Patent ID: 7805328
Filing Date: 2010-09-28
Classification: G06Q

Abstract:
1. A method of managing production quantity in a distribution system where products shipped from at least one factory are stocked in a single delivery center at every predetermined cycle and then supplied to customers from the single delivery center, the method being performed by execution of computer readable program code by at least one processor of at least one computer system and comprising: determining, using at least one of the processors, a standard inventory quantity of products to be stocked in the single delivery center for a time of at least one predetermined future cycle based on a shipment record of the single delivery center, the determining a standard inventors quantity including: determining, using at least one of the processors, a first approximation curve of variations of a shipment quantity of the single delivery center based on the shipment record of the single delivery center, determining a gradient of the shipment quantity of the single delivery center for a current cycle t based on the determined approximation curve, and determining a (t+1)-th cycle standard inventory quantity of the single delivery center based on the determined gradient; determining, using at least one of the processors, a second approximation curve of variations of a shipment quantity of the single delivery center based on the shipment record of the single delivery center and said (t+1)-th cycle expected shipment quantity of the single delivery center; determining a gradient of the shipment quantity of the single delivery center for the (t+1)-th cycle based on the determined second approximation curve; determining a (t+2)-th cycle standard inventory quantity of the single delivery center based on the determined gradient for the (t+1)-th cycle; determining a (t+2)-th cycle expected shipment quantity of the single delivery center and a (t+2)-th cycle standard inventory quantity of the at least one factory based on said determined (t+2)-th cycle standard inventory quantity of the single delivery center; wherein said (t+2)-th cycle standard inventory quantity of the single delivery center dSI(t+2) is determined for each product according to: where “dSI(t+1)” represents said (t+1)-th cycle standard inventory quantity of the single delivery center, “b” represents the determined gradient for the (t+1)-th cycle, and Ω represents a factor which is predetermined according to a product type; determining a (t+1)-th cycle shipment quantity of the at least one factory based on said (t+2)-th cycle standard inventory quantity of the single delivery center, said (t+1)-th cycle standard inventory quantity of the single delivery center, an actual inventory quantity of the single delivery center for an end of the current cycle t, and a standard inventory quantity of the single delivery center for the current cycle t; determining, using at least one of the processors, a third approximation curve of variations of the shipment quantity of the single delivery center based on said (t+1)-th cycle and (t+2)-th cycle expected shipment quantities of the single delivery center; determining a gradient of the shipment quantity of the single delivery center for the (t+2)-th cycle based on the determined third approximation curve; determining a (t+3)-th cycle standard inventory quantity of the single delivery center based on the determined gradient for the (t+2)-th cycle; determining a (t+3)-th cycle expected shipment quantity of the single delivery center and a (t+3)-th cycle standard inventory quantity of the at least one factory based on said determined (t+3)-th cycle standard inventory quantity of the single delivery center; wherein said (t+3)-th cycle standard inventory quantity of the single delivery center dSI(t+3) is determined for each product according to: where “c” represents the determined gradient for the (t+2)-th cycle; determining a (t+2)-th cycle expected assembly quantity of the at least one factory based on said (t+3)-th cycle standard inventory quantity of the single delivery center, said (t+1)-th cycle expected shipment quantity of the single delivery center, said (t+2)-th cycle expected shipment quantity of the single delivery center, said actual inventory quantity of the single delivery center for the end of the current cycle t, said determined (t+1)-th cycle shipment quantity of the at least one factory, and a shipment quantity of the at least one factory for the current cycle t; determining, using at least one of the processors, a total assembly quantity of products to be assembled by the at least one factory for a time of at least one future predetermined cycle based on said determined standard inventory quantity of the single delivery center and an actual inventory quantity of the at least one factory; determining an (t+1)-th cycle expected shipment quantity of the single delivery center based on said determined (t+1)-th cycle standard inventory quantity of the single delivery center and determining a (t+1)-th cycle standard inventory quantity of the at least one factory based on said determined (t+1)-th cycle standard inventory quantity of the single delivery center; wherein each of said (t+1)-th cycle expected shipment quantity of the single delivery center and said (t+1)-th cycle standard inventory quantity of the at least one factory is determined by multiplying said (t+1)-th cycle standard inventory quantity of the single delivery center by a factor.