Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SOURCINCT PRODUCTS
BACIfGROUND OF THE NVENTION
The invention relates generally to sourcing goods and more specifically to a
method and apparatus for generating requests for quotes, receiving and
evaluating
bids, and awarding bids.
Many manufacturers and other businesses ordinarily purchase components,
supplies, inventory, or other goods from other parties generally known as
"suppliers"
through a procedure know as "sourcing". Of course, the purchase prices of the
goods
affects the operating costs of the business. In the case of a manufacturer
purchasing
components for a product to be manufactured, the purchase price of the
components
directly contributes to the manufacturing costs of the product. Accordingly,
it is
essential that the components be purchased at the lowest practical prices to
ensure that
the manufacturer can maximize profit and remain competitive in the
marketplace.
However, sourcing decisions often should not be based on purchase price alone.
The
quality of the goods, the integrity of the supplier, sales terms, and the like
should also
be considered. In the case were a plurality of goods are to be purchased, all
of the
1 ~ goods may not be available from the same supplier. Further, different
suppliers may
offer the lowest price and best terms on different components.
Many manufacturers have plural locations or divisions purchasing various
goods. The lists of products purchased by each location or division may be
overlapping in nature. One location or division may purchase certain goods at
a better
price than others or all locations or divisions may not purchase as well as
they should
because they are not able to pool their information and purchasing power.
Accordingly, most businesses have established elaborate manual procedures
for buying components or other goods. Typically, a goods list is developed
based on
the needs of the business. The list is then sent to plural suppliers as a
"Request for
?5 Quote" (RFQ) which requests that the supplier provide pricing and terms for
each of
the goods on the list, or at least for any goods that the supplier can supply.
Each
supplier then provides a "bid" which includes the requested pricing and other
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information. A representative of the business, for example a sourcing agent,
then
reviews each bid individually to ascertain the best prices and terms. The
sourcing
agent then awards the bid of one or more of the suppliers for all or a portion
of the
goods on the RFQ. The procedure summarized above requires a great deal of
manual
evaluation of prices. Further, compiling the RFQs and sending them to select
suppliers is tedious and takes a great deal of time. Accordingly, the sourcing
procedure is quite cumbersome. For this reason, sourcing information is rarely
centralized for an entire businesses and often is inefficient. Additionally,
purchase
negotiations often take place at various remote sites, and information
relating to
previous purchases and the like is riot readily available. Finally, because
evaluation
and awarding of the bids is tedious, the sourcing agent is likely to award a
bid to the
supplier having the lowest overall pricing and may not take the time and
effort
necessary to purchase each component at the lowest bid price.
There have been several attempts at automating portions of the sourcing
1 ~ procedure. For example, U.S. patent ~,319,~42 discloses a system for
ordering items
in which purchase requisitions are generated electronically based on plural
electronic
supplier catalogs of goods. However, this system does not address automation
of the
RFQ issuing and evaluation process. Similarly, U.S. patent x,758,327 discloses
a
requisition and authorization process in which requisitions are generated by a
?0 computer. However, this process also fails to automate the RFQ procedure.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A first aspect of the invention is a method for sourcing the purchase of
products from suppliers comprising the steps of, collecting product data
relating to
products to be purchased, collectilig supplier data relating to suppliers of
products,
importing the product data and the supplier data into a master file,
specifying filters
25 for at least one of the product data and the supplier data, exporting
portions of the
product data indicating products to be bid and portions of the supplier data
indicating
suppliers to be asked to bid on each product from the master file to a request
for quote
record in accordance with the filters, generating a request for quote
including the
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portions of the product data in the request for quote record, and transmitting
the
request for quote to the suppliers indicated in the request for quote record.
A second aspect of the invention is a method for sourcing the purchase of
products from suppliers comprising the steps of, collecting product data
relating to
products to be purchased, collecting supplier data relating to suppliers of
product,
importing the product data and the supplier data into a master file,
specifying filters
for at least one of the product data and the supplier data, exporting portions
of the
product data indicating products to be bid and portions of the supplier data
indicating
suppliers to be asked to bid on each product from the master file to a request
for quote
record in accordance with the filters, generating a request for quote
including the
portions of the product data in the request for quote record, and transmitting
the
request for quote to the suppliers indicated in the request fox quote record.
