Abstract:
An inventory management system automatically monitors inventory amounts, provides information concerning inventory, and decides if an order for replacement inventory should be placed. The system includes a storage for inventory, an indicator for monitoring and reporting the level of current inventory, and a controller for receiving information from different inventory suppliers and for integrating such information with information on current inventory amounts and estimated future use to decide if an order for replacing inventory should be made. An order is placed automatically to a supplier and the progress for the delivery of replacement inventory is automatically monitored. A method using this system for managing inventory includes the steps of automatic gathering information about the current inventory and deciding whether and when replacement inventory should be ordered.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention is related to inventory management systems and methods. In particular, the invention is related to vendor-managed inventory systems and methods. 
     Prior inventory management systems and methods involved a large number of manually conducted tasks. These systems were labor intensive. Also, the manual steps often led to errors in the system&#39;s results. For example, amounts of inventory of storage containers were determined by sight, dip sticks, and “yo-yo” level sensors. A “yo-yo” sensor is one in which a weight is lowered until it reached a top level of material in the silo, and the distance the sensor is lowered is measured to determine a storage container amount. The determined amount is then evaluated to ascertain if more inventory is needed and will fit in the silo. These methods provided inaccurate measurements of the storage containers amounts. Throughout the processes, time delays are common and inevitable. Also, the material in the silo is being used and the amount is not known. Using these methods an accurate, real-time inventory level was not achieved. 
     The determined amount, which in most instances is not the real-time exact amount due to time delays, is reported to a purchasing agent. The purchasing agent determines if an order should be placed and when it should be placed. The purchasing agent then contacts a vendor to determine if the vendor has inventory available. If some inventory is available from that vendor, the purchasing agent then places an order that will be filled in due course. The order is placed probably without regard to current market costs, transportation costs, and other peripheral costs, since the inventory is needed to maintain the manufacturing site operation. If the vendor does not have that inventory, the purchasing agent must find a vendor who has that inventory in stock, and may buy from the first vendor with available inventory, again regardless of cost. 
     The order is filled and then transported to the silo, for example by truck or rail. Often the location of the order during transport, its route, potential delays, and other transportation factors are unknown to the purchasing agent and vendor. Accordingly, an exact inventory arrival time is not known and delays cannot be prevented. Further, throughout this entire process, the inventory in the silo is being used and the order may not be enough to replenish the silo. Therefore, the order may not meet the needs of the manufacturing site, and operation of the site may be reduced while waiting for the order. 
     Another deficiency, with the above-stated inventory systems, is that the inventory management process does not account for historical, trend operational variations, or provide available information on future changes at the manufacturing site. For example, a site may increase its operation in the middle of the week, using a quarter of a silo daily on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, and only an eighth of a silo on Monday and Friday. Without knowledge of this historic trend, an amount of three-quarters full on Monday morning may not cause a purchasing agent to place an inventory order, even for the middle of the week. The purchasing agent may look at Monday&#39;s one-eighth silo use, and determine that no order is needed since one-eighth silo use over five days will still leave inventory in the silo, and keep total costs low. Thus, a silo reading on Monday is inadequate for determining inventory and use needs for the remainder of a week. Also, if an increase in product produced from the inventory is needed to meet a customer&#39;s order, this information must be expressly communicated from manufacturing site plant management to the purchasing agent so that appropriate inventory amounts are available. The lack of an order placed by a purchasing agent may cause manufacturing site operation to be reduced, and possibly halted, which is highly undesirable and inefficient. 
     Attempts to automate ordering processes have been attempted, however these automated processes have drawbacks. For example, an automatic standing inventory order for a given day may be in place, without regard for the actual, real-time inventory needs. If the manufacturing site has been in a slow-down, such as for process overhauls, the silo inventory may not need replenishing. The order arrives and the silo cannot accept the additional inventory. The inventory is returned to the vendor, if they will accept a return, and the vendor loses money on the sale. In business, a vendor will accept few, if any, returns of ordered inventory. Alternatively, the ordered inventory stays at the manufacturing site in a transport vehicle, and is unused for some period of time. The orderer then incurs costs of storing the un-used inventory, rental of the transport vehicle for as long as the inventory cannot be unloaded, and un-sold material stored at the manufacturing site, which is un-economical and undesirable. 
