GB2311393A - A method for controlling a computer for issuing invoices - Google Patents

Abstract

A computer programme prepares first and second invoices in connection with the sale of goods from a supplier to an intermediate customer, and in turn for the sale of the goods from the intermediate customer to an end customer, respectively. The first and second invoices are prepared based on data which is originally entered and stored in the computer for the purpose of preparing a purchase order for initially purchasing the goods. The price at which the goods are to be charged in the first invoice is derived from data stored in the computer, and the price at which the goods are to be charged in the second invoice is based on the price charged in the first invoice which is multiplied by a constant which may range between 0.1 and 99. The two invoices are prepared by the computer programme for subsequent dispatch to the intermediate and end customers.

Description

"A method for controlling a computer for issuing invoices" The present invention relates to a method for controlling a computer for issuing invoices, and in particular, for issuing two invoices for goods to be sold from a supplier to an end customer through an intermediate customer, and the invention also relates to a computer operating under the control of the method.

There are occasions when it is desirable that goods, and indeed services which are being sold from a supplier to an end customer should be sold through an intermediate customer. In such cases, the goods are sold by the supplier to the intermediate customer, and the intermediate customer in turn sells the goods onto the end customer. This requires the raising of two invoices for the goods. The first invoice is raised by the supplier for the sale of the goods to the intermediate customer, and the second invoice is raised by the intermediate customer for the sale of the goods to the end customer. In general, the price charged for the goods in the second invoice is based on the price charged for the goods in the first invoice. However, on many occasions it is desirable to be able to determine the price at which the goods are to be charged in the second invoice at short notice, and ideally it is desirable that the supplier should be able to determine the price at which the goods are to be charged in the second invoice. In many instances, the supplier, the intermediate customer and the end customer may all reside in different states, which may be large distances apart, and communications between such states may be poor. Thus, in general, in such cases, it is virtually impossible to provide an arrangement whereby the price at which the goods are to be charged in the second invoice can be determined at short notice. There is therefore a need for a method and apparatus for providing for the sale of goods and services from a supplier to an end customer through an intermediate customer whereby invoicing between the respective parties can be carried out efficiently, and the invoice price between the intermediate customer and the end customer can be readily determined at short notice by the supplier. For convenience, the term goods is hereinafter intended to refer both to goods and services.

The present invention is directed towards providing a method for controlling a computer for issuing two invoices for goods to be sold by a supplier to an end customer through an intermediate customer, and the invention is also directed towards a computer operating under the control of the method.

According to the invention there is provided a method for controlling a computer for issuing two invoices for goods to be sold from a supplier to an end customer through an intermediate customer, a first of the two invoices being in respect of a sale of the goods by the supplier to the intermediate customer, and a second of the two invoices being in respect of a sale of the goods by the intermediate customer to the end customer, the method comprising the step of computing the invoice price at which the goods are to be charged in the second invoice from the invoice price at which the goods are charged in the first invoice in combination with a code entered in the computer.

Preferably, the code identifies a constant by which the invoice price at which the goods are charged in the first invoice is to be multiplied for computing the invoice price of the goods in the second invoice.

Advantageously, a plurality of constants are stored in a constants look-up table in the computer, the constants being cross-referenced with a plurality of respective corresponding codes. Ideally the value of the constants range from 0.1 to 99. In one aspect of the invention the value of the constants range from 0.25 to 5.

In another aspect of the invention the unit price at which the goods in the first invoice are to be charged is read from data stored in the computer. Preferably, the goods and the quantities of the goods in the first and second invoices are identical, and are read from data stored in the computer. Ideally, the goods and the quantities and unit price of the goods are stored in the computer in a goods inward table.

In one aspect of the invention the method further comprises the steps of issuing the first invoice from one of a plurality of suppliers to a corresponding one of a plurality of intermediate customers, and issuing the second invoice from the said corresponding intermediate customer to a corresponding one of a plurality of end customers, the said corresponding intermediate and end customers being determined from a supplier/customer look-up table.

Preferably, the supplier/customer look-up table comprises a list of suppliers, intermediate customers and end customers, the corresponding suppliers, intermediate customers and end customers being crossreferenced therein.

In one aspect of the invention the goods are purchased from one of a plurality of traders, the traders and the goods supplied by the respective traders being stored and cross-referenced in a traders/goods look-up table stored in the computer.

