Abstract: Systematically and comprehensively identifying and evaluating structure changes in MRP runs.

Abstract: Systematically and comprehensively identifying and evaluating structure changes in MRP runs.

Abstract: A method for balancing supply and demand for a product using demand-shaping action includes identifying an imbalance between supply and demand for a given product. A customer choice model is generated based on collected historical sales data pertaining to the given product and at least one product similar to the given product. The customer choice model is configured to estimate, for a given customer or group of customers, a likelihood of effecting a substitution between each product pair of the given product and the at least one product similar to the given product, for each of one or more available demand shaping actions. One or more of the available demand shaping actions are automatically selected to minimize an estimate of revenue shortfall or inventory holding costs resulting from the identified imbalance between supply and demand.

Abstract: A method for balancing supply and demand for a product using demand-shaping action includes identifying an imbalance between supply and demand for a given product. A customer choice model is generated based on collected historical sales data pertaining to the given product and at least one product similar to the given product. The customer choice model is configured to estimate, for a given customer or group of customers, a likelihood of effecting a substitution between each product pair of the given product and the at least one product similar to the given product, for each of one or more available demand shaping actions. One or more of the available demand shaping actions are automatically selected to minimize an estimate of revenue shortfall or inventory holding costs resulting from the identified imbalance between supply and demand.

Abstract: A method and system are disclosed for managing configurable products via solving an optimization problem. In one embodiment, the method comprises collecting data from a software application and a user; formulating a set of constraints based on the collected data; defining the optimization problem by the set of constraints and an optimization objective; solving the optimization problem using the collected data, the set of constraints, the optimization objective and the objective function via mixed integer programming; and outputting a solution of the optimization problem.

Abstract: Methods, systems and apparatus for providing a variety of end product build plans based on multiple business scenarios for exhausting excess inventory. Raw financial data and variable scaling factors are input into a scenario engine component along with a business objective that contains logic. The scaling factor may be embedded within the logic of the business objective, or it may be selected by a user to indicate the user's preferences. The scenario engine then applies the financial data and variable scaling factor inputs to the business objective logic to generate modified financial data. The logic of the business objective may also be manipulated to provide modified logic. The modified financial data, and optionally the modified logic, are then input into an optimizer component for determining multiple portfolios for end products that, if built, would consume excess inventory.

Abstract: A method and storage medium for utilizing excess inventory of parts that are used in end products and having part identifiers are provided. The method includes identifying an excess inventory of parts including part identifiers and a quantity associated with each part identifier. The method also includes identifying potential end products for manufacture comprising a Bill of Materials (BOM) for each end product and where each BOM calls out at least one part identifier in the excess inventory of parts. The method further includes determining a build plan including one or more of the potential end products, the build plan optimized to specific criteria and utilizing an amount of the excess inventory whereby the specific criteria include maximizing the quantity of the excess inventory utilized without exceeding a specific dollar value of additional parts purchased to produce the build plan.

Abstract: Methods, systems and apparatus for providing a variety of end product build plans based on multiple business scenarios for exhausting excess inventory. Raw financial data and variable scaling factors are input into a scenario engine component along with a business objective that contains logic. The scaling factor may be embedded within the logic of the business objective, or it may be selected by a user to indicate the user's preferences. The scenario engine then applies the financial data and variable scaling factor inputs to the business objective logic to generate modified financial data. The logic of the business objective may also be manipulated to provide modified logic. The modified financial data, and optionally the modified logic, are then input into an optimizer component for determining multiple portfolios for end products that, if built, would consume excess inventory.

Abstract: Methods, systems and apparatus for providing a variety of end product build plans based on multiple business scenarios for exhausting excess inventory. Raw financial data and variable scaling-factors are input into a scenario engine component along with a business objective that contains logic. The scaling factor may be embedded within the logic of the business objective, or it may be selected by a user to indicate the user's preferences. The scenario engine then applies the financial data and variable scaling factor inputs to the business objective logic to generate modified financial data. The logic of the business objective may also be manipulated to provide modified logic. The modified financial data, and optionally the modified logic, are then input into an optimizer component for determining multiple portfolios for end products that, if built, would consume excess inventory.

Abstract: A method of iterative negotiation for improved production planning between one or more purchasers and suppliers in a supply chain. The method includes a purchaser in a supply chain generating a request schedule that is communicated to a supplier. In response to the request schedule the supplier generates a commit schedule and communicates it back to the purchaser. Through the iterative negotiation process (ask-answer) one or more interpolation constraints are generated based on the supplier's commit schedules. Upon completion of the ask-answer process purchaser solves a final advanced planning system (APS) based on said one or more interpolation constraints and generates a final production plan. The invention can be employed to integrate the collaboration among purchasers and suppliers with an advanced planning system for optimizing established planning objectives (e.g. customer service, short lead times, low inventory, and prioritized allocation of supply and capacity).