     Automated computer managed inventory systems have been proposed to overcome some of the above-noted shortcomings. In one proposed system, an inventory system determines amounts and past usage in tanks to schedule, orders replenishing material, and directs a fleet of tank trucks. The system does not provide any comparative pricing and purchasing abilities to minimize inventory management costs. 
     Another system relies upon web-based technology to assist in providing status of liquid material in tanks. This system does not provide comparative pricing and purchasing ability for minimizing costs. Also, the system is not believed to provide for historical and anticipated future trend analysis. Accordingly, this system may not provide a low cost price for the material and does not assist in anticipating inventory needs. 
     Therefore, a system, which provides real-time inventory management of supply at a site, including comparative pricing and purchasing abilities, would be desirable. Further, a system that provides an ability to interact and send information to a vendor&#39;s manufacturing schedule, forecast possible manufacturing based on historical, estimated future, or market data and indicators; and provide a display of data in a useful format to a vendor, customer, manufacturer, and others that desire the information, would be useful. An automated vendor managed inventory system of this nature would permit lowest total cost purchasing, ordering, and delivery of inventory. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Accordingly, a system and method for inventory management, in particular, vendor-managed inventory, are provided. The system and method provide information concerning inventory amounts and inventory ordering to a manufacturing site and an inventory vendor. The system comprises at least one storage receptacle that stores inventory; at least one amount indicator that determines an inventory amount in each receptacle, each amount indicator generating inventory amount signals representative of inventory amounts in the receptacle; at least one inventory price source that provides inventory price information; and a control unit that receives the inventory amount signals from the amount indicator and inventory price information from the inventory price source. The control unit analyzes the inventory amount signals to determine amounts in the receptacle. The control unit also analyzes the amounts and inventory price information, and uses this information to determine if an inventory order should be placed. 
     The inventory management method information concerning inventory amounts and inventory ordering to a manufacturing site, an inventory vendor, or both. The method comprises the steps of determining an inventory amount in each receptacle; generating signals representative of inventory amounts; providing inventory price information from at least one inventory price source; receiving inventory amount signals; receiving inventory price information from the inventory price source; analyzing inventory amount signals and inventory price information; determining if an inventory order should be placed based on the analyzed inventory amounts and inventory price information; and providing information concerning an inventory order in an accessible form to at least one of a manufacturing site and an inventory vendor. 
     These and other aspects, advantages and salient features of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, which, when taken in conjunction with the annexed drawings, where like parts are designated by like reference characters throughout the drawings, disclose embodiments of the invention. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a schematic primarily block diagram of an inventory management system; 
     FIG. 2 is an illustration of a web page containing real-time analyzed silo information; and 
     FIG. 3 is an illustration of a web page containing historical trend analyzed information for a receptacle at a manufacturing site. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The inventory management system and method, as embodied by the invention, permit monitoring and determining real-time inventory status of one or more storage receptacles, such as silos at a manufacturing site, automatic ordering of inventory to replenish the receptacles at a low price, and purchasing the inventory at a lowest possible price. The inventory monitoring permits historical analysis of inventory use, evaluation of inventory usage, automation and suggestions for a vendor&#39;s (also known as a supplier) manufacturing schedule to meet the needs of a manufacturing site&#39;s schedule. The inventory monitoring also permits prediction of estimated future inventory usage, lot identification, forecasting based on trends and economic indicators, automatic notification of inventory occurrences that require attention, and automation of inventory ordering. The inventory ordering, as embodied by the invention, considers many factors, including, but not limited to, historical inventory usage trends, real-time needs, economic models, pricing models, information concerning estimated future needs and changes, inventory supply time, and comparative pricing and purchasing ability. 
