Patent ID: 8311870

Claim:
A computer-implemented method to assist in managing supplier capacity to supply a supplied unit to at least a first user of the supplied unit by at least one supplier, for a series of periods, based on data as of a reference date, the series of periods being in the future relative to the reference date, the method comprising: (a) accessing data in at least one database related to a supplier reference-date load for the supplied unit for each of the periods; (b) accessing data in the at least one database related to a supplier reference-date available capacity for the supplied unit for each of the periods; (c) accessing data in the at least one database related to a first-user supplied-unit requirement for the supplied unit for each of the periods; (d) calculating via at least one computer processor a supplier future load for the supplied unit for each of the periods, the supplier future load being based on the supplier reference-date load for that period and the first-user supplied-unit requirement for that period; (e) calculating via the at least one computer processor a supplier capacity contingency for each period, the supplier capacity contingency for each period being defined as a difference between the supplier future load for that period and the supplier reference-date available capacity for that period; and (f) calculating via the at least one computer processor a supplier capacity contingency ratio for each period, the supplier capacity contingency ratio for each period being a ratio between the supplier capacity contingency for that period and the supplier reference-date available capacity for that period; (g) comparing via the at least one computer processor the supplier capacity contingency ratio for each period with a threshold value indicative of an insufficiency in the supplier capacity contingency, to determine any periods having insufficient supplier capacity contingency; (h) accessing data in the at least one database related to actions that can be undertaken to change the supplier reference-date available capacity for the supplied unit and to a lead time required in order to implement the actions; (i) determining via the at least one computer processor at least one action that can be undertaken to change the supplier reference-date available capacity for the supplied unit for a first period in time having insufficient supplier contingency; and (j) determining via the at least one computer processor, for the at least one action that can be undertaken to change the supplier reference-date available capacity for the supplied unit for the first period in time having insufficient supplier contingency, a latest action implementation date by which that action must be undertaken in order to change the reference-date available capacity for the supplied unit in time for the first period in time having insufficient supplier contingency based on the lead time for that action.