Methods and systems for acquiring parts from one or more suppliers

US8577747B1 · kind B1 · utility

Assignee

• The Boeing Company · US

Inventors

• William E. Krechel · Thompson's Station, US
• Kenneth G. Owens · Olivette, US
• Alexandra Brintrup · London, GB
• Tomas Sanchez-Lopez · Cardiff, GB
• Duncan McFarlane · Cambridge, GB
• Mark G. Harrison · Cambridge, GB

Key dates

• Filing date: Jul 17, 2011
• Grant date: Nov 5, 2013
• Expiry date: Jan 25, 2032

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G06Q30/08
• WIPO field: IT methods for management
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

Methods and systems for use in acquiring parts from suppliers using auction information including a requested part and decision criteria from an ordering manager agent and from supplier agents associated with part suppliers. A criteria comparison matrix representing a relative importance of each decision criterion is created. A criteria importance vector is created based on the criteria comparison matrix, and a supplier comparison matrix corresponding to each decision criterion is also created. The supplier comparison matrix represents a relative ranking of each supplier with respect to the corresponding decision criterion. A supplier criteria ranking vector corresponding to each decision criterion is created based on the supplier comparison matrix that corresponds to the decision criterion. The supplier criteria ranking vectors and the criteria importance vector are combined to create a supplier score matrix associated with the ordering manager agent and indicating a score associated with each supplier.