Patent ID: 8121910

Claim:
A computer implemented method in a computer for automatically replacing loaner parts within a loaner system to prevent loaner system callback, the computer implemented method comprising computer implemented steps of: responsive to selecting a loaner system within loaner inventory data to form a selected loaner system, determining, by the computer, whether the selected loaner system is required to be returned by a customer based on an agreed target return date for the selected loaner system prior to a mandatory return date for the selected loaner system that is set based on an earliest legal usage limit of a non-replaceable loaner part within the selected loaner system; responsive to determining that the selected loaner system is required to be returned based on the agreed target return date, determining, by the computer, whether the customer requests an extension to an initial loan period for the selected loaner system during a notification offset period; responsive to determining that the customer does request the extension to the initial loan period for the selected loaner system, determining, by the computer, whether to grant the extension for the selected loaner system based on the customer agreeing to a part expiration profile that indicates required replacement loaner part shipments to prevent any loaner part legal usage limit expiration in the selected loaner system; responsive to determining that the selected loaner system is not required to be returned, generating and sending, by the computer, a notification automatically to a customer to return expiring loaner parts within the selected loaner system during the extension to the initial loan period; generating, by the computer, a part replacement order automatically for replacement loaner parts for each of the expiring loaner parts; shipping, by the computer, the replacement loaner parts automatically to the customer to replace the expiring loaner parts to prevent callback of the selected loaner system; responsive to receiving a returned loaner part from the customer, determining, by the computer, whether a return date for the returned loaner part is less than a target return date for the returned loaner part; responsive to determining that the return date for the returned loaner part is less than the target return date, placing, by the computer, the returned loaner part into a loaner inventory for reuse in another loaner system; and responsive to determining that the return date for the returned loaner part is not less than the target return date, placing, by the computer, the returned loaner part into a manufacturing inventory for use in building a new customer order.