Patent ID: 7552065
Filing Date: 2009-06-23
Classification: G06Q

Abstract:
1. A computer-readable medium having stored thereon computer-executable instructions for instantiating a forecasting tool for predicting future demand for quantifiable items in connection with a plurality of projects, the tool being instantiated on at least one computer in the form of a database having multiple tables, each of the multiple tables having information therein, wherein instantiating the forecasting tool comprises: receiving a query from a user to the tool, accessing the database having multiple tables, receiving a selection of at least one milestone to be employed with one of the projects, the at least one milestone originating from a milestone-type table, wherein the milestone is associated with a change of at least one milestone-related material and the milestone includes an amount of milestone-related material required for the project and a projected milestone start date and a projected milestone end date; determining an actual milestone date from the milestone-type table; calculating a material required date of milestone-related material based on the actual milestone date and the projected milestone start date and the projected milestone end date; determining a supplier for the material from a material table; obtaining a lead-time for supplying the material based on a suppliers table; calculating an order date based on the material required date and the lead-time; populating a requirements table according to the calculated order date, and outputting the requirements table and the order date to a display, and the multiple tables comprising: