This invention generally relates to an information system in support of transactions involving reusable parts and more particularly to the obtaining of reusable parts for use in manufacturing products.
Products have been assembled from only new parts so far because new parts are stable in quality and supply. Although reusable parts have been used in the manufacturing of copying machines and rolls of film with a lens, their use has been limited to in-house closed-loop recycling. This occurs when a manufacturer has its used products on hand. There has not been open-loop recycling of reusable products; that is where a reusable (or used) part(s) is purchased by the manufacturer for installation in a new product (or a product to be sold as new). This includes cascade recycling (for example, recycling of used parts of high-technology devices for the manufacturing of toys). Thus used components, which may have remaining lifespans that may be more than adequate for the manufactured product, are being wasted.
However, traditionally it has been difficult to secure a stable supply of reusable parts, and this has been an obstacle to open-loop recycling. Smooth procurement has been a problem awaiting solution for manufacturers. In addition, if a supplier prepares reusable parts and has them in stock, but no stable users, the value of its inventory decreases daily and the supplier incurs storage expenses every day.
Each individual part has its own unique service history and hence the values of reusable parts vary from part to part. No procurement and supply system of reusable parts has so far been available which copes with this problem.
Thus there is a need for techniques which enable users, for example, manufacturers, and suppliers of reusable parts to deal with each other smoothly and efficiently. And for the use of reusable items in manufactured products.
The present invention gives techniques for using an information system, including a computer, to provide a user, such as a manufacturer, with reusable parts for use in the building of or maintaining a product.
In one embodiment of the present invention, a method, using a computer, for buying a reusable part for use in manufacturing a product is provided. The method includes a user sending to a supplier requirements for the reusable part; Next the users receives information on a plurality of available reusable parts meeting or exceeding said requirements from the supplier (or broker). The information includes individual historical information for each available reusable part. The user then orders an available reusable part and uses the reusable part in manufacturing the product.
In an alternative embodiment a computerized method for obtaining a plurality of parts for producing a product to be sold as a new product is provided. The said method include, first: determining a total number of the plurality of parts used in producing the product, wherein the total number includes a used part and a new part. Next, the supplier is sent a used part past use requirement; and the user receives ordering information on said used part and past use information on said used part from the supplier. The user selects the used part, if the past use information of the used part at least meets the used part past use requirement. The past use information may include service time and the number of times of repair.
In another embodiment of the present invention, reusable-part inventory information is provided to a supplier of reusable parts. Further, between the user of reusable parts and the supplier of reusable parts, various kinds of information are exchanged as reusable-part procurement/supply information, which includes information necessary for reusable part trading. For example, a part name or a model designation, a required number of parts, requested delivery date, suggested price, and individual part. Thus, the supplier of reusable parts efficiently distributes the reusable parts by extracting, from a reusable-part inventory, the parts meeting the users requirements, such as the parts with histories meeting the needs of users. Further, the user of reusable parts efficiently manufactures products by incorporating the procured reusable parts in the products.
In yet another embodiment a user of reusable parts transmits information on its needs for reusable parts to a supplier. The supplier prepares availability information on available reusable parts based on the information on the user's needs and its inventory information and transmits the availability information to the user. The user chooses reusable parts meeting its needs and the supplier supplies the user with them. The user manufactures products by using the above reusable parts.
These and other embodiments of the present invention are described in more detail in conjunction with the text below and attached figures.
a and 2b shows a system configuration according to an embodiment of the present invention.
a and 4b show a work flow of a user of reusable parts according to an embodiment of the present invention.
a and 8b show a work flow for a supplier of reusable parts according to an embodiment of the present invention.
a, 12b, and 12c shows a system configuration according to another embodiment of the present invention.
a, 14b, 14c, and 14d show a work flow of a broker of reusable parts according to another embodiment of the present invention.
a and 15b show databases for a broker of reusable parts according to another embodiment of the present invention.
a and 17b shows a system configuration according to a third embodiment of the present invention.
a, 18b, 18c, and 18d show an example of the database for a user of reusable parts according to third embodiment of the present invention.
a and 20b show a database and system for a user of reusable parts according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.
a, 21b, and 21c show more databases for a user of reusable parts according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.
Referring to drawings, an embodiment of the present invention is described below.
A system of this embodiment comprises operational units 11-1 and 11-2, such as personal computers, display devices such as displays 12-1 and 12-2, and input devices such as keyboards 13-1, and 13-2 and mice 14-1, and 14-2. In addition, the following devices may be used: a network 16 such as the Internet to connect traders concerned, devices installed in the operational units 11-1/-2 to provide for connection to the network 16, and devices to read external storage media such as floppy disk drives, CD drives, DVD, Zip, Jazz, and MO (Magneto-optical) drives installed in the operational units 11-1/-2. If printers 15-1/-2 are used in addition to the displays 12-1/-2, results can be seen in a printed form. In
a shows an example of system configuration for the user of reusable parts 18 in one embodiment of the present invention;
The system for the user of reusable parts 18 comprises a processing/operating unit 21-1 such as a CPU for personal computers, a storage device 22-1 such as a semiconductor memory, an auxiliary storage device 23-1 such as a hard drive, and an input device 24-1 and an output device 25-1 of which examples are shown in
The system for the supplier of reusable parts 19 comprises a processing/operating unit 21-2 such as a CPU for personal computers, a storage device 22-2 such as a semiconductor memory, an auxiliary storage device 23-2 such as a hard drive, and an input device 24-2 and an output device 25-2 of which examples are shown in
The user of reusable parts 320 prepares reusable-part procurement information in Step 301 and transmits the reusable-part procurement information to the supplier of reusable parts 330 in Step 302. The transmission in Step 302 is done by well-known methods used in business transactions, including, for example, the use of the Internet.
In Step 303, the supplier of reusable parts 330 receives the reusable-part procurement information which was transmitted by the user of reusable parts 320 in Step 302. Pieces of reusable-part procurement information transmitted in Step 302 may be received in real time or in a batch mode by checking to see if there are any information files transmitted in Step 302.
