Yuchung B Wong

US Patent:

60497424, Apr 11, 2000

Filed:

Sep 26, 1997

Appl. No.:

8/938764

Inventors:

Robert J. Milne - Jericho VT
John P. O'Neil - Essex Junction VT
Robert A. Orzell - Essex Junction VT
Xueqing Tang - Naperville IL
Yuchung Wong - Silver Spring MD

Assignee:

International Business Machines Corporation - Armonk NY

International Classification:

G06F 1900

US Classification:

700 99

Abstract:

A computer-implemented decision-support tool serves as a solver to generate a projected supply planning (PSP) or estimated supply planning (ESP) match between existing assets and demands across multiple manufacturing facilities within the boundaries established by the manufacturing specifications and process flows and business policies to determine what supply can be provided over what time-frame by manufacturing and establishes a set of actions or guidelines for manufacturing to incorporate into their manufacturing execution system to ensure that the delivery commitments are met in a timely fashion. The PSP or ESP tool resides within a data provider tool that pulls the required production and distribution information. PSP matching is driven directly by user-supplied guidelines on how to flow or flush assets "forward" to some inventory or holding point. After the supply plan is created, the analyst compares this plan against an expected demand profile.