(19) United States
(12) Patent Application Publication (io) Pub. No.: US 2002/0087440 Al
Blair et al. (43) Pub. Date: Jul. 4,2002
(54) METHOD FOR RECONSTRUCTING AND VALIDATING A BILL OF MATERIALS AND CREATING A COMPREHENSIVE BILL OF MATERIALS
(76) Inventors: William R. Blair, Erie, PA (US); John E. Allamon, Erie, PA (US)
Correspondence Address:
Daniel H. Golub
MORGAN, LEWIS & BOCKIUS LLP
1701 Market Street
Philadelphia, PA 19103-2921 (US)
(21) Appl. No.: 09/836,739
(22) Filed: Dec. 29, 2000
Publication Classification (51) Int. CI.7 G06F 17/60
A method and system for validating bill of materials information is disclosed, which includes use of a template which defines a bill of materials information structure. The bill of materials information is received in flat file format and comprises, including part data information. The flat file is compared to the bill of materials information structure and the part data information is analyzed for inconsistencies. A report is generated which includes error information representing the differences between the flat file and the bill of materials information structure and part data information inconsistencies. A method and system of reconstructing a bill of materials for one assembly as well as of reconstructing a comprehensive bill of materials for multiple assemblies is also disclosed.
