Demand Planning and Procurement Timing Questions

Understanding of forecasting, demand variability and how supplier lead times and forecast confidence determine procurement timing and cadence. Candidates should describe how to align ordering cycles with production and sales needs, how to adjust for seasonal or volatile demand, and techniques to blend firm orders with forecasted demand. Interviewers probe approaches to mitigate amplification of variability between trading partners, how to prioritize long lead items versus short lead items and how to collaborate with planning, sales and suppliers to maintain service levels while managing inventory cost.