What is claimed is:
1. A procurement risk management system comprising a graphical user interface operable to:
receive inputs specifying forecast scenarios for demand, price, and availability for a resource in respective forecast scenario windows;
receive inputs specifying one or more forward contracts in a sourcing portfolio for procuring the resource from respective suppliers in respective sourcing option windows; and
report one or more metrics for evaluating the sourcing portfolio.
2. The system of claim 1, wherein the graphical user interface is operable to display one or more of the forecast scenario windows for resource demand, resource price, and resource availability at a time.
3. The system of claim 1, wherein each forecast scenario window contains for each of multiple scenarios a row for a forecast value in each period of a planning horizon.
4. The system of claim 3, wherein the graphical user interface includes for each row an autofill button selectable by a user to cause the procurement risk management system to fill-in unspecified forecast values in a row by interpolation based on user-specified forecast values in the same row.
5. The system of claim 3, wherein each forecast scenario window includes a graph button selectable by a user to cause the graphical user interface to display a graph of forecast values in the rows of the corresponding forecast scenario window.
6. The system of claim 1, wherein one or more forecast scenario windows each includes a respective drop down menu respectively presenting options selectable by a user to specify how to generate a set of forecast scenarios from a respective base forecast.
7. The system of claim 6, wherein the demand forecast window includes a drop down menu presenting options allowing demand forecast scenarios to be specified by a user in absolute quantity terms, specified by a user in relative quantity terms, or generated based on a user-selected resource demand template.
8. The system of claim 6, wherein the price forecast window includes a drop down menu presenting options allowing price forecast scenarios to be specified by a user in absolute quantity terms, specified by a user in relative quantity terms, or generated based on a user-selected resource price template.
9. The system of claim 6, wherein the availability forecast window includes a drop down menu presenting options allowing availability forecast scenarios to be specified in terms of maximum available unit in each demand scenario, percentage of demand in each demand scenario, or percentage of demand in each price scenario.
10. The system of claim 1, wherein the graphical user interface is further operable to receive one or more inputs specifying correlations between forecast scenarios.
11. The system of claim 10, wherein the graphical user interface comprises a forecast correlation window prompting a user to specify a degree of price-demand correlation or a degree of price-availability correlation, or both.
12. The system of claim 1, wherein the graphical user interface is operable to display one or more of the sourcing option windows at a time.
13. The system of claim 1, wherein each sourcing option window contains for each of multiple contract terms a row for a contract term value in each period of a planning horizon.
14. The system of claim 13, wherein each sourcing option window contains rows for specifying one or more of a quantity cap, a quantity floor, a price, a price cap, and a price floor in each period of a planning horizon.
15. The system of claim 13, wherein the graphical user interface includes for each row an autofill button selectable by a user to cause the procurement risk management system to fill-in unspecified contract term values in a row by interpolation based on user-specified contract term values in the same row.
16. The system of claim 13, wherein each sourcing option window contains a row for specifying an additional cash payment in each period of the planning horizon.
17. The system of claim 1, wherein the graphical user interface is further operable to receive a user-specified inventory carrying policy.
18. The system of claim 17, wherein the graphical user interface comprises an inventory carrying policy specification window with a row for a maximum inventory target in each period of a planning horizon.
19. The system of claim 18, wherein the inventory carrying policy specification window has a row for a buffer stock level in each period of the planning horizon.
20. The system of claim 18, wherein the inventory carrying policy specification window has input boxes for receiving a risk free discount rate for finance charges value and a storage cost value.
21. The system of claim 1, wherein the graphical user interface is further operable to receive financial inputs.
22. The system of claim 21, wherein the graphical user interface comprises an input box for receiving an annual discount rate value.
23. The system of claim 21, wherein the graphical user interface comprises a shortage cost window with a row for a shortage cost value in each period of a planning horizon.
24. The system of claim 23, wherein the graphical user interface comprises an autofill button selectable by a user to cause the procurement risk management system to fill-in unspecified shortage cost values in a row by interpolation based on user-specified shortage cost values in the same row.
25. The system of claim 21, wherein the graphical user interface comprises a shortage cost window with a drop down menu presenting shortage cost type options selectable by a user.
26. The system of claim 25, wherein the drop down menu presents for selection by a user a lost margin shortage cost type, a fixed costunit adder shortage cost type, and a price multiplier shortage cost type.
27. The system of claim 21, wherein the graphical user interface comprises a window containing for each of multiple scenarios a row for a margin value in each period of a planning horizon.
