Description
Forecast customer demand using statistical models and cross-functional inputs to support S&OP, align supply and capacity, and optimize service levels and inventory. Manage forecasting systems, master data, and performance metrics to reduce stockouts and excess while improving plan accuracy.
- • Communicate forecast changes and assumptions to supply planning, procurement, and operations.
- • Track forecast consumption and compare planned versus actual demand.
- • Write or revise standard operating procedures for forecasting and S&OP processes.
- • Review demand planning workflows to improve efficiency and reduce bias.
- • Recommend enhancements to statistical models, segmentation, and S&OP cadence.
- • Prepare dashboards and reports on MAPE, WMAPE, bias, FVA, and fill rate.
- • Manage planning policies so reorder points and min/max levels reflect demand variability.
- • Monitor inventory health (excess, slow movers, backorders) and propose demand actions.
- • Maintain demand history, promotions calendar, and product lifecycle data.
- • Maintain forecast records and assumptions in accordance with corporate policies.
- • Develop and tune statistical models capturing seasonality, trends, and causal factors.
- • Lead or support S&OP meetings to align demand, supply, and financial plans.
- • Identify opportunities to reduce inventory through better forecast accuracy and optimized safety stocks.
- • Monitor market, customer, and seasonality trends to adjust demand plans.
- • Enter and maintain forecasts, planning parameters, and master data in APS/ERP systems.
- • Maintain forecasting systems and data integrity to ensure accurate plans.
- • Collaborate with suppliers and key customers to share forecasts and align on constraints (CPFR).
- • Gather demand inputs from sales, marketing, and e-commerce on promotions, pricing, and events.
- • Interpret demand drivers such as price elasticity, cannibalization, and channel mix.
- • Apply analytics and scenario planning to predict demand and set safety stocks.
- • Analyze POS, syndicated, and order data to refine forecasts and evaluate promotions.
- • Monitor real-time demand signals from POS and e-commerce to flag exceptions.
- • Rephase demand and allocation plans to balance constraints and prioritize key customers or SKUs.
- • Adjust short-term forecasts for events, weather, competitor actions, or supply disruptions.
- • Recommend markdowns, transfers, or end-of-life strategies for excess and obsolete inventory.
- • Build regional and channel-level demand plans to optimize distribution and service.
- • Document and enter forecast assumptions, overrides, and promotional impacts in planning tools.
- • Support new product introductions with baseline, ramp, and cannibalization forecasts.
- • Partner with finance to reconcile demand plans with budgets and revenue targets.
- • Ensure data quality through root-cause analysis of forecast errors and master data issues.
- • Coordinate with supply planners to translate demand plans into feasible supply and capacity signals.
Related specializations
Interview options
Interview options
Interviewee gender
Interviewee accent
Interview time
Related Pathways
Supply Chain & Transportation
View
Source
Tasks & skills:
O*NET occupational data (work activities, skills, knowledge).
Learn more
Sources & Standards:
This site includes information from O*NET by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license. Career Clutch has modified some of this information for student readability. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.
Last reviewed: Jan 2026