International Business Machines Corporation

Edward W Armstrong

Daniel John Peters

Brian T Eck

Mark A Henderson

Howard K Porter

Linda L Scheib

Elizabeth C Szymanowicz

Young Min Lee

Joseph P DeMarco

Kenneth M Cyprys

A storage medium for resolving demand and supply imbalances is provided. The storage medium includes machine-readable computer program code and instructions for causing a computer to implement a method. The method includes identifying an excess component inventory liability or constraint in supply capability for an end product by matching current buying patterns for the end product against inventory liability and supply capability based on a previous demand forecast. Where excess component inventory liability exists, the method includes: refocusing the excess component inventory liability by determining alternative end products that use components identified in the excess component inventory liability; and executing sales activities for enticing sales of the alternative end products. Where constrained supply capability exists, the method includes determining alternative end products that are functionally equivalent to those in the constrained supply capability, and executing sales activities for enticing sales of functionally equivalent alternative end products.

Resolving demand and supply imbalances

A system for resolving demand and supply imbalances includes a supply liability reduction process (SLRP) executable upon identifying an excess component inventory liability. The SLRP includes: a procurement and development assessment sub-process that represents a greatest magnitude of liability; a liability council assessment sub-process that represents a magnitude of liability less than that of the procurement and development assessment sub-process; a sales activities sub-process that represents a magnitude of liability less than that of the liability council assessment sub-process; and a liability write-off sub-process that represents a magnitude of liability less than that of the sales activities sub-process. The SLRP performs one or more sub-processes in an order of the magnitude of liability. The sub-process reduces the excess component inventory liability by: determining alternative end products that use components identified in the excess component inventory liability; and executing for enticing sales of alternative end products.

An exemplary embodiment of the invention relates to a method, system, and storage medium for resolving demand and supply imbalances. The method comprises identifying at least one excess component inventory liability or constraint in supply capability for an end product by matching current buying patterns for the end product against inventory liability and supply capability based on a previous demand forecast. Where excess component inventory liability exists the method refocuses the excess component inventory liability by determining alternative end products that use components identified in the excess component inventory liability; and executes sales activities for enticing sales of the alternative end products. Where constrained supply capability exists, the method determines alternative end products that are functionally equivalent to those identified in the constrained supply capability; and executes sales activities for enticing sales of functionally equivalent alternative end products.

Optimal method, system, and storage medium for resolving demand and supply imbalances

A method, system, and computer program product for determining an optimal database refresh rate is provided. The method includes simulating a shopping system that includes a plurality of databases, the simulating including updating the plurality of databases in accordance with a database refresh rate. The method also includes repeating the simulating for each of a number of database refresh rates and calculating error rates for availability of product determinations resulting from each of the simulations. The method further includes estimating customer satisfaction levels for the error rates and comparing the customer satisfaction levels to corresponding costs of implementing database refreshes corresponding to each of the database refresh rates.

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Chapel Hill, NC, United States of America

Edward W Armstrong