Dynamic Supply Chain Impact Visualization Tiles
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional three-dimensional supply chain management systems are rigid and unable to dynamically respond to or anticipate adverse events, leading to disruptions and inefficiencies in product distribution, and they fail to provide users with necessary information to mitigate these impacts effectively.
Innovation Solution
A network management system that displays risk and impact information associated with events disrupting the network, using tiles to represent sites, parts, components, products, and shipments, with varying appearance, location, and size indicating the significance of the impact, and allows users to interact for additional information and mitigation strategies.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If traditional three-dimensional supply chain management systems are used, then the system structure is established, but the system is rigid and unable to dynamically respond to adverse events
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic visualization where tiles representing supply chain entities can change position, size, and appearance based on real-time event impact assessments. The system continuously updates the display to reflect changing risk levels and impact significance, transforming the static supply chain model into a dynamic response system that adapts to adverse events as they unfold.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes multiple parameters simultaneously to convey impact significance: tile position (location parameter), tile dimensions (size parameter), and visual characteristics (appearance parameter). These parameter changes are driven by calculated impact significance values, allowing the system to dynamically respond to events by transforming static data into dynamic visual indicators of risk and impact.
2Loss of information
If comprehensive supply chain information is provided to users, then users can make better decisions, but the information complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by providing different levels of information detail to different users or user roles. The system can tailor the displayed information based on user permissions, needs, and context, showing comprehensive information to some users while presenting simplified views to others. This resolves the contradiction by making information completeness selective rather than universal.
Solution Approach 2:
The system segments supply chain information into discrete tile entities, each representing a specific entity (supplier, component, product, shipment). This segmentation allows comprehensive information to be divided into manageable, visually distinct units that can be individually assessed for impact significance, reducing overall display complexity while maintaining information completeness.
3Loss of time
If real-time event impact assessment is implemented, then response time is reduced, but computational requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements partial action by assessing event impact on a selective basis rather than continuously evaluating all supply chain entities. It focuses computational resources on entities and events that meet certain thresholds or criteria, performing comprehensive assessment only where necessary. This reduces overall computational power requirements while maintaining rapid response time for critical decisions.
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure describes a communication device and server configured to provide a user a relative event impact map display depicting a plurality of items impacted by an event or a portion of a network impacted by the event. The network can not only be a supply and/or logistics chain but also a computer network, a telecommunications network, transportation network, and power grid.