Three complementary sales forecasting models for textile distributors

To reduce their stock, to avoid ruptures and to direct their marketing policies, textile companies must improve their supply chain management. This organization requires forecasting systems adapted to the uncertain environment of the textile field. Taking into account also delivery constraints, textile distribution needs mean-term forecast (one season) in order to launch new production, and short-term forecast (one week), to readjust stores stocks. The proposed system performs mean and short-term sales forecasting of items families. From these aggregated forecasts, the system carries out items sales estimation. To evaluate the accuracy of our model, a simulation is realized on real sales data of an important ready to wear distributor.