U.S. patent application number 11/006967 was filed with the patent office on 2005-06-09 for integrated inventory management system.
Invention is credited to DeLong, Todd C., Prasad, Nagendra, Steel, William C., Untiedt, James H..
Application Number | 20050125313 11/006967 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34633229 |
Filed Date | 2005-06-09 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050125313 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Untiedt, James H. ; et
al. |
June 9, 2005 |
Integrated inventory management system
Abstract
A vehicle part inventory management system is provided for
filling at least part of the vehicle part orders by one vehicle
dealer from the inventory of another vehicle dealer. The inventory
management system includes an ordered parts data structure for
storing ordered parts information; an inventory data structure for
storing vehicle part inventory information for a plurality of
vehicle dealers; and a dealer assessment module connected to the
ordered parts data structure and the inventory data structure, such
that the dealer assessment module receives at least one request to
fill a vehicle part order and is able to determine a list of
potential supplying dealers that have the ordered vehicle part. The
inventory management system further includes a dealer interface
module that receives the list of potential supplying dealers and is
able communicate a request to supply the ordered vehicle part to at
least one of the potential supplying dealers. The dealer interface
module is also able to update the ordered parts data structure in
real-time when the request for the ordered vehicle part is accepted
by one of the potential supplying dealers.
Inventors: |
Untiedt, James H.; (Shelby
Township, MI) ; Prasad, Nagendra; (Troy, MI) ;
DeLong, Todd C.; (Fenton, MI) ; Steel, William
C.; (Lakeshore, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
DAIMLERCHRYSLER INTELLECTUAL CAPITAL CORPORATION
CIMS 483-02-19
800 CHRYSLER DR EAST
AUBURN HILLS
MI
48326-2757
US
|
Family ID: |
34633229 |
Appl. No.: |
11/006967 |
Filed: |
December 8, 2004 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
11006967 |
Dec 8, 2004 |
|
|
|
09718955 |
Nov 22, 2000 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
705/28 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06Q 10/087
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
705/028 |
International
Class: |
G06F 017/60 |
Claims
We claim:
1. A computer-implemented vehicle part inventory management system
that fills vehicle part orders from the inventory of a vehicle
retailer, comprising: an ordered parts data structure for storing
ordered parts information; an inventory data structure for storing
vehicle part inventory information for a plurality of vehicle
retailers; a dealer assessment module connected to the ordered
parts data structure and the inventory data structure, the dealer
assessment module receptive of at least one request to fill a
vehicle part order from a requesting vehicle retailer and operative
to determine a list of vehicle retailers having the ordered vehicle
part; and a dealer interface module receptive of the list of
vehicle retailers and operative to communicate a request to supply
the ordered vehicle part to at least one of the vehicle retailers;
said dealer interface module connected to the ordered parts data
structure and further operative to update the ordered parts data
structure in real-time when the request to supply the ordered
vehicle part is accepted by the vehicle retailer.
2. The vehicle part inventory management system of claim 1 further
comprises a part extraction module connected to the ordered parts
data structure and operative to compile a list of backordered
vehicle parts to serve as input to the dealer assessment
module.
3. The vehicle part inventory management system of claim 2 wherein
the part extraction module is operative to sequence the list of
backordered vehicle parts based on a priority code associated with
each backordered vehicle part.
4. The vehicle part inventory management system of claim 1 wherein
the dealer assessment module is further operative to determine time
zone information for the requesting vehicle retailer and each of
the supplying vehicle retailers, and to sequence the list of
vehicle retailers using the time zone information of the supplying
vehicle retailer as it relates to the time zone information for the
requesting vehicle retailer.
5. The vehicle part inventory management system of claim 1 further
comprises an interactive voice response (IVR) system receptive of
the request for the backordered vehicle part from the dealer
interface module and operative to place a telephone call to at
least one of the vehicle retailers.
6. The vehicle part inventory management system of claim 1 wherein
the dealer interface module connected to the inventory data
structure and operative to update the vehicle part inventory
information for the corresponding vehicle retailer in real-time
when the request to supply the ordered vehicle part is accepted by
the vehicle retailer.
7. The vehicle part inventory management system of claim 1 wherein
the dealer interface module is operative to verify an order status
for the ordered vehicle part as stored in the ordered parts data
structure prior to communicating the request to supply to the
vehicle retailer.