     The inventory management system comprises a monitoring arrangement at a manufacturing site and a control that interacts with the monitoring arrangement. The control also interacts with inventory price sources, shipping information sources, vendor manufacturing schedules, and an inventory tracking device, such as, but not limited to, a global positioning system (GPS). 
     The inventory management system  100 , as embodied by the invention, is schematically illustrated in FIG.  1 . The inventory management system  100  comprises a monitoring arrangement  101  at a manufacturing site  103 . The manufacturing site  103  comprises at least one inventory processor  102  that forms a product from the inventory  150 . The inventory processor  102  includes, but is not limited to, an extruder, an injection molder, a die cast device, and other inventory consuming device. 
     Inventory  150  is stored in a plurality of receptacles  104  at the manufacturing site  103 . The receptacles comprise any appropriate storage device, such as, but not limited to, a silo, storage bin, hopper, and bag, and combinations thereof. The shape and material of each receptacle may differ and do not affect the operation of the inventory management system  100 . The description of the invention refers to a receptacle, however this is not meant to limit the invention in any way, and the description covers other inventory storage devices as well. 
     Each receptacle  104  is connected to the processor  102  by inventory supply lines  106 . The inventory supply lines  106  deliver the inventory  150  to the processor  102  so the inventory  150  may be processed and formed into an appropriate article. The inventory supply lines  106  comprise any means for transporting inventory  150 . Therefore, the inventory supply lines  106  may include, but are not limited to, pneumatic lines, screw conveyors, belt conveyors, bucket conveyors, and vibratory lines. 
     Each receptacle comprises an amount indicator  108  that provides signals indicative of an inventory amount  151 . The amount indicator  108  is illustrated as disposed at the top of the receptacles, however this arrangement is merely for illustration. The position of the indicator  108  may be anywhere in communication with the inventory amount  151 . The scope of the invention further includes an indicator  108  that comprises a level sensor, a weight indicator, a volume analyzer, and other devices that permit determination of the amount  151  of inventory  150  in a receptacle  104 . Further, the indicator  108  may also measure amount influencing variables, such as, humidity and temperature. These indicators are merely exemplary, and are not meant to limit the scope of the invention in any way. 
     Exemplary indicators include ultrasonic and ultrasound level detectors, optical sensors, laser amount sensing detectors, nuclear amount sensing detectors, load (weight) cells, and other devices capable of detecting amounts. Ultrasound detectors enable accurate receptacle inventory amount determination, even if there are voids in the receptacle, such as those voids that result from clumping and coagulating of the inventory  150 . If a weight sensor is used to determine the amount in a receptacle, a tare weight of the receptacle is subtracted from a gross weight of the receptacle to determine the net weight. The volume of the inventory  150  can be determined by dividing the gross weight by the inventory&#39;s density. 
     The indicators  108  send signals indicative of the inventory amount  151  to a site controller  112 . The site controller  112  is connected to receive signals from inventory storage receptacles and on-site inventory areas. These on-site storage areas, which contain inventory  150  and include a sensor  108  as needed, may include, a warehouse  113  and on-site transport vehicles, for example a rail car  111 , vessel  117 , and a truck  110 , that have delivered inventory  150  to the manufacturing site  103 . 
     The on-site storage areas and receptacles transmit their amount signals to the site controller  112 . Thus, the site controller  112  receives inventory amount signals from each on-site storage device. The site controller  112  forwards these signals over time to the control unit  114 , as the processor  102  forms articles from the inventory  150  and the amounts within the receptacles  104  drop. Accordingly, the control unit  114  determines the amount of inventory used over time, can estimate future use, and determine if an inventory order is needed. 
     The signals transmitted in the inventory management system  100  are typically sent over hardwired connections, for example cables, connectors, dedicated phone lines, fiber-optic lines, and similar hardwired connections. Alternatively, the signals may be sent by wireless connections, including but not limited to, wired and wireless Ethernet signals, radio signals, short-wave signals, wired and wireless Internet and web signals, and other wireless connections. Signals are sent from and received by the control unit  114 . 
