Course Overview

Micro-Credential Course: Demand Forecasting & Planning

Course Title: Demand Forecasting & Planning

Start Date: January 10, 2026

Duration: 25 hours (5–6 weeks)

Mode: Hybrid (Live Online + Hands-on Excel Workshops)

Class Size: Up to 50 participants

Course Equivalent: 2 Credit Hours

Course Fee: BDT 3,000.00

Course Description

Designed for supply chain professionals, demand planners, sales analysts, and business owners who need to predict sales accurately, reduce stock-outs & overstock, and actively support Sales & Operations Planning (S&OP). Master moving averages, exponential smoothing, regression, error metrics, and build automated forecasting dashboards that top companies actually use.

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Syllabus

Module 1: Introduction to Demand Forecasting (2 Hours)

Topics:

• What is demand forecasting?
• Importance in supply chain & business planning
• Forecasting hierarchy (item / category / region / channel)
• Demand Planning vs Supply Planning
• Forecasting process flow
• Data required for forecasting

Activities:

• Identifying demand patterns from 3 sample datasets

Module 2: Types of Forecasting (Qualitative & Quantitative) (3 Hours)

Topics:

1. Qualitative Methods:

• Market research
• Expert judgment
• Delphi method
• Sales force composite
• Scenario-based forecasts

1. Quantitative Methods:

• Time series
• Causal models
• Moving average (SMA, WMA)
• Exponential smoothing (SES, DES, TES)

Activities:

• Matching forecasting method with business scenarios

Module 3: Demand Patterns & Time Series Components (2 Hours)

Topics:

• Trend, Seasonality, Cyclicity, Random variations
• How to detect seasonality
• Stationary vs Non-stationary data
• Decomposition of time series

Practical:

• Using Excel to identify trend & seasonality in sample data

Module 4: Time Series Forecasting Techniques (5 Hours)

Topics:

1. Simple Techniques:

• Simple Average
• Moving Average
• Weighted Moving Average

1. Exponential Smoothing:

• Simple Exponential Smoothing (SES)
• Holt’s Linear Trend (Double Exponential)
• Holt-Winters (Triple Exponential)

1. Trend Models:

• Linear Trend Model
• Non-linear trend model

1. Regression-based Models:

• Simple Linear Regression
• Multiple Regression for demand drivers

Practical (Excel Heavy):

• Build moving average forecasts
• Create exponential smoothing models
• Run regression forecasting
• Visualize forecast outputs with charts

Module 5: Forecast Error Measurement (3 Hours)

Topics:

• Forecast accuracy vs bias
• Key error metrics:
• MAD
• MSE
• RMSE
• MAPE
• Bias (tracking signal)
• When to use which metric
• Forecast improvement techniques
• Error reduction by model switching

Practical (Excel):

• Calculate forecast errors using real datasets
• Build an automated error-analysis sheet

Module 6: Advanced Forecasting Concepts (2 Hours)

Topics:

• Safety stock impact in forecasting
• Service level & uncertainty
• Forecasting for new products (NPF)
• Intermittent demand forecasting (Crocston’s method – conceptual)
• Demand sensing vs demand shaping

Activities:

• Choosing forecasting models for 4 business cases

Module 7: Excel Tools for Forecasting (4 Hours)

Topics:

• Data cleaning & preparation
• Using Excel formulas for forecasting
• AVERAGE
• TREND
• FORECAST.LINEAR
• EXPONENTIAL functions
• Excel Data Analysis ToolPak
• Scenario manager
• Forecast Sheet (Excel built-in tool)
• PivotTables for demand patterns

Practical:

• Hands-on forecasting using Excel Forecast Sheet
• Building a forecasting dashboard

Module 8: Sales & Operations Planning (S&OP) (3 Hours)

Topics:

• What is S&OP?
• 5-step S&OP process:
1. Data gathering
2. Demand review
3. Supply review
4. Pre-S&OP meeting
5. Executive S&OP
• Role of cross-functional teams
• Demand planners vs supply planners
• KPI alignment (forecast accuracy, bias, OTIF)
• Scenario planning for S&OP

Practical:

• Build a simple S&OP demand review template
• Monthly demand-supply balancing case study

Module 9: Integrated Demand Planning (1 Hour)

Topics:

• Collaboration with marketing & sales
• Rolling forecasts
• Demand planning cycle
• Using external factors (macro trends, promo, competition)

Activity:

• Create a demand planning checklist

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Entry Qualifications

• Supply chain, sales, merchandising, or planning professionals
• Business owners & entrepreneurs managing inventory
• Fresh graduates aiming for demand planning / S&OP roles
• Intermediate Excel knowledge (basic formulas & charts)

Career Pathways

• Demand Planner – FMCG, retail, pharma, e-commerce
• S&OP Analyst – Manufacturing & distribution companies
• Supply Chain Analyst – Local & multinational firms
• Inventory Planner / Merchandiser – RMG & retail giants
• Business Analyst (Sales Forecasting) – High-demand analytics role
• Forecasting Consultant – Freelance / advisory services

Assessment & Certification

• Excel-based assignments (3 forecasting models + error analysis) – 50%
• S&OP demand review template – 20%
• Final Project: 6-month demand forecast + accuracy report – 30%
• Certification: Official Micro-Credential Certificate from DIU + Professional Forecasting Toolkit

What You Will Build (Your Portfolio)

• Automated Excel Forecasting Dashboard
• Error Analysis & Accuracy Tracker
• S&OP Demand Review Template
• 6-Month Rolling Forecast Model (ready to use at work)

Tools You Will Master

Microsoft Excel (Forecast Sheet, Data Analysis ToolPak, PivotTables, Charts) + Real business datasets