Patent ID: 8655749

Claim:
A computer-implemented method for distributing stock to a plurality of target locations, the method comprising the steps performed by a computer of: categorizing stock requirements of the plurality of target locations into a plurality of requirement types, wherein the plurality of requirement types includes at least two of: stock requirements to fulfill backorders; fixed stock requirements having a high priority; forecasted stock requirements over lead time; safety stock requirements; non-priority fixed requirements over lead time; a source location's requirements; or economic order quantity over the lead time; prioritizing the plurality of requirement types by order of importance; prioritizing the plurality of target locations having the same requirement type based on a sequence rule, wherein: the sequence rule for at least one requirement type is different than the sequence rule for at least one other requirement type; and the sequence rule is based on: a proportional basis of a fixed requirement quantity daily rate of at least one of the plurality of target locations determined by calculating fixed requirements of the at least one of the plurality of target locations divided by forecasted requirements of the at least one of the plurality of target locations; or a proportional basis of a safety stock daily rate of at least one of the plurality of target locations determined by calculating safety stock of the at least one of the plurality of target locations divided by forecasted requirements of the at least one of the plurality of target locations; and determining a distribution of the stock to the target locations based on the prioritized requirement types and the prioritized sequence of the target locations, such that the stock requirements are fulfilled from the highest priority requirement type to the lowest priority requirement type and, for each prioritized requirement type, the stock requirements are fulfilled from the highest priority target location to the lowest priority target location.