Scheduling delivery of chemical products based on a predicted estimated time of exhaustion

• US 7,516,082 B2
• Filed: 04/29/2003
• Issued: 04/07/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/29/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ecolab USA Incorporated (Ecolab, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Ecolab, Inc.
• Inventors: Howes, Ronald Bruce Jr., Sanville, Katherine, Johnson, David Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): Jarrett; Scott L.
• Application Number:
  US10/427,032
• Publication Number:
  US 20040220844A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,170 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 705/7.26
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0631 Resource planning, allocation, distributing or scheduling for enterprises or organisations
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06315 Needs-based resource requirements planning or analysis
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06316 Sequencing of tasks or work
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management

Abstract

A method and system for routing a delivery vehicle to a chemical usage facility is disclosed. The chemical usage facility includes one or more chemical dispense systems that dispense one or more chemical product. The quantity of each chemical product remaining is measured and communicated to a central management facility. The central management facility analyzes a trend in product usage to predict when the product quantity will reach a threshold depletion point. The chemical usage facility is scheduled on the route according to the predicted time associated with the threshold depletion point.

Claims

1. A method for routing delivery of chemical products to chemical usage facilities, the method comprising:

determining usage of a first chemical product dispensed at a first chemical usage facility having a client computer for obtaining measurement data corresponding to a dispensed quantity of the first chemical product during a plurality of specified periods in time, wherein determining usage comprises;

calculating usage of the first chemical product during each of the specified periods in time using a plurality of indirect measurements collected at the first chemical usage facility by the client computer during the specified periods in time, wherein the indirect measurements relate to a count of wash cycles; and

adding each of the plurality of indirect measurements to yield a plurality of total count values indirectly representing usage of the first chemical product during each of the specified periods in time;

predicting an estimated time of exhaustion of the first chemical product based on usage determined for each of the plurality of specified periods in time, wherein predicting an estimated time of exhaustion further comprises;

plotting an estimate of remaining the first chemical product following each of the specified periods in time on a time line; and

extrapolating the plotted estimates on the time line to estimate the time of exhaustion of the first chemical product;

transmitting usage of the first chemical product at the first chemical usage facility during each of the plurality of specified periods in time to a central management facility that includes a server computer; and

scheduling, using the server computer, delivery of the first chemical product to the first chemical usage facility based on a predetermined time for replenishment respective to the predicted estimated time of exhaustion of the first chemical product, wherein scheduling delivery further comprises;

identifying one or more other chemical usage facilities on a predefined route represented as a list of delivery locations for delivery of chemical products;

determining a sequential position on the list of delivery locations in which to insert a delivery location for the first chemical usage facility based on the predetermined time for replenishment of the first chemical product;

adjusting the predefined route by inserting the delivery location for the first chemical usage facility into the determined sequential position on the list; and

delivering the chemical product to the chemical usage facility according to the adjusted predefined route.

2. A method as defined in claim 1, further comprising:

determining usage of a second chemical product at a second chemical usage facility during the plurality of specified periods in time;

predicting an estimated time of exhaustion of the second chemical product based on usage determined for the plurality of specified periods in time; and

scheduling delivery of the second chemical product to the second chemical usage facility based on the predetermined time for replenishment respective to the estimated time of exhaustion of the second chemical product.

3. A method as defined in claim 2, wherein the scheduling act comprises:

generating a route schedule for delivering the first chemical product to the first chemical usage facility and the second chemical product to the second chemical usage facility based on a comparison between the predetermined time for replenishment of the first chemical product and the predetermined time for replenishment of the second chemical product.

4. A method as defined in claim 3, wherein generating a route schedule comprises:

adjusting the route schedule based on a comparison between a location of the first chemical usage facility and a location of the second chemical product.

5. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein determining usage comprises:

calculating a quantity of the first chemical product used during each of the specified periods in time by measuring an amount of first chemical product dispensed at the first chemical usage facility during the specified periods in time.

