Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02831123 2013-10-22
4wolif "
- I. -
Title: METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR MANAGING THE SHIPPING,
DELIVERY AND RECEIPT OF PREFABRICATED CONSTRUCTION
COMPONENTS
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to the field of managing the
transportation of objects and more particularly to managing the
transportation of prefabricated construction components. Most
particularly, this invention relates to a method and system of managing
the shipping from a distribution centre and the delivery and receipt at a
construction site of prefabricated construction components.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Prefabricated construction components are often used during
large-scale construction projects. These may, for example, be large
precast elements that are made at a remote factory and then shipped to
the construction site. Prefabrication of concrete components can take
time, for example for the concrete to be adequately cured. Large scale
infrastructure projects often require large numbers of bulky prefabricated
components. These components are required on site in a specific order
and timing to keep the project running smoothly, efficiently and in
sequence. For example, in the installation of an underground sewer
pipeline, a specific number of pipe segments, connection pieces and
manhole segments will be required for the entire project and those
components will need to be installed in a specific sequence as the
pipeline is built. Therefore, it is crucial to have the required components
on hand in sufficient quantities to allow the construction to proceed
unimpeded. If construction is proceeding at a certain rate, it can be
estimated when further prefabricated components will be required for the
project. However, typically constructions projects can run into unexpected
changes to their schedule due to delays and unforeseen events.
CA 02831123 2013-10-22
roommir
-2-
In some cases changes to the anticipated schedule is
accomplished by piling up an inventory of prefabricated components in a
staging area at the location of the project. However, in
urban
infrastructure projects there often is no room for such a staging area.
Further, the retaining on site of inventory is expensive and a-just-in-time
form of parts delivery is cheaper and more space efficient and thus more
preferred.
Therefore, it is important for the delivery of prefabricated
construction components to be co-ordinated by a site supervisor so that
each component is available to be installed in the correct order. Among
other things this makes it desirable for the site supervisor to be able to
confirm that the components being shipped and delivered are the
components that were ordered. If the wrong item is delivered at the work
site or, to the wrong worksite, if there is an unexpected delay in delivering
a component, the entire project may be delayed, which can have
significant cost consequences, in terms of idled workers, delays to other
portions of the project and the like. In conventional systems for delivering
construction components, a site supervisor may not be able to confirm
that he or she is going to be delivered the correct components until after
they arrive at the site and the packing list is checked against the goods
received.
Current tracking of construction components require operators to
call distributors and manufacturers directly to check on the fabrication
schedule, to place orders for the release of prefabricated inventory and to
obtain any updates about the location and status of the ordered items.
Although this allows site supervisors to obtain current information about
the components, it is time wasting for both the supervisor and the
personnel at the distribution site who is required to take the call and recite
information that is recorded on their systems. Also, site supervisors may
be in charge of a large number of projects which each may require a
variety of different components. However, conventional systems generally
1
CA 02831123 2013-10-22
-3-
do not provide any mechanism for obtaining information stored by the
distribution centre regarding current inventory and the status of equipment
which has been ordered without contacting someone at the distribution
facility.
What is desired is a way to streamline the process by which
information regarding the fabrication, shipping, delivery and receipt of
prefabricated construction components is managed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is therefore directed to a method and system
of managing the shipping from a distribution centre and the delivery and
receipt at a construction site of prefabricated construction components. In
particular, the present invention provides a method and system by which
the status of one or more of the manufacture, shipping, delivery and
receipt of prefabricated construction components can be automatically
transmitted to and received by a remote computing device at a
construction site. The present invention provides for site supervisors to
have remote, most preferably through a hand held smart phone or the
like, access to information regarding the components ordered for multiple
different projects without requiring those supervisors to maintain an
independent records system. Further it is desirable to have a record of a
release order being given by a site supervisor to a component supplier,
and then accepted by the component supplier and then the order
confirmed by the site supervisor to ensure that the order that was given
was the same as the order that is being filled.
According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention
there is provided a method of managing the shipping from a distribution
centre and the delivery and receipt at a construction site of prefabricated
construction components for a construction project. The making of the
prefabricated construction components is recorded in a database and the
shipping readiness of the components are tracked over time. An order for
,
CA 02831123 2013-10-22
-4-
delivery of one or more of the prefabricated construction components is
received and recorded, the order is processed and the one or more
ordered components are prepared for shipping. A status of the shipping,
delivery and receipt of the one or more ordered components is recorded
in the database. The status of the shipping, delivery and receipt of the one
or more ordered components is automatically transmitted to a remote
computing device.
