Supply Chain Analytics (Sep 2023)
A new key performance indicator model for demand forecasting in inventory management considering supply chain reliability and seasonality
Abstract
Forecasting demand and determining safety stocks are key aspects of supply chain planning. Demand forecasting involves predicting future demand for a product or service using historical data and other external and internal drivers. Stockouts and excess production can be reduced by accurately forecasting demand. This allows companies to plan production, inventory, and logistics more effectively. Companies maintain safety stocks in their inventory to protect against unexpected changes in demand or supply. A company must find the appropriate safety stock level to meet customer demands while avoiding excess inventory and carrying costs. Forecasting demand and determining safety stocks work together to help companies reduce costs, improve customer service, and optimize inventory levels. Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) are commonly used to measure model performance. Classical forecasting models mostly concern themselves with minimizing forecast errors. However, the impact on inventory costs is not directly considered. In this paper, we introduce a Key Performance Indicator to be used in the demand forecasting process that produces more efficient results in terms of inventory costs. We also propose a novel approach to determining the best level for safety stock. This approach considers logistic network supply reliability and seasonality indices identified within historical demand patterns. We use real-life data and show that the proposed method can improve efficiency in forecasting and safety stock levels by reducing the risk of stockouts and excess inventory.
