ERP Production Modeling With Intermediate Product Tracking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems face challenges in providing transparency and tracking of intermediate products, particularly when production processes are halted or outsourced, leading to deficiencies in production control, inventory management, and financial components.
Innovation Solution
The ERP system introduces an intermediate product indicator in the master data record to uniquely identify intermediate products, allowing them to be integrated into the production model without requiring separate production models, enabling tracking of state information such as inventory levels and location within the production process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If intermediate products are tracked using traditional ERP systems, then production control and inventory management are maintained, but transparency and tracking capability of intermediate products are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism by creating a separate tracking system that uses QR codes and mobile devices to bridge the gap between traditional ERP systems and intermediate product tracking requirements. This intermediary layer captures and transmits data without fundamentally altering the existing ERP system, thereby improving transparency while avoiding direct system complexity increases.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a digital copy of intermediate product information through QR codes that contain encoded data about the products. These QR codes serve as portable, readable copies of product information that can be scanned and tracked without requiring changes to the core ERP system, thus improving information accessibility while maintaining system simplicity.
2Reliability
If separate production models are created for each intermediate product to enable tracking, then tracking capability is improved, but resource requirements and system complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal tracking mechanism using QR codes and mobile devices that can track multiple intermediate products across different production processes without requiring separate specialized systems for each product. This multi-functional approach improves tracking capability while minimizing resource requirements by using a single standardized system for all tracking needs.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the tracking parameter from requiring separate production models (high resource consumption) to using QR code identifiers (low resource consumption). By transforming the tracking mechanism into a parameter-based system using standardized codes rather than complex models, the patent achieves reliable tracking with minimal resource requirements.
3Adaptability or versatility
If production processes are halted or outsourced, then operational flexibility is improved, but state information tracking of intermediate products deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-attaching QR codes to intermediate products before they enter the production process. This ensures that tracking identifiers are already in place and ready for use, regardless of whether the production process continues, halts, or is outsourced. The preliminary placement of tracking mechanisms maintains information availability across all operational scenarios.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback by using mobile devices to scan QR codes and transmit state information back to the tracking system in real-time. This continuous feedback mechanism ensures that even when production processes are halted or outsourced, the system receives ongoing updates about intermediate product locations and states, maintaining tracking capability across diverse operational conditions.
Data Source
AI summary
Example methods and systems relate to the modeling of production processes to include intermediate products. An enterprise resource planning (ERP) system receives user input to define an intermediate product, and generates a master data record for the intermediate product. The ERP system further receives user input to include the intermediate product in a production model within the ERP system. The production model is associated with a real-world production process. The production model is updated based on the master data record to integrate the intermediate product into a sequence of activities. The sequence of activities comprises a first activity that produces the intermediate product and a second activity that consumes the intermediate product. The ERP system executes a production order based on the production model. Execution of the production order includes tracking state information of the intermediate product within the ERP system.