Inventory supply planning method and inventory supply planning system

Abstract

To comply with the capacity and restriction of a base such as a distribution center and to generate a changing plan of an order placement which a supply source can accept.SOLUTION: A computer with an arithmetic unit and memories includes: a first step of acquiring initial inventory quantity indicating the inventory quantity of each article at the base, capacity information in which the capacity upper limit index related to the capacity upper limit at the base for each article is preset, unit load information in which the unit load for each article at the base is preset, and the order placement condition preset for each article; a second step of calculating an inventory supply plan of each article satisfying the upper limit of an order placement condition as an initial inventory supply plan; and a third step of calculating the change plan of the order placement condition so as to reduce the base capacity for each article based on the change index of the order placement condition, and calculating the inventory supply plan by the change index of the order placement condition as the inventory supply plan after the change.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an inventory supply planning method and system.

Background Art

[0002] In a logistics center that handles multiple products and has capacity limits such as storage, transportation, or CO2 emissions, conventionally, based on the ordering conditions agreed with the suppliers for each product, the average number of days of inventory for all products is managed to meet the standard.

[0003] As the background art in this technical field, the following prior arts are known. Patent Document 1 describes a negotiation system that generates a proposed change to the ordering conditions that is highly useful to the supplier based on the ordering conditions received by the supplier from the ordering side, and transmits the proposed change to the ordering side.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] In Patent Document 1, since the capacity of the logistics center as the ordering side is not considered, there is a problem that the capacity of the logistics center may be exceeded when ordering according to the proposed change of the ordering conditions. In particular, when optimizing the inventory while maintaining the ordering conditions agreed between the logistics center and the supplier, the capacity such as the storage capacity of the logistics center may be exceeded.

[0006] However, there is a problem in that it is difficult to ask suppliers to make significant changes to ordering conditions in order to prevent exceeding capacity. Furthermore, even if suppliers are able to satisfy storage capacity by reducing the quantity per lot due to significant changes in ordering conditions, the volume of receiving work may exceed the capacity of the logistics center due to an increase in the number of receiving operations, or the CO2 emissions associated with transportation and receiving operations may exceed the constraints set for the logistics center.

[0007] Another approach would be to request minor changes to ordering conditions from multiple suppliers to prevent the logistics center from becoming overloaded. However, negotiating with multiple suppliers for various products would require a significant amount of effort and time.

[0008] This invention has been made in view of the above problems, and its objective is to generate proposed changes to ordering conditions that comply with the capabilities and constraints of bases such as logistics centers, and that are acceptable to suppliers. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] A typical example of the invention disclosed in this invention is as follows: The present invention relates to a computer having an arithmetic unit and a memory accessible by the arithmetic unit, which is stored at a base. per item A method for planning inventory supply, wherein the computer, The system receives target locations to be processed and manages the inventory quantity of each item at each of the multiple locations, including initial inventory quantities by item and location, location-specific capacity information for managing capacity limit indicators which are the upper limits of the capacity of each of the multiple locations, unit load information set for each of the multiple locations for managing the load per unit of each item, item-specific order condition information for managing the order conditions for the number of items to be ordered at the target locations, demand forecast information for managing the demand forecast for each item at the target locations, and change tolerance information for managing the range of changes that can be made to the order conditions for each item. The first step of obtaining, and the computer, Using the initial inventory quantity by product and location, the capacity information by location, the unit load information, the ordering conditions information by product, and the demand forecast information, the stockout rate is less than or equal to the upper limit of the capacity index of the target location. A second step is to calculate the inventory supply plan for each item as the initial inventory supply plan, and the computer then... A third step in which, based on the capacity information for each location and the unit load information, a first capacity occupancy rate is calculated for each item, which is the ratio of the capacity used by the item to the capacity upper limit index in the initial inventory supply plan, and a second capacity occupancy rate is calculated for each item, which is the ratio of the capacity used by the item to the capacity upper limit index in the inventory supply plan generated by changing the ordering conditions within the permissible range of changes to the ordering conditions, and the value obtained by subtracting the second capacity occupancy rate from the first capacity occupancy rate is calculated as the reduction amount, and for each item, a proposed change to the ordering conditions that results in a Pareto optimal reduction amount is calculated, a fourth step in which the computer selects from the proposed change to conditions that the reduction amount satisfies predetermined conditions, and the computer modifies the product-specific ordering conditions information using the selected proposed change to conditions for each item, and uses the initial inventory quantity for each product and location, the capacity information for each location, the unit load information, the modified product-specific ordering conditions information, and the demand forecast information, Revised Inventory Supply Plan of The number to calculate 5 The steps include, and [Effects of the Invention]

[0010] According to one aspect of the present invention, by quantitatively evaluating the amount of capacity utilization at logistics centers and other facilities based on proposed changes to ordering conditions for each product, it is possible to efficiently negotiate with suppliers in order of the proposals that result in the largest reductions. As a result, it is possible to determine ordering conditions that comply with the capacity of the facilities and are acceptable to the suppliers.

[0011] Details of at least one embodiment of the subject matter disclosed herein are described in the accompanying drawings and the following description. Other features, aspects and effects of the subject matter disclosed are made apparent by the following disclosures, drawings and claims. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0012] [Figure 1] This block diagram shows an embodiment of the present invention and an example of the configuration of an inventory supply planning system. [Figure 2] This figure shows an example of the present invention and an example of product information. [Figure 3] This figure illustrates an example of the present invention and shows an example of capability information for each location. [Figure 4] This figure illustrates an example of the present invention and shows an example of order condition information for each product. [Figure 5] This figure illustrates an embodiment of the present invention and shows an example of information regarding the permissible range of changes to order conditions for each product. [Figure 6] This figure illustrates an example of the present invention and shows an example of daily and product-specific demand forecast information. [Figure 7] This figure illustrates an example of initial inventory information by product and location, showing an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 8] This figure illustrates an embodiment of the present invention and shows an example of proposed changes to order conditions. [Figure 9] This figure illustrates an embodiment of the present invention and shows an example of negotiation result information. [Figure 10] This figure illustrates an embodiment of the present invention and shows an example of external resource arrangement proposal information. [Figure 11] This flowchart illustrates an embodiment of the present invention and shows an example of inventory supply planning processing. [Figure 12] This figure illustrates an embodiment of the present invention and shows an example of a confirmation screen for proposed changes to order conditions. [Figure 13] This flowchart illustrates an embodiment of the present invention and shows an example of the inventory supply plan calculation process. [Figure 14]This is a diagram showing an example of an embodiment of the present invention and an evaluation process. [Figure 15] This is a diagram showing an example of an embodiment of the present invention and a confirmation screen for an inventory supply plan. [Figure 16] This is a diagram showing another example of a confirmation screen for a proposed change in ordering conditions in an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 17] This is a diagram showing an example of a confirmation screen for the execution status of an automatic negotiation in an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 18] This is a diagram showing an example of a confirmation screen for external resources in an embodiment of the present invention.

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0013] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of an inventory supply planning system 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The inventory supply planning system 1 generates a supply plan for product (or item) inventory at a logistics base such as a warehouse or logistics center that stores products and items.

[0014] The inventory supply planning system 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention is composed of a computer having a processor (CPU) 11, a communication interface 12, an input / output interface 13, and a memory 14. The processor 11, communication interface (in the figure, communication IF) 12, input / output interface (in the figure, input / output IF) 13, and memory 14 are connected to each other so as to be accessible via a communication path (not shown) such as a bus.

[0015] The processor 11 is an arithmetic unit that executes programs stored in the memory 14. By the processor 11 executing various programs, various functions of the inventory supply planning system 1 are realized. Note that part of the processing performed by the processor 11 when executing a program may be executed by another arithmetic device (for example, an FPGA or ASIC by hardware).

[0016] Memory 14 includes ROM, a non-volatile memory element, and RAM, a volatile memory device. ROM stores immutable programs (e.g., BIOS). RAM is a high-speed, volatile memory device such as DRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory), and temporarily stores programs executed by the processor 11 and data used during program execution (e.g., data read from memory device 2).

[0017] For example, the processor 11 functions as the order condition change proposal planning unit f1 by executing the order condition change proposal planning program. The order condition change proposal planning unit f1 plans order condition changes based on various data, including order condition information for each product (or item).

[0018] Furthermore, the processor 11 functions as a negotiation unit f2 by executing a negotiation program. Based on various data, including the proposed change in order conditions information o1, the negotiation unit f2 negotiates with the supplier regarding the feasibility of changing the order conditions.

[0019] The supplier can be any organization or entity that has the authority to determine the ordering conditions, such as a factory's production planning system 6 or a logistics base's outbound management system 7.

