Mission-Based Forecasting: Demand Forecasting for Military Operations

In this fascinating discussion, military veteran and OR expert Greg Parlier examines the application of demand forecasting and inventory management in support of military operations. The commercial point of sale becomes the point of readiness generation for the military. And customer- demand forecasting becomes mission-based forecasting. Greg highlights problems that have inhibited the supply chain's ability to achieve mission readiness. Among the most serious is the absence of historical data on demand and consequent inability to implement effective demand forecasting and planning procedures. It is encouraging that the military has been learning important supply-chain lessons from the business world's application of OR techniques. Copyright International Institute of Forecasters, 2016