In Step 304, the supplier of reusable parts searches the information on reusable parts in stock based on the reusable-part procurement information and prepares reusable-part availability information. In Step 305, the supplier of reusable parts transmits the reusable-part availability information to the user of reusable parts who transmitted the reusable-part procurement information in Step 302.
In Step 306, the user of reusable parts receives the reusable-part availability information transmitted by the supplier of reusable parts in Step 305. In Step 307, the user of reusable parts determines which parts to procure based on the reusable-part availability information and prepares reusable-part order information. In Step 308, the user of reusable parts transmits the reusable-part order information to the supplier of reusable parts who transmitted the reusable-part availability information in Step 305.
In Step 309, the supplier of reusable parts receives the reusable-part order information transmitted by user of reusable parts in Step 308. In Step 310, the supplier of reusable parts accepts the order based on the reusable-part order information and prepares order-acceptance information. In Step 311, the supplier of reusable parts transmits the reusable-part order-acceptance information to the user of reusable parts who transmitted the reusable-part order information in Step 308.
In Step 312, the user of reusable parts receives the reusable-part order-acceptance information transmitted in Step 311. In Step 313, the user of reusable parts stores and manages the reusable-part order-acceptance information.
As described above, in
Referring to
Referring to
In Step 401, the production quantities of products are fixed. Such production quantities are fixed by ordinary production planning. Accordingly information on fixed production quantities of products may simply be predetermined in Step 401.
In Step 402, the necessary parts are identified based on the production quantities of products fixed in Step 401 and the construction-of-parts database 23b, of which an example 510 is shown in
Required quantity of each part=quantity of said part used in one unit of a product×production quantity of the product [Equation 1]
By using equation 1, the necessary quantity of each part constituting the product “A” is calculated. Then the column 1512 of table 510 is searched for a part “A1”, for example, and the names “A11” and “A12” and the quantities of component parts required for one unit of the part “A1” are extracted. For example two part “A11” and one part “A12.”
Required quantity of each component part=quantity of said component part used in one unit of a part×required quantity of the part [Equation 2]
By using equation 2, the necessary quantity of each component part constituting, for example, the part “A1” is calculated.
Required quantity of each terminal component part=π(quantity of said terminal component part used in one unit of a part×required quantity of the part) [Equation 3]
π: Repeated multiplication from the product to its terminal component parts
By iteratively repeating the calculation with equation 3, the quantity of each terminal component part required for the production of the fixed quantity of each product is calculated. By adding up the quantity of each terminal component part required for the production of the fixed quantity of each product through all the products, the quantities of all the terminal component parts required for the production of the quantities of all the products fixed in Step 401 are found. The above calculation of the required numbers of terminal component parts is usually made by an ordinary production-planning system.
In Step 403, parts to be procured are identified based on the required quantities of parts and the parts inventory database 23a shown in table 520 in
Quantity of each part to be procured=required quantity of said part−quantity of said part in stock [Equation 4]
By using equation 4, the quantity of each part to be procured is calculated. Such quantity of each part may be calculated by taking the quantity of spares of said part into account. Such calculation can be made by an ordinary production planning system. It should be noted that any code identifiable of a specific part such as “drawing No. of part” or “model designation of part” may be used in place of “part name” used herein.
In Step 404, prepared based on the quantities of parts to be procured calculated in Step 403 is reusable-part procurement information on the part names (in an alternative embodiment of the system, model designations, part Nos., or the like may be used instead of part names) and the quantities of reusable parts to be procured and other matters. Unlike new, or unused, parts, each reusable part has its own unique service history. Therefore, each of reusable parts even with one and the same part name (or of one and the same model designation) has to be handle differently from the others. If reusable parts are procured in the same way as new parts [which are procured by part name (or model designation), quantity, date of delivery, etc.], reusable parts with specifications (for example, service time in the past) required by the user of reusable parts cannot necessarily be procured. Accordingly, at the time of transmission of reusable-part procurement information which is prepared in Step 404 to include model designations such as “part A1”, quantities, dates of delivery, etc., information on the history and the conditions of past reuse of each reusable part such as service time in the past, number of times of reuse in the past, number of times and nature of repair, etc. has to be transmitted too. Conditions for choice of reusable parts usually differ among kinds or model designations (names) of parts and are managed by the reusable-part choosing-condition database 23c.
As conditions for choice, service record (the service time of a product in which a reusable part was fitted) and trouble record of reusable parts in the past may be managed.
The reusable-part procurement information to be prepared in Step 404 is not necessarily required to carry the whole quantity of each part calculated in Step 403. The target ratio of the number of reusable units to the number of all units, for example, both reusable and new units, required may be predetermined for each part.
Number of reusable units to be procured=number of all units of each part to be procured×target ratio of reusable units [Equation 5]
By using the above Equation 5, the number of reusable units to be procured can be calculated. The target ratio of reusable units can be managed by a reusable-unit target-ratio database (located, but not shown, in Auxiliary storage device 23-1 of
Based on the information of the reusable-part record-management database 23f, etc., the inspection records of each part (or each kind of parts) may be added up, and its result may be used in the equation below.
By using the above Equation 6, it is possible to allow for defectives.
The numbers of all new units and all reusable units of each part procured in the past can easily be obtained by adding up the information in the first and third columns of the reusable-part record-management database 23f. It is not necessarily required to add up all the information in the past. Instead, the information in a certain period of time or the information on a certain quantity of each part may be added up. Besides, information on the suppliers of reusable parts may be added to the reusable-part record-management database 23f, and if data on the units of a reusable part procured from a specific supplier are used in Equation 6, the calculation becomes more accurate. The procurement record of new units of each part may be stored in a database, and the database may be used together with the reusable-unit target-ratio database for the calculation with the equation below.
Number of reusable units of each part to be procured=(number of reusable units of said part procured in the past+number of new units of said part procured in the past+number of all units of said part to be procured)×target ratio of reusable units to all units of said part−number of reusable units of said part procured in the past [Equation 7]
By calculating the number of reusable units to be procured every time with the above Equation 7, the ratio of reusable units to all units of each part can be brought close to the target ratio in the reusable-unit target-ratio database. Of course, Equations 5, 6, and 7 can be combined and used.
