Supply Chain: Demand Planning (Sales Forecasting and S&OP)

--- **Overview of the Course** The global course rating stands at a robust **4.47**, with all recent reviews indicating a positive reception, albeit with some areas for improvement. The course is generally well-structured for beginners, but some learners have suggested enhancements to the course materials and quizzes for a more comprehensive learning experience. **Pros of the Course:** - **Well-Structured Content**: The course is designed in a way that is beginner-friendly. - **Concise and Digestible Material**: The material provided is simple, concise, and easy to understand. - **Focus on Essentials**: Videos are short and straight to the point, with no unnecessary content. - **High Quality Information**: Many learners found the course to be a good refresher or an excellent introduction to demand planning and S&OP. - **Relevance and Depth**: The content covered the fundamentals of demand planning, supply chain management, and provided a deeper insight into forecast accuracy, which is valuable for private equity analysts and others in similar roles. - **Improved Knowledge**: Several reviews mention that the course expanded upon or improved their knowledge from previous academic or professional experience. **Cons and Areas for Improvement:** - **Quiz Material Accessibility**: Some learners pointed out that quiz materials are not downloadable, and exercise materials are minimal. - **Pacing of Videos**: A few learners found the lectures to be too fast-paced, making it difficult to take notes or keep track of the learning material without slides. - **Quizzes Placement and Design**: The quizzes could be more representative of the course content, with some suggesting that quizzes should be placed after each section for immediate assessment of understanding. A final comprehensive quiz was also recommended. - **Excel File Availability**: There is a recurring theme of the need for downloadable excel files for quizzes and practical exercises, as screen shots in tests are not as effective. - **Tutorial Clarity**: Some learners requested more detailed explanations for concepts such as MAPE, Intercept, and Slope in sales forecast analysis. - **Case Studies and Practical Application**: A desire for more complex examples or real case studies with actual templates, especially for industries like FMCG. - **Course Material Timing**: Some learners suggested that all course materials, including the excel files, should be made available at the beginning of the course instead of at its end. - **Technical Issues and Communication**: There were instances where learners tried to reach out to the instructor for clarification on materials but did not receive responses. - **Formula Accuracy**: One learner pointed out a mistake in the Forecast Q4 Review percentage, highlighting the importance of accuracy even in course content. **Recommendations for Future Improvements:** - **Enhance Quiz Materials**: Provide downloadable quiz materials and sample excel files to facilitate hands-on learning. - **Improve Pacing**: Consider slowing down the video lectures to improve comprehension, especially for new learners. - **Increase Interactivity**: Incorporate more interactive elements and practical exercises into the course. - **Clarify Complex Concepts**: Ensure that complex concepts like MAPE, Intercept, and Slope are thoroughly explained. - **Provide Comprehensive Materials**: Make all necessary materials, including case studies and excel templates, available from the outset of the course. - **Responsive Communication**: Address learner inquiries promptly to enhance the learning experience. **Final Thoughts:** Overall, the course is highly regarded by learners who have found it to be both informative and relevant to their fields. With some targeted improvements, particularly around the accessibility of materials for practical application and enhancing the quiz experience, this course has the potential to be an even more effective tool for learning demand planning and S&OP.