Supply chain management system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016110683-A1
Application number	US-201514977335-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Dec 21, 2015
Priority date	May 25, 2007
Publication date	Apr 21, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A method of transporting commodities in a supply chain management system including a supply chain. The method includes accessing by one or more members of the supply chain a database via a network, transporting a commodity through the supply chain on a transport device using a transportation system, and monitoring characteristics of the supply chain associated with the commodity using a sensor and a controller associated with the sensor. The method also includes acquiring data that is representative of the characteristics of the supply chain from the sensor and that includes expected conditions associated with the commodity; and retrieving from the database over the network via an input device a predicted shelf life of the commodity that is based on the acquired data.

First claim

1 . A method of transporting commodities in a supply chain management system including a supply chain, the method comprising:
accessing by one or more members of the supply chain a database via a network; transporting a commodity through the supply chain on a transport device using a transportation system; monitoring characteristics of the supply chain associated with the commodity using a sensor and a controller associated with the sensor; acquiring data representative of the characteristics of the supply chain from the sensor, the acquired data including expected conditions associated with the commodity; and retrieving from the database over the network via an input device a predicted shelf life of the commodity that is based on the acquired data.

2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising retrieving the predicted shelf life that is one of a specific expiration date and a period of time in which the commodity is predicted to remain viable.

3 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising
generating a report including the predicted shelf life using the controller; communicating the report to the database via the network using the controller; and accessing the report via the network.

4 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising
associating a data storage device with the commodity via the database; and assigning the sensor to the data storage device.

5 . The method of claim 4 , further comprising encoding the date on which the predicted shelf life is encoded into the data storage device.

6 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising
substantially continuously acquiring the data representative of the characteristics of the supply chain from the sensor; and updating the shelf life prediction based on the most recent data acquired by the sensor.

7 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising providing a scanner in communication with the database via the network for retrieving the predicted shelf life over the network.

8 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising
associating a data storage device with the commodity via the database; and encoding the predicted shelf life into the data storage device.

9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the acquiring step further includes acquiring data representative of one or both of historical data and real-time data associated with the supply chain.

10 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the acquired data further includes one or both of a historical condition of the commodity and a near-real time sensed condition of the commodity, the method further comprising automatically altering conditions of the commodity within the supply chain in response to the acquired data via an asset monitoring system without direct human intervention.

11 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the expected conditions are based on one or both of environmental conditions and a location of the commodity that impact future commodity conditions.

12 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising redirecting the commodity within the supply chain from an original destination to another destination via the network based on the acquired data.

13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein redirecting the commodity within the supply chain includes one or more of delaying shipment of the commodity via the network, returning the commodity to a previous destination in the supply chain, and routing the commodity to a destination different from an original destination of the commodity.

14 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising
generating an automated signal in response to the acquired data exceeding predetermined parameters; and redirecting the commodity within the supply chain in response to the automated signal.

15 . A method of transporting commodities in a supply chain management system including a supply chain, the method comprising:
at least one member device of the supply chain accessing a database via a network; supporting one or more commodities with a transport device; transporting the transport device through the supply chain using a transportation system; assigning a sensor to the transport device supporting the commodities; relating the sensor to the commodities via a data storage device; sensing a condition of the commodities via the sensor and generating a signal indicative of the commodity condition; identifying information related to the commodities supported by the transport device via the data storage device; acquiring data related to identification of the commodities from the sensor via a controller; distributing the signal indicative of the commodity condition and the acquired data over the network via the controller; communicating the signal and the acquired data to the database; monitoring the commodities throughout the supply chain via the network; managing one or both of storage and transport of the commodities through the supply chain via the transportation system based on the signal and the acquired data communicated to the database; implementing process controls associated with the transportation system via the network to determine criteria associated with one or both of storage and transport of the commodities in the supply chain for managing storage or transport of the commodities within predetermined conditions during storage or transport of the commodities through the supply chain, the process controls including one or both of work flow and qualitative measurement related to the commodities; communicating the criteria determined by the process controls to the database; and maintaining the commodities within the predetermined conditions based on the criteria determined by the process controls and communicated to the database.

16 . The method of claim 15 , further comprising relating the sensor to the commodities when the commodities are prepared for transport through the supply chain.

17 . The method of claim 15 , wherein identifying the information related to the commodities includes determining at least one of an identity of the commodities, weather conditions during harvest of the commodities, and manufacturing conditions during production of the commodities.

18 . The method of claim 15 , further comprising
associating the data storage device to a predetermined quantity of commodities; transmitting the acquired data to the data storage device; identifying the commodities using the data storage device; assigning the sensor to the data storage device; and acquiring data related to the commodities from the sensor via the data storage device.

19 . The method of claim 18 , further comprising
linking the sensor to the data storage device; and communicating the link between the sensor and the data storage device to the database.

20 . The method of claim 15 , further comprising
determining criteria associated with loading the commodities into a transport vehicle using the process controls; implementing the loading criteria to arrange the commodities for transport in the transport vehicle; and dynamically monitoring loading of the commodities into a commodity compartment of the transport vehicle via the controller using at least one electronic curtain in the commodity compartment.

Assignees

• Hussmann Corp

Inventors

• Gupta Manish G
• Higgins Michael J
• Roche John
• Gipson Dennis G
• Hostetler Brian

Classifications

• G06Q10/0832 Primary

  Special goods or special handling procedures, e.g. handling of hazardous or fragile goods · CPC title

• G06Q10/087

  Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders · CPC title

• G06Q10/06393

  Score-carding, benchmarking or key performance indicator [KPI] analysis · CPC title

• G06Q10/06316

  Sequencing of tasks or work · CPC title