Methods and systems for processing stock in a storage facility

• US 9,026,455 B2
• Filed: 05/14/2004
• Issued: 05/05/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SAP SE
• Original Assignee: SAP AG (SAP SE)
• Inventors: Epp, Joachim, Schapler, Daniela, Adler, Tobies
• Primary Examiner(s): Zeender, Ryan
• Assistant Examiner(s): Amsdell, Dana
• Application Number:
  US10/846,116
• Publication Number:
  US 20050256775A1
• Time in Patent Office: 4,008 Days
• Field of Search: 235/385, 422/67, 700/2, 700/95, 700/216, 700/302, 705/9, 705/29
• US Class Current: 705/7.11
• 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

Systems and methods are disclosed for processing stock. The systems and methods may include identifying at least a first transfer order, a second transfer order, a first processing unit order, and a second processing unit order. In addition, the systems and methods may include creating an initial work order based at least on the first transfer order and the second transfer order. Furthermore, the systems and methods may include detecting the handling of the first transfer order by a first processing unit and the handling of the second transfer order by a second processing unit, and associating the first transfer order and the second transfer order with the first processing unit order and the second processing unit order respectively.

Claims

1. A computer-based method for processing stock, the method comprising:

creating, using a processor, an initial work order comprising a plurality of transfer orders for a plurality of unassigned stock bundles, wherein the plurality of transfer orders are associated with transfers of the unassigned stock bundles by a plurality of unassigned processing units from a first area to a second area;

receiving a handling signal sent from one of the unassigned processing units indicating that the sending unassigned processing unit is transferring an unassigned stock bundle associated with one of the transfer orders from the first area to the second area according to the transfer order, the handling signal identifying the sending unassigned processing unit;

identifying, using the processor from the initial work order in accordance with the handling signal, the transfer order being handled by the sending processing unit based on the association between the identified unassigned stock bundle handled by the sending processing unit and a specific transfer order;

creating, using the processor, a new work order reflecting the transfer of the unassigned stock bundle from the first area to the second area by the sending processing unit according to the identified transfer order, and associating the previously unassigned stock bundle with the sending transferring processing unit; and

deleting, using the processor, the identified transfer order from the initial work order, when the new work order is established.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein creating the initial work order comprises adding the plurality of transfer orders to the initial work order.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising deleting the plurality of transfer orders from the initial work order using the processor.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the handling signal comprises a stock identifier associated with the stock bundle of the transfer order.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the handling signal is produced using at least one of a bar code or a radio frequency identification (RFID) associated with the stock bundle of the transfer order.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising monitoring, using the processor, the performance of the transfer order handled by the processing unit.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein monitoring the performance comprises monitoring the transfer of the at least one stock bundle associated with the transfer order by the corresponding processing unit from the first area to the second area.

8. The method of claim 6, further comprising reallocating, using the processor, one or more of the plurality of processing units based upon the monitored performance, wherein the monitored performance indicates a volume of transfer orders processed by the processing units relative to the plurality of transfer orders of the initial work order.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the processing units is controlled by a storage facility operator.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the processing units comprises a motorized vehicle, a non-motorized vehicle, a truck, a fork lift, a fork truck, a pallet jack, a dolly, or a hand truck.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein one or more of the plurality of stock bundles associated with the plurality of transfer orders are configured in a random placement in the first area.

12. A system for processing stock, the system comprising:

a memory storage for maintaining a database; and

a processor coupled to the memory storage, wherein the processor is operative to;

create an initial work order comprising a plurality of transfer orders for a plurality of unassigned stock bundles, the plurality of transfer orders being associated with transfers of the unassigned stock bundles by a plurality of unassigned processing units from a first area to a second area;

receive, from one of the processing units, a handling signal sent from one of the unassigned processing units indicating that the sending unassigned processing unit is transferring an unassigned stock bundle associated with one of the transfer orders from the first area to the second area according to the transfer order, the handling signal identifying the sending unassigned processing unit;

identify, identify, from the initial work order in accordance with the handling signal, the transfer order being handled by the sending processing unit based on the association between the identified unassigned stock bundle handled by the sending processing unit and a specific transfer order;

create a new work order reflecting the transfer of the unassigned stock bundle from the first area to the second area by the sending processing unit according to the identified transfer order, and associating the previously unassigned stock bundle with the sending transferring processing unit; and

delete the identified transfer order from the initial work order, when the new work order is established.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the handling signal comprises a stock identifier associated with the identified transfer order.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the handling signal is produced using at least one of a bar code or a radio frequency identification (RFID) associated with the stock bundle of the identified transfer order.

15. The system of claim 12, wherein the processor is further operative to monitor the performance of of the transfer order transferred by the processing unit.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the processor is further operative to reallocate the processing units based upon the monitored performance, wherein the monitored performance indicates a volume of transfer orders processed by the processing units relative to a volume of transfer orders of the initial work order.

17. The system of claim 12, wherein the processing units are controlled by a storage facility operator.

18. The system of claim 12, wherein at least one of the processing units comprises a motorized vehicle, a non-motorized vehicle, a truck, a fork lift, a fork truck, a pallet jack, a dolly, or a hand truck.

19. The system of claim 12, wherein the one or more stock bundles associated with the transfer orders are configured in a random placement in the first area.

20. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising instructions that, when executed by a processor, perform a method for processing stock, the method comprising:

creating, using a processor, an initial work order comprising a plurality of transfer orders for a plurality of unassigned stock bundles, the transfer orders being associated with transfers of the unassigned stock bundles by a plurality of unassigned processing units from a first area to a second area;

receiving, from one of the processing units, a handling signal sent from one of the unassigned processing units indicating that the sending unassigned processing unit is transferring an unassigned stock bundle associated with one of the transfer orders from the first area to the second area according to the transfer order, the handling signal identifying the sending unassigned processing unit;

identifying, using the processor from the initial work order in accordance with the handling signal, the transfer order being handled by the sending processing unit based on the association between the identified unassigned stock bundle handled by the sending processing unit and a specific transfer order;

creating, using the processor, a new work order reflecting the transfer of the unassigned stock bundle from the first area to the second area by the sending processing unit according to the identified transfer order, and associating the previously unassigned stock bundle with the sending transferring processing unit; and

deleting, using the processor, the identified transfer order from the initial work order, when the new work order is established.

21. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 20, wherein the handling signal comprises a stock identifier associated with the identified transfer order.

22. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 21, wherein the handling signal is produced using at least one of a bar code or a radio frequency identification (RFID) associated with the one or more stock bundle of the transfer order.

23. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 20, further comprising monitoring the performance of the transfer order transferred by the processing unit.

24. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 23, further comprising reallocating the plurality of processing units based upon the monitored performance, wherein the monitored performance indicates a volume of transfer orders processed by the processing units relative to a volume of transfer orders of the initial work order.

25. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 20, the processing units are controlled by a storage facility operator.

26. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 20, wherein at least one of the processing units comprises a motorized vehicle, a non-motorized vehicle, a truck, a fork lift, a fork truck, a pallet jack, a dolly, or a hand truck.

27. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 20, wherein the one or more stock bundles associated with the transfer orders are configured in a random placement in the first area.