Method and apparatus of on demand business activity management using business performance management loops

A method for business performance management (BPM) of a business unit defined by business processes, and in the method using one or more automated tokens, each of which represents a business event from one of said business processes, the method comprising the steps of:

• operating a BPM Net comprising a plurality of BPM loops wherein a BPM loop comprises a plurality of nodes, said plurality of nodes including at least a sensing node for receipt via said tokens of event data corresponding to said business event and an execution node for sending action data to a business unit for implementation in response to said business event;
• storing in a database one or more policies which govern transformation by said nodes of said event data into said action data,
• passing each of said tokens sequentially from node to node in a particular order around said BPM loop, beginning with said sensing node and ending with said execution node, application of a policy at a node being triggered by said token, each said node further comprising a data acquisition element for acquiring data from another node, a data processing element for transforming data in accordance with one of said policies, and a data output element for transmitting data to another node,
• receiving said event data, wherein said event data is received by said sensing node in real time,
• transforming said event data, wherein said policies transform said event data in real time, and
• sending said action data wherein said action data is sent to said business unit in real time
• wherein the method steps are performed by an automated BPM system that comprises a BPM loop architecture that comprises a physical star and a data processing ring;
• practiced for continuous demand-driven build plan and inventory optimization in microelectronic manufacturing, comprising steps performed by the BPM system of:
• receiving events from various source systems from a supply chain;
• continuously updating actual revenue, revenue outlook and inventory levels;
• determining whether progression of accrued revenue is normal or below target, and when a below-target situation exists, automatically detecting the below-target situation and issuing an alert showing current sales quantities of some selected saleable part numbers in an nth week are out of bands for said part numbers;
• recommending to adjust planned demand quantities and safety stock requirements for the nth week;
• invoking a demand planning module and inventory planning module to analyze demand quantities and safety stock requirements for the nth week;
• after suggestions of the BPM system have been looked at by a business line manager, revising an actual build plan into an updated build plan;
• continuing monitoring with the updated build plan.