Spatial Storage Mapping for Constraint-Compliant Chemical Inventory
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems are ill-equipped to manage the complex logistical operations of storing chemically volatile products like explosives and ordinance, as they fail to trace co-location, adherence to storage constraints, and manage traceability and overprovisioning effectively.
Innovation Solution
A computer-implemented method using a spatial map and GUI to manage inventory and storage of chemical products, including a graphical user interface (GUI) that indicates storage locations and allows for exceptions with waivers, while optimizing storage based on spatial dimensions and explosive yields, and managing compatibility and traceability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If co-location of chemical products of the same type is implemented to aid pick or place operations, then operational efficiency is improved, but adherence to storage constraints becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies different storage rules and constraints to different locations within the magazine. Each storage location has specific attributes (blast containment capacity, chemical compatibility requirements) that determine what products can be stored there. This allows co-location of like products in locations that meet both operational efficiency needs and safety constraints.
Solution Approach 2:
The ERP system dynamically adjusts storage assignments based on changing conditions such as current inventory levels, upcoming training exercises, operational contingencies, and maintenance schedules. This dynamic reassignment allows the system to optimize for operational efficiency while continuously maintaining compliance with storage constraints through automated recalculation of optimal placements.
2Ease of operation
If enterprise resource tools are used to manage inventory, then basic tracking is achieved, but traceability of chemical product history and overprovisioning behavior cannot be traced
Solution Approach 1:
The system establishes comprehensive traceability protocols and data collection mechanisms from the moment chemical products enter the magazine. All movements, storage assignments, and operational events are recorded in real-time, creating a complete historical record that enables future traceability of product history and overprovisioning behavior without requiring additional tracking infrastructure later.
3Adaptability or versatility
If magazine is overprovisioned relative to storage constraints for training or operational contingencies, then operational flexibility is improved, but compliance with storage constraints is violated
Solution Approach 1:
The system maintains dynamic storage assignments that can rapidly adjust to operational needs. When overprovisioning is required for training or contingencies, the system temporarily reassigns products to locations that can accommodate the additional inventory while maintaining compliance with blast containment and chemical compatibility constraints. This dynamic reallocation allows operational flexibility without permanent violation of storage constraints.
Solution Approach 2:
The ERP system manages multiple objectives simultaneously - operational readiness, training requirements, and safety compliance - through a unified platform. This multi-functional approach allows the same system to optimize for operational flexibility while inherently maintaining storage constraint compliance through its constraint-aware optimization algorithms.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A computing device obtains a spatial map comprising storage locations for a (first) chemical product in a magazine. The spatial map includes product or storage location attributes of a spatial dimension, attributes of explosive yield, and restrictions on spatial dimensions differentiated by logistical reasoning codes. The device obtains an identity of another (second) chemical product for storage in the magazine and attributes. The device may generate, using the spatial map, a user interface for spatial dimensions of the magazine. The user interface may include an indication of storage locations for chemical or volatile products; and an indication of second (or restricted) storage locations according to predefined storage location selection criteria; and a selectable control element which, upon selection, maps the second chemical product to a restricted location. The device may update the spatial map responsive to the selection of the control element, to assign chemical product to a restricted location.