The following describes how to create a season profile and assign a season weight to each forecast period in the year. Each period is weighted differently to account for seasonal changes in demand. Note: Season profiles can also be created and updated through the Season profile analysis/update report. See About working with inventory analysis for more information.
- Select the Work with season profiles menu item.
- On the main panel, click Add.
- You access the detail panel. Complete the following fields:
- Season profile
- Enter a unique code for the new season profile.
- Description
- Enter a description of the new season profile.
- On the Season profile weights maintenance panel, click Create period weight records.
- You remain on the same panel which is now updated and showing the forecast periods set up in the IC control file, and the corresponding weight (or index) assigned to each forecast period. The total weight (or index) is also displayed in the header. Note: Since this is a new season profile, Weight is set to 1 for each forecast period in the file. Select a period to maintain the weight of the selected period.
- You access the Season profile weights maintenance detail panel on which you assign weights to each forecast period in the year. You should assign higher weights to the periods where there is a high demand for items with this season profile, and lower weights to periods where there is a low demand. Complete the following field:
- Weight
- Enter a numeric weight for this forecast period. The weight can be any number. Some periods can have a season weight of zero, but the total weight over all periods must be greater than zero.
- Repeat steps 5-6 to maintain more period weights. Note: Click Create period weight records if you want to reset all period weights to 1. Exit the routine.
Click OK.
Click OK.
Result
The system uses the period weights to calculate an average period weight. Any period with a weight greater than the average weight is a high season period. Any period with a weight lower than the average weight is a low season period. For each period a season index is calculated that is used in the forecast calculation to apply or remove seasonal effects on demand and forecast.
What to do next?
Once you have created a season profile, you can assign it to item/warehouse combinations in the Item file. This information can then be used when calculating the forecast.