[0020] Furthermore, the processor 11 functions as a screen generation unit f3 by executing a screen generation program. The screen generation unit f3 generates data to be displayed on the screen so that the user can visually confirm the determined capacity utilization rate, the proposed changes to the order conditions, and the negotiation results and capacity utilization rate.

[0021] The communication interface 12 is a network interface device that controls communication with other devices via the network 9 according to a predetermined protocol.

[0022] The input / output interface 13 is connected to output devices such as a display device (not shown) and a printer (not shown), and input devices such as a keyboard (not shown), a mouse (not shown), and a touch panel (not shown). It is an interface that outputs the execution results of a program in a format that can be viewed by the user and receives input from the user.

[0023] The program executed by the processor 11 is provided to the server via removable media (such as a CD-ROM or flash memory) or a network, and stored in non-volatile memory 14 or auxiliary storage devices, which are non-temporary storage media. For this reason, the inventory supply planning system 1 should have an interface for reading data from the network or removable media.

[0024] The inventory supply planning system 1 is a computer system that operates on a single physical computer, or on multiple computers configured logically or physically. Alternatively, the inventory supply planning system 1 may operate on a virtual computer built on multiple physical computing resources.

[0025] The inventory supply planning system 1 is connected to the storage device 2. The storage device 2 has a large capacity and is a non-volatile storage device, such as a magnetic storage device (HDD) or flash memory (SSD), and stores data used by the processor 11 when executing programs.

[0026] For example, storage device 2 stores data used by the inventory supply planning system 1 for calculations, including product information i1, site-specific capacity information i2, product-specific ordering condition information i3, product-specific ordering condition change tolerance information i4, daily and product-specific demand forecast information i5, and product-specific and site-specific initial inventory information i6. Note that the "·" in "daily and product-specific" can be read as "and". The same applies to the notation of other components.

[0027] Furthermore, the storage device 2 stores the proposed order condition change information o1, negotiation result information o2, proposed external resource arrangement information o3, and inventory supply plan o4, which are output by the inventory supply planning system 1 as a result of calculation processing. The inventory supply plan o4 includes daily, product-specific, and route-specific transport volume information o41, daily, vehicle-specific, and route-specific transport volume information o42, and daily, product-specific, and location-specific inbound / outbound and inventory volume information o43. Details of this information will be described later. The storage device 2 may also store programs executed by the processor 11.

[0028] In the configuration shown in Figure 1, a storage device 2 is provided separately from the inventory supply planning system 1. However, an auxiliary storage device, which is a non-volatile storage device for storing data, may be provided within the inventory supply planning system 1.

[0029] The inventory supply planning system 1 may be connected to other systems (for example, customer POS system 3, order management system 4, external resource management system 5, production planning system 6, outbound management system 7, transportation management system 8) via the communication interface 12 and network 9.

[0030] Customer POS system 3 is a system for managing product sales at retail stores and is also used by retail stores to order products. Customer POS system 3 is operated, for example, by the person who places the product order.

[0031] Order Management System 4 is a system for managing orders by supplier and by product. It is also used to agree on ordering conditions with suppliers and to place orders for products from locations to suppliers. Order Management System 4 is operated, for example, by the person who places the order for a product.

[0032] The External Resource Management System 5 is a system for arranging and managing external resources such as chartered vehicles for transportation, external warehouses for storage, and workers for operations. The External Resource Management System 5 may be operated by, for example, the manager of the logistics center, or it may be operated by an organization outside the logistics center.

[0033] The production planning system 6 is a system for planning the production of goods at various locations such as factories. The production planning system 6 is operated, for example, by the goods supplier. The outbound inventory management system 7 is a system for managing the outbound shipment of goods at various locations such as factories and warehouses. The outbound inventory management system 7 can be operated, for example, by the supplier or the logistics center. The transportation management system 8 is a system for transportation companies to manage the operation of transportation methods. The transportation management system 8 can be operated, for example, by the supplier or the logistics center in addition to the transportation company.

[0034] For example, the inventory supply planning system 1 collects demand forecast information and order information for products transmitted from the customer POS system 3 and generates the requested arrival date and predicted required quantity for each product. Then, based on the predicted required quantity, product-specific order condition information i3, and product-specific / location-specific initial inventory information i6, the inventory supply planning system 1 devises and outputs an inventory supply plan o4 that minimizes the cost of adhering to the capacity set in location-specific capacity information i2 on a daily basis.

[0035] If the inventory supply planning system 1's output inventory supply plan exceeds the logistics center's capacity, it automatically negotiates changes to the ordering conditions in the ordering management system 4 based on the proposed changes to the ordering conditions information o1. The inventory supply planning system 1 can output negotiation result information o2, which is the result of the automatic negotiation, or, if the capacity is still exceeded after the negotiation, it can output proposed external resource arrangement information o3.

[0036] Based on the external resource arrangement proposal information o3 output from the inventory supply planning system 1, the external resource management system 5 can arrange the external resources (transportation, storage, labor) as described above.

[0037] Based on the negotiation result information o2 output from the inventory supply planning system 1, the production planning system 6 can formulate or modify a production plan, the outbound management system 7 can generate or modify outbound instructions, and the transportation management system 8 can generate or modify dispatch instructions.

[0038] Figure 2 shows an example of product information i1. Product information i1 includes at least the product name 111, the unit volume 112, the unit CO2 emission 113, and the stockout rate limit 114 in a single record.

[0039] Product name 111 is a data item that stores the name (or identifier) ​​of the product. Unit volume 112 stores the volume (or capacity) per unit quantity of the product, which is necessary to calculate the volume occupied by the product relative to the capacity of the location. Unit CO2 emissions 113 stores the amount of CO2 emissions per unit quantity of the product during logistics operations from receiving to shipping.

[0040] The "Out-of-Stock Rate Limit 114" stores the upper limit of the acceptable out-of-stock rate for a product. The out-of-stock rate represents the ratio of the quantity lacking to the pre-set inventory level for each product. Furthermore, the values ​​for each item in product information i1 are pre-set.

[0041] Furthermore, product information i1 may include data items for indicator values ​​such as "unit weight," which is the weight per unit quantity, although these are not shown in the illustration. In this embodiment, the unit quantity is referred to as pcs (pieces), but it may also be a case, pallet, or other unit. Also, in this embodiment, the unit of volume is referred to as tai, but it may be a liter or other unit.

[0042] Furthermore, the unit volume 112, the unit CO2 emission 113, and the stockout rate limit 114 are information about the load on the base, and since they represent the load per unit that has been set in advance, they can be considered as unit loads, and product information i1 can be treated as unit load information.

[0043] Figure 3 shows an example of site-specific capacity information i2. Site-specific capacity information i2 includes at least the site name 121, address 122, inventory storage volume limit 123, CO2 emission limit 124, and receiving work volume limit 125 in a single record.

[0044] Location Name 121 stores the name of the location (logistics center), and Address 122 stores the address of the location. Inventory Storage Volume Limit 123 stores the maximum volume of goods that can be stored at that location.

[0045] The CO2 emission limit 124 stores the annual CO2 emissions allocated to the location. The receiving work volume limit 125 stores the maximum daily volume of goods handled at the location. It may also be set for a combination of location name and date (not shown). Note that the values ​​for each item in the location-specific capacity information i2 are set in advance.

[0046] Furthermore, the base-specific capacity information i2 may include data items for indicator values ​​that show upper limits on transport capacity, such as "maximum transport volume" and "maximum number of transported vehicles," for each receiving route from the supplier, and this data may be set for combinations of receiving route and date (not shown). It may also include data items for "address" and "latitude and longitude" (not shown) that represent the geographical location of the base.

[0047] Furthermore, in terms of the facility's capabilities, it is possible to set limits on the area available for storing goods, restrictions on CO2 emissions generated during transportation such as receiving and shipping goods, and limits on costs and the volume of receiving operations.

[0048] Figure 4 shows an example of product-specific order condition information i3. Product-specific order condition information i3 includes at least the product name 131, the supplier location name 132, the order lot size 133, and the minimum order quantity 134 in a single record.

[0049] Product Name 131 stores the name of the product. Supplier Location Name 132 stores the name of the location from which the product is shipped. Order Lot Size 133 stores the quantity of one lot, which is the order unit for the product. Minimum Order Quantity 134 stores the minimum quantity required when ordering the product. Note that the values ​​for each item in Product-Specific Order Condition Information i3 are pre-set.

[0050] Product-specific ordering condition information i3 may also include data items such as lead time, price, ordering cycle, ordering method, reorder point (or ordering timing), and standard inventory quantity, which are set as the values ​​of the ordering conditions when placing an order from a site to a supplier, although these are not shown in the diagram.

