Dynamic Supply Chain Data Exchange for Real-Time Traceability
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Solution Overview
Problem
The food industry faces challenges in tracing and tracking products due to low technology penetration and complex supply chains, with existing software systems unable to accommodate constant changes and provide real-time information on product origins, manufacturing processes, and safety data without affecting database structures or application codes.
Innovation Solution
A software solution that enables near real-time, bi-directional information exchange across the supply chain, allowing dynamic configuration of processes and data integrity, security, and traceability, using a batch-oriented process with directed graphs to track material lots and supply chain stages, supporting sequential or parallel processes and distributed data hosting.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If traditional enterprise software (ERP, MRP) is used to manage supply chain resources, then companies can manage resources within their own business environment, but the systems are expensive and cannot accommodate constant changes in supply chain processes without affecting database structure and application code
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic process model where supply chain processes can be modified at runtime without requiring database schema changes or application code modifications. The system uses a flexible process definition mechanism that allows entities to add, remove, or modify process steps, suppliers, and parameters dynamically while the system remains operational, resolving the contradiction between adaptability and structural complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the supply chain into discrete, independently configurable process stages and entities. Each entity (farm, processor, distributor, retailer) can define its own process steps and data requirements separately, allowing localized changes without affecting the entire system's database structure, thus enabling adaptability while maintaining structural simplicity
2Reliability
If existing logistics software is used for warehouse management and inventory replenishment, then companies can automate inventory processes, but the systems fail to solve food safety and traceability problems and cannot track detailed product information through the supply chain
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements comprehensive feedback mechanisms where each supply chain entity captures, stores, and transmits process data, quality metrics, and traceability information back through the system. This creates a continuous information flow that enables real-time monitoring of food safety parameters and complete traceability from farm to table, ensuring reliability while preventing information loss
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a universal traceability framework that works across all supply chain entities and process types. The system uses standardized data structures and communication protocols that can track any product type through any process stage, making the system both reliable for food safety and capable of retaining comprehensive product information without requiring entity-specific customizations
3Productivity
If supply chain entities constantly change suppliers and processes to optimize resources and reduce costs, then companies can improve efficiency, but existing systems create new databases when the primary application structure is altered
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic process model where supply chain processes can be modified at runtime without requiring database schema changes or application code modifications. The system uses a flexible process definition mechanism that allows entities to add, remove, or modify process steps, suppliers, and parameters dynamically while the system remains operational, resolving the contradiction between adaptability and structural complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a universal data model and process framework that can accommodate any supplier, product type, or process configuration within a single database structure. The system uses configurable process templates and parameterized data structures that adapt to changing requirements without requiring new databases, enabling productivity improvements while maintaining structural simplicity
4Adaptability or versatility
If traditional software systems are used in the food industry, then companies can manage basic business operations, but the systems are expensive and not all participants within the supply chain can afford them
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a lightweight software architecture that can be deployed as a service model, eliminating the need for expensive traditional ERP systems. The system uses web-based interfaces, standardized data exchange formats, and cloud-hosted infrastructure that reduce implementation and maintenance costs, making the system accessible to small and medium enterprises while maintaining full configuration flexibility through parameterized process definitions
Data Source
AI summary
A food tracing and tracking system, method, and computer-program product are provided. The present invention allows small, medium and large-size companies that operate within these supply-chains, to exchange information bi-directionally throughout the entire supply-chain while maintaining data integrity and appropriate levels of security at all times and allowing this in real-time. The present invention enables a continuous linkage across the supply-chain-entities and changing of supply-chain entities in near real-time. The present invention ensures data integrity and data security, performs language translation, maintains a continues history over time without the need for data conversion, and provides each entity within the supply chain the option of publishing their identity and data to the other supply chain entities. New fields can be added as needed for processes and materials. The present invention supports distributed data hosted on various machines by various organizations over a public or private data network.