Abstract: A method and apparatus that maintains a database of the demands over time for all the different refurbished machines is disclosed. The invention also maintains the supply over time of all the different machines that will be returned from expired leases. The invention maintains the relationship for alternate parts which parts can be used in place of another. The invention also maintains an inventory of parts and machines. As machines are returned from expired leases, they come into inventory. From this inventory, some of the machines will, from time to time be scheduled to be refurbished or demanufactured. The balance will remain in inventory. When a machine is demanufactured, all of the parts that are produced will be put in inventory.

Abstract: A method of forecasting the demand for components used to manufacture a plurality of different devices is presented. The method determines a production quantity of each of the devices planned to be manufactured, analyzes each of the devices to produce exploded lists of components required to manufacture each of the devices and device assemblies, multiplies the list of components required for each device by each the production quantity to determine a total volume of each component required to manufacture the devices, identifies components as ones having a level of supply insufficient to meet demand and having no available substitute components, and calculates a volume of each critical component required to manufacture the devices based on the total volume of each component.

Abstract: An exemplary embodiment of the invention relates to a method, system, and storage medium for utilizing excess inventory of parts used in end products and having part numbers. The method comprises: determining a summary of at least one end product utilizing at least one excess part number, wherein the summary includes a total quantity of the at least one excess part number required to produce a respective end product; and based on a selection of at least one end product from the summary and at least one corresponding quantity, generating a report of end products that, for each quantity of end products, lists the dollar value of excess parts consumed to produce the quantity of end product; and the dollar value of additional parts to be purchased to produce the quantity of end product. The invention also includes a system and storage medium.

Abstract: A system and method estimates performance of a supply chain's available-to-promise (ATP) and scheduling functions under various environmental and process assumptions. The supply chain's transformation alternatives are identified using a plurality of modules constituting a supply chain model and including a demand planning module, a configuration planning module, an order scheduling module and a supply planning module, each of said modules being reconfigurable using various policies, which policies, taken together, specify a particular supply chain design that is to be analyzed. A supply chain data base is accessed by the supply chain model to retrieve data elements that dictate appropriate policies within said plurality of modules. The supply chain performance is simulated based on settings of the modules and other environmental factors including demand uncertainty, order configuration uncertainty, supplier flexibility, supply capacity, and demand skew.

Abstract: A method and apparatus that maintains a database of the demands over time for all the different refurbished machines is disclosed. The invention also maintains the supply over time of all the different machines that will be returned from expired leases. The invention maintains the relationship for alternate parts which parts can be used in place of another. The invention also maintains an inventory of parts and machines. As machines are returned from expired leases, they come into inventory. From this inventory, some of the machines will, from time to time be scheduled to be refurbished or demanufactured. The balance will remain in inventory. When a machine is demanufactured, all of the parts that are produced will be put in inventory. However, some may be used immediately to satisfy a demand for the part and the balance may be used to satisfy demand for the same part later or be used as an alternate part for some other part.

Abstract: A method and structure for using a materials requirements planning (MRP) tool is disclosed. The invention runs a simulation using a MRP tool for at least one preselected component to produce simulated order levels for a preselected component. The invention then identifies deviations of the simulated order levels from the historical order levels for the preselected component. Next, the invention analyzes the MRP tool to determine whether the deviations are appropriate or are errors. The invention corrects the MRP tool to correct for errors and runs the MRP tool after correcting.

Abstract: An exemplary embodiment of the invention relates to a method, system, and storage medium for utilizing excess inventory of parts used in end products and having part numbers. The method comprises: determining a summary of at least one end product utilizing at least one excess part number, wherein the summary includes a total quantity of the at least one excess part number required to produce a respective end product; and based on a selection of at least one end product from the summary and at least one corresponding quantity, generating a report of end products that, for each quantity of end products, lists the dollar value of excess parts consumed to produce the quantity of end product; and the dollar value of additional parts to be purchased to produce the quantity of end product. The invention also includes a system and storage medium.

Abstract: A method of forecasting the demand for components used to manufacture a plurality of different devices is presented. The method determines a production quantity of each of the devices planned to be manufactured, analyzes each of the devices to produce exploded lists of components required to manufacture each of the devices and device assemblies, multiplies the list of components required for each device by each the production quantity to determine a total volume of each component required to manufacture the devices, identifies components as ones having a level of supply insufficient to meet demand and having no available substitute components, and calculates a volume of each critical component required to manufacture the devices based on the total volume of each component.

Abstract: A method and structure for using a materials requirements planning (MRP) tool is disclosed. The invention runs a simulation using a MRP tool for at least one preselected component to produce simulated order levels for a preselected component. The invention then identifies deviations of the simulated order levels from the historical order levels for the preselected component. Next, the invention analyzes the MRP tool to determine whether the deviations are appropriate or are errors. The invention corrects the MRP tool to correct for errors and runs the MRP tool after correcting.