     The site controller  112  typically comprises a solid state signal processor and is connected to a control unit  114  to receive signals from the site controller  112 . The signals received by the site controller  112  are indicative of the inventory amount  151  in each receptacle and storage area, for example, the warehouse  113  and on-site transport vehicles. The signals from the site controller  112  to the control unit  114  comprise signals sent by at least one of hardwired connections and wireless connections, as discussed above. 
     The control unit  114  is programmed to operate, and alternatively comprises software, for data acquisition, data mining, and analysis software, that enable inventory management analysis and decisions to be made. The control unit  114  comprises any appropriate high-powered solid-state switching device. As illustrated, the control unit  114  is represented as a computer, however, this is merely exemplary of an appropriate high-powered control, within the scope of the invention. For example, but not limiting of the invention, the control unit  114  comprises at least one of a silicon controlled rectifier (SCR), a thyristor, MOS-controlled thyristor (MCT) and an insulated gate bipolar transistor. In the illustrated exemplary embodiment, the control is implemented as a single special purpose integrated circuit, such as Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC), having a main or central processor section for overall, system-level control, and separate sections dedicated to performing various different specific combinations, functions and other processes under control of the central processor section. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the control can also be implemented using a variety of separate dedicated or programmable integrated or other electronic circuits or devices. These devices include hardwired electronic or logic circuits including discrete element circuits or programmable logic devices. The logic devices comprise Programmable Logic Devices (PLDs), Programmable Analytical Devices (PALs), Programmable Logic Applications (PLAs), or the like. The control unit  114  can also be implemented using a suitably programmed general-purpose computer, such as a microprocessor or microcontrol, or other processor device, such as a Central Processing Unit (CPU) or Main Processing Unit (MPU), either alone or in conjunction with one or more peripheral data and signal processing devices. 
     In general, any device on which a finite state machine resides that is capable of implementing the flow charts, as illustrated in the application, can be used as the control unit  114 . As shown, a distributed processing architecture provides enhanced data/signal processing capability and speed for the control unit  114 . The control unit  114  may also incorporate a “JAVA” virtual machine that links a server through the Internet for communication purposes (described hereinafter). 
     The control unit  114  is connected to an inventory price source  126 , which is able to determine the lowest available price for the inventory  150 . The connection is made by any appropriate means, such as, but not limited to, wireless and hardwired connections, as discussed above. An Internet based connection permits real-time, instantaneous price information to be obtained by the control unit  114 . The inventory price source comprises at least one of economic indicators, economic models, commodity pricing indexes, spot market pricing, Dow Jones™ information, other market information, and other inventory price sources. The control unit  114  stores and analyzes historical trends of inventory prices to determine analyzed inventory price trends. Accordingly, the control unit  114  analyzes information and determines when an inventory price is close to historical high, low, or average prices. The control unit  114  provides information concerning opportune times to purchase inventory based on price. Accordingly, the system  100  does not rely upon a previously used inventory vendor, but can buy inventory from a low priced inventory vendor based on real-time inventory prices. 
     The control unit  114  is also connected to shipping information sources  116 . The connection to shipping information sources  116  is achieved by at least one of hardwired and wireless communications, including Internet communication and others as discussed above. The shipping information sources  116  provide the control unit  114  with information for analyzing inventory avail ability, and the types and costs of transporting the inventory  150  from a vendor to the manufacturing site  103 . The shipping information includes, but is not limited to, tariffs, taxes, types and sizes of available shipping from the vendor  200  and outside shippers, and other costs associated with shipping the inventory  150  from the vendor  200  to the manufacturing site  103 . The shipping information sources  116  also provide the control unit  114  with transport data for analyzing, including time needed for delivery from the vendor to the manufacturing site  103 , size and type of shipping vehicles available, and restrictions on shipping, especially if the inventory may be considered hazardous or perishable. 