A third aspect of the invention is a computer system architecture for sourcing
the purchase of products from suppliers comprising, a sourcing server
including a
1 ~ memory device having a control program stored therein, the sourcing server
being
associated With a purchaser, at least one sourcing computer including a memory
device having a control progiam stored therein, each of the sourcing computers
being
associated with a purchaser location, at least one supplier computer including
a
memory, each of the supplier computers being associated with a supplier, a
first
communication channel operatively coupled to the sourcing server and the
sourcing
computers, and a second communication channel operatively coupled to the
supplier
computers and the sourcing server. The control program in the memory device of
the
sourcing server includes instructions for collection of product data relating
to products
to be purchased, instructions for collection of supplier data relating to
suppliers of
products, importing the product data and the supplier data into a master file,
instructions for specification of filters for at least one of the product data
and the
supplier data, instructions for exporting portions of the product data
indicating
products to be bid and portions of the supplier data indicating suppliers to
be asked to
bid on each product from the master file to a request for quote record in
accordance
with the filters, instructions for generating a request for quote including
the portions
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of the product data in the request for quote record, and instructions for
transmitting
the request for quote to the suppliers indicated in the request for quote
record.
A fourth aspect of the invention is a computer readable medium comprising
instructions for collection of product data relating to products to be
purchased,
S instructions for collection of supplier data relating to suppliers of
products,
instructions for importing the product data and the supplier data into a
master file,
instructions for specification of filters for at least one of the product data
and the
supplier data, instructions for exporting portions of the product data
indicating
products to be bid and portions of the supplier data indicating suppliers to
be asked to
bid on each product from the master file to a request for quote record in
accordance
with the filters, instructions for generating a request for quote including
the portions
of the product data in the request for quote record, and instructions for
transmitting
the request for quote to the suppliers indicated in the request for quote
record.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION 0~ THE DRAWhIGS
The invention is described through a preferred embodiment and the attached
l ~ drawing in~which:
Fig. 1 is a block diagram of a computer architecture of the preferred
embodiment;
Fig 2 is a schematic representation of files in the memory device of the
embodiment of Fig. 1 of the preferred embodiment;
Fig. 3 illustrates a supplier information display screen of the preferred
embodiment;
Fig. 4 illustrates a location information display screen of the preferred
embodiment;
Fig. 5 illustrates an RFQ generation display screen of the, preferred
embodiment;
Fig. 6 illustrates a bid display screen of the preferred embodiment;
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Fig. 7 illustrates a target bid display screen of the preferred embodiment;
Fig. 8 illustrates a bid awarding display screen of the preferred embodiment:
Fig. 9 is a flow chart of a sourcing procedure of the preferred embodiment;
Fig. 10 illustrates a report generation display screen of the preferred
embodiment;
Fig. 11 illustrates a supplier target report of the preferred embodiment;
Fig. 12 illustrates a no bid report of the preferred embodiment;
Fig. 13 illustrates a supplier award report of the preferred embodiment;
Fig. 14 illustrates a savings report of the preferred embodiment;
Fig. 15 illustrates a number of approved parts report of the preferred
embodiment;
Fig. 16 illustrates a package summary report of the preferred embodiment;
Fig 17 illustrates a savings report of the preferred embodiment;
Fig. 18 illustrates a savings report of the preferred embodiment;
Fig. 19 illustrates a savings report of the preferred embodiment; and
Fig. 20 illustrates a utility display screen of the preferred embodiment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Fig. 1 illustrates computer architecture 10 of a preferred embodiment of the
invention. The preferred embodiment is discussed with respect to a
manufacturer, as
a purchaser, and the sourcing of component parts. However, the invention can
be
applied to any type of purchaser and any type of product to be sourced. The
term
"product" as used herein refer to any type of goods or services. Architecture
10
includes sourcing server 20, sourcing computers 2?, 24, and 26, and supplier
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computers 30, 32, 34, 36, and 38. Sourcing sewer and sourcing computers 22,
24,
and 26 are associated w -ith the manufacturer, i.e. the purchaser. Supplier
computers
30, 32, 34, 36, and 38 are respectively associated with a plurality of
suppliers of
component parts, i.e. products to be sourced. Sourcing server 20 can be
identical to
sourcing computers 22, 24 and 26 and is distinguishable in the preferred
embodiment
only in that sourcing server 20 is the primary data storage source with which
data
stored in computers 22, 24 and 26 can be synchronized therewith.
