Steven Scott Swank

US Patent:

8010220, Aug 30, 2011

Filed:

Sep 29, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/240852

Inventors:

Ryan Christopher Ames - Greensburg IN, US
John Campbell - East Liberty OH, US
Yozo Handa - Mie, JP
David Wayne Hicks - Shelbyville IN, US
Hiroshi Kawaguchi - Indianapolis IN, US
Joseph P. Lewis - Indianapolis IN, US
Masahiko Minamikawa - Columbus IN, US
Steven Michael Swank - Springfield OH, US
Toshihide Tanaka - Indianapolis IN, US
Yasushi Nagura - Indianapolis IN, US

Assignee:

Honda Motor Co., Ltd. - Tokyo
Midwest Express Inc. - East Liberty OH

International Classification:

G06F 19/00
B60P 1/04
G07B 15/02

US Classification:

700119, 700113, 414467, 235384

Abstract:

A parts delivery management system and method that synchronizes production line side parts deliveries with a production schedule to facilitate delivering the right part to the right production line location at the right time. A consolidation center for receiving parts from suppliers is co-located with an assembly plant. Parts are received in returnable containers and organized for line side delivery according to the manufacturer's production schedule. Parts are delivered to production line locations using multi-cart “trains” that transport parts to the locations. Trains made of multiple carts are assembled throughout the production day and loaded with containers holding the parts that are then delivered line side. A delivery management system application executing on a computer receives production schedule data as well as part and container data to determine which parts are needed throughout the day at the various production line side locations and when they are needed.