     Therefore, the control unit  114  is provided with information for analyzing inventory purchase prices from different vendors and transportation-associated costs from a vendor. With such information, the control unit  114  analyzes and determines a lowest total inventory purchase price vendor (low price vendor) for the inventory, where the total inventory purchase price determination includes actual vendor inventory prices and transportation-associated costs. Without factoring in both inventory prices and transportation-associated costs, an inventory with a low inventory price may be purchased, however it may have high transportation costs. Therefore, its total inventory purchase price is higher than an inventory with a higher price, but with lower transportation-associated costs. Thus, a lower total inventory purchase price may be realized with a higher priced inventory. 
     A global positioning system (GPS) 123 is also connectable to the control unit  114 . The GPS enables real-time, instantaneous determination of an inventory order location while enroute to the manufacturing site  103 . The GPS 123 transmits information concerning an inventory order location, for example the GPS relies on a satellite system  122  that receives signals from a transport vehicle  118 , for example from transponders. Accordingly, the control unit  114  with information from the GPS determines an exact location of the inventory order and transport vehicle  118 . 
     The control unit  114  is also connectable to a transportation advisory unit  125 . The transportation advisory unit  125  provides advisory information concerning road conditions, rail conditions, water conditions, existing and possible delays, construction along possible routes, weather information that may affect the shipment, and other transportation affecting factors. The information from the transportation advisory unit  125  to the control unit  114  comprise signals sent by at least one of hardwired connections and wireless connections, as discussed above. With this transportation advisory information and the instant location of the transport vehicle available from the GPS 123, the control unit  114  analyzes information and advises the transport vehicle  118 , for example through appropriate communications links including but not limited to, radio communications, of the quickest, most delay free route to follow to the manufacturing site  103 . 
     The information from the above sources is sent to the control unit  114 , in which it is analyzed to provide analyzed information of inventory prices, vendor prices, transportation costs, shipping information, and total inventory purchase prices (hereinafter “analyzed information”). The analyzed information is accessible by a manufacturing site&#39;s plant management and purchasing agent (hereinafter “plant management”) to provide them with useful information concerning inventory costs. The plant management obtains the analyzed information in an end form, without seeing the raw data that has been analyzed. Plant management can alter schedules based on the analyzed information, including usage rates and forecast information. Accordingly, plant management does not see, or is concerned with, the processes used by the control unit  114  to analyze the information, and merely obtains the analyzed information. 
     The analyzed information sent by the control unit  114  is typically provided to a vendor  200  who makes inventory. The vendor  200  is able to schedule manufacture of inventory  150  in order to meet the demands of the manufacturing site  103 . For example, if a manufacturing site  103  will increase production in ten days, the vendor  200  will be able to determine this increased production from the inventory management system  100 , and will provide increased amounts of inventory  150  to meet the requirements of the manufacturing site  103 . The vendor  200  may be unable to meet the increased production demands of the manufacturing site  103  if not for possessing analyzed information from the inventory management system  100 . The analyzed information between the vendor  200  and the control unit  114  comprises signals sent by at least one of hardwired connections and wireless connections, as discussed above. 
     The analyzed information from the control unit  114  is typically accessible anywhere and any time, for example by phone, voice mail, fax, overnight and regular mail, courier, and over the Internet. If the information is sent over the Internet, the analyzed information is available by simply connecting to an appropriate web site, where the analyzed information is presented and updated instantaneously, or as appropriate. The web site can be password protected, so that access to the analyzed information remains to those who have a need to know. Thus real-time information, analyzed information, historical trend information, records of prices, inventory usage, shipment location, and other inventory related information is available to those who need the information. The analyzed information provides plant management and vendors with reliable, statistically based recommendations for inventory decisions, manufacturing schedules, and other manufacturing related needs. 