28. The system of claim 27, wherein the graphical user interface comprises an autofill button selectable by a user to cause the procurement risk management system to fill-in unspecified margin values in a row by interpolation based on user-specified margin values in the same row.
29. The system of claim 21, wherein the graphical user interface comprises a window containing a row for a margin sensitivity value in each period of a planning horizon.
30. The system of claim 29, wherein margin sensitivity is specified as percent of price volatility absorbed by product margin.
31. The system of claim 21, wherein the graphical user interface comprises a window containing for each of multiple scenarios a row for an inventory salvage value in each period of a planning horizon.
32. The system of claim 31, wherein the inventory salvage values are specified as excess inventory salvage value as a percentage of scenario price.
33. The system of claim 1, wherein the graphical user interface comprises a sourcing cost window for displaying one or more sourcing cost metrics computed based on an optimal resource sourcing mix computed based on the sourcing portfolio.
34. The system of claim 33, wherein the sourcing cost window contains for each of multiple scenarios a row for displaying net present value of material cost for the optimal resource souring mix and for a buy-at-market sourcing strategy.
35. The system of claim 34, wherein the sourcing cost window comprises a details button selectable by a user to cause the graphical user interface to display a set of material cost report buttons selectable by the user to cause the graphical user interface to display corresponding material cost reports.
36. The system of claim 35, wherein the set of material cost report buttons includes buttons to display reports for a graph of net present value of material cost over time for each scenario, a distribution of net present value of material cost, a distribution of material cost improvement of the optimal resource souring mix relative to the buy-at-market sourcing strategy, and a graph of unit costs over time for the optimal resource sourcing strategy and the buy-at-market sourcing strategy.
37. The system of claim 33, wherein the sourcing cost window contains for each of multiple scenarios a row for displaying net present value of shortage cost for the optimal resource souring mix and for a buy-at-market sourcing strategy.
38. The system of claim 34, wherein the sourcing cost window comprises a details button selectable by a user to cause the graphical user interface to display a set of shortage cost report buttons selectable by the user to cause the graphical user interface to display corresponding shortage cost reports.
39. The system of claim 35, wherein the set of shortage cost report buttons includes buttons to display reports for a graph of net present value of shortage cost over time for each scenario, a distribution of net present value of shortage cost, a distribution of shortage cost improvement of the optimal resource souring mix relative to the buy-at-market sourcing strategy, and a graph of shortage units over time for the optimal resource sourcing strategy and the buy-at-market sourcing strategy.
40. The system of claim 33, wherein the sourcing cost window contains for each of multiple scenarios a row for displaying net present value of inventory cost for the optimal resource souring mix and for a buy-at-market sourcing strategy.
41. The system of claim 34, wherein the sourcing cost window comprises a details button selectable by a user to cause the graphical user interface to display a set of inventory cost report buttons selectable by the user to cause the graphical user interface to display corresponding inventory cost reports.
42. The system of claim 35, wherein the set of inventory cost report buttons includes buttons to display reports for a graph of net present value of inventory cost over time for each scenario, a distribution of net present value of inventory cost, an inventory cost breakdown for the optimal resource souring mix, inventory stock levels for each of multiple scenarios, inventory stock value, and proceeds from sale of excess inventory.
43. The system of claim 33, wherein the sourcing cost window has a location for displaying net present value of other cash flows for the optimal resource souring mix.
44. The system of claim 33, wherein the sourcing cost window contains for each of multiple scenarios a row for displaying net present value of total cost for the optimal resource souring mix and for a buy-at-market sourcing strategy.
45. The system of claim 34, wherein the sourcing cost window comprises a details button selectable by a user to cause the graphical user interface to display a set of total cost report buttons selectable by the user to cause the graphical user interface to display corresponding total cost reports.
46. The system of claim 35, wherein the set of total cost report buttons includes buttons to display reports for a graph of net present value of total cost over time for each scenario, a distribution of net present value of total cost, a distribution of total cost improvement of the optimal resource souring mix relative to the buy-at-market sourcing strategy, and a graph of total unit costs over time for the optimal resource sourcing strategy and the buy-at-market sourcing strategy.
47. The system of claim 33, wherein the sourcing cost window contains for each of multiple scenarios a row for displaying margin values for the optimal resource souring mix and for a buy-at-market sourcing strategy.
48. The system of claim 33, wherein the sourcing cost window has a location for displaying a probability of lower margin for the optimal resource sourcing mix relative to a buy-at-market sourcing strategy.
