Inventory Management via Job-Specific Virtual Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
The production of packaging materials faces challenges due to high variability and short production runs, requiring frequent inventory movements and high flexibility, which complicates tracking and documentation, leading to inefficient resource use.
Innovation Solution
A method and system for managing inventory that involves storing job records and transaction records with subcomponent identifiers, using a server with a processor and memory to associate transaction records with job IDs, enabling real-time tracking and reducing resource inefficiencies.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If frequent inventory movements are implemented to handle high variability and short production runs, then flexibility and ability to supply orders are improved, but tracking and documentation complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments inventory tracking by creating separate virtual storage locations for each job ID within the same physical storage location. This allows multiple jobs to be tracked independently using the same physical resources, reducing documentation complexity while maintaining flexibility for frequent inventory movements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a virtual copy of the storage location structure in the database, where each physical storage location has corresponding virtual locations for each job. This virtual copying enables detailed tracking without requiring physical duplication of storage resources, simplifying the tracking system while maintaining flexibility.
2Measurement precision
If detailed job-specific inventory tracking is implemented, then measurement precision and accuracy are improved, but system complexity and resource requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent adds a job ID dimension to the traditional storage location structure. Instead of tracking inventory only by physical location, the system tracks by location-job combinations, enabling precise job-specific tracking while using the same physical infrastructure, thus improving accuracy without proportionally increasing system complexity.
3Measurement precision
If physical storage locations are dedicated to specific jobs, then measurement precision is improved, but loss of substance and resource inefficiency increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes physical storage locations universal by allowing them to serve multiple jobs through virtual segmentation. Each physical location can be allocated to different jobs at different times or simultaneously hold inventory for multiple jobs, improving resource utilization while maintaining accurate job-specific tracking through the virtual location system.
Data Source
AI summary
According to embodiments described in the specification, a method, system and apparatus for managing inventory are provided. The method comprises storing at least one job record in a memory, the at least one job record comprising a first of a plurality of job identifiers and at least a first subcomponent identifier; receiving a transaction record comprising a second subcomponent identifier; and storing the transaction record in the memory in association with one of the plurality of job identifiers.