When these equations are used, calculated values will not necessarily be integers. The fractions of such non-integral values may be rounded up, off, or down. Although
Weight of part A1×number of reusable units of part A1 to be procured+weight of part A2×number of reusable units of part A2 to be procured+weight of part A3×number of reusable units of part A3 to be procured+weight of part A4×number of reusable units of part A4 to be procured≧gross procurement weigh(=weight of product A×production quantity)×target weight ratio of reusable units [Equation 8]
As the above Equation 8 does not bring about a unique solution, the parts A1 to A4 have to be weighted by the records of procurement and use of their reusable units in the past and the prices of their reusable units so that the numbers of their reusable units to be procured can be determined effectively.
Although Equation 8 defines the target weight ratio of one-time procurement, Equations 6 and 7 may be applied to the target weight ratio here to take account of the actual results of procurement and use of the parts in the past in calculating the weight ratio. The target weight ratio may be applied to each kind of products or each place of production.
As the result of the utilization of the reusable-part choosing-condition database 23c, the reusable-part procurement information to be prepared in Step 404 includes reusable-part choosing-condition information such as, for example, user names of reusable parts, user codes, model designations (names) of reusable parts, quantities required, dates of delivery, service time in the past, number of times of reuse, etc. In addition, suggested purchase prices may be included in the information. By including in the information a flag to distinguish the transmission of the reusable-part procurement information in Step 405 (inquiry about inventory, for which the flag is, for example, “0”) from the transmission of the reusable-part order information in Step 412 (placing a firm order, for which the flag is, for example, “1”), inquiry about inventory and placing a firm order can be made in one and the same format and, thus, the system becomes easy to operate and the man-hours necessary to develop the system decreases. The flag enables the supplier of reusable parts to distinguish an inquiry from a firm order easily. When an inquiry was received, the inventory is checked in accordance with Steps 801 to 805, which will be described later. When a firm order is received, it is processed in accordance with Steps 811 to 815, which will be described later.
Regarding the format to record the above information, a file wherein items are divided by delimiters such as commas or tabs (so-called “CSV file” or “tab-divided file”) may be used, or the information may be written in the XML (eXtensible Markup Language).
In Step 405, the reusable-part procurement information prepared in Step 404 is transmitted to the supplier of reusable parts. The reusable-part procurement information may be transmitted through the Internet or by the well-known methods used in the existing business transactions. For example, the user of reusable parts many store the address of the addressee in a database every time reusable-part procurement information is transmitted and the reusable-part procurement information prepared in Step 404 may be transmitted by using the FTP (File Transfer Protocol) or the like.
According to the reusable-part procurement information, the supplier of reusable parts searches its inventory data for data on the demanded reusable parts and transmits reusable-part availability information to the user of reusable parts. The method for the processing here will be described later by referring to
The user of reusable parts receives the reusable-part availability information from the supplier of reusable parts (Step 406). The reusable-part availability information includes the supplier's name or code, part names, service times and numbers of times of reuse in the past, dates of delivery, prices, and offer information number. The details of the reusable-part availability information will be described later. The format of the reusable-part availability information and the method of transmitting and receiving the information are similar to those used in Steps 404 and 405.
Referring to
In Step 411, the user of reusable parts places an order with the supplier of reusable parts by preparing reusable-part order information based on the reusable-part availability information received in Step 406 and transmitting it to the supplier of reusable parts (Step 412). If the reusable-part availability information is in accord with the reusable-part procurement information, the order may be placed unconditionally. Alternatively, such information as shown in
In an embodiment where for reusable parts, both the “service time” and the “number of times of reuse” matter, a “reusable-part margin” may be used as follows.
Reusable-part margin=min.[(upper limit on past service time/past service time−1),(upper limit on number of times of reuse/number of times of reuse−1)] [Equation 9]
It is effective to choose reusable parts with large margins.
In Step 412, the supplier of reusable parts receives the reusable-part order information from the user of reusable parts, searches the inventory information for the demanded reusable parts, and transmits reusable-part order-acceptance information to the user of reusable parts. The method for the processing here will be described later by referring to
The user of reusable parts receives the reusable-part order-acceptance information from the supplier of reusable parts (Step 413) and stores the reusable-part order-acceptance information as reusable-part contract-conclusion information in the part inventory database 23a (Step 414). The third column of the part inventory database 23a is allocated to “scheduled date of delivery” as shown in
It is not necessarily required to follow all the steps shown in
Necessary number of new units of each part=necessary number of said part−ordered number of reusable units of said part [Equation 10]
(The “ordered number of reusable units of said part” is the quantity in the reusable-part contract-conclusion information in Step 414.) The necessary number of new units of each part calculated by the above Equation 10 is fed to an ordinary new-part procurement system.
The construction-of-parts database 23b of which an example is shown in
In
With the process shown in
Referring to
In Step 801, the supplier of reusable parts receives the reusable-part procurement information transmitted by the user of reusable parts in Step 405. The transmitting and receiving method here is the same as that described earlier by referring to
In step 802, the reusable-part choosing conditions such as part name, required quantity, date of delivery, service time in the past, and number of times of reuse in the past all contained in the reusable-part procurement information are used to search the reusable-part inventory database 23d for the demanded reusable parts.
In
Reusable-part choosing conditions can be different among different kinds of parts. Besides, it is not necessarily required to effect all the conditions. The service times, numbers of times of reuse, numbers of times of repair of individual reusable parts can be managed by the “service system for information on individual products and parts in product life cycle” disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 10-222568, or the managing system of the histories of individual parts for supporting the recycling of parts in Development of Information System for supporting inverse manufacturing, the Proceedings of Japan Conference 1999 of Precision Engineering Society of Japan, or the like.
In Step 803, the booking information on the reusable parts extracted in Step 802 are entered in the fourth 930, fifth 932, and sixth 934 columns of the reusable-part inventory database 23d. The name or code of the user of reusable parts in the reusable-part procurement information received in Step 801 is entered in the fourth column 930; the date after a certain time period (fixed by a contract), in the fifth column 932; and information (for example, user code and a serial number or a supply booking number) to identify each booking, in the sixth column 934.