8. A computer-implemented method for identifying potential
supplying dealers to fill a vehicle part order in a
dealer-to-dealer referral program, comprising the steps of:
receiving a request to fill a vehicle part order from a requesting
dealer; determining time zone information for the requesting
dealer; identifying dealers that stock the ordered vehicle part;
determining time zone information for each of the dealers that
stock the ordered vehicle part; and sequencing the dealers that
stock the ordered vehicle part using the time zone information as
it relates to the time zone information of the requesting
dealer.
9. The method of claim 8 wherein the step of sequencing the dealers
further comprises ordering the dealers geographically by time zone
from west to east starting with the time zone of the requesting
dealer.
10. The method of claim 8 wherein the step of identifying dealers
that stock the ordered vehicle part further comprises identifying
dealers that stock at least one of a superceded part or a
superceding part that corresponds to the ordered vehicle part.
11. The method of claim 8 further comprising the steps of:
determining a fill status for each dealer that stocks the ordered
vehicle part, where the fill status is indicative of the quantity
of the ordered vehicle part that is stocked by the dealer; and
sequencing the dealers that stock the ordered vehicle part using
the fill status and the time zone information as it relates to the
time zone information of the requesting dealer.
12. The method of claim 11 wherein the step of determining a fill
status further comprises: determining a dealer's excess by
subtracting a predetermined preferred stocking level for the
ordered vehicle part from the quantity of the ordered vehicle part
that is currently stocked by the dealer; setting the fill status to
complete fill by excess, when the dealer's excess is greater than
or equal to the quantity of the ordered vehicle part; setting the
fill status to complete fill by quantity-on-hand, when the dealer's
excess is less than the quantity of the ordered vehicle part, but
the quantity-on-hand is greater than or equal to the quantity of
the ordered vehicle part; setting the fill status to partial fill
by excess, when the dealer's excess is less than the required
quantity of the ordered vehicle part but greater than zero and the
quantity-on-hand is less that the quantity of the ordered vehicle
part; and setting the fill status to partial fill by
quantity-on-hand, when dealer's excess is equal to zero and the
quantity-on-hand is less than the quantity of the ordered vehicle
part.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a divisional of U.S. patent application
Ser. No. 09/1718,955, filed Nov. 22, 2000.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates generally to an integrated
inventory management system and, more particularly, to a
computer-implemented vehicle part inventory management system that
fills at least some vehicle part orders by a vehicle dealer from
the inventory of another vehicle dealer.
[0004] 2. Discussion
[0005] Research performed by vehicle manufactures has shown that
vehicle dealers have generally exercised inadequate or inconsistent
inventory control practices. These practices have frequently
resulted in poor vehicle parts availability, excessive field
obsolescence and ineffective inventory investment. In addition, the
inconsistency with which the vehicle dealers conducted their parts
business also fed back though the supply chain and adversely
affected the efficiency and responsiveness of the vehicle parts
suppliers.
[0006] In order to reduce and/or eliminate these impacts, vehicle
manufactures determined that there was a need to gain system-wide
vehicle parts inventory "visibility" for the vehicle manufactures
and their dealers. Thus, an integrated vehicle part inventory
management system was developed to meet this need. The integrated
inventory management system includes a parts locator feature, an
automated dealer-to-dealer referral feature, a suggested stock
order feature, a suggested material return feature, and some
improved reporting features. In this way, the vehicle manufactures
expected to reduce vehicle dealer inventories with increased parts
mix, improve part fill rates, reduce field obsolescence and improve
overall performance throughout the supply chain.
[0007] As is well known, a conventional parts ordering system may
be used to track and fill vehicle part orders received from vehicle
dealers. When the parts supplier is unable to fill a part order on
a timely basis, the part order receives a backorder status and the
vehicle dealer is left to wait until the order is filled by the
parts supplier. In order to reduce the number of backorders,
dealer-to-dealer referral programs have been incorporated into some
inventory management systems.
[0008] In at least one known system, backorder information is
extracted on a nightly basis from the parts ordering system. Using
the backorder information, the system creates a list of vehicle
dealers who have the ordered parts, and then automatically queries
each of these vehicle dealers on behalf of the requesting dealer.
In order to update the parts ordering system, the system also
generates an output file that indicates which orders have been
filled through the referral process. On a nightly basis, the output
file is then used to update the status of the ordered parts in the
parts ordering system.
[0009] Unfortunately, this process allows for double shipment of a
backordered part. During the course of a given day, it is
conceivable that a backorder may be filled and shipped to a
requesting dealer prior to the nightly update of the parts ordering
system. In this way, a backordered part may inadvertently be
shipped by the parts supplier as well as shipped by a supplying
dealer.