49. The system of claim 33, wherein the sourcing cost window contains for each of multiple scenarios a row displaying purchase quantity for each contract specified in the sourcing portfolio and for a buy-at-market sourcing strategy.
50. The system of claim 33, wherein the sourcing cost window contains for each of multiple scenarios a row displaying inventory units used to meet demand in each period of a planning horizon.
51. The system of claim 33, wherein the sourcing cost window contains for each of multiple scenarios a row displaying in each period of a planning horizon residual demand after a first of the contracts specified in the sourcing portfolio.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A vacuum enabled article transfer apparatus, the apparatus comprising:
a conveyance belt having a plurality of apertures extending through a contacting surface to an opposite inner surface of the conveyance belt;
a compression roller;
a second roller, wherein the conveyance belt forms a continuous loop around the compression roller and the second roller such that the belt inner surface is in contact with the compression roller and the second roller; and
a vacuum distribution chamber, the chamber positioned between the compression roller and the second roller within the loop of the conveyance belt, wherein the chamber is comprised of an engagement surface proximate the belt inner surface and effective for directing a vacuum pressure through the belt at the plurality of apertures.
2. The vacuum enabled article transfer apparatus of claim 1, wherein the compression roller has a diameter that is greater than a height of the chamber within the loop formed by the belt.
3. The vacuum enabled article transfer apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a vacuum generator fluidly coupled with the chamber.
4. The vacuum enabled article transfer apparatus of claim 1, wherein the engagement surface of the chamber extends between at least a portion of the compression roller and the belt.
5. The vacuum enabled article transfer apparatus of claim 1 further comprising an adhesive applicator, the applicator comprising an applicator roller and an adhesive containing vessel, the applicator roller rotatably positioned at least partially within the adhesive containing vessel.
6. The vacuum enabled article transfer apparatus of claim 5, wherein the applicator roller has a diameter greater than a diameter of the compression roller.
7. The vacuum enabled article transfer apparatus of claim 5, wherein an axis of rotation of the compression roller and axis of rotation of the applicator roller are substantially aligned in a plane perpendicular to a plane through which the belt extends between the compression roller and the second roller.
8. The vacuum enabled article transfer apparatus of claim 5, wherein the adhesive applicator further comprising a plurality of transfer filaments, the transfer filaments extending between the applicator roller and the belt.
9. The vacuum enabled article transfer apparatus of claim 8, wherein the transfer filaments are thermally coupled with an energy source such that the transfer filaments are maintained above a threshold temperature.
10. The vacuum enabled article transfer apparatus of claim 9, wherein the threshold temperature is a temperature within a range of 75 to 240 degrees Celsius.
11. The vacuum enabled article transfer apparatus of claim 8, wherein the transfer filaments extend, at least partially, in a plane substantially parallel with a plane in which the belt extends between the compression roller and the second roller.
12. The vacuum enabled article transfer apparatus of claim 1, wherein the vacuum distribution chamber has a first side that extends from the engagement surface at an acute angle to an upper surface.
13. The vacuum enabled article transfer apparatus of claim 12, wherein at least a portion of the first side extends along the compression roller and between compression roller and the belt.
14. A method of transferring an article, the method comprising:
receiving the article at a position on a vacuum enabled article transfer apparatus;
applying a material to a first side of the article;
temporarily adhering, with a vacuum pressure, the article to a conveyance belt, wherein the belt is in contact with a second side of the article, the second side is opposite of the first side;
while maintaining the vacuum adhesion of the article to the belt; moving the belt from a first position to a second position;
moving the belt from the second position to a third position, such that at the third position the vacuum adhesion is insufficient to counteract a force of gravity on the article such that the article is no longer adhered to the belt by vacuum adhesion.
15. The method of claim 14, wherein the article is portion of an article of footwear.
16. The method of claim 14, wherein the material applied to a first side is an adhesive.
17. The method of claim 14, wherein the belt is comprised of a plurality of apertures extending there through for allowing a transfer of vacuum pressure through the belt to the article.
18. The method of claim 14 further comprising compressing the article between a compression roller and an applicator roller, wherein the compression roller is within a loop formed by the belt and the applicator roller applies the material to the first side of the article.
19. The method of claim 14, wherein the third position of the belt is a location beyond a vacuum chamber applying the vacuum pressure.
20. The method of claim 14 further comprising transferring the article from the belt to a secondary transport mechanism, wherein the secondary transport mechanism is in contact with the first side of the article.