Using Advanced Forecasting with SyteLine
- Collecting data: Collect historical sales of products or usage of components in both units and dollars.
- Calculating forecasts: Use historical demand and various algorithms with
what-if analysis. Forecasts can be generated collaboratively with multiple data points like
customer input, salesperson input, manager input, etc. The integrated solution also supports
combined forecasting methods, for example, when part of demand is forecast by statistics and
part by imported customer data. Calculated forecasts can be adjusted with overrides at the
item level or multipliers at the item or group level before being posted to the SyteLine MRP/APS planning system.
Forecasting calculates optimum safety stock levels, reorder points, and order minimums and updates the MRP/APS planning system. It automatically updates the planning system with new forecasts, including any adjustments.
Forecasting allows the planning system to consume forecasts when customer orders are entered, or will take over the consumption process to allow for usage-based consumption or planning BOM consumption. This allows for either sellable item or components to be forecasted, and the consumption is automatic.
Forecasting supports the use of planning bills of material (PBOMs) including consumption algorithms to eliminate the manual process of adjusting planning BOM forecasts for actual sales.
You can calculate forecasts at the warehouse or customer level.
- Analyzing data: Analyze forecasts, sales, bookings, or usage of materials
by unit and dollar volume and compare forecasts to historical trends and to actual demand.
Information is presented graphically by groupings, including product, family, commodity,
planner, and user-defined.
Forecasting keeps a history of forecasts and tracks forecasting variances by item.
Forecasting supports both fiscal and calendar year forecasting and reporting.
- Adapting the forecast: Adjust the forecast for specific market factors such as promotions, competitive situations, and new opportunities. These adjustments can be made at the various group levels or at the item level.
- Calculating optimum inventory levels: Calculate optimum safety stock, order size, and re-order points, factoring in average usage, variability, lead time, and desired service level. .
- Performing top-down forecasting: For configure-to-order products, use planning bills to calculate or specify a single forecast fora group of items and then consume that forecast when members of the group are sold. For common components but with unlimited end-item possibilities, the solution enables customers to forecast the components, rather than the end items, and consume the forecast when the components are used.