JP2002342615A - System and method for managing competitive estimates, and purchase web server - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a competitive estimate management system for obtaining estimate results made by a plurality of dealers, and to provide a method thereof and a web server to be used for the system and method. SOLUTION: In this competitive estimate management system having the purchase web server 15 for managing electronic files of specification sheets or the like needed for estimation and a purchase system 13 for transmitting an estimate request slip to the communication equipment of a selected dealer, the request slip includes the URL address of the purchase web server, the identification number of the dealer and a password, and the purchase web server includes a means for managing the electronic files of the specification sheets or the like every instruction information folder and a browsing management means 18 for allowing the browsing of only electronic file contents about an instruction information folder associated with an identification number transmitted from the communication equipment 14 of the dealer.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a competitive quotation management system and method for obtaining quotation results by a plurality of traders, and a web server used for these systems.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Large-scale business facilities such as refineries require planned maintenance in order to maintain their functions. In general, such business establishments request a quotation from a plurality of contractors (vendors) based on instructions from the maintenance department and a maintenance department that drafts and directs a maintenance plan for the equipment. There is a purchasing department that selects a contractor to which the work is to be ordered. Then, the maintenance department prepares specification documents (construction work contents, drawings, etc.) related to the construction, attaches it to the purchase request form, and mails it to the purchasing department by means such as in-house mail.

[0003] The number of such specification documents is as large as one king pipe file per device, and since large-scale establishments such as refineries have a large number of various devices, the specification documents are stored for one year. Tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands. In the purchasing department, specification documents attached to the requested purchase requisitions are sorted for each construction contractor requesting a quote, the required number of copies are copied, and mailed to each contractor.
At this time, for example, since competitive quotes are issued to give one quote to three contractors, journals, copies,
Shipping work is tripled.

[0004] In general, the frequency of requesting an estimate may be as many as one thousand and several hundred times per one business establishment (one refinery). In this way, in response to frequent requests for quotation, we scrutinize the results of the quotation, determine the contractor, and then create an order slip and place an order with the contractor. It has become. Not only for such constructions, but also for all purchasing operations,
It is a paper exchange, and a great deal of effort is spent.

[0005]

It is conceivable that the above-mentioned construction-related documents are stored in an electronic file and transmitted to a construction company by e-mail together with an estimate request slip. However, the current Internet communication environment is not suitable for sending a large number of documents at once. For example, transmission by e-mail is limited to 2 megabytes or less.
On the other hand, some drawings exceed 2 megabytes, and it is impossible to send a quote-related document by e-mail.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a competitive quotation management system and method for reducing the labor involved in quoting work caused by a huge amount of paper media, and a purchase web server used for these systems. It is another object of the present invention to improve business efficiency and speed by utilizing IT technology in purchasing business.

[0007]

A competitive quotation management system according to the present invention comprises a purchase web server for managing an electronic file of specification documents required for quotation, and a purchase server for transmitting a quotation request slip to a communication device of a selected trader. System, wherein the quote request slip includes a URL address of a purchase web server, an identification number of a trader, and a password,
The purchase web server manages the electronic file of the specification document as the instruction information, and allows only the contents of the electronic file related to the instruction information associated with the identification number transmitted from the communication device of the trader to be browsed.

[0008] A purchasing web server according to the present invention comprises an electronic file of specification documents managed as instruction information, means for associating the instruction information with an identification number transmitted to each vendor, and input of an identification number and a password from the vendor. And means for permitting the trader to view only the portion of the electronic file associated with the identification number in response to the request.

A competitive quotation management method according to the present invention provides an electronic file of a specification document managed as instruction information,
Associating the order information with the identification number sent to each contractor,
In response to the input of the identification number and the password from the trader, the trader is permitted to view only the part of the electronic file associated with the identification number and the password.

With such a configuration, a large amount of electronic files of specification documents are not sent by e-mail, so that the load on the communication network is reduced.
By allowing each vendor to view only documents related to the quote, the security of the system is maintained.

