System integrator and commodity roll-up
AssigneeFord Motor Company
InventorsYen Truong, Andy Moir, Jill Forbis, Laura Wagner, Ron Cirihal
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A purchasing entity directs the sourcing of one or more parts in a microprocessor-based method. The microprocessor-based method comprises obtaining over a computer network sourcing information from a primary supplier which identifies one or more third party secondary suppliers for one or more parts in a group of parts, ordering the group of parts from the primary supplier, and then issuing a release to the secondary supplier to ship the part to a predetermined location. A computer system for purchasing parts from a secondary supplier that executes the method is also provided.
Claims20
A method by which a purchasing entity purchases a part or a system component, the method comprising:
- a) obtaining over a computer network sourcing information from a primary supplier which identifies one or more third party secondary suppliers for one or more parts in a group of parts;
- b) ordering the group of parts from the primary supplier;
- c) storing data regarding the group of parts ordered in step b on a digital storage medium, the data including identity of the third party secondary supplier;
- and
- d) issuing a release to the secondary supplier to ship the part to a predetermined location.
A method by which a purchasing entity purchases a part or a system component, the method comprising:
- a) obtaining over a computer network sourcing information from a primary supplier which identifies one or more third party secondary suppliers for one or more parts in a group of parts;
- b) making a request for quotation available to the primary supplier over the computer network;
- c) receiving a quotation from the primary supplier over the computer network;
- d) issuing a purchase order to the primary supplier;
- e) storing data regarding the group of parts ordered in step d on a digital storage medium, the data including identity of the third party secondary supplier;
- and
- f) issuing a release to the secondary supplier to ship the part to a predetermined location.
The method of claim 15 wherein the digital storage medium is selected from the group consisting of hard drives, optical drives, RAM memory, ROM memory, compact discs, DVDs, magnetic storage taped, floppy drives, and combinations thereof.
A computer system for integrating the purchasing of parts from a primary and secondary supplier, the system comprising a computer network including one or more computers operably programmed and configured to:
- a) receive sourcing information from a primary supplier which identifies one or more third party secondary suppliers for one or more parts in a group of parts;
- b) order the group of parts from the primary supplier;
- c) store data regarding the group of parts ordered in step b on a storage medium, the data including identity of the third party secondary supplier;
- and
- d) issue a release to the secondary supplier to ship the part to a predetermined location.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.