6. A method as defined in claim 5, wherein the specified periods in time comprise an initial time period and at least one subsequent time period, and wherein predicting an estimated time of exhaustion comprises:

subtracting the quantity of the first chemical product dispensed during the initial time period from en original quantity of the chemical product to render an estimate of remaining chemical product following the initial time period, wherein the estimate of remaining chemical product then represents a relative original quantity for use in estimating remaining chemical product after each of the subsequent time periods; and

subtracting the quantity of the first chemical product dispensed during each of the subsequent time periods from the relative original quantity to yield estimates of remaining chemical product following each of the subsequent time periods, wherein the relative original quantity being set to the estimate of remaining chemical product after each subtracting act performed for each subsequent time period.

7. A method as defined in claim 6, wherein predicting an estimated time of exhaustion further comprises:

plotting the estimate of remaining chemical product following the initial time period and the estimates of remaining chemical product after each of the subsequent time periods on a time line; and

extrapolating the plotted estimates on the time line to estimate the time of exhaustion.

8. A method as defined in claim 5, wherein determining usage of a first chemical product comprises determining usage of a first chemical product tat is in liquid form.

9. A method as defined in claim 5, wherein determining usage of a first chemical product comprises determining usage of a first chemical product that is in solid form.

10. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of indirect measurements that relate to a count of wash cycles comprises an instance that a rack is washed by a ware wash machine.

11. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of indirect measurements that relate to a count of wash cycles comprises an instance that a vehicle is washed by a vehicle wash facility.

12. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein determining usage further comprises:

multiplying each of the plurality of total count values by a dissolution rate associated with the first chemical product to render a quantity of the first chemical product used at the first chemical usage facility during each of the plurality of specified periods in time.

13. A method as defined in claim 12, wherein specified periods in time comprise an initial time period and at least one subsequent time period, and wherein predicting an estimated time of exhaustion comprises:

subtracting the quantity of the first chemical product used during the initial time period from an original quantity of the chemical product to render an estimate of remaining chemical product following the initial time period, wherein the estimate of remaining chemical product then represents a relative original quantity for use in estimating remaining chemical product after each of the subsequent time periods; and

subtracting the quantity of the first chemical product dispensed during each of the subsequent time periods from the relative original quantity to yield estimates of remaining chemical product after each of the subsequent time periods, wherein the relative original quantity being set to the estimate of remaining chemical product following each subtracting act performed for each subsequent time period.

14. A method as defined in claim 13, wherein predicting an estimated lime of exhaustion further comprises:

plotting the estimate of remaining chemical product following the initial time period and the estimates of remaining chemical product after each of the subsequent time periods on a time line; and

extrapolating the plotted estimates on the time line to estimate the time of exhaustion.

15. A method as defined in claim 14, wherein determining usage of a first chemical product comprises determining usage of a first chemical product that is in solid form.

16. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the determining a sequential position comprises:

analyzing a delivery parameter.

17. A method as defined in claim 16, wherein the delivery parameter relates to minimizing total route distance.

18. A method as defined in claim 16, wherein the delivery parameter relates to minimizing total route time.

19. A method as defined in claim 1 wherein determining a sequential position comprises:

analyzing one or more sets of traffic related data selected from the group consisting of map data, road condition data, road construction data, and weather data.

20. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein scheduling delivery comprises:

modifying a route schedule to include instructions to deliver the first chemical product to the first chemical usage facility.

21. A method as defined in claim 20, further comprising:

transmitting the route schedule to a service vehicle from the central management facility.

22. A system for routing delivery of chemical products to chemical usage facilities, the system comprising:

a chemical usage facility having one or more chemical dispense systems, each chemical dispense system dispensing a chemical product and having a monitor for obtaining measurement data corresponding to a dispensed quantity of the chemical product;

a central management facility in operable communication with the chemical usage facility, the central management facility having a server computer receiving transmissions of measurement data collected by a client computer at the chemical usage facility,

the central management facility server determining usage of a first chemical product at a first chemical usage facility during a plurality of specified periods in time, wherein determining usage comprises;

calculating usage of the first chemical product during each of the specified periods in time using a plurality of indirect measurements collected at the first chemical usage facility by the client computer during the specified periods in time, wherein the indirect measurements relate to a count of wash cycles; and

