Process System Component Sourcing With Automated Inventory Checks
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing process system design applications do not efficiently automate the component sourcing process, requiring manual inventory checks and increasing costs and inefficiencies.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus that automate the identification of components needed for a process system design by checking inventory first and populating a component sourcing application with components not available in-house, while also handling components with configurable options through a system configuration application.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual inventory checks are performed to identify components for sourcing, then component availability can be verified, but time consumption and operational costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary automated inventory checks and component identification during the design phase, before the actual sourcing decision is made. The design application automatically cross-references required components with available inventory, preparing a pre-analyzed component list that reduces subsequent manual verification time and ensures reliability.
2Ease of operation
If manual component identification and inventory checking is performed, then component sourcing decisions can be made, but operational costs and inefficiencies increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables self-service automated component sourcing by allowing the design application to automatically identify required components, check inventory availability, and generate sourcing recommendations without manual intervention. The system serves itself by autonomously completing the entire component identification and sourcing decision workflow, eliminating manual labor while maintaining ease of operation through automated processes.
3Reliability
If all components are sourced externally without checking existing inventory, then component availability is ensured, but costs increase and waste is generated
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary automated inventory checks before making sourcing decisions. By automatically cross-referencing required components with existing inventory in advance, the system identifies components that can be reused internally, thereby ensuring availability of needed components while avoiding unnecessary external sourcing that would increase costs and generate waste.
4Extent of automation
If design applications directly integrate component sourcing functionality, then automation is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system introduces an intermediary automated component identification module that acts as a mediator between the design application and the inventory management system. This intermediary automatically extracts component requirements from design data, checks inventory availability, and generates sourcing recommendations, thereby achieving high automation without directly complicating the core design application through extensive integrations.
Data Source
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AI summary
The technology disclosed herein enables automation of component sourcing when designing a process system in an industrial environment. In a particular embodiment, a method includes receiving design specifications of a process system in an industrial environment via a system design application. The method further includes determining components to implement the process system from the design specifications and identifying a first subset of the components for sourcing from an external provider. The method also includes populating the first subset into a component sourcing application.