FW: more on forecasting

["Steve Segerstrom" <SSegerstrom@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

> We are on version 6.01.04; heavily modified.  
> 
> I am currently spending some time reviewing forecasting  and would like to 
> know what you all feel about BPCS forecasting. Bottom line is that I am 
> looking to see if someone has modified bpcs or created a package that 
> supplements bpcs so that it supports the capturing of sales intelligence, 
> assists with the sales and operation planning and handles multiple demand 
> signals (point of sales from customers, orders, invoices, etc).
> 
> Frame of reference: 
> *     We forecast about 350 million/year.
> *     We are ok forecasting Product families; not so good at item level (no 
> surprise). 
> *     We want to start measuring better.
> *     basically we key, re-key, re-key, re-key and by the time we get done; 
> we're so tired no one wants to analyze. Details: I have our sales people 
> collecting intelligence on napkins, toilet paper, notebooks, pda's and over 
> the phone; they key it in excel spreadsheets  and pass selected information 
> to our marketing department who re-key it, slice it dice it and add their own 
> intelligence to their own spreadsheet. They pass it along to their marketing 
> secretaries - who re-key it to BPCS. they then print a forecast for use in 
> the sales and operation planning and after the meeting they make changes to 
> their own spreadsheet so they can pass it along to a marketing secretary to, 
> re-key it.
>   
> Steve
> Intermatic Inc
> (815) 675-7469
>