adding each of the plurality of indirect measurements to yield a plurality of total count values indirectly representing usage of the first chemical product during each of the specified periods in time;

predicting an estimated time of exhaustion of the first chemical product based on usage determined for each of the plurality of specified periods in time, wherein predicting an estimated time of exhaustion further comprises;

plotting an estimate of remaining first chemical product following each of the specified periods in time on a time line; and

extrapolating the plotted estimates on the time line to estimate the time of exhaustion of the first chemical product;

the central management facility server scheduling delivery of the first chemical product to the first chemical usage facility based on a predetermined time for replenishment respective to the predicted time of exhaustion of the first chemical product, wherein scheduling delivery further comprises;

identifying one or more other chemical usage facilities on a predefined route represented as a list of delivery locations for delivery of chemical products;

determining a sequential position on the list of delivery locations in which to insert a delivery location for the first chemical usage facility based on the predetermined time for replenishment of the first chemical product; and

adjusting the predefined route by inserting the delivery location for the first chemical usage facility into the determined sequential position on the list; and

a delivery vehicle communicatively connected to the central management facility, receiving the adjusted delivery schedule from the central management facility and delivering the chemical product to the chemical usage facility according to the adjusted delivery schedule.

23. A system as defined in claim 22, wherein each transmission of measurement data comprises:

a chemical usage facility identifier (ID) field comprising a chemical usage facility ID associated with the chemical usage facility;

a chemical dispense system ID field comprising a chemical dispense system ID associated with the chemical dispense system which monitored the measurement data; and

a measurement field comprising data collected by the client computer at the chemical usage facility, wherein the data contained in the measurement field is useable by the server computer to determine the time for replenishing the chemical product at the chemical usage facility.

24. A system as defined in claim 23, wherein the data placed into the measurement field of each transmission of measurement data by the client computer comprises a quantity of the chemical product dispensed during a specified period in time.

25. A system as defined in claim 24, wherein the client computer calculates the quantity of the chemical product dispensed during the specified period in time by measuring an amount of the chemical product dispensed at the chemical usage facility during the specified period in time.

26. A system as defined in claim 25, wherein the client computer transmits and the server computer receives a plurality of transmissions of measurement data, each transmission having a measurement field comprising data related to the quantity of the chemical product dispensed at the chemical usage facility during one of a plurality of specified periods in time.

27. A system as defined in claim 26, wherein responsive to receipt of the plurality of transmissions of measurement data, the server computer determines a quantity of remaining chemical product after each of the specified periods in time by subtracting the quantity of the chemical product dispensed during each of the specified periods in time from a relative original quantity initially set to an original quantity of the chemical product and subsequently set to the determined quantity of the chemical product following each of the specified periods in time.

28. A system as defined in claim 27, wherein the server computer plots the determined quantities of remaining chemical product after each of the specified periods in time on a time line and extrapolates the plotted quantities on the time line to an estimated time of exhaustion of the chemical product, wherein the time for replenishing occurs at a point on the time line prior to the estimated time of exhaustion.

29. A system as defined in claim 28, wherein the chemical product is in liquid form.

30. A system as defined in claim 28, wherein the chemical product is in solid form.

31. A system as defined in claim 22, wherein the server computer multiplies each of the plurality of total count values by a dissolution rate associated with the chemical product to render a quantity of the chemical product used at the chemical usage facility during each of the plurality of specified periods in time.

32. A system as defined in claim 31, wherein responsive to receipt of the plurality of transmissions of measurement data the server computer determines a quantity of remaining chemical product after each of the specified periods in time by subtracting the quantity of the chemical product used during each of the specified periods in time from a relative original quantity initially set to an original quantity of the chemical product and subsequently set to the determined quantity of the chemical product after each of the specified periods in time.

33. A system as defined in claim 32, wherein the server computer plots the determined quantities of remaining chemical product after each of the specified periods in time on a time line and extrapolates the plotted quantities on the time line to an estimated time of exhaustion of the chemical product, wherein the time for replenishing occurs at a point on the time line prior to the estimated time of exhaustion.

34. A system as defined in claim 22, wherein the server computer sets the adjusted delivery schedule such that delivery of chemical products on the delivery route is optimized respective to a delivery parameter.

