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Procurement and Materials

Demand Planning and Forecasting for Procurement

Procurement is blamed for stockouts and for excess stock, both of which usually originate in a demand signal nobody owned. This course puts that signal under control. Delegates work through demand patterns and their classification, forecasting methods from moving averages and exponential smoothing through to seasonality and trend, and forecast error measurement that shows whether a method is actually working. Collaborative input from operations, projects and maintenance is covered, since much industrial demand is knowable rather than statistical. Safety stock and service level are calculated. Consumption analysis and slow moving stock follow. The course closes on the planning cycle and on managing a forecast nobody will commit to.

3 day course

Course objectives

  • Classify demand patterns and choose an appropriate method
  • Apply moving average, exponential smoothing, trend and seasonality
  • Measure forecast error and judge whether a method works
  • Gather knowable demand from operations, projects and maintenance
  • Calculate safety stock against a defined service level
  • Analyse consumption and act on slow moving stock
  • Run a planning cycle when nobody will commit to a forecast

Who should attend

  • Demand and supply planners
  • Procurement and inventory staff
  • Stores and warehouse controllers
  • Maintenance planners requesting spares
  • Supply chain analysts

Course outline

  1. 01Stockouts and excess from the same cause
  2. 02Demand patterns and classification
  3. 03Moving averages and exponential smoothing
  4. 04Trend and seasonality
  5. 05Forecast error measurement
  6. 06Collaborative and knowable demand
  7. 07Safety stock and service level
  8. 08Consumption analysis, slow movers and the planning cycle

Scheduled sessions

Scheduled sessions for Demand Planning and Forecasting for Procurement
DatesVenueFormatPriceRegister
2 to 4 November 2026Gaborone, BotswanaClassroomR14,950 per delegate
11 to 13 November 2026Durban, South AfricaClassroomR14,950 per delegate
30 November to 2 December 2026OnlineOnlineR6,500 per delegate
13 to 15 January 2027Nairobi, KenyaClassroomUSD 995 per delegate
20 to 22 January 2027Pretoria, South AfricaClassroomR14,950 per delegate

Demand Planning and Forecasting for Procurement

From R6,500

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