WO2022195223A1

WO2022195223A1 - Method and system for jointly managing supplies from a supplier of goods to an industrial end-user

Info

Publication number: WO2022195223A1
Application number: PCT/FR2022/050476
Authority: WO
Inventors: Sounanh BORIBOUN
Original assignee: Flying Whales
Priority date: 2021-03-16
Filing date: 2022-03-16
Publication date: 2022-09-22

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for jointly managing supplies from a supply entity to an end-user entity via a plurality of intermediate logistics entities in a supply chain producing a physical flow of goods, comprising: - tracing the shipments and deliveries of goods intended for the user entity based on data delivered by identification and geolocation means along the supply chain; - collecting data relating to inventory management in the supply chain; - value stream mapping (VSM) to generate a reference model of the supply chain. Said method further comprises generating an information flow that is synchronised with the physical flow of goods, said information flow being enhanced with identification and/or location and/or order status data transmitted by one or more of said intermediate entities, and processing said enhanced information flow.

Description

METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR MANAGING SUPPLIES IN A SHARED MANNER FROM A GOODS SUPPLIER TO AN INDUSTRIAL END USER

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention deals with the problem of processing and reactivity of the imponderables of a supply chain. The field of the invention is that of industrial logistics and industrial supply chains.

PRIOR ART

Supply Chain systems implement many bricks and technological tools such as EDI (electronic data interchange), geolocation systems, tracking systems, identification by code- bars, RFID (radio frequency identification), CMI (Co-Managed Inventory, or GPA for “shared supply management”), ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning), WMS (warehouse management system), the MES (manufacturing execution system) and the SCM (supply chain management system):

SCM systems implement software that optimally manages all information flows and physical flows and the interfaces between the various actors, producers and suppliers involved in the manufacture of a product or the supply of a service, from demand information to data needed for distribution, through design and production. The supply chain management system is often added to a company's integrated management software package and GP AO (computer-aided production management) software that it uses.

GPA is a method of supplying warehouses or distribution platforms. The order proposals are drawn up by the suppliers and produced on the basis of the outputs from the warehouse. In other words, it is a question of supplying warehouses and/or stores according to management rules defined in a cooperation contract between a distributor and an industrialist. GPA mainly concerns the replenishment of back-of-the-shelf products, in other words cruise products. Schematically, the distributor (the point of sale) delegates all or part of its responsibility for replenishing its stock to the supplier.

CN109189016B discloses an intelligent manufacturing integrated execution system, including an integration of sales management, supply chain management, production planning and tasks, shop floor management and of a quality management application software with a third-party ERP, characterized in that it comprises in addition, an ERP interface installed in an IT platform, a WMS subsystem, an ERP execution subsystem, an EXD tool, an MES platform and a SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) interface middleware.

US2020/0065759 discloses an engineering, supply chain and logistics operations management platform, which can configure product development, production and logistics operations factors and dynamically control these factors. This platform provides means for the secure and selective display of data associated with production and logistics factors to allow real-time monitoring to support sales, financial management or an after-sales process.

US2016/0217399 A1 discloses a method and system for tracking shipments in a supply chain, comprising storing transportation graph data structures that describe transportation objects and relationships between transportation objects in a supply chain. supply, these graph data structures comprising nodes linked by branches, each node corresponding to a transport object and each branch being associated with a type of relationship between two transport objects corresponding to two nodes linked to a respective branch.

Document WO2008/096016 A1 discloses a method and system for tracking a carrier of goods, in a process for managing the manufacturing and processing of high-value, high-volume goods. This system creates a transport record in memory associated with this transporter. This carrier has a carrier identification code that is traceable. The system registers the process identification code when the carrier or the goods are processed in sequential process steps, each process step being associated with a process identification code. The system links a logical unit to the transport record, the logical unit comprising information relating to the goods contained in the carrier, and it updates the transport/logical unit records associated with the received transport identification according to the data of process record received.

