In a production hierarchy, which items should be forecasted if Product A is made from B and C, and B is made from D and E?

In a production hierarchy, forecasting should primarily focus on the finished products that end up being sold. In this scenario, Product A is the final product that is made from components B and C. It is critical to forecast the demand for Product A directly since it represents the final output that will be delivered to customers.

Forecasting for just Product A allows the organization to align production planning and inventory management specifically with customer demand for that product. While components B and C are utilized to create Product A, their forecasts can be driven by the forecast for Product A, which simplifies management and reduces complexity in the forecasting process.

By focusing solely on Product A, the planning team can also ensure that they are not duplicating efforts in forecasting for intermediate products (such as B and C) unless it serves a specific need in understanding their individual demand drivers or production constraints. Thus, planning can be more streamlined and effective by concentrating on the final product that dictates the overall production flow.