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Supply Chain Planning

Have you ever wondered how companies know how much to produce in advance so that they do not make too much or too little? Matching supply and demand requires planning. This course introduces you to the exciting area of supply chain planning. Part of a broader specialization on Supply Chain Management, you will master different forecasting techniques, essential for building a Sales and Operations Plan. At the completion of this course you will have the tools and techniques to analyze demand data, construct different forecasting techniques, and choose the most suitable one for projecting future demand.

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What's inside

Syllabus

Simple Forecasting Methods, Naive Forecast and Cumulative Mean

Welcome to the exciting world of planning! This module introduces you to the professor who is teaching the courses in the Supply Chain Management Specialization. You will also construct forecasting models that enable you to predict future demand. By the end of this short module, you'll know what to expect in the course and hopefully be as excited to learn about Supply Chain Planning as I will be to teach you. In this module, learners will review two simple forecasting methods, the naive method, and the cumulative mean. Finally, you will create forecasts of your own based on a data set and provide the correct answers in the quiz.

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Covers essential forecasting techniques needed for building a Sales and Operations Plan

Useful for professionals in supply chain management who need to analyze demand data and make informed decisions about production

Taught by Rudolf Leuschner, Ph.D., an experienced professor in supply chain management

Part of a broader specialization on Supply Chain Management, providing a comprehensive understanding of the field

Requires prior knowledge of basic statistics and forecasting concepts

Does not cover advanced forecasting techniques, such as time series analysis or machine learning

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Reviews summary

Foundational supply chain planning and forecasting

According to learners, this course provides a solid introduction to supply chain planning with a strong focus on essential forecasting techniques. Students found the explanations clear and appreciated the opportunity to apply concepts using a real-life dataset. While many found the content highly relevant to their careers, some noted that a background in quantitative methods is helpful, and certain assignments could be challenging. Overall, it's considered a valuable step for those seeking to understand demand forecasting in a supply chain context.

Apply forecasting to a real dataset.

"Applying the forecasting methods directly to the dataset provided really solidified my learning."

"The hands-on practice with the data and using spreadsheets was the most useful part for me."

"Great to see how these techniques work with actual numbers, which is crucial for practical planning."

Concepts well broken down & explained.

"The professor explained the concepts very clearly, making complex topics easy to grasp."

"Found the breakdown of complex formulas and methods easy to follow even without prior deep knowledge."

"The lectures were concise and to the point, covering the core ideas effectively."

Highly relevant for supply chain jobs.

"The techniques and concepts taught are directly applicable to my job in demand planning."

"This course filled a gap in my professional knowledge in supply chain forecasting."

"I gained useful skills and a better understanding for working in the field."

Can be challenging without math background.

"Need a decent grasp of basic math and statistics to fully understand some parts and formulas."

"I struggled a bit with the underlying mathematical concepts without a strong statistics background."

"Some calculations required for quizzes and assignments were harder than I anticipated."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Supply Chain Planning with these activities:

Review basic statistics

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Refresh your knowledge of basic statistics to ensure you have a strong foundation for the forecasting techniques covered in this course.

Browse courses on Statistics

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Go over your notes and textbooks from previous statistics courses.
Review online resources such as Khan Academy or Coursera to brush up on key concepts.
Take practice quizzes or mock exams to test your understanding.

Solve forecasting practice problems

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Enhance your understanding of forecasting by solving practice problems and applying the techniques covered in the course.

Browse courses on Forecasting Techniques

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Find practice problems online or in textbooks.
Attempt to solve the problems using the forecasting techniques you have learned.
Compare your solutions with provided answers or consult with the instructor for feedback.

Develop a forecasting case study

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Apply your forecasting knowledge by developing a case study that demonstrates how forecasting techniques can be used to solve real-world business problems.

Browse courses on Demand Planning

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Identify a business scenario that requires forecasting.
Collect relevant data and analyze it to understand the demand patterns.
Choose appropriate forecasting techniques and apply them to the data.
Interpret the results and make recommendations based on your analysis.

Two other activities

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Explore advanced forecasting techniques

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Expand your forecasting knowledge by exploring advanced techniques such as machine learning and time series forecasting.

