What is the purpose of consensus demand planning workbooks?

The purpose of consensus demand planning workbooks is to serve as a primary record for forecast changes. These workbooks facilitate collaboration among different stakeholders by allowing them to input and discuss changes to the demand forecast based on various inputs, such as market intelligence, sales feedback, and operational considerations. This collaborative approach helps ensure that all relevant perspectives are considered when making adjustments to the demand forecast, leading to a more accurate and agreed-upon forecast.

The structure of these workbooks typically allows for version control and tracking of changes over time, making it easy to reference previous forecasts and understand the rationale behind specific adjustments. This centralization of information not only aids in decision-making but also improves accountability among team members who contribute to demand planning.

In contrast, tracking inventory levels against forecasts focuses more on operational metrics rather than the collaborative forecasting process itself. Reporting solely on historical data does not align with the proactive and forward-looking nature of consensus demand planning, which aims to predict future demand. Lastly, consolidating departmental reports addresses the administrative side of planning rather than the specific function of managing and recording forecast changes that consensus demand planning workbooks are designed to support.