The Supply Chain Forecasting Network and Research Programme
A Forum for Discussing Supply Chain Forecasting Problems
The
Lancaster Centre for Forecasting and the Manchester Business School have joined forces to provide a forum for discussing problems
arising in supply chain forecasting. What's the need for such a network?
Retailers face continual downward pressure
on costs and more demanding customers and must therefore aim to improve
availability without increased inventory. They have the problems of
managing the purchasing of many thousands of items daily, while
manufacturers are badly affected by such drivers as promotions, weather,
sporting events and their reliance on incomplete data. In addition the
accuracy of the forecasts produced by both manufacturer and retailer are
much affected by the software solution and the level of collaboration
across the whole supply chain.
The Network will produce an occasional
newsletter, together with arranging meetings where participants can
informally present aspects of the situation they face. Reports of these
meetings and pertinent information will also be made available through
the web.
The research underpinnings of the Network have, in part, been supported by the UK based Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) which has funded a research project in Forecasting Support Systems. The project, started on 1/1/2004, running over three years, is supervised by Professor Robert Fildes (Lancaster University Management School) and Professor Paul Goodwin (School of Management, University of Bath). The final report of the project was presented by 2007. Publications and results from this project are presented on this web site. The 'Companies' page summarises a set of issues that companies should consider when attempting to improve their forecasting. The 'Software' page offers some suggestions to software suppliers of Forecasting support Systems.
