Enter a Forecast

Use the Forecast Maintenance (MSF) program to enter an enterprise forecast and change an existing forecast quantity. See Background and Road Map for more information.

Enter the item number or click the Lookup icon and use the standard lookup options to select the item number from a list.

If no forecast exists, the program prompts Date started and Date ended. See step 3.

If forecasts exist, the program displays these fields:

Field Name	Displays
Item	The item number you entered or selected followed by its description
Product class	The product class assigned in the Enterprise Inventory Maintenance (IM) program
Item type	The item type assigned in the Enterprise Item Maintenance (IM) program; see Item Types
Spread forecast	The number of days entered in the Spread forecast field in the Branch Item Maintenance (IMB) program
Plan period	The planning period code selected in the Branch Item Maintenance (IMB) program
Lead time	The total number of days to manufacture or procure this item For purchased items (Make/Buy/Kit = B): Lead Time = Order prep LT + Intransit LT + Put-away LT For manufactured or kitted Items (Make/Buy/Kit = M or K): Lead Time = Order prep LT + Mfg LT + Put-away LT
Stk UOM	The item's stocking unit of measure
Booked: YTD and Last yr	The quantity of this item on new sales orders year-to-date and last year for all branches in the demand group; these orders have been entered but not necessary obligated
Shipped: YTD and Last yr	The quantity of this item shipped year-to-date and last year for all branches in the demand group; these shipments have been confirmed

The program displays a list of forecasts periods and sales:

Field Name	Displays
Start	The beginning date of the forecast period
End	The ending date of the forecast period
Days/Per	The number of days in the period; if the period is 1 day, independent sales created the entry
Indpnd qty	The quantity forecast in this period for all branches in the demand group You can change the forecast quantity with this program. You can also replace or add to this forecast with the Forecast Import (FORC) and Forecast Detail Maintenance (MSFD) programs.
Family qty	If the item is a component of a family bill of material, the quantity forecast is based on the item's popularity, which you entered in the Modular Bill Maintenance (MBM) program For example, if the item's popularity is .25 and the forecast for the family is 150, the Family qty is 38.
Indpnd sls	If this is a finished good, sales during this period for all branches in the demand group If this is a component, manufacturing usage in the manufacturing branch
Dpnd sls	If this item is a component of a configured product, sales during this period
Fcst variance	The difference between the forecast quantity and sales: Indpnd qty - Indpnd sls or Family qty - Dpnd sls. If negative, you may need to increase your forecast quantity. Planning uses forecast or actual demand, whichever is greater.

Click Add. The program prompts Date started and Date ended.
Enter data in these fields:

Field Name

Type / Max Length

Action / Description

Date started

Required
10 date

Select the beginning date for a new forecast period, enter a date shortcut, or leave blank to create forecast periods by using the calendar, defining periods, or using a template.

The date you select cannot overlap any existing forecast period, but may overlap a period that was created by a sale (a one-day period with a 0 in the Indpnd qty column and a quantity in the Indpnd sls or Dpnd sls column).

Note
The program does not allow entering a forecast period that ends after the end-of-life for the forecasted item. Use the Enterprise Item Maintenance (IM) program to set the EOL date.

Date ended

Required
10 date

Select the ending date for the new forecast period, enter a date shortcut, or leave blank to use the calendar, define periods, or use a template.

Enter the forecast quantity for this period, which can be 0 (zero).

Choose the appropriate options:

To	Do This
Change the forecast quantity	Click OK.
Exit without creating this new forecast period	Click Cancel. The program prompts Date started and Date ended. Enter another forecast period for this item or leave the fields blank to exit.
Accept the data	Click OK. The program prompts Date started and Date ended. Enter another forecast period for this item or leave the fields blank to exit.

Note
You cannot delete a record until it has been saved; use Cancel.

Click Recalculate to include any sales in the new period and adjust the Fcst variance. The program merges periods that are posted by sales and no longer displays them as separate lines.
(Optional) To extend the forecast by:

Periods (for example, quarters)	Click Period.	See Extend the Forecast by Periods you Define.
Months	Click Calendar.	See Extend the Forecast by Months.
Template	Click Template.	See Extend the Forecast using a Template.

Choose the appropriate options:

To	Do This
Add another forecast period for this item	Click Add.
Delete the selected forecast period	Click Delete. See Delete.
Change the forecast quantity for the selected period	Click OK.
Print the forecast period listing	Click Print. See Print an Inquiry.
Include sales in new periods or update Fcst variance	Click Recalculate.
Extend the forecast by periods	Click Period. See Extend the Forecast by Periods you Define.
Extend the forecast by months	Click Calendar. See Extend the Forecast by Months.
Extend the forecast by periods defined in the Forecast Period Maintenance (MST) program	Click Template. See Extend the Forecast using a Template.
Display forecasts from sales representatives, customers, or branches	Click Detail. See Display Forecast Detail. Click Exit to return to this program.
Exit the forecast for this item	Click Exit.

Choose the appropriate options when you click Exit:

To	Do This
Display the selected record	Click OK.
Exit the program	Click Exit.