Abstract:
A method for facilitating providing a customer with a quote for a manufactured product includes receiving data relating to a customer desired product including at least one of a feature and a function, and receiving at least one indication of importance for at least one of the feature and the function. The method further includes accessing at least one database containing at least one of inventory control data, component data, and image data, and generating a first quote based on the received data, the received indication, and data stored in the accessed database.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    This invention relates generally to engineered system solutions, and more particularly, to providing quotes of engineered system solutions.  
           [0002]    When a customer requests a system level solution from a manufacturer, typically the manufacturer invests a considerable expense in generating a quote. The manufacturer manually prepares a bill of materials (BOM) and calculates a cost of the material to generate a price quote. Accordingly, the customer typically waits up to three weeks to receive a requested quote. Additionally, sometimes the customer decides not to purchase the quoted solution, and the manufacturer does not recoup the resources invested in providing the quote. Furthermore, some customers will change their desired features and request a second quote seeking a less expensive solution. Accordingly, the manufacturer invests additional resources to generate and provide a second quote.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0003]    In one embodiment, a method for facilitating providing a customer with a quote for a manufactured product includes receiving data relating to a customer desired product including at least one of a feature and a function, and receiving at least one indication of importance for at least one of the feature and the function. The method further includes accessing at least one database containing at least one of inventory control data, component data, and image data, and generating a first quote based on the received data, the received indication, and data stored in the accessed database.  
           [0004]    In another embodiment, a method for facilitating providing a customer with a quote for a computer numerically controlled (CNC) fabricated product includes receiving data relating to a customer desired product including at least one of a feature and a function, and receiving at least one indication of importance for at least one of a product price, a product size, and a product functionality. The method further includes accessing at least one database containing at least one of inventory control data, component data, and image data, generating a first quote based on the received data, the received indication, and the accessed database. The method further includes providing the customer with the generated first quote including a product price, a delivery date, a three dimensional image, and a short-term Z transform estimate, and prompting the customer to iterate a second quote.  
           [0005]    In yet another embodiment, a system for facilitating providing a customer with a quote for a manufactured product includes at least one device, and a server connected to the device. The server receives data relating to a customer desired product including at least one of a feature and a function, and receives at least one indication of importance for at least one of the feature and the function. The server accesses at least one database containing at least one of inventory control data, component data, and image data, and generates a first quote based on the received data, the received indication, and data stored in the accessed database.  
           [0006]    In a further embodiment, an apparatus includes at least one device and a server connected to the device via a network. The server receives data relating to a customer desired product including at least one of a feature and a function, and receives an indication of importance for at least one of a product price, a product size, and a product functionality. In addition, the server accesses at least one database containing at least one of inventory control data, component data, and image data, and generates a first quote based on the received data, the received indication, and data stored in the accessed database. The server further provides the first quote to the customer including a product price, a delivery date, a three dimensional image, and a short-term Z transform estimate, and prompts the customer to iterate a second quote. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0007]    [0007]FIG. 1 is a block diagram of web-based integrated customer request for quote (RFQ) response system in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0008]    [0008]FIG. 2 is an expanded block diagram of an exemplary embodiment of a server architecture of a RFQ response system.  
         [0009]    [0009]FIG. 3 is a process map for one embodiment of a web-based integrated customer RFQ response system. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0010]    [0010]FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a web-based integrated customer request for quote (RFQ) response system  10  in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. System  10  includes a server sub-system  12 , sometimes referred to herein as a server and a web server, and a plurality of user devices  14  connected to server  12 . In one embodiment, devices  14  are computers including a web browser, and server  12  is accessible to devices  14  via a network such as an intranet or the Internet. In an alternative embodiment, devices  14  are servers for a network of customer devices.  
         [0011]    Devices  14  are interconnected to the network, such as a local area network (LAN) or a wide area network (WAN), through many interfaces including cable modems, high-speed Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) lines, and telephone connections including telephone modems and DSL connections (Digital Subscriber Line). Alternatively, devices  14  are any device capable of interconnecting to a network including a network-based phone or other network-based connectable equipment including a hand-held wireless device. Server  12  includes a database server  16  connected to a centralized database  18  including a computer readable medium containing inventory information, image files, and component information. In one embodiment, centralized database  18  is stored on database server  16  and can be accessed by potential users at one of user devices  14  by logging onto server sub-system  12  through one of user devices  14 . In an alternative embodiment, centralized database  18  is stored remotely from server  12 . In a further embodiment, a plurality of databases  18  are stored remotely from server  12 , such as, for example an inventory control database, a component database, and an image database.  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 2 is an expanded block diagram of an exemplary embodiment of a server architecture of a RFQ response system  22 . System  22  includes server sub-system  12  and user devices  14 . Server sub-system  12  includes database server  16 , an application server  24 , a web server  26 , a fax server  28 , a directory server  30 , and a mail server  32 . A disk storage unit  34  is coupled to database server  16  and directory server  30 . Servers  16 ,  24 ,  26 ,  28 ,  30 , and  32  are coupled in a local area network (LAN)  36 . In addition, a system administrator workstation  38 , a user workstation  40 , and a supervisor workstation  42  are coupled to LAN  36 . Alternatively, workstations  38 ,  40 , and  42  are coupled to LAN  36  via an Internet link or are connected through an intranet.  
         [0013]    Each workstation  38 ,  40 , and  42  is a personal computer having a web browser.  
         [0014]    Although the functions performed at the workstations typically are illustrated as being performed at respective workstations  38 ,  40 , and  42 , such functions can be performed at one of many personal computers coupled to LAN  36 . Workstations  38 ,  40 , and  42  are illustrated as being associated with separate functions only to facilitate an understanding of the different types of functions that can be performed by individuals having access to LAN  36 .  