Preferably the method further comprises the step of preparing a purchase order for purchasing the goods from the trader.

In one aspect of the invention the goods inward table is derived by the computer from the purchase order.

In another aspect of the invention the method further comprises the step of preparing the purchase order from data inputted into the computer in respect of the goods, the quantity of the goods, and from data in respect of the unit price of the goods stored in the trader/goods look-up table.

In one aspect of the invention the trader from whom the goods are to be purchased is read from the trader/goods look-up table in the computer.

Additionally, the invention provides a computer controlled by the method according to the invention for issuing two invoices for goods to be sold from a supplier to an end customer through an intermediate customer, a first of the two invoices being in respect of a sale of the goods by the supplier to the intermediate customer, and a second of the two invoices being in respect of a sale of the goods by the intermediate customer to the end customer, the computer comprising a means for reading a code entered in the computer, and a computing means for computing the invoice price at which the goods are to be charged in the second invoice from the invoice price at which the goods are charged in the first invoice in combination with the read code.

Preferably, the computer comprises a means for identifying a constant by which the invoice price of the goods in the first invoice is to be multiplied for computing the invoice price of the goods in the second invoice from the read code. Advantageously, the computer comprises a means for storing a constants look-up table in which a plurality of constants are stored and cross-referenced with respective corresponding codes. Ideally, the constants range from 0.1 to 99. In one aspect of the invention the constants range from 0.25 to 5.

In another aspect of the invention the computer comprises a means for storing the unit price at which the goods are to be charged in the first invoice. In a further aspect of the invention the goods and the quantity and unit price of goods in the first and second invoices identical and are stored in a goods inward table in the computer. Preferably, the computer comprises a means for preparing the goods inward table, and a storing means for storing the goods inward table.

In another aspect of the invention the computer comprises a storing means for storing a supplier/customer look-up table, which comprises a list of a plurality of suppliers, a plurality of intermediate customers and a plurality of end customers, corresponding suppliers, intermediate customers and end customers being cross-referenced in the supplier/customer look-up table, and the computer comprises a means for reading the corresponding intermediate customer and the corresponding end customer which correspond to each supplier.

The invention will be more clearly understood from the following description of a preferred embodiment thereof which is given by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a flow-chart of a sub-routine of a computer programme for controlling a computer according to the invention based on a method also according to the invention, Fig. 2 is a flow-chart of another sub-routine of the computer programme, Fig. 3 is a flow-chart of a further sub-routine of the computer programme, Fig. 4 illustrates a look-up table which is stored in the computer and which is referred to by the computer programme, Fig. 5 illustrates another look-up table which is stored in the computer and which is referred to by the computer programme, and Fig. 6 illustrates another look-up table which is stored in the computer and which is referred to by the computer programme.

Referring to the drawings, there is illustrated subroutines of a computer programme of controlling a computer to operate according to a method of the invention for issuing two invoices in connection with the sale of goods by a supplier to an end customer through an intermediate customer. Before describing the flow-charts in detail, a broad outline of the method according to the invention will first be given.

According to the method of the invention a supplier wishing to supply goods to an end customer through an intermediate customer, sells the goods to the intermediate customer at a particular price. The intermediate customer then sells the goods to the end customer at a price which may be the same or different to the price at which the goods were sold by the supplier to the intermediate customer, but in any case, the price at which the intermediate customer sells the goods is based on the price at which the supplier sells goods. This is described in more detail below.

The computer under the control of the computer programme prepares, issues and prints two invoices, a first invoice which is in connection with the sale of the goods by the supplier to the intermediate customer, and a second invoice which is in connection with the sale of the goods by the intermediate customer to the end customer. The first and second invoices are prepared from data which is stored in the computer, some of which is stored in look-up tables, and the remainder of which is entered manually into the computer. In this embodiment of the invention there are a number of different suppliers, who sell to corresponding end customers through corresponding intermediate customers. The computer under the control of the computer programme is capable of determining the end customer and intermediate customer which correspond to each supplier. This is achieved by storing a supplier/customer look-up table in the computer, see Fig. 5. The supplier/customer look-up table comprises a list of suppliers, a list of end customers and a list of intermediate customers. The intermediate and end customers which correspond to the respective suppliers are cross-referenced in the look-up table. Thus, an end customer and an intermediate customer which correspond to a particular supplier can readily easily be identified by looking up the look-up table.