US2021/0272037 A1 discloses a supply chain event management system, which system performs steps of capturing, formatting, processing, analyzing, storing and sharing supply chain event data. This event data is stored in a distributed ledger.

The problem of processing and the reassuring supply chain is known, but the overall collection of information flow and its optimization is an unsolved problem, especially in the case of non-continuous logistics flows.

The object of the invention is to propose a new process for shared supply management which avoids any disruption of supply for the end customer, and to reduce excess stocks throughout the supply chain. DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

This objective is achieved with a method for managing supplies in a shared manner from a supply entity to an end user entity via a plurality of intermediate logistics entities in a supply chain producing a physical flow of goods, comprising: a exchange of data on the management of orders, contributing to planning of the production unit, of the final user entity and of the intermediate logistics entities, an emission of instructions for expressing needs emitted by at least one manufacturing management (MES), tracking of shipments and deliveries of goods intended for the user entity, based on data delivered by means of identification and geolocation along the supply chain, collection of data relating to inventory management in the supply chain, visual flow mapping to generate reference modeling (VSM) of the supply chain,

According to the invention, the management method further comprises: generation of an information flow synchronized with the physical flow of goods, between the supply unit (production or assembly) and the end user entity , this information flow being enriched by identification and/or location and/or control status data transmitted by one or more of said intermediate entities, a processing of this enriched information flow, to identify discrepancies delay compared to deadlines determined in the reference modeling (VSM) and/or quantity deviations compared to quantities determined in the end user entity's expressions of need.

This flow of information is preferably generated and enriched in real time.

The supply entities concerned in the supply management method according to the invention can be of any kind, such as production sites, assembly sites, logistics hubs or buffer stocks.

The processing of the enriched information flow can advantageously include detection of an abnormal delay in the cycle time of the supply entity, detection of an abnormal delay in the delivery time corresponding to an intermediate logistics entity , or detection of a partial delivery out of the supply entity. The identification and/or location and/or order status data are preferably collected in a cloud to which the end user entity is connected and are used by a resource planning software tool (ERP) of said entity end user.

In a first configuration example, the supply management method according to the invention can be advantageously implemented in a supply chain between a supplier production site operating as a supply entity and a site of final assembly (F AL) operating as an end user entity.

Identification and/or location and/or order status data is further transmitted via the Cloud to a manufacturing management system connected to the final assembly site.

In a second configuration example, the method according to the invention can be implemented in a supply chain between a final assembly site operating as a supply entity and an operational base operating as a supply entity. end user.

In a third exemplary configuration compatible with the first two exemplary embodiments, the supply management method can be implemented in situ within a final assembly site comprising a store operating as an “entity of supply chain, an assembly line operating as an end-user entity, and one or more conveyors operating as intermediate logistics entities.

According to another aspect of the invention, a system is proposed for managing supplies in a shared manner from a supply entity (production or assembly) to an end user entity via a plurality of intermediate logistics entities in a supply chain producing a physical flow of goods, this system implementing the management method according to the invention and comprising: means for exchanging data on the management of orders between the supply entity, contributing to planning of the production unit, of the final user entity and of the intermediate logistics entities, means for issuing requirements expression instructions from a manufacturing management system (MES), means for tracing shipments and deliveries of goods intended for the end user entity, from data delivered by means of identification and geolocation arranged along the chain e supply, means for collecting data relating to the management of stocks in the supply chain, means for producing a visual flow map, so as to generate a reference modeling (VSM) of the supply chain supply,

According to the invention, this supply management system further comprises: means for generating an information flow synchronized with the physical flow of goods, between the supply unit (production or assembly) and the final user entity, this information flow being enriched by data from identification and/or location and/or command status issued by one or more of said intermediate entities, means for processing this enriched information flow, so as to identify delay deviations from delays determined in the reference modeling (VSM) and/or quantity deviations from quantities determined in the end user entity's expressions of need.

The management system according to the invention can advantageously cooperate with a resource planning software tool (ERP) equipping the end user entity, and with a manufacturing management system (MES) equipping the end user entity. It can be placed within a cloud to which the end user entity is connected.

