Patent ID: 7519550
Filing Date: 2009-04-14
Classification: G06Q

Abstract:
1. A storage medium encoded with machine-readable computer program code for managing a supply chain within a multi-enterprise environment via a computer network, the multi-enterprise environment including a manufacturing enterprise and at least one supply chain entity, the storage medium including instructions for causing a computer to implement a method, comprising: loading a bill of material file into the computer network; processing the bill of material file; generating a bid request from the bill of material file; transmitting the bid request to a web site; receiving a plurality of bid responses from a plurality of supply chain entities; analyzing the plurality of bid responses; generating an award notice; transmitting the award notice to at least one of the plurality of supply chain entities, based upon results of the analyzing; identifying purchase prices of components that are incurred by the at least one supply chain entity that manufactures products using the components, the products subject to purchase by the manufacturing enterprise under an agreement with the at least one supply chain entity; comparing the purchase prices incurred by the at least one supply chain entity with purchase prices available to the manufacturing enterprise for the same components from a component supplier; for components in which the at least one supply chain entity incurs a purchase price greater than the purchase price available to the manufacturing enterprise, generating and transmitting to the component supplier a request to authorize the at least one supply chain entity to purchase a quantity of the component from the component supplier at the purchase price available to the manufacturing enterprise; in response to an affirmative response by the component supplier, generating and transmitting an authorization to the at least one supply chain entity, the authorization authorizing the at least one supply chain entity to purchase the component directly from the component supplier; and tracking selected activities in a log; wherein the supply chain entity is a contract manufacturer, and the authorization includes an attachment comprising: guidelines for the contract manufacturer to follow, comprising: keeping pricing information confidential for a period of time; the authorization is restricted to part numbers provided with the authorization; providing copies of purchase orders between the contract manufacturer and the component supplier to the manufacturing entity for tracking and reconciliation purposes; and a request to provide a production bill of materials that factors in revisions to the purchase prices of components that reflect the purchase price available to the manufacturing entity; and wherein the contract manufacturer agrees to abide by the guidelines, comprising: keeping the pricing information confidential for a period of time; restricting purchases to the part numbers provided with the authorization; providing copies of the purchase orders between the contract manufacturer and the component supplier to the manufacturing entity for tracking and reconciliation purposes; and complying with a request to provide the production bill of materials that factors in revisions to the purchase prices of components that reflect the purchase price available to the manufacturing entity.