Sourcing computers 22 and 24 of the preferred embodiment are disposed in
locations within facilities of the purchaser and are coupled to sourcing
server 20 by
communications channel ~0 which can be a local are network (LAN), a direct
cable
connection, a connection via phone lines and modems, or the like.
Communications
channel 50 can include a radio frequency link, an infra-red link cables, or
the like.
Further, communications channel 50 can be continuous or intermittent and can
be any
mechanism for providing the communications described below. For example,
communications channel ~0 can include removable media, such as a diskette, and
.manual distribution of the media from one computer to the other to exchange
information, a procedure often referred to as "sneaker-net." Data can be sent
over
communication channel ~0 in any appropriate format, such as email in simple
mail
transfer protocol (SMTP), as attachments to email, as ASCII or binary files
using file
transfer protocol (FTP), or the Iike. Preferably, sourcing computers 22, and
24 are
portable computers and can easily be physically disconnected from communicants
channel ~0 to facilitate taking data to a remote negotiation site.
Supplier computers 30, 32, 34, 36, and 38 are coupled to RF(~ server 20
through communications channel 60 that comprises Internet backbone 62 and
2S communications links 64 in the preferred embodiment. Each of communications
links
64 can include. a modem, a phone line (POTS), an Internet service provider
(ISP) or
any other mechanism for coupling to Internet backbone 62. Alternatively,
communications channel 60 can be any mechanism for providing the
communications
capabilities described below, such as a LAN, modem and phone line, direct
cable
connection, sneaker-net, or the like. Communications channel 60 can be
continuous
or intermittent and can be any mechanism for providing the communications
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described below. Data can be sent over communication channel 60 in any
appropriate
manner, such as email in SMTP, as attachments to email, as ASCII files or
binary
files with FTP, or the like.
As noted above, sourcing computer 26 is also associated with the
manufacturer., i.e. purchaser However, in the preferred embodiment, sourcing
computer 26 is a remote computer, such as a portable computer, that is coupled
to
sourcing server 20 through communications channel 60. For example, sourcing
computer 26 may be used by a sourcing agent of the manufacturer while at home
or
traveling. Sourcing computer 26 can be identical to sourcing computers 22 and
24
IO and is distinguished in the preferred embodiment merely by its present
physical
location remote from the purchaser's location.
Sourcing server 20 includes memory device 21, such as a hard disk and
random access memory (RAM). Memory device 21 stores a control program having
instructions for accomplishing all of the functions described below. The
control
1 ~ program can be written in any appropriate programming language, such as
Basic,
C-~-;-, or the like, and can run under any appropriate operating system, such
as
Microsoft WindowsT~'i, U~1IX, Linux ~T''I, or the like. Also, memory device 21
stores
plural data files used by the control program. Fig. 2 is a schematic
representation of
files in memory device 21. Master file 100 can be in the form of a database,
such as a
20 file formatted in the Microsoft Accesses format, and includes component
information
102, supplier information 104, manufacturer location information 106, and
commodity information 108. Master file 100 can include additional information
as
needed or can omit some of the information noted above. Each sourcing computer
22,
24 and 26 can have a similar memory device storing the control pro~am and data
2~ files, such as master files and request for quote files, that are
periodically
synchronized with data files in memory device 21. Accordingly, while the
procedure
of the preferred embodiment is described as being accomplished on sourcing
server
20, it can be accomplished in any of sourcing computers 22, 24 and 26.
Component information 10, i.e. product information, can be in the form of a
30 database spreadsheet lookup table or the like and include part
descriptions,
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manufacture part numbers, supplier part numbers, standard component costs
(obtained
from previous purchases or estimates) projected estimated annual usage (EAR of
each component last year's annual usage of each component, current suppliers
of each
component, approved suppliers of each component (e.g. suppliers who have
passed
some sort of quality assurance test with respect to the component part),
component
part category information (e.g., ''resistors"), or any other information
relating to
components to be sourced.