According to another preferred embodiment of the present
invention there is provided a system for managing the shipping from a
distribution centre and the delivery and receipt at a construction site of
prefabricated construction components for a construction project. A
database records information on a status of the shipping, delivery and
receipt of the prefabricated components. A remote computing device is in
communication with the database. An interface allows for the modification
of the status of the shipping, delivery and receipt of the prefabricated
components in the database. A control system allows for the management
of the status of the shipping, delivery and receipt of the prefabricated
components in the database. The control system is configured to
automatically transmit the status of the shipping, delivery and receipt of
the prefabricated components to the remote computing device after the
status of the shipping, delivery and receipt of the prefabricated
components is modified by the interface.
According to another preferred embodiment of the present
invention there is provided a method of tracking the transportation of
construction equipment to a construction site. A site supervisor on a
construction project is permitted to request information on the shipping
readiness of prefabricated construction components at a distribution
centre related to the construction project using a remote computing
device. Information on the fabrication of prefabrication construction
components at the distribution centre is received at the remote computing
device. An order for at least one of the prefabrication construction
CA 02831123 2013-10-22
"Or
-5-
components is transmitted from the construction site. A status of the
shipping, delivery and receipt of the at least one ordered prefabricated
components is automatically received at the remote computing device
after the status of the shipping, delivery and receipt of the at least one
ordered prefabricated component changes.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Reference will now be made by way of example only to preferred
embodiments of the invention by reference to the following drawing in
which:
Figure 1 shows a system for managing the shipping from a
distribution centre and the delivery and receipt at a construction site of
prefabricated construction components;
Figure 2 shows a flow diagram of a method of managing the
shipping, delivery and receipt of prefabricated construction components
for a construction project; and
Figure 3 shows a flow diagram of a method of tracking the
transportation of construction equipment to a construction site.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Figure 1 shows a system 10 for managing the manufacture,
shipping from a distribution centre and the delivery and receipt at a
construction site of prefabricated construction components 24 for a
construction project at a construction site 20. In the following description
the term "site supervisor" is used and generally this term is intended to
cover the person in charge of the construction schedule at a project.
While typically the site supervisor will be on site, the term site supervisor
as used herein describes anyone who is involved in the timing and
delivery of prefabricated components to a project.
The system also comprehends being able to pre-order the
production of long lead time components by the customer on the
CA 02831123 2013-10-22
=
-6-
construction site. The prefabricated construction components 24, once
fabricated, are initially stored at a distribution centre 18, for example, in
a
warehouse 22. The storage location will typically be at a remote site,
close to the fabrication plant where the fabrication takes place and where
there are no undue constraints on the availability of land. The term
"fabrication plant" is used to describe any facility which has the capacity to
construct prefabricated construction components. The distribution centre
may include the fabrication plant or the fabrication plant may be at a
separate location. In one embodiment, the system includes a database 12
for recording information regarding a status of one or more of the
fabrication, shipping, delivery and receipt of the prefabricated components
24. The database preferably stores details about the order status of the
item including that it was ordered, by whom and when, that it was
released, shipped, delivered or delivered and invoiced. The status of the
shipping, delivery and receipt of the prefabricated components 24 may
also preferably include the location of the item, for example, by providing
the location of a delivery truck 26 if the prefabricated component is being
shipped by truck.
Other examples of status information which may be stored in the
database 12 include the expected delivery date and time, a packing list
confirming the components included in a specific shipment, information
regarding the personnel who received or placed with the order, whether
the components have left the distribution centre 18 and when, the location
of the one or more ordered components when in transit, for example, by
GPS tracking updates, and confirmation that the one or more ordered
components were delivered and invoiced. Depending on the needs of the
individual site supervisors and the type of information stored in the
database 12, a smaller subset of information may be displayed to different
site supervisors and status information may also include other types of
information which may be useful for the site supervisor. The status of the
prefabricated construction components may include any type of
CA 02831123 2013-10-22
=
-7-
information relating to the components which could be useful to the site
supervisor. For example, the data base could include a running tally of
components shipped by project so as to provide a running tally of the
percent complete the supply and delivery is in respect of any specific
project.
A remote computing device 14 located at the construction site 20
allows for communication between the construction site 20 and the
database 12. An interface 30 connected to the database 12 allows for the
modification of the status of the shipping, delivery and receipt of the
prefabricated components in the database 12. The interface 30 and
database 12 are connected to a control system 16. The interface 30 may
be, for example, a computer which allows personnel at the distribution
centre to input information regarding the prefabricated construction
components 24. For example, if a site supervisor calls the distribution
centre personnel to order a new item, the distribution centre personnel
can input the order into the database 12 using the interface 30. The
interface 30 may also include various other systems, so long as it
provides a means to update information in the database. For example,
the interface 30 may also be an automated device, such as a bar-code
scanner which can track the movement of prefabricated components at
the distribution centre 18. Furthermore, the interface 30 could include a
GPS device 28 located on a delivery truck 26 which communicates with
the control system 16 to allow the control system 16 to update the
database 12 with information about the current location of the
prefabricated construction components 24 which are loaded on the
delivery truck 26. The interface 30 could also include the remote
computing device14 or other computing device which can communicate
with the control system 16.