In Step 804, reusable-part availability information is prepared for the reusable parts which were extracted in Step 802 and allotted booking numbers in Step 803. The reusable-part availability information comprises the name or code of the supplier and the names, service times and numbers of times of reuse in the past, dates of delivery, prices, booking numbers, and effective periods of booking of available reusable parts. In Step 805, the reusable-part availability information is transmitted to the user of reusable parts who transmitted the reusable-part procurement information to the supplier of reusable parts in Step 801. The reusable-part availability information is received by the user of reusable parts in Step 406. The transmitting and receiving method is the same as those described earlier. Because booking numbers are transmitted together with reusable-part availability information, it is important to relate the booked parts to the order acceptance in Step 812.
Referring to
In Step 811, the reusable-part order information transmitted in Step 412 is received. The reusable-part order information includes such information as part names, prices, dates of delivery, and booking numbers. By using the information, the reusable-part inventory database 23d is searched for the ordered parts in Step 812. Their order-acceptance information is registered in Step 813. Reusable-part order-acceptance information on them is prepared in Step 814 and transmitted to the user of reusable parts in Step 815. The reusable-part order-acceptance information is received by the user of reusable parts in Step 413.
The processing from Step 812 to Step 814 is made for all the ordered reusable parts. In Step 812, the ordered reusable parts can be extracted by searching the reusable-part inventory database 23d for them based on the part names and the booking numbers. This search key depends on the construction of the booking number determined in Step 803. If the booking number consists of the booked part number and a serial number, the search is made with the booked part number and the serial number. If the booking number is a serial number, the search is made with the serial number. If the booking number consists of the booked user name and a serial number, the search is made with the booked user name and the serial number. In this way, the search in Step 812 can be performed by making use of the booking number fixed in Step 803. In Step 813, inquiry numbers or the like are entered in the tenth column 942 in addition to the names or the codes of users of reusable parts in the seventh column 936, contracted prices in the eighth column 938, and dates of delivery in the ninth column 940. Reusable-part order-acceptance information including the name or the code of the supplier of reusable parts, the names of the contracted reusable parts, the amount of order acceptance, the dates of delivery, and an inquiry number is prepared in Step 814 and transmitted to the user of reusable parts in Step 815. The transmitting and receiving method is the same as those described earlier.
Although the shipping information on contracted parts should be managed in the reusable-part inventory database 23d, such information can be managed in the same way as ordinary inventory management information on new parts. To delete inventory information on a part in the reusable-part inventory database 23d, the line of the part may be deleted or a flag indicating the conclusion of a contract (or shipment) may be put up on the line of the part. By either method, the inventory can be managed. The latter method is better, however, in order to cope with the changes of contracts or manage the records of shipment.
It is important for the supplier of reusable parts to manage individual units of parts by allotting one line to each unit in the reusable-part inventory database 23d as shown in
The reusable-part inventory database 23d, of which an example is shown in
With the process of
The method of setting conditions in the second column of the reusable-part choosing-condition database 23c, of which an example is shown in
The user of reusable parts operates a reusable-part record-management database 23f, of which an example is shown in
Upon the procurement of reusable parts from the supplier of reusable parts, the user of reusable parts records the names and the choosing conditions of the reusable parts and the results of inspection of them by the user's inspection standard. Although inspection results are indicated by “O (non-defective)” and “X (defective),” more detailed management may be made by using, for example, “* (usable in products),” “O (usable as maintenance parts),” and “X (unusable).” Although reusable parts are managed by part names in the first column 542 in table 540, in other embodiments, they may be managed by entering kinds of parts (for example, hard-disk drive, power supply, mother board, etc.) in the first column 542, or by entering kinds of parts and manufacturers' names in the first column 542, or by entering kinds and specifications (for example, capacities) of parts in the first column 542, or by entering model years in addition to such items in the first column 542. The method described below is applicable to any of the above cases.
All units of each part are searched for in the reusable-part record-management database 23f.
Acceptable maximum past service time of each part=min.(past service times of defective units)−design life of said part−100 [Equation 11]
The acceptable maximum past service time of each part can be fixed by using the above Equation 11. The design life of each part is managed by a database for managing information on each kind of parts or each part and reference is made to the database.
Acceptable maximum number of times of past reuse of each part=min. (numbers of times of past reuse of defective units)−1 [Equation 12]
The acceptable maximum number of times of past reuse of each part can be fixed by using the above Equation 11. It should be taken into consideration that the conditions of units of each part vary and some units may be rejected at an exceptionally low level and that the user of reusable parts inspects procured reusable parts by its own standard. Accordingly, the acceptable maximum past service time of each part may be fixed by using, for example, a past service time by which 20% or more of the units of said part are rejected, and the acceptable maximum number of times of past reuse of each part may be fixed by using, for example, a number of times of past reuse by which 20% of more of the units of said part are rejected. The above shows examples of ways, practical choosing conditions can be set.
When information on defective units and non-defective units of each part accumulates, more practical choosing conditions can be set by using the following method. Generally speaking, the failure rate of a part changes as time passes as shown in
If we can identify the rapid increase of the failure rate of a part by the slope with “c” 1016 degree, the lifetime of the part (for example, “b” 1019) can be determined. By subtracting the actual service time of each unit of the part from the lifetime of the part, the lifetime of said unit as a reusable part, or unit, can be found. By using the information on such lifetimes of reusable parts, or units, the failure rate of a product in which a reusable part or parts are incorporated can be kept low. In
Moreover, by subtracting the design lifetime (predicted service time in case that the part is used for manufacture or maintenance) “d” 1014 from the lifetime of the part, b 1019, the past service time, “e” 1018, within which procurement is considered, is determined.
Acceptable maximum past service time of each part=service time of said part until failure rate begins to increase rapidly−design lifetime of said part
The design lifetime “d” 1014 shown in
Although the service time of a part is shown in the example of
In the example of
If a reusable unit of a part is rejected due to very large number of times of reuse in the past, the unit may be excluded from the consideration for setting the acceptable maximum past service time of the part. Thus more practical reusable-part choosing conditions can be set.