In a particular configuration of the invention, the management system is implemented in situ in an assembly site comprising a store operating as a supply entity, an assembly line operating as a user entity terminal and one or more conveying equipment operating as intermediate logistics entities.

In another configuration of the invention, the management system is implemented to manage supplies between a supplier production site operating as a supply entity and an assembly site operating as an end user entity. .

In yet another configuration of the invention, the management system is implemented to manage supplies between an assembly site operating as a supply entity and an operational site operating as an end user entity.

By way of example of non-limiting implementation, the assembly site may comprise a final assembly line (F AL) of an airship.

Thus, the invention allows real-time monitoring of the supply chain from the raw material to the end user, adjusting the production of the end customer's means of production and acquiring the information flow of the positioning of the command and their combined state.

The concept is based on existing techniques for monitoring physical flows with data acquisition media via the dual barcode/RFID identification solution and detection portals and the exchange of computer data which make it possible to group together all flows in an ERP (for "Enterprise Resource Planning") via a client cloud that processes the calculation and repositioning of the final production in real time. It is also possible to envisage other identification techniques implementing collected objects and an implementation of technological solutions of the Internet of Things (IoT) type. The invention thus implements technologies for monitoring physical flows which group transport logistics by following the flow of freight, by positioning the transport stages by a grouping of tracing means, with industrial logistics and means and systems inventory management and distribution. This will also have an impact on Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).

Resulting technical effects

The invention offers a reduction in the physical buffer stock, an optimization of the industrial tool, a reduction in the environmental footprint and a reduction in supply shortages.

The invention thus offers a synthesis of the supply chain in order to give all actors in the supply chain a possibility of suitable optimization, while keeping decisions under human control.

The addition of the collection of physical flow information and information from order statuses makes it possible to reschedule all scheduling sources in the supply chain.

The different connected technologies allow real-time management of the different information and the interface that collects this data and puts it in a computer format must have a high level of security in order to guarantee data security.

Moreover, the automatic data capture technology with its interface brings all the added value to the process.

In addition to being a tool for updating all planning tools throughout the supply chain, the process allows it to be limited to the contractual responsibility of the actors and to monitor the compliance of the factors of the contract- framework between all parties without exchange of data from non-partners.

The process thus described gives the possibility of carrying out corrective actions at each stage.

Any corrective action is possible in "just in time", in response to malfunctions in the supply chain, such as setting up an identified lectn, avoiding a raw material bottleneck, outsourcing production, rescheduling transport , adjust stock levels or create buffer stocks.

Application scope

The process reduces environmental footprints by optimizing raw material supply phases, providing a real-time view of consumption, and optimizing production through batch launches and flow consolidation. The process provides great added value for new non-recurring runs as it transforms buffer stock into virtual stock and secures just-in-time.

DEFINITIONS AND ACRONYMS

Procurement entity:

Any production or assembly site intended to deliver components, equipment and systems to end users, as well as any on-site store intended to supply a production or assembly line.

End User Entity:

Any assembly, operational or maintenance site intended to order and receive components, equipment and systems produced; as well as any assembly line intended to order and receive components, equipment and systems from an in situ store.

Intermediate logistics entity:

Any transport equipment (land, sea or air), any warehouse and storage structure, including floating storage, as well as any in-situ conveyor equipment, including automated guided vehicles (AVGs).

ERP Enterprise Resource Planning

GPA Shared Procurement Management

MAD Availability information

MES Manufacturing Execution System

OF Production order

RFID Radio Frequency Identification

VSM visual flow mapping

WMS: Warehouse Management System

DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES The invention will be better understood in the light of the descriptions associated with the figures below:

Figure 1 illustrates an embodiment of a shared supply management system with flow tracking and localization;

Figure 2 illustrates data streams from a plurality of sensors, which are grouped together in an ERP;

Figure 3 illustrates is a block diagram of an example of a supply chain and of the physical and information flows implemented in the method according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLES OF REALIZATION

A description will now be given, with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, of a supply management system 1 according to the invention in interaction with a supply chain and a set of stakeholders involved in this supply chain.