     The control unit  114  is also able to provide financial information concerning a product produced by the processor  102 , thus providing another inventory management system  100  benefit. This information is obtained over appropriate communication lines from product financial information sources  155 , and is accessible by plant management from the inventory management system  100 . For example, and not meant to limit the invention in any way, if the processor  102  produces plastic pellets, the control unit  114  can access commodity markets to provide pricing information concerning plastic pellets. An alert can be generated by the control unit  114  if a pellet price is within a price range designated by plant management, and alternatively by an economic model, as a desirable (premium) price to sell the pellets. Therefore, the inventory management system  100 , as embodied by the invention, determines a real-time premium price for the vendor&#39;s product, and alerts plant management so sales can be made. The ability of the inventory management system  100  to provide real-time pricing information for both inventory and its resultant product, provides means for optimizing profits from a manufacturing site  103 . 
     Another inventory management system  100  benefit arises from analyzed information from the control unit  114  that can be monitored by a service center  175 . The service center  175  provides customer service, and monitors analyzed information and can perform further evaluation of the analyzed information, as needed. For example, the analyzed information can be further evaluated for quantifying inventory trends. 
     A further inventory management system  100  benefit arises from the control unit  114 , and alternatively the service center  175 , applying analytical tools to the analyzed information, such as, but not limited to, tools for evaluating inventory variations through statistical analysis, design of experiment methodology and quality control tools. The statistical analysis determines process capability, possible errors, and effectiveness of an individual feature&#39;s performance. The statistical analysis also determines sources of delays in the inventory ordering, such as delays due to a vendor, transportation, and ordering. The statistical analysis of information relies upon known information measurement and analysis procedures, such as, but not limited to, those described in  Six Sigma Productivity Analysis and Process Characterization , Mikel J. Harry and J. Ronald Lawson. Addison-Wesley Publishing Co., 1992. 
     The control unit  114  and the service center  175  can send alerts to plant management at the manufacturing site and vendors (if desired), if a “critical” event, such as but not limited to, extreme shortages in inventory, very low or high inventory prices, and changes in economic indicators occur. The alerts are sent automatically by the control unit  114 , and may also be sent manually by the service center  175 . The alerts are sent by any appropriate communication mode, such as regular mail, e-mail, telephone call, pagers, facsimile, Internet messages, and similar communications. 
     The control unit  114  applies predictive engineering tools to the analyzed inventory information that will assist plant management in developing transfer functions concerning inventory management for another inventory management system  100  benefit. The transfer functions are used to enhance set-up of the inventory management system  100 , and to further monitor and modify, if needed, its performance. The transfer functions are developed through analysis of inventory usage, vendor information, shipping information, critical to quality (CTQ) variables, and other variables in the inventory management system. For example, the transfer functions for the inventory management system  100 , as embodied by the invention, can be developed through design-of-experiments (DOEs). 
     The real-time inventory status is available without the errors and delays associated with manual level readings, determination of volume, calculation of inventory trends including price and usage, and determination of inventory order appropriateness. Also, the control unit  114 , including its pricing software, is able to determine a lowest total inventory purchase price for inventory and times for inventory to be delivered to the manufacturing site  103 , in order to maintain operations at the manufacturing site  103 . Therefore, efficiency of the purchasing process is enhanced, and cost savings will be evident. 
     The inventory monitoring system  100 , as embodied by the invention, comprises a modular design so expansion of the system&#39;s services and operation are readily achieved for another inventory management system  100  benefit. For example, plant management may only desire inventory pricing information. At a later date, the control unit  114  may be readily modified to provide at least one of shipping information, GPS capability, and transportation advisory information, thus enabling plant management to obtain more analyzed inventory information. Further, advances made in manufacturing sites, vendors, transportation, software, sensors, and other features of the inventory management system  100  are easily integrated into the inventory management system  100 . 
