See how to save money by statistically processing demand projections. Sun Labs researcher Philip Yelland shows you how.

---

By Al Riske

01.May.07-Phillip Yelland remains hopeful.

Over the past seven years, he hasn't been able to solve the problem of demand forecasting, but he has helped the company make incredible strides.

A researcher in Sun Labs, Yelland runs the Management Science Project, where he combines insights into math and human nature and tries to bring a semblance of order to the often chaotic world of business.

"Forecasting is usually a mob scene, a combination of sales and marketing and various other groups who all chip in their two cents," he says. "By statistically processing these forecasts (some of which turn out to be somebody's stretch goal), we've found that we can improve accuracy by 40 to 60 percent."

As a result Sun has been able to save a boatload of cash.