Method and system for reducing lead-time in the packaging industry
AssigneeExxon Mobil Oil Corporation
InventorsRobert J. Eller, Joseph J. Cardillo
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system for integrating a packaging supply chain from a point that a digital contract proof is available through delivery of finished packaging materials to an end user, wherein said system comprises a computer system accessible for interactive communications with users, said computer system comprising a first memory area for storing functionality and data for end user members of the supply chain; a second memory area for storing functionality and data for converter members of the supply chain; and a third memory area for storing functionality and data for other members of the supply chain.
Claims36
A method for management of a packaging supply chain, said packaging supply chain including flexible packaging materials and/or labels for fast-moving consumer goods, comprising the steps of:
- (a) entering digital data into a digital computer system, said digital data representing:
- (i) a packaging design, wherein said packaging design comprises a graphic design to be displayed on a package,
- (ii) a packaging product design, wherein said packaging product design comprises said packaging design and the structure of said package,
- (iii) a packaging item, wherein said packaging item comprises said packaging product design and at least one of a product configuration, a bill of material and a routing;
- and
- (iv) a packaging order which comprises a specified quantity of said packaging item for delivery on a specified date to an end user;
- (b) processing said digital data representing said packaging design with said digital computer system to create metadata for item creation, production planning and scheduling;
- and
- (c) analyzing said digital data and said metadata with said digital computer system to return a digital output having the information required to fulfill said packaging order.
A computer system for management of a packaging supply chain, said packaging supply chain including flexible packaging materials and/or labels for fast-moving consumer goods, comprising:
- (a) a storage means programmed to store digital data, said digital data representing,
- (i) a packaging design, wherein said packaging design comprises a graphic design to be displayed on a package,
- (ii) a packaging product design, wherein said packaging product design comprises a said packaging design and the structure of said package,
- (iii) a packaging item, wherein said packaging item comprises said packaging product design and at least one of a product configuration, a bill of material and a routing;
- and
- (iv) a packaging order which comprises a specified quantity of said packaging item for delivery on a specified date to an end user;
- (b) processing said digital data representing said packaging design with said digital computer system to create metadata for item creation, production planning and scheduling;
- and
- (c) analyzing said digital data and said metadata with said digital computer system to return a digital output having the information required to fulfill said packaging order.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.