Abstract: The invention contemplates a system and method for communicating among entities of a manufacturing process. The System (100) comprises a process tracking and workflow engine and a communications network. The process tracking and workflow engine (180a) includes at least one processing rule operating on manufacturing processing information. The communications network (160) cooperates with the process tracking and workflow engine to transmit and receive data representative of manufacturing communication information. The inventive system also may include a sales system (801) for receiving a product request, where the product request is received from a customer and/or a field sales representative.

Abstract: Accordingly, a system and method for selecting an optimal manufacturing location at which to execute an order are disclosed. Input is received including the order and manufacturing capability information for the available locations. The input may also include management information. An optimization mode is selected based on the manufacturing capability information. The optimization mode may be, for example, a global or a local mode. A manufacturing optimization is performed based on the input and the selected optimization mode. The optimization provides an optimal manufacturing location at which to execute the order. The order may be forwarded to the optimal manufacturing location.

Abstract: An order for a product from a customer by way of a website viewed on a display device of a customer computer is received and reviewed. An optimization across a plurality of manufacturing plants is requested, where each plant has a product manufacturing capacity, and the optimization takes place according to the capacity. The optimization is then received and a determination whether to confirm the order is made. If the order is confirmed, materials are ordered and a hold is placed on all or part of the capacity. Finally, an automated payment process is initiated with the customer.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided to generate sales and marketing information for power distribution system equipment and associated services responsive to customer inquiries and/or inquiries from a cooperating/participating party. In an illustrative implementation, a sales engine processes data representative of power distribution system equipment and services market information, design information, facilities capacity, planning, and manufacturing information to generate sales and marketing information for power distribution system equipment and services. Additionally, the sales engine cooperates with a data store to store and retrieves relevant data needed to generate the sales and marketing information. Data may be communicated between the sales engine and data store through a communications network, which may also be used to communicate sales and marketing data to/from participating customers.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided to enable customer support through customer relationship management (CRM) techniques and to perform error tracking and reporting surrounding the sales and/or performance of power distribution system equipment and associated services (FIG. 10). In an illustrative implementation, a CRM processing and workflow engine (1005) cooperates with an error tracking and reporting engine (1010) to process data representative of customer information, sales information, and error information as part of CRM activities. Additionally, the CRM process and workflow engine (1005) and error tracking and reporting engine (1010) cooperate with a data store 1015 and 1020) to store and retrieve CRM and error data. Data may be communicated between the CRM engine (1005), error engine (1010), and data store (1015 and 1020) through a communications network (160), which may also be used to communicate CRM/error data to/from participating customers.

Abstract: A method for controlling a manufacturing process integrates transactional and real-time data. Scheduling and inventory data relating to an item to be manufactured, as well as design data for the item to be manufactured are retrieved from a database. Control data derived from the inventory and design data is transmitted to a machine adapted to manufacture the item. Real-time event notification data is received from the manufacturing machine and the scheduling and inventory data updated to reflect the real-time event notification data.

Abstract: The invention contemplates a system and method offering optimization and management of manufacturing resources to obtain optimal manufacturing capacities and to avoid manufacturing down-time currently realized through manual operation and control of manufacturing resources. In an illustrative implementation, the present invention contemplates an exemplary optimization computing application operating in a computing environment which communicates with, cooperates with, and provides optimization data for use in managing manufacturing resources (e.g. manufacturing machines). The computing application accepts a variety of manufacturing related information as input, processes such manufacturing data and generates optimization suggestions for use to manage manufacturing processes and to optimize manufacturing capacities. The optimization data may be applied to a particular manufacturing environment to control the operation of manufacturing resources such that optimization is realized.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system and methods for centrally storing, managing, processing, and visually displaying real-time enterprise manufacturing management and control information across the many cooperating departments of a manufacturing environment. In an illustrative implementation, the present invention comprises an exemplary manufacturing data management and control computing application deployed across the various departments of a manufacturing enterprise through a computing environment having data communications capabilities. The manufacturing data management and control computing application comprises a display area and processing area. The display area comprises a graphical user interface capable of displaying various types of manufacturing and manufacturing related data to participating users. The exemplary manufacturing data management and control computing application processing area comprises a data management and control engine.

Abstract: A method for automated manufacturing job reassignment comprises receiving status and notification data from a workstation controlling a manufacturing machine. A query is executed to determine whether the data indicates the machine has become unavailable. If so, a second query is executed to identify a replacement machine having substantially the same functional capabilities as the machine that has become unavailable. The manufacturing schedule is updated and the workstations controlling operation of the manufacturing machines are notified that jobs previously assigned to the unavailable machine are now to be performed at the identified replacement machine.