Supplier information.104 can include supplier contact information (including
an email address for transmitting RFQs , in the manner described below),
supplier
address information and the like. Fig. 3 illustrates supplier information
display screen
200, which can be displayed on a display of sourcing ser-ver 20, showing the
supplier
information for ~ one supplier. Supplier information display screen 200
displays
supplier ID code 202 to be used to uniquely identify the supplier, supplier
description
204 (including the name..and address of the supplier), supplier contact
inforrnation
I~ 206, and check box 208 indicating if the supplier is a distributor (as
opposed to a
manufacturer of the components). If the checkbox is checked, a window pops up
displaying the distributor markup for the supplier, i.e. the percentage
difference
bet~,veen a quoted price from the manufacture and the actual selling price of
the
supplier that is a distributor. Also, button 210 of supplier information
display screen
200, can be selected (by a mouse click for example) to display a screen of
supplier
codes for all suppliers, from which the user can select a supplier to display
supplier
information screen 200 for the selected supplier.
Location information 106 (Fig. 2) includes information for each sourcing
location of the manufacturer, uch as divisions, subsidiaries, and the like.
For
2~ example, location information can include a description of the location, a
location ID,
contact information, a target multiplier for the location, suppliers for the
location, and
the like. Fig. 4 illustrates location information display screen 220 which
displays
location ID 222, description 224, location contact information 226 (e.g.
information
relating to the purchasing/sourcing agent at the location), and a target
multiplier for
the location (described below). Location information display screen also
includes
supplier window 230 which illustrates the suppliers associated with the
location
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(linked from supplier information 104) and distributor markups for each
supplier (also
linked from supplier information 104). Commodity information 108 (Fig. 2)
includes
predefined component catejories, such as ''Semiconductors" and subcategories,
such
as ''Field Effect Transistors" to be used for categorizing components in the
manner
described below.
Location information 106, supplier information 104, and commodity
information 108 can be entered initially by the manufacturer from existing
records,
such as quotes, invoices and the like. Component information 102 preferably is
collected by transmitting spreadsheets or other forms to the various sourcing
computers at various locations of the manufacturer over communications
channels ~0
andlor 60. Collecting component information from the locations allows
engineering
and other departments at each location to accurately and completely enter the
component information for the components that they purchase for that location.
For
example, a component information sheet, requesting the component information
for
1 ~ each part used by the location, can be transmitted and filled out, either
manually or
automatically, at the location. The completed component information sheet can
be
transmitted back to sourcing server 20 and imported into the master file 100.
At this
time, master file 100 contains completely updated component information 102,
supplier information I04, location information 106, and commodity information
108.
for alb locations. The completed component information sheets can be checked
for
formatting errors or completeness manually or automatically and can be
rejected and
returned for review or correction if errors are present.
The updated version of master file 100 is used to generate an RFQ, i.e. a
Request for Quote. Fig. ~ illustrates RFQ generation display screen 300. When
the
2~ user elects to create an RFQ, by making a menu selection, mouse clicking on
a button,
or the like, RFQ generation display screen is displayed on a display of
sourcing server
20 and an RFQ file 110 is generated from master file 100 and stored on memory
device 21 (Fig. 2). The RFQ, and the associated RFQ file 110 are assigned an
RFQ
number as illustrated at 302 in Fig. ~. Using RFQ generation display screen
300, the
user selects components, i.e. products to be included in the RFQ and stored as-
data in
RFQ file 110. For example, the user can select "Transistors" from commodity
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selection box 306, which displays the various commodities and/or sub-
commodities
based on commodity information 108. The selection of a commodity will display
the
part numbers of components in the selected commodity category in part number
box
308, based on component information 102, and store component information
relating
to the selected part numbers in RFQ file 110. Double clicking, or otherwise
selecting
a part number, will display the detailed component information relating to the
part
number, such as the part description, pricing and the like. Some or all of the
part
numbers can be selected for inclusion in the RFQ and storage in RFQ file 110
from
part number box 308: Similarly, plural commodities could be selected from
commodity box 306 and the part numbers associated with all selected
commodities
will be displayed in part number box 308.
Prior to transmitting an Rf Q to suppliers, component information update
sheets can be transmitted to locations for updating master file 100 in a
manner similar
to that described above by pressing button 310. In such a case, a list of
locations
1 ~ based on location information I06 will be generated and the user can
select the
desired locations for sending component information update sheets. However,
the
component information update sheets generated for a particular RFQ ordinarily
will
only request information relating to components selected for inclusion in the
RFQ.
