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Demand Planning and Forecasting

Focuses on forecasting techniques, demand planning processes, and sales and operations planning (S&OP). Emphasizes aligning supply with demand. Course Overview: Accurate demand planning and forecasting are essential for aligning supply with customer needs, minimizing inventory costs, and enhancing service levels. This course, offered by 4D – The Fourth Dimension Training and Consultancy, provides professionals with practical knowledge and tools to build effective demand planning frameworks and forecasting models. Participants will explore qualitative and quantitative techniques, collaborative planning processes, and the integration of technology for forecast accuracy and agility. Through hands on sessions, participants will learn how to anticipate market demand, reduce stockouts or overstocks, and improve responsiveness across the supply chain. By the end of this course, participants will be able to: Understand the role of demand planning in supply chain performance, differentiate between forecasting methods and their appropriate uses, develop and apply forecasting models using Excel or planning software, evaluate forecast accuracy using key performance metrics, align demand plans with marketing, sales, and supply functions, leverage collaborative planning techniques for consensus forecasts, build agility into planning to respond to market changes and disruptions.

Training Outlines

Module 1: Fundamentals of Demand Planning
• Role of demand planning in the supply chain
• Key concepts: independent vs. dependent demand
• Understanding demand variability and seasonality
• Common demand planning challenges

Module 2: Forecasting Methods and Models
• Overview of qualitative and quantitative forecasting techniques
• Time-series models (moving average, exponential smoothing)
• Causal models (regression, econometric)
• Judgmental and collaborative forecasting
• Forecast error measurement: MAPE, MAD, Bias

Module 3: Forecasting Process and Integration
• Steps in building a forecasting process
• Data preparation and cleansing
• Linking forecasting with S&OP
• Forecasting tools and Excel modeling
• Forecast reconciliation across departments

Module 4: Collaborative Planning and S&OP Alignment
• Collaborative Planning, Forecasting & Replenishment (CPFR)
• Integrating inputs from sales, marketing, and finance
• Managing forecast consensus meetings
• Aligning demand plans with supply and inventory strategies

Module 5: Performance Monitoring and Continuous Improvement
• Measuring and analyzing forecast performance
• Improving forecasting accuracy through feedback loops
• Exception management and demand sensing
• Creating an agile and responsive planning process
• Best practices and case examples

Tell us about your enquiry today

Why 4D?

At The Fourth Dimension Training & Consultancy, we don't believe in one-size-fits-all solutions. Each course we offer is carefully tailored to meet the unique goals, industry challenges, and team dynamics of your organization. Our expert trainers bring decades of hands-on experience and guide participants using real-world case studies, practical tools, and interactive methods. This ensures not only theoretical understanding but also direct relevance to the day-to-day work of your employees. We collaborate closely with your team to adjust content, language, and examples so that the training resonates deeply and delivers lasting impact.

Frequently asked questions

Trainings FAQs

We provide a tailor-made offer for each requirement. For example, if you're a company wanting to train multiple people, we provide a special offer per person and might charge per day rather than per person for large numbers, which would be more beneficial for you. If you are an NGO with a big number of participants, we can also significantly reduce the price per person. If you want the training in a specific venue (like a hotel or event space), we take that into consideration and would be responsible for all arrangements. Rest assured, our prices are among the most competitive in the market and we never like to lose a client. Register your interest and our team will be in contact within 24 hours.

Absolutely! We strongly recommend and provide pre and post-training assessments to ensure the tangible impact and effectiveness of our programs. For instance, we can deploy a mystery shopper experience both before and after a training initiative. This allows us to gather objective data on how the training has influenced real-world performance, customer interaction, and overall skill application within your team. This direct comparison provides invaluable insights into the return on your training investment and helps fine-tune future development strategies.

Our tailor-made trainings are designed to ensure direct applicability to your daily work. We achieve this by incorporating examples, interactive games, practical exercises, and relevant case studies that truly resonate with the trainees. This approach helps them bridge the gap between theory and real-world application. Our consultants don't just present information; they draw from their extensive experience, and crucially, from yours, to develop and apply customized solutions that truly work.

The duration of our 4D's programs is finely tuned to their specific objectives. For training designed to culminate in an international certification from a recognized entity, we adhere to the protocols and timeframes mandated by the certifying body. However, for our bespoke, tailor-made solutions aimed directly at enhancing performance and organizational capabilities, the duration is highly flexible, ranging from intensive one-day workshops to comprehensive two-week programs, all designed to deliver optimal impact and tangible results.