This supply chain connects a supplier site 10 for the manufacture of goods (components, systems or equipment) which are ordered by an assembly site 18, for example an assembly site for airships carrying heavy loads.

The supplier site 10 is equipped with a storage unit 11 receiving in particular parts and raw materials necessary for the manufacture of the goods, and an enterprise resource planning (ERP) tool 12 available on the software market. Business Management.

The supply chain includes, for example, one or more land transport links 14, one or more warehouses 16 equipped with warehouse management systems (WMS) and conveyor equipment 17 outside and inside the site assembly 18 which has a manufacturing management system (MES) 1 and an enterprise resource planning tool 100 communicating with the manufacturing management system 11.

The various links in the supply chain are equipped with devices for the identification and geolocation of goods, which are intended to transmit identification data and geolocation data via one or more communication networks to a secure Cloud controlled by the assembly site 18, to be processed there with information on the orders and the fulfillment of these orders transmitted from the ERP tool 12 of the supplier site 10.

The assembly site 18 is also in relation with an operational site 13, for example an operational base for a heavy load carrying airship, to supply this operational site 13 with parts and components intended for maintenance, for example maintenance of these airships. This operational site communicates for shared supply management with the assembly site 18 via the secure cloud to which the ERP 100 tools are connected, Devices for identifying and geolocating goods placed along the supply chain include, in a non-exhaustive manner, with reference to FIG. 2; RFID devices affixed to the goods shipped, barcodes 21 that can be read by mobile or fixed readers, gates 21 for reading RFID devices, geolocation beacons 24 equipping transport vectors and conveyors 25. These devices detection and geolocation are programmed to transmit identification and geolocation data to the ERP tool 100 equipping the assembly site 18 which exchanges information with planning tools 22 equipping the various entities involved in the supply chain. procurement, warehouse management systems 27 and manufacturing management systems 26.

There will now be described with reference to FIG. 3, an example of a supply chain implementing the supply management method according to the invention, at the same time as the physical flows F and information FI respectively. In the context of a supplier Fi of goods Ci intended to be integrated into airships A within an assembly line 33 of a final assembly site M.

As a preamble, it should be noted that for the same assembly site M, a plurality of supplier sites Fl...Fi...Fn are in a supply relationship with this assembly site, in the same way as a given supplier site Fi generally has a supply relationship with several assembly sites. The present invention is thus applicable with many supply configurations involving several supplier sites and several end-user assembly sites.

The supplier site Fi is connected to a Cloud CLi (“computing cloud”) through which it has access to an enterprise resource planning software tool ERP 200 and to a manufacturing management software tool MES 226.

The goods Ci delivered by the supplier site Fi are, by way of non-limiting example, shipped via a maritime transport link 19 with identification and geolocation, stored in an intermediate port warehouse 15 equipped with a warehouse management system WMS , then transported via a land transport vector 14 to a local warehouse 16 from which these goods Ci are delivered via another land transport vector 30, generally of lesser capacity, to a store 31 provided in situ in the assembly site M.

This assembly site M further comprises one or more assembly lines 33 receiving, at the edge of the line, goods Ci conveyed by conveyor equipment 32 of the AGV type from the local store 31.

It should be noted that in an in situ configuration, management of a fleet of conveyors can also be provided, while, in an external configuration, management of a transport fleet (TMS) can be provided. The supply management method according to the invention can thus provide both a macro-solution for supply management on the external logistics scale and a micro-solution on the internal scale (in situ) which falls under the same mechanism.

The M assembly site is controlled from a local IT site and/or via a CL secure cloud, with the assistance of several software tools including an ERP 100 tool, an MES 26 manufacturing management system, a management tool of WMS store and a dedicated shared supply management software tool with geolocation GPA-T 28 implementing the management method according to the invention.

It should be noted that the supply management tool implementing the management method according to the invention can be developed specifically to be interoperable with the ERP, MES and WMS tools equipping the assembly site M or else be developed as a software adaptation of an existing ERP tool.

