Inventory management device and inventory management method

Abstract

Provided is an inventory management device, connected over a network to groups of image processing devices, for managing inventory, by device group, of consumable supplies used in the image processing devices. The inventory management device includes an inventory information storage unit that stores inventory information by device group and an inventory supplement selection unit that selects supplies to supplement the inventory. The inventory information includes, in association for each supply, an inventory amount, an image processing device identifier, a device group identifier, a maximum inventory amount for the device group, and a projected replacement timing. When a supply is replaced, the inventory supplement selection unit refers to the inventory information for the device group of the image processing device in which the supply was replaced to select supplies to supplement the inventory without exceeding the maximum inventory amount, starting from the supply with the earliest projected replacement timing.