Simplified Forecasting and Active Response
After reading these materials, I think the following two arguments about forecast in supply chain management are worth discussing.

The first thing I want to mention is aggregate forecasts. To reduce the uncertainty of forecasts, it is essential to do aggregate forecasts. Apple makes a great performance in this respect. Choosing an Apple product is very simple for consumers because the core technology in almost every Apple product is the same. You can just think about color, size and memory then there comes with the product. By doing so, it is also easier for Apple itself to make predictions on its products. For example, most parts of the iPad are the same regardless of its differences in color, size and memory. Moreover, all of the products in Apple share some components with each other. Therefore, it is more efficient for Apple to do aggregate forecasts. However, in other companies, one of their strategies in marketing and supply chain is product variety. In order to meet with different customers, some companies are dedicated in offering multiple products. They may have sufficient and even complicated choices for different consumer groups. They also use differed technology on different products. For instance, many companies in China, especially for some creative start-ups, have complicated product line which requires correspondingly complicated forecasting methods. Nevertheless, most of them lack of matched supply chain management and get into trouble in this competitive market. So how could those start-ups make specific and effective forecasting on various products of technological innovation?

Another thing I would like to discuss is about the goal of forecasts. Although we have a variety of forecasting methodologies applied to different companies. I think the goal of forecast is the same and is to determine how to adjust the strategy on products and management to the ever-changing market. This is extraordinarily important in any fast-moving sector where the demand of consumers and the supply of product mix changes. If a company made a prediction suggesting a disadvantaged position in future market, then it is time for the company to make a change.

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