Forecasting Centre Training Courses Update 2009/2010
Published 1 January 1970
The Lancaster Centre for Forecasting has increased the number of open training courses and bespoke in-house training courses for corporate clients. Courses cover fundamental forecasting training of statistical forecasting methods (e.g. exponential smoothing and regression), enhanced forecasting methods (e.g. artificial neural networks) and tailored training for software-systems (e.g. SAP APO-DP). In 2008 the Forecasting Centre has provided over 10 weeks of corporate training in the UK, Europe and the USA. For 2009 we have already scheduled a similar amount of training in the UK and Europe, spreading further to South Africa, Asia and South America.
Open courses on Forecasting Fundamentals
As in the past years, in 2009 the Forecasting centre has presented two general open courses on ‘Forecasting Fundamentals’ in Lancaster, providing hands-on training to forecasters from various companies including call-centre forecasting for MANWEB/Scottish Power, CAPITA Dixons, BT, DSGI International, UK Home Office, Barclays, Virgin Media, supply chain forecasting for JD Williams, Dentsply UK, Sanofi-Aventis, and general forecasting issues for HM Revenue & Customs and the NHS. A new set of courses is planned for this December 2nd & 3rd 2009.
Each ‘Forecasting Fundamentals’ course is organized in two 2-day sessions and provides fundamental understanding of the most common forecasting methods including time series methods of naïve methods to various forms of exponential smoothing, causal methods of single, multiple and dynamic regression models, and various judgmental forecasting methods. [Read more ...]
Open courses on Advanced Forecasting Methods
For more advanced methods training in 2008/9, the Forecasting Centre provided training courses on neural networks at the European Centre for Soft Computing, Orviedo, Spain, and for Financial Forecasting at Morgan Stanley, Frankfurt, Germany (on behalf of the German OR Society). A 3-day training for advanced methods in time series prediction with neural networks, support vector regression and other methods of artificial intelligence was held in Stellenbosch, South Africa, September 17-19, 2009. [Read more …]
Custom-made Forecasting courses
In addition, the Forecasting Centre has developed an increasing number of tailor made in-house training courses per year, using a company’s existing forecasting processes and software systems setup to maximise knowledge transfer and learning impact of the trainees. The Centre can draw on years of experience in developing course concepts. Examples of successful collaboration include the UK’s Department of Work and Pensions, and the international training of all demand planning staff for CPG manufacturer Beiersdorf through 3-4 courses per year since 2002.
Companies facing the introduction of new software face particularly demanding problems of staff training where the software has to be tuned effectively to gain maximum advantage. Courses for forecasting and demand planning with SAP’s Advanced Planner and Optimiser Demand Planning module (APO-DP) have been particularly well received, with one in-house course for Chemicals manufacturer Celanese in Dallas, TX, USA, and 3 in-house courses for fast moving consumer goods manufacturer Beiersdorf in Hamburg, Germany. Bookings for 2009 are already under way, with three extended SAP APO-DP in-house courses delivered for a consumer packaged goods company in Germany, Brazil and Korea. [Read more …]
For additional information please contact Dr. Sven F. Crone, deputy dirctor of the Lancaster Centre for Forecasting.
