Patent ID: 7840452

Claim:
A computer implemented method in a data processing system for managing proxy parts comprising: analyzing by a processing unit coupled to the data processing system a production history stored in a storage device to identify a list of active exchangeable proxy parts within an on-hand inventory at a manufacturer that are used to make production units functional for testing during manufacture but are not included with shipped production orders, wherein the on-hand inventory supply and true demand numbers are calculated by combining alternate part numbers; selecting a most available active exchangeable proxy part from the list of active exchangeable proxy parts within the on-hand inventory as a proxy part for a production unit, wherein the most available active exchangeable proxy part is selected from the list of active exchangeable proxy parts within the on-hand inventory based on a greatest positive difference produced between an on-hand inventory supply of the active exchangeable proxy parts in the list and a true demand for the active exchangeable proxy parts in the list; overriding a production order proxy part in an original production bill of materials for the production unit with the selected most available active exchangeable proxy part; recovering the selected most available active exchangeable proxy part from the production unit after the testing and prior to shipment of the production unit; and returning the selected most available active exchangeable proxy part recovered from the production unit to the on-hand inventory.