Method, system and apparatus for managing inventory

Abstract

According to embodiments described in the specification, a method, system and apparatus for managing inventory are provided. The method comprises storing at least one job record in a memory, the at least one job record comprising a first of a plurality of job identifiers and at least a first subcomponent identifier; receiving a transaction record comprising a second subcomponent identifier; and storing the transaction record in the memory in association with one of the plurality of job identifiers.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A method of managing inventory, the method comprising:
 storing a plurality of job records in a memory, each job record comprising a different one of a plurality of job identifiers, one of a plurality of production line identifiers, and at least one of a plurality of subcomponent identifiers;   receiving a transaction record comprising a first subcomponent identifier and a first production line identifier;   determining whether the transaction record includes one of the job identifiers;   when the determination is negative, locating one of the job records including one or both of a subcomponent identifier matching the first subcomponent identifier, and a production line identifier matching the first production line identifier, and selecting the job identifier of the located job record;   storing the transaction record in the memory in association with the selected job identifier;   receiving a reconciliation request comprising the selected job identifier and a count;   retrieving a stored transaction record having the selected job identifier and containing a transaction record count;   determining whether there is a discrepancy between the count and the transaction record count; and   when there is a discrepancy, initiating a corrective action to correct the discrepancy.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the determining comprises comparing the count and the transaction count. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the corrective action comprises determining if the discrepancy is below a predefined tolerance; and when the discrepancy is below the predefined tolerance, automatically correcting the stored transaction record. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the predefined tolerance comprises one of a fraction and an absolute quantity. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the corrective action comprises:
 transmitting a summary of the stored transaction record to a computing device for presentation on a display; and   receiving a correction for the stored transaction record from the computing device.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the count is one or more of a subcomponent count and a finished good count. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the count is received from a computing device connected. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein retrieving a stored transaction record comprises retrieving a plurality of stored transaction records having the selected job identifier and each containing a transaction record count, and adding together the transaction record counts to generate an aggregate transaction record count; and
 wherein determining whether there is a discrepancy comprises comparing between the count and the aggregate transaction record count.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 after selecting the job identifier of the located job record, determining whether there is a conflict between the transaction record and the located job record.   
     
     
         10 . A server, comprising:
 a memory storing a plurality of job records each comprising a different one of a plurality of job identifiers, one of a plurality of production line identifiers, and at least one of a plurality of subcomponent identifiers;   a communications interface; and   a processor interconnected with the memory and the communications interface, the processor configured to:
 receive a transaction record via the communications interface, the transaction record comprising a first subcomponent identifier and a first production line identifier; 
 determine whether the transaction record includes one of the job identifiers; 
 when the determination is negative, locate one of the job records including one or both of a subcomponent identifier matching the first subcomponent identifier, and a production line identifier matching the first production line identifier, and select the job identifier of the located job record; 
 store the transaction record in the memory in association with the selected job identifier; 
 receive a reconciliation request comprising the selected job identifier and a count; 
 retrieve a stored transaction record having the selected job identifier and containing a transaction record count; 
 determine whether a discrepancy exists between the count and the transaction record count; and 
 when there is a discrepancy, initiate a corrective action to correct the discrepancy. 
   
     
     
         11 . The server of  claim 10 , wherein the determining comprises comparing the count and the transaction count. 
     
     
         12 . The server of  claim 10 , wherein the corrective action comprises determining if the discrepancy is below a predefined tolerance; and when the discrepancy is below the predefined tolerance, automatically correcting the stored transaction record. 
     
     
         13 . The server of  claim 12 , wherein the predefined tolerance comprises one of a fraction and an absolute quantity. 
     
     
         14 . The server of  claim 10 , wherein the corrective action comprises:
 transmitting a summary of the stored transaction record to a computing device for presentation on a display; and   receiving a correction for the stored transaction record from the computing device.   
     
     
         15 . The server of  claim 10 , wherein the count is one or more of a subcomponent count and a finished good count. 
     
     
         16 . The server of  claim 15 , wherein the count is received from a computing device connected. 
     
     
         17 . The server of  claim 10 , wherein retrieving a stored transaction record comprises retrieving a plurality of stored transaction records having the selected job identifier and each containing a transaction record count, and adding together the transaction record counts to generate an aggregate transaction record count; and
 wherein determining whether there is a discrepancy comprises comparing between the count and the aggregate transaction record count.   
     
     
         18 . The server of  claim 10 , the processor further configured to:
 after selecting the job identifier of the located job record, determine whether there is a conflict between the transaction record and the located job record.   
     
     
         19 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing computer-readable instructions executable by a processor for implementing a method comprising:
 storing a plurality of job records in a memory, each job record comprising a different one of a plurality of job identifiers, one of a plurality of production line identifiers, and at least one of a plurality of subcomponent identifiers;   receiving a transaction record comprising a first subcomponent identifier and a first production line identifier;   determining whether the transaction record includes one of the job identifiers;   when the determination is negative, locating one of the job records including one or both of a subcomponent identifier matching the first subcomponent identifier, and a production line identifier matching the first production line identifier, and selecting the job identifier of the located job record;   storing the transaction record in the memory in association with the selected job identifier;   receiving a reconciliation request comprising the selected job identifier and a count;   retrieving a stored transaction record having the selected job identifier and containing a transaction record count;   determining whether there is a discrepancy between the count and the transaction record count; and   when there is a discrepancy, initiating a corrective action to correct the discrepancy.