Patent ID: 8055522

Claim:
A method for utilizing excess inventory of parts, the parts used in end products and having part identifiers, the method comprising: identifying, via a computer processor, an excess inventory of parts comprising part identifiers and a quantity associated with each part identifier; identifying potential end products for manufacture comprising a Bill of Materials (BOM) for each end product and where each BOM calls out at least one part identifier in the excess inventory of parts; and determining, via a computer processor, a build plan comprising one or more of the potential end products, the build plan optimized to specific criteria and utilizing an amount of the excess inventory wherein the specific criteria comprise maximizing the quantity of the excess inventory utilized without exceeding a specific dollar value of additional parts purchased to produce the build plan; wherein a cost value is associated with each part identifier and wherein the specific criteria further comprise a scalar value representing a ratio of the dollar amount spent to purchase the additional parts in order to consume one dollar's worth of the excess inventory.