System for evaluating component value

• US 20070240121A1
• Filed: 01/31/2006
• Published: 10/11/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Inventors: Spangler, John
• Application Number:
  US11/342,702
• Publication Number:
  US 20070240121A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 717/127
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/04 Forecasting or optimisation specially adapted for administrative or management purposes, e.g. linear programming or "cutting stock problem" market predictions or forecasting for commercial activities G06Q30/0202

Abstract

A method is disclosed for determining a value of a manipulated component. The method includes compiling information indicative of a process configured to manipulate the component. The method also includes determining a quality of the manipulated component as a function of the compiled information and determining a cost of the manipulated component. The method further includes determining the value of the manipulated component as a function of the quality and cost of the manipulated component.

Claims

1. A method for determining a value of a manipulated component comprising:

compiling information indicative of a process configured to manipulate the component;

determining a quality of the manipulated component as a function of the compiled information;

determining a cost of the manipulated component; and

determining the value of the manipulated component as a function of the quality and cost of the manipulated component.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the quality of the manipulated component includes determining a quality of the process.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein:

the process is a first process configured to be operated by a first supplier; and

determining the quality of the first process includes comparing the first process with a second process configured to be operated by a second supplier.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein:

the process is first process configured as a conceptual process; and

determining the quality of the first process includes comparing the first process with a second process, the second process configured to be either a conceptual process or a process configured to be operated by a supplier.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the manipulated component includes a plurality of manipulated components, the plurality of manipulated components including at least one first component having a first type and at least one second component having a second type, the second type being different than the first type; and

determining a quality of the manipulated component includes determining a first quality of the at least one first component, determining a second quality of the at least one second component.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the first and second qualities are indicative of the capability of the process to manipulate the at least one first component and manipulate the at least one second component, respectively.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein compiling information includes receiving information from a potential supplier indicative of a process the potential supplier proposes to operate to manipulate the component.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the cost of the manipulated component includes receiving a price quotation for procuring the manipulated component from a potential supplier.

9. A system for determining a value of a component comprising:

a computer configured to receive at least one first input from a user;

a user interface configured to display at least one output; and

a program configured to;

receive at least one second input from the computer,

access a database populated with data indicative of a process configured to manipulate the component,

determine a quality of the component as a function of the data indicative of the process, and

determine the value of the component as a function of the determined quality.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein:

the at least one first input from a user includes a plurality of first inputs;

the plurality of first inputs includes at least one input indicative of the process configured to manipulate the component;

the at least one second input received from the computer includes a plurality of second inputs; and

the program is further configured to populate the database with the data indicative of the plurality of second inputs.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the program is further configured to:

determine a probability of the process to manipulate the component at or above a desired manipulation requirement; and

determine the quality of the component as a function of the determined probability.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein the program is further configured to determine the quality by:

comparing the data indicative of the process with a predetermined hierarchy of types of processes and associated predetermined process qualities;

substantially matching the data indicative of the process with a type of process within the hierarchy; and

determining the quality of the component as a function of the predetermined process quality associated with the type of process substantially matching the data indicative of the process.

13. The system of claim 9, wherein the at least one output is the determined value of the component.

14. A method for evaluating a plurality of processes each configured to manipulate at least one component comprising:

determining for each of the plurality of processes;

a cost of manipulating the at least one component,

a quality of manipulating the at least one component as a function of information indicative of the process, and

a value of manipulating the at least one component as a function of the cost and the quality of the at least one component;

comparing each value of the plurality of processes with one another; and

identifying one of the plurality of processes having the highest value.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the information indicative of the process includes at least one of:

a type of process, a type of equipment, a size of equipment, a component manipulation time, or a process downtime.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the at least one component is a plurality of components including at least a first component and a second component, the method further including:

determining for each of the plurality of processes a first value and a second value, respectively associated with the first and second components;

comparing each of the plurality of first values with one another and identifying one of the plurality of processes having the highest first value; and

comparing each of the plurality of second values with one another and identifying one of the plurality of processes having the highest second value.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the first component and the second component are different at least with respect to at least one of geometry, weight, material, size, desired component manipulation, manipulation cycle time, manipulation take time, or manipulation lead time.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein determining a quality of manipulating the at least one component includes:

comparing the information indicative of the process with predetermined quality parameters;

selecting one of the predetermined quality parameters that substantially matches the information indicative of the process; and

determining the component quality as the selected one of the predetermined quality parameters.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the predetermined quality parameters are determined as a function of a hierarchy of the plurality of processes.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the hierarchy is determined by comparing information indicative of a first process and information indicative of the second process, the method further including:

ranking the first process higher than the second process when the first process is determined to be a more desirous process than the second process.

21. The method of claim 14, wherein the at least one component includes a plurality of components, the method further comprising:

determining for each of the plurality of processes a quality of each of the plurality of components as a function of the probability that operating a respective process to manipulate the plurality of components will result in at least a portion of the manipulated plurality of components to be manipulated below specifications.