Consumables supply system

A consumables supply management system in which a measurement device that uses consumables and a consumables supply management device for managing supply of consumables to a user of the measurement device are connected via a communications line,

• wherein the measurement device comprises:
• an operation status memory portion for storing operation status data including information on a consumption status of the consumables;
• and
• a data transmission portion for transmitting the operation status data to the consumables supply management device via the communications line;
• and
• wherein the consumables supply management device comprises:
• an inventory data memory portion for storing consumables inventory data including information on an inventory status of consumables in a user of the measurement device;
• a data reception portion for receiving the operation status data from the measurement device via the communications line;
• a data processing portion that determines a quantity of consumables consumed by the measurement device based on the operation status data received by the data reception portion, and updates the consumables inventory data in the inventory data memory portion;
• and
• a supply determining portion for determining whether it is necessary to supply consumables to the user of the measurement device based on the consumables inventory data updated by the data processing portion.

A measurement device that uses consumables,

• connected via a communications line to a consumables supply management device, which manages supply of the consumables in correspondence with a consumption status of the consumables, the measurement device comprising:
• an operation status memory portion for storing operation status data including information on a consumption status of the consumables;
• and
• a data transmission portion for transmitting the operation status data to the consumables supply management device via the communications line.

A program storage medium on which is stored a program for controlling operation of a consumables supply management device that is connected via a communications line to a measurement device using consumables, and that manages supply of consumables to a user of the measurement device, the program executing the processes of:

• providing, in the consumables supply management device, an inventory data memory portion for storing consumables inventory data including information on an inventory status of consumables in a user of the measurement device;
• creating, in the measurement device, operation status data including information on a consumption status of consumables;
• receiving the operation status data from the measurement device via the communications line;
• determining a consumed quantity of consumables in the measurement device based on the operation status data that are received;
• updating the consumables inventory data in the inventory data memory portion based on the consumed amount;
• and
• determining whether it is necessary to supply consumables to the user of the measurement device based on the updated consumables inventory data.