Forecasting of Parts – DAF Trucks NV
Overview
| Company Name / Department | DAF Trucks NV |
| Contact Person | Edwin van Walraven |
| Location | Eindhoven |
| Study programme(s) | Management, Operations & Logistics |
| Community | EHTC |
| Start Date | 1 February 2021 |
| Housing arranged by company | No |
|
Compensation |
€450 per month plus travel allowance |
Company Description
DAF Trucks NV is a Dutch company and subsidiary of the American PACCAR Inc. Its core activity is the development, production, marketing, sales and service of trucks for other organizations (Business2Business). Each truck is customized, based on the ‘build to order’ principle.
Project Description
Currently, DAF forecasts orders for a year in advance, based on history of sales orders & trends (e.g. law, marketing). These forecasts are now the main input for the long-term material requirements plans that DAF communicates with its suppliers.
However, there is little insight in the accuracy of these long-term material requirements plans.
Therefore, the Logistic Engineering department wants to investigate whether they can create forecasts on a parts-level themselves that are more accurate.
Goals of the Project
The main goal of this project is to design an improved forecasting model on a parts-level, based on the latest insights in forecasting techniques, for DAF to implement in a possible future system implementation.
Deliverables
- Insight in current process
In terms of accuracy, how do we forecast the sales orders now and how does this impact the forecasts on a parts-level?
Intermediate deliverables:
- Visualization of the current forecasting model
- Quantification of accuracy of the forecast on parts-level
- Review current process
What are the current challenges and opportunities of the forecasting on parts-level? What are the latest insights in possible forecasting techniques that DAF would be able to use based on its challenges and opportunities?
Intermediate deliverables:
- Challenges and opportunities of the current forecasting model
- Literature review on possible forecasting techniques
- (Re)Design
What is an improved forecasting model that DAF should implement in the future?
Intermediate deliverable:
- Visualization of an improved forecasting model
- Evaluation
In terms of accuracy, how does the improved forecasting model compare to the current forecasting model?
Intermediate deliverable:
- Evaluation of the quantifiable accuracy of the improved forecasting model compared to the current forecasting model.
Final deliverable:
Visualization of an improved, evaluated forecasting model
Essential Student Knowledge
Preferably a student with Operations Management & Logistics background, so a strong affiliation with Logistic principles.
More information: escf@tue.nl
