Methods and apparatus for electronically representing manufacturing flow
First Claim
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1. A method for electronically representing manufacturing flow of a finished product within a manufacturer comprising:
- receiving a plurality of orders for the finished product;
transmitting a subset of an order of the plurality of orders indicative of a component for the finished product;
building traceability data indicative of parts used to produce the component;
tracking the parts used in the finished product using the traceability data to facilitate producing finished product data;
recalling the finished product based on the parts used to produce the component; and
updating, by a processor, a sequence of production of the finished product by selecting an oldest order of the finished product and assigning the oldest order to an available matching unit.
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Abstract
A method of electronically representing manufacturing flow is provided. The method allows a manufacturer to electronically track an infinite number of attributes related to components used in the production of a finished product. Using these attributes, the manufacturer can perform product recalls based upon information pertinent to a malfunctioning part, rather than a statistical recall. This allows a manufacturer to perform a recall without having to recall substantially more products than necessary.
14 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A method for electronically representing manufacturing flow of a finished product within a manufacturer comprising:
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receiving a plurality of orders for the finished product; transmitting a subset of an order of the plurality of orders indicative of a component for the finished product; building traceability data indicative of parts used to produce the component; tracking the parts used in the finished product using the traceability data to facilitate producing finished product data; recalling the finished product based on the parts used to produce the component; and updating, by a processor, a sequence of production of the finished product by selecting an oldest order of the finished product and assigning the oldest order to an available matching unit.
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2. A method for electronically representing manufacturing flow of a finished product within a manufacturer comprising:
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processing, by the manufacturer, a received order for the finished product using electronically configurable rules to facilitate one of accepting and rejecting the order; transmitting a subset of the order indicative of a component for the finished product from the manufacturer to a supplier of the component; building, by the supplier, traceability data indicative of parts used to produce the component; tracking the parts used in the finished product using the traceability data to facilitate producing finished product data, wherein traceability data includes at least one of where the component is manufactured and where the component is assembled, and where the finished product resides; storing the order, traceability data, and finished product data in a central database to facilitate tracking the parts used in a plurality of finished products, wherein the central database includes other orders for the finished product and traceability data corresponding to the other orders; recalling, by the manufacturer, the finished product based on the parts used to produce the component and at least one of the supplier of the component and a lot number of a lot, wherein the component is produced by the supplier during a production of the lot; and updating, by a processor, a sequence of production of the finished product by selecting an oldest order of the finished product and assigning the oldest order to an available matching unit. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A system for electronically representing manufacturing flow comprising:
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an order management system configured to receive, by a processor, a plurality of orders for a finished product, said order management system uses electronically configurable rules to one of accept and reject each of the plurality of orders and transmits a subset of each of the plurality of orders from a manufacturer of said finished product to a supplier of a component for said finished product, said subset of each of the plurality of orders indicative of the component for said finished product each of the plurality of orders is accepted; a document delivery system configured to receive said subset of each of the plurality of orders, said document delivery system transmits traceability data to said order management system, said traceability data indicative of a plurality of parts used to produce said component identified in said subset; a manufacturing tracker to receive said traceability data and track said parts used to produce said finished product, wherein traceability data includes at least one of where the component is manufactured and where the component is assembled, and where the finished product resides, said manufacturing tracker presents finished product data, wherein the finished product is recalled based on the parts used to produce the component and at least one of the supplier of the component and a lot number of a lot, wherein the component is produced by the supplier during a production of the lot; and a central database to store each of the plurality of orders, traceability data, and finished product data to track said parts used in a plurality of finished products; wherein said order management system is further configured to update a sequence of production of the finished product by selecting, from the plurality of orders, an oldest order of the finished product and assigning the oldest order to an available matching unit. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification