The invention relates to the field of material logistics and more specifically to the field of integrating supply systems with manufacturing material control, sales and marketing, and customer support.
Manufacturing of any detailed product is a complex process that requires extensive co-ordination between various entities, both within the same organization and outside the organization. Such manufacturing includes material need determinations, cost negotiations, material availability determinations, and warehousing considerations, just to name a few. Each of these entities typically is responsible for discrete portions of the manufacturing process, including order processing, supplier integration, and process feedback. It follows, therefore, that manufacturing requires getting the right information to the right place at the right time. Today, some of discrete entities or processes of the manufacturing process are automated computing systems. However, the communication and integration among the various entities is lacking. Often this lack of integration is a result of the various different entities that are responsible for the many different aspects of the overall manufacturing process. As a result, completing the entire manufacturing process often requires extensive human interaction between each of the various discrete entities or processes.
In addition, the entity that is ultimately responsible for the end product often is at the mercy of the individual material suppliers. Yet, often the communication to the end product manufacturer from the discrete entities is inconsistent. This inconsistent communication leads to missed production deadlines and eventually the arduous process of identifying new suppliers. In addition, inventories kept by the end product manufacturer often have low visibility, such that material acquisition requests often come too late, especially for long lead time material items.
Therefore, there is a need to provide automation and communication among the discrete manufacturing processes in real-time, and to provide greater visibility of manufacturing inventories.
The invention contemplates a system and method providing customer relationship management (CRM) features to assist customers in the sales of power distribution system equipment and services. The system comprises a CRM process and workflow engine and an error tracking and reporting engine that cooperate with participating users over a communications network. The CRM processing and workflow engine and error tracking and reporting engine includes at least one processing rule operating on customer and sales information. The communications network cooperates with the CRM process and workflow engine and error tracking and reporting engine to transmit and receive data representative of CRM activities and error tracking and reporting activities. The inventive system also may include at least one data store cooperating with the CRM process and workflow engine and error tracking and reporting engine for storing various CRM data and error data. Also, the communication network may be a local area network, a wide area network, a wireless network, and/or the Internet, or any combination of those. In operation, the CRM process and workflow engine receives data from participating customers, retrieves data from the cooperating data store, and cooperates with error tracking and reporting engine to realize one or more CRM activities that might include but are not limited to, tracking order history, logging customer complaints, determining customer affinities, and processing customer delivery and demographic information. The error tracking and reporting engine. In context of error tracking and reporting, the herein described system contemplates receiving data from cooperating customers over the communications network of possible errors with power distribution system equipment or in the performance of power distribution system services such that the error may be addressed.
The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description of preferred embodiments, is better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there is shown in the drawings exemplary embodiments of the invention; however, the invention is not limited to the specific methods and instrumentalities disclosed. In the drawings:
a is a block diagram of an exemplary network environment in which the present invention may be employed;
b is a block diagram illustrating the cooperation of various computing elements when generating resource optimization for power systems in a computing environment;
a-9c are block diagrams of alternate illustrative data flow operations between exemplary components in accordance with the present invention;
Illustrative Computing Environment
Illustrative Computer Network Environment
Computer 20a, described above, can be deployed as part of a computer network. In general, the above description for computers applies to both server computers and client computers deployed in a network environment.
In operation, a participating user (not shown) may interact with a computing application running on a client computing devices to generate resource optimization solutions for energy markets. The optimization solutions may be stored on server computers and communicated to cooperating users through client computing devices over communications network 160. A participating user may create, track, manage, and store project solutions and cost analysis information by interfacing with computing applications on client computing devices. These transactions may be communicated by client computing devices to server computers for processing and storage. Server computers may host computing applications for the processing of optimization information relevant to energy markets.
Thus, the present invention can be utilized in a computer network environment having client computing devices for accessing and interacting with the network and a server computer for interacting with client computers. However, the systems and methods providing resource optimization as described by the systems and methods disclosed herein can be implemented with a variety of network-based architectures, and thus should not be limited to the example shown. The systems and methods disclosed herein will be described in more detail with reference to a presently illustrative implementation.
Power System Solution Generation
b shows the cooperation of various computing elements when generating resource optimization for power systems in a computing environment. A participating user may employ computing application 180a operating on client computer 20a to send a request for resource optimization to project processing server 10a over communications network 160. In response, project processing server 10a may process the request by cooperating with adaptable and updateable computational equation, rules, and models data store 10b(1), and adaptable and updateable computational model engine 10b(2) to generate and communicate resource optimization solutions for the power system resource optimization request. The resource optimization solution information can then be communicated to client computer 20a over communications network 160. At client computer 20a, the resource optimization solution information may be viewed and manipulated by participating users.
Overview
The invention contemplates a technique for integrating the inventory system of a manufacturing facility with each of the many material suppliers systems in real time.
As shown in
Ordering Module
An embodiment of ordering module 201 is an online application that integrates the multiple processes that occur during the ordering and manufacturing of a power transformer into one streamlined process that also provides for real-time access and manipulation of ordering and manufacturing data. It should be noted that the details of implementing a website and/or intranet site in connection with electronic commerce should be known to one skilled in the art and is therefore not discussed herein for clarity.
A block diagram of an exemplary ordering module 201 in accordance with the present invention is shown in
Operatively connected to sales computer 304 by way of communications network 308 may be management computer 310 and project processing server 10a. Communications network 308 may be the same network as communications network 306, or may be a different network. Additionally, communications network 308 may be a different type of communications network 160 than communications network 306. Management computer 310 may be any computing device for communicating with a management entity of the transformer manufacturer. Such management computer 310, like computers 302, 304, may be any type of computing device, such as computer 20a, and may permit the management entity to send information to sales computer 304 by way of communications network 308. Sales computer 304 may process such management input, for example, according to predetermined criteria. Project processing server 10a enables functionality similar to that of management computer 310 with respect to a manufacturing entity of the transformer manufacturer and will be discussed below in greater detail in connection with
Turning now to
At step 215, the order is reviewed. Such a review process may be performed manually by, for example, a sales engineer or the like, or the process may be automated. In an embodiment where a customer performed step 210 above in connection with sending an email, for example, a sales engineer or the like may review the order, correspond with the customer if necessary, and then enter the order into the manufacturing system such as project processing server 10a. In an embodiment where a customer performed step 210 above in connection with filling out an online form provided by website 312, for example, the form may be reviewed by sales computer 304 or the like and automatically forwarded, if valid, to project processing server 10a or another manufacturer computer 10a. A pre-review is also possible, where a customer is only permitted to, for example, select valid options for ordering one or more transformers. The options may be based on valid transformer configurations, manufacturing capacity, availability of supplies or the like. As may be appreciated, in such an embodiment, step 215 takes place prior to step 210.
At step 220, an optimization across manufacturing plants is conducted by the plant optimization module 202, as will be discussed below in greater detail in connection with
At step 230, a determination is made as to whether the order for the transformer has been confirmed. If not, the method proceeds to step 235 where the order is cancelled and any supply or factory holds are released. As may be appreciated, additional factors may be incorporated into step 235 such as, for example, the automated charging or payment of a cancellation fee, the generation of a cancellation confirmation, or the like. If, however, the determination of step 230 results in a confirmed order, the method proceeds to step 240. At step 240, an automated payment plan may be initiated as agreed upon between the manufacturer and customer. The use of an automated payment plan may allow for the automatic deduction of customer funds at given production points, at the completion of production or the like.
At step 245, the necessary materials and plant space are ordered and reserved, and the production of the transformer begins. In addition, the manufacturing process may be further optimized based on orders received, actual plant loading and the like. At step 250, the order and manufacturing process is completed. At such step, a customer service entity of the manufacturer may be notified to, for example, follow up with the customer and receive feedback on the ordering and manufacturing process. An example of such a following up process is described below in connection with the customer relationship management module 207 of
Plant Optimization Module
A block diagram of an exemplary manufacturing system in accordance with the present invention is shown in
A flowchart of an exemplary method for performing a manufacturing optimization in accordance with the present invention is shown in
At step 610, order input is received. The order input preferably includes information about an order such as, for example, a size of the order, a completion/shipping date for the order, and a shipping location for the order.
At step 620, manufacturing capability input is received. The capability input may include global and/or local input. Global input preferably includes capability information about global manufacturing facilities such as, for example, factories 510 and 520. Global input may include facilities throughout the world or throughout a selected region. Local input preferably includes capability information about manufacturing components within global facilities such as, for example, machines 510a-d and 520a-c.
At step 630, management input is received. Step 630 is an optional step. Management input preferably includes information related to management policies and decisions such as, for example, manufacturing costs, wages, raw material costs, and strategic planning.
