Abstract: A method and program product comprising collecting from the network sales data for at least one product from a plurality of entities in the supply chain management system over a period of time; maintaining an electronic database of products, with each product having associated therewith in the database one or more items of equipment used to produce the product; if a criteria is met, performing a calculation to obtain usage data at a particular entity for an item of equipment of a particular type; accessing at least one equipment supplier electronic catalogue that contains the particular type of equipment represented by the item of equipment, selecting at least one of the items of equipment in the catalogue based on the usage data for the item of equipment and a characteristic; and displaying the selected one of the catalogue items of equipment.

Abstract: A computer implemented method of product ordering and inventory repositioning for a promotion in a supply chain management system utilizing a network is provided. The method comprises obtaining via the network from a plurality of stores in a first region, each store associated with a respective distribution center within the first region, point of sale data for a short period of time relative to a length of time allotted for a current product sales promotion. A computer calculation is caused of a product demand level for stores associated with at least one distribution center for the current product sales promotion based on an outlook model and the point of sale data. A computer calculation is caused of a product amount for the at least one distribution center based at least in part on the product demand level for stores associated with the at least one distribution center. An electronic action is taken based on the product amount for the at least one distribution center.

Abstract: A system, method and computer program product are disclosed for risk management in a supply chain management framework. A supply chain manager is appointed for at least one buying supply chain participant. The supply chain manager is given authority to negotiate supply agreements for at least one good on behalf of the at least one buying supply chain participant. One or more supply agreements are entered into for the at least one good, wherein provisions of the supply agreement include: (i) pricing for each one good shall be based upon factors including an actual market price of at least one commodity when the supply chain manager has not established a commodity position price; and (ii) pricing for each one good shall be based upon factors including a commodity position price of at least one commodity when the supply chain manager has established a commodity position price. Periodically, a commodity position price is established through the supply chain manager.

Abstract: A program product, system and method for a computer-implemented product ordering process for a plurality of buyers, with each buyer ordering for at least one store, the program product comprising machine-readable program code to be executed, comprising: program code for receiving in a supply chain system from a buyer who has entered a buyer system ID a selection of an item to order; program code for providing a display option to the buyer to generate an order to a supplier for an individual store only or to order for a plurality of stores of the buyer; program code for, if an order is to be generated for a plurality of stores of the buyer, displaying an electronic order form for generating an order for the plurality of different stores associated with the buyer system ID, wherein a designation for each of the plurality of the stores is displayed, with each different store having a separate order amount field; program code for receiving data to populate the order amount field for at least one of the plurality

Abstract: A system, method and computer program product are disclosed for normalizing data in a supply chain management framework. A plurality of data types are defined with each data type including parameters. Data is received utilizing a network from a plurality of point of sale outlets of a supply chain that relates to an amount of goods sold by the point of sale outlets. A format of the data is verified against the parameters of the defined data types and any discrepancies between the format of the data and the parameters of the defined data types are corrected for facilitating an analysis of the data.

Abstract: A system, method and computer program product are disclosed for cost reporting using a network-based supply chain management framework. Data is received utilizing a network. This data relates to goods required by a plurality of stores including a product identifier parameter, and a first cost parameter. A second cost parameter associated with a franchise mark-up is also received so that a total cost can be calculated based on the first cost parameter and the second cost parameter. The total cost is displayed utilizing the network with TCP/IP protocol.

Abstract: A system, method and computer program product are disclosed for forecasting the sale of goods. Data is received utilizing a network from a plurality of point of sale outlets of a supply chain where the data relates to an amount of goods sold by the point of sale outlets. The data is checked for errors. Each detected error is identified as either a point of sale set-up error, a point of sale entry error, a back office error, a polling error, or a menu item mapping error so that the data can be corrected using the identification.

Abstract: A system, method and computer program product are disclosed for risk management in a supply chain management framework. A supply chain manager is appointed for at least one buying supply chain participant. The supply chain manager is given authority to negotiate supply agreements for at least one good on behalf of the at least one buying supply chain participant. One or more supply agreements are entered into for the at least one good, wherein provisions of the supply agreement include: (i) pricing for each one good shall be based upon factors including an actual market price of at least one commodity when the supply chain manager has not established a commodity position price; and (ii) pricing for each one good shall be based upon factors including a commodity position price of at least one commodity when the supply chain manager has established a commodity position price. Periodically, a commodity position price is established through the supply chain manager.

Abstract: A system, method and computer program product are disclosed for handling contracts in a supply chain management framework. One of a plurality of contracts is selected. The selected contract template is transmitted to a supply chain participant. Data is received from supply chain participants utilizing a network. This data relates to the sale of products by the supply chain participants. The contract templates are then enforced in accordance with the data.

Abstract: A system, method and computer program product are disclosed for order confirmation in a supply chain management framework. A network is utilized to collect from a plurality of stores of a supply chain data relating to the sale of goods by the stores. Access is allowed to the data utilizing a network-based interface. Electronic order forms are generated based on the data for ordering goods from a plurality of distributors of the supply chain. These electronic order forms request a confirmation of the receipt of the electronic order forms. A determination is made as to whether the confirmation of the receipt of the electronic order forms is received from the distributors. If it is determined that the confirmation of the receipt of the electronic order forms was not from the distributors, then an alert is generated.

