Component inventory management

• US 8,099,336 B2
• Filed: 06/01/2007
• Issued: 01/17/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/01/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Callahan Cellular LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Binforma Group Limited Liability Company (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Klim, Thomas R., Rhodes, Brian K.
• Primary Examiner(s): OBEID, FAHD A
• Application Number:
  US11/757,050
• Publication Number:
  US 20080301010A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,691 Days
• Field of Search: 705/22, 705/28
• US Class Current: 705/28
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/203 Inventory monitoring

Abstract

A component management system can comprise one or more software tools that streamline creation and adjustment of documents that indicate parts stocking requirements for manufacturing assets. The manufacturing assets may comprise machines, sub-assemblies, and the like, while the components comprise parts, tools, and other equipment used to maintain operation of the manufacturing assets. The component management system can be used to enhance authorization processes by handling authority to stock documents online. Furthermore, by interfacing with an enterprise resource planning system, such as SAP, component and inventory management can be made more efficient and flexible. For instance, simulations of future versions of the installed component base can be used to generate component forecast documents useful for proactive component management. As another example, by handling asset definition and authority to stock in an online form, information can be easily retrieved from and uploaded to an enterprise resource management system.

Claims

1. A method, performed by a computing system having a processor and memory, of managing inventory in at least one enterprise resource database using a component management system, the method comprising:

maintaining at least one queue at the computing device of the component management system;

for each of one or more components configured to be associated with at least one manufacturing asset, specifying component stocking requirements for the component;

placing an asset definition document into the at least one queue, the asset definition document comprising data identifying the one or more component stocking requirements;

receiving design data defining one or more modifications to the one or more component stocking requirements, wherein the one or more modifications to the one or more component stocking requirements specify at least one of a modification to a quantity requirement for the one or more components configured to be associated with at least one manufacturing asset or a modification to an ordering schedule for the one or more components configured to be associated with the at least one manufacturing asset;

in response to receiving the design data, updating by the processor the asset definition document to reflect the one or more modifications to the one or more component stocking requirements defined by the received design data;

for a currently-stocked component, updating a first authority to stock document to reflect at least one of the one or more modifications to the one or more component stocking requirements defined by the received design data;

for a previously-unstocked component, generating a second authority to stock document to reflect at least one of the one or more modifications to the one or more component stocking requirements defined by the received design data;

transmitting the updated first authority to stock document, the generated second authority to stock document, and the updated asset definition document over a network for approval by a supervisor with final approval authority;

receiving approval data for the updated first authority to stock document, the generated second authority to stock document, and the updated asset definition document; and

based on the received approval data, modifying the at least one enterprise resource database to include data specified by the updated first authority to stock document, the generated second authority to stock document, and the updated asset definition document.

2. The method as set forth in claim 1, further comprising:

prior to receiving the design data, receiving selection data identifying at least one manufacturing asset;

querying at least one enterprise management dataset for data associated with the at least one identified manufacturing asset; and

based on the results of the query, generating an asset definition document;

wherein placing comprises placing the generated asset definition document into the at least one queue.

3. The method as set forth in claim 2, further comprising:

prior to querying, accessing at least one enterprise resource planning database and creating an image of a plurality of portions of the database, each portion associated with a manufacturing asset;

wherein the enterprise management dataset comprises the imaged portions of the enterprise resource planning database.

4. The method as set forth in claim 3, wherein an image of at least one portion of a selected one of the at least one enterprise resource planning database is updated based on determining whether a manufacturing asset or assets associated with the at least one portion of the selected enterprise resource planning database is associated with an active project.

5. The method as set forth in claim 2, further comprising:

determining a change or changes to at least one component stocking requirement associated with the at least one manufacturing asset based on data included in at least one version of an asset definition document associated with the manufacturing asset.

6. The method as set forth in claim 5, further comprising:

based on the determined change or changes to the at least one component stocking requirement, generating a component stocking forecast document;

wherein the component stocking forecast document comprises data defining at least one projected change in a component stocking requirement at a facility.

7. The method as set forth in claim 6, wherein generating a component stocking forecast document comprises:

accessing data indicating a projected date associated with each determined change;

querying at least one enterprise management dataset for data defining current component stocking requirements for the facility; and

simulating future component stocking requirements for the facility based on the current component stocking requirements, the determined change or changes in at least one component stocking requirement, and the projected date associated with each determined change.