[0010] Therefore, it is desirable to provide an integrated
inventory management system that fills vehicle part orders from the
inventory of another vehicle dealer as well as updates in real-time
the order status for the vehicle part in the parts ordering system.
It is also desirable that the system check the order status prior
to communicating a request to supply the vehicle part to a vehicle
dealer.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0011] In accordance with the teachings of the present invention, a
vehicle part inventory management system is provided for filling at
least part of a vehicle part order by one vehicle dealer from the
inventory of another vehicle dealer. The inventory management
system includes an ordered parts data structure for storing ordered
parts information; an inventory data structure for storing vehicle
part inventory information for a plurality of vehicle dealers; and
a dealer assessment module connected to the ordered parts data
structure and the inventory data structure, such that the dealer
assessment module receives at least one request to fill a vehicle
part order and is able to determine a list of potential supplying
dealers that have the ordered vehicle part. The inventory
management system further includes a dealer interface module that
receives the list of potential supplying dealers and is able
communicate a request to supply the ordered vehicle part to at
least one of the potential supplying dealers. The dealer interface
module is also able to update the ordered parts data structure in
real-time when the request for the ordered vehicle part is accepted
by one of the potential supplying dealers.
[0012] Additional benefits and advantages of the present invention
will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which this
invention relates from a reading of the subsequent description of
the preferred embodiment and the appended claims, taken in
conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] FIG. 1 is a diagram depicting the distributed computing
platforms for an integrated inventory management system embodying
aspects of the present invention;
[0014] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the components of the
inventory part management system of the present invention; and
[0015] FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a preferred search logic
employed by the inventory part management system of the present
invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0016] An integrated inventory management system 10 embodying
aspects of the present invention is depicted in FIG. 1. The
integrated inventory management system 10 is distributed between a
centralized computing platform 12 and one or more local computing
platforms 14 residing at vehicle dealers. For illustration
purposes, the centralized computing platform is owned and operated
by the vehicle manufacturer. Although the parts supplier for each
dealer is typically the vehicle manufacturer, it is readily
understood that in other industries the parts supplier and its
associated parts ordering system may be independent from the
original equipment vehicle manufacturer.
[0017] The integrated inventory management system 10 generally
includes a centralized inventory management system 20 and an
associated dealer inventory data structure or database 22. The
dealer inventory database 22 is used to store vehicle part
information for a plurality of vehicle dealers and is periodically
updated (e.g., on a daily basis) with part information from each of
the vehicle dealers. In addition, the inventory management system
20 interfaces with an interactive voice response (IVR) system 24,
preferably through dealer interface module 52 as described in more
detail below with reference to FIG. 2. In this way, the inventory
management system 20 is able to communicate part queries over a
public switched telephone network 26 to a telephony device 28
residing at the vehicle dealer. It is envisioned that the IVR
system 24 may also communicate with a facsimile machine, a personal
computer or other types of communication devices that may reside at
the vehicle dealer.
[0018] A parts ordering system 30 and an associated ordered parts
data structure or database 32 also reside on the manufacture's
computing platform 12. As is well known, the parts ordering system
30 supports various operations ranging from accepting part orders
to filling and shipping part orders to a requesting dealer. Thus,
the ordered parts database 32 is used to store ordered parts
information as requested by a vehicle dealer. Additionally, at
least one computing terminal 34 residing at the vehicle dealer is
adapted to access the parts ordering system 30. As will be more
fully explained below, the parts ordering system 30 is integrated
with the inventory management system 10.
[0019] At least a portion of the inventory management system 20'
resides on a computing device at the vehicle dealer. Each dealer
uses this portion of the inventory management system 20' to input
and manage their vehicle part inventory. A dealer's part inventory
information is periodically uploaded (e.g., on a nightly basis) to
the centralized dealer inventory database 22 residing on the
manufacture's computing platform 12. In a preferred embodiment, the
manufacturer's computing platform 12 and the computing platform for
each dealer 14 are interconnected by a satellite communication
link. However, as will be apparent to one skilled in the art, the
computing platforms 12 and 14 may also be able to communicate using
common communication protocols (e.g., TCP/IP) over other types of
network channels.
[0020] Referring to FIG. 2, a more detailed description is provided
for the centralized inventory management system 20. First, a part
extraction module 42 is used to extract the relevant part
information for each unfilled part order in the ordered parts
database 32. However, the part extraction module 42 may not process
every unfilled part order. For instance, hazardous type parts or
parts that are deemed excluded from the dealer-to-dealer referral
program may not be processed by the parts extraction module 42.
