In both cases, companies begin to experience the cost-saving benefits of employing an array of industry best practices including portfolio diversification, demand forecasting, and procurement automation.
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Innovative solutions like demand-driven forecasting, in which real-time customer demand information is translated into super-lean production and delivery, have allowed companies to dramatically reduce inventory levels and the costs associated with them.
So Lucent listened to the wrong customers, aging Bell Heads, who think in terms of demand-side forecasting.
Rackspace has to commit to expansion, forecasting demand over two years in advance.
"If we get to a point where we're forecasting greater demand than there is capacity, depending on what series it might be in, we would raise our hand to build that increased capacity here in North America, " he said.
Its report highlighted poor forecasting about passenger demand for the Channel Tunnel Rail Link, which had "proved over-optimistic".
Those who practice the fine art of forecasting supply and demand for the oil industry had a banner year.
After posting a net loss for year ending Mar. 31 on weak demand, Sega Sammy is forecasting a return to profit this year, helped by the popularity of a pachinko machine featuring manga character Hokuto Ken and the release of a new Sonic the Hedgehog videogame.
While demand is certainly a factor in semiconductor forecasting, its importance pales in comparison with the impact of capacity gluts and shortages.
Some telecoms-consulting firms are forecasting a pick-up in demand in the first half of next year.
Perhaps one of the most representative companies of the global economies, Caterpillar posted fourth quarter earnings before the bell on Thursday, more than quadrupling profits and forecasting a better 2011 on continued demand from emerging markets and continued upward momentum in commodity prices.
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For instance, PDI could be embedded in a storage appliance used on demand for device data analysis, such as capacity forecasting or failure prediction.
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The number is now around 19 million, with the Energy Information Agency forecasting Monday that U.S. oil demand will likely end the year at 19.03 million barrels daily, a 150, 000 barrels a day decline from 2010.
Apple was more upbeat on sales, claiming that demand for its redesigned iMac computer is stronger than expected, and forecasting an increase in revenues over the next three-month period.
Rising coffee consumption in India also is likely to support world coffee prices, with analysts forecasting a decrease in bean exports from the country as domestic demand rises.
In addition, as Australia-based Forbes contributor Tim Treadgold pointed out, iron ore prices are falling, with both BHP and Rio Tinto forecasting lower prices in the future as supply rises to meet demand.
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PowerSecure pioneered the Interactive Distributed Generation IDG power systems platform, which uses sophisticated electricity forecasting software to reduce operating costs through peak shaving, enhances demand response resources and provides a suite of standby power solutions.
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