METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR INVENTORYING A DISTRIBUTED PLURALITY OF ITEMS IN A SUPPLY

A system is provided for inventorying a plurality of items in a supply. The items include a plurality of subgroupings of similar "item types" which are distributed in a selected pattern among a plurality of known locations. The inventory process is done by a plurality of known inventory entities. The system includes a plurality of type identifiers, each carrying machine readable data specific to an item type, for distinguishing a particular item type from other item types. A plurality of sequential item identifiers are also provided for carrying machine readable data. A unique item identifier is applied to each item in the supply without regard to item type, for distinguishing each item from other items within and without a particular item type subgrouping. A device is provided for reading and storing machine readable data from the type identifiers and item identifiers. A computer is provided with a database computer program resident in memory for receiving machine readable data in a data stream from the device for reading and storing. The computer database program includes a plurality of fields of data pertaining to each item type and a plurality of fields of data pertaining to each item. The database computer program automatically identifies all item identifiers in a data stream to an adjoining type identifier in the data stream.