Redistribution of Parts in a Distribution Network
Assigneei2 Technologies US, Inc.
InventorsRosa Birjandi, Omer Bakkalbasi, Dharmaraj Veerappanaicker, Joel Shapiro
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Redistributing parts includes defining locations. An actual inventory of parts is established among the locations, and a desired allocation of the parts is established among the locations. A demand for the parts at each location is determined using the actual inventory and the desired allocation. Paths are determined, where a path transfers an excess part from one location to another location. A transfer function describing a cost of transferring the excess part along the paths is generated. The transfer function is optimized to achieve the desired allocation of the excess parts at a minimum cost.
Claims15
A method for redistributing a plurality of parts, comprising:
- defining a plurality of locations;
- establishing an actual inventory of a plurality of parts among the locations;
- establishing a desired allocation of the parts among the locations;
- determining a demand for the parts at each location using the actual inventory and the desired allocation;
- determining a plurality of paths, a path being operable to transfer an excess part from one location to another location;
- generating a transfer function describing a cost of transferring the excess part along the paths;
- and
- optimizing the transfer function to achieve the desired allocation of the excess parts at a minimum cost.
7-12. (canceled)
Logic embodied in a computer-readable medium and when executed by a computer operable to:
- define a plurality of locations;
- establish an actual inventory of a plurality of parts among the locations;
- establish a desired allocation of the parts among the locations;
- determine a demand for the parts at each location using the actual inventory and the desired allocation;
- determine a plurality of paths, a path being operable to transfer a part from one location to another location;
- generate a transfer function describing transferring a plurality of excess parts along the paths;
- and
- optimize the transfer function to achieve the desired allocation of the excess parts at a minimum cost.
A system for redistributing a part, comprising:
- means for defining a plurality of locations;
- means for establishing an actual inventory of a plurality of parts among the locations;
- means for establishing a desired allocation of the parts among the locations;
- means for determining a demand for the parts at each location using the actual inventory and the desired allocation;
- means for determining a plurality of paths, a path being operable to transfer a part from one location to another location;
- means for generating a transfer function describing a cost of transferring a plurality of excess parts along the paths;
- and
- means for optimizing the transfer function to achieve the desired allocation of the excess parts at a minimum cost.
A method for redistributing a part, comprising:
- defining a plurality of locations;
- establishing an actual inventory of a plurality of parts among the locations;
- establishing an optimized allocation of the parts among the locations;
- determining a demand for a part at each location using the actual inventory and the optimized allocation;
- determining a plurality of paths, a path being operable to transfer a part from one location to another location;
- generating a transfer function cost being associated with transferring a part along a plurality of alternative paths;
- satisfying a constraint requiring that the parts transferred to a location and the parts transferred from the location satisfy the demand for the parts at the location;
- and
- minimizing the transfer function to achieve the desired allocation of a plurality of excess parts at a minimum cost.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.