We're always forecasting - thinking about what will happen, assessing its likelihood, and contemplating the implications. For CFOs, the stakes are especially high when it comes to the difference between accurate and inaccurate forecasts.

Looking to get closer to the customer, Lennox Residential undertakes a dramatic expansion of its distribution network. Simultaneously, it looks to cut costs, optimize inventory and improve the demand forecast.

Demand Control is a process designed to take chaos out of near-term planning and promote actions that enable companies to profitably meet abnormal demand. The results are better performance and improved working environments.

The maker and distributor of heating, air conditioning, ventilation and refrigeration units looks to improve the forecast and optimize inventory - while expanding its store network and boosting customer service.

Analyst Insight: Demand planning can be both a complex and demanding exercise to fully conduct. To get past the initial challenges, it is tempting to consolidate demand planning into a few simple metrics and goals to support adoption. Blue Hill believes that this approach will ultimately sabotage the best-intended intentions to support enterprise demand planning. – Hyoun Park, Chief Research Officer at Blue Hill Research

Analyst Insight: The greatest gap between performance and satisfaction of supply chain applications is in the area of demand planning. The reasons are many, but many are rooted in organizational and processes issues causing many people to throw in the towel too early. – Lora Cecere, Founder of Supply Chain Insights

Even though 2014 is barely behind us, supply chains operate best 12 months out. If the 2015 holiday rush isn't top of mind, you're already behind.