Service Cycle Management System with Real-Time Discrepancy Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional service cycle management models are inefficient and lead to discrepancies between actual performance and desired outcomes for asset or commodity item owners, as they require owners to handle multiple decisions and interactions with service providers, resulting in inefficiencies and poor outcome satisfaction.

Innovation Solution

A service cycle management system that integrates real-time data and simulation data to evaluate parameters within a reverse service cycle loop, identifying discrepancies and providing users with focused initiatives or notifications, thereby improving efficiency and accuracy.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If conventional service cycle management models are used where asset owners make decisions and communicate with multiple service providers, then asset owners have direct control over service decisions, but efficiency and outcome satisfaction deteriorate due to multiple decisions and interactions required

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of service cycle managementVSAvoidservice cycle efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an integrated service cycle management platform that acts as an intermediary between asset owners and multiple service providers. This platform consolidates decision-making authority and coordinates all service cycle activities (maintenance, replacement, replenishment, reverse loop transport) through a single interface, eliminating the need for asset owners to directly communicate and negotiate with multiple providers while maintaining full control over service outcomes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent merges multiple service cycle management functions and multiple service provider interfaces into a single integrated platform. This consolidation combines decision-making, coordination, tracking, and analytics capabilities into one unified system, allowing asset owners to manage all service cycle aspects through a single interface rather than dealing with multiple separate providers and systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Adaptability or versatility

If conventional service cycle management models are used with multiple service providers, then service coverage and capabilities are improved, but complexity of management and communication increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveservice provider network capabilityVSAvoidmanagement system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The integrated platform serves as a mediator that manages the complexity of coordinating multiple service providers with diverse capabilities. It provides a unified interface that abstracts the underlying complexity from asset owners while maintaining the ability to leverage the full range of service provider network capabilities through standardized processes and centralized coordination.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a universal management platform that can handle multiple service cycle functions (maintenance, replacement, replenishment, reverse loop transport) and interface with multiple different service providers through a single standardized system. This multi-functional platform eliminates the need for separate management systems for each service provider or function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Measurement precision

If real-time data collection and simulation comparison are implemented, then measurement precision and decision accuracy are improved, but data processing complexity and computational requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveperformance measurement accuracyVSAvoiddata processing system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a feedback mechanism where real-time service cycle data is continuously collected, compared against simulation models, and used to generate actionable insights. The system compares actual performance parameters with simulated optimal parameters, provides feedback on discrepancies, and enables dynamic adjustment of service cycle decisions to achieve desired outcomes while maintaining manageable complexity through automated comparison algorithms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS10496950B2Systems, methods, and computer program products for providing intelligent visibility across an outcome-based service cycle infrastructure

Publication Date: 2019.12.03 UNITED PARCEL SERVICE OF AMERICAN INC

AI summary

Various embodiments provide a service cycle management system for intelligently evaluating one or more parameters of a reverse service cycle loop within a supply chain management infrastructure. The system comprises one or more processors configured to: receive the real-time data comprising one or more parameters associated with execution of one or more service tasks; retrieve the simulation data from the one or more memory storage areas; dynamically compare one or more parameters within the real-time data against corresponding one or more parameters within the simulation data to identify one or more discrepancies there-between; in response to identifying one or more discrepancies, and generating one or more representations thereof, so as to inform one or more users of the system of one or more areas for focusing future initiatives. Associated computer program products and computer implemented methods are also provided.