  This article intends to systematically identify and comparatively analyze
state-of-the-art supply chain (SC) forecasting strategies and technologies. A
novel framework has been proposed incorporating Big Data Analytics in SC
Management (problem identification, data sources, exploratory data analysis,
machine-learning model training, hyperparameter tuning, performance evaluation,
and optimization), forecasting effects on human-workforce, inventory, and
overall SC. Initially, the need to collect data according to SC strategy and
how to collect them has been discussed. The article discusses the need for
different types of forecasting according to the period or SC objective. The SC
KPIs and the error-measurement systems have been recommended to optimize the
top-performing model. The adverse effects of phantom inventory on forecasting
and the dependence of managerial decisions on the SC KPIs for determining model
performance parameters and improving operations management, transparency, and
planning efficiency have been illustrated. The cyclic connection within the
framework introduces preprocessing optimization based on the post-process KPIs,
optimizing the overall control process (inventory management, workforce
determination, cost, production and capacity planning). The contribution of
this research lies in the standard SC process framework proposal, recommended
forecasting data analysis, forecasting effects on SC performance, machine
learning algorithms optimization followed, and in shedding light on future
research.