In preparing the first and second invoices, the prices at which the goods are being charged is included in the respective invoices. The unit prices at which the respective goods are being sold by the supplier to the intermediate customer is derived from unit prices stored in the computer, and the computer under the control of the computer programme determines the total price of the goods in the first invoice from the stored unit prices. The computer then determines the unit price at which each of the goods are to be charged in the second invoice by taking the unit price at which the goods are being charged in the first invoice, and by multiplying the unit price of the first invoice by a constant. The numerical value of the constant is obtained from a constants look-up table stored in the computer which stores a plurality of constants cross referenced to individual codes, see Fig. 6. In this embodiment of the invention the values of the stored constants range from 0.25 to 3.00. These stored constants correspond to the individual codes which are entered into the computer, and the computer in response to a code having been entered selects the constant which corresponds to the code by looking up the constants look-up table.

The computer programme, as will be described below, comprises a number of sub-routines, and one of the subroutines prepares a purchase order which is forwarded by the supplier to a trader from which the supplier has contracted to provide the goods. The purchase order essentially forms the basis for all subsequent transactions carried out by the computer programme relating to those goods. The purchase order is prepared by the computer based on details of the goods entered into the computer, the quantity of the goods and the supplier who is raising the purchase order. A trader/goods look-up table is stored in the computer which cross-references goods and traders from which the goods are to be purchased, as well as the current unit price of the goods, see Fig. 6. Thus, by entering the name of the supplier into the computer, the goods and the quantities of the goods, the computer programme can prepare the purchase order from the trader/goods look up table.

When the goods which have been ordered on the purchase order are being dispatched by the trader, the trader dispatches a delivery docket with the goods. The supplier on receiving the delivery docket compares the details of the goods, quantity and unit price set out on the delivery docket with those of the purchase order. Any differences between the two are entered in the computer and from this information a goods inward table is prepared by the computer.

The goods inward table is prepared as follows. The original purchase order is displayed by the computer on a visual display screen, and the details on the delivery docket are visually compared with the details on the purchase order. If the quantity of the goods on the delivery docket is different to that on the purchase order, the quantity on the purchase order is amended to reflect the quantity set out in the delivery docket. Similarly, if the unit price differs between the purchase order and the delivery docket, the price on the purchase order is altered to reflect the unit price on the delivery docket. If any goods which were ordered on the purchase order are missing from the delivery docket the missing goods are deleted from the purchase order. The amendments are carried out manually by entering the amending data through the computer keyboard. Based on the amended purchase order, the computer prepares a goods inward table which contains the following data: (a) details of the goods, (b) quantities of the goods, (c) unit prices of the goods, (d) details of the supplier which received the goods, (e) the end customer corresponding to the supplier, (f) the intermediate customer corresponding to the supplier, and (g) the supplier's code.

The details of the end and intermediate customers are determined by the computer from the supplier/customer look-up table.

After the goods inward table has been prepared the computer programme is in a position to prepare the first and second invoices. In general, the currency in which the unit price of the goods is expressed in the goods inward table will not be the currency at which the goods are to be invoiced in the first and second invoices. Thus, the computer programme requests that the unit price at which the goods are to be charged in the first invoice to be entered, and the computer programme also requests the code for selecting the constant from the constants look-up table which is to be used in the computation of the unit price at which the goods are to be charged in the second invoice. On receiving these two pieces of data, the computer programme then prepares and prints the first and second invoices. These are then immediately dispatched to the intermediate and end customers, respectively.

Turning now to the flow-charts of Figs. 1, 2 and 3, Fig. 1 illustrates a flow-chart of a sub-routine of the main computer programme for preparing and printing a purchase order. The main computer programme is not described, however, such computer programmes will be known to those skilled in the art. Block 10 of the sub-routine starts the sub-routine. Block 11 displays a request for details of the goods, the quantity of the goods and the code of the supplier, who in turn will be supplying the goods to the end customer to be entered.

In this embodiment of the invention the computer also stores in the supplier/customer look-up table codes corresponding to each supplier so that on the supplier's code being entered, the computer can readily easily determine the supplier from the supplier/customer look-up table, see Fig. 4. The subroutine then moves to block 12 which checks if the goods, the quantity of the goods and the supplier's code has been entered. If block 12 determines that all the data has not been entered, the sub-routine is returned to block 11. On block 12 determining that all the data has been entered the sub-routine moves to block 14 which reads the goods, the quantity of the goods and the supplier's code, and then moves to block 15. Block 15 checks if the goods entered are valid goods, and if so the sub-routine moves to block 16.

