Abstract: A computer system and computer-implemented method for controlling inventory of vendors at one level of a part distribution chain. The system includes a computer programmed with software for generating order data in response to reference data indicative of sales, inventory, demographics, and/or market characteristics of or pertaining to at least two vendors at the same distribution level. The order data is indicative of one or more of a recommended inventory increase transaction (such as a reorder by a vendor of a sold part); an inventory reduction transaction (such as a return of one or more parts in stock at the vendor); and a recommended stocking level of one or more parts by the vendor. When the computer is operated by personnel of a first vendor, it receives reference data concerning at least one other vendor at the same distribution level (in addition to processing reference data concerning the first vendor.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system for sorting information such as used, for example, in inventory control. New items to be sorted are fetched from a memory unit and are stored as buffered items in buffer stores. Comparators compare each new item from the memory unit with each of the buffered items in the buffer stores and with a lower limit and an upper limit. Item sort address registers store addresses which define the sorted order of the items in the buffer stores. After comparison of each new item, the item sort address registers are updated by the results of the comparison to establish a new sorted order and to cause rejected buffered items to be deleted from the buffer stores to make room for accepted new items. Reformatting apparatus is provided for reformatting items from the memory unit which have variable length and different weight fields such as prefix, body and suffix fields. Apparatus is provided for recognizing control fields which cause items to be ignored or included within the sorting process.