[0051] Figure 5 shows an example of the product-specific order condition change tolerance information i4. The product-specific order condition change tolerance information i4 includes at least the product name 141, the lower limit 142 and upper limit 143 of the order lot size change tolerance range, and the lower limit 144 and upper limit 145 of the minimum order quantity change tolerance range in a single record. The values ​​for each item in the change tolerance information i4 are pre-set.

[0052] Furthermore, the above acceptable range of change may be defined by setting upper and lower limits for each order condition defined in the product-specific order condition information i3 in Figure 4. The upper and lower limits may be set as ratios or percentages, or as absolute quantities.

[0053] Figure 6 shows an example of daily and product-specific demand forecast information i5. The daily and product-specific demand forecast information i5 includes at least the order ID 161, the arrival request date 162, the product name 163, the destination name 164, the forecast request quantity 165, and the variance of the demand forecast error 166 in a single record.

[0054] Order ID 161 stores the identifier of the forecast information. Arrival Request Date 162 stores the date on which the goods should arrive at the location. Product Name 163 stores the product name of the item for which demand forecasting is being conducted. Delivery Location Name 164 stores the name of the location to which the goods should be delivered. Forecast Request Quantity 165 stores the predicted request quantity of the goods. Demand Forecast Error Variance 166 stores the result of calculating the error variance.

[0055] In addition to the items mentioned above, the daily and product-specific demand forecast information i5 may also include data items such as forecast dates, although these are not shown in the diagram. Furthermore, instead of daily demand forecasts as in this embodiment, monthly or other types of demand forecasts may also be used.

[0056] Figure 7 shows an example of initial inventory information i6 by product and location. Initial inventory information i6 by product and location includes at least product name 167, location name 168, and inventory quantity 169 in a single record. Product name 167 stores the name of the product to be stored at the location. Location name 168 stores the name or identifier of the location. Inventory quantity 169 stores the initial inventory quantity of the product. The values ​​of each item in initial inventory information i6 by product and location are set in advance. Initial inventory quantity can be set for each combination of product and location in initial inventory information i6 by product and location.

[0057] In addition to the above, the initial inventory information i6 by product and location may also include unit price information by product and location to calculate costs incurred at each location (not shown). Storage costs incurred when storing goods at that location, and inbound / outbound work costs, which are the unit costs incurred when receiving and shipping goods at that location, may also be included (not shown). Inbound and outbound work costs may be defined separately.

[0058] Furthermore, in order to calculate the costs incurred during transportation, unit price information may be set for each receiving route and transportation type (not shown). Transportation types may be set for combinations of vehicle type, container size, and transportation methods such as rail, rail, and ship.

[0059] The initial inventory information i6, which is categorized by product and location, can also represent the current inventory levels for each product and location, and is updated at predetermined intervals (for example, daily).

[0060] Figure 8 shows an example of the proposed order condition change information o1 output by the inventory supply planning system 1. The proposed order condition change information o1 includes the proposed condition change #171, product name 172, order lot size 173, minimum order quantity 174, change in the maximum storage capacity occupancy rate 175, and change in the maximum receiving operation capacity occupancy rate 176 in a single record.

[0061] Condition Change Proposal #171 stores the identifier of the condition change proposal assigned by the inventory supply planning system 1. Product Name 172 stores the name (or identifier) ​​of the product. Order Lot Size 173 stores the quantity of the product per lot under the changed ordering conditions. Minimum Order Quantity 174 stores the lower limit of the quantity of the product that can be ordered in a single order under the changed ordering conditions.

[0062] The change in the maximum storage capacity occupancy rate, 175, stores the change in the occupancy rate of the proposed order condition change relative to the maximum storage capacity that changes as a result of the proposed change (revised inventory supply plan). Note that the change is the value obtained by subtracting the capacity occupancy rate of the revised inventory supply plan from the capacity occupancy rate of the initial inventory supply plan. For example, if the maximum inventory storage volume 123 is 100,000 cubic feet, then for a product with a unit volume of 1.0 cubic feet / pcs, reducing the inventory by 10,000 units would result in a reduction rate of -10pt (%).

[0063] Furthermore, the change amount 176 in the maximum value of the receiving work capacity occupancy rate stores the change in the maximum value of the receiving work capacity that changes as a result of the proposed change.

[0064] In this embodiment, the order condition change proposal planning unit f1 calculates the ratio of each capacity used by each product to the upper limit of capacity (capacity upper limit index) set in the base-specific capacity information i2 as the capacity occupancy rate (or maximum capacity occupancy rate).

[0065] The order condition change proposal information o1 stores zero or more proposed changes for each product that reduce capacity utilization while maintaining the acceptable range of changes to the order conditions. Each proposed change includes a suggested setting value for the order condition and the amount of change in capacity utilization when an order is placed using that setting value.

[0066] In the illustrated example, the original ordering conditions for "Product A" are as shown in Figure 4: order lot size 133 = "1000" and minimum order quantity 134 = "2000". However, in the case of proposed change #171 = "1", the order lot size 173 is reduced to "500" and the minimum order quantity 174 is reduced to "1000".

[0067] Furthermore, in the proposed order condition change information o1, if this proposed condition change #171 = "1" is implemented, the change in the maximum value of the storage stress occupancy rate will be 175 = "-10pt (%)", resulting in a reduction in the occupancy rate relative to the storage capacity. However, the order lot size 173 will decrease to "500", and the minimum order quantity 174 will also decrease to "1000", so the receiving work at the base will increase. For this reason, the change in the maximum value of the receiving work capacity occupancy rate 176 will increase to "+3pt".

[0068] Figure 9 shows an example of negotiation result information o2 output by the inventory supply planning system 1. Negotiation result information o2 stores the results of negotiations between the inventory supply planning system 1 and the production planning system 6, the outbound management system 7, or the transportation management system 8.

[0069] The negotiation result information o2 includes the negotiation order #181, the proposed change in conditions #182, the change in the maximum capacity utilization rate (storage 183, receiving operations 184), the maximum capacity utilization rate under the order conditions at the start of negotiations (storage 185, receiving operations 186), and the negotiation status 187, all in a single record.

[0070] Negotiation Order #181 stores the order of negotiations being conducted by the inventory supply planning system 1. Condition Change Proposal #182 stores the value of Condition Change Proposal #171 from Order Condition Change Proposal Information o1.

[0071] The change in the maximum capacity occupancy rate, specifically storage 183, stores the change in the maximum storage volume calculated from the negotiation results. The change in storage volume is expressed as a percentage of the ratio of storage volume (in units) to the inventory storage volume limit 123 in the base-specific capacity information i2.

[0072] Of the changes in the maximum capacity utilization rate, the receiving work 184 stores the change in the maximum amount of receiving work calculated from the negotiation results. The change in receiving work is expressed as a percentage of the ratio of the amount of work (pcs / day) to the upper limit of receiving work 125 in the capacity information i2 for each location.

[0073] Of the maximum capacity utilization rates under the order conditions at the start of negotiations, storage 185 stores the maximum capacity utilization rate of storage volume calculated from the order quantity at the start of negotiations. The maximum capacity utilization rate of storage volume is expressed as a percentage of the ratio of storage volume (in units) to the inventory storage volume limit 123 in the site-specific capacity information i2.

[0074] The maximum capacity utilization rate under the order conditions at the start of negotiations, specifically for receiving operations 186, stores the maximum capacity utilization rate of receiving operations calculated from the order quantity at the start of negotiations. The capacity utilization rate of receiving operations is expressed as a percentage of the ratio of the workload (pcs / day) to the upper limit of receiving operations 125 in the site-specific capacity information i2. The negotiation status 187 stores the result or progress of the negotiations.

[0075] The negotiation result information o2 stores the change in the capacity occupancy rate relative to the base-specific capacity information i2 at the start of negotiations and at the end of negotiations for each proposed change in conditions #182.

[0076] Figure 10 shows an example of external resource procurement proposal information o3 output by the inventory supply planning system 1. External resource procurement proposal information o3 holds procurement proposals for using external resources when resources at the processing site are insufficient.

[0077] External resource procurement proposal information o3 includes capability type 191, resource type 192, required quantity 193, required duration 194, procurement proposal 195, total cost increase 196, procurement negotiation order #197, and procurement negotiation status 197 in a single record.

[0078] Capacity type 191 stores the category of the resource that is lacking. In the example shown, it represents "storage," but other capacities such as "transportation," "receiving," and "dispatch" can also be stored. Resource type 192 stores the type of resource that is lacking. In the example shown, it represents "external warehouse," but other resource types such as "vehicles" and "workers" can also be stored.

[0079] Required Quantity 193 stores the quantity required for resource type 192. Required Period 194 stores the start and end dates. Proposed Arrangement 195 stores the name (or identifier) ​​of the external resource user. Total Cost Increase 196 stores the cost increase when using the external resource. Arrangement Negotiation Order #197 stores the order in which the negotiation for this record is performed. Arrangement Negotiation Status 198 stores the negotiation result or status of the external resource negotiation.

