Product items that have an irregular demand pattern makes them all but impossible to forecast with traditional, smoothing-based forecasting methods. Items with intermittent, or “slow-moving,” demand have many zero values interspersed with random spikes of non-zero demand. This problem is especially prevalent in companies that manage large inventories of service/spare parts in industries such as aerospace, military electronics, as well as in MRO (Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul) organizations.
- Finished goods inventory before purchase order generation
- Strategic safety stock
- Reduced minimum purchases