8. The method as set forth in claim 1, further comprising:

maintaining at least a first and second queue, wherein placing comprises placing the asset definition document in the first queue;

receiving release data regarding at least one asset definition document in the first queue; and

transferring the at least one asset definition document to the second queue in response to receiving the release data.

9. The method as set forth in claim 8, further comprising:

receiving supervisory design data defining one or more supervisory modifications to the component stocking requirements identified in the asset definition document in the second queue;

updating the asset definition document in the second queue to define the at least one component stocking requirement as modified; and

based on the one or more component stocking requirements as modified, determining whether authority to stock approval is needed.

10. The method as set forth in claim 8, further comprising:

receiving approval data for at least one asset definition document in the second queue;

in response to determining that the approval data indicates approval, modifying data in at least one enterprise management database to reflect at least one component stocking requirement for a manufacturing asset as defined in the asset definition document in the second queue; and

in response to determining that the approval data indicates rejection, placing the at least one asset definition document in the at least one other queue without modifying the at least one enterprise management database.

11. The method as set forth in claim 8, wherein maintaining comprises maintaining at least a first, second, and third queue, and wherein the method further comprises:

receiving approval data regarding at least one asset definition document in the second queue;

in response to determining that the approval data indicates approval, placing the at least one asset definition document in the third queue; and

in response to determining that the approval data indicates rejection, placing the at least one asset definition document in a queue other than the third queue.

12. The method as set forth in claim 8, wherein the method comprises placing the first authority to stock document in a first queue, and wherein the method further comprises:

maintaining at least a second queue;

receiving release data regarding at least one authority to stock document in the first queue; and

transferring the at least one authority to stock document to the second queue in response to the release data.

25. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the first authority to stock document further comprises a formula for determining procurement time for the currently-stocked component and a formula for determining a replacement interval for the currently-stocked component.

26. The method as set forth in claim 1, further comprising:

associating at least one of the one or more components with the manufacturing asset.

31. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

for at least one of the one or more components configured to be associated with the at least one manufacturing asset, determining whether the component is currently-stocked or currently-unstocked.

32. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining required timing for approval of the first authority to stock document based on an effective date of a design change;

determining required timing for approval of the second authority to stock document based on the effective date; and

prioritizing the first authority to stock document and the second authority to stock document based on the determined required timings for approval.

13. A component management system for managing inventory in at least one enterprise resource database, the component management system comprising at least one computing device, the at least one computing device adapted to:

maintain at least one queue;

for each of one or more components configured to be associated with at least one manufacturing asset, specify component stocking requirements for the component;

place an asset definition document into the at least one queue, the asset definition document comprising data identifying the one or more component stocking requirements associated with at least one manufacturing asset;

receive design data defining one or more modifications to the one or more component stocking requirements, wherein the one or more component stocking requirements include a quantity requirement for a component, a location in which to stock a component, or an ordering schedule for a component;

in response to receiving the design data, update the asset definition document to identify the one or more component stocking requirements as modified; and

update a first authority to stock document for a currently-stocked component to reflect at least one of the one or more modifications to the one or more component stocking requirements defined by the received design data;

generate a second authority to stock document for a previously-unstocked component to reflect at least one of the one or more modifications to the one or more component stocking requirements defined by the received design data;

transmit the updated first authority to stock document, the generated second authority to stock document, and the updated asset definition document over a network for approval by a supervisor with final approval authority;

receive approval data for the updated first authority to stock document, the generated second authority to stock document, and the updated asset definition document; and

based on the received approval data, modify the at least one enterprise resource database to include data specified in the updated first authority to stock document, the generated second authority to stock document, and the updated asset definition document.

14. The system as set forth in claim 13, wherein the at least one computing device is further adapted to:

prior to receiving the design data, receive selection data identifying at least one manufacturing asset;

query at least one enterprise management dataset for data associated with the at least one identified manufacturing asset; and

based on the results of the query, generate an asset definition document;

wherein placing comprises placing the generated asset definition document into the at least one queue.

15. The system as set forth in claim 14, wherein the at least one computing device is further adapted to:

prior to querying, access at least one enterprise resource planning database and create an image of a plurality of portions of the database, each portion associated with a manufacturing asset;

wherein the enterprise management dataset comprises the imaged portions of the enterprise resource planning database.

16. The system as set forth in claim 15, wherein an image of at least one portion of a selected one of the at least one enterprise resource planning database is updated based on determining whether the manufacturing asset or assets associated with the at least one portion of the selected enterprise resource planning database is included in an active project.

