Patent ID: 7885867

Claim:
A method for facilitating supply chain processes in an outsourced manufacturing environment, comprising: a customer focus team system providing logistical administrative services for a contract manufacturing system via a computer processing device on behalf of a manufacturing enterprise, the customer focus team assigned to the contract manufacturing system based upon geographic proximity of the customer focus team to the contract manufacturing system, the logistical administrative services including: facilitating transfer and replenishment of components needed during manufacture; ensuring ongoing inventory demand issues are addressed and resolved; obtaining and providing metrics on outsourced supply chain parts and activities; assisting the contract manufacturing system during shortfalls of supplies; collaborating with the commodity team council systems relating to acquisition of critical parts; and providing assistance on matters related to import, export, and tax issues; and a commodity council team system providing logistical administrative support services to a supplier system via a computer processing device on behalf of the manufacturing enterprise, the commodity council team system assigned to the supplier system based upon geographic proximity of the commodity council team system to the supplier system; wherein the logistical administrative services provided by the commodity council team system include at least one of: ensuring timely placement of purchase orders relating to supporting supplier systems, managing order books of the supporting supplier systems, providing outsourced supply chain metrics relating to supply chain activities, escalating shortfalls identified for inventories of the supplier systems, assisting the customer focus team systems in acquiring critical parts, facilitating replenishment implementation and drive to complete drop shipment functions, resolving finance issues, visiting the supplier systems, providing support for other outsourced supply chain regions on unique supplier issues, providing input on supplier report cards, and interfacing with council chairs on contract issues, geographical allocations, supplier credits, and letters to suppliers on transfers; wherein the method further comprises: generating a price protection plan for the contract manufacturing system and the supplier system by gathering data relating to goods to be manufactured; developing the business rules operable for identifying cost savings in accordance with existing negotiated contract pricing and contract terms and conditions of trading partner agreements; executing supply chain activities utilizing results of the generating a price protection plan and the developing business rules; and providing an exception approval form to the contract manufacturing system and the supplier system operable for requesting exceptions to business rules and a price protection plan adopted by the manufacturing enterprise.