The reusable-part choosing conditions set as described above are entered in the second column 534 of
In accordance with this method, the choosing conditions of reusable parts can be derived from their actual results. Namely, the reusable-part choosing-condition database 23c, of which an example is shown in
Although the results of reusable parts are managed by part names in the above example, the results may be managed by kinds of parts (for example, HDD, memory, and PCB). In this case, the first column of the reusable-part record-management database 23f holds kinds of parts. By using the kinds-of-parts database 23h, of which an example is shown in
The data in the reusable-part record-management database 23f may be added up by part names or by kinds of parts.
By using the above Equation 14, the yield of reusable parts (the ratio of the quantity of non-defectives by user's standard to the quantity procured) can be calculated.
Quantity of each part to be procured=Necessary quantity of said part×[1+(100−yield)/100] [Equation 15]
By using the yield of each part or each kind of parts and the above Equation 15, the necessary quantity of each part or each kind of parts to be procured can be calculated. By using Equation 5 additionally, the quantity of reusable parts to be procured which satisfies the target ratio of reusable parts can be calculated.
Thus the actual yields of reusable parts can be taken into account and necessary quantities of reusable parts can be procured.
In order to illustrate the process of obtaining a reusable part, an example of a user, e.g., manufacturer D, purchasing a used floppy disk, e.g., FDD-A part, is given. The user determines that the FDD-A requirements (choosing conditions) are 10,000 hours or less service time, 3 times or less reuse, quantity 2, and 10 days or less delivery time. Some of this information is included in
The supplier upon receiving the user requirements, searches its database 23d, e.g.
The user in this case, selects the first two items by checking boxes 770 and 772, as he/she only needs two FDD-A's, and selects the order button 780. The two FDD-A's ordered are recorded in the supplier's database 23d (
Another embodiment of the present invention, which involves a broker, will now be described.
Referring to drawings, this embodiment will be described below.
The system of this embodiment comprises operational units 11-3 to 11-7, such as personal computers, display devices such as displays 12-3 to 12-7, and input devices such as keyboards 13-3 to 13-7, and mice 14-3 to 14-7. In addition, the following devices may be used: a network 16 such as the Internet to connect traders concerned, devices installed in the operational units 11-3 to 11-7 r otherwise provided for the connection to the network 16, and devices to read external storage media such as floppy disk drives, CD drives, and MO drives installed to the operational units 11-3 to 11-7. If printers 15-3 to 15-7 are used in addition to the displays 12-3 to 12-7, results can be seen in a printed form. In
a shows an example of system configuration for each user of reusable parts in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;
The system for each user of reusable parts (
The system for each supplier of reusable parts (
The system for the broker of reusable parts (
Each user of reusable parts prepares reusable-part procurement information in Step 1301 and transmits the reusable-part procurement information to the broker of reusable parts in Step 1302. Steps 1301 and 1302 are similar to Steps 301 and 302.
In Step 1303, the broker of reusable parts receives the reusable-part procurement information which was transmitted by each user of reusable parts in Step 1302. The contents of the reusable-part procurement information transmitted and received in Steps 1302 and 1303 are similar to those transmitted and received in Steps 302 and 303. Besides, the transmitting and receiving method of the present embodiment is similar to that of the previous embodiment.
In Step 1304, the broker of reusable parts searches the kinds-of-parts database 23h, based on the reusable-part procurement information, for suppliers of the demanded reusable parts. Besides, the broker of reusable parts searches the reusable-part supplier database 23g, based on the reusable-part procurement information, for information on the suppliers. Based on the information extracted by the search, the broker prepares reusable-part procurement information for each supplier and transmits the reusable-part procurement information to said supplier. The processing method to be used in Step 1304 will be described later.
In Step 1305, each supplier receives the reusable-part procurement information which was transmitted by the broker of reusable parts in Step 1304. The contents of the reusable-part procurement information transmitted and received in Steps 1304 and 1305 are the same as those transmitted and received in Steps 302 and 303 to which identification information such as a serial number to identify the reusable-part procurement information is added.
In Step 1306, each supplier searches the information on reusable parts in stock based on the reusable-part procurement information received in Step 1305 and prepares reusable-part availability information. In Step 1307, each supplier transmits the reusable-part availability information to the broker of reusable parts who transmitted the reusable-part procurement information in Step 1304. Steps 1305 to 1307 are similar to Steps 303 to 305.
In Step 1308, the broker of reusable parts receives the reusable-part availability information transmitted by each supplier in Step 1307. When reusable-part procurement information is transmitted to a plurality of suppliers of reusable parts in Step 1304, the broker of reusable parts receives the reusable-part availability information from each supplier of reusable parts in Step 1308. The contents of the reusable-part availability information transmitted and received in Steps 1307 and 1308 are similar to those transmitted and received in Steps 305 and 306 of the previous embodiment to which the identification information to identify the reusable-part procurement information transmitted and received in Steps 1304 and 1305 is added.
In Step 1309, the broker of reusable parts adds up the reusable-part procurement information prepared for each supplier in Step 1304 for each user of reusable parts to the information received in Step 1303 for each user of reusable parts and prepares reusable-part availability information for each user of reusable parts. The reusable-part availability information for each user of reusable parts is recorded in the reusable-part brokering management database 23i and transmitted to said user of reusable parts who transmitted the reusable-part procurement information in Step 1302. The processing in Step 1309 will be described in detail later.
In Step 1310, each user of reusable parts receives the reusable-part availability information transmitted by the broker of reusable parts in Step 1309. The contents of the reusable-part availability information transmitted and received in Steps 1309 and 1310 are similar to those transmitted and received in Steps 305 and 306 of the previous embodiment to which identification information such as a serial number to identify the reusable-part availability information is added. The broker of reusable parts records, in the reusable-part brokering management database 23i, the serial number to identify the reusable-part availability information and information relating the serial number to the reusable-part availability information transmitted by the relevant supplier in Steps 1307 and 1308. If the broker of reusable parts transmits its reusable-part procurement information to two or more suppliers of reusable parts based on one piece of reusable-part procurement information from a user of reusable parts, two or more pieces of information are processed in Steps 1307 and 1308 whereas one piece of information is processed in Steps 1309 and 1310 as far as the user is concerned.