The control system 16 provides for the management of the status
of the shipping, delivery and receipt of the prefabricated components 24 in
the database 12. The control system 16 is configured to automatically
CA 02831123 2013-10-22
-8-
transmit the status of the shipping, delivery and receipt of the
prefabricated components to, among other places, the remote computing
device 14 after the status of the shipping, delivery and receipt of the
prefabricated components is modified by the interface. The status may
also be simultaneously transmitted to a central project management office
if so desired.
The prefabricated components 24 may be loaded from the
warehouse 22 into a delivery system, such as, for example, delivery truck
26. It will be understood that other modes of transportation may also be
used to deliver the one or more ordered components. Preferably, the
delivery truck 26 is equipped with a GPS device 28 which is in
communication with the control system 16. The control system 16 will be
informed about the location of the delivery truck 26 and will be able to
predict at which time the delivery at the construction site 20 is expected.
This status information regarding the predicted time of delivery may be
automatically transmitted by the control system 16 to the remote device
14. Once loaded, the delivery truck 26 will travel to the construction site
20, where it will be unloaded and receipt of the one or more ordered
components will be confirmed, upon a visual comparison of the packing
slip and the shipped components being performed at the delivery location.
In one embodiment, the electronic acceptance by the site of the shipped
goods could also generate an electronic invoice in accordance with the
packing slip.
It will be understood that although Fig. 1 shows the control system
16, the database 12 and the interface 30 all connected by wired
components, those connections may also be made by other means, such
as wireless connections so long as the system components are capable
of communicating with one another. Furthermore, although each of the
control system 16 and the database 12 are shown as physical objects at
the distribution site, those items may be located at different locations and
may also be virtual, rather than physical in nature. For example, the
CA 02831123 2013-10-22
'
-9-
database 12 may be stored virtually on a 'cloud', meaning that the
information is stored through the cooperative interaction of multiple
different computers in various locations at the same time without being
located at a specific physical location. What is
important is that
information can be stored in the database 12 and that the information can
be accessed and transmitted as desired by the control system 16. The
control system 16 and the remote computing device 14 may be connected
by a variety of different communication channels, including through the
internet, satellite or radio or other means. Furthermore, although the
control system 16 is described as controlling the database and
transmitting information to the remote computing device 14, those
functions may be provided by separate physical objects. For example, a
separate transmitter may be connected to a processor, which when acting
together provide the same function as the control system 16. However,
regardless of whether the components are provided separately or
virtually, what is important is that the control system monitors the status of
data within the database, harvests new data as it is generated and stored
and pushes the data out to the desired recipients as set out above.
As shown in Fig. 2, there is a method 32 of managing the
shipping from the distribution centre 18 (Fig. 1) and the delivery and
receipt at a construction site 20 (Fig. 1) of prefabricated construction
components 24 (Fig. 1) for a construction project. At 34, the making of
the prefabricated construction components 24 (Fig. 1) is recorded in a
database 12 (Fig. 1) and the shipping readiness of the components are
tracked over time. The method 32 may record various properties of the
prefabricated components in the database such as that the prefabricated
construction components are in stock at the distribution centre 18 (Fig. 1).
At 36, an order for delivery of one or more of the prefabricated
construction components 24 (Fig. 1) is received and recorded in the
database 12 (Fig.1), the order is processed and the one or more ordered
components are prepared for shipping. At 38, a status of the shipping,
,
CA 02831123 2013-10-22
-10-
delivery and receipt of the one or more ordered components is recorded
in the database 12 (Fig. 1). At 40, the status of the shipping, delivery and
receipt of the one or more ordered components is automatically
transmitted to the remote computing device 14 (Fig. 1). The information
relating to the shipping readiness of the prefabricated construction
components may be recorded in the database 12 (Fig. 1) either before or
after the order for delivery of one of the prefabricated construction
components is received and recorded in the database.
As shown in Fig. 3 there is a method 46 of tracking the
transportation of construction equipment to a construction site 20 (Fig. 1).
A site supervisor at a construction project is permitted at 48 to use the
remote computing device to request information on the shipping readiness
of prefabricated construction components at the distribution centre 18
(Fig. 1) related to the construction project. Access to the system will be
protected by appropriate passwords or the like which will also tie the
remote user in to the specific project applicable to the remote user. In this
way the system can manage multiple projects at multiple sites for multiple
customers simultaneously. At 50, information on the fabrication of
prefabrication construction components 24 (Fig. 1) at the distribution
centre 18 (Fig. 1) is received at the remote computing device 14 (Fig. 1).