Abstract: A method is disclosed in one embodiment of the invention as including receiving standard MRP input data, including supply rules. Demand priority data may also be received to provide a business ranking of the independent demands. The MRP input data and demand priority data may be transformed into a format usable by an implosion engine and a pegging solver. Such transformation may include providing artificial MRP input data for each of the components. The transformed MRP input data may be processed with the implosion engine and the pegging solver to provide pegged implosion data. A pegged supply shortfall for a component may then be calculated based on the pegged implosion data. Specifically, consumption of an artificial component may represent a supply shortfall for the component. The demand priority data for the independent demand that pegs to the supply shortfall may provide the prioritized shortfall for that component.

Abstract: An exemplary embodiment of the invention relates to a storage medium for facilitating excess inventory utilization. The excess inventory includes parts used in end products. The storage medium includes instructions for a causing a computer to implement a method. The method includes translating sales specific terminology describing the end products into bill of material terminology describing the parts used in end products via a bill of material structure. The translating includes mapping between features associated with end items and parts required to build the end items. The method also includes determining an optimal build plan for the end items that, if built, would consume a desired quantity and/or type of excess inventory.

Abstract: A method and storage medium for utilizing excess inventory of parts that are used in end products and having part identifiers are provided. The method includes identifying an excess inventory of parts including part identifiers and a quantity associated with each part identifier. The method also includes identifying potential end products for manufacture comprising a Bill of Materials (BOM) for each end product and where each BOM calls out at least one part identifier in the excess inventory of parts. The method further includes determining a build plan including one or more of the potential end products, the build plan optimized to specific criteria and utilizing an amount of the excess inventory whereby the specific criteria include maximizing the quantity of the excess inventory utilized without exceeding a specific dollar value of additional parts purchased to produce the build plan.

Abstract: An exemplary embodiment of the invention relates to a method, system and storage medium for utilizing excess inventory comprising parts used in end products. The method comprises: translating sales specific terminology describing end products into bill of material terminology describing parts used in end products via a bill of material structure; and, utilizing the bill of material structure, determining an optimal build plan for end items that, if built, would consume a desired quantity and/or type of excess inventory. The invention also comprises a system and storage medium.

Abstract: A value-based framework is used for managing inventory. This framework allows firms to set risk and return targets for inventory related capital investments and operational management. A set of possible inventory investments is generated, and a value of possible inventory investments is then computed. The value of possible inventory investments is computed by first decomposing cash flows associated with the inventory investment into a combination of cash flows that can be represented by a portfolio comprised of long and short positions in an underlying asset. Then a valuation methodology is used to compute the value of each long and short position in the portfolio. The values of each long and short position in the portfolio is summed to determine a value of the portfolio. The value of the inventory investment is set equal to the value of the portfolio. An inventory investment with a best value is selected.

Abstract: A method of iterative negotiation for improved production planning between one or more purchasers and suppliers in a supply chain. The method includes a purchaser in a supply chain generating a request schedule that is communicated to a supplier. In response to the request schedule the supplier generates a commit schedule and communicates it back to the purchaser. Through the iterative negotiation process (ask-answer) one or more interpolation constraints are generated based on the supplier's commit schedules. Upon completion of the ask-answer process purchaser solves a final advanced planning system (APS) based on said one or more interpolation constraints and generates a final production plan. The invention can be employed to integrate the collaboration among purchasers and suppliers with an advanced planning system for optimizing established planning objectives (e.g. customer service, short lead times, low inventory, and prioritized allocation of supply and capacity).

Abstract: An exemplary embodiment of the invention relates to a method, system and storage medium for utilizing excess inventory comprising parts used in end products. The method comprises: translating sales specific terminology describing end products into bill of material terminology describing parts used in end products via a bill of material structure; and, utilizing the bill of material structure, determining an optimal build plan for end items that, if built, would consume a desired quantity and/or type of excess inventory. The invention also comprises a system and storage medium.

Abstract: A value-based framework is used for managing inventory. This framework allows firms to set risk and return targets for inventory related capital investments and operational management. A set of possible inventory investments is generated, and a value of possible inventory investments is then computed. The value of possible inventory investments is computed by first decomposing cash flows associated with the inventory investment into a combination of cash flows that can be represented by a portfolio comprised of long and short positions in an underlying asset. Then a valuation methodology is used to compute the value of each long and short position in the portfolio. The values of each long and short position in the portfolio is summed to determine a value of the portfolio. The value of the inventory investment is set equal to the value of the portfolio. An inventory investment with a best value is selected.