In Step 1311, each user of reusable parts determines which parts to procure based on the reusable-part availability information and prepares reusable-part order information. In Step 1312, each user of reusable parts transmits the reusable-part order information to the broker of reusable parts who transmitted the reusable-part availability information in Step 1309. Steps 1310 to 1312 are similar to Steps 306 to 308.
In Step 1313, the broker of reusable parts receives the reusable-part order information transmitted by each user of reusable parts in Step 1312. The contents of the reusable-part order information transmitted and received in Steps 1312 and 1313 are similar to those transmitted and received in Steps 308 and 309 of the previous embodiment to which the identification information to identify the reusable-part procurement information transmitted and received in Steps 1309 and 1310 is added.
In Step 1314, based on the reusable-part order information received in Step 1312 and the reusable-part availability information recorded in the reusable-part brokering management database 23i in Step 1309, the broker of reusable parts prepares reusable-part order information for each supplier of reusable parts and transmits the reusable-part order information to said supplier. The processing method in Step 1314 will be described in detail later.
In Step 1315, each supplier of reusable parts receives the reusable-part order information transmitted by the broker of reusable parts in Step 1314. The contents of the reusable-part order information transmitted and received in Steps 1314 and 1315 are similar to those transmitted and received in Steps 308 and 309 of the previous embodiment to which the identification information to identify the reusable-part procurement information transmitted and received in Steps 1312 and 1313 is added.
In Step 1316, each supplier of reusable parts accepts the order based on the reusable-part order information and prepares order-acceptance information. In Step 1317, each supplier of reusable parts transmits the reusable-part order-acceptance information to the broker of reusable parts who transmitted the reusable-part order information in Step 1314. Steps 1315 to 1317 are similar to Steps 309 to 311.
In step 1318, the broker of reusable parts receives the reusable-part order-acceptance information transmitted by each supplier of reusable parts in Step 1317. The contents of the reusable-part order-acceptance information transmitted and received in Steps 1317 and 1318 are the same as those transmitted and received in Steps 311 and 312 of the previous embodiment to which the identification information to identify the reusable-part procurement information transmitted and received in Steps 1314 and 1315 is added.
In Step 1319, the broker of reusable parts adds up the reusable-part order information prepared for each supplier in Step 1314 to the information received in Step 1313 for each user of reusable parts and prepares reusable-part order-acceptance information for each user of reusable parts. The reusable-part order-acceptance information for each user of reusable parts is recorded in the reusable-part brokering management database 23i and transmitted to said user of reusable parts who transmitted the reusable-part order information in Step 1312. The details of Step 1319 will be described later.
In Step 1320, each user of reusable parts receives the reusable-part order-acceptance information transmitted in Step 1319. The contents of the reusable-part order-acceptance information transmitted and received in Steps 1319 and 1320 are similar to those transmitted and received in Steps 311 and 312 of the previous embodiment to which the identification information to identify the reusable-part procurement information transmitted and received in Steps 1317 and 1318 is added.
In Step 1321, each user of reusable parts stores and manages the reusable-part order-acceptance information. Steps 1320 and 1321 are similar to Steps 312 and 313.
a shows the details of Step 1304. In Step 1401, based on the part names of the reusable-part procurement information received from each user in Step 1303, the broker searches the first and second columns of the kinds-of-parts database 23h, of which an example is shown in
In Step 1402, by using the kinds of parts extracted in Step 1401, the broker searches the first 1520 and third columns 1530 of the reusable-part supplier database 23g (
If the part names in the second column 1512 of the kinds-of-parts database 23h are recorded in the third column 1530 of the reusable-part supplier database 23g, suppliers can be identified directly from the part names of the reusable-part procurement information received in Step 1303.
In Step 1403, based on the reusable-part procurement information of each user, the broker prepares reusable-part procurement information for each supplier extracted in Step 1402. Identification information identifying said user in addition to the reusable-part procurement information such as part names, choosing conditions, and dates of delivery are also prepared. Alternatively identification information such as a serial number may be allotted to each piece of the reusable-part procurement information to be prepared in Step 1403 and the serial numbers are related to the reusable-part procurement information received from said user in Step 1303. If users present prices at which they hope to purchase, it is desirable for the broker to deduct a certain percentage or amount from such prices before presenting them to suppliers. The difference between the former and latter prices is the income of the broker.
In Step 1404, the broker transmits the reusable-part procurement information prepared in Step 1403 to the suppliers extracted in Step 1402.
b shows the details of Step 1309. In Step 1411, the broker extracts the identification information allotted to each available part and identifying the user from each piece of reusable-part procurement information received in Step 1308 in order to identify the user who transmitted said piece of reusable-part procurement information.
In Step 1412, based on the identification information of the user of each part extracted in Step 1411, the broker adds up the reusable-part availability information received in Step 1308 for each user. If the broker transmitted reusable-part procurement information to two or more suppliers based on the reusable-part procurement information from one user, the broker adds up two or more pieces of reusable-part availability information for the user. If two or more suppliers transmit reusable-part availability information in response to one and the same reusable-part procurement information, the broker chooses the part which is closest to the reusable-part procurement information received in Step 1303. In such a case, they are prioritized based on such conditions prescribed in advance as lower (or higher) price, longer (or shorter) service time in the past, and smaller (or larger) number of times of reuse in the past. Thus, reusable parts can be offered efficiently. The above choice can be made by an ordinary sorting function and it can easily be accomplished by the existing technology.
In Step 1413, the broker prepares reusable-part availability information for each user. It is useful to attach identification information to each individual part to identify its supplier. To be more specific, the code of the supplier who transmitted the reusable-part availability information in Step 1307 is attached to each individual part in the reusable-part availability information in Step 1413. If suppliers present selling prices, it is desirable for the broker to add a certain percentage or amount to the selling prices before presenting them to users. The difference between the former and latter prices is the income of the broker.
