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Systems and methods for determining pack allocations

  • US 8,688,497 B2
  • Filed: 01/10/2011
  • Issued: 04/01/2014
  • Est. Priority Date: 01/10/2011
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A computer-implemented method comprising:

  • accessing, on a computing device, inner pack configuration information depicting contents of multiple commonly-configured inner packs, wherein the inner packs are used to provide multiple varieties of a product to multiple stores, the stores including stores supplied by a first distribution center and stores supplied by a second distribution center, wherein depicting the contents includes depicting a quantity of each variety of the product in the inner packs, and wherein the inner packs are shipped in outer packs, the outer packs being sized to contain a first number of inner packs;

    for each of the stores, accessing mismatch cost data;

    for each of the stores, accessing a demand profile, wherein a demand profile for a store depicts demand for each of the multiple varieties of the product at that store;

    repeatedly performing a series of operations on the computing device until an allocation condition is satisfied, the allocation condition becoming satisfied when;

    the stores supplied by the first distribution center are allocated, in the aggregate, a first quantity of inner packs such that the first quantity is a multiple of the first number of inner packs; and

    concurrently, the stores supplied by the second distribution center are allocated, in the aggregate, a second quantity of inner packs such that the second quantity is a multiple of the first number of inner packs,wherein the series of operations includes;

    accessing allocation data for each of the stores, wherein allocation data for a store depicts an allocation quantity of inner packs for that store,calculating, on the computing device, a mismatch cost for each of the stores, wherein calculating a mismatch cost for a store is based on the allocation quantity, mismatch cost data and demand profile for that store, and the accessed inner pack configuration information,determining a first marginal mismatch cost for each of the stores supplied by the first distribution center, wherein, with respect to each store, the first marginal mismatch cost is associated with decreasing the allocation quantity of inner packs for the respective store;

    determining a second marginal mismatch cost for each of the stores supplied by the second distribution center, wherein, with respect to each store, the second marginal mismatch cost is associated with increasing the allocation quantity of inner packs for the respective store;

    selecting one of the stores for allocation reduction, wherein the store selected for allocation reduction is the store for which the first marginal mismatch cost is lowest,selecting another one of the stores for allocation expansion, wherein the store selected for allocation expansion is the store for which the second marginal mismatch cost is lowest, andsubtracting one inner pack from the allocation quantity of inner packs for the store selected for allocation reduction; and

    adding one inner pack to the allocation quantity of inner packs for the store selected for allocation expansion; and

    subsequent to determining that the allocation condition has been satisfied, initiating a shipment to each of the stores, wherein, for each store, the respective shipment is based on the allocation quantity of inner packs for that store.

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