Likewise, the parts extraction module 42 may not process parts that
have been received into the manufacture's supply chain but not yet
delivered to the requesting dealer. For example, a backordered part
may be sitting on a truck at or in-transit to the manufacture's
distribution warehouse. In either case, the backordered part is not
a candidate for the dealer-to-dealer referral program. One skilled
in the art will readily recognize that other criteria may be used
to exclude certain unfilled part orders from the dealer-to-dealer
referral program. The output from the part extraction module 42 is
a list of backordered parts 44 eligible for the dealer-to-dealer
referral program as shown in FIG. 2.
[0021] Prior to searching for potential supplying dealers, the list
of backordered parts 44 may be sequenced. It is envisioned that
each unfilled part order may provide a backorder priority code
indicative of the urgency of the request. If multiple backorders
exist for the same part, then the more critical requests will be
addressed first. In other words, backorders may be processed from
highest priority to lowest priority (e.g., based on the numeric
value of the code). Likewise, each unfilled part order may provide
a backorder date and time. If multiple backorders for the same part
have the same priority code, then the backorders may be processed
from oldest to newest based on the backorder date and time.
[0022] A dealer assessment module 46 is then used to compile a call
list 48 of potential supplying dealers for each backordered part.
Potential supplying dealers are identified by searching through the
dealer inventory database 22. Thus, the search logic is designed to
reduce unnecessary split shipments, refer older parts from dealer
inventory first, and reduce a dealer's excess stock. In a preferred
embodiment, the dealer assessment module 46 is implemented as a
subroutine that is called by the parts extraction module 42 for
each backordered part.
[0023] FIG. 3 illustrates the preferred search logic employed by
the dealer assessment module 46. For each backordered part, the
requested part value is set to the original part number at 62. The
requested part number is then used to identify at 64 a potential
supplying dealer. For each potential supplying dealer, there are
four possible fill scenarios: (1) complete fill by excess, (2)
complete fill by quantity-on-hand, (3) partial fill by excess, or
(4) partial fill by quantity-on-hand. As further described below,
the appropriate fill status is determined for each potential
supplying dealer at 66.
[0024] If the supplying dealer's excess is greater than or equal to
the required quantity, then the excess parts are used to completely
fill the backorder. If the supplying dealer's excess is less than
the required quantity, but the quantity-on-hand is greater than or
equal to the required quantity, then the quantity-on-hand parts are
used to completely fill the backorder. If the supplying dealer's
excess is less than the required quantity but greater than zero and
the quantity-on-hand is less than the required quantity, then the
excess parts are used to partially fill the backorder. If the
supplying dealer's excess is equal to zero and the quantity-on-hand
is less than the required quantity, then the quantity-on-hand parts
are used to partially fill the backorder. In a preferred
embodiment, the dealer's excess for any given part is defined as
the quantity-on-hand minus a predetermined best stocking level for
the part.
[0025] For each potential supplying dealer, the pertinent
information is then output at 68 to the call list 48. Each entry in
the call list will identify the requested part number, a potential
supplying dealer, the fill status for that dealer, the dealer's
phone number, the dealer's fax number as well as other information.
If at 70 it is determined that there is another dealer who has the
requested part, the above-described process is repeated for that
potential supplying dealer; otherwise, the search logic evaluates
whether the backorder can be filled from the compiled list of
potential supplying dealers.
[0026] At 72 it is determined whether the backorder was filled. A
backorder is completely filled if at least one potential supplying
dealer has a complete fill status or the backorder can be filled by
several partial fills from two or more potential supplying dealers.
However, if the backorder can not be completely filled after
searching through all of the potential supplying dealers, then the
search logic will continue to search for the requested part by
using a corresponding superceded part number as shown at 74. If a
corresponding superceded part number exists for the requested part,
then the requested part number is set to the superceded part number
at 62 and the above-described process is repeated until the
backorder is completely filled. If there is no corresponding
superceded part number or the backorder can not be filled after
searching though all of the potential supplying dealers using the
superceded part number, then the search logic will continue to
search for the originally requested part by checking for a
superceding part number as shown at 76. If a corresponding
superceding part number exists for the requested part, then the
requested part number is set to the superceding part number at 62
and the above-described process is repeated until the backorder is
completely filled.
