Executive Stream 3: Technology, Big Data, and Digital Transformation for the New Age of Predictive Analytics

IBF's Virtual LEADERSHIP FORUM

If you don’t transition your company to be analytics driven, you could be left behind. We now compete not so much on price or quality, but on our ability to interpret data. And given that predictive analytics and AI have reached a tipping point, we must look at organizational design for Demand Planning differently. Big Data and predictive analytics are exploding with a growing number of variables and complex relationships that can be analyzed and understood – and technology underpins every element of this evolution.

We will be discussing whether functionality updates are growing faster than our maturity levels, whether we should invest in new and “advanced” technology and expect our teams to play catch-up, and whether we should blame poor results on systems or the lack of best practices and qualified talent. And of course, we’ll dive into the role of advanced analytics during times of disruption

THE KNOWLEDGE YOU WILL GAIN INCLUDES:

How to start a technology search and avoid technology pitfalls, and tips and tricks for quick, easy access to data and decision making
How your organization can be at the vanguard of technological change
How technology helps keeps supply chains functioning during times of crisis, and helps maintains sufficient inventory
How to develop an analytics driven roadmap and sell it leadership
What a “best practice process” looks like and determining the right balance with technology tools
How to use predictive analytics technology to predict and respond to massive demand disruptions like Covid-19
How to provide analytics insight to all areas of the business
How to identify key demand drivers and incorporate them into your forecasts
Some not-so-obvious Big Data sources to create demand signal insights

Moderator:
Eric Wilson, CPF, Director of Thought Leadership, Institute of Business Forecasting & Planning

Panelists:
Joe Eschenbrenner, ACPF, Director of Demand & Supply Planning, Puma
Tim Hotze, SVP Global Network Planning and Global Intelligence, Target
Jon Ostrom, Director of Planning Applications and Supply Chain Analytics, Columbia
Andrew Schneider, ACPF, Sr. Transformation Manager of Corporate Quality, Medtronic

Eric Wilson, ACPF

Director – Thought Leadership

Institute of Business Forecasting & Planning

Prior Roles

Escalade Sports: Director of Demand Planning
Berry Plastics: Director of Demand Planning
Tempura Sealy International: Director of Demand Planning & S&OP

Industry Involvement

Frequent speaker and panelist for many executive forums and professional conferences
Written numerous articles in publications including The Journal of Business Forecasting and APICS Magazine
Author of the books Cultural Cycles and Predictive Analytics for Business Forecasting & Planning

Award

IBF Excellence in Business Forecasting & Planning

Certification

IBF Advanced Certified Professional Forecaster (ACPF)

Andrew D. Schneider, ACPF

Head of Demand Planning & Analytics

Viega LLC

Andrew Schneider is a veteran supply chain and business science professional, with a 20 year career spanning journalism, sales, demand planning, analytics, emerging data sciences, strategy, and enterprise risk management. He is a thought leader for the IBF and a member of the esteemed advisory board, an ASCM award-winning fellow & certification holder, and an always-hungry learner of & contributor to the business planning field. He has vast experience across leadership & practitioner roles in CPG, Footwear & Apparel, Food & Beverage, and Medical Device sectors, along with systems implementation, COE deployment, and full supply chain transformation experience. Andrew is presently employed in a supply chain management role with Viega LLC, but also maintains his consultancy practice and is always available to network, consult, and serve. He is an IBF Advanced Certified Professional Forecaster (ACPF).

Tim Hotze

SVP Enterprise Capacity Planning

Target

Prior Roles

Target: Oversaw Supply Chain intelligence products and applications and end-to-end strategic and operational functions for Network and Topology Planning
Amazon: Handled Supply Chain Execution, Capacity Planning and Management, Inventory Placement, and Labor Planning
Panalpina World Transport: Responsible for worldwide logistics and supply chain solutions

Education

Master’s degree in Electrical and Industrial Engineering
Degree in Logistics and Supply Chain from the University of Technology in Darmstadt, Germany

Industry Involvement

Advisory Board for the Institute of Business Forecasting and Planning (IBF)
Former Executive Director of The Warehouse Education and Research Council

Joseph Eschenbrenner, ACPF

Director Planning and Material Management

Roche Tissue Diagnostics

Joe Eschenbrenner serves as the Director Planning and Material Management for Roche Tissue Diagnostics. Prior to this, he served as the Director of Demand Planning for Puma North America where his responsibilities were focused in multiple areas, driving "Speed to Market" and "Holistic Operational Efficiency". He has extensive experience managing Demand and Supply Planning, Merchandising Operations, and Sales Allocations. He also worked as the Global Manager of Demand Planning for the Timken Company which serves diverse industries including Automotive, Heavy Truck, Off Highway, Rail, Wind Energy, Heavy Industries, Power Transmission, Industrial Distribution and Automotive Market. Joe holds an MBA and Master's Degree in Finance from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) as well as a B.A. in Mathematics and Statistics from the University of Connecticut. Joe is a past President of the Automotive Market Research Council and has achieved IBF's Advanced Certified Professional Forecaster (ACPF) designation.

Jon Ostrom

Director of Enterprise Planning Technology

Columbia