Systems and methods for automatically reordering parts are disclosed. In one embodiment, a system includes a tray adapted to support parts, and a resilient member operatively engaged with the tray that flexes according to the weight of parts stored on the tray. A switch generates a signal when the amount of parts on the tray is less than a predefined amount. A central processing unit coupled to the switch receives the signal generated by the switch and automatically reorders parts based on the received signal from the switch.

A system and method for estimating dynamic quantities is provided. The system includes an electronic identification recognition apparatus, a weight measuring apparatus, and a computing apparatus. The electronic identification recognition apparatus can recognize an electronic identification for a corresponding item placed into the system, and the weight measuring apparatus measures a total weight of all items that it carries. The computing apparatus is coupled to the weight measuring apparatus and the electronic identification recognition apparatus, for receiving the total weight, such that the quantity of the item can be estimated and recorded by using the total weights obtained respectively before and after the item is stored or removed and a recognition result from the electronic identification recognition apparatus.

A method and apparatus for managing a decentralized part supply system via a wide area network. A supplier and a customer establish a secure area at the customer's facility. The supplier ships parts to the secure area and the customer stores the parts in the secure area until the customer issues the parts for the customer's use. The supplier and the customer cooperate in managing a secure area inventory database using a virtual storefront. The business rules, database access processes, and user interfaces for the virtual storefront are implemented on a server and accessed by the supplier and the customer via the wide area network.

The weighing apparatus may have a plurality of conveyor belts, a plurality of physical scales, a plurality of logical scales and a master processor. The master processor may receive weight results from the plurality of physical and logical scales and may determine a net weight of said package. The weighing apparatus may also include a plurality of slave processors.

An electronic digital controller, such as a load cell indicator, is disclosed in which a number of components, such as a circuit board, display, and keypad are placed within an enclosure, and the enclosure is bonded closed, such as using an adhesive, to render the enclosure watertight. The keypad is a touch sensitive, capacitive keypad with no moving parts, and it is housed behind a rigid panel. An optoelectronic transceiver allows for data exchange with an electronic memory device housed in the adhesively sealed enclosure and allows for data exchange and for updating or modification of software code housed therein. Other components, such as another circuit board, a power supply, and block connectors, are placed in an adjacent enclosure, and the circuit boards in the two enclosures are electrically connected. The power supply is preferably a potted AC power supply but may also include a battery.