Computerized system and method for generating a delivery bill of materials

• US 8,086,337 B1
• Filed: 08/21/2009
• Issued: 12/27/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/21/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: Green, Linda, Duncan, Geoff
• Primary Examiner(s): Hartman, Jr., Ronald
• Application Number:
  US12/545,565
• Time in Patent Office: 858 Days
• Field of Search: 700/99, 700/104, 700/107, 705/7.11, 705/7.22, 705/7.23, 705/28, 705/29
• US Class Current: 700/107
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/063 Operations research, analysis or management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06312 Adjustment or analysis of established resource schedule, e.g. resource or task levelling, or dynamic rescheduling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06313 Resource planning in a project environment
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0875 Itemisation or classification of parts, supplies or services, e.g. bill of materials

Abstract

A computerized system and method for generating a delivery bill of materials (BOM) for use at a production facility. Input includes parts data identifying the parts used in the production process, delivery/process location data identifying areas on the production line where parts are delivered, and packaging data related to containers in which parts are delivered. Each delivery BOM has a code for an associated product and data that defines a relationship between a trailer loaded with case packs of parts, a delivery process code, and a tugger for delivering the packs to line locations. Each trailer holds multiple packs assigned to different delivery process codes. The delivery process code ties the case packs on the trailer to the tuggers and is associated with one or more assembly processes. Each delivery process code is assigned to an associate that coordinates case pack and tugger staging according to supported production processes.

Claims

1. A computerized system for generating a delivery bill of materials for delivering parts to locations on a production line comprising:

(a) a server computer in communication with a database for storing;

(1) case pack code data associated with each of a plurality of containers comprising;

(A) parts for use in an assembly process on said production line; and

(B) production line location data for delivering said containers to a production line location;

(2) an identifier for said delivery bill of materials wherein said identifier identifies a product associated with said delivery bill of materials;

(3) a plurality of trailer codes wherein each code defines a position in a materials service center for unloading a case pack;

(4) a plurality of delivery process codes wherein each code is associated with at least one assembly process performed on said production line;

(5) a plurality of tugger codes wherein each code defines a tugger for transporting said case packs;

(b) a user computer for accessing said server computer to;

(1) associate with said delivery bill of materials identifier a trailer code, a delivery process code, and a tugger code;

(2) associate with said delivery bill of materials identifier a plurality of case pack codes; and

(3) generate a delivery bill of materials for said identifier, said delivery bill of materials comprising;

(A) said delivery process code, said trailer code, said tugger code, and said case pack codes; and

(B) said production line locations for said case pack codes wherein said production line locations are added to said delivery bill of materials when said case pack codes are associated with said identifier for said delivery bill of material.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein each case pack code is associated with a plurality of different types of containers for delivering said parts to said production line location.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein said case packs are loaded on carts for delivery to said production line locations.

4. The system of claim 3 said plurality of carts are joined to said tugger for transporting said case packs to production line locations.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein said trailer codes identify a location at a docking area of a materials service center.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein said case packs are organized on a trailer according to said delivery process codes.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein said identifier further identifies a model for said product associated with said delivery bill of materials.

8. A computerized method for generating a delivery bill of materials for delivering parts to locations on a production line comprising:

(a) receiving at a computer;

(1) a case pack code for each of a plurality of containers comprising;

(A) parts for use in an assembly process on said production line; and

(B) production line location data for delivering said containers to a production line location;

(2) a plurality of trailer codes wherein each code defines a position in a materials service center for unloading a case pack;

(3) a plurality of tugger codes wherein each code defines a tugger for transporting a case pack;

(4) a plurality of delivery process codes wherein each code is associated with at least one assembly process performed on said production line;

(b) entering at said computer an identifier for said delivery bill of materials wherein said identifier identifies a product associated with said delivery bill of materials;

(c) associating at said computer with said delivery bill of materials identifier at least one trailer code, at least one delivery process code, and at least one tugger code;

(c) associating at said computer with said delivery bill of materials identifier a plurality of case pack codes; and

(d) generating at said computer a delivery bill of materials for said identifier, said delivery bill of materials comprising;

(1) said at least one delivery process code, said at least one trailer code, said at least one tugger code, and said case pack codes; and

(2) said production line locations for said case pack codes wherein said production line locations are added to said delivery bill of material when said case pack codes are associated with said identifier for said delivery bill of material.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein each case pack code is associated with a plurality of different types of containers for delivering said parts to said production line location.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein said case packs are loaded on carts for delivery to said production line locations.

11. The method of claim 10 said plurality of carts are joined to said tugger for transporting said case packs to production line locations.

12. The method of claim 8 wherein said trailer codes identify a location at a docking area of a materials service center.

13. The method of claim 8 wherein said case packs are organized on a trailer according to said delivery process codes.

14. The method of claim 8 wherein said identifier further identifies a model for said product associated with said delivery bill of materials.

15. A computerized method for generating a delivery bill of materials for delivering parts to locations on a production line comprising:

(a) associating at a computer a case pack code with each of a plurality of containers comprising;

(1) parts for use in an assembly process on said production line; and

(2) production line location data for delivering said containers to a production line location;

(b) defining at said computer an identifier for said delivery bill of materials wherein said identifier identifies a product associated with said delivery bill of materials;

(c) defining at said computer a plurality of trailer codes wherein each code defines a position in a materials service center for unloading a case pack;

(d) defining at said computer a plurality of delivery process codes wherein each code is associated with at least one assembly process performed on said production line;

(e) defining at said computer a plurality of tugger codes wherein each code defines a tugger for transporting said case packs;

(f) associating at said computer with said delivery bill of materials identifier a trailer code, a delivery process code, and a tugger code;

(g) associating at said computer with said delivery bill of materials identifier a plurality of case pack codes; and

(h) generating at said computer a delivery bill of materials for said identifier, said delivery bill of materials comprising;

(1) said delivery process code, said trailer code, said tugger code, and said case pack codes; and

(2) said production line locations for said case pack codes wherein said production line locations are added to said delivery bill of material when said case pack codes are associated with said identifier for said delivery bill of material.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein each case pack code is associated with a plurality of different types of containers for delivering said parts to said production line location.

17. The method of claim 15 wherein said case packs are loaded on carts for delivery to said production line locations.

18. The method of claim 17 said plurality of carts are joined to said tugger for transporting said case packs to production line locations.

19. The method of claim 15 wherein said trailer codes identify a location at a docking area of a materials service center.

20. The method of claim 15 wherein said case packs are organized on a trailer according to said delivery process codes.