Patent Document ID: 20120084106
Application ID: 12914484
Patent Flag: 0

Claim One:
1. A computer-implemented method for determining a configuration for a supply chain for a cylinder gas distribution network, the method comprising: receiving a set of input data characterizing attributes of the supply chain to be configured, wherein the input data includes at least (i) a set of potential locations for one or more distribution hubs and one or more filling plants for the supply chain, (ii) a set of one or more customer locations, (iii) a set of one or more products available to be delivered to the customers from the distribution hubs; merging the one or more products characterized in the input data into one normalized product; determining, by operation of an equivalent cylinder solver, a secondary transportation solution, wherein the secondary transportation solution fixes one or more locations for distribution hubs from the set of potential locations, and specifies transportation flows from the fixed distribution hubs to each of the set of one or more customers using the normalized product; and determining, by operation of a primary stock solver, a primary transportation solution, wherein the primary transportation solution fixes one or more locations for filling plants, from the set of potential locations, and specifies transportation flows from the fixed filling plants to the fixed distribution hubs using the secondary transportation solution.