17. The system as set forth in claim 14, wherein the at least one computing device is further adapted to:

determine a change or changes to at least one component stocking requirement associated with the at least one manufacturing asset based on data included in at least one version of an asset definition document associated with the at least one manufacturing asset.

18. The system as set forth in claim 17, wherein the at least one computing device is further adapted to:

based on the determined change or changes to the at least one manufacturing asset, generate a component stocking forecast document;

wherein the component stocking forecast document comprises data defining at least one projected change in an installed base of components.

19. The system as set forth in claim 18, wherein, to generate a parts forecast document the at least one computing device is further adapted to:

access data indicating a projected date associated with each determined change;

query at least one enterprise management database for data defining the current installed base of components; and

simulate at least one future installed base of components at a future date based on the current installed base, the determined change or changes in at least one component stocking requirement, and the projected date associated with each determined change.

20. The system as set forth in claim 13, wherein the at least one computing device is further adapted to:

maintain at least a first and second queue, wherein the asset definition document is placed in the first queue;

receive release data regarding at least one asset definition document in the first queue; and

transfer the at least one asset definition document to the second queue in response to receiving the release data.

21. The system as set forth in claim 20, wherein the at least one computing device is further adapted to:

receive supervisory design data defining one or more supervisory modifications to the component stocking requirements identified in the asset definition document in the second queue;

update the asset definition document in the second queue to define the at least one manufacturing asset as modified; and

based on the one or more component stocking requirements as modified, determine whether authority to stock approval is needed.

22. The system as set forth in claim 20, wherein the at least one computing device is further adapted to:

receive approval data for at least one asset definition document in the second queue;

in response to determining that the approval data indicates approval, provide data to an enterprise resource planning system to change data maintained by the enterprise resource planning system so as to reflect the at least one component stocking requirement for a manufacturing asset as defined in the asset definition document in the second queue; and

in response to determining that the approval data indicates rejection, place the at least one asset definition document in the at least one other queue without providing data to change data maintained by the at least one enterprise management database.

23. The system as set forth in claim 20, wherein maintaining comprises maintaining at least a first, second, and third queue, and wherein the at least one computing device is further adapted to:

receive approval data regarding at least one asset definition document in the second queue;

in response to determining that the approval data indicates approval, place the at least one asset definition document in the third queue; and

in response to determining that the approval data indicates rejection, place the at least one asset definition document in a queue other than the third queue.

24. The system as set forth in claim 13, wherein the at least one computing device is adapted to place an authority to stock document in a first queue and the at least one computing device is further adapted to:

maintain at least a second queue;

receive release data regarding at least one authority to stock document in the first queue; and

transfer the at least one authority to stock document in the first queue to the second queue in response to the release data.

27. A computer-readable storage device having instructions stored thereon, the instructions comprising:

instructions for maintaining at least one queue;

instructions for specifying component stocking requirements for each of one or more components configured to be associated with at least one manufacturing asset;

instructions for placing an asset definition document into the at least one queue, the asset definition document comprising data identifying the one or more component stocking requirements;

instructions for receiving design data defining one or more modifications to the one or more component stocking requirements, wherein the one or more component stocking requirements include a quantity requirement for a component or an ordering schedule for a component;

instructions for, in response to receiving the design data, updating the asset definition document to include the one or more component stocking requirements as modified;

instructions for updating a first authority to stock document for a currently-stocked component to reflect at least one of the one or more modifications to the one or more component stocking requirements defined by the received design data;

instructions for generating a second authority to stock document for a previously-unstocked component to reflect at least one of the one or more modifications to the one or more component stocking requirements defined by the received design data;

instructions for transmitting the updated first authority to stock document, the generated second authority to stock document, and the updated asset definition document over a network for approval by a supervisor with final approval authority;

instructions for receiving approval data for the updated first authority to stock document, the generated second authority to stock document, and the updated asset definition document; and

instructions for modifying, based on the received approval data, the at least one enterprise resource database to include data specified in the updated first authority to stock document, the generated second authority to stock document, and the updated asset definition document.

28. The computer-readable storage device of claim 27, the instructions further comprising:

instructions for, in response to receiving from the supervisor an indication of a modification to the updated asset definition document, triggering deletion of the first authority to stock document.

29. The computer-readable storage device of claim 28, the instructions further comprising:

instructions for determining, based on the one or more modified requirements, whether authority to stock approval is needed for at least one component.

30. The computer-readable storage device of claim 27, the instructions further comprising:

instructions for associating the previously-unstocked component with the manufacturing asset.