Transport scheduling for low microbial bulk products

• US 8,260,726 B2
• Filed: 01/20/2011
• Issued: 09/04/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/15/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ardent Mills LLC (CHS Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: ConAgra Foods Food Ingredients Company Incorporated (Givaudan SA)
• Inventors: Grace, Ryan T., Mariniello, Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): FLYNN, KEVIN H
• Application Number:
  US13/010,480
• Publication Number:
  US 20110307288A1
• Time in Patent Office: 593 Days
• Field of Search: 705/332, 705/336, 705/337
• US Class Current: 705/332
• CPC Class Codes: B08B 3/04 Cleaning involving contact with liquid
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0832 Special goods or special handling procedures, e.g. handling of hazardous or fragile goods
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/1097 Task assignment
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/10 Composition for standardization, calibration, simulation, stabilization, preparation or preservation; processes of use in preparation for chemical testing

Abstract

Transport scheduling and transport processes for low microbial (“LM”) bulk products are described. The transport scheduling and processes facilitate low microbial activity in a LM bulk product during the transport of the LM bulk product.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method comprising:

obtaining a shipping request for a low microbial (LM) bulk product, wherein the shipping request includes a requested receipt date and a product type identifier;

causing at least one processor to calculate a load-out date based on the receipt date;

causing the at least one processor to match the product type identifier of the shipping request to a low microbial wash (LMW) specification, wherein the LMW specification includes LMW process instructions and a LMW timing threshold, wherein the LMW timing threshold is based on a microbial baseline that indicates a microbial differential over time, the LMW timing threshold being a maximum recommended amount of time between LM washes for transport vehicles carrying the product corresponding to the product type identifier;

sending a transport request to a shipping entity, wherein the transport request includes an identification of the LMW specification to facilitate implementation of the LMW process instructions and the LMW timing threshold as a conditional factor during scheduling of a prospective transport vehicle; and

implementing, by a processor, the LMW timing threshold as the conditional factor during transport vehicle scheduling by comparing the LMW timing threshold against both a LMW record for the prospective transport vehicle and a transport period, the transport period beginning on the calculated load-out date and ending on the calculated receipt date, to determine whether the LMW timing threshold is projected to be surpassed for the prospective transport vehicle prior to or during the transport period.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the product type identifier indicates bulk flour.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the product type identifier indicates at least one member of a group comprising:

flour, bran, germ, grain, oat, rye, wheat, barley, sugar, spice, ground vegetable, ground pepper, and ground fruit.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein causing the at least one processor to match the product type identifier of the shipping request to the LMW specification further comprises:

querying a database, having a plurality of LMW specifications for a plurality of LM bulk product types, with the received product type identifier; and

obtaining a LMW specification among the plurality of LMW specifications that includes a product type identifier that matches the product type identifier of the query.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising sending a load-out request to a load-out scheduling module, wherein the load-out request includes an identification of the LMW specification and the load-out date to facilitate preconditioning of the LM bulk product prior to load-out.

6. A computer-readable storage medium comprising computer executable instructions, the instructions when executed by one or more computers cause the one or more computers to perform the method comprising:

receiving a shipping request for a low microbial (LM) bulk product, wherein the shipping request includes a product type identifier;

obtaining a low microbial wash (LMW) specification that matches the product type identifier, wherein the LMW specification includes LMW process instructions and a LMW timing threshold, wherein the LMW timing threshold is based on a microbial baseline that indicates a microbial differential over time, the LMW timing threshold being a maximum recommended amount of time between LM washes for transport vehicles carrying the product corresponding to the product type identifier;

sending a transport request to a shipping entity, wherein the transport request includes an identification of the LMW specification to facilitate implementation of the LMW process instructions and the LMW timing threshold as a conditional factor during scheduling of a prospective transport vehicle; and

implementing the LMW timing threshold as the conditional factor during transport vehicle scheduling by comparing the LMW timing threshold against both a LMW record for the prospective transport vehicle and a transport period, the transport period beginning on the calculated load-out date and ending on the calculated receipt date, to determine whether the LMW timing threshold is projected to be surpassed for the prospective transport vehicle prior to or during the transport period.

7. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 6, wherein the product type identifier indicates bulk flour.

8. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 6, wherein the product type identifier indicates at least one member of a group comprising:

flour, bran, germ, grain, oat, rye, wheat, barley, sugar, spice, ground vegetable, ground pepper, and ground fruit.

9. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 6, wherein obtaining the LMW specification that matches the product type identifier further comprises:

querying a database, having a plurality of LMW specifications for a plurality of LM bulk product types, with the received product type identifier; and

obtaining a LMW specification among the plurality of LMW specifications that includes a product type identifier that matches the product type identifier of the query.

10. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 6, wherein the shipping request further includes a requested receipt date.

11. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 10, further comprising calculating a load-out date based on the receipt date.

12. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 11, further comprising sending a load-out request to a load-out scheduling module, wherein the load-out request includes an identification of the LMW specification and the load-out date to facilitate preconditioning of the LM bulk product prior to load-out.

13. A system comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one memory having computer executable instructions stored thereon, wherein the computer executable instructions cause the at least one processor to perform the steps of;

receiving a shipping request for a low microbial (LM) bulk product, wherein the shipping request includes a requested receipt date and a product type identifier;

calculating a load-out date based on the receipt date;

matching the product type identifier of the shipping request to a low microbial wash (LMW) specification, wherein the LMW specification includes LMW process instructions and a LMW timing threshold, wherein the LMW timing threshold is based on a microbial baseline that indicates a microbial differential over time, the LMW timing threshold being a maximum recommended amount of time between LM washes for transport vehicles carrying the product corresponding to the product type identifier;

sending a transport request to a shipping entity, wherein the transport request includes an identification of the LMW specification to facilitate implementation of the LMW process instructions and the LMW timing threshold as a conditional factor during scheduling of a prospective transport vehicle; and

implementing the LMW timing threshold as the conditional factor during transport vehicle scheduling by comparing the LMW timing threshold against both a LMW record for the prospective transport vehicle and a transport period, the transport period beginning on the calculated load-out date and ending on the calculated receipt date, to determine whether the LMW timing threshold is projected to be surpassed for the prospective transport vehicle prior to or during the transport period.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the product type identifier indicates bulk flour.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein the product type identifier indicates at least one member of a group comprising:

flour, bran, germ, grain, oat, rye, wheat, barley, sugar, spice, ground vegetable, ground pepper, and ground fruit.

16. The system of claim 13, wherein matching the product type identifier of the shipping request to the LMW specifications further comprises:

querying a database, having a plurality of LMW specifications for a plurality of LM bulk product types, with the received product type identifier; and

obtaining a LMW specification among the plurality of LMW specifications that includes a product type identifier that matches the product type identifier of the query.

17. The system of claim 13, further comprising sending a load-out request to a load-out scheduling module, wherein the load-out request includes an identification of the LMW specification and the load-out date to facilitate preconditioning of the LM bulk product prior to load-out.