The component information sheets after being updated by the locations, can
then be
imported into master file 100 and RFQ file 110 prior to sending the RFQ to
suppliers
in order to make sure that the RFQ is based on the latest available
information.
When the desired part numbers have been selected and component information
102 has been updated, suppliers to receive the RFQ are selected using supplier
list
window 304. Button 320 is then pressed and an RFQ communication is sent to
each
2~ selected supplier by email or in another manner over communication channel
60. The
RFQ communication is sent in accordance with the contact information in
supplier
information104 associated with each selected supplier. The transmitted RFQ of
the
RFQ communication is saved in the RFQ file 110 associated with the RFQ number.
The RFQ communication can contain plural files. For example, if the RFQ is
sent via email, it may include the RFQ, a cover letter with instructions, a
list of the
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locations needing parts including addresses for shipment, and, if the supplier
is a
distributor, a list of manufacturers from which the components will be
accepted.
Preferably, the RFQ is in the form of a spreadsheet, such as a Microsoft
Excel~'i f le,
or in some other predetermined format that permits the supplier to manually or
automatically fill in pricing information in predefined fields to be imported
back into
the RFQ file 110. After filling in the pricing information in the proper
fields, the
supplier transmits a bid, i.e. the RFQ with pricing information filled in,
back to
sourcing server 20 to be imported into RFQ file 110. Bids can be imported one
a time
or in batch format. The bids are imported by selecting a menu selection or
mouse
IO clicking on a button for example. If there are errors in the bid, such as
missing
pricing. information, or improper formatting, the errors will be flagged for
correction.
The RFQ, and thus the bid, can include RFQ number data so that they are
imported
into the proper RFQ file 110. Otherwise, the proper file can be selected
manually.
Fig. 6 illustrates bid display screen 400. Part number window 410 displays the
I ~ various part numbers included in the RFQ and the resulting bids. When a
particular
part number is selected, "SGS 12364" for example, bid information relating to
the
selected part number is displayed in bid information window 420. For example,
the
location requesting the bid, the supplier making the bid, the current cost,
the bid
amount, the adjusted bid amount (bid plus distributor markup percentage as
indicated
20 by supplier information 104) the extended bid (adjusted bid multiplied by
number of
components to be purchased), the component lead time, an approval indication
(indicating whether the supplier has been approved for the particular
component) and
the savings realized by purchasing through that particular supplier, all can
be
displayed. Also, an award column can be provided for manually or automatically
25 indicating a bid award to a particular bid as described in detail below.
Bid
information can also be sorted by location to evaluate bids for a particular
location
only, by commodity, to evaluate categories of bids or subcategories of bids,
or in any
other desirable manner that facilitates evaluation of bids.
It is often expected that there will be subsequent bidding rounds and thus
30 suppliers might not provide the best possible price, i.e. the lowest price
they will
accept, on initial bidding. To facilitate subsequent bidding target bid
display screen
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500 can be displayed as illustrated in Fig. 7. Target bid display screen 500
is similar
to bid display screen 400 and includes part information ~,vindow 510 and bid
information window 520. However, target display bid screen 500 includes a
''target
bid" fox each bid. The target bid is arrived at by reducing the bid price by
the target
multiplier in supplier information I04. For example, if the supplier's target
multiplier
is 0.3, the bid price is reduced by 30% to arrive at the target bid. The
target bid is
designed to be a reasonable ''counter-bid" for negotiation purposes. The
target bid
multiplier can be determined based on any one or more of plural factors, such
as the
supplier's markup habits, the market conditions for the particular type of
products,
industry pricing standards, inflation trends and the like. The target
multiplier can be
determined using any appropriate algorithm. Further, instead of a target
multiplier,
any appropriate formula or algorithm can be used to determine the target bid.
A target bid information report can then be exported to each supplier, by
selecting button 530, inr~a manner similar to RFQ exporting. The target bid
1 ~ information report can include the bid price, the target bid price, and a
cover letter
explaining that the manufacturer believes that the supplier should be able to
meet the
target bid and inviting the supplier to enter further negotiations relating to
the bid.
