Method and system for reducing lead-time in the packaging industry

Abstract

A system for integrating a packaging supply chain from a point that a digital contract proof is available through delivery of finished packaging materials to an end user, wherein said system comprises a computer system accessible for interactive communications with users, said computer system comprising a first memory area for storing functionality and data for end user members of the supply chain; a second memory area for storing functionality and data for converter members of the supply chain; and a third memory area for storing functionality and data for other members of the supply chain.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION [0001] This is a divisional of U.S. co-pending application Ser. No. 09 / 992,345, filed Nov. 14, 2001, and claims benefit of 60 / 251,488, filed Dec. 5, 2000, incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] The present invention relates to a method and a system for reducing lead-time in the packaging industry. This invention is particularly beneficial to the flexible packaging industry which services the fast moving consumer goods manufacturing industry (i.e. producers of snacks, cookies, crackers, candies, health and beauty aids, etc.). Currently packaging is the longest lead-time item for these companies, and a system-wide bottleneck for them. Reducing the packaging lead-time allows for waste reduction and revenue enhancement opportunities. [0003] The method disclosed herein comprises an embodiment of a business process which may be enabled by the internet and capable of exchanging information with other busine...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0011] The present invention relates to a method and system for linking the various members of the packaging (including labels) supply chain. The invention provides an integrated order placement, production planning, scheduling, and material requirements planning environment for the various members of the packaging supply chain. Among the members in the flexible packaging supply chain are end users, converters, and suppliers of goods and services necessary for the creation of packaging. The method and system of the present invention allow members of the supply chain to access the additional data they need to integrate their activities and reduce packaging lead-times. In addition, the system is designed to interface with the converter's order management, inventory, and purchasing systems to acquire data for production planning (e.g. inventory levels), order processing, and certain other functions. The system is designed to interface with digital files containing package designs and images to provide information for item creation, production planning, and scheduling.

Problems solved by technology

Currently packaging is the longest lead-time item for these companies, and a system-wide bottleneck for them.

This relatively long lead-time creates system-wide bottlenecks; inefficiencies and waste; packaging write-offs; barriers to lean manufacturing at end user sites; and 4 to 8 weeks of delay in launching new products.

The long lead-time is the primary reason that successful promotions are not fully exploited.

The long lead-time for packaging is caused by complexity of the supply chain, the distance between the parties, and the process of manufacturing and delivering the packaging to the consumer goods manufacturer.

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