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Top Supply Tips: Pad Your Forecasts

August 27th, 2007 · by Tim Minahan · 2 Comments · best practices, supply management

As we enter the homestretch of The 100 Greatest Supply Management Tips of All Time! contest, we turn to a tip that, while on the surface may seem like a cop out, in reality is a good rule of thumb for supply management, business, and life, for that matter:

  • Pad Your Forecasts: When forecasting your projects, give an actual plus a few days. Under-forecasting is unrealistic. It does not show accurate project skills, and in supply management, it sets you up for failure and employee dissatisfaction.

I can hear the cynics saying, “Isn’t that sandbagging?” But how many times have you found yourself stressed out or, worse yet, asking for an extension on a project because of the activity took longer than you anticipated?

One of my first bosses was an ex-Marine that was adept at firing off advice that was often crass, yet brilliant in its simplicity. (His best advice was to “Always buy lunch.”) One day he took me aside and said, “I find it best to under-promise and over-deliver.”

That’s what the above tip is all about: be sure you can meet and exceed the expectations you set.

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2 responses so far ↓

  • 1 Chuck Olson // Aug 28, 2007 at 7:33 am

    Another good (and related) tip is to never come to your boss on the day an assignment is due, asking for more time. Most deadlines are negotiable, however they are rarely negotiable the day they are due.

  • 2 Tim Minahan // Aug 28, 2007 at 12:52 pm

    Agreed. Sometimes the most sage advice is the most logical. Setting and resetting expectations properly and timely fashion demonstrates maturity and responsibility. And can go a long way to ensuring sustained trusted relationships and success.

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