Planbestand

Planbestand is a planning concept used in logistics, production planning and inventory control to denote the planned level of stock that a company aims to hold to meet forecasted demand. It serves as a target for procurement and production decisions and helps coordinate replenishment activities over a defined planning horizon. The plan is derived from forecast data, service level targets, lead times and the expected buffer required to prevent stockouts.

In practice, Planbestand is used alongside Istbestand (actual stock) and Sollbestand (target stock level) within planning systems such as ERP and MRP. Planners compare Istbestand with Planbestand to determine whether replenishment orders or production runs are needed. If the actual stock is below the plan, replenishment is triggered; if it is above, adjustments or slow-moving inventory reviews may be warranted. The plan is not static; it is regularly updated as forecasts, lead times and market conditions evolve.

Calculation and application: Planbestand reflects the stock required to cover forecasted consumption during the replenishment lead time, plus safety stock and any other buffers for supply risk or seasonality. It may be adjusted for promotions, obsolescence, and changes in demand. The concept is widely used in manufacturing, wholesale and retail to balance service levels with carrying costs and to align purchasing and production schedules with expected demand.

Limitations: Planbestand depends on forecast quality and timely data. Inaccurate forecasts or delayed updates can lead to suboptimal inventory levels, requiring frequent review and iteration.