Plan4Demand Introduces Demand Curve Analyzer(TM) Supply Chain Tool

Consulting firm's first branded product provides precision insight into demand forecasting data; helps planners pinpoint problems, fine-tune statistical engines, and drive best-practice improvements

PITTSBURGH, Dec. 5 -- Executives at Plan4Demand Solutions Inc., the consulting services firm specializing in supply chain management business processes and technologies, today launched the company's first-ever standalone supply chain tool, Demand Curve Analyzer(TM), a proprietary analytics/modeling tool designed to help supply chain managers more closely evaluate their company's historical demand forecasting data - to improve demand planning practices and fine-tune forecasting applications.

"This new tool represents a culmination of best-practice techniques and algorithms developed and deployed by Plan4Demand consultants over many years, on behalf of some of the world's leading demand-centric corporations," said Plan4Demand CEO Lisa M. Kustra.

An outgrowth of Plan4Demand's demand planning services, Demand Curve Analyzer(TM) is a proven, application-independent tool that's based on advanced statistical-analysis models and is designed to help demand planners better evaluate forecasting data and trends.

"Forecasting is equal parts gut-feel art and science," said Ms. Kustra. "Demand Curve Analyzer(TM) helps planners identify optimal thresholds of both accuracy and acceptable error across an entire product portfolio - to better identify products or product lines in need of fine-tuning.

"Giving demand planners a tool like this is equivalent to giving them a scalpel instead of a hatchet to quantitatively analyze, justify, and improve their forecasting abilities - dramatically, rapidly, and cost effectively. We've used it to help clients realize forecast accuracy improvements in the neighborhood of 20-30% - almost immediately."

Demand Curve Analyzer(TM) enables planners to examine a broad range of factors comprising and relating to a company's historical demand curve - to help them isolate demand forecasting problems, estimate probable forecast error, classify demand characteristics, review problems in forecast data, or to help with forecast model selection.

It can be used to provide guidance and insight as a standalone tool or as an aid in the design stage during the implementation of a new demand planning tool - to help business leaders develop optimal business processes in the pursuit of overall demand excellence.

In addition, it can be used to supplement or optimize supply chain processes and data in tandem with Tier 1 and Tier 2 advanced planning and scheduling applications already deployed.

"The key to successful APS implementation and usage is clean and accurate data supported by sound business processes," said Andrew McCall, Plan4Demand's vice president of strategic services.

"By providing a deep-dive look into historical forecasting data - by going below the surface, to parse demand patterns by product or geographical characteristics, or by stratifying demand not just by volume but by volatility as well - Demand Curve Analyzer(TM) has given our clients using Tier 1 and 2 technologies unprecedented abilities to derive deeper insights and thus more substantive results from careful analysis of their demand forecasting data."

Headquartered in Pittsburgh, PA, Plan4Demand Solutions Inc. is a consulting services firm that helps Global 500, Fortune 1000, and mid-market companies around the world increase profitability and reduce operating costs through its holistic People-Process-Technology approach to maximizing efficiencies across their supply chains.

In addition to providing operational, strategic, and tactical guidance in areas like demand planning, fulfillment, warehouse management, and transportation management, Plan4Demand specializes in sales and operations planning. As a "technology-neutral" client advocate, the company also provides highly customized training to help organizations drive knowledge retention and capture the full value of their technology investments by ensuring long-term self-sufficiency.

Founded in 2000 and privately owned, Plan4Demand is a federally certified women-owned business and has a client base spanning multiple industries, including food and beverage, consumer packaged goods, high tech/medical, industrial/automotive, chemical/pharma, and retail/apparel. For more information, visit www.plan4demand.com.