In most organizations, forecast accuracy is treated as the gold standard. If forecasts closely match actual outcomes, the system is considered effective. But accuracy alone can be misleading. Because hitting the right number once doesn’t mean you can trust the next one. And in today’s fast-moving supply chains and financial environments, trust, not just precision,...

In many manufacturing organizations, demand forecasting is treated as a monthly ritual. Data is pulled, assumptions are debated, spreadsheets are adjusted, and a number is finalized. That number then quietly becomes one of the most powerful forces in the business. It determines what gets produced, what gets purchased, how much cash is tied up in inventory, and how confident...