Stochastic models underlying Croston's method for intermittent demand forecasting

Lydia Shenstone and Rob Hyndman

No 1/03, Monash Econometrics and Business Statistics Working Papers from Monash University, Department of Econometrics and Business Statistics

Abstract: Intermittent demand commonly occurs with inventory data, with many time periods having no demand and small demand in the other periods. Croston's method is a widely used procedure for intermittent demand forecasting. However, it is an ad hoc method with no properly formulated underlying stochastic model. In this paper, we explore possible models underlying Croston's method and three related methods, and we show that any underlying model will be inconsistent with the properties of intermittent demand data. However, we find that the point forecasts and prediction intervals based on such underlying models may still be useful.

Keywords: Croston's method; exponential smoothing; forecasting; intermittent demand. (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: C22 C51 C53 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 17 pages
Date: 2003-02
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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Related works:
Journal Article: Stochastic models underlying Croston's method for intermittent demand forecasting (2005)
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