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, 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. A method of updating the indexing fields is also disclosed.

1 . An electronic device for sourcing a medical part, the device comprising:
 an electronic sourcing database of medical part source records, wherein the medical part source records includes multiple indexing fields;   a search engine for searching the medical part source records according to at least a first search parameter to create a list of prospective medical part sources;   an algorithmic prioritizing device for prioritizing the list of prospective medical part sources based on at least two of the indexing fields;   an algorithmic prioritizing device for prioritizing the prospective medical part sources based on at least one of the indexing fields, then prioritizing the prospective medical part sources based on a quality assurance rating of the prospective medical part sources, wherein the quality assurance rating is measured with respect to at least a first quality assurance indexing field wherein the at least a first quality assurance indexing field is selected from the group comprising timeliness of delivery of parts by the prospective medical part sources, part accuracy, and part quality, wherein the list is prioritized based on a predictive measure of which prospective part source is most likely to be able to provide a part;   an electronic ordering device for ordering an associated part; and,   a network connection between the associated user and the database, permitting the associated user to order the part.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein 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 prospective part sources can obtain different ratings in different categories, wherein the prospective medical part sources are prioritized based on at least the first preferred variable indexing field. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein the multiple indexing fields comprises at least four indexing fields, wherein the first indexing field is a contact field, a second indexing field is either at least a first part ID field or at least a first part type field, 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. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 3 , wherein the at least a first search parameter is a parameter selected from the group consisting of medical part model number, medical part serial number, medical part manufacturer, medical equipment model number, medical equipment serial number, and medical equipment manufacturer. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 4 , wherein the prospective part sources can be selected in a preferential order, wherein the first preferred variable field is chosen from the group comprising a pricing arrangement between the prospective part source and an associated user, an exclusive partnership arrangement between the prospective part source and the associated user, a warranty arrangement between the prospective part source and the associated user, and a shipping arrangement between the prospective part source and the associated user. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 5 , wherein the device further comprises:
 an algorithm for receiving data regarding the part sources in order to provide prioritizing.   
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 6 , wherein the device further comprises:
 means for shipping the part to the associated user; and   means for automatically selectively updating the indexing fields of the part source record of the at least a first part source contacted.   
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 7 , further comprising a global computer network for contacting at least a first part source from the list of prospective part sources to order the part. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 8 , wherein the field compliance factors are automatically updated. 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 1 , 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, wherein the part source is a vendor of parts. 
     
     
         11 . A method of sourcing a medical part, the method comprising the steps of:
 creating an electronic part request record, wherein the part request record includes at least a first parameter selected from a group consisting of part model number, part serial number, part manufacturer, equipment model number, equipment serial number and equipment manufacturer;   providing an electronic sourcing database of medical part source records, wherein the medical part source records include multiple indexing fields;   using a network search engine to search the medical part source records according to the at least a first search parameter;   electronically prioritizing, using at least a first algorithm, a list of prospective medical part sources based on at least two of the indexing fields;   prioritizing, using the at least a first algorithm, the prospective medical part sources based on a part type or part ID indexing field;   then further prioritizing the prospective part sources based on at least a first preferred variable indexing field;   then further prioritizing the prospective medical 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 wherein the at least a first quality assurance indexing field is selected from the group consisting of timeliness of delivery of a medical part by the medical part source, part accuracy, part cost, and part quality, wherein the list is prioritized based on a predictive measure of which prospective part source is most likely to be able to provide a part;   providing an electronic ordering device, such that an associated user can order an associated part; and,   providing a network connection between the associated user and the database, thereby permitting the associated user to order the part.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the prospective part sources can be selected in a preferential order, wherein the first preferred variable field is chosen from the group comprising a pricing arrangement between the prospective part source and an associated user, an exclusive partnership arrangement between the prospective part source and the associated user, a warranty arrangement between the prospective part source and the associated user, and a shipping arrangement between the prospective part source and the associated user. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the method further comprises the step of:
 providing an algorithm for receiving data regarding the part sources in order to provide prioritizing.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the method further comprises the steps of:
 providing means for shipping the part to the associated user;   contacting at least a first medical part source from the list of prospective medical part sources to order the medical part; and   automatically selectively updating the indexing fields of the part source record of the at least a first part source contacted.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein, following the step of creating a part request, the method further includes:
 providing a parts inventory; and   searching the parts inventory according to the at least a first parameter.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the step of selectively updating the indexing fields of the part source record of the at least a first part source contacted involves the step of updating the quality assurance rating of the at least a first quality assurance field. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the part request record is remotely, electronically accessible to an associated purchaser. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the prospective source list occurs according to pre-selected conditions programmed into an operating program. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the prospective source list is prioritized into the group comprising OEM class, partner class, first call class, preferred class, standard class, and last option class.