At step 640 a global or local optimization mode is selected. The optimization may be selected manually by a participating user or automatically based on factors such as, for example, the size of the order input and whether the manufacturing input is primarily global or local.
At step 650, the optimization is performed. The optimization is preferably performed by a computational engine such as, for example, computational engine 10b(2) of
The optimization may be recalculated based on a change in input parameters due to factors such as, for example, a change in planning strategy, available materials, costs, or wages. Such a recalculation may be initiated manually in response to a request or may be initiated automatically based on a detection of a change in input parameters. For example, a participating user may request that engine 10b(2) recalculate the optimization based on a predetermined degree of a change in input parameters.
The optimization may also be performed based on anticipated future input parameters. Engine 10b(2) may calculate such future input parameters based on current values, trends, historical analysis, and/or estimates supplied by a user. The current optimization may also be recalculated by varying input parameters for testing and/or planning purposes.
At step 660, the manufacturing location output is generated. The output may include a primary optimal location and a plurality of alternate optimal locations. A participating user may select from the primary location or the alternate location based on management and planning considerations. The output may be submitted via communications network 160 to a computing device such as, for example, client computer 20a. The output may be displayed to a user at client computer 20a. The output may be used as input to an application for planning a manufacturing and production schedule at the selected manufacturing location. The output may also be stored for further processing.
The output may be incorporated as part of a report, for example, to management, to potential investors, or to potential customers. Such a report may be used to plan future management decisions such as, for example, future hiring, purchase of additional manufacturing components, creation of new factories, and future allocation of existing manufacturing resources. Such a report may also be used to demonstrate manufacturing capability to potential investors and potential customers.
Supplier Integration Module
Although the various modules in system 200 are shown in communication with certain other modules, it should be appreciated that the configuration of the modules in
As shown in
As shown in
Factory inventory component 802 may be in communication with a management component 803. Management component 803 may be computer processing equipment capable of interpreting the availability and movement of material, as provided by factory inventory 802, and providing material ordering and/or material stocking recommendations. For example, in the context of a distribution transformer, management component 803 may receive data from factory inventory 802 indicating that the in-house inventory supply of transformer insulation bushings are below expected need. As a result, this information will be provided to management component 803. Because management component 803 is an integrated part of system 800, real-time manufacturing, material inventory status, and trend and historical analysis are provided.
Factory inventory component 802 may be in communication with an application tool 804. Also, application tool 804 may be in communication with a supplier A 805, a supplier B 806, a supplier C 807, and a supplier D 808. Application tool 804 is the logic component that processes the information regarding the availability and movement of material from factory inventory 802 and the request for material and end-of-line products from sales system 801. As discussed with reference to
Application tool 804 may be in communication with financial institution 809. Application tool 804 may communicate with financial institution 809 to compensate the supplier or suppliers from whom application tool 804 ordered the needed materials. Also, because each of suppliers 805-808 may be in communication with one or more financial institutions 809, financial institution 809 may provide direct compensation to the selected suppliers. It should be appreciated that like the communication among the various components in system 800, application tool 804 may communicate with financial institution 809 electronically over a LAN or WAN and/or over secure financial networks. Similarly, suppliers 805-808 may receive payment from financial institution 809 electronically. It should be appreciated that each of the suppliers may have different, dedicated financial institutions to process the financial transaction.
Sales Marketing Module
a-9c show block diagrams of alternate illustrative data flow operations between exemplary components of an integrated manufacturing system 200 as described above in
In operation, sales system 908 will send retrieve data from design database 912 and market database 910. The retrieved data is then processed with additional data communicated from factory system 914 to create sales and marketing data for power distribution equipment and services. The created data is then communicated back to the customer 902 by sales system 908 through data converter 906 and communications infrastructure 904. Specifically, sales system 908 executes one or more instruction sets that instruct at lest one execution thread to cooperate with design database 912 and market database 910 to retrieve and store power distribution equipment and services design type data and power distribution equipment and services market data, respectively. In addition, sales system 908 contains one or more instructions sets to instruct at leas one execution thread to cooperate with factory system 914. Factory system 914, among other things, provides creates and communicates data representative of planning, capacity, and material relating to power distribution system equipment and services.
