Calculate Forecast Demand

Use the Forecast Calculation (MFC) program to calculate forecast demand for all items. This program should be run at regular intervals for reliable results. See Background and Road Map for more information.

  1. Set your options:

  1. Click the Runtime tab to set runtime options. See Set Options for Reports and Inquiries for more information.

  2. Click the Program tab to set these program specific options:

Field Name

Type / Max Length

Action / Description

Enter new factor

Required
2 numeric

Enter a factor between 0 and 1. If you leave blank, the program uses .2.

If you enter 1, the new forecast equals actual demand. If you enter 0, the forecast remains the same as the last forecast.

The factor determines how much the program takes the last forecast error into account when calculating the new forecast. For example, suppose actual demand exceeds the last new forecast by a quantity of 10.

If you believe this excess represents the trend of future requirements, you should enter a relatively high factor — perhaps .8 to 1. Factors in this range would add 8 to 10 units to the new forecast.

If you think that this excess is not likely to continue, enter a lower factor.

Print only totals?

Optional

Select to print totals or leave blank to print detail.

If you select, the program prints the number of items forecast up, down, and with no change, the total number of items, and the percent of the total for items forecast up, down, and with no change.

If you leave blank, the program print the item number, description, trip signal, old and new forecast, accumulated demand, mean absolute deviation, and the totals at the end of the report.

  1. Choose the appropriate options:

To

Do This

Display the report on the screen as a preview

Click View. See Background for a list of what displays.

The program calculates and displays the results but does not update the New forecast field in the Branch Item Maintenance (IMB) program.

Print the report and update

Click Print. See Background for a list of what prints.

The report prints immediately if the option Allow device override? in the Date-Output Device Maintenance (ZE) program is not selected.

If this option is selected, the program prompts Output device. Accept the default device that displays, which is specified in the Date-Output Device Maintenance program, or enter the name of a different device.

If the program displays the message A previous MFC report exists, click Reprint to reprint the existing report, click Delete to delete it, or click Exit the program.

When you click Print, the program calculates, prints a report of the results, and updates the New forecast field in the Branch Item Maintenance (IMB) program.

Save these options for future use

Click Save.

Exit the program

Click Exit.