AI-Driven Demand Planning for Food & Confectionery

• You will understand how to calculate optimal production quantities for short-shelf-life products.
• You will be able to segment products and apply appropriate planning strategies.
• You will understand how existing data can improve forecasts and support AI-based planning.

This seminar is designed for specialists and managers from production, planning, and controlling departments within the food and beverage industry, including:

• Heads of Supply Chain, Logistics, and Production Planning
• Demand and Production Planners
• Sales & Operations Planning (S&OP) Managers
• Controllers responsible for inventory management and profitability analysis.
• Key Account Managers involved in planning promotions with retailers.

The Core Problem: Forecasting for Perishables and Peaks
We start with the central challenge of the industry. We will analyze why standard forecasting fails when dealing with short shelf lives and extreme demand fluctuations. Using a real-world example (e.g., planning the production of Christmas cookies), we will quantify the financial impact of ordering "too much" versus "too little" and demonstrate the limitations of relying on gut feeling.

A Practical Toolkit for Better Decisions
This module provides methods you can apply directly. We will introduce the Newsvendor Model, a powerful yet simple tool to find the profit-maximizing order quantity for any product with a limited sales window. We will work through a concrete case study, showing step-by-step how to apply this model in your daily planning, for instance, when preparing for a weekly supermarket promotion.

Smart Segmentation: Focusing on What Matters
Not every product deserves the same attention. We will develop a practical planning matrix to categorize your articles based on their demand predictability and value. This allows you to define clear strategies: which products are suitable for efficient, automated planning and which require close manual supervision and higher safety stocks? We will also discuss how to identify "Golden Screw" items – critical components that need special attention regardless of their cost.

The Next Step: From Simple Models to Intelligent Systems
Building on the previous modules, we will show how these fundamental models create the perfect foundation for advanced, AI-driven forecasting. We will explain in simple terms how an AI system uses these principles to learn from past promotions, incorporate external factors like holidays or weather and provide your team not just with

– subject to changes –

• Course documents in digital form
• Refreshments: Snacks and drinks
• Lunch in the ZDS canteen
• Certificate of attendance

Required:

• A stable internet connection
• A laptop, PC or tablet with an up-to-date browser (e.g. Chrome, Firefox, Safari or Edge. Please ensure your browser is up to date.)
• Headset or speakers and microphone (a headset is recommended for better sound quality)
• Webcam (optional, but recommended)
• Access to the seminar platform (Zoom – you will receive login details in advance)

Optional:

• Power supply/charger nearby
• Notepad or digital device for taking notes