chain planning Bill of Material (BOM) within a specific time period, and then store the Bill of Material (BOM) data in the relevant tables of the Unified Data Module via the Extraction Transformation and Loading (ETL) procedure of the Information Synchronization Process Module within a specific time period;

wherein the Product/Component E-Pedigree Management Module uses an RFID and an Electronic Product Code (EPC) to record and compile movement paths and product processes of an RFID event via the EPCglobal Network, and then build an E-Pedigree of make and buy and store the E-Pedigree of make and buy in the Product Life cycle Management (PLM) Information Synchronization Data Model;

wherein the Product Sourcing Module is used to provide a part search function, supplier/vendor sourcing function and a Request For Quote (RFQ) function;

wherein the Product Data Change Management Module 550 is used to record relevant changed information to the Product Life cycle Management (PLM) Information Synchronization Data Model; and

wherein the Query and Report Module is used to provide a query service and a customization report for products and components.

6. The system as claimed in claim 4, wherein the Real-time Manufacturing Synchronization Component comprises an Initialization Module, a Tag Read/Write Module, a Monitoring and Alert Module, a Work In Process (WIP) Track and Trace Module, a Yield Monitoring Module and a Query and Report Module;

wherein the Initialization Module is used to delete a new RFID tag or a recyclable RFID tag, and give a new item ID of the RFID on a product;

wherein the Tag Read/Write Module is used to process information that is read by reader, judge whether the process is normal or not, and write relevant information in a database;

wherein the Monitoring and Alert Module communicates with the Tag Read/Write Module for processing abnormal states in a production scene;

wherein the Work In Process (WIP) Track and Trace Module provides a tracking function and tracing function;

wherein the Yield Monitoring Module communicates with the Work In Process (WIP) Track and Trace Module; and

wherein the Query and Report Module communicates with the Inventory Information Synchronization Data Model and is used to providing a query service and a customization report for present production information.

7. A method for an RFID (Radio Frequency Identification)-enabled Real-time Supply Chain Synchronization System (R2SCSS), comprising:

initiating a new RFID tag via an initialization module;

reading initiated information of the new RFID tag via a Tag Read/Write Module;

reading processing information of the new RFID tag via the Tag Read/Write Module; and

judging whether the reading step reads an item ID with normal-condition processing information or reads an item ID with abnormal-condition processing information via the Tag Read/Write Module.

8. The method as claimed in claim 7, wherein the judging step reads an item ID with normal-condition processing information, the method further comprising:

writing processing stations and processing times via a Manufacturing Information Synchronization Data Model;

tracking and tracing the Work In Process (WIP) via a Work In Process (WIP) Track and Trace module; and

monitoring production yield via the Yield Monitoring Module.

9. The method as claimed in claim 7, wherein the judging step reads an item ID with normal-condition processing information, the method further comprising:

writing processing stations and processing times via a Manufacturing Information Synchronization Data Model; and

publishing the relevant parts of the information of a Work In Process (WIP) to an EPCglobal network via the Tag Read/Write Module, monitoring production yield via a Yield Monitoring Module, directly outputting the item ID with normal-condition processing information of the RFID tag, or providing a query service and a customization report for spot production information via the query and report module.

10. The method as claimed in claim 7, wherein the judging step reads an item ID with abnormal-condition processing information, the method further comprising:

reading the item ID with abnormal-condition processing information of the RFID tag via the Monitoring and Alert Module; and

outputting the item ID with abnormal-condition processing information of the RFID tag.

11. The method as claimed in claim 7, before the step of initiating the new RFID tag, further comprising providing a new item ID of the RFID tag via a Manufacturing Information Synchronization Data Model.

12. The method as claimed in claim 7, before the reading processing information step, further comprising renewing new processing information at any time via a Manufacturing Information Synchronization Data Model.

13. A method for an RFID (Radio Frequency Identification)-enabled Real-time Supply Chain Synchronization System (R2SCSS), comprising:

writing an item ID with abnormal-condition processing information into an RFID tag;

reading the item ID with abnormal-condition processing information of the RFID tag via a Monitoring and Alert Module;

querying processing information of a Manufacturing Information Synchronization Data Model according to the item ID with abnormal-condition processing information;

reading the processing information of the RFID tag via the Monitoring and Alert Module;

looking for an abnormal workstation via the Monitoring and Alert Module;

outputting an alert to the abnormal workstation via the Monitoring and Alert Module;

writing abnormal processing information via the Manufacturing Information Synchronization Data Model; and

outputting an abnormal processing information table to a Database/Extraction Transformation and Loading (ETL) Component.

14. The method as claimed in claim 13, after the querying processing information step, further comprising tracking and tracing for abnormal Work In Process (WIP) via a Work In Process (WIP) Track and Trace Module and monitoring production yield via a Yield Monitoring Module.