Reducing inventory by simplifying forecasting and using point of sale data

This thesis assesses the value to vendors of using point of sale data to predict what retailers will order from them. In particular, we look at how The Gillette Company can use point of sale data generated by two of their customers, (Wal-Mart and Target), to predict the orders of all of Gillette's customers combined. The thesis also examines the impact on forecasts of shortening and simplifying the demand planning process. By improving the forecast of orders from their customers, vendors like Gillette can reduce safety stock inventory which is held as protection against unpredictable demand.

Department dc:contributor.department

Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Engineering Systems Division.

Grantor dc:publisher

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Year dc:date.issued

2005

Authors dc:creator

• Agarwal, Atul
• Holt, Gregory Douglas Barton

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Lawrence Lapide.

• Engineering Systems Division.

Statement dc:rights

• M.I.T. theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission. See provided URL for inquiries about permission.

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/7582

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/33310

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:dspace.mit.edu:1721.1/33310