Logistics and Supply Chain

Agile and Demand Driven Supply Chain Management

Forecast driven planning assumes the forecast is roughly right, which it is not, so the response is usually a bigger forecast effort and more inventory in the wrong places. This course covers the alternative. Delegates work through demand variability and why forecast accuracy has a ceiling, decoupling points and positioning stock where variability is absorbed rather than transmitted, and buffer sizing at those points. Pull replenishment and the signals that drive it follow. Lead time compression is covered, since a shorter lead time is worth more than a better forecast. Postponement and late configuration are addressed. Supplier collaboration and shared demand signals are covered. The course closes on measuring flow rather than utilisation, and on the transition from a forecast driven operation without losing service during the change.