Automated Document Parsing for Component Order Consolidation

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Solution Overview

Problem

In supply chain management, organizations face challenges in consolidating component orders from multiple suppliers due to different part numbering conventions, leading to inefficiencies and increased costs, especially after mergers and acquisitions when manual processes are time-consuming and prone to errors.

Innovation Solution

An automated document parsing system is implemented to identify common component identifiers by mapping organization-specific and supplier-specific identifiers, allowing for the consolidation of orders into aggregated orders processed through the supply chain.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If manual processes are used to consolidate component orders from multiple organizations, then flexibility in handling different part numbering conventions is maintained, but time consumption and error rates increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveorder consolidation speedVSAvoidmanual processing time

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces manual mechanical processes with an automated document parsing system that uses optical character recognition (OCR) and natural language processing to extract component identifiers from supplier documents. This substitution eliminates manual data entry and mapping tasks, dramatically reducing processing time while maintaining the ability to handle various part numbering conventions through programmable pattern recognition.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The system enables automated self-service by having the document parsing system automatically extract, map, and consolidate component identifiers without human intervention. The system autonomously processes supplier documents, identifies different part numbering schemes, and performs the consolidation logic, freeing human operators from repetitive manual tasks while maintaining process flexibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Adaptability or versatility

If different part numbering conventions are maintained for each organization and supplier, then organizational autonomy and supplier flexibility are preserved, but order consolidation becomes complex and inefficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehandling of different identifier conventionsVSAvoididentifier mapping complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an intermediary mapping layer that translates between different organization-specific and supplier-specific part numbering conventions. The system creates a standardized internal representation that mediates between diverse external identifier schemes, allowing order consolidation without requiring any organization or supplier to change their existing numbering systems. This intermediary layer handles the complexity of mapping relationships while presenting a unified interface for consolidation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adjusts mapping parameters based on the specific document type, supplier, and organization being processed. By changing the interpretation parameters for different part numbering conventions rather than using a fixed rigid mapping, the system maintains adaptability to various identifier schemes while simplifying the consolidation process through context-aware parameter adjustment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Quantity of substance

If orders are consolidated under a common identifier, then volume discounts and better pricing are achieved, but the risk of consolidating incorrect components increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveorder volume for discountsVSAvoidcomponent identification accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements feedback mechanisms where the document parsing system continuously validates extracted component identifiers against known patterns and cross-references multiple data sources. The system provides feedback loops that verify mapping accuracy before consolidation, allowing operators to review and correct potential errors. This feedback ensures that only correctly matched components are consolidated, maintaining reliability while enabling volume consolidation for pricing benefits.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS12164869B2Automated document parsing to determine common component identifiers for consolidation of component orders

Publication Date: 2024.12.10 DELL PROD LP

AI summary

An apparatus comprises a processing device configured to generate and utilize an automated document parser for parsing documents exchanged as part of fulfillment of historical component orders by a given supplier in a supply chain for first and second organizations to identify first and second organization-specific component identifiers utilized by the first and second organizations and a given supplier-specific component identifier utilized by the given supplier for a given component. The processing device is further configured to determine a common component identifier for the given component based at least in part on mapping an association between the first and second organization-specific component identifiers, to consolidate first and second component orders by the first and second organizations that utilize the first and second organization-specific component identifiers into an aggregated component order that utilizes the common component identifier, and to process the aggregated component order utilizing suppliers in the supply chain.