How do you calculate a demand forecast gap?

Subtract committed supply from forecasted demand, then divide by a reference demand volume and multiply by 100. With 62,000 boards forecast, 57,500 committed, and 62,000 reference, that is 4,500 ÷ 62,000 = 7.26%.

What does a positive gap mean?

A positive gap means forecasted demand exceeds committed board supply or capacity — you are short. The 7.26% here says committed supply covers about 93% of forecast, leaving a 4,500-board shortfall to close with overtime, a second line, or expedited components.

What is a good demand forecast gap?

Near zero is ideal — supply matched to demand. A small positive gap inside your safety-stock buffer is manageable; a gap above roughly 10% usually forces capacity action or risks missing OEM ship dates.

Why divide by a reference demand volume instead of demand itself?

Using a reference (often the forecast or a baseline plan) lets you normalize the gap consistently across periods and products. Here reference equals forecast, so the gap reads as a straight percentage of forecasted demand.

How do I close a 7.26% gap on 62,000 boards?

The 4,500-board shortfall can be closed by adding shifts or a second SMT line, expediting the constraining component, or pulling safety stock. Pick the cheapest path that protects the appliance assembly schedule.

Does this account for safety stock or in-transit boards?

No — it compares forecast to committed supply only. If you hold safety stock or have boards in transit, the real exposure is smaller than the paper gap, so adjust your committed-supply figure to include them.

Appliance Electronics & Control Boards calculator

Appliance Board Demand Forecast Gap Calculator

The demand forecast gap tells an appliance electronics planner how far committed board supply or line capacity falls short of (or exceeds) forecasted demand, expressed as a percentage of a reference volume. It is the number that drives overtime decisions, expedite freight on long-lead components, and whether to release a second SMT line. Supply-chain and S&OP teams watch this gap because control boards sit on the critical path of finished appliances — a positive gap means demand outruns what you have committed, and unmet board demand stops dishwashers and ranges from shipping. This calculator quantifies that gap so you can act before it becomes a line-down.

What this calculator does

Calculate the percentage gap between forecasted appliance board demand, planned supply or capacity, and the forecast reference volume.
a planner or procurement lead needs to compare appliance control board forecast demand with committed supply or capacity
It computes the demand forecast gap as forecasted board demand minus committed supply, divided by a reference demand volume, as a percentage.

Formula used

Board demand minus committed supply = forecasted appliance board demand - committed board supply or capacity
Demand forecast gap = board demand minus committed supply ÷ reference demand volume × 100

Inputs explained

Forecasted appliance board demand:
Committed board supply or capacity:
Reference demand volume:

How to use the result

Use it in S&OP and capacity reviews to flag when committed board supply or line capacity will not meet the demand forecast.
It is a single-period snapshot against one reference volume; it does not account for safety stock, lead-time staging, or in-transit inventory, which can offset a paper gap.

Current U.S. benchmarks

The producer price index for copper and brass mill shapes stands at 559.593 (BLS, May 2026), up 76.8% from a year earlier. Quotes priced off last quarter's material cost miss this move. Global copper trades at $13,484 per tonne (IMF via FRED, May 2026).
Steel mill PPI stands at 348.53 (BLS, May 2026), up 6.7% from a year earlier. New factory orders are up 2.3% year over year (Census).
The U.S. has 11,261 computer and electronic products establishments employing about 815,443 workers (Census County Business Patterns, 2023).

Common questions

How do you calculate a demand forecast gap? Subtract committed supply from forecasted demand, then divide by a reference demand volume and multiply by 100. With 62,000 boards forecast, 57,500 committed, and 62,000 reference, that is 4,500 ÷ 62,000 = 7.26%.
What does a positive gap mean? A positive gap means forecasted demand exceeds committed board supply or capacity — you are short. The 7.26% here says committed supply covers about 93% of forecast, leaving a 4,500-board shortfall to close with overtime, a second line, or expedited components.
What is a good demand forecast gap? Near zero is ideal — supply matched to demand. A small positive gap inside your safety-stock buffer is manageable; a gap above roughly 10% usually forces capacity action or risks missing OEM ship dates.
Why divide by a reference demand volume instead of demand itself? Using a reference (often the forecast or a baseline plan) lets you normalize the gap consistently across periods and products. Here reference equals forecast, so the gap reads as a straight percentage of forecasted demand.
How do I close a 7.26% gap on 62,000 boards? The 4,500-board shortfall can be closed by adding shifts or a second SMT line, expediting the constraining component, or pulling safety stock. Pick the cheapest path that protects the appliance assembly schedule.

Last reviewed 2026-05-12.