Transport scheduling for low microbial bulk products

• US 8,266,070 B2
• Filed: 01/20/2011
• Issued: 09/11/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/15/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ardent Mills LLC (CHS Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: ConAgra Foods Food Ingredients Company Incorporated (Givaudan SA)
• Inventors: Mariniello, Robert, Akins-Lewenthal, Edith D., Grace, Ryan T.
• Primary Examiner(s): FLYNN, KEVIN H
• Application Number:
  US13/010,458
• Publication Number:
  US 20110307406A1
• Time in Patent Office: 600 Days
• Field of Search: 705/332, 705/336, 705/337
• US Class Current: 705/332
• CPC Class Codes: B08B 3/04 Cleaning involving contact with liquid
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0832 Special goods or special handling procedures, e.g. handling of hazardous or fragile goods
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/1097 Task assignment
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/10 Composition for standardization, calibration, simulation, stabilization, preparation or preservation; processes of use in preparation for chemical testing

Abstract

Transport scheduling and transport processes for low microbial (“LM”) bulk products are described. The transport scheduling and processes facilitate low microbial activity in a LM bulk product during the transport of the LM bulk product.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for transport scheduling of low microbial (LM) bulk products, the computer-implemented method comprising:

receiving a LM bulk product shipment request, wherein the shipment request includes a load-out date and a receipt date;

causing a processor to calculate a vehicle transport period based on the load-out date and the receipt date, the vehicle transport period beginning on the load-out date and expiring on the receipt date;

accessing a transport schedule to determine at least one available vehicle for the calculated vehicle transport period;

comparing, by the processor, a low microbial wash (LMW) timing threshold for the at least one available vehicle to a LMW record for the at least one available vehicle to determine whether the LMW timing threshold for the at least one available vehicle is surpassed at any time during the vehicle transport period, the timing threshold being a maximum recommended amount of time between LM washes for the at least one available vehicle;

when the LMW timing threshold for the at least one available vehicle is projected to not be surpassed during the vehicle transport period, causing the processor to associate a qualification identifier with an identifier of the at least one available vehicle; and

when the LMW timing threshold for the at least one available vehicle is projected to be surpassed before or during the vehicle transport period, causing the processor to associate a disqualification identifier with the identifier of the at least one available vehicle.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the LMW timing threshold of the LMW specification is based on a predetermined microbial baseline for a LM bulk product.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the LM bulk product is bulk flour.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the vehicle includes a flour transport vessel for holding the bulk flour.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the LMW specification is obtained with the shipment request.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising when the at least one available vehicle is not within the LMW timing threshold for the transport, scheduling a low microbial wash.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 6, further comprising receiving an indication that the low microbial wash has been performed.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 7, further comprising removing the disqualification identifier upon receiving the indication that the low microbial wash has been performed.

9. A computer-readable storage medium comprising computer executable instructions for transport scheduling of low microbial (LM) bulk products, the instructions when executed by one or more computers cause the one or more computers to perform the method comprising:

obtaining a vehicle transport period that is based on a shipping request, the vehicle transport period beginning on a projected load-out date for products to be transported and expiring on a projected receipt date for the products to be transported;

comparing a low microbial wash (LMW) timing threshold to a LMW record of a vehicle to determine whether the LMW timing threshold for the vehicle is surpassed at any time during the vehicle transport period, the timing threshold being a maximum recommended amount of time between LM washes for the vehicle;

when the LMW timing threshold for the vehicle is projected to not be surpassed during the vehicle transport period, updating a schedule of the vehicle to indicate availability of the vehicle for the shipping request; and

when the LMW timing threshold for the vehicle is projected to be surpassed before or during the vehicle transport period, updating a schedule of the vehicle to indicate unavailability of the vehicle for the shipping request.

10. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 9, wherein the LMW timing threshold of the LMW specification is based on a predetermined microbial baseline for a LM bulk product.

11. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 10, wherein the LM bulk product is bulk flour.

12. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein the vehicle includes a flour transport vessel for holding the bulk flour.

13. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 9, wherein the LMW specification is obtained with the shipping request.

14. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 9, wherein updating the schedule of the vehicle to indicate unavailability of the vehicle for the shipping request further includes scheduling a low microbial wash.

15. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 14, further comprising receiving an indication that the low microbial wash has been performed.

16. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 15 further comprising removing the indication of unavailability of the vehicle from the shipping request upon receiving the indication that the low microbial wash has been performed.

17. A system for transport scheduling of low microbial (LM) bulk products, the system comprising:

at least one processor;

a memory having computer-executable instructions stored thereon, wherein the computer-executable instructions cause the at least one processor to perform the steps of;

obtaining a vehicle transport period that is based on a shipping request, the vehicle transport period beginning on a projected load-out date for products to be transported and expiring on a projected receipt date for the products to be transported;

comparing a low microbial wash (LMW) timing threshold to a LMW record of a vehicle to determine whether the LMW timing threshold for the vehicle is surpassed at any time during the vehicle transport period, the timing threshold being a maximum recommended amount of time between LM washes for the vehicle;

when the LMW timing threshold for the vehicle is projected to not be surpassed during the vehicle transport period, updating a schedule of the vehicle to indicate availability of the vehicle for the shipping request; and

when the LMW timing threshold for the vehicle is projected to be surpassed before or during the vehicle transport period, causing at least one member of a group comprising;

updating a schedule of the vehicle to indicate unavailability of the vehicle for the shipping request,

comparing the LMW timing threshold to a LMW record of another vehicle to determine whether the another vehicle is within the LMW timing threshold for the vehicle transport period, and

scheduling the vehicle for a LM wash prior to the vehicle transport period to cause availability of the vehicle for the shipping request.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the LMW timing threshold of the LMW specification is based on a predetermined microbial baseline for a LM bulk product.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the LM bulk product is bulk flour.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the vehicle includes a flour transport vessel for holding the bulk flour.