automatic inventory variance identification

• US 8,280,784 B2
• Filed: 10/19/2006
• Issued: 10/02/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/19/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Hurtis, George Michael, Knipfer, Ivory Wellman, Thavasi, Manivannan, Togwe, Thembani
• Primary Examiner(s): Gart, Matthew
• Assistant Examiner(s): Goyea, Olusegun
• Application Number:
  US11/550,845
• Publication Number:
  US 20080120200A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,175 Days
• Field of Search: 705/28, 235/382, 235/381, 235/385, 340/572.4, 340/572.3, 340/572.1, 340/686.1, 304/33, 198/341.07, 198/774.1
• US Class Current: 705/28
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders

Abstract

Performing an inventory count is provided. A scan of an object is initiated according to a profile in order to perform the inventory count of the object. A scan result is compared with a recorded level for the object to determine if a variance exists between the scan result and the recorded level. A variance analysis is performed if the variance exists.

Claims

1. A computer program product comprising a computer readable storage medium storing computer usable program code for performing an inventory count, the computer program product comprising:

computer usable program code for receiving a request to perform the inventory count of a set of objects within an enclosure;

computer usable program code for locking the set of objects to be scanned, wherein locking comprises stopping movement of the set of objects;

computer usable program code for scanning the set of objects, according to a profile associated with the set of objects, to perform the inventory count of the set of objects, wherein the profile specifies when to perform the inventory count of the set of objects, how to perform the inventory count of the set of objects, object data, object location, and variance analysis procedures for the set of objects;

computer usable program code for comparing the scan result with a recorded level for the set of objects, wherein the recorded level is retrieved from a storage medium in the data processing system responsive to receiving a scan result of the inventory count;

computer usable program code for logging a comparison result, wherein comparing the scan result with the recorded level generates the comparison result;

computer usable program code for determining whether a variance exists between the scan result and the recorded level;

computer usable program code for unlocking the set of objects, wherein unlocking the set of objects comprises resuming movement of the set of objects responsive to determining that the variance does not exist; and

computer usable program code for displaying a variance report and performing a variance analysis comprising scanning an area adjacent to the enclosure containing the set of objects to locate missing objects in the set of objects responsive to determining that the variance exists, and wherein the variance analysis is based on actions defined in the profile associated with the set of objects.

2. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein the profile includes one or more profiles of one or more objects.

3. An apparatus for performing an inventory count, the apparatus comprising:

a bus system;

a memory connected to the bus system, wherein the memory includes a set of instructions; and

a processing unit connected to the bus, wherein the processing unit executes the set of instructions to receive a request to perform the inventory count of a set of objects within an enclosure;

lock the set of objects to be scanned, wherein locking comprises stopping movement of the set of objects;

scan the set of objects, according to a profile associated with the set of objects, to perform the inventory count of the set of objects, wherein the profile specifies when to perform the inventory count of the set of objects, how to perform the inventory count of the set of objects, object data, object location, and variance analysis procedures for the set of objects;

compare the scan result with a recorded level for the set of objects, wherein the recorded level is retrieved from a storage medium in the data processing system responsive to receiving a scan result of the inventory count;

log a comparison result, wherein comparing the scan result with the recorded level generates the comparison result;

determine whether a variance exists between the scan result and the recorded level;

unlock the set of objects, wherein unlocking the set of objects comprises resuming movement of the set of objects responsive to determining that the variance does not exist; and

display a variance report and performing a variance analysis comprising scanning an area adjacent to the enclosure containing the set of objects to locate missing objects in the set of objects responsive to determining that the variance exists, and wherein the variance analysis is based on actions defined in the profile associated with the set of objects.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the profile includes one or more profiles of one or more objects.