Abstract: A system, method and computer program product are disclosed for advertising in a network-based supply chain management framework in which data is received utilizing a network from a plurality of stores of a supply chain. A user is allowed to access the data utilizing a network-based interface. The user accessing the network-based interface is identified and advertising is presented to the user in accordance with the identification.

Abstract: A computer implemented method of product ordering and inventory repositioning for a promotion in a supply chain management system utilizing a network is provided. The method comprises obtaining via the network from a plurality of stores in a first region, each store associated with a respective distribution center within the first region, point of sale data for a short period of time relative to a length of time allotted for a current product sales promotion. A computer calculation is caused of a product demand level for stores associated with at least one distribution center for the current product sales promotion based on an outlook model and the point of sale data. A computer calculation is caused of a product amount for the at least one distribution center based at least in part on the product demand level for stores associated with the at least one distribution center. Am electronic action is taken based on the product amount for the at least one distribution center.

Abstract: A system, method and computer program product are disclosed for managing an electronics and appliances supply chain utilizing a network. A network is utilized to receive data from a plurality of electronics and appliances outlets of an electronics and appliances supply chain in which the data relates to the sale of electronics and appliances by the electronics and appliances outlets. An electronic order form is generated based on the data for ordering electronics and appliances from an electronics and appliances distributor of the electronics and appliances supply chain. The data is transmitted via the network to the electronics and appliances distributor of the electronics and appliances supply chain. The data is also transmitted to an electronics and appliances supplier of the electronics and appliances supply chain utilizing the network. Additionally, activity in the electronics and appliances supply chain is forecast utilizing the data.

Abstract: A system, method and computer program product are disclosed for analysis creation utilizing a supply chain graphical user interface. A graphical user interface is utilized to select between a plurality of options with each option corresponding to a separate technique of creating an analysis. A new analysis is generated upon the selection of a first of the options. Upon the selection of a second of the options, a previous analysis is edited. Also, upon the selection of a third of the options, a bid proposal is integrated with an integrated analysis.

Abstract: A system, method and computer program product are disclosed for handling contracts in a supply chain management framework. One of a plurality of contracts is selected. The selected contract template is transmitted to a supply chain participant. Data is received from supply chain participants utilizing a network. This data relates to the sale of products by the supply chain participants. The contract templates are then enforced in accordance with the data.

Abstract: A system, method and computer program product are disclosed for providing local distribution committees in a supply chain management framework. A plurality of distributors of a supply chain are registered. Through a supply chain manager, a local distribution committee is organized and assigned for each distributor. Data from a plurality of outlets of the supply chain is subsequently received utilizing a network. This received data relates to the sale of products by the outlets. The data is then transmitted to each of the distributors via the corresponding local distribution committee utilizing the network.

Abstract: A system, method and computer program product are disclosed for providing a distributor interface. Data is received from a plurality of stores of a supply chain utilizing a network. This date relates to an amount of goods sold by the stores and is aggregated in a database. Upon receiving a request which includes a plurality of distributor parameters from a distributor, information is extracted from the database relevant to the distributor parameters in response to the request. The information is then transmitted from the database to the distributor utilizing the network and an amount of supplies purchased in correlation to the production of the goods is adjusted based on the information.

Abstract: A system, method and computer program product are disclosed for generating revenue. A supply chain manager is appointed for a buying supply chain participant. Authority is granted to the supply chain manager to negotiate supply agreements between a selling supply chain participant and the supply chain manager on behalf of the buying supply chain participant. The supply agreement is entered into with the supply agreement having at least the following provisions: i) establishing a contract price for the good, and ii) requiring the selling supply chain participant to bill the buying supply chain participant at an invoice price to be determined by the supply chain manager. An invoice price for the good is established at various times during the term of the supply agreement.

Abstract: A system, method and computer program product are disclosed for navigating a user in a network-based supply chain management interface. A plurality of stores, distributors and suppliers of a supply chain are registered utilizing the Internet. Each of the stores, distributors and suppliers is assigned an identifier. When a request (which includes an identifier) is received from a user for access to a database utilizing a first web-page, the user is identified as a store, distributor and/or supplier using the identifier. A second web-page is displayed if the user is identified as a store. A third web-page is displayed if the user is identified as a distributor. A fourth web-page is displayed if the user is identified as a supplier.

Abstract: A system, method and computer program product are disclosed for monitoring supplier activity in a supply chain management framework. Data relating to the sale of goods is received from at least one store of a supply chain utilizing a network. Electronic order forms are generated based on the data for ordering goods from a plurality of suppliers of the supply chain. The electronic order forms are sent to the suppliers so that the goods are supplied to the stores. The electronic order forms for each of the suppliers are then compared for monitoring the reliance of the store on each supplier.