[0011]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The configuration of a competitive quotation management system according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a conflict estimation management system according to an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, a competitive quotation management system 10 includes a core system 11, and the core system 11 includes a maintenance system 12 for equipment maintenance and a purchasing system 13. The purchase system 13 includes a purchase request function 13a and an estimate request function 13
b. The maintenance system 12 creates a maintenance plan, estimates repair contents and costs for construction, and determines specifications.
When the specifications are determined, an order is created, and this is a purchase request slip in the purchasing system 13.

The purchasing system 13 determines from which contractor to make an estimate based on this purchase request slip, creates an estimate request slip, and sends it to the communication device 14 of the contractor to be estimated. And send it as an electronic medium by e-mail or automatic facsimile.

A purchasing web server 15 is provided separately from the above-described core system 11 for communication via the Internet. The above-mentioned estimate request slip includes the URL address of the purchasing web server 15 and the The identification number (ID) and the initial password are described. In addition, URL (Uniform Resource Lo)
is a method for displaying resources (main memory, input device, output device, control device, magnetic disk device, etc.) on the Internet, and the URL address is the purchase web to be accessed by the contractor requested for the quote. This is the address of the server 15.

The ID is, for example, a contractor number in a contractor master file, and is a unique number for each contractor. The initial password is, for example, a quote request slip number used, and is a number given when the quote request slip is created in the purchasing system 13. This number may be a serial number in the order of creation of the quote request slip. .

The electronic filing unit 16 digitizes the specification document into a format suitable for recording on the recording medium of the purchase web server 15. For example, various documents such as a document of the details of the work indicating the type of the work, the type of the work, the size of the pipe, and the material of the work, drawings, etc. (management form output from the core system 11, creation of OA software, etc.) Documents, skeleton diagrams, hand-drawn bird's-eye views, etc.). The electronic file is stored in a large-scale storage device such as a hard disk in the purchase web server 15, for example.

The "instruction information" includes a "maintenance instruction" and a "purchase request". For example, the “maintenance instruction” is created for each specific “job type”. The "occupation type" indicates the type of a contractor, such as a plumber, a finisher, a painter, a welder, a torchman, a heat insulator, or a craftsman. This computerized construction document,
It is stored in the order information storage unit 17 in the purchase web server 15. As shown in FIG. 2, the instruction information storage unit 17
An "instruction information" folder is created therein. Each "instruction information" folder stores digitized construction-related documents. FIG. 2 shows two “instruction information” folders of “instruction information 1” and “instruction information 2”. This indicates that two maintenance instructions have been issued from the maintenance department, for example. Show.

The instruction information storage unit 17 stores the maintenance system 1
2, a purchase request (information on a purchase request slip) from the purchase request function 13a is stored. This purchase request is created by the purchase request department. For example, when the estimation target is “construction”, the maintenance order is stored, and when the estimation target is “material”, the purchase request information is stored. Here, the “material” is not merely a ready-made consumable, but a custom-ordered product for which specification documents can be attached to the order.

In the maintenance of a refinery, the "apparatus" to be used includes an atmospheric distillation apparatus, a fluid catalytic cracking apparatus, a desulfurization apparatus and the like. The “construction type” indicating the type of construction includes ironworks, instrumentation, electricity, rotating machines, civil engineering, inspection, and the like. The “profession” indicating the type of craftsman includes a plumber, a finisher, a painter, a welder, an eagle, a warmer, and the like. For example, if the “apparatus” is an atmospheric distillation apparatus, the “work type” is an iron worker, and the “work type” is a plumber, there is a relationship in which orders are determined by several companies.

As an example, a request is made to Company A for an estimate of only the type of work of the atmospheric distillation apparatus: iron work, and the type of work: plumber. Has been sorted out in advance. The quotation request from the purchasing system 13 is issued for each "instruction information", that is, for each "maintenance instruction" or "purchase request", or for each "maintenance instruction" and "purchase request". For example, Company A requests a request for estimation of atmospheric distillation apparatus-ironman-plumber, Company B requests a request for estimation of atmospheric distillation apparatus-ironman-plumber, and a request for estimation of atmospheric distillation apparatus-ironman-plumber. Two will be sent. Each “instruction information” folder stores documents related to an estimate for a contractor of a specific job type.