At 52, an order for at least one of the prefabrication construction
components is transmitted from the construction site 20 (Fig. 1). At 54, a
status of the shipping, delivery and receipt of the at least one ordered
prefabricated components is automatically received at the remote
computing device after the status of the shipping, delivery and receipt of
the at least one ordered prefabricated component changes.
One preferred embodiment of the system is described in more
detail herein. A site supervisor at the construction site 20 will use a
remote computing device 14 in the form of a smart phone to communicate
with the control system 16. The site supervisor will install or have
installed on the remote computing device 14 software which
CA 02831123 2013-10-22
=
-11-
communicates with the control system 16. The software may be in the
form of a software application, often referred to as an 'App'. Once the site
supervisor activates the App, he or she will enter login information in order
to identify himself or herself to the system and to prevent unauthorized
access. After the site supervisor's credentials have been accepted by the
system, information regarding the products of the distributor, such as a
product catalogue, and specific project information will be accessible.
Once a registered user logs in, each of the projects he or she is
responsible for will be displayed on the smart phone. Each project will be
associated with a project name which allows the registered user to easily
identify each project. Alerts regarding the shipping, delivery and receipt
status of prefabricated construction components associated with each
project may be selected and displayed by the registered user. The latest
information regarding the status of the prefabricated construction
components will be displayed to the user. For example, the system may
display an alert that a certain product has been released for delivery and
that it has an expected delivery date of a certain date. Additional
information, including the personnel at the distribution centre who
received an order may also be displayed. As additional information
regarding the status of the prefabricated construction equipment is
transmitted to the remote computing device 14, including whether the
prefabricated construction components have been shipped, that
information will be displayed on the App in the form of an alert. The
status of the shipping, delivery and receipt of the prefabricated
construction components can include various piece of information,
including whether the components have been released for shipping,
whether the delivery truck has left the yard, information regarding the
current location of the delivery truck, the expected arrival time and date
for the prefabricated construction components, confirmation that the
components were delivered and confirmation that the components were
both delivered and that an invoice was issued. The status of the shipping,
CA 02831123 2013-10-22
-12-
delivery and receipt of the prefabricated construction components may
also include information such as the packing slip which may be sent to the
registered user. The status may also include information regarding
whether the invoice was ultimately paid. Additional information regarding
the status of the prefabricated construction components may also be
stored in the database and transmitted to the registered user, including
the quantity of each item being shipped, the physical properties of the
item, including its size and mass or its product number and other useful
information. This allows the registered user to confirm whether the
correct prefabricated construction components are being shipped before
the components leave the yard. Changes in the status of the prefabricated
construction components will cause the control system to send an alert to
the smart phone 14. The control system 16 will respond to the creation of
a new modified status or new entry on the database 12. Once a new
entry has been created, it will be pushed or transmitted automatically to
the App on the smart phone 14. The information which was automatically
transmitted to the smart phone 14 may not be visibly displayed to the user
until the registered user logs into the system, which may be at a later
time. The user may be informed of the updated information by the
creation of an alert associated with the one or more ordered components.
The registered user may also be able to operate the smart phone 14 to
update the system by confirming electronically that the one or more
ordered components have arrived. In this manner, the smart phone acts
as an interface 30. The confirmation of the receipt of the order will be
communicated to the control system 16 which will then update the
database 12. In another embodiment, the driver of the delivery vehicle 26
may have a device, such as an additional remote computing device (not
shown), which will communicate with the control system 16 to confirm
delivery. It is also possible for the GPS device 28 to confirm delivery by
establishing that the delivery truck containing the prefabricated
construction components has arrived at the delivery location. Although
CA 02831123 2013-10-22
-13-
not preferred, the database 12 may also be updated manually by
personnel entering confirmation of delivery when the truck driver returns
with paperwork confirming that the order was successfully delivered.
The control system 16 and database 12 may integrated with or
used in conjunction with other different systems operated at the
distribution centre 18. For example, information from a related accounting
system may be used to populate data in the database by providing details
of orders of prefabricated construction components. In another
embodiment, the accounting software may be integrated with the
management system 10. An invoice for an order may be generated
automatically and sent to the registered user once receipt of the order is
confirmed. The invoice may be generated electronically and sent through
various means, including through email or through the App itself, or may
be sent manually through regular mail.
While the foregoing description refers to preferred embodiments
of the present invention it will be understood by those skilled in the art
that
various modifications and alterations are possible to the invention without
departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the broad claims
appended to this specification. Some of
these alterations and
modifications have been discussed above and other will be apparent to
those skilled in the art.
