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Stochastic models underlying Croston's method for intermittent demand forecasting
Author(s) -
Shenstone Lydia,
Hyndman Rob J.
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
journal of forecasting
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.543
H-Index - 59
eISSN - 1099-131X
pISSN - 0277-6693
DOI - 10.1002/for.963
Subject(s) - computer science , econometrics , stochastic modelling , demand forecasting , economics , operations research , mathematics , finance
Croston's method is widely used to predict inventory demand when it is intermittent. 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. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.