35. A system as defined in claim 34, wherein the delivery parameter relates to minimizing total route distance.

36. A system as defined in claim 34, wherein the delivery parameter relates to minimizing total route time.

37. A system as defined in claim 34, further comprising:

a traffic information database in operable communication with the server computer, the traffic information database comprising traffic information selected from the group consisting of road condition data, traffic delay data, map data, and road construction data.

38. A system as defined in claim 37, wherein the server computer receives traffic information from the traffic information database and analyzes the traffic information to optimize delivery of chemical products along the delivery route.

39. A system as defined in claim 22, wherein the delivery vehicle comprises:

a route management device operable to store and display the adjusted delivery schedule; and

a communication module operable to receive the adjusted delivery schedule from the central management facility and communicate the adjusted delivery schedule to the route management device.

40. A tangible computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions, the instructions causing a processor to execute a computer process comprising:

determining usage of a first chemical product dispensed at a first chemical usage facility having a client computer for obtaining measurement data corresponding to a dispensed quantity of the first chemical product during a plurality of specified periods in time, wherein determining usage comprises;

calculating usage of the first chemical product during each of the specified periods in time using a plurality of indirect measurements collected at the first chemical usage facility by the client computer during the specified periods in time, wherein the indirect measurements relate to a count of wash cycles; and

adding each of the plurality of indirect measurements to yield a plurality of total count values indirectly representing usage of the first chemical product during each of the specified periods in time;

predicting an estimated time of exhaustion of the first chemical product based on usage determined for each of the plurality of specified periods in time, wherein predicting an estimated time of exhaustion further comprises;

plotting an estimate of remaining the first chemical product following each of the specified periods in time on a time line; and

extrapolating the plotted estimates on the time line to estimate the time of exhaustion of the first chemical product;

transmitting usage of the first chemical product at the first chemical usage facility during each of the plurality of specified periods in time to a central management facility that includes a server computer; and

scheduling, using the server computer, delivery of the first chemical product to the first chemical usage facility based on a predetermined time for replenishment respective to the predicted estimated time of exhaustion of the first chemical product, wherein scheduling delivery further comprises;

identifying one or more other chemical usage facilities on a predefined route represented as a list of delivery locations for delivery of chemical products;

determining a sequential position on the list of delivery locations in which to insert a delivery location for the first chemical usage facility based on the predetermined time for replenishment of the first chemical product;

adjusting the predefined route by inserting the delivery location for the first chemical usage facility into the determined sequential position on the list; and

delivering the chemical product to the chemical usage facility according to the adjusted predefined route.

41. The tangible computer-readable storage medium as defined in claim 40, wherein the computer process further comprises:

determining usage of a second chemical product at a second chemical usage facility during the plurality of specified periods in time;

predicting an estimated time of exhaustion of the second chemical product based on usage determined for the plurality of specified periods in time; and

scheduling delivery of the second chemical product to the second chemical usage facility based on the predetermined time for replenishment respective to the estimated time of exhaustion of the second chemical product.

42. The tangible computer-readable storage medium as defined in claim 41, wherein the scheduling act comprises:

generating a route schedule for delivering the first chemical product to the first chemical usage facility and the second chemical product to the second chemical usage facility based on a comparison between the predetermined time for replenishment of the first chemical product and the predetermined time for replenishment of the second chemical product.

43. The tangible computer-readable storage medium as defined in claim 42, wherein generating a route schedule comprises:

adjusting the route schedule based on a comparison between a location of the first chemical usage facility and a location of the second chemical product.

44. The tangible computer-readable storage medium as defined in claim 40, wherein determining usage comprises:

calculating a quantity of the first chemical product used during each of the specified periods in time by measuring an amount of first chemical product dispensed at the first chemical usage facility during the specified periods in time.

