Delivery Data Objects for Supply Chain Visibility
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current supply chain management systems lack efficient documentation and communication of logistics operations, leading to visibility issues and information loss during business transactions, particularly in outbound and inbound deliveries.
Innovation Solution
The creation of planning-delivery, shipping-delivery, and confirmed-delivery data objects to document and manage the delivery of goods, including attributes for product identification and quantity, helps in tracking and confirming delivery processes, decoupling logistics execution from documentation to enhance visibility and communication.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If supply chain management systems use traditional documentation methods for logistics operations, then the system structure remains simple, but visibility and communication efficiency deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the delivery documentation process into three distinct data objects: planning-delivery data object (documenting planned delivery), shipping-delivery data object (documenting shipment), and confirmed-delivery data object (documenting receipt). Each data object captures specific attributes at different stages of the delivery process, preventing information loss by ensuring comprehensive documentation at each phase while maintaining manageable complexity through clear separation of concerns.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the system integrates logistics execution and documentation tightly, then the system is easier to manage, but flexibility and adaptability in supporting different logistics processes deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent decouples logistics execution from documentation by creating separate data object structures for planning, shipping, and confirmation phases. This segmentation allows the system to adapt to different logistics processes (inbound delivery, outbound delivery, goods issue, goods receipt) by configuring which data objects are instantiated and how they interact, while maintaining ease of operation through standardized data object templates and attribute structures.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates universal data object templates (planning-delivery, shipping-delivery, confirmed-delivery) that can serve multiple logistics functions. These data objects are designed with configurable attributes that can accommodate different business scenarios, allowing the same core structure to support inbound deliveries, outbound deliveries, goods issues, and goods receipts, thereby achieving both versatility and operational simplicity.
3Loss of information
If the system uses detailed data objects to document all delivery aspects, then visibility and communication improve, but the complexity of data management increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments delivery documentation into three distinct data objects with specific attribute sets for each phase: planning-delivery data object (with attributes for planned delivery details), shipping-delivery data object (with attributes for shipment information including product-identifier and product-quantity), and confirmed-delivery data object (with attributes for receipt confirmation). This segmentation improves communication efficiency by ensuring comprehensive documentation at each phase while managing data complexity through clear separation of concerns and phase-specific attribute requirements.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for managing a supply chain for a business enterprise in a manner that is applicable to many different business enterprises and a computer program product for performing the method are provided. The method includes creating a planning-delivery data object for use in documenting planned delivery of goods or services related to a business transaction. The method also includes creating a shipping-delivery data object for use in documenting shipment of at least some of the goods or services related to the business transaction. The method further includes confirmed-delivery data object for use in documenting receipt of at least some of the goods or services by a product recipient. The planning-delivery data object, the shipping-delivery data object, and the confirmed-delivery data object correspond to one another.