The target bid information report can be completed by the supplier, by filling
in a
lower bid price for example, and transmitted back to sourcing server 20 to be
imported into RFQ file 110 in a manner similar to the first round of bids.
Once the completed target bid information is imported into the appropriate
RFQ file 110, bids can be awarded to particular suppliers or further
negotiations
and/or bid rounds can be effected. If bids are awarded, they can be awarded
for each
location or for the entirety of the manufacturer by sorting the bids
appropriately. Fig.
8 illustrates bid awarding display screen 600. Part number window 610 displays
the
various part numbers included in the RFQ and the resulting final bids after
importation of the complete target bid .information report. When a particular
part
number is selected, "SGS 123654" for example, final bid information relating
to the
selected part number is displayed in bid information window 630. For example,
the
location requesting the bid, the supplier making the bid, the current cost,
the final bid
amount, the final adjusted bid amount, the component lead time, an approval
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indication (indicating whether the supplier has been approved for the
particular
component) and the sa~-ings by realized purchasing through that supplier all
can be
displayed. Bid information can be sorted by location to evaluate bids for a
particular
location only by selecting a location from location information window 620.
The
final bid information for the elected location will be displayed in bid
information
window 630. A bid can be awarded to the lowest bid from an approved supplier,
or
any other desired supplier, by entering a "Y" in the award column as indicated
in the
Fig. 8. Alternatively, the control program can automatically award a bid to
the lowest
bid from an approved supplier or through any other algorithm. Bids are awarded
in a
similar manner for each componznt and each location. Alternatively, bids can
be
awarded for plural locations and,'or components if apprbpriate.
Fig. 9 is a flowchart of the.sourcing procedure of the preferred embodiment.
In step A, product information 102 is collected by transmitting component
information sheets to appropriate locations. In step B, supplier information
104 is
collected and imported or other~.r-ise entered into master file 100. In step
C, location
information is collected and imported or otherwise entered into master file
100. In
step D, commodity information 108 is collected and imported or otherwise
entered
into master f le 100. In. step D, the completed information sheets are
imported into
master file 100 to incorporate the component information into master file 100.
In step E, a request for quote file is established. In step F, filters are
specified
for a request for quote. Filters can be any parameter defining the request for
quote.
For example, a filter can include particular component part numbers,
particular
locations, commodity categories, any other parameter, 'or a combination
thereof.
Filters are specified by selecting the desired elements from RFQ generation
display
screen 300 of Fig. 5.
In step F, information in the master file that corresponds to the specified
filters
is exported to the request for quote file created in step E. In step G, a
request for
quote is generated based on the information in the request for quote file. For
example, if one of the filters specified in step F was the commodity
"transistors", the
request for quote will only contain transistors. In step H, information is
updated by
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generating component information update sheets based on the information in the
request for quote file, transmitting the update sheets to the proper locations
to be filled
in, and importing the filled in update sheets into the request for quote file.
Note that
the request for quote file includes location information and thus the update
sheets are
only sent to locations that are relevant to the request for quote and only
request
information relevant to the request for quote.
In step I, the request for quote, including the updated information from step
H,
is transmitted to suppliers. Note that since the RFQ contains supplier
information and
a filter can be specified for supplier information, the RFQ can be generated
to be sent
only to specific suppliers based on supplier location, previous experience,
supplier
capabilities, or the like. In other words, the filters can be. used to control
the suppliers
to which the request for quote is sent in step I. In~ step J, the bid
information
contained in the completed request for quotes returned by suppliers is
imported into
the request for quote file. At this time, the procedure can continue directly
to step K
1 ~ in which bids are awarded based on information in the request for quote
file in the
manner described above. Alternatively, a target bid step can be accomplished
as
described above, in step L, for further negotiation prior to continuing to
step K.
Various reports, purchase orders, and the Iike can be generated to be
forwarded to the supplier, purchasing departments, sor~rcing departments,
engineering
departments, accounting , departments, and the others. Fig. 10 illustrates
report
generation display screen 700 of the preferred embodiment which includes
report
selection window 702, location selection window 704 and supplier selection
window
706. Once a report type is selected from report selection window 702, the
report can
be generated for each location and supplier selected in location selection
window 704
2~ and supplier selection window 706 respectively. Any one or more of
locations and
suppliers can be selected as desired using known interface standards.
