Patent ID: 7650297
Filing Date: 2010-01-19
Classification: G06Q

Abstract:
1. A computerized method for managing returnable containers in a manufacturer's supply chain to facilitate allocation of containers to a plurality of suppliers in response to a manufacturer's demand for parts from suppliers according to said manufacturer's production schedule comprising: creating at least one container inventory holding area in said manufacturer's supply chain; storing at said container inventory holding area a plurality of containers for use by a plurality of suppliers in said manufacturer's supply chain; calculating a supplier on-hand container inventory quantity for each of said plurality of suppliers; calculating a container allocated days number for each of said plurality of suppliers, said container allocated days number for each supplier comprising a number of days a container remains in said supplier's on-hand container inventory in response to said manufacturer's demand for parts over a specified period of time, said container allocated days number calculated by said manufacturer; calculating a parts demand value for each of said plurality of suppliers, said parts demand value for each supplier calculated according to said manufacturer's actual requirement for parts from said supplier according to said manufacturer's production schedule, said parts demand value calculated by said manufacturer; entering in a database at a computer said: (a) supplier on-hand container inventory quantity for each of said plurality of suppliers; (b) a container allocated days number for each of said plurality of suppliers; and (c) a parts demand value for each of said plurality of suppliers; calculating at said computer by said manufacturer a container allocation quantity for each of said plurality of suppliers, wherein said container allocation quantity for each supplier varies for each supplier according to: (1) said supplier's parts demand value as determined by said manufacturer's production schedule; and (2) said supplier's container allocated days number; calculating at said computer by said manufacturer for each of said plurality of suppliers an actual container quantity according to said container allocation quantity and said supplier on-hand container inventory quantity for each of said suppliers; and releasing from said container inventory holding area to each of said plurality of suppliers a number of containers equal to said actual container quantity wherein said containers are released by said manufacturer according to said actual container quantity calculated by said manufacturer.