Patent ID: 8209242
Filing Date: 2012-06-26
Classification: G06Q

Abstract:
1. A method of using an inventory control system having a computer and one or more databases, the inventory control system processing and providing an output utilizing data stored in and retrieved from the one or more databases, the method comprising: depleting an inventory level of an inventory component; identifying a supplier lead-time period for replenishment of the inventory component; obtaining daily usage data for said inventory component, said daily usage data corresponding to a volume of daily usage for said inventory component; storing the supplier lead time period and the daily usage data for said inventory component in the one or more databases; summing, using said inventory control system, said daily usage data for a plurality of at least partially non-overlapping time periods that are each equal in duration to said supplier lead-time period to generate a plurality of lead-time usage data points, each one of said plurality of at least partially non-overlapping time periods corresponding with a time period that is at least partially different from time periods corresponding with each of the other ones of said plurality of at least partially non-overlapping time periods, and wherein for each one of said plurality of at least partially non overlapping time periods a corresponding one of said plurality of lead-time usage data points corresponds with a total summed amount of said daily usage data for the time period to provide a corresponding lead-time bucket; retrieving, using said inventory control system, the supplier lead time period and the daily usage data from the one or more databases for use in said summing step; processing, using said inventory control system, said plurality of lead-time usage data points to produce a target inventory level for said inventory component; outputting, using said inventory control system, an indication corresponding to said target inventory level produced in said processing step; determining an actual inventory level for said inventory component; comparing said actual inventory level to said target inventory level; generating an order for an additional quantity of said inventory component when an actual inventory of said inventory component is less than said target inventory level; and placing said order with a corresponding supplier of said inventory component, wherein said inventory level of the inventory component is replenished.