1. Find a product with seasonal demand. Explain how the manufacturer can respond to the fluctuations in demand through aggregate planning.
2. Imagine a watch manufacturer releasing a new watch that comes in two models: a regular model, and a more expensive luxury model. Which aggregate planning strategy do you think is appropriate for each of these models (i.e., chase strategy, flexibility strategy, and level strategy)?
3. How can a restaurant create buffer against uncertainty in demand? Propose at least five different ways.
4. Imagine an aggregate plan is used to determine the production schedule for the next 6 months. Is it possible to rerun the model every month to plan for the 6 months in the future? Explain your response.
5. Research one commercial aggregate planning software available on the market and summarize its pricing and key features.