Supply Chain & Operations

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Course Overview & Objectives

Supply Chain & Operations are the backbone of any product-based business. SMEs often struggle with demand fluctuations, stock shortages, and supplier delays. AI tools now simplify these challenges with automated forecasting, risk detection, and instant scenario analysis.

This course teaches learners how to use Streamline’s sample datasets and built-in AI chatbot to understand demand, spot risks, and optimise inventory. They will also learn how to use Gemini (Google AI) to quickly generate mitigation plans for operational disruptions.

Learning outcomes

By the end of this module, learners will be able to:

  • Explain how AI improves supply chain visibility and decision-making.
  • Use Streamline’s demo dataset to analyse demand patterns and inventory risks.
  • Ask operational questions to Streamline’s AI chatbot and interpret the results.
  • Generate a clear, actionable disruption-mitigation plan using Gemini.

Tools Introduced

In this course, we will explore some concrete and intuitive AI tools designed to help businesses of all sizes improve their operations.

Gemini

Generating immediate, text-based contingency plans, risk analysis, and strategic summaries.

Streamline

Advanced quantitative demand forecasting, trend identification, and inventory optimization.

Step-by-Step Activities

Activity 1 — Explore a Sample Supply Chain Dataset in Streamline

 

  1. Go to Streamline → scroll to Examples.

  2. Select Inventory Planning by Month

  3. The sample data loads automatically, and it is complete with:
    • Actual sales
    • Statistical forecasts
    • Final forecasts
    • Inventory on hand 
    • Projected inventory 
    • Ordering plan 
    • To receive 
    • To ship
    • Quantity & revenue graphs
    • Automatic AI forecasting parameters
  1. Explore these key areas. You can: 
  • See how forecasts change week by week 
  • Identify where inventory is dropping dangerously
  • See when the stock will run out if no new orders arrive
  • Review the Quantity and Revenue graphs below the table. 
  1. Ask the AI chatbot some questions! 

On the right-hand panel, you can open Streamline’s AI assistant. Ask the following questions:

  • Summarise the sales trend for the Fashion category between 2022 and June 2024.
  • Identify any months where projected inventory was at risk of running out before June 2024.
  • Explain which product category shows the strongest upward trend and why.
  • Looking at the data up to June 2024, which SKUs seem the most volatile in terms of sales?
  • Give me a short summary of overall inventory health across all categories for the period shown.
  • Based on the data up to June 2024, which category would benefit most from increased safety stock?
  • What is the relationship between forecast accuracy and actual sales in early 2024?

 

Activity 2 — Generate a Mitigation Plan Using Gemini 

 

Scenario 

A key material for your best-selling sneaker has been delayed by 7 days. 

  1. Go to Gemini (https://gemini.google.com/app)
  2. Paste the following prompt: 

“Our shipment of Premium Vegan Leather (SKU: V-90) is delayed by 7 days. We need this for our Eco-Stride Sneaker production run. Create a 5-point mitigation plan including: alternative sourcing, production schedule adjustments, customer communication, internal coordination, and forecasting impacts.”

3. Refine using a follow-up prompt: 

“Rewrite this plan in a concise internal email for our operations and sales teams.”

After this task, you will have produced a clear, actionable operational plan within minutes.

Assessment

Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them. [Project number: 2024-1-AT01-KA220-VET-000245796]

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