The Smart Forecaster Blog: Data Driven Management

Pursuing best practices in demand planning, forecasting and inventory optimization

MAX-MIN OR ROP – ROQ

by Phillip Slater | Dec 1, 2017

This guest blog details the differences between Min-Max and Reorder Point- Order Quantity replenishment logic and why it is important. It is authored by Phillip Slater, Founder of SparePartsKNowHow.com the leading educational resource for spare parts management. Mr. Slater is a global leader and consultant on materials management and specifically, engineering spare parts inventory management and optimization.

Forecasting and the Rising Tide of Big Data

by Thomas Willemain, Ph.D. | Aug 10, 2017

“Trillions of records of millions of people…Finding the useful and right information, understanding its quality and producing reliable analyzed data in a timely and cost-effective manner are all critical issues.”

Worst Practices in Forecasting

by Leonard Jay Tashman | Jan 1, 2017

Companies launch initiatives to upgrade or improve their sales & operations planning and demand planning processes all the time. Many of these initiatives fail to deliver the results they should. Has your forecasting function fallen short of expectations? Do you struggle with “best practices” that seem incapable of producing accurate results?

Handling Extreme Supply Chain Variability at Rev-A-Shelf

by John Engelhardt | Feb 27, 2014

Does your extended supply chain suffer from extreme seasonal variability? Does this situation challenge your ability to meet service level commitments to your customers? I have grappled with this at Rev-A-Shelf, addressing unusual conditions created by Chinese New Year and other global events, and would like to share the experience and a few things I learned along the way.