[0080] Although not illustrated, the inventory supply plan o4 includes information such as product name, order date, scheduled arrival date and time, quantity on each date, and supplier. It can also include daily, product-specific, and route-specific transport volume information o41, daily, vehicle-specific, and route-specific transport volume information o42, and daily, product-specific, and location-specific inbound / outbound and inventory volume information o43.

[0081] Figure 11 is a flowchart S1 showing an example of the inventory supply planning process performed in the inventory supply planning system 1. Below, we will first explain the overall overview of flowchart S1, and then describe the process of each step. This process is executed at predetermined intervals (for example, every day) or according to instructions from administrators or users.

[0082] First, the inventory supply planning system 1 receives the target locations for processing from the order condition change proposal planning unit f1 and obtains product information i1, location-specific capacity information i2, product-specific order condition information i3, product-specific order condition change tolerance range information i4, daily and product-specific demand forecast information i5, and product-specific and location-specific initial inventory information i6 as input data from the storage device 2 (S10).

[0083] Next, the Order Condition Change Planning Unit f1 calculates an inventory supply plan o4 that satisfies the stockout rate limit 114 and the capacity of the processing site (inventory storage volume limit 123, CO2 emission limit 124, receiving work volume limit 125) under the product-specific order condition information i3 agreed upon with the supplier and inventory supply planning system 1 shown in Figure 4 (S11).

[0084] In other words, the order condition change proposal planning unit f1 calculates one or more inventory supply plans that satisfy the processing location capacity information i2 for each product's current inventory level, based on the initial inventory information i6 by product and location, the stockout rate limit 114 of the product information i1, and the order conditions. If there is no solution that satisfies all of the location capacity information i2, the order condition change proposal planning unit f1 can designate an inventory supply plan that satisfies one of the inventory storage volume limit 123, the CO2 emission limit 124, and the receiving work volume limit 125 as the Pareto optimal inventory supply plan o4.

[0085] Furthermore, the generation of the inventory supply plan o4 calculated by the order condition change proposal planning unit f1 can utilize well-known or publicly available methods. In addition, if external resources from the site are available, the order condition change proposal planning unit f1 does not need to meet the capacity of the site being processed (maximum inventory storage volume 123, maximum CO2 emissions 124, maximum receiving work volume 125). In this case, the order condition change proposal planning unit f1 only needs to calculate one or more inventory supply plans based on the stockout rate limit 114 and the order conditions.

[0086] Next, the order condition change proposal planning unit f1 calculates a proposed order condition change for each product name 111 registered in product information i1, based on the input data from product information i1 to product-specific and location-specific initial inventory information i6, within the permissible range of order condition changes (i4) for each product name 111, and stores the proposed order condition change information o1 (S12). The inventory supply plan formulated with the Pareto-optimal proposed order condition change is kept as the modified inventory supply plan. The amount of capacity utilization reduction for each product serves as an order condition determination index when deciding on the proposed order condition change.

[0087] The order condition change proposal planning unit f1 can, for example, calculate multiple condition change proposals (i.e., modified inventory supply plans) for a single product within the acceptable range of changes set in the product-specific order condition change tolerance information i4. In other words, the order condition change proposal planning unit f1 can search for product-specific order condition change proposals so as to satisfy the upper limit of the site-specific capacity information i2.

[0088] Furthermore, Pareto optimization refers to a state in the revised inventory supply plan where the capacity utilization rate of goods is efficiently allocated to the capacity information i2 for each location.

[0089] Next, the negotiation unit f2 repeats the process from step S13 to step S19 until the predetermined termination conditions are met.

[0090] First, the negotiating department f2 selects a modified inventory supply plan (modified inventory supply plan) that, in processing step S14, allows the change in ordering conditions to comply with the capacity of the site (site-specific capacity information i2) and maximizes the reduction in the occupancy rate for capacity exceeding the site-specific capacity information i2, relative to the maximum capacity occupancy rate in the inventory plan based on the product-specific ordering condition information i3 agreed upon with the supplier.

[0091] Negotiation Department f2 selects one proposed change in order conditions #171 from the unprocessed proposed changes in order conditions information o1 that satisfies the above selection criteria. Here, Negotiation Department f2 sorts the proposed changes in order conditions information o1 by product in descending order of the amount of reduction (change amount 175 or 176), and selects the proposed change in order conditions for each product in descending order of the amount of reduction.

[0092] Next, the negotiation unit f2 negotiates the proposed changes to the ordering conditions selected in step S14 with each supplier for each product (S15). The negotiation unit f2 sends the selected changes to the ordering conditions to the supplier's production planning system 6 or inventory management system 7 to inquire whether they will accept the changes. The negotiation unit f2 receives the acceptance or rejection response from the supplier as the negotiation result.

[0093] Negotiations regarding proposed changes to ordering conditions with suppliers may be conducted automatically between computers such as the inventory supply planning system 1 and the production planning system 6, but administrators or operators may also be involved. The automated negotiation of proposed changes to ordering conditions between computers is envisioned to involve the supplier's computer deciding whether to accept the proposed changes sent by the inventory supply planning system 1, but automated negotiations using machine learning models may also be employed.

[0094] In step S16, the negotiation unit f2 determines whether or not to negotiate the proposed changes to the order conditions. If the negotiation is successful, the process proceeds to step S17; otherwise, it proceeds to step S19 and repeats the process from step S13. In other words, the negotiation unit f2 negotiates the proposed changes to the order conditions in order of the amount of reduction, and repeats the process until the negotiation is successful.

[0095] In step S17, the negotiation department f2 updates the proposed capacity occupancy rate based on the changes in occupancy rates calculated in step S11 (a change of 175 in the maximum value of the storage capacity occupancy rate and a change of 176 in the maximum value of the receiving operation capacity occupancy rate) for the proposed changes in order conditions that were agreed upon in step S15. Note that the capacity information i2 for each location contains capacity occupancy rates for the proposed changes in conditions (not shown), and the negotiation department f2 may update the capacity occupancy rate according to the change of 176.

[0096] Next, the negotiation unit f2 determines whether the pre-set termination conditions are met. If the termination conditions are met, it terminates the loop process and proceeds to step S20. If the termination conditions are not met, it returns to step S13 and executes the above loop process with the new proposed order condition changes.

[0097] The predetermined termination conditions for the loop processing in steps S13 to S19 may be, for example, when the order condition changes for all products subject to processing satisfy the site-specific capacity information i2, when all negotiations to be carried out in step S15 are completed, or when the number of loop processing iterations exceeds a predetermined number.

[0098] Next, the negotiating unit f2 modifies the product-specific order condition information i3 corresponding to all the proposed changes to the order conditions that were agreed upon in the loop of steps S13 to S19 (S20).

[0099] In step S21, the Negotiation Unit f2 determines whether the inventory supply plan o4 generated using the product-specific order condition information i3 to which the above-mentioned changes to the order conditions apply meets the capacity limit of the site. The Negotiation Unit f2 determines whether the generated inventory supply plan o4 is within the capacity limit of the site-specific capacity information i2.

[0100] Negotiation unit f2 determines that the capacity limit is met if the inventory supply plan o4 is within the capacity of the site-specific capacity information i2, and terminates processing. On the other hand, if the inventory supply plan o4 exceeds the capacity limit, negotiating unit f2 calculates the required amount of external resources to compensate for the excess, and arranges for the external resources in step S22, in order to use external resources other than the site being processed (S22).

[0101] Through the above process, the inventory supply planning system 1 can generate proposed changes to ordering conditions that comply with the capacity of bases such as logistics centers and are acceptable to suppliers.

[0102] Next, the details of the process performed in step S10 above will be explained. From the input data taken in by the order condition change proposal planning unit f1, the screen generation unit f3 generates display data for the input and confirmation screen, and the display data may be output to an external computer via the input / output interface 13 and displayed on a display device (not shown) or the like.

[0103] Figure 12 shows an example of the input and confirmation screen d1 for formulating proposed changes to order conditions. The data displayed on the input and confirmation screen d1 is generated by the screen generation unit f3. The input and confirmation screen d1 includes a base-specific capacity information area d11 that displays the contents of base-specific capacity information i2, a product-specific order condition information area d12 that displays the contents of product-specific order condition information i3, an edit button d13 for input data, and an execution button d14 for formulating proposed changes to conditions.

[0104] On the input / confirmation screen d1, you can edit the contents of the location-specific capacity information i2 and the product-specific order condition information i3. You can edit or update the input data by operating the input data edit button d13.

[0105] Users and administrators of the inventory supply planning system 1 can start the process from step S10 onwards shown in Figure 11 by operating the execution button d14 for drafting the proposed condition change after they have finished editing or confirming the input data.