Block 16 checks if the quantity entered is a valid quantity, and if so the sub-routine moves to block 17, which checks if the supplier's code is a valid code.

If so, the sub-routine moves to block 20 which will be described below. Should blocks 15, 16 or 17 determine that either the goods, the quantity of the goods or the supplier's code are invalid the sub-routine moves to the appropriate block of blocks 21, 22 and 23, which displays a message indicating that the relevant goods, quantity of goods or supplier's code as the case may be, is invalid. From any of blocks 21, 22 or 23 the sub-routine returns to block 11.

Block 20 requests the unit price of the goods, and the sub-routine moves to block 25 which checks if the price of the goods has been entered. If so, the sub-routine moves to block 32 which will be described below.

However, should block 25 determine that the price of goods has not been entered, the sub-routine moves to block 28 which checks if the user has requested that the unit price be obtained from the trader/goods lookup table. If block 28 determines that no such request has been entered, the sub-routine returns to block 20.

On the other hand, if block 28 determines that a request has been entered requesting that the unit price be read from the trader/goods look-up table, the subroutine moves to block 30 which looks up the trader/goods look-up table, and reads the unit price of the goods. The sub-routine then moves to block 32 which displays a message which asks if more goods are to be ordered, and then moves to block 33 which checks if more goods are to be ordered. If block 33 determines that more goods are to be ordered the subroutine is returned to block 11 which asks for details of the goods and the quantity. If block 33 determines that no further goods are to be ordered, the subroutine moves to block 26.

Block 26 prepares the purchase order from the data entered and data read from the supplier/customer lookup table and the trader/goods look-up table, and assigns the purchase order the next sequential purchase order number. Block 26 also prints the purchase order.

The sub-routine moves to block 31 which stores the purchase order for future reference which will be described below. The sub-routine then moves to block 34 which returns control of the computer to the main computer programme.

Referring now to Fig. 2 a sub-routine for the preparation of the goods inward table will now be described. As mentioned above, the goods inward table is derived from the details of the purchase order relating to the goods and the delivery docket received from the trader from whom the goods were purchased by the supplier. Block 40 starts the sub-routine of Fig.

2, and the sub-routine moves to block 41 which displays a request for the purchase order number relating to the goods for which the goods inward table is to be prepared. The sub-routine then moves to block 42 which checks if the purchase order number has been entered.

If not, the sub-routine returns to block 41. When block 42 determines that the purchase order number has been entered, the sub-routine moves to block 43 which reads the purchase order number. The sub-routine then moves to block 44 which checks if the entered purchase order number is a valid number. If not the sub-routine moves to block 45 which displays a message indicating an invalid purchase order number, and the sub-routine returns to block 41. On block 44 determining that the purchase order number is a valid number, the subroutine moves to block 47 which displays the purchase order on the visual display screen.

The sub-routine then moves to block 48 which displays a message requesting confirmation that the goods, the quantity of the goods and the unit prices of the goods correspond to those on the delivery docket on a line by line basis. Initially, block 48 reads the first line of the purchase order and requests confirmation for that line. The sub-routine then moves to block 49 which checks if confirmation of the goods, quantity and unit price has been entered, and if so, the sub-routine moves to block 52 which will be described below. If block 49 determines that no confirmation is entered, the sub-routine moves to block 51 which requests that the line of the displayed purchase order should be amended to conform with the delivery docket, and then block 51 reads the amended line of the purchase order which is stored, and moves to block 52. Block 52 checks if there is another line on the purchase order to be read, and if so returns the sub-routine to block 48 to read the next line. If block 52 determines that no further lines are to be read on the purchase order, the sub-routine moves to block 50. In the event that goods which were ordered on the purchase order are not received, the quantities of these goods are amended to read zero, and they appear thus on the goods inward table.

Block 50 prepares the goods inward table and assigns the goods inward table a goods inward table number.

Block 50 prepares the goods inward table from the amended data provided on the amended display purchase order and from the supplier/customer look-up table.

