IBF LinkedIn Group
Forecasting and Planning
“The Terminator” is Stopping our Demand Planning & Forecasting Education – Are we Prepared?
Folks, we must constantly remind ourselves that “process” takes precedence over “technology” and technology should be designed to enable best practices. During the e-revolution many of the process best practices were first identified by those designing demand planning software. For example, the ability to identify exceptions to pre-defined rules in real-time and instantly issue... »
People, Processes, and Technologies
As I sit here on an airplane traveling home from the APICS/IBF Best of the Best S&OP Conference (BOTB), I find myself reviewing my notes and writing this entry. As I overlook Detroit through my window I think about the words I am writing as I jot them down, and can’t help to feel... »
The Buzz on Demand Planning & Forecasting Software
A big treat in attending a conference is not only learning from attendees, but also having the benefit of one-stop shopping when it comes to vendors in the exhibit hall. These vendors travel across the country, often times lugging huge displays, screens, white papers and swag to meet with current and potential clients and... »
Grab Your Data and Come Speed Date with Me
When you come to a conference, all you want is to talk to as many people as you can so you can learn what everyone else is doing and learn from them. Speaking with one attendee, they shared how in their group, there is only four demand planners, spread across the globe. The benefit... »
Confessions of a Demand Planner
Wednesday afternoon kicked off this year’s Institute of Business Forecasting & Planning’s Best Practices Conference with a near-standing room only pre-conference Demand Management Forum. The Forum was led by Mike Gilliand from SAS and a panel of experts who brought the group through three topics: (1) Applying demand management sensing, shaping and creating, (2)... »
Can a Small Company Create a Demand Responsive Operation and Compete with the Big Boys?
“We will what?” I had heard it. We will be doubling shipments in the next 4 months, and this was just the beginning. I cannot say I wasn’t excited. It felt good. Volumes going up.. Its a good problem to have. But the memories of demand sliding unexpectedly were etched clearly in my mind..... »
Yokohama Tire Canada: Forecast Accuracy and the Cost of Being Right
Demand planning and forecasting is a process which, because of its intrinsic focus on “error”, too often invites misguided efforts at producing perfection. Like the alchemists’ quest for gold, the goal is illusory and may cost more than any benefit it yields. Consider that the result of demand planning is only profitable to the... »
S&OP or BUST! at Land O’Lakes Company
Eighteen months ago I decided I would put my job on the line if that is what would take to improve our planning processes and implement S&OP. Due to the changes required, some implementation issues, and my own actions; I must admit that I came very close to that line. Fortunately, I survived and... »
Can Forecasting Help Me Staff a Specific Hewlett-Packard Call Center at 10:30 am on a Friday?
We can do a good job of predicting this, but the question is “Can we do better?”. The Statistician W. Edwards Deming showed Japan’s auto industry the importance of increasing quality and HP aims to do the same. How do you staff a calling center optimally so that you balance the phones getting answered... »
Rockin’ the S&OP Process at Fender Musical Instruments Corporation
Monday, 8:05am: your boss calls you into his office and says, “I just got back from the Supply Chain Forecasting & Planning Conference. We need to start a S&OP process!” He hands you a 9 inch thick textbook and barks “get it going!!.” So you dutifully read the textbook, gather your team, collate the... »