Patent ID: 7562812

Claim:
A computer-implemented system for redistributing a part, comprising: a server system coupled with one or more databases, the server system comprising: means for defining a plurality of locations including at least one dummy location; means for establishing an actual inventory of a plurality of parts among the plurality of locations; means for establishing a desired allocation of the plurality of parts among the plurality of locations; means for determining a demand for the plurality of parts at each of the plurality of locations using the actual inventory and the desired allocation; means for determining a plurality of paths, each path operable to transfer at least one of the plurality of parts from one of the plurality of locations location to another one of the plurality of locations; means for generating a transfer function describing a cost of transferring a plurality of excess parts along the plurality of paths; and means for optimizing the transfer function to achieve the desired allocation of the plurality of excess parts at a minimum cost.