[0106] Next, we will explain the details of the process performed in step S11. In step S11 shown in Figure 2, the order condition change proposal unit f1 outputs an inventory supply plan o4 that satisfies the stockout rate limit 114 and the capacity of the site to be processed, based on the product-specific order condition information i3 agreed upon with the supplier and the inventory supply planning system 1.

[0107] The Order Condition Change Planning Unit f1, using the products registered in Product Information i1, and based on the location-specific capacity information i2, the product-specific order condition information i3 agreed upon with the supplier, the daily and product-specific demand forecast information i5, and the product-specific and location-specific initial inventory information i6, formulates an inventory supply plan o4 that satisfies the stockout rate limit and the capacity of the target location under the agreed-upon order conditions. This inventory supply plan is calculated using the process shown in flowchart S2 in Figure 13.

[0108] First, in step S21, the order condition change proposal planning unit f1, in accordance with the product-specific order condition information i3 agreed upon with the supplier, and based on the product-specific and location-specific initial inventory information i6, plans an inventory supply plan o4 consisting of daily, product-specific, and route-specific transport volume information o41, daily, vehicle type-specific, and route-specific transport volume information o42, and daily, product-specific, and location-specific inbound / outbound and inventory volume information o43, to satisfy the capacity limits set in the location-specific capacity information i2, as described below.

[0109] One method for formulating the inventory supply plan o4 is to have the order condition change proposal planning unit f1 automatically generate all possible combinations of transport volume, number of transported vehicles, inbound / outbound volume, inventory volume, and shortage volume, thereby generating all possible inventory supply plans o4.

[0110] Then, the Order Condition Change Planning Department f1 may explore all possible inventory supply plans o4 generated by repeating steps S21 to S26 for each plan, and determine the inventory supply plan o4 that satisfies the stockout rate limit of 114 and has the best KPI (Key Performance Indicator). Here, there may be multiple KPIs, including total cost, CO2 emissions, sales, cash flow, and inventory level.

[0111] Another method for formulating an inventory supply plan (o4) is to allocate transportation to the available capacity, up to the maximum transport volume and transport unit limit, starting with the order with the latest requested arrival date (or expected arrival date), in order to meet the quantity requested by that order. Any amount exceeding the transport capacity limit can be allocated by bringing forward the delivery date, thereby determining the daily, product-specific, and route-specific transportation volumes.

[0112] Given the departure date t, route p, vehicle type v, and goods i, the number of vehicles transported (vcnt(t, p, v)) can be calculated based on the transport volume trans(t, p, v, i) using the following formula. The elements and formula for the calculation are shown below.

[0113] ·set: • Dates to be planned: 0, 1, ~T • Collection of products: I • Set of paths: P • Base gathering: W • Set of routes to reach base w: Pw ·Constant: Below, t∈T • Unit volume of product i: ItemUnitVol(i) • Maximum load capacity for vehicle type v: VehicleVolUB(v) The formula for calculating the number of transported vehicles, where vcnt(t, p, v), is given below.

[0114]

number

[0115] The above only considers volume as the maximum load capacity. However, if weight is also considered, for example, then the larger of the number of transport units calculated based on the maximum load volume or the number of transport units calculated based on the maximum load weight should be used.

[0116] Furthermore, based on the above transportation volumes, daily, location-specific, and product-specific inbound volumes can be calculated by summing the transportation volumes for the entire route from upstream, for the same arrival date and product.

[0117] Daily, location-specific, and product-specific incoming quantities can be calculated by summing the total transport volume from the entire upstream route for the same product on the same arrival date. Daily, location-specific, and product-specific discard quantities can be calculated by summing the amount of inventory on that day that exceeds the maximum storage period from the start date of storage, broken down by location and product.

[0118] For a given date t, location w, and product i, the daily, location-specific, and product-specific inventory quantity stock(t, w, i) can be calculated using the incoming quantity in(t, w, i) and outgoing quantity out(t, w, i), calculated using the method described above, as follows:

[0119] ·constant: • Initial stock quantity: InitStock(w, i) The formula for calculating the inventory quantity stock(t, w, i) is shown below.

[0120]

number

[0121] When defining inventory storage volume limits, inbound quantity limits, and outbound quantity limits in inventory capacity information i2 by location, any amount exceeding the limits should be adjusted so that the inbound or outbound quantities are below the limits, and the excess amount should be recorded as a stockout.

[0122] The daily, location-specific, and product-specific stockout quantity, shortage(t, w, i), can be calculated using the following formula, where requestQty(t, p, i) (p∈P) is the quantity requested from downstream, for the set of downstream paths P of location w.

[0123] The formula for calculating the amount of goods requested to be shipped from downstream to base w, requestQty(t, w, i), is shown below.

[0124]

number

[0125] The formula for calculating the stockout amount, shortage(t, w, i), can be expressed as follows:

[0126]

number

[0127] Next, we will explain the details of step S22. In step S22, the order condition change proposal planning department f1 evaluates the capacity utilization rate of the site, KPIs such as total cost, CO2 emissions, sales, cash flow, and inventory level, and the stockout rate, assuming that the inventory supply plan o4 formulated in step S21 is implemented. Figure 14 shows a flowchart S3 that illustrates the details of the process performed in step S22.

[0128] First, in step S31, the order condition change proposal planning unit f1 generates assumed daily, product-specific, and route-specific assumed required quantities based on the predicted required quantity 165 in the product-specific daily and product-specific demand forecast information i5 and the variance of the demand forecast error 166. The assumed required quantities can be generated by adding random noise, etc., generated based on the variance of the demand forecast error 166, to the predicted required quantity 165.

[0129] Next, in step S32, the order condition change proposal planning unit f1 simulates the transport volume, number of transported vehicles, inbound and outbound quantities, inventory quantity, stockout quantity, and outbound demand quantities for each day from the first day of the planning period until the last day, assuming that the inventory supply plan o4, which was planned in step S31 based on the daily and product-specific demand forecast information i5, is executed and the actual demand is the assumed demand quantity generated in step S31, resulting in a difference between the forecast and actual demand.

[0130] For example, if demand falls below expectations on a given day, a portion of the inventory prepared for that demand becomes surplus and is rolled over to the next day. If demand rises above expectations on a given day, exceeding inventory, a shortage occurs, inventory becomes zero, and this is also rolled over to the next day. By repeating this process until the final day, it is possible to simulate the changes in each quantity while taking into account the error in demand forecasting.

[0131] Finally, in step S33, the order condition change proposal planning unit f1 evaluates the capacity utilization rate and KPIs such as total cost and the stockout rate as follows, based on the transport volume, number of transported vehicles, inbound / outbound volume, inventory volume, stockout volume, and outbound request volume obtained from the simulation results, using the following formula.

[0132] ·constant: Storage capacity upper limit StockCapUpBound(w), CO2 emission capacity upper limit CO2EmissionCapUpBound(w), Unit storage load StockUnitLoad(w, i), CO2 Emission Unit Load (Storage) CO2EmissionUnitLoadSt(w,i) CO2 Emission Unit Load In (w, i) CO2 Emission Unit Load Out (w, i), Unit CO2 emission load (transport portion) CO2EmissionUnitLoadTrans(p,v) CO2 Emission Unit Load Disposal (w, i) Transportation cost (transUnitCost(t, p, v)) Storage unit cost StockUnitCost(w, i), Disposal unit cost (w, i), Inbound work unit cost InputUnitCost(w, i), Outbound work unit cost (w, i), Unit Book Value (w, i)

[0133] ·variable: storage capacity occupiedVolCapRatio, CO2 emission capacity occupiedCO2CapRatio, Total cost totCost, Transportation cost transCost, Storage costs, Disposal cost, Inbound processing cost, inputCost, Outbound shipping cost, Average inventory value aveInventory, Shortage Rate

[0134] The formula for calculating the capacity occupancy ratio (w) using the above constants and variables can be expressed as follows:

[0135]

number

[0136] The following is an example of how to evaluate KPIs using total cost, average inventory value, and stockout rate.

[0137] The formula for calculating the total cost (totCost) can be expressed as follows:

[0138]

number

[0139] The average inventory value, aveInventory, can be expressed by the following formula:

[0140]

number

[0141] The formula for calculating the stockout rate (shortageRate) can be expressed as follows:

[0142]

number

[0143] The above examples use storage and CO2 emissions as capacity of a facility for evaluating KPIs, but KPIs can also be used to evaluate transportation capacity or inbound / outbound operations capacity. The above example uses total cost and average inventory value as KPIs, but inventory volume, CO2 emissions, sales volume, or cash flow can also be used. The above example assumes that transportation costs are added per vehicle, but a variable cost term that is continuously added in proportion to the volume of transportation may also be added.

