Supply chain/workflow services in a contract manufacturing framework

Abstract

The present invention provides for affording supply chain/workflow services in a contract manufacturing framework. First, a database including a plurality of service provider data structures is provided, wherein each service provider data structure includes a description of a particular service provider, and wherein the database further includes a request for proposal mechanism. Next, a particular service provider data structure is identified based on a request for proposal from a user utilizing the request for proposal mechanism. Finally, project management services are afforded to the user based on the request for proposal and the identified service provider data structure.

1 . A method for providing a contract manufacturing framework comprising:
 (a) providing a database having information on a plurality of service providers;   (b) using said database to match a user to a service provider selected from among said plurality of service providers based on services provided by the selected service provider;   (c) providing supply chain/workflow services for services provided by the service providers;   (d) allowing the user access to technical services concerning services provided by the service providers utilizing the database; and   (e) providing transaction services to the user utilizing a request for an economic transaction mechanism and a nondisclosure agreement mechanism located on the database.   
     
     
         2 . A method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the step of matching the user to a service provider includes querying the database using request data from the user, identifying particular service provider information based on the request data, and sending the user the identified service provider information. 
     
     
         3 . A method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the step of providing supply chain/workflow services includes identifying particular service provider information based on a request for proposal from the user utilizing the request for proposal mechanism, and affording project management services to the user based on the request for proposal and the identified service provider information. 
     
     
         4 . A method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the step of allowing the user access to technical services includes identifying particular service provider information based on a request data from the user, wherein the particular service provider information includes information concerning process design services, and sending the user data concerning process design services utilizing the identified service provider information. 
     
     
         5 . A method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the step of providing transaction services includes creating a request for an economic transaction proposal utilizing the request for economic transaction proposal mechanism, receiving nondisclosure agreement data from the user, and cataloging the nondisclosure agreement data utilizing a nondisclosure agreement mechanism. 
     
     
         6 . A method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said plurality of service providers is a plurality of chemical contract manufacturing service providers. 
     
     
         7 . A computer readable medium having computer code written therein capable of causing a general purpose computer to implement the method of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         8 . In a contract manufacturing framework, a method of providing access to services comprising:
 (a) providing a database including a plurality of service provider data structures, wherein each service provider data structure includes a description of a particular service provider;   (b) querying the database using request data from a user;   (c) identifying a particular service provider data structure from among said plurality of service provider data structures based on the request data, wherein the particular service provider data structure includes information concerning process design services;   (d) sending the user information concerning process design services utilizing the identified service provider data structure.   
     
     
         9 . A method as recited in  claim 8 , wherein the identified service provider data structure includes information concerning optimization services. 
     
     
         10 . A method as recited in  claim 8 , wherein the identified services provider data structure includes information concerning technical experts available for consultation. 
     
     
         11 . A method as recited in  claim 8 , wherein the technical experts available for consultation include engineering consultation services. 
     
     
         12 . A method as recited in  claim 8 , wherein the database is accessed utilizing the Internet. 
     
     
         13 . A computer readable medium having computer code written therein capable of causing a general purpose computer to implement the method of  claim 8 .