Patent ID: 6904440

Claim:
A method of producing a master sub-tier schedule for a Multi-tier Manufacturing Requirements Planning (MRP) system comprising the steps of: populating a database with a plurality of identified part/supplier combinations for at least one finished part; populating said database with a plurality of sub-process steps associated with each of said at least one finished part; populating said database with at least one supplier responsible for each of said plurality of sub-process steps; populating said database with at least one lead time and at least one lot requirement associated with each of said plurality of sub-process steps; accessing said database to calculate at least one line item of a sub-tier schedule, said at least one line item comprising at least one sub-tier schedule quantity and at least one requirement date corresponding thereto; adding each of said at least one line item to form a master sub-tier schedule on said database; breaking down said master sub-tier schedule by each of said at least one supplier; providing access to said master sub-tier schedule to a primary consumer, at least one first-tier supplier and at least one sub-tier supplier; reviewing said master sub-tier schedule; and sending notification to said primary consumer and said first tier supplier if necessitated by said reviewing of said master sub-tier schedule.