[0144] Next, we will return to Figure 13 and explain the details of steps S23 to S25. First, in step S23, the order condition change proposal planning unit f1 determines whether the shortage rate calculated in step S22 above satisfies the upper limit of the shortage rate 114. If it satisfies the upper limit of the shortage rate 114, it proceeds to the next step S24; if it exceeds the upper limit of the shortage rate 114, it proceeds to step S26.

[0145] Next, in step S24, the order condition change proposal planning unit f1 determines whether the excess capacity (difference from the upper limit of the site-specific capacity information i2) for one or more capacity indicators (storage, CO2 emissions, etc.) is zero or smaller than the provisional solution. If it is smaller, the unit proceeds to step S25; otherwise, it proceeds to step S26.

[0146] Next, in step S26, the order condition change proposal planning unit f1 saves the inventory supply plan calculated in step S21 as a provisional solution that satisfies the stockout rate limit 114 and has zero or minimal capacity excess in a predetermined area of ​​memory 14.

[0147] In the example in Figure 13, the inventory supply plan calculated by the order condition change proposal planning unit f1 is saved as a provisional solution only when the stockout rate limit of 114 is met and the excess capacity is zero or smaller than the provisional solution. However, all other cases may also be saved as relaxed condition proposals or next-best plan proposals. Furthermore, if the excess capacity is the same as the provisional solution, the solution with the best performance in any of the KPI indicators may be saved as the Pareto-optimal provisional solution.

[0148] In step S26, the order condition change proposal planning unit f1 determines whether it has satisfied predetermined termination conditions. These predetermined termination conditions include the upper limit on the number of repetitions of the process from steps S21 to S26 and the lower limit on the improvement rate of the excess capacity. If these upper limits are met, it is determined that the termination conditions have been met, and the process proceeds to step S27.

[0149] If the termination conditions are not met, the process from steps S21 to S26 above is repeated. In that case, in step S21, the order condition change proposal unit f1 should generate an inventory supply plan for the unexplored combinations of transport volume, transport volume, inbound / outbound volume, inventory volume, waste volume, and stockout volume, for example, in the case of a full search. Alternatively, the order condition change proposal unit f1 may increase or decrease some of the quantities in the provisional inventory supply plan to generate a new inventory supply plan.

[0150] Next, the details of step S27 will be explained. The order condition change proposal planning unit f1 saves the multiple Pareto optimal provisional solutions obtained in the above loop processing as an inventory supply plan o4 that satisfies the capacity of the site-specific capacity information i2 under the order conditions agreed upon with the supplier. The screen generation unit f3 generates display data for a confirmation screen of the change proposal results from the saved inventory supply plan o4. The generated display data is output from the input / output interface 13 and displayed on a display device (not shown) or the like.

[0151] Figure 15 shows an example of the display of the confirmation screen d2 of the inventory supply plan formulation results. The confirmation screen d2 includes areas for capacity compliance status d21, time series graph d22, and KPI graph d23.

[0152] The capacity compliance status d21 displays a graph of the Pareto-optimal plan that has been devised. This graph shows the relationship between storage capacity and receiving capacity, with receiving workload on the horizontal axis and storage volume on the vertical axis. The solid line graph in the figure shows an example of an inventory supply plan where receiving workload and storage volume are Pareto-optimal. In the figured graph, the storage volume is maximized when inventory supply plan "Plan 1" is the inventory supply plan o4 that minimizes total cost, and "Plan 2" is the inventory supply plan o4 that minimizes total cost. The total cost is the predicted cost when the above inventory supply plan is implemented.

[0153] Capacity compliance status d21 can be composed of graphs showing the correlation between capacity at each site, including storage volume, receiving volume, CO2 emissions, and costs.

[0154] Time series graph d22 shows an example consisting of a graph of storage volume and date, and a graph of receiving work volume and date. The graphs shown illustrate an example where, under inventory supply plan "Plan 1," there are days when storage volume exceeds storage capacity. It also illustrates an example where, under inventory supply plan "Plan 2," there are days when receiving work volume exceeds receiving work capacity.

[0155] KPI graph d23 shows examples of radar charts for "Plan 1" and "Plan 2" of the inventory supply plan o4. The radar charts are examples composed of indicators related to CO2 emissions, inventory value, cash flow, and total cost. Note that the radar charts are not limited to the charts shown, and indicators that evaluate the capacity of the site can be used.

[0156] Furthermore, the screen generation unit f3 may output an inventory supply plan in which the stockout rate satisfies the upper limit of 114, and at least one of the KPIs (KPIs) such as total cost, CO2 emissions, inventory value, inventory quantity, and cash flow is optimal. The conditions for optimal KPIs are that total cost, CO2 emissions, inventory value, and inventory quantity are at their minimum values, and cash flow is at its maximum value. Also, as mentioned above, if plans other than the Pareto optimal plan have been saved, the other plans may be displayed.

[0157] Returning to Figure 11, we will explain the details of step S12. The order condition change proposal unit f1 calculates, for each product, a proposed change in conditions that results in a Pareto optimal reduction in capacity utilization, within the range of the acceptable range of changes to the order conditions information i4 for each product.

[0158] The process in step S12 can be achieved by the order condition change proposal planning unit f1, while varying the order conditions agreed upon with the customer (supplier) within the range of the acceptable range of change information i4, and using the same method as in step S11, following the flowchart S2 in Figure 13, formulating an inventory supply plan that satisfies the capacity of the site-specific capacity information i2 under the order conditions, evaluating the capacity utilization rate, KPIs and stockout rate of the formulated inventory supply plan, and saving the evaluated plan to the inventory supply plan o4.

[0159] The screen generation unit f3 generates display data for the confirmation screen d3 of the proposed changes to the ordering conditions based on the saved inventory supply plan o4, and can output it from the input / output interface 13 for display on a display device or the like.

[0160] Figure 16 shows an example of the display of the confirmation screen d3 for the drafting of proposed changes to the order conditions. The confirmation screen d3 includes the Pareto optimization results d31, the time series graph d32, the list of proposed changes d325, the edit button d33 for drafting the proposed changes, and the start negotiation button d34.

[0161] The Pareto optimization result d31 displays a graph of the devised Pareto-optimal inventory supply plan o4. This graph shows an example of displaying "Condition 1," "Condition 2," and "Condition 3" on a Pareto-optimal graph, with the horizontal axis representing receiving work volume and the vertical axis representing storage volume.

[0162] Time-series graph d32 shows the relationship between storage volume and date, illustrating the relationship between the change in storage volume for each day under conditions 1 to 3 and the maximum storage volume. Compared to before the change in ordering conditions, the proposed changes to ordering conditions (condition 1) to (condition 3) show that it is possible to comply with the maximum storage volume of the goods.

[0163] The proposed change list d325 shows an example of displaying a table that shows the contents of the proposed change information o1 for order conditions.

[0164] The proposed changes list d325 may also display all the proposed changes to the calculated order conditions, the index number for each change, the details of the condition changes, and the change in the maximum capacity utilization rate.

[0165] Pressing the Edit button d33 for the proposed changes may allow administrators or users to directly edit the proposed changes, or pressing the Start Negotiation button d34 may lead to step S15 in Figure 11.

[0166] Next, we will return to Figure 11 and describe the details of steps S13 to S19. The negotiation unit f2 saves the progress of the processing in steps S13 to S19, and based on the saved content, the screen generation unit f3 generates display data for a confirmation screen of the execution status of the automatic negotiation, which can be output from the input / output interface 13 and displayed on a display device or the like.

[0167] Figure 17 shows an example of the display of the confirmation screen d4 for checking the execution status of automated negotiations. The confirmation screen d4 includes an area d41 that displays the negotiation result information o2 shown in Figure 9, and a negotiation end button d42.

[0168] Area d41 may display the order of the negotiation (negotiation order #181), the index number of the proposed change in conditions being negotiated (proposed change in conditions #182), the change in the maximum capacity utilization due to the change in conditions (storage 183, receiving operation 184), the maximum capacity utilization under the order conditions at the start of the negotiation process in step S15 (storage 185, receiving operation 186), and the negotiation status 187. Alternatively, pressing the end negotiation button d42 may terminate the negotiation process midway and proceed to step S20.

[0169] Next, returning to Figure 11, we will describe the details of steps S20 to S22. The negotiation unit f2 modifies the order conditions for which negotiations have been concluded through the above negotiation process (S20). The negotiation unit f2 then determines whether the updated order condition change proposal information o1 meets the capacity limit (S21). If the capacity limit is not met, the negotiation unit f2 proceeds to step S22, where it can calculate the required amount of external resources to compensate for the excess capacity and arrange for them. The negotiation unit f2 also saves the details of the arranged external resources in the external resource arrangement proposal information o3, and the screen generation unit f3 generates display data for the external resource quantity confirmation and arrangement screen based on the saved content, which can then be output from the input / output interface 13 and displayed on a display device or the like.

