Methods and computer systems for reducing runtimes in material requirements planning
First Claim
1. A method for material requirements planning, the method being executed by a computer and comprising:
- loading, by using a processor of the computer, a plurality of bills of materials into a data structure stored in a storage device of the computer, the bills of materials having components with planning levels and the components being arranged in parent-child relationships, wherein the components include a specific child component having a specific planning level;
analyzing, by using the processor, parent-child relationships between components of the plurality of bills of materials in the data structure;
setting, by using the processor, for each component in the data structure a counter value that indicates a number of parent components for each component, the counter values including a specific counter value for the specific child component, wherein the specific counter value has a value different from a value of the specific planning level if a number of parent components of the specific child component are greater than or less than the value of the specific planning level;
decrementing, by using the processor, the counter value of a specific child component when a planning of the parent component of the specific child component is completed, the counter value being decremented by a number used to count the parent component in the counter value during the setting of the counter value, wherein the specific planning level is subordinate to the planning level of an other component included in the bills of materials, the other component having the same planning level as the planning level of a parent component of the specific child component;
setting, by using the processor, a planning flag for the specific child component; and
proceeding, by using the processor, with the planning of the specific child component even if planning of the other component, which is at a higher planning level than the specific planning level, is not complete and if the planning flag is set for the specific child component.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Methods and computer systems are provided for reducing the runtime of a material requirements planning run. In one embodiment, a computer system loads a plurality of bills of materials into a data structure. The computer system may analyze parent-child relationships between components of the plurality of bills of materials in the data structure and set for each component in the data structure a counter value that indicates the number of parent components for each component. The counter value of a specific child component may be decremented when the planning of a parent component of the specific child component is completed. The computer system may then proceed with the planning of the specific child component if the associated counter value indicates that the planning of all parent components of the specific child component is completed.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for material requirements planning, the method being executed by a computer and comprising:
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loading, by using a processor of the computer, a plurality of bills of materials into a data structure stored in a storage device of the computer, the bills of materials having components with planning levels and the components being arranged in parent-child relationships, wherein the components include a specific child component having a specific planning level; analyzing, by using the processor, parent-child relationships between components of the plurality of bills of materials in the data structure; setting, by using the processor, for each component in the data structure a counter value that indicates a number of parent components for each component, the counter values including a specific counter value for the specific child component, wherein the specific counter value has a value different from a value of the specific planning level if a number of parent components of the specific child component are greater than or less than the value of the specific planning level; decrementing, by using the processor, the counter value of a specific child component when a planning of the parent component of the specific child component is completed, the counter value being decremented by a number used to count the parent component in the counter value during the setting of the counter value, wherein the specific planning level is subordinate to the planning level of an other component included in the bills of materials, the other component having the same planning level as the planning level of a parent component of the specific child component; setting, by using the processor, a planning flag for the specific child component; and proceeding, by using the processor, with the planning of the specific child component even if planning of the other component, which is at a higher planning level than the specific planning level, is not complete and if the planning flag is set for the specific child component. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A computer program product tangibly embodied in a storage memory for material requirements planning, the storage memory comprising a instructions which when executed on a processor of a computer system cause the processor to perform a method, the method comprising:
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loading a plurality of bills of materials into a data structure, the bills of materials having components with planning levels and the components being arranged in parent-child relationships, wherein the components include a specific child component having a specific planning level; analyzing parent-child relationships between components of the plurality of bills of materials in the data structure; setting for each component in the data structure a counter value that indicates a number of parent components for each component, the counter values including a specific counter value for the specific child component, wherein the specific counter value has a value different from a value of the specific planning level if a number of parent components of the specific child component are greater than or less than the value of the specific planning level; decrementing the counter value of a specific child component when a planning of the parent component of the specific child component is completed, the counter value being decremented by a number used to count the parent component in the counter value during the setting of the counter value, wherein the specific planning level is subordinate to the planning level of an other component included in the bills of materials, the other component having the same planning level as the planning level of a parent component of the specific child component; setting a planning flag for the specific child component; and proceeding with the planning of the specific child component even if planning of the other components, which is at a higher planning level than the specific planning level, is not complete and if the planning flag is set for the specific child component. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 17, 18)
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12. A computer system for material requirements planning, the computer system comprising:
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a first storage component for storing a plurality of bills of materials; a second storage component for loading the plurality of bills of materials into a data structure, the bills of materials having components with planning levels and the components being arranged in parent-child relationships, wherein the components include a specific child component having a specific planning level; and a processor that is adapted to; analyze parent-child relationships between components of the plurality of bills of materials in the data structure; set for each component in the data structure a counter value that indicates a number of parent components for each component, the counter values including a specific counter value for the specific child component, wherein the specific counter value has a value different from a value of the specific planning level if a number of parent components of the specific child component are greater than or less than the value of the specific planning level; decrement the counter value of a specific child component when a planning of the parent component of the specific child component is completed, the counter value being decremented by a number used to count the parent component in the counter value during the setting of the counter value, wherein the specific planning level is subordinate to the planning level of an other component included in the bills of materials, the other component having the same planning level as the planning level of a parent component of the specific child component; set a planning flag for the specific child component; and proceed with the planning of the specific child component even if planning of the other component, which is at a higher planning level than the specific planning level, is not complete and if the planning flag is set for the specific child component. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 19, 20)
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Specification