[0027] Upon completion of the above-described search logic, the
call list of potential supplying dealers is sorted. The call list
is generally sorted by fill status, time zone information and
inventory information for the potential supplying dealers. The call
list is first sorted by fill status of the potential supplying
dealer according to the following order: complete fill by excess,
complete fill by quantity-on-hand, partial fill by excess and
partial fill by quantity-on-hand.
[0028] Next, the call list is sorted by time zone information for
the potential supplying dealers as it relates to the time zone of
the requesting dealer. In particular, the potential supplying
dealers are sorted from west to east within a predefined geographic
region (e.g., the U.S.) starting with the time zone of the
requesting dealer. Upon reaching time zone farthest east within the
geographic region (e.g., EST), the sort order continues with the
western most time zone in the geographic region (e.g., PST). For
example, for a requesting dealer located in the mountain standard
time zone, the call list is further sorted according to the
following order: potential supplying dealers in the mountain time
zone, central time zone, eastern time zone and pacific time zone.
In this way, all potential supplying dealers within the same time
zone appear as equally close to the requesting dealer when
formulating the call list. However, it is envisioned that potential
supplying dealer may be sorted using other criteria. Lastly,
potential supplying dealers having the same fill status within the
same time zone are sorted by the dealer's excess and
quantity-on-hand values.
[0029] Returning to FIG. 2, the sorted call list 48 serves as an
input to the dealer interface module 52. The dealer interface
module 52 in turn serves as the interface between the inventory
management system 20 and an external dealer communication system.
In a preferred embodiment, the external dealer communication system
is interactive voice response (IVR) system 24 which is operative to
place telephone calls to the potential supplying dealers. However,
it is envisioned that the dealer communication system may also
communicate with the potential supplying dealers via email
messages, facsimile messages or by placing calls through a call
center.
[0030] In operation, the dealer interface module 52 logs call
requests with the IVR system 54 based on the list of potential
supplying dealers compiled in the call list 48. In a preferred
embodiment, the dealer interface module 52 only logs call requests
when the potential supplying dealer is open, where all dealers are
presumed to have the same hours of operation (e.g., 8:00 am to 5:00
pm). It should be noted that only one call will be requested at any
given time for backorders having the same requested part. In
addition, subsequent calls for the same part will not be placed
until the dealer interface module 52 receives a response for the
previous call request for that part.
[0031] Upon receiving a call request, the IVR system places a call
asking if the dealer is willing to provide the requested part to
the requesting dealer. The supplying dealer's response is then
passed back to the dealer interface module 52. If the supplying
dealer agrees to supply the part to the requesting dealer, the
dealer interface module 52 updates in real-time the status of the
backorder in the ordered parts database 32. By immediately updating
the ordered parts database, the integrated inventory management
system 10 of the present invention eliminates any double shipment
of the backordered part to the requesting dealer.
[0032] In order to process multiple requests for the same part, the
dealer interface module 52 must also interface with the dealer
inventory database 22. Once a supplying dealer agrees to supply a
part, that dealer's excess and quantity-on-hand values are updated
in the dealer inventory database 22. For example, if a backorder is
completely filled from excess, then the required part quantity is
subtracted from the supplying dealer's excess and quantity-on-hand
values. Prior to processing subsequent requests for the same part,
the dealer interface module 52 is further able to access these
updated dealer inventory values in the dealer inventory database
22. In this way, a call request will not be placed to a potential
supplying dealer whose inventory of the requested part has
previously been committed to another requesting dealer.
[0033] On the other hand, if the supplying dealer declines to
supply the part, the dealer interface module 52 queues another call
request for the next potential supplying dealer in the call list.
Prior to making the call request, the dealer interface module 52
may be operative to check the order status (in real-time) for the
requested part. In other words, the dealer interface module 52 may
make a query to the ordered parts database 32 to ensure that the
part is still on backorder. Again, this real-time interface with
the ordered parts database 32 eliminates any double shipment of
backordered parts. In the event of a non-responsive call (i.e.,
busy signal or no answer) to a dealer, the dealer interface module
52 may also require the same call request after a predefined time
delay (e.g., 5 minutes) and continue to queue the call request to a
predetermined number of retries. It is further envisioned that once
a potential supplying dealer declines to supply a part, the system
is operative to avoid soliciting the same dealer for the same part
for a user-specified period of time (e.g., 30 days).
[0034] While the above description constitutes the preferred
embodiment of the invention, it will be appreciated that the
invention is susceptible to modification, variation, and change
without departing from the proper scope or fair meaning of the
accompanying claims.
* * * * *