[0170] Figure 18 shows an example of the display of the external resource confirmation and arrangement screen d5. The confirmation and arrangement screen d5 includes an area d51 that displays a list of the external resources needed to compensate for the capacity surplus after negotiations, and a negotiation start button d52.

[0171] Area d51 can display elements of the proposed external resource arrangement information o3 shown in Figure 10, and may show the capacity type 191 that exceeds the site-specific capacity information i2 such as storage and CO2 emissions, the resource type 192 to compensate for the excess capacity, the required amount of external resources 193, the required period 194, the proposed arrangement 195, and the total cost increase 196 resulting from the arrangement.

[0172] In the example in Figure 18, even after automated negotiations, storage capacity will be exceeded, requiring an external warehouse of 1,000 tsubo (approximately 3,300 square meters) from December 1, 2022 to January 10, 2023. Two options are presented for arranging this: Warehouse P, which will increase the total cost by $1.0 million, and Warehouse Q, which will increase the total cost by $1.1 million.

[0173] When the "Start Negotiation" button d52 is pressed, the system may start automatic negotiations for the orders from among the 195 orders for the same ability type 191, starting with the order that has the smallest total cost increase of 196. The negotiation status may also be displayed (not shown).

[0174] In the above examples, we have shown a method for generating new inventory supply plans and ordering conditions by generating all possible combinations or by increasing or decreasing some quantities in the provisional solutions, in order to search for the Pareto optimal solution. However, the present invention is not limited to this method, and the Pareto optimal solution may also be formulated using mathematical optimization techniques, such as mixed integer programming. <Conclusion>

[0175] As described above, the inventory supply planning system 1 of this embodiment generates proposed changes to ordering conditions for each product and quantitatively evaluates the amount of capacity utilization reduction at the logistics center (or base) for each proposed change. This allows for efficient negotiation with suppliers, starting with the proposal that offers the largest reduction in capacity utilization. As a result, it is possible to determine ordering conditions that comply with the capacity of the base and are acceptable to the supplier.

[0176] Furthermore, the inventory supply planning system 1 of the above embodiment can be configured as follows.

[0177] (1) An inventory supply planning method for a computer (inventory supply planning system 1) having an arithmetic unit (processor 11) and memory (14) accessible by the arithmetic unit (11), wherein the computer (1) includes an initial inventory quantity (product-specific / location-specific initial inventory information i6) indicating the inventory quantity for each item at the location, capacity information (location-specific capacity information i2) which sets a capacity upper limit index (upper limit) for each item relating to the upper limit of the capacity of the location, and unit load information (product information i1) which sets a unit load for each item for the location, and the item An inventory supply planning method characterized by comprising: a first step (S10) of acquiring pre-set ordering conditions for each item (product-specific ordering condition information i3); a second step (S11) of the computer (1) calculating an initial inventory supply plan for each item that satisfies the upper limit of the ordering conditions (i1); and a third step (S12) of the computer (1) calculating proposed changes to the ordering conditions for each item so that the capacity is reduced, based on an ordering condition change index, and calculating the inventory supply plan based on the ordering condition change index as a modified inventory supply plan (04).

[0178] With the above configuration, by quantitatively evaluating the reduction in capacity utilization at logistics centers and other locations, it is possible to ensure compliance with the capacity of the locations and determine order conditions that are acceptable to the supplier.

[0179] (2) An inventory supply planning method as described in (1) above, wherein in the third step (S12), the ratio of the capacity used by the item to the capacity upper limit index in the initial inventory supply plan is calculated as a first capacity occupancy rate, the capacity used by the item to the capacity upper limit index in the modified inventory supply plan (o4) is calculated as a second capacity occupancy rate, the value obtained by subtracting the second capacity occupancy rate from the first capacity occupancy rate is calculated as the reduction amount (175, 176), and the reduction amount is set to the value of the order condition determination index.

[0180] With the above configuration, it becomes possible to quantitatively evaluate the amount of capacity utilization reduction due to proposed changes in ordering conditions for each product at locations such as logistics centers.

[0181] (3) The inventory supply planning method described in (2) above, characterized in that in the third step (S12), proposed changes to the ordering conditions are searched for for each item so as to satisfy the capacity information (i2).

[0182] With the above configuration, it becomes possible to determine the Pareto-optimal proposed changes to ordering conditions by exploring options for each product while adhering to the capabilities of logistics centers and other bases.

[0183] (4) An inventory supply planning method as described in (2) above, further comprising a fourth step (S15) in which the computer (1) selects the proposed changes to the ordering conditions for each item in descending order of the reduction amount (175, 176), transmits the selected proposed changes to the ordering conditions to the supplier of the item, and negotiates whether or not the supplier will accept the proposed changes to the ordering conditions.

[0184] With the above configuration, by quantitatively evaluating the amount of capacity utilization reduction due to proposed changes in ordering conditions for each product at logistics centers and other locations, it becomes possible to efficiently negotiate with suppliers, starting with the change proposals that result in the largest reduction in capacity utilization relative to the location's capacity.

[0185] (5) An inventory supply planning method as described in (4) above, wherein in the fourth step (S15), if the proposed changes to the ordering conditions are not accepted, negotiations are repeated for the next proposed changes to the ordering conditions in descending order of the reduction amounts (175, 176).

[0186] The above configuration makes it possible to repeatedly negotiate changes to the order conditions until they are accepted, thereby reducing the effort required when proposing changes to order conditions for each product.

[0187] (6) An inventory supply planning method as described in (1) above, further comprising a fifth step (S22) in which the computer (1) calculates an external resource arrangement plan (o3) that utilizes external resources (5) of the site if the proposed changes to the ordering conditions do not satisfy the capacity information (i2).

[0188] With the above configuration, if the capabilities of a single location cannot be met, it becomes possible to devise a revised ordering condition that utilizes external resources, thereby enabling the effective use of resources from multiple locations.

[0189] (7) The inventory supply planning method described in (6) above, characterized in that in the fifth step (S22), an instruction is sent to the provider of the external resource (5) to arrange the external resource based on the external resource arrangement proposal (o3).

[0190] With the above configuration, if the capabilities of a single location are insufficient, it becomes possible to arrange for the use of external resources, thereby reducing the effort required when utilizing resources from multiple locations.

[0191] (8) An inventory supply planning method as described in (1) above, characterized in that in the second step (S11), the transport volume for each product, on a daily and route basis, that satisfies the capacity information (i2), the transport volume is calculated from the transport volume to determine the inbound and outbound volume and the inventory volume (stock(t, w, i)), and an inventory supply plan (o4) consisting of the transport volume, the inbound and outbound volume and the inventory volume (stock(t, w, i)) is calculated.

[0192] With the above configuration, it becomes possible to quantitatively evaluate the amount of capacity utilization reduction due to proposed changes in ordering conditions for each product at locations such as logistics centers.

[0193] (9) An inventory supply planning method as described in (1) above, characterized in that in the second step (S11), the capacity information (i2) includes at least one of inventory storage capacity, CO2 emission capacity, receiving capacity and shipping capacity as the capacity upper limit indicator of the site, and calculates an inventory supply plan for each item that satisfies the capacity upper limit indicator in addition to the ordering conditions (i1) and the upper limit of the stockout rate (123).

[0194] With the above configuration, it becomes possible to formulate an inventory supply plan o4 that satisfies inventory storage capacity, CO2 emission capacity, at least one capacity upper limit indicator for receiving capacity and shipping capacity, a stockout rate upper limit 114, and ordering conditions.

[0195] (10) An inventory supply planning method as described in (8) above, characterized in that in the second step (S11), the cost of implementing the inventory supply plan (o4) is calculated as the total cost (totCost), the CO2 emissions when the inventory supply plan is implemented is calculated, the inventory value (aveInventory) when the inventory supply plan is implemented is calculated, the cash flow when the inventory supply plan is implemented is calculated, and the inventory supply plan is output that minimizes the total cost (totCost), CO2 emissions, and inventory value (aveInventory), and maximizes the cash flow.

[0196] With the above configuration, it becomes possible to output an inventory supply plan o4 that optimizes total cost, CO2 emissions, inventory value, and cash flow, using these KPIs as the basis for the output.

[0197] (16) An inventory supply planning method as described in (1) above, characterized in that, in the first step, the unit load information (i1) is set in advance for each item an upper limit (123) of the stockout rate at the base, in the second step, an inventory supply plan for each item that satisfies the ordering conditions and the upper limit (123) of the stockout rate is calculated as an initial inventory supply plan (initial inventory information i6 by product and base), and in the third step, ordering condition change range information (i6) is set in advance for each item an allowable range of changes to the ordering conditions, and an ordering condition change index is calculated for each item based on the ordering condition change index so that the capacity is reduced within the allowable range of changes.