The association with the ID is performed by providing the association table illustrated in FIG. 3 in the ID / password management function 18 in the purchase web server 15. In FIG. 3, an ID (trader number) is stored in a column 31, and an estimate request slip number is stored in a column 32. The column 33 stores "instruction information"("maintenanceinstruction" or "purchase request", or "maintenance instruction" and "purchase request") related to the estimate request slip. The fact that the ID is the same in the first row and the second row of the table indicates that the trader is the same, and the quote request slip numbers are all different. The first line,
In the third and fourth lines, the traders are different, but the contents of the column 33, that is, the “instruction information” may be the same. In the example of FIG. 3, competition estimation is performed by three companies.

In FIG. 1, the purchasing system 13 transmits a quote request slip to the communication device 14 of the contractor and, at the same time, creates a folder for the quote, for example, a “quote request 1” folder in the quote information storage unit 19. I do. FIG. 2 illustrates two “quotation request” folders. The “quote request” folder stores quote request information from the quote request function 13b. Quotation request function 1
3b is an ID (trader number), an initial password (for example,
Quotation request slip number) to the ID / password management function 18.

When the ID / password management function 18 accesses data in the purchase web server 15 with a certain ID and password, when the ID and password entered by the trader match those registered, The browsing of only the data stored in the “instruction information” folder associated with this ID is permitted. Thus, the trader cannot see data other than the specification documents related to the quote request slip. Therefore,
Unnecessary access to unrelated specification documents can be prevented and security can be ensured.

As the initial password, the password notified by the quote request slip is used. After that, the trader sends the password decided by the trader himself from the trader's communication device 14 to the purchase web server, so that the ID / password management can be performed. The password registered during function 18 can be changed. The trader can update the password as required for security. The contractor receiving the quote request slip is the contractor communication device 1
4. For example, when the URL address, ID, and password of the purchase web server 15 are input from a personal computer that can connect to the Internet, only the document data stored in the "instruction information storage unit" and associated with the ID is permitted to be viewed. You. The contractor who saw this data,
Estimate the amount of money required for construction from the contents. The contractor downloads this data to his / her personal computer as necessary.

The contractor inputs the estimated amount from the estimated amount input screen of the purchase web server 15. On the estimate amount input screen, enter the estimate request slip number and enter the amount for the corresponding work item. In general, one estimate request has a plurality of work items, and each of the work items is input with the amount of money. The input estimate amount is stored in a corresponding folder of the estimate information storage unit 19, for example, a “quote request 1” folder. This “quotation request 1” folder can store the estimated price from the contractor. In addition, if it is before a predetermined estimate response time limit, by re-entering from the communication device 14 of the construction contractor, it is possible to update data such as the estimated amount entered by himself. In addition, the input screen generating means for generating the estimated amount input screen,
It is provided in the estimate information storage unit 19.

The estimate information storage unit 19 sends the estimated amount to the purchasing system 13 when the estimate response time limit has elapsed. As a result, the purchase system 13 stores the estimated price for the quote request. When the estimated amount is transmitted to the purchasing system 13, that is, when the estimated answer deadline has elapsed, the association between the ID and the "instruction" is deleted.

After that, even if the contractor attempts to access the purchase web server 15 with the same ID and password, he or she cannot see the document related to the "instruction information". Thereby, security is ensured.
Further, when the estimated time limit has elapsed and the estimated amount has been transmitted to the purchasing system 13, the data of the estimated amount is deleted from the estimated information storage unit 19. This makes it impossible to access the data of the estimated amount from outside, and further security is ensured.

In the above, the estimation work between the purchasing department and the construction company using the purchasing web server 15 has been described. However, the information sharing between the maintenance department (engineering department) and the purchasing department is described. Can also be used for Information such as a budget summary table prepared by the maintenance department and a list of recommended suppliers for a specific construction can be stored in a predetermined shared folder in the purchasing web server 15 so that the purchasing department can view the information. .