     The inventory management system  100  is useable by plant management, as described above. The inventory management system  100 , as embodied by the invention, is also controllable by a vendor  200  to provide further service to end users of its inventory. A vendor controlled inventory management system (hereinafter “vendor-managed inventory system”), as embodied by the invention, provides increased interaction between the manufacturing site  103  and vendors. A vendor  200 , if allowed by a manufacturer, will be able to watch and predict inventory use at the manufacturing site  103 , and deliver inventory  150  to the manufacturing site  103  without requiring a paper order from a purchasing agent through vendor managed inventory systems. For example, the order is placed, sometimes automatically, such as electronically. This process eliminates a middleman, frees up resources at the manufacturing site  103 , and reduces delays and costs of ordering, since electronic communication is virtually instantaneous and inexpensive compared to paper communications. Also, this process increases inventory turn around by enabling a vendor  200  to ship inventory in desired amounts to maintain a steady manufacture rate to a manufacturing site when appropriate to replenish inventory. The inventory will be immediately useable by the manufacturing site  103 , and will not be stored un-used for extended periods of time. 
     Another inventory management system  100  benefit arises from an interaction of a vendor  200  with the inventory management system  100  that permits the vendor  200  to check and confirm that an order, for example a paper order placed by a purchasing agent, is needed at the manufacturing site  103 . The inventory management system  100  automates the inventory management process and reduces occurrences of incorrect orders. Also, “rush” orders (known in the industry as “hotsheets”) will be avoided, as a vendor  200  will be able to discern when a manufacturing site actually needs an order. Returns of inventory orders will be reduced as inventory will be shipped only when a manufacturing site  103  actually needs inventory  150 . This ordering method reduces standing inventory and increases inventory turn around for both the manufacturing site  103  and the vendor  200 . The method is desirable to maintain associated inventory costs, such as, but not limited to, storage, shipping, and billing costs, at a minimum. 
     The inventory management system  100  further can also rely on appropriately developed inventory policy models to determine when is the most appropriate time to order inventory  150 , for the benefit of another inventory management system  100 . The models are incorporated into at least one of the control unit  114  and service center  175 . The inventory policy model considers many factors, including but not limited to, further production plans, amount of inventory historically used, process capability of the processor  102 , storage capability of the manufacturing site  103 , and other such factors. For example, and in no way limiting of the invention, inventory orders would be increased if the inventory is used to produce polyvinylchloride piping for new housing construction and a manufacturing site  103  anticipates or has just obtained a large order due to the new housing starts. Conversely, inventory orders would be curtailed if new housing construction slowdowns were foreseen. 
     Also another benefit of the inventory management system  100  arises from its capacity of connecting to economic forecasting models, which provide information concerning the economy and predictions of further events. The economic forecasting models provide information that will be useful in estimating future manufacturing trends. The economic forecasting models will assist in the ordering of inventory to enable a manufacturing site  103  to follow estimations. For example, an economic forecasting model may predict that inventory prices will rise or fall due to various economic factors and external factors, such as weather that may affect housing starts and demands for the processed article (see the above example). This price information is useful to both the manufacturing site  103  and the vendor  200  for future plans. A vendor  200  with this analyzed information provided by the inventory management system  100  can pass on important information to its customers, and make itself a valuable partner in their business. This cooperation is desirable for many vendor-manufacturing site business relations, as both parties benefit from pricing and inventory analysis. 
     The inventory management system  100  enables location and identification of individual inventory orders at the manufacturing site  103 , for example identification of a vendor&#39;s inventory at the manufacturing site  103 . This inventory identification can use identifying codes, such as, but not limited to, bar codes. A transport vehicle  118  can have an identifying code associated with it when it leaves a vendor  200 , and the same code is used throughout inventory lifetime to locate the inventory while enroute to the manufacturing site  103 , in storage at the manufacturing site  103 , in receptacles  104  at the manufacturing site  103 , and being processed. Therefore, location and identification of inventory is readily accessible using the inventory management system  100 . 
     Yet another benefit from the inventory management system  100  arises from its capability of permitting evaluation of products produced by the processor  102  dependent on the inventory shipment, also known as an inventory “lot”. In silo  1104  of FIG. 1, the inventory  150  comprises two different lots. For example, lot  105  is from a different vendor than lot  107 . Alternatively, the lots  105  and  107  may be from the same vendor, but different shipments. Since the amounts of lots  105  and  107  are known, as they were ordered through the inventory management system  100 , the product&#39;s inventory and its source are known. 
