Information processing apparatus and method for managing order/delivery of components

An information processing apparatus comprising:

• reference means for referring to demand information from a client;
• specifying means for specifying delivery place different from the client of each type of component produced based on the demand information;
• confirmation means for confirming information relating to delivery acceptance of each type of component based on the demand information from the client;
• and
• request means for requesting a cost for each type of component from the client, based on the confirmed information.

An information processing apparatus in a producer for delivering each type of assembled component to a client, said apparatus comprising:

• plan means for providing a production plan of each type of assembled component based on information from the client;
• transfer means for transferring information based on the production plan to the client;
• payment means for paying a cost for each type of component from a component maker different from the client, to the client;
• and
• request means for requesting a cost for each type of assembled component from the client.

An information processing method comprising:

• a plan reference step of generating a production plan in a state capable of being referred to from a unit maker;
• a reception step of receiving a production plan from the unit maker;
• a calculation step of obtaining an amount of demand of each type of component of a product based on the production plan and information relating to a configuration of the product;
• and
• a demand reference step of generating the obtained amount of demand into a state capable of being referenced by a component maker.

An information processing method comprising:

• a reference step of referring to demand information from a client;
• a specifying step of specifying delivery place different from the client of each type of component produced based on the demand information;
• a confirmation step of confirming information relating to delivery acceptance of each type of component based on the demand information from the client;
• and
• a request step of requesting a cost for each type of component from the client, based on the confirmed information.

An information processing method in a producer for delivering each type of assembled component to a client, said method comprising:

• a plan step of providing a production plan of each type of assembled component based on information from the client;
• a transfer step of transferring information based on the production plan to the client;
• a payment step of paying a cost for each type of component from a component maker different from the client, to the client;
• and
• a request step of requesting a cost for each type of assembled component from the client.

An information processing apparatus sharing information relating to production in a product manufacturer, an assembly manufacturer and a component manufacturer, said apparatus comprising:

• summary display means for displaying a summary of an input plan of assembled components in the product manufacturer;
• change means for instructing a change of the input plan displayed on said summary display means;
• and
• order-information display means for displaying information relating to order of components including components to be used in the assembled components on a terminal of the component manufacturer, based on the change.

An information processing method sharing information relating to production in a product manufacturer, an assembly manufacturer and a component manufacturer, said method comprising:

• a summary display step of displaying a summary of an input plan of assembled components in the product manufacturer;
• a change step of instructing a change of the input plan displayed in said summary display step;
• and
• an order-information display step of displaying information relating to an order of components including components to be used in the assembled components on a terminal of the component manufacturer, based on the change.