Abstract: A logical inventory mechanism takes components in assemblies into account when determining purchase requirements. The inventory control system determines assemblies that are available, determines their components and whether or not each component may be reused, then adjusts physical inventory to generate therefrom logical inventory based on physical inventory plus parts in the assemblies that may be reused if the assemblies are disassembled. By computing logical inventory that would be available by disassembling assemblies, inventory levels may be reduced, thereby enhancing the efficiency of an inventory control system that includes the logical inventory mechanism. Assemblies in inventory thus may be used in two very different matters, as the starting point for a higher-level assembly, or to be disassembled to use one or more reusable components in the assembly in a different assembly.

Abstract: A system for performing a part inventory analysis is provided. In response to determining a current part inventory, current order demands on the current part inventory are determined. The current part inventory is segmented. An order demand coverage is determined for each segment of the segmented inventory based on the current order demands. A conditioned part inventory is determined based on a loaner part inventory analysis of the segmented inventory. A part purchase recommendation is calculated based on the conditioned part inventory. Then, data for the segmented inventory, the order demand coverage, the conditioned part inventory, and the part purchase recommendation are stored in a storage device.

Abstract: A system for automatically replacing loaner parts within a loaner system to prevent loaner system callback. In response to selecting a loaner system within loaner inventory data, it is determined whether the selected loaner system is required to be returned based on a target return date for the selected loaner system. In response to determining that the selected loaner system is not required to be returned, a notification is automatically generated and sent to a customer to return expiring loaner parts within the selected loaner system based on loaner part rules. A part replacement order is automatically generated for replacement loaner parts for each of the expiring loaner parts. Then, the replacement loaner parts are automatically shipped to the customer to replace the expiring loaner parts to prevent callback of the selected loaner system.

Abstract: A system for automatically replacing loaner parts within a loaner system to prevent loaner system callback. In response to selecting a loaner system within loaner inventory data, it is determined whether the selected loaner system is required to be returned based on a target return date for the selected loaner system. In response to determining that the selected loaner system is not required to be returned, a notification is automatically generated and sent to a customer to return expiring loaner parts within the selected loaner system based on loaner part rules. A part replacement order is automatically generated for replacement loaner parts for each of the expiring loaner parts. Then, the replacement loaner parts are automatically shipped to the customer to replace the expiring loaner parts to prevent callback of the selected loaner system.

Abstract: A system for automatically replacing loaner parts within a loaner system to prevent loaner system callback. In response to selecting a loaner system within loaner inventory data, it is determined whether the selected loaner system is required to be returned based on a target return date for the selected loaner system. In response to determining that the selected loaner system is not required to be returned, a notification is automatically generated and sent to a customer to return expiring loaner parts within the selected loaner system based on loaner part rules. A part replacement order is automatically generated for replacement loaner parts for each of the expiring loaner parts. Then, the replacement loaner parts are automatically shipped to the customer to replace the expiring loaner parts to prevent callback of the selected loaner system.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a method for determining dynamic test coverage for a product. The method may comprise: receiving a customer order, the customer order comprising at least one product configuration; receiving a rule set associated with the at least one product configuration; analyzing the rule set to determine a proxy part to add to the at least one product configuration; providing the proxy part an indicator; adding the proxy part to the at least one product configuration; iteratively comparing the product configuration to the rule set until the product configuration meets the rule set; providing a test associated with the at least one product configuration; receiving at least one signal from at least one indicator; and removing at least one proxy part from the at least one product configuration.

Abstract: A method is provided for meeting anticipated parts demands, by controlling substitute part inventory coverage based on percentage requirements. The method is characterized by substitution sets determined as a ratio of the current PN level. In one embodiment, current parts of specified type and substitute parts functionally equivalent to the current parts are respectively kept in inventory. This embodiment includes specifying a maximum percentage of demand for the current parts that is allowed to be filled using substitute parts. The number of additional parts needed to cover a demand is determined, when the demand specifies a total number of current parts exceeding the number thereof in inventory. A number of substitute parts is then assigned from inventory to cover the demand, up to a number that does not exceed the specified maximum percentage of the specified total number.

Abstract: A time-phased reutilization of configured products is provided. Partially configured products are detected. Each partially configured product is analyzed to determine if the partially configured product is a valid partially configured product, suitable for being modified into other configurations. A time phased management process is applied to the valid partially configured product.

Abstract: A method for managing customer order alterations in a manufacturing environment is provided. A new order that comprises a new product configuration is received. The new product configuration is a modified version of an original product configuration in an existing order. A first score for a first option for building the new product configuration from scratch is determined. A second score for a second option for modifying the existing product configuration to satisfy the new product configuration is determined. A best option is determined by comparing the first and second scores and selecting an option with a lower score. The best option is presented to a user. In another exemplary embodiment additional scores for additional options for building the new product configuration from other products in existing inventory are determined. The best option is then determined by comparing all scores and selecting an option with a lower score.

Abstract: An illustrative embodiment of a computer-implemented method for maintaining a product offering suite, identifies a subset of proposals from a proposal database maintained on a data processing system, using selected criteria stored on the data processing system, analyzes the subset of proposals using conformance criteria also stored on the data processing system to form an analyzed subset of proposals, and identifies a set of alert instances from the analyzed subset of proposals. The computer-implemented method further updates the product offering suite on the data processing system using information using the set of alert instances.

