Abstract: An improved process for forecasting product demand to be used within inventory management and/or production planning systems. This improved process overcomes the limitations of the prior art by providing an optimal combination of automated statistical data processing and human intelligence, in one interactive system. The new method provides an efficient means for an operator to incorporate much information, known to the operator, that would otherwise be missed by the systems of the prior art. It allows the operator to analyze information very quickly by viewing graphs drawn on a graphical user interface and to make changes very quickly using that same graphical user interface. The method relies on the use of edit markings/symbols drawn on the display portion of the graphical user interface. These edit markings/symbols are used to make changes to the parameters forming the basis for a product demand forecast.

Abstract: A lock nut designed for securing a nut on bolt, specifically for those situations in which the bolt cannot be rotated and the bolt is located proximate to an object that can obstruct the ability to rotate the lock nut on the bolt. The lock nut can change form by the addition of pieces, the removal of pieces, or by changing the shape of a single piece. The lock nut is designed such that in one form it can be threaded onto the bolt and, thereafter, it can be changed in form and locked into this new form, the new form being such that the lock nut cannot be fully rotated on the bolt without encountering an obstruction, thus preventing the ability to remove the lock nut.