Throughout the manufacturing process within the manufacturing site of the supplier Fi, the goods Ci are each equipped with RFID devices (for "Radio Frequency Identification") and their passage through detection gates cause the emission of detection signals and the corresponding information is stored in the ERP system of the supplier Fi. We can also provide passive or active RFIS identification techniques depending on the tracking solution adopted. These techniques can also be adaptive, implementing for example connected objects, 5G or other technologies available for tracking.

An SCi supply chain is planned between the supplier Fi and the industrial site M. This supply chain includes several logistics links and several storage or distribution warehouses. These various logistics links and warehouses are equipped with RFID detection systems and gates.

The assembly site M sends to the supplier F; via a PL IT platform, OF manufacturing orders for goods Ci. At the end of the in situ manufacturing process, information on the availability (MaD) of the goods ordered Ci is transmitted to the secure Cloud CL of the site of assembly Mr.

The supply management method according to the invention implements two synchronized streams; a one-way physical flow F consisting of the goods Ci transiting from the supplier site Fi to the assembly site M, and a two-way exchange information flow FI between the supplier site Fi and the assembly site M.

This flow of information conveys on the one hand information issued by the management tools of the assembly site M to the supplier site Fi, in particular the expressions of needs and on the other hand information from the management tools of the site Fi supplier to the site assembly, in particular provision and shipping information, which is enriched by identification and geolocation data collected at the level of the various links in the supply chain

The physical flow F is generally of a discontinuous nature with waves of delivery of goods Ci in response to expressions of need and order fulfillments. This physical flow may present temporal anomalies DT and/or quantitative (missing good or quantity not respected), due for example to a problem of availability of raw material or essential components upstream of the manufacturing process at the supplier Fi or to a problem encountered in one of the logistics links.

These temporal and/or quantitative anomalies are detected at the level of the supply management tool after processing the identification and geolocation data enriching the FI information flow and collected throughout the supply chain.

To detect these temporal or quantitative anomalies, the supply management method according to the invention performs a comparison of the information and physical flows with the data contained in a flow repository provided by the visual flow mapping tool VSM. Any deviation from this baseline is analyzed and used to reconfigure assembly line load plans in real time and issue new expressions of need to the Fi supplier as needed.

In particular, the supply management method according to the invention can exploit the range time data stored in the manufacturing management system MES of the assembly site M, to launch in anticipation or in a synchronized manner expressions of need to the supplier Fi, so as to ensure optimal supply of the assembly line by minimizing the quantity of goods Ci to be stored in the on-site warehouse, based on the cycle time information provided by the supplier Fi and delivery time information transmitted by the logistics operators via the FI information flow. The synchronization of this information flow FI with the physical flow F is made possible in particular by a real-time or quasi-real-time input of identification data and geolocation data throughout the supply chain.

Of course, the present invention is not limited to the examples which have just been described and many other external or in situ supply chain configurations can be envisaged without departing from the scope of the invention. In particular, the supply management method according to the invention is not limited to the field of the manufacture of airships but can be implemented in other industrial fields involving discrete or discontinuous supply flows with high added value.

Claims

1. Method for managing supplies in a shared manner from a supply entity (10, Fi; 31) to an end user entity (M, 13; 33) via a plurality of intermediate logistics entities (19, 15, 14 ,16,30) in a supply chain producing a physical flow of goods (FO), comprising: an exchange of data on the management of orders, contributing to a planning of the production unit, of the end user entity and intermediate logistics entities, - issuance of instructions for expressing needs issued by at least one manufacturing management system (26) (MES), tracking of shipments and deliveries of goods (Ci) intended for the end user entity (M,13;33), from data (ID, GEO) delivered by identification means 20,21,23) and geolocation means (24) along the supply chain, - collection of data relating to inventory management in the supply chain, a visual flow map for generating a reference modeling (VSM) of the supply chain, characterized in that it further comprises: generating an information flow (FI) synchronized with the physical flow of goods (Fcp), between the supply unit (10, Fi;31) and the end user entity

(M,13;33), this information flow (FI) being enriched by identification and/or location and/or control status data transmitted by one or more of said intermediate entities (19,15, 14,16,30), a processing of this enriched information flow (FI), to identify delay deviations (DT) compared to delays determined in the reference modeling (VSM) and/or quantity deviations with respect to quantities determined in the expressions of need of the final user entity (M,13;33).

