System for inventory management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Retail stores face challenges in inventory management, including high costs due to manual labor for inventory counting, product theft, inefficiencies in tracking product levels, and maintaining excess inventory due to lack of real-time data on shelf availability.
Innovation Solution
A display management system with a pusher assembly and sensor assembly that detects product movement, generating electronic data to track inventory levels and detect security events, and communicates with a store computer to automate inventory tracking and security monitoring.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If manual inventory counting is performed, then inventory levels can be tracked, but significant manual labor is required
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables self-service inventory tracking through automated sensors that detect product removal and pusher movement without human intervention. The sensors continuously monitor shelf conditions and automatically update inventory records, eliminating the need for manual counting while maintaining accurate tracking.
Solution Approach 2:
Manual mechanical inventory counting is replaced with electronic sensor-based detection systems. Optical sensors, weight sensors, or RFID readers automatically detect product presence and movement, substituting human labor with automated electronic monitoring mechanisms.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If in-store cameras are used to monitor theft, then security monitoring is provided, but theft detection effectiveness is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The pusher assembly acts as an intermediary detection mechanism between the product and the sensor system. When a product is removed, the pusher moves to compensate for the space, and this movement is detected by sensors, providing precise theft detection without requiring direct visual observation of the theft act itself.
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides immediate feedback when a product is removed by detecting pusher movement and generating real-time alerts. This feedback mechanism allows security personnel to respond to theft attempts promptly, improving detection effectiveness compared to passive camera monitoring.
3Reliability
If more inventory is maintained on shelves to ensure stock availability, then customer demand can be met, but valuable shelf space is wasted
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously provides feedback on actual inventory levels through sensor detection and automatic record updates. This real-time information allows stores to maintain optimal inventory levels rather than excessive stock, improving shelf space utilization while ensuring adequate product availability through timely restocking alerts.
4Loss of information
If scanner data is used to track product sales, then purchase information is captured, but product removal including theft cannot be detected
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor system performs preliminary detection of product removal before the product reaches the checkout scanner. By monitoring pusher movement and product presence on shelves, the system identifies and flags potential theft cases, providing additional information beyond what checkout scanners capture.
Data Source
AI summary
Sensor-equipped display management systems and methods that may be used to calculate a number of products removed from a display management system based upon motion of one or more mechanisms within the display management system. Additionally, the systems and methods may be used to detect patterns from the sensor data, which may be indicative of attempted theft of products stored within the display management system.