For example, in an exemplary implementation, customer 902 requests a power distribution system component/service quote through the company web site (Internet). As part of this request, customer 902 may fill in a short form including transformer characteristics, project information and shipping information. The information provided by customer 902 may make its way to a sales Engineer, who is tasked to import the quote to the sales system. Sales system 908 executing one or more instruction sets, will communicate with design database 912, that may contain previous sales/design documents and drawings and retrieve a design for the requested power distribution system component. Sales system 908 may then operate to generate a bill of materials and begin manufacturing planning based on the retrieved design parameters.
From there, sales system 908 may then search through market database 910, having populated therein previous sales from previous orders and competitors' prices as well as market business conditions, to obtain pricing information for use in generating quote information for the desired power distribution system component/service. In the event that a design is not available in design database 912 as it is a newly designed power distribution system component or a special type, then an estimation of the minimum required design parameters is performed. If sales system 908 determines that the minimum design parameters is adequate for performing the estimate, sales system 908 will cooperate with a design system (not shown) to calculate those parameters and store them in design database 912 for future use.
b and 9c show alternative implementations of the sales marketing module 205 of the integrated manufacturing system 200 described above in
At this stage, the sales engineer has the option to mail, fax and/or email that quote to the customer. Once customer accepts the quote and sales are acknowledged with that acceptance, they enter a confirmation into the sales system that forward all technical information to the appropriate manufacturing facility. Sales system 908 may also operate to perform a cost analysis on the manufactured product to determine if it is inline with the provided quote. Sales system 908 may also operate to generate reports relating to the above-described processing. In these reports information about sales trends, realized quotes or other relevant management information may be contained.
c shows the implementation wherein a quick order database 922 is provided in the sales marketing module 205. The quick order database serves to cache information about returning customers in an effort to speed up quote creation and communication. As is seen, sales system 908 cooperates with quick order database 922 to store and retrieve relevant customer information for use in creating, tracking, and managing sales and marketing information for customers and for use in the above-described report generation processes.
Customer Relationship Module
In the exemplary implementation described, CRM processes 1005 may include instruction sets to obtain or provide customer demographic, use, affinity, order history, profile, or payment history information. In addition, CRM processes 1005 may contain one or more instruction sets to track and log customer complaints surrounding the sales and/or performance of power distribution system equipment or services. Similarly, error tracking and reporting processes 1010 may include instruction sets to obtain or provide various error information for power distribution system equipment sales activities. Included in the error information is delivery error, missing equipment parts error, incorrect specifications error, and malfunctioning equipment error information.
It is appreciated that although the exemplary implementation, shows CRM processes operating first and error tracking and reporting processes operating second, that such processing order is merely exemplary as customer relationship module 207 contemplates various processing orders for these and other customer relationship module 207 components.
In an exemplary implementation, the above-described processing of
Thus, an industrial IT system for the distribution and manufacture of transformers with suppliers system integration is disclosed. While the present invention has been described in connection with the preferred embodiments of the various figures, it is to be understood that other similar embodiments may be used or modifications and additions may be made to the described embodiment for performing the same function of the present invention without deviating therefrom. Therefore, the present invention should not be limited to any single embodiment, but rather should be construed in breadth and scope in accordance with the appended claims.
This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 (e) from the following U.S. provisional applications all of which were filed on Apr. 30, 2002: Ser. No. 60/377,047 (Attorney Docket No. ABTT-0302/B020200); Ser. No. 60/377,235 (Attorney Docket No. ABTT-0301/B020170); Ser. No. 60/377,241 (Attorney Docket No. ABTT-0303/B020210); Ser. No. 60/377,251 (Attorney Docket No. ABTT-0300/B020140); and Ser. No. 60/377,246 (Attorney Docket No. ABTT-0304/B020230). All of the above-listed U.S. provisional applications are incorporated by reference herein, in their entirety, for all purposes. This application is related to and cross-references the following PCT, with the intent of entering the National Phase in the United States, all of which were filed on Apr. 30, 2003: Attorney Docket No. ABTT-0378/B020200; Attorney Docket No. ABTT-0379/B020170; Attorney Docket No. ABTT-0377/B020210; and Attorney Docket No. ABTT-0380/B020140. All of the above-listed U.S. applications are incorporated by reference herein, in their entirety, for all purposes.
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
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PCT/US03/13531 | 4/30/2003 | WO | 6/1/2005 |
Number | Date | Country | |
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60377246 | Apr 2002 | US | |
60377047 | Apr 2002 | US | |
60377235 | Apr 2002 | US | |
60377241 | Apr 2002 | US | |
60377251 | Apr 2002 | US |