Further, by changing the color of the "instruction information" folder in the instruction information storage section 17, the completion of the estimation work can be notified to the maintenance department. this is,
For example, when the quote requester completes the input of the quote amount and the purchasing department decides the orderer,
This is performed by changing the color of the corresponding “instruction information” folder. As a result, the maintenance department knows that the estimation work has been completed, and can update or dispose of the specification document.

It should be noted that not all specification documents are suitable for digitization, and that some of the specification documents can be used as a paper medium in accordance with the printing environment of the communication device of the contractor. Included within the scope of the invention.

Next, a conflict estimating management method according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. A maintenance order is registered in the maintenance system 12 by the maintenance department. This maintenance instruction is transmitted to the purchase web server 15, and in step 41, for example, an "instruction information 1" folder is created in the instruction information storage unit 17, and step 4 is performed.
In 2, the specification documents required for this maintenance instruction are stored as electronic files in the “instruction information 1” folder.

After storing the specification documents, a purchase request is made in the core system 10. That is, the purchase request slip is transferred from the maintenance department (maintenance system 12) to the purchase department (purchase system 1).
The purchase request is sent to 3), and the purchase request is registered in the purchase system 13. This purchase request is transmitted to the instruction information storage unit 17 in step 43 and stored in the instruction information folder. In the purchasing department, the purchase request slip and the documents in the purchase web server 15 are checked, the contractor to which the request for quotation is made is determined, and the quotation request slip is created in the purchasing system 13 based on the purchase request slip. . For example, the occupation is the order unit, and the purchasing department determines which vendor is to be quoted for the occupation.

Then, in step 44, the purchasing system 13 sends a quote request slip including the ID and the initial password to the dealer by e-mail or automatic facsimile, and at the same time, the ID, the password and the quote item (in the quote amount input screen). Work items to be used, materials, etc.) are sent to the purchase web server 15. In step 45, the ID is associated with the corresponding instruction information as shown in the table of FIG. In step 46, if the ID and password entered by the trader match the registered IDs, the table of FIG. 3 is referred to, and the browsing of the associated data, that is, the specification document for the corresponding instruction information is permitted. This data can be downloaded to a trader's personal computer or the like as necessary.

In step 47, the estimated price input screen is prompted by the trader on the estimated price input screen, and the estimated price input by the trader is stored in the quote information storage unit 19.
In step 48, when a predetermined estimate response time limit has elapsed, the estimated amount stored in the estimate information storage unit 19 is transmitted to the estimate request function 13b, and the amount is set in the estimate request slip. At the same time, the association between the ID and the instruction information is deleted from the purchase web server 15. This allows
Thereafter, browsing of the electronic file stored in the purchase web server 15 by the ID, that is, the specification document is prohibited,
Ensure system security. Further, after the estimated amount is sent to the core system, that is, the purchasing system 13, the data of the estimated amount is deleted from the purchasing web server 15, thereby further ensuring security.

The purchasing department determines the ordering company in consideration of various factors such as the estimated amount from each company stored in the purchasing system 13, the estimate, the specification document, and the past performance. For example, when one construction company is determined to be an ordering company out of three companies A, B, and C, an ordering slip is created based on the estimate slip of the A company.

In the above-described embodiment, the estimation of the construction is mainly described. However, the present invention can be similarly applied to the case of purchasing materials. In this case, a purchase request is issued from the purchase system 13 of the core system 10, and a folder based on this purchase request is created in the instruction information storage unit 17 of the purchase web server 15. At the same time, the specification document relating to the material of the purchase request is converted into an electronic file by the electronic file conversion means 16 and stored in the instruction information storage unit 17 in the folder regarding the purchase request.

Further, the present invention is applicable to purchase without specification documents, such as general equipment specified in JIS and the like. In this case, unlike the above-described embodiment, a purchase request is issued from the purchase system 13 of the core system 10, and a folder based on the purchase request is created in the instruction information storage unit 17 of the purchase web server 15. There is no specification document stored inside.