     These lots may also be identified, as discussed above. If a product possesses a fault and the fault is determined to arise from the inventory, plant management can trace the inventory to a particular vendor. Therefore, corrective action can be taken. If the inventory management system  100  indicates that a particular vendor&#39;s inventory is historically faulty, such as, but not limited to, poor inventory quality or late deliveries, or the vendor is otherwise unsatisfactory, plant management can terminate the vendor  200 . This vendor termination will increase productivity and quality of the manufacturing site  103 , since high quality inventory will be properly controlled. 
     The inventory management system  100  provides real-time, analyzed information concerning inventory in easily readable formats, including, but not limited to, formats accessible over the Internet, thereby providing a further inventory management system  100  benefit. Alternatively, the information can be accessible by voice mail, e-mail, telephone call, facsimile, Internet messages, pagers, and other appropriate communication modes. FIGS. 2 and 3 are illustrations of web pages containing analyzed information for a receptacle at a manufacturing site. In FIG. 2, an inventory web page shows real-time analyzed information for a receptacle. The receptacle is illustrated as a silo, however this is merely exemplary, and the receptacle can take any form and be illustrated in any way. In FIG. 2, the silo  204  is illustrated with its inventory amount schematically shown thereon by a bar  205 . FIG. 2 also contains scales for indicating the quantity in the silo, for example a scale  207  that indicates real-time silo amounts in feet and a scale  209  that indicates real-time silo amounts in pounds. 
     FIG. 2 also indicates the date and time of the last reading at  217 , where readings can be constantly updated to provide real-time information, at time periods and intervals determined by plant management. For example, and in no way limiting of the invention, readings can be taken every minute, 6 minutes (10 times an hour), every 10 minutes (6 times an hour), every 15 minutes (4 times an hour), every hour, and any other suitable and appropriate interval. The time interval can be automatically changed by the control unit  114  or the service center  175  in response to increases and decreases in usage. For example, the time interval can be changed based on a first derivative of a usage plot&#39;s slope. 
     Other instantaneous real-time data displays include, but are not limited to, a display for a reading interval or number of readings taken to this point at  213 ; a display for the real-time inventory use in lb/hr at  215 ; a current time display at  211 ; a display for the lot number or numbers in the silo at  219 ; a display for a realtime silo amount in feet at  221 ; a display for a real-time percent that the silo is full at  223 ; a display for a real-time silo amount by weight at  225 ; a display for an indication of a latest low-amount notification date at  227 ; and a display for a material shipped date at  229 . These displays are merely exemplary, and the exact displays are determined to provide plant management and vendors with the highest degree of information needed and desired by them. 
     The web page in FIG. 2 also illustrates a button  230 , such as, but not limited to, one of a hypertext link, image, hot link, and other such link (hereinafter “link”), for obtaining historical trend information. An inventory web page user clicks on the link and is transferred to a web page that illustrates historical trends, generated by the control unit  114  of the inventory management system  100 , as embodied by the invention. FIG. 3 illustrates an exemplary design for a historical trend web page 250. The historical trend web page 250 includes various silo readings over periods of time. For example, and in no way limiting of the invention, the displays include historical silo feet, weight and percent trends over 48 hours, at  251 , over 14 days, at  252 , and over two month periods, at  253  and  254 . The web page can also provide a “dashboard” that illustrates current realized savings as a result of using the inventory management system  100 , as embodied by the invention versus prior historical trends and purchases. 
     The analyzed information generated by the inventory management system  100 , as embodied by the invention, may be encrypted and stored for reference and library purposes. The information can be stored geographically separate form each other to avoid a loss of information. 
     While various embodiments are described herein, it will be appreciated from the specification that various combinations of elements, variations or improvements therein may be made by those skilled in the art, and are within the scope of the invention.