2. Method according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the information flow (FI) is generated and enriched in real time.

3. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the processing of the enriched information flow (FI) comprises a detection of an abnormal delay in the cycle time of the supply entity (10, Fi;31).

4. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the processing of the enriched information flow (FI) comprises detection of an abnormal delay in the delivery time corresponding to an intermediate logistics entity (19, 15,14,16,30).

5

5. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the processing of the enriched information flow (FI) comprises detection of a partial delivery at the output of the supply entity (10, Fi; 31 ).

106. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the identification and/or location and/or order status data are collected in a cloud (CL, CLI) to which the entity end user (M, 13; 33) is connected and are exploited by a resource planning software tool (ERP) of said end user entity (M, 13; 33).

157. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, implemented in a supply chain between a supplier production site (Fi) operating as a supply entity and a final assembly site (M) ( F AL) operating as an end-user entity.

208. Method according to claims 6 and 7, characterized in that the identification and/or location and/or order status data are additionally transmitted via the Cloud (CL) to a manufacturing management system ( MES) connected to the final assembly site (M).

9. Method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, implemented in a chain

25 between a final assembly site (M) operating as a supply entity and an operational base (13) operating as an end user entity.

10. Method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, implemented in situ within a final assembly site (M) comprising a store (31) operating as a supply entity,

30 an assembly line (33) operating as an end user entity, and one or more conveyors (32) operating as intermediate logistics entities.

11. System (1) for managing supplies in a shared manner from a supply entity (10, Fi; 31) to an end user entity (M, 13; 33) via a plurality

35 of intermediate logistics entities (19,15,14,16,30) in a supply chain producing a physical flow of goods (FO), this system implementing the management method according to any one of the claims above and including: means for exchanging order management data between the supply entity, contributing to planning of the production unit, of the final user entity and of the intermediate logistics entities, means for issuing instructions for expression of need from a system of

5 manufacturing management (MES), means for monitoring shipments and deliveries of goods intended for the end user entity, from data delivered by means of identification and geolocation arranged along the supply chain, means for collecting data relating to the management of stocks in the chain

10 supply, means for producing a visual flow map, so as to generate a reference modeling (VSM) of the supply chain, characterized in that it further comprises: means for generating a flow of information synchronized with the physical flow of goods,

15 between the supply unit (production or assembly) and the final user entity, this information flow being enriched by identification and/or location and/or order status data transmitted by one or more of said intermediate entities, means for processing this enriched information flow, so as to identify discrepancies in

20 delay compared to deadlines determined in the reference modeling (VSM) and/or quantity deviations compared to quantities determined in the end user entity's expressions of need.

12. System according to the preceding claim, characterized in that it cooperates with a resource planning software tool (ERP) equipping the end user entity.

13. System according to one of the two preceding claims, characterized in that it also cooperates with a manufacturing management system (MES) equipping the end user entity.

3014. System according to any one of the three preceding claims, characterized in that it is arranged within a cloud to which the end user entity is connected.

15. System according to one of the four preceding claims, implemented in situ in an assembly site comprising a store operating as a supply entity, an assembly line operating as an end user entity. and one or more conveying equipment operating as intermediate logistics entities.

16. System according to any one of claims 11 to 14, implemented to manage supplies between a supplier production site operating as a supply entity and an assembly site operating as an end user entity. .

517. System according to any one of claims 11 to 14, implemented to manage supplies between an assembly site operating as a supply entity and an operational site operating as an end user entity.

18. System according to one of the two preceding claims, characterized in that the assembly site comprises a final assembly line (F AL) of an airship.