Commodities cost analysis database

• US 7,840,432 B2
• Filed: 12/21/2006
• Issued: 11/23/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Lamb, Gilbert C. III
• Primary Examiner(s): BORISSOV, IGOR N
• Application Number:
  US11/614,718
• Publication Number:
  US 20080154755A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,433 Days
• Field of Search: 702 81- 83, 702/179, 702/182, 702/183, 702/184, 705/400, 705/7, 705/8, 705/30, 705/32, 714/1, 714/25, 714/26, 714/37, 701/29, 701/30, 701/35, 340/457.4, 700/95, 700/97, 700/98
• US Class Current: 705/7.11
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/063 Operations research, analysis or management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/12 Accounting

Abstract

A computer implemented method and computer program product for managing commodity data. In one or more embodiments, a commodity type and parts corresponding to the commodity are identified. A part cost analysis is generated for each part based on part history data. The part history data is obtained from a set of data sources using data mining techniques to filter relevant part data from a plurality of part data. Cost-related failure data is created using the part cost data and the keyed hierarchical breakdown coding sequence. The cost-related failure data is displayed in a commodity database based on the keyed hierarchical breakdown coding sequence. A user can obtain information regarding future cost trends for the commodity and corresponding parts based on a demand for the commodity and a demand for the parts.

Claims

1. A computer implemented method for managing commodities, the computer implemented method comprising:

identifying, by a processing unit, a set of cost driver subparts corresponding to an aircraft type commodity based on part history data, wherein the part history data is obtained using data mining techniques to filter relevant part data from a set of data sources;

generating, by the processing unit, a keyed hierarchical breakdown coding sequence for the set of cost driver subparts such that a code in the keyed hierarchical breakdown coding sequence is associated with each of the cost driver subparts and components of the each of the cost driver subparts;

populating, by the processing unit, a commodities cost analysis database with cost-related part failure data and configuration data for the set of cost driver subparts based on maintenance and supply data from the set of data sources;

computing, by the processing unit, estimated future repair costs for the set of cost driver subparts; and

presenting, by the processing unit, the estimated future repair costs, cost-related part failure data, and configuration data in the commodities cost analysis database, wherein the commodities cost analysis database is used to examine equipment health of a commodity.

2. The computer implemented method of claim 1 wherein the identified set of cost driver subparts are identified based on a demand for subparts.

3. The computer implemented method of claim 1 further comprising:

obtaining historical aircraft flying hours and part cost per flying hour for the set of cost driver subparts;

calculating projected future flying hours based on the part history data for the set of cost driver subparts, wherein the part history data includes maintenance histories for the set of cost driver subparts; and

presenting the historical aircraft flying hours, part costs per flying hours, and projected future flying hours in an aircraft quantity and flying hour table.

4. The computer implemented method of claim 1 further comprising:

comparing future estimated cost data for the set of cost driver subparts with an estimated cost for improvements; and

identifying a break-even point for repairs and replacement of cost driver subparts.

5. The computer implemented method of claim 1 further comprising:

identifying hardware design changes to a given subpart in the set of cost driver subparts to improve equipment health of the given subpart.

6. The computer implemented method of claim 1 further comprising:

organizing historical subpart performance data in useful and relevant groupings using on the keyed hierarchical breakdown coding sequence; and

providing metrics on historical costs and future costs for the set of cost driver subparts based on the historical subpart performance data and projected future operating hours during which each part in the set of cost driver subparts will be used by the commodities.

7. A computer implemented method for managing commodity data, the computer implemented method comprising:

identifying, by a processing unit, a commodity type and parts corresponding to the commodity;

generating, by the processing unit, a keyed hierarchical breakdown coding sequence for the parts corresponding to the commodity such that a code in the keyed hierarchical breakdown coding sequence is associated with each of the parts and subparts of the each of the parts;

generating, by the processing unit, part cost data for each part based on part history data, wherein the part history data is obtained from a set of data sources using data mining techniques to filter relevant part history data from the set of data sources;

creating, by the processing unit, cost-related failure data using the part cost data and the keyed hierarchical breakdown coding sequence; and

presenting, by the processing unit, a graphical display of the cost-related failure data in a commodity database based on the keyed hierarchical breakdown coding sequence, wherein information regarding future cost trends for the commodity and corresponding parts are identified using the graphical display.

8. The computer implemented method of claim 7 wherein the cost-related failure data includes at least one of part repair costs, part replacement costs, alternate part numbers, alternative part costs, and part manufacturers.

9. The computer implemented method of claim 7 wherein the cost-related failure data is displayed numerically, graphically, and with color indicators to identify a cost driver part that is a candidate for investigation to determine if changes to the cost driver part can lower long-term supportability costs of the commodity.

10. The computer implemented method of claim 7 wherein the parts are repairable items, and wherein the parts are not low-cost disposable parts.

11. The computer implemented method of claim 7 wherein the identified commodity type and the parts corresponding to the commodity are directly related to re-supply demands for the commodity type and the parts.

12. The computer implemented method of claim 7 further comprising:

generating a commodity equipment type and operating hours table indicating part quantities used in the commodity and a number of hours each part is used during operation of the commodity.

13. The computer implemented method of claim 7 further comprising:

generating a national stock number (NSN) table indicating historical costs and current costs for repair and replacement of the parts, wherein the historical costs and current costs are displayed in numeric and graphical metrics.

14. The computer implemented method of claim 7 further comprising:

generating projections for future operating hours and future demand for the parts, wherein the future operating hours identifies a projected amount of time a given part will be in use during operation of the commodity.

15. The computer implemented method of claim 7 further comprising:

generating projected future costs and improvement estimates for the parts, wherein a break-even point for a cost savings and future cost avoidance improvements are determined based on the projected future costs and improvement estimates.

16. The computer implemented method of claim 7 wherein the commodity type is an aircraft commodity type.

17. The computer implemented method of claim 7,

wherein the keyed hierarchical breakdown coding sequence comprises a two-digit commodity code identifying the commodity type, an alpha-numeric subtype equipment database entry sequence, a configuration code, and an equipment and part reference designator (REF DES).

18. The computer implemented method of claim 7 further comprising:

identifying information regarding future cost trends for the commodity and corresponding parts based on at least one of a demand, a repair cost, and a part cost.

19. The computer implemented method of claim 7 further comprising:

obtaining the part history data from the set of data sources using data mining techniques to filter relevant part history data from the set of data sources, wherein part history data includes at least one of a historical demand, a part cost, and a usage data corresponding to a part.

20. A computer program product comprising:

a non-transitory computer usable medium including computer usable program code for causing a computer to implement a method for managing commodity data, said computer program product comprising;

computer usable program code for identifying a commodity type and parts corresponding to the commodity;

computer usable program code for generating a keyed hierarchical breakdown coding sequence for the parts corresponding to the commodity such that a code in the keyed hierarchical breakdown coding sequence is associated with each of the parts and subparts of the each of the parts;

computer usable program code for generating part cost data for each part based on part history data, wherein the part history data is obtained from a set of data sources using data mining techniques to filter relevant part history data from a set of data sources;

computer usable program code for creating the cost-related failure data using the part cost data and the keyed hierarchical breakdown coding sequence; and

computer usable program code for presenting a graphical display of the cost-related failure data in a commodity database based on the keyed hierarchical breakdown coding sequence, wherein information regarding future cost trends for the commodity and corresponding parts are identified using the graphical display.