The sub-routine then moves to block 53 which displays the goods inward table. The details appearing in the goods inward table are discussed above. The subroutine then moves to block 54 which seeks confirmation that the data appearing in the goods inward table is correct, and permits corrections to be made on the visual display screen. The sub-routine then moves to block 55 which checks if corrections have been made, and if so, the sub-routine moves to block 56 which reads the corrections, and moves to block 57 which prepares a corrected goods inward table. The subroutine then moves to block 58 which stores and prints the goods inward table. Should block 55 determine that no corrections have been made to the goods inward table displayed by block 53, the sub-routine moves directly to block 58. The sub-routine then moves to block 59 which returns control of the computer to the main computer programme.

Referring now to Fig. 3, the sub-routine for preparing the first and second invoices will now be described.

Block 70 starts the sub-routine and the sub-routine moves to block 71 which displays a request for the number of the goods inward table which is to form the basis of the first and second invoices to be entered.

The sub-routine moves to block 72 which checks if the goods inward table number has been entered. If not, the sub-routine returns to block 70. On block 72 having determined that a goods inward table number has been entered, the sub-routine moves to block 73 which reads the goods inward table number, and the subroutine then moves to block 74 which checks if the number is a valid number. If not, the sub-routine moves to block 75 which displays an invalid number message, and returns the sub-routine to block 71. On block 74 determining that the entered number is a valid number, the sub-routine moves to block 76 which displays the goods inward table, and then moves to block 77, which requests confirmation that the goods inward table displayed is the requested goods inward table. The sub-routine then moves to block 78 which checks if the goods inward table has been confirmed as being the requested goods inward table. If not, the sub-routine is returned to block 71. On block 78 determining that the goods inward table has been confirmed as being the requested goods inward table, the sub-routine moves to block 79.

Block 79 checks the currency in which the unit price of each of the goods is recorded, and moves to block 80 which checks if the currency is in U.S. Dollars, and if so the sub-routine moves to block 85. Should block 80 determine that the unit price is not in U.S. Dollars, the sub-routine moves to block 81 which obtains a predetermined conversion rate from a stored look-up table (not shown) for converting the unit prices to U.S. Dollars. The predetermined conversion rate may include a price mark up. The sub-routine then moves to block 82 which converts the unit prices to U.S.

Dollars, and the sub-routine moves to block 85. Block 85 requests the code corresponding to the constant which is to be used in the computation of the unit price at which the goods are to be charged in the second invoice. The sub-routine then moves to block 86 which checks if the code has been entered, and if not the sub-routine is returned to block 85. On block 86 determining that a code has been entered the subroutine moves to block 87 which reads the code. The sub-routine then moves to block 88 which checks if the code is a valid code, and if not the sub-routine moves to block 89 which displays a message indicating an invalid code, and returns the sub-routine to block 85.

On block 88 determining that the code is a valid code, the sub-routine moves to block 90 which reads the constant corresponding to the code from the constants look-up table. The sub-routine then moves to block 91 which reads the supplier code from the goods inward table. The sub-routine then moves to block 92 which gets the details of the supplier, the intermediate customer and the end customer which correspond to the supplier code from the supplier/customer look-up table.

The computer programme then moves to block 93 which prepares the first invoice for invoicing the goods from the supplier to the intermediate customer. The computer programme then moves to block 94 which prepares the second invoice for invoicing the goods from the intermediate customer to the end customer.

The computer programme then moves to block 95 which prints, displays and stores the first and second invoices. Block 96 ends the sub-routine and returns control of the computer to the main computer programme.

The first and second invoices are prepared by blocks 93 and 94, respectively, from the data in the goods inward table and that obtained from the relevant look-up tables. The invoice price of the goods in the first invoice is determined by multiply the quantity of the goods by the unit price in U.S. Dollars of the goods.

The invoice price of the goods in the second invoice is determined by multiplying the unit price in U.S.

Dollars of the goods in the first invoice by the constant read from the constants look-up table and then multiplying the product by the quantity of the goods. The invention is not limited to the embodiment hereinbefore described which may be varied in detail.

Claims (26)

1. A method for controlling a computer for issuing two invoices for goods to be sold from a supplier to an end customer through an intermediate customer, a first of the two invoices being in respect of a sale of the goods by the supplier to the intermediate customer, and a second of the two invoices being in respect of a sale of the goods by the intermediate customer to the end customer, the method comprising the step of computing the invoice price at which the goods are to be charged in the second invoice from the invoice price at which the goods are charged in the first invoice in combination with a code entered in the computer.

2. A method as claimed in Claim 1 in which the code identifies a constant by which the invoice price at which the goods are charged in the first invoice is to be multiplied for computing the invoice price of the goods in the second invoice.

