E-catalogue ordering for a supply chain management system

A non-transitory computer readable program product storing machine-readable program code for causing, when executed by a computer, a machine to perform the following method for a supply chain management system utilizing a network:

• collecting sales data from the network regarding the sale of at least one product from a plurality of entities in the supply chain management system over a period of time;
• maintaining an electronic database of products, with each product having associated therewith in the database one or more items of equipment used to produce the product;
• based on a criteria, performing a calculation to obtain usage data at a particular entity for an item of equipment of a particular type using, at least in part, the collected sales data for products produced by the particular type of equipment at the particular entity;
• accessing at least one equipment supplier electronic catalogue that contains the particular type of equipment represented by the item of equipment, with each of a plurality of catalogue items of equipment under this type of equipment having a different characteristic;
• selecting at least one of the items of equipment in the catalogue based on the usage data for the item of equipment and the characteristic;
• displaying the selected one of the catalogue items of equipment,
• wherein the database contains warranty period information associated with the item of equipment;
• performing a time algorithm to determine if the warranty associated with the item of equipment has lapsed;
• and
• if the warranty for the item of equipment has not lapsed, then sending a message via the network to the entity making a notification relating to the warranty.

A non-transitory computer readable program product storing machine-readable program code for causing, when executed by a computer, a machine to perform the following method for a supply chain management system utilizing a network:

• collecting point of sale data from the network regarding the sale of a plurality of products from a plurality of entities over a period of time;
• maintaining an electronic database of products, with each product having associated therewith in the database one or more items of equipment used to produce the product and a rating characteristic based on usage for the item of equipment;
• aggregating the point of sale data for products produced by that type of item of equipment at the entity and performing calculations to obtain usage data for the item of equipment;
• comparing the usage data for the item of equipment to the rating characteristic associated with that item of equipment;
• and
• based on a criteria, then sending a communication on the network to the entity.

A computer implemented method for a supply chain management system utilizing a network, comprising:

• collecting, via the computer, sales data from the network regarding the sale of at least one product from a plurality of entities in the supply chain management system over a period of time;
• maintaining, via the computer, an electronic database of products, with each product having associated therewith in the database one or more items of equipment used to produce the product;
• based on a criteria, performing, via the computer, an electronic calculation to obtain usage data at a particular entity for an item of equipment of a particular type using, at least in part, the collected sales data for products produced by the particular type of equipment at the particular entity;
• accessing, via the computer, at least one equipment supplier electronic catalogue that contains the particular type of equipment represented by the item of equipment, with each of a plurality of catalogue items of equipment under this type of equipment having a different characteristic;
• selecting, via the computer, at least one of the items of equipment in the catalogue based on the usage data for the item of equipment and the characteristic;
• and
• displaying the selected one of the catalogue items of equipment.

A computer implemented method for a supply chain management system utilizing a network, comprising:

• collecting, via the computer, sales data from the network regarding the sale of at least one product from a plurality of entities in the supply chain management system over a period of time;
• maintaining, via the computer, an electronic database of products, with each product having associated therewith in the database one or more items of equipment used to produce the product;
• based on a criteria, performing, via the computer, an electronic calculation to obtain usage data at a particular entity for an item of equipment of a particular type using, at least in
• part, the collected sales data for products produced by the particular type of equipment at the particular entity;
• accessing, via the computer, at least one equipment supplier electronic catalogue that contains the particular type of equipment represented by the item of equipment, with each of a plurality of catalogue items of equipment under this type of equipment having a different characteristic;
• selecting, via the computer, at least one of the items of equipment in the catalogue based on the usage data for the item of equipment and the characteristic;
• displaying the selected one of the catalogue items of equipment,
• wherein the database contains warranty period information associated with the item of equipment;
• performing a time algorithm to determine if the warranty associated with the item of equipment has lapsed;
• and
• if the warranty for the item of equipment has not lapsed, then sending a message via the network to the entity making a notification relating to the warranty.

A computer implemented method for a supply chain management system utilizing a network, comprising:

• collecting, via the computer, point of sale data from the network regarding the sale of a plurality of products from a plurality of entities over a period of time;
• maintaining, via the computer, an electronic database of products, with each product having associated therewith in the database one or more items of equipment used to produce the product and a rating characteristic based on usage for the item of equipment;
• electronically aggregating, via the computer, the point of sale data for the products produced by that type of item of equipment at the entity and performing calculations to obtain usage data for the item of equipment;
• comparing, via the computer, the usage data for the item of equipment to the rating characteristic associated with that item of equipment;
• and
• based on a criteria, then sending a communication on the network to the entity.

A system for supply chain management utilizing a network, comprising:

• an electronic storage;
• and
• a processor that includes the following logic elements:
• a component sales data for collecting from the network regarding the sale of at least one product from a plurality of entities in the supply chain management system over a period of time;
• a component for maintaining an electronic database of products, with each product having associated therewith in the database one or more items of equipment used to produce the product;
• a component for, based on a criteria, performing a calculation to obtain usage data at a particular entity for an item of equipment of a particular type using, at least in part, the collected sales data for products produced by the particular type of equipment at the particular entity;
• a component for accessing at least one equipment supplier electronic catalogue that contains the particular type of equipment represented by the item of equipment, with each of a plurality of catalogue items of equipment under this type of equipment having a different characteristic;
• a component for selecting at least one of the items of equipment in the catalogue based on the usage data for the item of equipment and the characteristic;
• and
• a component for displaying the selected one of the catalogue items of equipment.

A system for supply chain management utilizing a network, comprising:

• an electronic storage;
• and
• a processor that includes the following logic elements:
• a component sales data for collecting from the network regarding the sale of at least one product from a plurality of entities in the supply chain management system over a period of time;
• a component for maintaining an electronic database of products, with each product having associated therewith in the database one or more items of equipment used to produce the product;
• a component for, based on a criteria, performing a calculation to obtain usage data at a particular entity for an item of equipment of a particular type using, at least in part, the collected sales data for products produced by the particular type of equipment at the particular entity;
• a component for accessing at least one equipment supplier electronic catalogue that contains the particular type of equipment represented by the item of equipment, with each of a plurality of catalogue items of equipment under this type of equipment having a different characteristic;
• a component for selecting at least one of the items of equipment in the catalogue based on the usage data for the item of equipment and the characteristic;
• a component for displaying the selected one of the catalogue items of equipment, wherein the database contains warranty period information associated with the item of equipment;
• a component for performing a time algorithm to determine if the warranty associated with the item of equipment has lapsed;
• and
• if the warranty for the item of equipment has not lapsed, then sending a message via the network to the entity making a notification relating to the warranty.

A system for supply chain management utilizing a network, comprising:

• an electronic storage;
• and
• a processor that includes the following logic elements:
• a component for collecting point of sale data from the network regarding the sale of a plurality of products from a plurality of entities over a period of time;
• an electronic database of products, with each product having associated therewith in the database one or more items of equipment used to produce the product and a rating characteristic based on usage for the item of equipment;
• a component for aggregating the point of sale data for the products produced by that type of item of equipment at the entity and performing calculations to obtain usage data for the item of equipment;
• a component for comparing the usage data for the item of equipment to the rating characteristic associated with that item of equipment;
• and
• a component for, based on a criteria, sending a communication on the network to the entity.