Large inventory-service optimization in configure-to-order systems
US7496530B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 4, 2005 |
| Grant date | Feb 24, 2009 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 19, 2027 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06Q20/203
- WIPO fieldIT methods for management
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A manufacturing process is migrated from an existing operation to a configure-to-order (CTO) system. As the CTO operation will eliminate the “machine-type model” (MTM) inventory of the existing operation, the emphasis is shifted to the components, or “building blocks”, which will still follow the build-to-stock scheme, due to their long leadtimes, and hence still require inventory. The solution involves an inventory-service trade-off of the new CTO system, resulting in performance gains, in terms of reduced inventory cost and increased service level. Other benefits of the method include better forecast accuracy through parts commonality and risk-pooling, and increased customer demand, as orders will no longer be confined within a restricted set of pre-configured MTMs.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.