Abstract: A computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer program product for managing an ancestry tree. An order to build a product is received. The ancestry tree is created. The ancestry tree comprises a set of nodes, where each node represents a part of the product. A request to determine a higher level sub-assembly containing a specific part is received. The node of the specific part is located in the ancestry tree. An ancestor pointer in the node of the specific part is returned. The ancestor pointer indicates a higher level sub-assembly containing the part.

Abstract: A system for automatically replacing loaner parts within a loaner system to prevent loaner system callback. In response to selecting a loaner system within loaner inventory data, it is determined whether the selected loaner system is required to be returned based on a target return date for the selected loaner system. In response to determining that the selected loaner system is not required to be returned, a notification is automatically generated and sent to a customer to return expiring loaner parts within the selected loaner system based on loaner part rules. A part replacement order is automatically generated for replacement loaner parts for each of the expiring loaner parts. Then, the replacement loaner parts are automatically shipped to the customer to replace the expiring loaner parts to prevent callback of the selected loaner system.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a method for determining dynamic test coverage for a product. The method may comprise: receiving a customer order, the customer order comprising at least one product configuration; receiving a rule set associated with the at least one product configuration; analyzing the rule set to determine a proxy part to add to the at least one product configuration; providing the proxy part an indicator; adding the proxy part to the at least one product configuration; iteratively comparing the product configuration to the rule set until the product configuration meets the rule set; providing a test associated with the at least one product configuration; receiving at least one signal from at least one indicator; and removing at least one proxy part from the at least one product configuration.

Abstract: A system for performing a part inventory analysis. In response to determining a current part inventory, current order demands on the current part inventory are determined. The current part inventory is segmented. An order demand coverage is determined for each segment of the segmented inventory based on the current order demands. A conditioned part inventory is determined based on a loaner part inventory analysis of the segmented inventory. A part purchase recommendation is calculated based on the conditioned part inventory. Then, data for the segmented inventory, the order demand coverage, the conditioned part inventory, and the part purchase recommendation are stored in a storage device.

Abstract: A logical inventory mechanism takes components in assemblies into account when determining purchase requirements. The inventory control system determines assemblies that are available, determines their components and whether or not each component may be reused, then adjusts physical inventory to generate therefrom logical inventory based on physical inventory plus parts in the assemblies that may be reused if the assemblies are disassembled. By computing logical inventory that would be available by disassembling assemblies, inventory levels may be reduced, thereby enhancing the efficiency of an inventory control system that includes the logical inventory mechanism. Assemblies in inventory thus may be used in two very different matters, as the starting point for a higher-level assembly, or to be disassembled to use one or more reusable components in the assembly in a different assembly.

Abstract: A computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer program product for managing an ancestry tree. An order to build a product is received. The ancestry tree is created. The ancestry tree comprises a set of nodes, where each node represents a part of the product. A request to determine a higher level sub-assembly containing a specific part is received. The node of the specific part is located in the ancestry tree. An ancestor pointer in the node of the specific part is returned. The ancestor pointer indicates a higher level sub-assembly containing the part.

Abstract: A computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer program product for prioritizing orders. One or more business factors are prioritized to form prioritized business factors. One or more orders for entities are received. Data about the entities is retrieved. Build sequences for the entities are determined. The build sequences are evaluated using the prioritized business factors to form evaluated business sequences. A business sequence from the evaluated business sequences is selected.

Abstract: A method is provided for meeting anticipated parts demands, by controlling substitute part inventory coverage based on percentage requirements. The method is characterized by substitution sets determined as a ratio of the current PN level. In one embodiment, current parts of specified type and substitute parts functionally equivalent to the current parts are respectively kept in inventory. This embodiment includes specifying a maximum percentage of demand for the current parts that is allowed to be filled using substitute parts. The number of additional parts needed to cover a demand is determined, when the demand specifies a total number of current parts exceeding the number thereof in inventory. A number of substitute parts is then assigned from inventory to cover the demand, up to a number that does not exceed the specified maximum percentage of the specified total number.

Abstract: A computer implemented method, system, and computer usable program code are provided for processing orders. An order is received for processing and each order may contain a plurality of products. A set of build entities is formed from the order. Each build entity in the set of build entities corresponds to one or more products in the plurality of products. Finally, a set of production orders is created for the set of build entities. Release dates/times for the set of production orders are formed using a shipping entity for the order and production for the set of production orders is configured to minimize work-in-progress.

Abstract: A method for managing customer order alterations in a manufacturing environment is provided. A new order that comprises a new product configuration is received. The new product configuration is a modified version of an original product configuration in an existing order. A first score for a first option for building the new product configuration from scratch is determined. A second score for a second option for modifying the existing product configuration to satisfy the new product configuration is determined. A best option is determined by comparing the first and second scores and selecting an option with a lower score. The best option is presented to a user. In another exemplary embodiment additional scores for additional options for building the new product configuration from other products in existing inventory are determined. The best option is then determined by comparing all scores and selecting an option with a lower score.