System and Method for Service Parts Planning

Abstract

Embodiments of the invention are generally directed to a system and method for service parts planning in a network having one or more service parts. For at least a subset of the one or more service parts, a calculation is performed to determine a location within the network at which allocating the service part provides the greatest gain in system availability per item cost. In an embodiment, the calculations are based, at least in part on machine-specific information. In one embodiment, inventory position is determined based, at least in part, on a unique identifier associated with a service part.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for service parts planning in a network having one or more service parts comprising:
 identifying a plurality of possible location for distribution of an instance of a service part;   calculating, by a computer, which location of the plurality of possible locations allocation of the instance of the service part will increases the availability of a service part with in the network to the greatest degree per unit cost;   allocating, by the computer, the instance of the service part to the calculated location; and   repeating the calculating and allocating until one of a supply of services parts is entirely allocated or a predefined budget is reached.