Outils de prévision de la demande (OPD) et pratiques de réduction des stocks

Intuitively, we might think that a multiproducts company which has the possibility to forecast the structure of demand does not need to protect itself against risks of stock shortages due to the variability of the characteristics of demand since this becomes foreseeable. Symmetrically, it seems intuitive to think that a multi-products firm protected by stocks does not need to anticipate the structure of demand. On that basis, Demand Forecasting Tools and stockpiling would seem to be substitutable. This article calls into question this intuitive proposal since we demonstrate with the help of a heuristic model that stocks and demand forecasting tools can be complementary instruments for companies depending on the nature of demand.