45. The tangible computer-readable storage medium as defined in claim 44, wherein the specified periods in time comprise an initial time period and at least one subsequent time period, wherein predicting an estimated time of exhaustion comprises:

subtracting the quantity of the first chemical product dispensed during the initial time period from an original quantity of the chemical product to render an estimate of remaining chemical product following the initial time period, wherein the estimate of remaining chemical product then represents a relative original quantity for use in estimating remaining chemical product after each of the subsequent time periods; and

subtracting the quantity of the first chemical product dispensed during each of the subsequent time periods from the relative original quantity to yield estimates of remaining chemical product following each of the subsequent time periods, wherein the relative original quantity being set to the estimate of remaining chemical product after each subtracting act performed for each subsequent time period.

46. The tangible computer-readable storage medium as defined in claim 45, wherein the predicting act further comprises:

plotting the estimate of remaining chemical product following the initial time period and the estimates of remaining chemical product after each of the subsequent time periods on a time line; and

extrapolating the plotted estimates on the time line to estimate the time of exhaustion.

47. The tangible computer-readable storage medium as defined in claim 44, wherein determining usage of a first chemical product comprises determining usage of a first chemical product that is in liquid form.

48. The tangible computer-readable storage medium as defined in claim 44, wherein determining usage of a first chemical product comprises determining usage of a first chemical product is in solid form.

49. The tangible computer-readable storage medium as defined in claim 40, wherein each of the plurality of indirect measurements that relate to a count of wash cycles comprises an instance that a rack is washed by a ware wash machine.

50. The tangible computer-readable storage medium as defined in claim 40, wherein each of the plurality of indirect measurements that relate to a count of wash cycles comprises an instance that a vehicle is washed by a vehicle wash facility.

51. The tangible computer-readable storage medium as defined in claim 40, wherein determining usage further comprises:

multiplying each of the plurality of total count values by a dissolution rate associated with the first chemical product to render a quantity of the first chemical product used at the first chemical usage facility during each of the plurality of specified periods in time.

52. The tangible computer-readable storage medium as defined in claim 51, wherein specified periods in time comprise an initial time period and at least one subsequent time period, wherein predicting an estimated time of exhaustion comprises:

subtracting the quantity of the first chemical product used during the initial time period from an original quantity of the chemical product to render an estimate of remaining chemical product following the initial time period, wherein the estimate of remaining chemical product then represents a relative original quantity for use in estimating remaining chemical product after each of the subsequent time periods; and

subtracting the quantity of the first chemical product dispensed during each of the subsequent time periods from the relative original quantity to yield estimates of remaining chemical product after each of the subsequent time periods, wherein the relative original quantity being set to the estimate of remaining chemical product following each subtracting act performed for each subsequent time period.

53. The tangible computer-readable storage medium as defined in claim 52, wherein predicting an estimated time of exhaustion further comprises:

plotting the estimate of remaining chemical product following the initial time period and the estimates of remaining chemical product after each of the subsequent time periods on a time line; and

extrapolating the plotted estimates on the time line to estimate the time of exhaustion.

54. The tangible computer-readable storage medium as defined in claim 53, wherein determining usage of a first chemical product comprises determining usage of a first chemical product is in solid form.

55. The tangible computer-readable storage medium as defined in claim 40, wherein the determining a sequential position comprises:

analyzing a delivery parameter.

56. The tangible computer-readable storage medium as defined in claim 55, wherein the delivery parameter relates to minimizing total route distance.

57. The tangible computer-readable storage medium as defined in claim 55, wherein the delivery parameter relates to minimizing total route time.

58. The tangible computer-readable storage medium as defined in claim 40 wherein determining a sequential position comprises:

analyzing one or more sets of traffic related data selected from the group consisting of map data, road condition data, road construction data, and weather data.

59. The tangible computer-readable storage medium as defined in claim 40, wherein the computer process further comprises:

transmitting usage of the first chemical product at the first chemical usage facility during each of the plurality of sped fled periods in time to a central management facility, wherein a server computer at the central management facility performs the predicting and scheduling acts.

60. The tangible computer-readable storage medium as defined in claim 59, wherein scheduling delivery comprises:

modifying a route schedule to include instructions to deliver the first chemical product to the first chemical usage facility.

61. The tangible computer-readable storage medium as defined in claim 60, wherein the computer process further comprises:

transmitting the route schedule to a service vehicle from the central management facility.