Item substitution in the manufacture of products

US7343212B1 · kind B1 · utility

Assignee

• Glovia International, Inc. · US

Inventors

• Quentin Stewart Brearley · Rancho Palos Verdes, US
• James P. Chilvers · Irvine, US
• Anil Sharma · Aurora, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Dec 17, 2004
• Grant date: Mar 11, 2008
• Expiry date: Apr 12, 2026

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G06Q10/087
• WIPO field: IT methods for management
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

A method for item substitution in a manufacturing process includes receiving an order for manufacture of a product and generating a first electronic bill of material for the product. The first electronic bill of material identifies multiple primary components to be assembled into the product. The method also includes identifying a trigger initiating substitution of one of the primary components, identifying multiple potential substitute components in response to the trigger, and identifying a substitution rule governing selection of one of the potential substitute components. The method also includes selecting one of the potential substitute components according to the substitution rule, substituting the selected one of the potential substitute components for the one primary component, and generating a second electronic bill of material for the product. The second electronic bill of material identifies the selected one of the potential substitute components.