Patent ID: 7827049
Filing Date: 2010-11-02
Classification: G06Q

Abstract:
1. A computer-implemented method estimating demand for a supply chain, comprising: generating, using a computer, a probability distribution of order lead time based on an order lead time profile of the supply chain comprising a plurality of nodes including a starting node and ending node and a path from the starting node to the ending node, the probability distribution of order lead time describing ending node demand of the ending node; dividing, using the computer, the path into a plurality of order lead time segments by establishing a plurality of cumulative cycle times of the plurality of nodes, each cumulative cycle time comprising a time difference between a time an item arrives at the corresponding node and a time the item is available to leave the ending node considering all required processing cycle times; associating, by the computer, the plurality of order lead time segments with the probability distribution of order lead time; and determining, using the computer, a demand percentage of each order lead time segment in accordance with a range of endpoints of each order lead time segment in order to estimate demand of the supply chain, each demand percentage describing a percentage of a total ending node demand associated with the corresponding order lead time segment.