In Step 1414, the broker transmits the reusable-part availability information prepared in Step 1413 to each user.
c shows the details of Step 1314. In Step 1421, the broker extracts the supplier identification information for each individual part included in the reusable-part order information received from users in Step 1313. The broker, using the extracted supplier identification information, adds up the reusable-part order information for each supplier in Step 1422 and prepares, based on the results of adding up, reusable-part order information for each supplier in Step 1423. The reusable-part order information includes identification information (for example, the code of each user) for identifying the user of each individual part in addition to the names and the required specifications of reusable parts. If users present prices at which they hope to purchase, it is desirable for the broker to deduct a certain percentage or amount from the prices before presenting them to suppliers. The difference between the former and latter prices is the income of the broker.
In Steps 1424, the broker transmits the reusable-part order information prepared in Step 1423 to each supplier.
d shows the details of Step 1319. In Step 1431, based on the reusable-part order-acceptance information which was received in Step 1318 and includes the identification information of the user of each individual part, the broker extracts the users of individual parts. The broker, using the extracted information on users, adds up the reusable-part order-acceptance information for each user in Step 1432 and, based on the results of adding up, prepares reusable-part order-acceptance information for each user in Step 1433. If suppliers present selling prices, it is desirable for the broker to add a certain percentage or amount to the selling prices before presenting them to users. The difference between the former and latter prices is the income of the broker.
In Step 1434, the broker transmits the reusable-part order-acceptance information prepared in Step 1433 to each user.
The extraction of specific information in Steps 1401, 1402, 1411, 1421, and 1431 and the adding up of specific information in Steps 1412, 1422, and 1432 are both being carried out in ordinary information systems.
In accordance with the above process, the user of reusable parts can have access to a plurality of suppliers through a broker in the same way as the user has direct access to a supplier. In addition, because the broker procures each user reusable parts from a plurality of suppliers, reusable parts can be procured efficiently. Moreover, it is not necessary for the supplier to deal with a plurality of users. By dealing with brokers, the supplier can obtain reusable-part procurement information from many users, which helps the supplier to simplify its business processing and expand its business. Offering an environment which raises the efficiencies of both users and suppliers, the broker can run its business stably, earning brokerage.
Still another embodiment, wherein one piece of reusable-part procurement information is presented to two or more suppliers and reusable parts are procured under better conditions, will be described below.
Referring to drawings, the present embodiment will be described below.
The system of the present embodiment comprises operational units 11-1, 11-3 to 11-5, such as personal computers, display devices such as displays 12-1, 12-3 to 12-5, and input devices such as keyboards 13-1, 13-2 to 13-5 and mice 14-1 and 14-3 to 14-5. In addition, the following devices may be used: a network 16 such as the Internet to connect traders concerned, devices installed in the operational units 11 or otherwise provided for the connection to the network 16, and devices to read external storage media such as floppy disk drives, CD drives, and MO drives installed to the operational units 11-1, 11-3 to 11-5. If printers 15-1 and 15-3 to 15-5 are used in addition to the displays 12-1 and 12-3 to 12-5, results can be seen in a printed form. In
a shows an example of system configuration for the user of reusable parts 1610 in accordance with the present embodiment;
The system for the user of reusable parts comprises a processing/operating unit 21-6 such as a CPU for personal computers, a storage device 22-6 such as a semiconductor memory, an auxiliary storage device 23-6 such as a HDD, and an input device 24-6 and an output device 25-6 of which examples are shown in
The whole process of the present embodiment is similar to that shown in
In Steps 301 and 302, however, the user of reusable parts searches the reusable-part supplier database 23j, of which an example is shown in
If the reusable-part supplier database 23j is expanded as shown in
In Steps 306 to 308, the user receives reusable-part availability information from the suppliers whom the user transmitted reusable-part procurement information to. If available parts are prioritized based on such conditions set in advance as “lower price,” “shorter service time,” and “smaller number of times of use,” reusable parts can be procured more efficiently. It can be accomplished by an ordinary sorting function of the existing technology. If the reusable-part availability information from a supplier is in accord with the reusable-part procurement information, reusable-part order information may unconditionally prepared. Alternatively, such information as shown in
In another embodiment, a processing method when compatible parts exist will be described referring to
a shows a system configuration for a supplier of reusable parts of an embodiment of the present invention. The system comprises a processing/operating unit 21-8 such as a CPU for personal computers, a storage device 22-8 such as a semiconductor memory, an auxiliary storage device 23-8 such as a HDD, and an input device 24-8 and an output device 25-8 of which examples are shown in
The product/parts compatibility database 23e is a database wherein compatible parts for part names in the first item are recorded in the second item, and information indicating parts in the second item can be used instead of parts in the first item is accumulated. However, it should be noted that the reverse, which means parts in the first item are compatible with respect to the parts of a part name recorded in the second item, does not necessarily hold true. It shows, for example, that, as called “upward compatibility”, a 6.4-GB HDD can be registered as an “upward-compatible part” with superior performance for a 4.3-GB HDD in the same series. However, when used reversely, the available capacity gets smaller, which cannot necessarily be called compatible. When there is compatibility with each other, it can be achieved by recording both parts in the both left and right sections afterwards.
According to this embodiment, the supplier of reusable parts can supply parts which are compatible with the parts concerned, even when the parts of the applicable part names for reusable-part procurement information or reusable-part order information are out of stock. Therefore, the number of parts supplied can be increased. Also, the user of reusable parts can procure compatible and equivalent parts even when their names are different. Therefore, it becomes possible to procure and use reusable parts efficiently.
In the above embodiment, the supplier of reusable parts is responsible for the part-compatibility management. However, the same effects can be achieved when a user of reusable parts or a broker of reusable parts manages the product/parts compatibility database 23e, which replaces the part names with compatible parts and transmits reusable-part procurement information or reusable-part order information to the supplier of reusable parts. Particularly, in the flow from Step 1304 to Step 1308, when reusable-part availability information transmitted from the supplier of reusable parts fails to match the reusable-part procurement information transmitted from the user of reusable parts in Step 1303, the broker of reusable parts repeats the Step 1304 by using compatible parts. In such a way, the extraction of information from reusable-part inventory in a wider range becomes possible, which means an improved service to the supplier of reusable parts.