3. A method as claimed in Claim 2 in which a plurality of constants are stored in a constants lookup table in the computer, the constants being crossreferenced with a plurality of respective corresponding codes.

4. A method as claimed in Claim 2 or 3 in which the value of the constants range from 0.1 to 99.

5. A method as claimed in any of Claims 2 to 4 in which the value of the constants range from 0.25 to 5.

6. A method as claimed in any preceding claim in which the unit price at which the goods in the first invoice are to be charged is read from data stored in the computer.

7. A method as claimed in Claim 6 in which the goods and the quantities of the goods in the first and second invoices are identical, and are read from data stored in the computer.

8. A method as claimed in Claim 7 in which the goods and the quantities and unit price of the goods are stored in the computer in a goods inward table.

9. A method as claimed in Claim 8 in which the method further comprises the steps of issuing the first invoice from one of a plurality of suppliers to a corresponding one of a plurality of intermediate customers, and issuing the second invoice from the said corresponding intermediate customer to a corresponding one of a plurality of end customers, the said corresponding intermediate and end customers being determined from a supplier/customer look-up table.

10. A method as claimed in Claim 9 in which the supplier/customer look-up table comprises a list of suppliers, intermediate customers and end customers, the corresponding suppliers, intermediate customers and end customers being cross-referenced therein.

11. A method as claimed in any of claims 8 to 10 in which the goods are purchased from one of a plurality of traders, the traders and the goods supplied by the respective traders being stored and cross-referenced in a traders/goods look-up table stored in the computer.

12. A method as claimed in Claim 11 in which the method further comprises the step of preparing a purchase order for purchasing the goods from the trader.

13. A method as claimed in Claim 12 in which the goods inward table is derived by the computer from the purchase order.

14. A method as claimed in Claim 12 or 13 in which the method further comprises the step of preparing the purchase order from data inputted into the computer in respect of the goods, the quantity of the goods, and from data in respect of the unit price of the goods stored in the trader/goods look-up table.

15. A method as claimed in Claim 14 in which the trader from whom the goods are to be purchased is read from the trader/goods look-up table in the computer.

16. A method for controlling a computer for issuing at least two invoices for goods to be sold from a supplier to an end customer through an intermediate customer, the method being substantially, as described herein with reference to, and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

17. A computer controlled by the method as claimed in any preceding claim for issuing two invoices for goods to be sold from a supplier to an end customer through an intermediate customer, a first of the two invoices being in respect of a sale of the goods by the supplier to the intermediate customer, and a second of the two invoices being in respect of a sale of the goods by the intermediate customer to the end customer, the computer comprising a means for reading a code entered in the computer, and a computing means for computing the invoice price at which the goods are to be charged in the second invoice from the invoice price at which the goods are charged in the first invoice in combination with the read code.

18. A computer as claimed in Claim 18 in which the computer comprises a means for identifying a constant by which the invoice price of the goods in the first invoice is to be multiplied for computing the invoice price of the goods in the second invoice from the read code.

19. A computer as claimed in Claim 18 in which the computer comprises a means for storing a constants look-up table in which a plurality of constants are stored and cross-referenced with respective corresponding codes.

20. A computer as claimed in Claim 19 in which the constants range from 0.1 to 99.

21. A computer as claimed in Claims 19 or 20 in which the constants range from 0.25 to 5.

22. A computer as claimed in any of Claims 17 to 21 in which the computer comprises a means for storing the unit price at which the goods are to be charged in the first invoice.

23. A computer as claimed in any of Claims 17 to 22 in which the goods and the quantity and unit price of goods in the first and second invoices identical and are stored in a goods inward table in the computer.

24. A computer as claimed in Claim 23 in which the computer comprises a means for preparing the goods inward table, and a storing means for storing the goods inward table.

25. A computer as claimed in any of Claims 17 to 24 in which the computer comprises a storing means for storing a supplier/customer look-up table, which comprises a list of a plurality of suppliers, a plurality of intermediate customers and a plurality of end customers, corresponding suppliers, intermediate customers and end customers being cross-referenced in the supplier/customer look-up table, and the computer comprises a means for reading the corresponding intermediate customer and the corresponding end customer which correspond to each supplier.

26. A computer operating under the control of the method as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 16, the computer being substantially described herein, and with reference to, and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.