Patent attributes
Methods, systems and apparatus for defining, updating and communicating the current status of parts used by an enterprise to designers and procurement specialists. Allowable values of preferredness of parts are defined based on technology roadmaps, and these values are periodically checked in a current time period against certain criteria, and changes are made in the preferredness values to reflect current conditions in the time period and current estimates for future conditions. Software, including algorithms, is changed as required to implement the changes in the preferredness values, and the updated software is released for use by procurement and design personnel for ensuring consistency of values of preferredness and preferred part codes within an enterprise.
