Method for sourcing replacement parts

Abstract

A method of sourcing a piece of equipment or a replacement part includes preparing a part request record, providing a part source database, an access portal, searching part source records in the database according to one or more search parameters associated with the part, part requestor or part source, creating a prospective part source list, and prioritizing the part source list by one or more indexing fields, to identify sources predicted to have the part at the best combination of quality, price, and other similar factors.

1 . A method of sourcing a part, the method comprising the steps of:
 providing a sourcing database of at least one part source record, wherein the part source record includes at least first and second indexing fields;   providing an access portal for access by at least one vendor, wherein the vendor can access the at least one part source record;   providing at least one limitation to vendor access, the at least one limitation limiting the vendor to access to a vendor category;   providing a quote function wherein the vendor can provide a quote on at least one part; and,   providing prioritization of a list of prospective part sources based on at least one of the indexing fields.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first indexing field is a contact field and wherein the second indexing field is selected from the group comprising at least a first modality field and at least a first manufacturer field. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the part source record comprises at least a third indexing field, wherein the third indexing field is selected from the group comprising at least a first preferred variable field and at least a first quality assurance field. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the part source record comprises at least a fourth indexing field, wherein the fourth indexing field is selected from the group consisting of the at least a first part ID field, the at least a first part type field, the at least a first preferred variable field, and the at least a first quality assurance field. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the step of prioritizing the list of prospective part sources comprises the step of prioritizing the list of prospective part sources based on at least two of the indexing fields. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the step of prioritizing the list of prospective part sources comprises the steps of:
 prioritizing the prospective part sources based on the part type or part ID indexing field;   then further prioritizing the prospective part sources based on the at least a first preferred variable indexing field; and   then further prioritizing the prospective part sources based on a quality assurance rating, wherein the quality assurance rating is measured with respect to at least the first quality assurance field.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the quality assurance rating is measured with respect to the at least the first quality assurance field and at least a second quality assurance field. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the method further comprises the step of:
 calculating a quality assurance field compliance percentage; and,   providing the vendor access to the compliance percentages in the vendor's category.   
     
     
         9 . A method of sourcing a medical part, the method comprising the steps of:
 providing a sourcing database of part source records, wherein the part source records includes at least first, second, third, and fourth indexing fields, wherein the first indexing field is a contact field, wherein the second indexing field is selected from the group comprising at least a first modality ID field and at least a first manufacturer field, wherein the third and fourth indexing fields are selected from the group comprising at least a first preferred variable field and at least a first quality assurance field;   providing an access portal for access by at least one vendor, wherein the vendor can access the at least one part source record;   providing at least one limitation to vendor access, the at least one limitation limiting the vendor to access to a vendor category;   providing a quote function wherein the vendor can provide a quote on at least one part;   searching the part source records according to at least a first search parameter, wherein the at least a first search parameter is a parameter selected from the group comprising part model number, part serial number, part manufacturer, equipment model number, equipment serial number and equipment manufacturer, to create a list of prospective part sources; and   providing a prioritization function to prioritize the list of prospective part sources based on at least two of the indexing fields.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the step of prioritizing the list of prospective part sources involves the steps of:
 prioritizing the prospective part sources based on the part type indexing field;   then prioritizing the prospective part sources based on the at least a first preferred variable indexing field; and   then prioritizing the prospective part sources based on a quality assurance rating, wherein the quality assurance rating is measured with respect to at least the first quality assurance indexing field.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the calculation of the quality assurance rating includes an average of field compliance factors calculated with respect to at least first and second quality assurance indexing fields, wherein the vendor has access only to compliance factors in the vendor's category. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the at least a first and second quality assurance indexing fields are selected from the group comprising part availability, part pricing, timeliness, part accuracy, and part quality. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the calculation of the field compliance factor includes a number of positive transactions with the part source and a total number of transactions with the part source. 
     
     
         14 . An apparatus for sourcing a part, the apparatus comprising:
 a sourcing database containing at least one part source record, wherein the part source record includes at least first and second indexing fields;   an access portal for access by at least one vendor, wherein the vendor can access the at least one part source record, the access portal being linked to the database;   at least one limitation to vendor access, the at least one limitation limiting the vendor to access to a vendor category;   a quote function wherein the vendor can provide a quote on at least one part; and,   a prioritization function for a list of prospective part sources based on at least one of the indexing fields.   
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the first indexing field is a contact field and wherein the second indexing field is selected from the group comprising at least a first modality field and at least a first manufacturer field. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the part source record comprises at least a third indexing field, wherein the third indexing field is selected from the group comprising at least a first preferred variable field and at least a first quality assurance field. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the part source record comprises at least a fourth indexing field, wherein the fourth indexing field is selected from the group consisting of the at least a first part ID field, the at least a first part type field, the at least a first preferred variable field, and the at least a first quality assurance field. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the quality assurance rating is measured with respect to the at least the first quality assurance field and at least a second quality assurance field. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the apparatus further comprises:
 a quality assurance field compliance percentage calculator.