Material ordering and reporting expediter (MORE)

Abstract

The Material Ordering and Reporting Expediter (MORE) provides a method and apparatus which partially automates and assists the various members of an order and approval chain in preparing various purchasing documents. A Requester initiates the process by entering a part number and completing a purchase document and forwards the purchase document to a Processor for acceptance or rejection. The Processor reviews the purchase document and accepts or rejects based upon the completeness and accuracy of the purchase document. If the purchase document is rejected, it is sent back to the Requestor for correction. If the purchase document is accepted, the Processor notifies the Requester and the purchase document is placed in the approval chain for consideration and response. Each member of the approval chain is called a Signatory. Each Signatory approves the purchase document by affixing an electronic signature and rejects the purchase document by clicking a “Reject” button, which initiates notification of rejection to the Processor and the Requester. As each Signatory approves the purchase document, the request is automatically sent to the next member in the approval chain. After the last Signatory approves the purchase order, the Processor receives notification of approval and fills the purchase order.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A computer-based networked system for coordination of a purchase document and approval of said purchase document by an approval chain having one or more signatories, comprising: 
 means used by a requester to create said purchase document;    first notifying means for notifying a processor of said purchase document, wherein the processor reviews said purchase document for completeness and accuracy and upon finding said purchase document to be complete and accurate, the processor forwards said purchase document to said approval chain;    means for determining said approval chain for said purchase document;    means for sending said purchase document through said approval chain, wherein each of the signatories approves said purchase order by affixing an electronic signature to said purchase order before said purchase document is forwarded to a next signatory in said approval chain for approval;    second notifying means for notifying the processor of approval of said purchase document by said approval chain, wherein the processor is notified after a final signatory in said approval chain approves said purchase document; and    means for printing an approval form, wherein said approval form contains information relevant to said purchase document and the electronic signature of each of said signatories in said approval chain.    
     
     
         2 . The computer-based networked system of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 means for rejecting said purchase document by any one of said signatories, wherein the processor and the requester are notified of said rejection.    
     
     
         3 . The computer-based networked system of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 means for accessing all purchase orders awaiting approval by each of said signatories.    
     
     
         4 . The computer-based networked system of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 means for illustrating said approval chain, wherein an indicator is provided as each of the signatories approves said purchase document.    
     
     
         5 . The computer-based networked system of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 means for notifying the requester of a need to amend said purchase order.    
     
     
         6 . The computer-based networked system of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 means for completing said purchase document, wherein said computer-based networked system searches a database of existing purchase documents after the requester inputs a new part number which corresponds to an existing part number in said stock database.    
     
     
         7 . The computer-based networked system of  claim 1 , wherein said first notifying means and said second notifying is by an E-mail.  
     
     
         8 . A method of coordinating a purchase document and approving said purchase document by an approval chain having one or more signatories over a network, comprising: 
 creating said purchase document by a requester;    notifying a processor of said purchase document wherein the processor reviews said purchase document for completeness and accuracy and upon finding said purchase document to be complete and accurate, the processor forwards said purchase document to said approval chain;    determining said approval chain for said purchase document;    sending said purchase document through said approval chain, wherein each of the signatories approves said purchase order by affixing an electronic signature to said purchase document before said purchase document is forwarded to a next signatory in said approval chain for approval;    notifying the processor of approval of said purchase document by said approval chain, wherein the processor is notified after a final signatory in said approval chain approves said purchase document; and    printing an approval form, wherein said approval form contains information relevant to said purchase document and the electronic signature of each of said signatories in said approval chain.    
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising: 
 rejecting said purchase document by any one of said signatories, wherein the processor and the requester are notified of said rejection.    
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising: 
 accessing a status for all purchase orders awaiting approval by each of said signatories.    
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising: 
 illustrating said approval chain, wherein an indicator is provided as each of the signatories approves said purchase document.    
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising: 
 notifying the requester of a need to amend said purchase order.    
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising: 
 completing said purchase document, wherein a computer program searches a database of existing purchase documents after the requester inputs a new part number which corresponds to an existing part number in said database.    
     
     
         14 . The computer-based system of  claim 8 , wherein notifying said processor of said purchase document and notifying the processor of an approval of said purchase document is by an E-mail.