Another embodiment of processing when compatible parts are available will be described.
a shows a system configuration for a supplier of reusable parts of an embodiment of the present invention. The system comprises a processing/operating unit 21-9 such as a CPU for personal computers, a storage device 22-9 such as a semiconductor memory, an auxiliary storage device 23-9 such as a HDD, and an input device 24-9 and an output device 25-9 of which examples are shown in
When searching the reusable-part inventory database 23d in Step 802 and Step 812, first, the supplier of reusable parts searches according to a part name. However, when there are no applicable parts, the supplier of reusable parts searches the part name concerned from the first item 2110 of the part specification database 23m, of which example is shown in
According to this embodiment, it becomes possible for the supplier of reusable parts to supply parts which have equivalent specifications or better with those of the parts concerned even when there are no parts having the part names concerned with respect to reusable-part procurement information or reusable-part order information, and thereby to increase the number of parts to be supplied. Also, it becomes possible for the user of reusable parts to procure equivalent parts even when the part names are different and further to procure and utilize reusable parts efficiently.
In the above embodiment, the supplier of reusable parts is responsible for the management of part specifications. However, the same effects can be achieved when a user of reusable parts or a broker of reusable parts manages the part specification database 23m, which replaces the part names with compatible parts and transmits reusable-part procurement information or reusable-part order information to the supplier of reusable parts.
The user of reusable parts manages the part specification database 23m and carries out operations in Step 405 and Step 411 according to part specifications, and the supplier of reusable parts expands the reusable-part inventory database 23d as shown in
Next, as yet another embodiment of the present invention, a method to conduct above procurement of the reusable parts through a network in real time.
A whole configuration of devices of this embodiment will be shown in
An embodiment of the present invention will be described referring to the drawings.
The whole configuration of devices in the present embodiment is the same as those shown in
The user of reusable parts prepares reusable-part procurement information in Step 4201. This is the same as the process in Step 301. In Step 4202, the user of reusable parts gains access to the system for the supplier of reusable parts through a network, and demands a reusable-part availability information screen. Upon being connected with the user of reusable parts in Step 4202, the supplier of reusable parts transmits the reusable-part availability information screen, of which example is shown in
When determining in the Step 4209 that the choice of the reusable parts is not sufficient and further adding conditions or narrowing or relaxing the conditions, the user of reusable parts returns to the Step 4205 and repeats the same operation.
It is possible to realize the system for the supplier of reusable parts by using a system combining a Web server, which is widely used on the internet, and a database. Also, the system for the user of reusable parts can be realized by using a Web browser.
Further, when proceeding to Step 4202, it becomes possible to provide the present service exclusively to the registered members by displaying the screen prompting an ID or a password managed in advance by the supplier of reusable parts for the entry of the ID or the password. Also, according to this method, if information such as names of reusable-part users and mailing addresses of products or contact addresses of clients are managed as ID information, it becomes possible to receive and order parts only by authenticating using IDs and passwords. This authentication can be achieved in the same way as the one commonly used on the internet.
The reusable-part availability information screen, of which example is shown in
On the reusable-part availability information screen, of which example is shown in
With respect to each condition, when more than the requested number of reusable parts are found, it is also practical to automatically choose from preset menus (this information can be stored together with previously described user management information using ID) such as “cheaper parts”, “parts of shorter service time” and “parts of fewer number of times of use”, in addition to the method of displaying all the (more than requested number of) applicable parts as shown in the example.
To automatically transmit the reusable-part procurement information determined in the above Step 4201 to the supplier of reusable parts, at the stage of calling up a screen in Step 4202, the information determined in the Step 4201 is transmitted at the same time as a parameter. The supplier of reusable parts, using that information, may put into practice the function of Step 4206 and then the function of Step 4207 as well as the rest of the Steps. This method is also commonly used when letting a system run on a Web server. According to this method, it becomes possible for both the reusable-part user and the reusable-part supplier to efficiently procure or provide parts with information specific to reusable parts, such as reusable-part choosing conditions, etc., by using a widely available system.
According to one embodiment of the present invention, when manufacturers, etc. procure reusable parts, considering the characteristics of reusable parts that their histories differ from part to part, it becomes possible to efficiently procure proper reusable parts from the supplier of reusable parts.
Further, it becomes possible for manufacturers to produce products using efficiently and properly procured reusable parts and to smoothly utilize the reusable parts in the products. Also, it similarly becomes possible for servicepersons or repairpersons to efficiently and properly procure reusable parts, and to proceed with maintenance or repairs using such parts.
Further, it becomes possible for the supplier of reusable parts to efficiently supply parts which meet the needs of the user of reusable parts from their inventory of reusable parts and to accurately understand the needs of the user of reusable parts and reflect it in procuring and stock planning of the reusable parts.
Also, it becomes possible for the broker of reusable parts to run a stable business based on income such as brokerage through the efficient mediation of reusable parts by providing proper reusable parts to the user of reusable parts while efficiently utilizing reusable-part inventory information of the contracted supplier of reusable parts.
Although the above functionality has generally been described in terms of specific hardware and software, it would be recognized that the invention has a much broader range of applicability. For example, the software functionality can be further combined or even separated. Similarly, the hardware functionality can be further combined, or even separated. The software functionality can be implemented in terms of hardware or a combination of hardware and software. Similarly, the hardware functionality can be implemented in software or a combination of hardware and software. Any number of different combinations can occur depending upon the application.
Many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. Therefore, it is to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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2000-381642 | Dec 2000 | JP | national |
This application is a Divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/859,238, filed May 16, 2001, and is related to and claims priority from Japanese Patent Application No 2000-381642, filed on Dec. 11, 2000, each of which is incorporated herein by reference for all purposes.
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 09859238 | May 2001 | US |
Child | 11757223 | Jun 2007 | US |