Patent ID: 7533043

Claim:
A computerized method for synchronizing a supplier's production with a manufacturer's production comprising the steps of: establishing at a manufacturer's computer a production schedule for said manufacturer's production; determining at said manufacturer's computer a production delivery time of day for receiving supplies from a supplier, said production delivery time determined by said manufacturer according to when said manufacturer requires said supplies on a production line to meet said manufacturer's production schedule; determining at said manufacturer's computer a lead time for receiving said supplies from said supplier and delivering said supplies to a production line location; transmitting during production from said manufacturer's computer to a supplier's computer an electronic supply order in accordance with said lead time, said electronic supply order comprising said production delivery time and said production line location according to said production schedule for said manufacturer's current production; starting in response to receipt of said electronic supply order said supplier's production to produce supplies in accordance with said production delivery time; labeling said supplies at said supplier's facility with said production delivery time and said production line location; receiving said supplies from said supplier in accordance with said production delivery time according to said production schedule for said manufacturer's production; moving said supplies to said production line location according to said production delivery time and said production line location indicated on a label for said supplies; continuing production at said production line in accordance with said manufacturer's production schedule; and consuming said supplies in accordance with said production schedule established for said manufacturer's production.