Forecasting plays an important role in operations management.Forecasting means to make a detailed analysis of future by making assumptions about it. It is an art and science of predicting what will happen in the future.
sometimes it is done by mathematical method and sometimes by the intuition of the operations manager. The importance of forecasting by the following
concepts:
Qualitative approach: It uses factors such as
experience, instinct and emotion.
Quantitative analysis: It depends heavily on
mathematics, historical data and casual variables.
Mixed methods: A method of forecasting a
company's future performance by using different methods by using a single analyst or a series of them.
Forecasting demand: It is a process in which sales data is used to estimate costumer demand, demand forecasting helps the business estimate the total sales and revenue for a future period of time.
Delphi: In this method decision makers and
respondants all meet to develop forecast. Every
share holder in the process provides input.
Forecasting accuracy: There are so many
standards to determine forecast accuracy. The
commonly used metrics are:
Mean Absolute Deviation: ( Actual-forecast) and
Mean Absolute Percent Error = 100 * ( actual-
forecast/ actual)
Trends and patterns: It is done by looking at
possible trends from the data of past sales or
market growth and use the information to
extrapolate what could happen in the future.
Inventory forecast analytics: It is mathematical
and statistical procedures.
Optimized purchase orders: The materials
planning system generates delivery schedule lines against existing scheduling agreements.
Inventory control: The process of ensuring that
the appropriate amounts of stock are maintained by a business to meet cosumer demand without delay by keeping holding stock minimum. Forecasting and inventory management will help in predicting about future of business and making sure sufficient inventory is present to meet the public demand.