[0037]

As described in detail above, according to the present invention,
The electronic file of the required specification document can be browsed with high security without putting a heavy burden on the communication line. Further, according to the present invention, a huge amount of paper materials (specification documents) required for a conventional request for quote, etc. are created, mailed, or stored, and a large number of personnel, work, storage space, cost, etc. Can be greatly reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a competitive quotation management system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of an instruction information storage unit and an estimation information storage unit in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a table provided for an ID / password management function in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a conflict estimating management method according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 10 Competition estimation management system 11 Core system 12 Maintenance system 13 Purchasing system 14 Communication device of supplier 15 Purchasing web server 16 Electronic filing means 17 Instruction information storage unit 18 ID / password management function 19 Estimation information storage unit

──────────────────────────────────────────────────の Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) G06F 17/60 ZEC G06F 17/60 ZEC (72) Inventor Toshimitsu Miyatake 1-1-1 Shibaura, Minato-ku, Tokyo Cosmo Oil Co., Ltd.

Claims (12)

[Claims] 1. A competitive quotation management system comprising: a purchase web server that manages electronic files of specification documents required for quotation; and a purchase system that transmits a quotation request slip to a communication device of a selected trader. The quote request slip includes the URL address of the purchasing web server, the identification number of the vendor, and the password. The purchasing web server manages the electronic file of the specification document for each instruction information, and transmits from the communication device of the vendor. A browsing management unit that allows browsing of only the contents of the electronic file related to the instruction information associated with the identified identification number. 2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the purchase web server creates a separate instruction information folder for each instruction information, and stores an electronic file of a required specification document in this folder. 3. The purchase web server, input screen generating means for generating an estimated amount input screen enabling input of an estimated amount from the communication device of the trader, and an estimated amount input from the communication device of the trader And a quotation information storage unit for holding the quotation response time limit until the lapse of the predetermined quotation response time limit.When the quotation response time limit has passed, the association between the identification number and the instruction information is deleted, and subsequent browsing is prohibited. The system of claim 1, wherein: 4. The estimate information storage means holds an estimate amount input from the trader's communication device in such a manner that it can be updated by a later input from the trader's communication device until the estimate reply deadline. The system according to claim 3, wherein 5. The system according to claim 1, wherein the password can be updated from a communication device of a trader. 6. A company connected to a purchasing web server,
2. The competitive quotation management system according to claim 1, wherein the electronic file of the specification document is permitted to be viewed only in a portion related to the trader. 7. An electronic file for managing specification documents required for quotation for each instruction information, means for associating the instruction information with an identification number transmitted to each vendor, and inputting an identification number and a password from the vendor. Means for permitting the trader to view only the portion of the electronic file associated with the identification number in response to the request. 8. The purchasing web server according to claim 7, wherein a separate instruction information folder is created for each instruction information, and an electronic file of a required specification document is stored in this folder. 9. An input screen generating means for generating an estimated amount input screen enabling input of an estimated amount from the trader, and holding the estimated amount input from the trader until a predetermined estimate response deadline elapses. 8. The purchasing web server according to claim 7, further comprising: a quotation information storage unit that deletes an association between the identification number and the instruction information when the quotation response time limit elapses, and prohibits subsequent browsing. . 10. The method according to claim 8, wherein the estimate information storage unit holds the estimate amount input from the trader so that it can be updated by a later input from the trader until the estimate reply deadline. Purchasing web server. 11. A step of providing an electronic file of specification documents managed for each instruction information, a step of associating an identification number transmitted to each contractor with the instruction information, and inputting an identification number and a password from the contractor In response to the above, allowing the trader to view only the part of the electronic file associated with the identification number. 12. A step of generating an estimated amount input screen which enables the input of the estimated amount from the trader; and a step of holding the estimated amount input from the trader until a predetermined estimate response deadline elapses. 12. The method according to claim 11, further comprising the step of deleting the association between the identification number and the instruction information upon elapse of the estimate response time limit and prohibiting subsequent browsing.