Patent ID: 7885857
Filing Date: 2011-02-08
Classification: G06Q

Abstract:
1. A computer-implemented method for operating an apparel production business, said method comprising: operating one or more computers that have been programmed with software to perform a process comprising: accepting registration information from a client in one or more front end windows and assigning to the client a client number; interacting with the client, said interacting step comprising generating displays for the client in said one or more front end windows comprising a product quality standard, generating displays for the client in said one or more front end windows comprising a plurality of task codes that characterize the features of a product, generating displays for the client in said one or more front end windows comprising a textile materials inventory, accepting from the client in said one or more front end windows a specification for a desired original textile, accepting from the client in said one or more front end windows a specification for a desired garment, generating displays for the client in said one or more front end windows comprising a simulated sample of the desired garment, generating displays for the client in said one or more front end windows comprising an estimate of the amount of material required to produce the desired garment, generating displays for the client in said one or more front end windows comprising when capacity is available for production of the desired garment, generating displays for the client in said one or more front end windows comprising information on the availability of accessories and accepting selections of desired accessories for the desired garment from the client, generating displays for the client in said one or more front end windows comprising digital garment patterns, generating displays for the client in said one or more front end windows comprising information on the availability of secondary processes and accepting selections of secondary processes for the desired garment from the client in said one or more front end windows, generating displays for the client in said one or more front end windows comprising information on the availability of product packaging and accepting selections of product packaging for the desired garment from the client in said one or more front end windows, generating displays for the client in said one or more front end windows comprising information on the availability of hung tags and badges and accepting selections of hug tags and badges for the desired garment from the client in said one or more front end windows, generating displays for the client in said one or more front end windows comprising information on the availability of hangers and accepting selections of hangers for the desired garment from the client in said one or more front end windows, generating displays for the client in said one or more front end windows comprising information on the availability of product transportation options and accepting selections of a product transportation option for the desired garment from the client in said one or more front end windows, generating displays for the client in said one or more front end windows comprising information on the availability of special inspection options and accepting selections of a special inspection option for the desired garment from the client in said one or more front end windows, generating displays for the client in said one or more front end windows comprising information on the availability of product finishing options and accepting selections of a product finishing option for the desired garment from the client in said one or more front end windows, accepting from the client an order for the desired garment in said one or more front end windows and generating displays for the client in said one or more front end windows comprising an initial estimate of the cost of the ordered garment, generating displays for the client in said one or more front end windows comprising information on the availability of replenishment stock, generating displays for the client in said one or more front end windows comprising information on the availability of prepackaged products and accepting a specification from the client to add a distinctive feature to the desired garment in said one or more front end windows, generating displays for the client in said one or more front end windows comprising help information on use of the method, generating displays for the client in said one or more front end windows comprising information on a selected order, and generating displays for the client in said one or more front end windows comprising block maps; interacting with a supplier of products and product components, said interacting with a supplier step comprising generating displays for the supplier in one or more back end windows comprising the plurality of task codes, accepting input from the supplier concerning the status of each order the supplier is producing in said one or more back end windows, accepting input from a supplier of textile materials concerning the availability of the textile materials in said one or more back end windows, accepting input from a supplier of accessories concerning the availability of the accessories in said one or more back end windows, accepting input from a supplier of secondary processes concerning the availability of the secondary processes in said one or more back end windows, accepting input from a supplier of hung tags and badges concerning the availability of the hung tags and badges in said one or more back end windows, accepting input from a supplier of hangers concerning the availability of the hangers in said one or more back end windows, accepting input from a supplier of packaging concerning the availability of the packaging in said one or more back end windows, accepting input from a supplier of special inspection services concerning the availability and performance of the special inspection services in said one or more back end windows, accepting input from a supplier of product transportation services concerning the availability and performance of the transportation services in said one or more back end windows, and accepting input from a supplier of production services concerning the availability and performance of the production services in said one or more back end windows; and performing central processing of information with said one or more computers, said performing central processing step comprising managing information on the availability of production capacity, managing product quality standards, managing information in a supplier database, managing the production of each ordered product, managing information on raw materials and stock, managing information on the textile material inventory, managing accessories availability information, managing packaging availability information, managing hung tags and badges availability information, managing hangers availability information, managing secondary processes availability information, managing a master schedule, managing alterations and changes in each ordered product, managing prepackaged products information, managing product transportation information, managing cost information, and managing client data.