Method for selecting a fulfillment plan for moving an item within an integrated supply chain

• US 7,212,976 B2
• Filed: 05/29/2001
• Issued: 05/01/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/22/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: WW Grainger Incorporated
• Original Assignee: WW Grainger Incorporated
• Inventors: Scheer, Robert H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Garg; Yogesh C.
• Application Number:
  US09/867,174
• Publication Number:
  US 20020138358A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,163 Days
• Field of Search: 705/7, 705/8, 705/26, 705/37, 705/1, 705/10, 705/27, 705/28, 700/106
• US Class Current: 705/7.34
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/063 Operations research, analysis or management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0637 Strategic management or analysis, e.g. setting a goal or target of an organisation; Planning actions based on goals; Analysis or evaluation of effectiveness of goals
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0875 Itemisation or classification of parts, supplies or services, e.g. bill of materials
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0205 Location or geographical consideration
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions

Abstract

A method for selecting a fulfillment plan for moving an item within a supply chain. The method is performed in response to the receipt of an order for an item. To select the fulfillment plan, a list of alternative fulfillment plans for moving the item within the supply chain is constructed, the constructed alternative fulfillment plans are evaluated against a predetermined criteria, and the constructed alternative fulfillment plan that most closely meets the predetermined criteria is selected for implementation to position the item within the supply chain for use in meeting the order.

Claims

1. A computer readable media having instructions executable by a computer for use in selecting a fulfillment plan for moving an item within a supply chain distributed over a plurality of geographic locations, the instructions performing steps comprising:

receiving an order for an item;

in response to receipt of the order for the item constructing a plurality of alternative fulfillment plans for moving the item from a sourcing point to each of the plurality of geographic locations within the supply chain;

evaluating each of the constructed plurality of alternative fulfillment plans against a predetermined criteria; and

selecting for implementation one of the constructed plurality of alternative fulfillment plans that most closely meets the predetermined criteria, the selected one of the plurality of alternative fulfillment plan being used to position the item at one of the plurality of a geographic locations within the supply chain thereby making the item available for use in meeting the order.

2. The computer readable media as recited in claim 1, wherein the instructions further perform the step of using a customer specified level of service when constructing the plurality of alternative fulfillment plans.

3. The computer readable media as recited in claim 1, wherein the instructions further perform the step of using branch and bound techniques to determine candidate sourcing points for the item when constructing the plurality of alternative fulfillment plans.

4. The computer readable media as recited in claim 1, wherein the instructions further perform the step of using a customer specified point of delivery when constructing the plurality of alternative fulfillment plans.

5. The computer readable media as recited in claim 1, wherein the instructions further perform the step of using a customer specified delivery date when constructing the plurality of alternative fulfillment plans.

6. The computer readable media as recited in claim 1, wherein the instructions further perform the step of using various combinations of sourcing points within the supply chain when constructing the plurality of alternative fulfillment plans.

7. The computer readable media as recited in claim 1, wherein the instructions further perform the step of using customer specified consolidation requirements when constructing the plurality of alternative fulfillment plans.

8. The computer readable media as recited in claim 1, wherein the instructions further perform the step of using activity costs when constructing the plurality of alternative fulfillment plans.

9. The computer readable media as recited in claim 1, wherein the instructions further perform the step of using inventory age when constructing the plurality of alternative fulfillment plans.

10. The computer readable media as recited in claim 1, wherein the instructions further perform the step of using a customer specified price quote when evaluating the constructed plurality of alternative fulfillment plans.