         [0015]    In an alternative embodiment, server sub-system  12  is configured to be communicatively coupled to various individuals or employees  44  and to third parties, e.g., users,  46  via an Internet Service Provider (ISP) Internet connection  48 . The communication in the exemplary embodiment is illustrated as being performed via the Internet, however, any other WAN type communication can be utilized in other embodiments, i.e., the systems and processes are not limited to being practiced via the Internet. In addition, and rather than a WAN  50 , local area network  36  could be used in place of WAN  50 .  
         [0016]    In an exemplary embodiment, any employee  44  or user  46  having a workstation  52  can access server sub-system  12 . One of user devices  14  includes a workstation  54  located at a remote location. Workstations  52  and  54  are personal computers having a web browser. Also, workstations  52  and  54  are configured to communicate with server sub-system  12 . Furthermore, fax server  28  communicates with employees  44  and users  46  located outside the business entity and any of the remotely located user systems, including a user system  56  via a telephone link. Fax server  28  is configured to communicate with other workstations  38 ,  40 , and  42  as well.  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 3 is a process map  60  for one embodiment of a web-based integrated customer RFQ response system. A customer accesses  62  a manufacturer&#39;s web site and provides data regarding a desired computer numerically controlled (CNC) fabricated product. More particularly, the customer enters at least one desired feature and/or function for the CNC fabricated product. In one embodiment, the customer provides data regarding at least one of a desired product price, a desired product size, and a desired product functionality. In an exemplary embodiment, the customer indicates a balancing of the price, size, and functionality. For example, the customer is prompted to select a level of importance for each of price, size, and functionality. In one embodiment, the customer indicates one of extremely important, very important, important, and less important for each category of features and functions e.g., a price category, a size category, and a functionality category. In another embodiment, the customer selects a numerical value for each category. For example, the customer is prompted to enter a number between one and ten for each category, with ten indicating the most important and one indicating the least important. In an alternative embodiment, the customer is prompted to indicate the importance of categories other than price, size, and functionality, such as, for example, material, weight, and color.  
         [0018]    A web server  64  receives the customer&#39;s data and indications of importance for the categories of desired features and/or functions and generates  66  a product bill of material (BOM). In one exemplary embodiment, web server  64  utilizes  68  a plurality of databases  18  including an inventory control database  70 , a component database  72 , and an image database  74  to generate  66  the BOM. In an exemplary embodiment, inventory control database  70  is a SAP database utilizing software commercially available from SAP America Inc., Newtown Square Pennsylvania. Image database  74  is a Structured Dynamic Research Corporation (SDRC) database utilizing software commercially available from SDRC, Milford, Ohio. In one embodiment, inventory control database  70 , component database  72 , and image database  74  are remote from web server  64 . In another embodiment, inventory control database  70 , component database  72 , and image database  74  are contained within web server  64 . In an exemplary embodiment, web server  64  is web server  26  (shown in FIG. 2). In an alternative embodiment, web server  64  is server  12  (shown in FIG. 1).  
         [0019]    Additionally, web server  64  utilizes databases  18  to generate  76  a product price, a product delivery date, a product Z transform estimate, and at least one three-degree (3D) image of the product. The product delivery date is based on a time to market (TTM) calculation made by web server  64 . The TTM includes a time to production (lead time) and a production time. In an exemplary embodiment, the Z transform estimate is a short-term Z transform (Zst) estimate. Web server  64  integrates  78  at least two of the price, the delivery date, the  3 D image, the Zst estimate, the customer desired functions, and the customer desired features into a quote which is provided to the customer. The customer receives the quote and is prompted to place an order or to iterate the process by changing the level of importance of at least one category of features or functions.  
         [0020]    In use a customer utilizes device  14  to access the manufacturer&#39;s website and is prompted to enter desired features and functions for a CNC manufactured product. In an exemplary embodiment, the customer utilizes a template including a plurality of blank data fields. The customer enters data in the blank fields and selects a submit button to transmit the data to server  12 . As explained above, server  12  access a plurality of databases  18 , utilizing databases  18  to generate  76  a product price, a product delivery date, a Z transform estimate, and at least one three-degree (3D) image of the product, which are integrated into a quote provided to the customer. If the customer is not satisfied with the provided quote, the customer can make changes to the data entered in the fields and request a second quote. Accordingly, the customer can continue to iterate the process until the customer obtains a satisfactory quote. More particularly, the customer can balance the customer&#39;s desired functionality with desired features facilitating the customer reaching a satisfactory price. Alternatively, the customer can balance the customers desired features with a desired price to reach a satisfactory functionality.  
         [0021]    Each time the customer is provided a quote, the customer is prompted to accept that quote and place an order for the product. When web server  66  receives an order, web server  66  transmits the order to at least one of an express program  82  and a CNC team  84 . Web server  66  compares the order to data stored in component database  72  and determines if the product can be fabricated utilizing stored components or if the product requires a component not stored in database  72 . When web server  72  determines that component database  72  contains sufficient information to fully fabricate the product, web server  66  transmits the order to an express program that integrates components from component database  72  to generate a final design. When web server  66  determines that the product requires a component not stored in component database  72 , web server  66  transmits the order to a CNC team  84  that designs the component not stored in database  72  and generates a final design. In an exemplary embodiment, whenever CNC team  84  designs a component, that component is automatically added to database  66  and an image file is automatically stored in image database  74 . Accordingly, the number of components stored in database  72  is continually increasing. In one embodiment, the web based integrated customer RFQ system is fully automated. In another embodiment, the web based integrated RFQ system is less than fully automated and is programmed to seek human intervention under certain conditions.  
         [0022]    While the invention has been described in terms of various specific embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the invention can be practiced with modification within the spirit and scope of the claims.