Order Analysis System for Product Configuration Rationalization

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Solution Overview

Problem

Manufacturers face difficulties in determining optimal product configurations due to the proliferation of options, leading to challenges in addressing market needs, minimizing reconfigurations, and managing inventory costs, as they lack a proactive process to evaluate option consumption trends.

Innovation Solution

A system and method for rationalizing product configurations using an order analysis system that includes a database and user interface with filter criteria, allowing for the identification of optimum configurations based on market demand and usage patterns, enabling proactive decision-making.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If manufacturers provide more product options to meet customer demand, then customer satisfaction and market coverage improve, but configuration complexity and inventory costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveproduct optionsVSAvoidconfiguration complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the configuration management process into distinct modules: option definition module, configuration rule module, order analysis module, and packaging module. This segmentation allows manufacturers to manage complex product configurations by breaking them down into manageable components that can be independently configured and analyzed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system provides universal configuration management capabilities that can handle multiple product types and option combinations through a single platform. The configuration rules and analysis methods are designed to be applicable across different product families, reducing the need for separate management systems for each product line.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Adaptability or versatility

If manufacturers increase product configuration options, then market coverage improves, but inventory costs and reconfiguration needs increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemarket coverageVSAvoidinventory costs

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary analysis of order trends and configuration patterns before production and inventory decisions are made. By analyzing historical order data and predicting future configuration demands, manufacturers can proactively adjust inventory levels and production plans to match actual market needs, reducing excess inventory and reconfiguration requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements a feedback mechanism where order analysis results continuously inform configuration management decisions. The system monitors actual order patterns, compares them with predicted patterns, and uses this feedback to refine configuration rules and packaging strategies, enabling dynamic adjustment of inventory and production to minimize costs while maintaining market coverage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Measurement precision

If manufacturers manually evaluate configuration combinations, then configuration accuracy can be maintained, but time consumption and productivity decrease

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconfiguration accuracyVSAvoidevaluation speed

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an automated order analysis system as an intermediary between raw order data and configuration decisions. This intermediary system uses computer algorithms to automatically analyze order patterns, evaluate configuration combinations, and generate recommendations, maintaining configuration accuracy through systematic rule-based analysis while dramatically increasing evaluation speed compared to manual methods.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system replaces manual mechanical evaluation processes with automated computational analysis. Instead of human analysts manually reviewing configuration combinations, the patent uses software-based analysis tools that can rapidly process large volumes of configuration data, maintaining precision through algorithmic consistency while achieving orders of magnitude improvement in evaluation speed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentUS9971988B2System and method for providing an intelligent configuration rationalization solution

Publication Date: 2018.05.15 BLUE YONDER GROUP INC

AI summary

A system and method are disclosed for rationalizing configurations associated with one or more products. The system includes a database associated with one or more customers. The system further includes an order analysis system coupled with the database. The order analysis system is capable of rationalizing the differences between configurations of various combinations of options that are stored in the database.