Driving Agility Through AI-Driven Supply Chains
Overview
Supply chain software vendors have attached the word AI to almost everything. Some of it materially improves forecast accuracy and inventory position. Some of it adds an opaque layer over decisions that were previously understood, and quietly makes them worse.
This programme is about telling the difference. It covers where machine learning genuinely outperforms classical planning methods, what data quality those methods actually require, and how to evaluate a vendor claim without taking it on trust.
Delegates work with real demand data, run comparisons between statistical and machine-learning forecasts, and build the business case and governance around deploying one.
What you will learn
- Identify where machine learning genuinely beats classical forecasting
- Assess whether your data is good enough for the method proposed
- Evaluate vendor AI claims against a structured test
- Apply demand sensing and probabilistic forecasting appropriately
- Use AI for supplier risk monitoring and disruption early warning
- Design inventory policy that responds to forecast confidence
- Build the business case for an AI planning deployment
- Govern automated decisions so a human stays accountable
Who should attend
This programme is designed for practitioners in the following roles.
- Supply chain and logistics managers
- Demand and supply planners
- Procurement and sourcing teams
- S&OP leads
- Inventory managers
- Operations and manufacturing planners
Sectors
- Manufacturing
- Retail & Distribution
- Oil & Gas
- Logistics & Ports
- Pharmaceuticals
- FMCG
Programme agenda
What AI actually changes
- Where classical planning methods still win, and why
- Machine learning in demand forecasting: the honest performance picture
- Data quality requirements — the constraint most projects hit first
- Demand sensing and probabilistic forecasting in practice
- Evaluating a vendor claim: the questions that expose weak ones
- Workshop: comparing statistical and ML forecasts on real demand data
Agility, risk and deployment
- Inventory policy that responds to forecast confidence, not averages
- Supplier risk monitoring and disruption early warning
- Building resilience: buffers, dual sourcing and network design
- Scenario planning for supply shocks
- The business case: cost, benefit and realistic payback
- Governance: keeping a human accountable for automated decisions
- Case exercise: building a deployment plan and presenting the risks
Your facilitator
Industry Expert
This programme is delivered by a practising specialist with direct operating experience in the field, selected for the specific cohort. Facilitator details and a full biography are issued with the joining instructions once a session is confirmed.
Certification
Every delegate who completes the programme receives a ForumMinds certificate of completion, issued digitally within five working days of the final session. The certificate states the programme title, the delivery dates and the contact hours completed.
Others in this area
Run this for your own team
This programme can be delivered in-house at your premises and rebuilt around your equipment, processes and case material.