Demand Planning & Forecasting

Introduction

Demand planning and forecasting are essential for ensuring that organisations have the right products, materials, and resources available at the right time. Accurate forecasting reduces stockouts, excess inventory, production delays, and financial waste. In today’s volatile markets, organisations must adopt scientific forecasting methods, integrate demand signals, and align planning with procurement, inventory, and production functions.

This course provides a comprehensive foundation in forecasting models, demand analysis, S&OP (Sales & Operations Planning), inventory alignment, and performance measurement. It is designed for supply chain, procurement, inventory, production, and planning professionals.

The GTMCS Demand Planning & Forecasting course delivers a practical, industry‑aligned, and competency‑focused learning experience.

This Training Course Will Highlight

Demand planning fundamentals

Forecasting models (qualitative & quantitative)

Time‑series forecasting

S&OP integration

Demand variability & seasonality

Forecast accuracy & KPIs

Inventory alignment

Demand review processes

Course Benefits

Strengthen forecasting accuracy & reliability

Improve demand visibility across the supply chain

Enhance inventory alignment & stock optimisation

Build confidence in planning models & S&OP processes

Support cost reduction & operational continuity

Align workforce with global demand planning best practices

Tools & Techniques Covered

Time‑series models (moving average, exponential smoothing)

Regression forecasting

Demand segmentation

Forecast accuracy metrics (MAPE, Bias, MAD)

S&OP frameworks

Demand review templates

Practical Workshops

Build a demand forecast using time‑series data

Forecast accuracy calculation

Demand segmentation exercise

S&OP simulation

Inventory alignment workshop

Real‑World Case Studies

Stockouts caused by inaccurate forecasting

Excess inventory due to poor demand visibility

Production delays caused by demand variability

Forecast bias leading to procurement inefficiencies

S&OP misalignment causing operational disruption

Industry Relevance

This course is essential for:

Supply chain planners

Inventory & warehouse teams

Procurement & sourcing professionals

Production & operations teams

Commercial & sales planning units

Future Skills Alignment

Forecasting literacy

Data‑driven planning

S&OP integration

Inventory optimisation

Operational resilience

Objectives

By the end of this training course, participants will be able to:

Understand demand planning & forecasting fundamentals

Apply qualitative & quantitative forecasting models

Analyse demand variability & seasonality

Measure forecast accuracy using global KPIs

Integrate demand planning with S&OP

Support reliable & efficient supply chain operations

Certificates

Upon successful completion of this training course, participants will receive a GTMCS Certificate of Completion.