Methodology and computer-based tools for re-engineering a custom-engineered product line
US6009406A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 5, 1997 |
| Grant date | Dec 28, 1999 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 5, 2017 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06Q30/0203
- WIPO fieldIT methods for management
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
An in-depth review of a product line is conducted, including customer interviews, in order to identify customer specifications that are more complex than customer needs. Customer needs are quantified, and a reduced set of standard product configuration classes are selected so that about 80% of customer orders based on actual customer needs can be satisfied by the standard product configuration classes, and the remaining orders can be satisfied by custom design. Major components in the standard products are themselves standardized. Manufacture of the standard product is optimized for a one-day manufacturing cycle and separated from the manufacture of the custom designed product. A sales office and manufacturing plant roll-out schedule is implemented and managed by computer-based spreadsheet tools. A product configuration computer program module is interfaced between a product selector and a materials management (MRP) system in order to automate the process of entering orders, designing the standard product, ordering parts, and scheduling assembly of standard product.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.