Browse courses on Time Series Forecasting

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Identify online courses or tutorials that cover advanced forecasting techniques.
Follow the tutorials and apply the new techniques to real-world datasets.
Experiment with different techniques and compare their performance.

Develop a forecasting model for a real-world business

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Apply your forecasting skills to a real-world business scenario by developing a forecasting model that can be used to improve demand planning and decision-making.

Browse courses on Supply Chain Optimization

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Identify a business partner or organization that is facing a forecasting challenge.
Collect data, analyze demand patterns, and choose appropriate forecasting techniques.
Develop and implement a forecasting model using statistical software or programming languages.
Monitor the model's performance and make adjustments as needed.

Career center

Learners who complete Supply Chain Planning will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Demand Planner

A Demand Planner determines how much product needs to be produced in a specific time frame. The course, Supply Chain Planning, will help the Demand Planner complete this core job duty by teaching different forecasting techniques to predict future demand, which is key to matching supply and demand.

See salaries and explore the career path for Demand Planner

Supply Chain Analyst

Supply Chain Analysts improve efficiency across the supply chain, examining everything from procurement, to manufacturing, to distribution, and logistics. This course provides foundational knowledge in supply chain planning, which will aid the Supply Chain Analyst to uncover process inefficiencies and wasted resources.

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Procurement Manager

Procurement Managers source and purchase goods and services for their company or organization. The Sales and Operations Plan, created through supply chain planning, will be a key component of ensuring cost-effective procurement.

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Operations Manager

Operations Managers oversee the day-to-day operations of a business. The forecasting techniques taught in Supply Chain Planning will be useful to the Operations Manager to ensure that production meets demand.

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Project Manager

Project Managers plan, execute, and close out projects. The supply chain planning process is essentially project management within the context of directing the flow of goods and services.

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Inventory Manager

Inventory Managers oversee the flow of inventory. Supply Chain Planning will be useful to an Inventory Manager to determine how much stock should be kept on hand, while also preventing stockouts.

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Logistician

Logisticians are responsible for planning, implementing, and controlling the efficient, effective flow and storage of goods, services, and related information between the point of origin and the point of consumption. Having a strong knowledge of forecasting demand, which is the core of supply chain planning, will be especially helpful to the Logistician.

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Supply Chain Manager

Supply Chain Managers oversee the entire supply chain of a company or organization. Supply Chain Planning is a foundational component of supply chain management.

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Purchasing Manager

Purchasing Managers are responsible for sourcing and purchasing goods and services for their organization. The Sales and Operations Plan, created through supply chain planning, will be critical to the Purchasing Manager to make informed decisions about inventory levels.

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Transportation Manager

Transportation Managers oversee the movement of goods and materials. An understanding of supply chain planning will be useful to excel in this role, as transportation is an essential link in the supply chain.

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Warehouse Manager

Warehouse Managers oversee the day-to-day operations of a warehouse. This course can help build a foundation for understanding the flow of inventory through the supply chain.

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Data Analyst

Data Analysts collect, clean, and analyze data to uncover trends and patterns. This course may be useful to the Data Analyst to understand forecasting techniques used in business.

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Financial Analyst

Financial Analysts provide advice to businesses and individuals on financial matters. This course may be useful to understand how supply chain planning impacts a company's financial performance.

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Market Research Analyst

Market Research Analysts study market trends and consumer behavior. This course may be useful to understand forecasting techniques used in market research.

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Consultant

Consultants provide advice to businesses on a variety of topics. This course may be useful to understand supply chain planning, which is a common area of consulting.

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Reading list

We've selected 12 books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Supply Chain Planning.

The Race

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Classic in the field of supply chain management. It tells the story of a plant manager who is trying to improve the performance of his plant.

The Race

Paperback

(Español) LA Carrera/the Race (Spanish Edition)

Paperback

Automation and Autonomy

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Tells the story of the development of lean production. Lean production manufacturing philosophy that focuses on reducing waste and improving efficiency.

Automation and Autonomy: Labour, Capital and...

Kindle Edition

$$$$

Supply Chain Management

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Provides a comprehensive overview of supply chain management. It covers the different aspects of supply chain management, including strategy, planning, and operation.

Supply Chain Planning

What's inside

Syllabus

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Reviews summary

Foundational supply chain planning and forecasting

Activities

Career center

Reading list

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