[0198] With the above configuration, it is possible to calculate order conditions that meet the ordering requirements and stockout rate limits for each location, do not exceed the capacity of each location, and are acceptable to the supplier.

[0199] It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and various modifications are included. For example, the embodiments described above are described in detail to make the present invention easier to understand, and are not necessarily limited to including all the configurations described. Furthermore, it is possible to replace parts of the configuration of one embodiment with the configuration of another embodiment, and it is also possible to add configurations from other embodiments to the configuration of one embodiment. In addition, for parts of the configuration of each embodiment, the addition, deletion, or substitution of other configurations can be applied individually or in combination.

[0200] Furthermore, each of the above-mentioned configurations, functions, processing units, and processing means may be implemented in hardware, in whole or in part, for example, by designing them as integrated circuits. Alternatively, each of the above-mentioned configurations and functions may be implemented in software by having the processor interpret and execute programs that realize each function. Information such as programs, tables, and files that realize each function can be stored in memory, a recording device such as a hard disk or SSD (Solid State Drive), or a recording medium such as an IC card, SD card, or DVD.

[0201] Furthermore, the control lines and information lines shown are those deemed necessary for explanatory purposes, and not all control lines and information lines are necessarily shown in the actual product. In reality, it is safe to assume that almost all components are interconnected. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0202] 1. Inventory and Supply Planning System 2 Storage device 11 processors 14 memory f1 Order Condition Change Proposal Department f2 Negotiation Department f3 screen generator i1 Product Information i2 Base-specific capability information i3 Product-Specific Ordering Conditions Information i4 Product-Specific Order Condition Change Tolerance Information i5 Daily, Product-Specific, and Demand Forecast Information i6 Initial Inventory Information by Product and Location o1 Information on proposed changes to order conditions O2 Negotiation Results Information o3 External Resource Arrangement Proposal Information o4 Inventory Supply Plan o41 Transportation information by day, product, and route o42 Daily, vehicle type, and route-based transport volume information o43 Daily, vehicle type, and location-based inbound / outbound and inventory information

Claims

1. A computer having a computing device and a memory accessible by the computing device, which plans the inventory of each item to be stored at a location, is used in an inventory supply planning method, The first step involves the computer receiving a target location to be processed and acquiring: initial inventory quantities by product and location for managing the inventory quantity of each item at each of the multiple locations; capacity information by location for managing a capacity limit index, which is the upper limit of the capacity of each of the multiple locations; unit load information set for each of the multiple locations for managing the load per unit of each item; order condition information by product for managing the order conditions for the order quantity of each item at the target location; demand forecast information for managing the demand forecast for each item at the target location; and change tolerance information for managing the range of change tolerance for the order conditions for each item. The second step is for the computer to use the initial inventory quantity by product and location, the capacity information by location, the unit load information, the ordering conditions information by product, and the demand forecast information to calculate an initial inventory supply plan for each item that is below the upper limit of the stockout rate and below the upper limit of the capacity index of the target location. A third step in which the computer calculates, based on the site-specific capacity information and the unit load information, for each item a first capacity occupancy rate, which is the ratio of the capacity used by the item to the capacity upper limit index in the initial inventory supply plan, and a second capacity occupancy rate, which is the ratio of the capacity used by the item to the capacity upper limit index in the inventory supply plan generated by changing the ordering conditions within the permissible range of changes to the ordering conditions, calculates the reduction amount by subtracting the second capacity occupancy rate from the first capacity occupancy rate, and calculates a proposed change to the ordering conditions for each item such that the reduction amount is Pareto optimal. The computer performs a fourth step of selecting from the proposed condition changes a condition change proposal that satisfies the predetermined condition regarding the reduction amount, A fifth step in which the computer modifies the product-specific ordering condition information using the selected proposed changes for each item, and calculates a revised inventory supply plan using the initial inventory quantity for each product and location, the capacity information for each location, the unit load information, the modified product-specific ordering condition information, and the demand forecast information. A method for planning inventory supply, characterized by including the following:

2. The inventory supply planning method according to claim 1, In the fourth step described above, An inventory supply planning method characterized by selecting the proposed change in conditions that maximizes the amount of reduction.

3. The inventory supply planning method according to Claim 2, An inventory supply planning method further comprising a sixth step in which the computer selects the proposed changes in terms and conditions for each item in order of the largest reduction amount, transmits the selected changes in terms and conditions to the supplier of the item, and negotiates whether or not to accept the changes in terms and conditions.

4. The inventory supply planning method according to Claim 3, In the sixth step described above, If the aforementioned proposed changes to the conditions are not accepted, the method of inventory supply planning is characterized by repeatedly negotiating for the next proposed changes to the conditions in order of the amount of reduction.

5. The inventory supply planning method according to Claim 1, An inventory supply planning method further comprising a seventh step in which the computer calculates an external resource arrangement plan that utilizes resources outside the target location if the capacity of the target location to which the modified inventory supply plan is applied is not less than or equal to the capacity upper limit indicator of the target location.

6. The inventory supply planning method according to Claim 5, In the seventh step described above, An inventory supply planning method characterized by transmitting an instruction to the provider of the external resources to arrange the external resources based on the proposed external resource arrangement.

7. The inventory supply planning method according to Claim 1, In the fifth step described above, An inventory supply planning method characterized by determining the transport volume by item, day by day and by route such that the capacity of the target base to which the revised inventory supply plan is applied is less than or equal to the capacity upper limit index of the target base, calculating the inbound / outbound volume and inventory volume from the transport volume, and calculating the revised inventory supply plan including the transport volume, inbound / outbound volume and inventory volume.

8. The inventory supply planning method according to Claim 1, The inventory supply planning method is characterized in that the aforementioned capacity is at least one of inventory storage capacity, CO2 emission capacity, and inventory receiving capacity and inventory shipping capacity.

9. The inventory supply planning method according to Claim 7, In the fifth step described above, An inventory supply planning method characterized by calculating the total cost when the inventory supply plan is implemented, calculating the CO2 emissions when the inventory supply plan is implemented, calculating the inventory value when the inventory supply plan is implemented, calculating the cash flow, and outputting the inventory supply plan in which any of the total cost, CO2 emissions, or inventory value is minimized, or the cash flow is maximized.

10. An inventory supply planning system including a computer having a computing device and a memory accessible by the computing device, The aforementioned computer is The computing device receives a target location to be processed and acquires: initial inventory quantities by product and location for managing the inventory quantity of each item at each of the multiple locations; capacity information by location for managing the capacity limit index, which is the upper limit of the capacity of each of the multiple locations; unit load information set for each of the multiple locations for managing the load per unit of each item; order condition information by product for managing the order conditions for the order quantity of each item at the target location; demand forecast information for managing the demand forecast for each item at the target location; and change tolerance information for managing the range of change tolerance for the order conditions for each item. The calculation device uses the initial inventory quantity for each product and location, the capacity information for each location, the unit load information, the ordering conditions information for each product, and the demand forecast information to calculate an initial inventory supply plan for each item that is below the upper limit of the stockout rate and below the upper limit of the capacity index of the target location. The calculation device calculates, based on the site-specific capacity information and the unit load information, for each item, a first capacity occupancy rate which is the ratio of the capacity used by the item to the capacity upper limit index in the initial inventory supply plan, and a second capacity occupancy rate which is the ratio of the capacity used by the item to the capacity upper limit index in the inventory supply plan generated by changing the ordering conditions within the permissible range for changes to the ordering conditions, and calculates the reduction amount by subtracting the second capacity occupancy rate from the first capacity occupancy rate, and for each item, calculates a proposed change to the ordering conditions within the permissible range for changes to the ordering conditions such that the reduction amount is Pareto optimal. The calculation unit selects from the proposed condition changes that the reduction amount satisfies the predetermined conditions, An inventory supply planning system characterized in that the calculation device modifies the product-specific ordering condition information using the selected condition change proposal for each item, and calculates a modified inventory supply plan using the initial inventory quantity for each product and location, the capacity information for each location, the unit load information, the modified product-specific ordering condition information, and the demand forecast information.

11. An inventory supply planning system according to claim 10, An inventory supply planning system characterized in that, when the calculation device selects the proposed change in conditions, it selects the proposed change in conditions that maximizes the amount of reduction.

12. An inventory supply planning system according to claim 11, An inventory supply planning system characterized in that the computing device selects the proposed condition changes for each item in order of the largest reduction amount, transmits the selected condition changes to the supplier of the item, and negotiates whether or not to accept the condition changes.

13. An inventory supply planning system according to claim 12, An inventory supply planning system characterized in that, if the calculation unit does not accept the proposed change in conditions, it repeatedly negotiates for the next proposed change in conditions in order of the amount of reduction.

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