Information
from either master filed 100 or RFQ file 100 is filtered or sorted based on
the
selections to generate the selected report. Pressing button 714 will display a
preview
of the report on the display of the computer being used, sourcing server 20
for
example.
14
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Fig. 11 illustrates a Supplier Target Report 800 for the supplier identified
by
the supplier code "SHI". For each comporient supplied by the supplier Supplier
Target Report 800 lists the item number, the bid number, the manufacturer part
number, the supplier part number, the component description, the manufacturer
location to which the supplier supplies the component, the projected EAU, the
lead
time, the current bid, and the target bid. Also, a column indicates whether or
not the
supplier has been approved fox each component and another column indicates
whether
or not the supplier is an OEM for the component.
Fig. 12 illustrates a No Bid Report 810 which lists approved suppliers and
other information relating to components in which no bids were received. No
Bid
Report 810 facilitates sending subsequent RFQs to qualified suppliers to get
bids on
components not previously bid. Accordingly, it can be insured that a supplier
bids on
all components that the supplier can supply.
Fig. 13 illustrates Supplier Awards Report 820 listing all components to which
1 ~ a bid is awarded to a particular supplier from the RFQ. A contract number
can be
assigned to the award for reference. Supplier Awards Report 820 can be used to
generate a purchase order or requisition order.
Fig. 14 illustrates Final Savings Report 830 which lists all awarded bids for
a
particular location and the savings for each bid as well as total savings for
the location
and Iend times. Final Savings Report 830 is indicative of the success of the
sourcing
procedure.
Fig. 15 illustrates Number of Part Approvals Report 840 which lists each
supplier and the number of components for which the supplier is approved. This
report indicates which suppliers can. be a source of the most components and
facilitates achieving economies of scale in the sourcing procedure.
Fig. 1 b illustrates Package Summary Report 850 showing the value of all
components awarded.
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CA 02370216 2001-10-11
WO 01/63524 PCT/USO1/05555
Fig. 17 illustrates Savings by Loca~ori Report 860 which lists the savings for
each site based on the awarding bids to the lowest approved supplier.
Fig. 18 illustrates Potential Savings Report 870 which demonstrates potential
savings for a particular location that could be achieved by using a non
approved
S supplier. This report can be used to decide if exceptions can be made for
purchasing
from non approved suppliers or to decide if a particular supplier should be
scrutinized
for approval.
Fig. 19 illustrates Final Savings Report 880 which lists the final percentage
savings for each component based on the awarded bids for a particular location
and
totals for all locations.
Fig. 20 illustrates utility menu display screen 900 having buttons to perform
various utility functions. Button 902 will purge all bid data from an RFQ file
110
selected in drop down box 904. Button 906 will restore data from an archived
RFQ
file 110. Button 908 will create a new RFQ file 110 for all components not
having
1 ~ bids in an existing RFQ file I 10. Button 910 will remove all duplicate
bid
information from a RFQ file 110. Button 912 removes all components not
associated
with an RFQ. Button 914 deletes all obsolete parts and related information
from RFQ
file 110. Qbsolete components can be determined by comparing parts numbers in
master file 100 with parts numbers in RFQ file 110.
Various computers can be used to implement the invention and the computers
can communicate over any appropriate communication channels. Data can be
stored
on a central server and synchronized to various other computers to permit
processing
at one or more computers other than the server. Any appropriate information
can be
gathered to facilitate the sourcing procedure. The various data can be sorted
and
filtered as desired in any manner. Any appropriate user interface can be used
to make
the various selections and to activate the various buttons. Each window can
have a
plurality of listed elements and a standard interface can be used to scroll
through and
select a desired element. For example the standard WindowsT'~' interface and
API can
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CA 02370216 2001-10-11
WO 01/63524 PCT/USO1/05555
'oe used. The RFQ file can be saved and reopened at any time. Therefore, there
can
be substantial time lapses between the steps described herein.
While the foregoing description includes many details and
specif cities, it is to be understood that these have been included for
purposes of
explanation only, and are not to be interpreted as limitations of the present
invention.
Many modifications .to the embodiments described above can be made without
departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, as is intended to be
encompassed
by the following claims and their legal equivalents.
17
