Demand Forecasting, Sales Planning, Big Data Analytics & IBP
Having worked with many software applications for planning – demand, supply, finance, and S&OP – I have experienced a sense of elation (seeing something work very nicely) and shock (seeing something that work so stupidly on something so obvious). In a series of blog entries starting this week, I am planning to examine the important characteristics of planning software.
The workshops offered by Demand Planning Net are unique in the sense we actually offer practical, hands-on workshops. We assign pre-work to every attendee before the come to the workshop. Every one needs to bring a laptop to work through individual and group exercises to create actual demand plans and solve demand analytic challenges.
They submit solved case studies before they get a certificate of completion. This certificate of completion is essential as a pre-requisite before appearing for the certification exams in Demand Planning and Sales Forecasting.
Many professionals who have attended our workshops, have reported back that they were able to use the concepts in their every day activity. Many of our attendees are our loyal fans and have sent their colleagues and peers and successors to the workshops.
This article summarizes the difference between Demand Planning and Demand Management. We raise the question on the role of Demand Planners in Demand Sensing, Demand Shaping and Demand Management.
There was an interesting technical issue at a client using SAP SCM with substantial investment in demand planning using SCM tools. After some googling, I landed on this blog … Read More
Demand Planning Net offers a service called Usability consulting where we improve the usability of your statistical tool by performing model tuning, setting the right tool parameters and finally training the planners in statistical modeling. Demand Planning Net has worked with clients helping them leverage the statistical features in their software applications.
• Most applications inherently have the analytical power to develop effective baseline forecasts.
• Most software tools allow you to create exception thresholds so you can streamline the forecasting process by exception.
We segment you…………
First e-book on forecast reconciliation and proportional forecasting released through Amazon.com.
The first step to handle intermittent demand should not be looking for a magical statistical model to solve our problems. We should question the reasons for intermittent demand and come up with a business angle to formulate solutions. These may include integrated demand-supply strategies as well as sales intelligence on customer ordering patterns. Applying Croston’s models and discrete distribution models should be the last resort to address intermittent demand problems.
There was a question on Linked in about the use of the NORMSINV function in Excel. Initially the poster mentioned the NORMSDIST function. But for safety stock purposes, you … Read More
I have been preaching Usability for the past few years.
Put together fine tools – But help the users in making the transition to the tool – give them better understanding – Make the new tool more usable!
Give them the reports they need. Provide them an exception based workflow!
APO has good statistical models. They will help you move the peanut forward but only if they are understood and leveraged.
We just re-launched the marketing campaign for our Usability Consulting. Model tuning and model matching to product profiles are important elements of the Usability training.
Once implemented the Usability project will harmonize the use of models across planners from various geographies for the same business/product family. There will be streamlined work flow.
