FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. - The Center for Management and Executive Development at the Sam M. Walton College of Business, University of Arkansas, has announced a series of seminars focused on forecasting and replenishing.

The Center is offering the following seminars:

· Forecasting for Consumer and Grocery Products in the Retail Supply Chain
August 11-12, 2004 or October 20-21, 2004
8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

University of Arkansas
· Replenishment of Consumer and Grocery Products in the Retail Supply Chain
September 8-9, 2004 or November 10-11, 2004
8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

University of Arkansas
· Strategic Retail Order Forecasting and Replenishment
August 25, 2004 or November 18, 2004
8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Embassy Suites, Rogers, Ark.
Matthew Waller, an associate professor of logistics in the Walton College, and Don Bechtel, retired Procter & Gamble logistics and supply chain manager, teach the courses. Waller, an expert in retail supply chain management, designed the courses to provide both strategic and tactical insights into specific areas of replenishment and forecasting. The courses focus on real-world business processes and strategies for improving performance.

The seminars are targeted toward analysts, replenishment analysts, category management analysts, logistics supply chain managers and consumer products executives in the areas of sales, supply chain management and account team leadership.

Waller teaches supply chain management in the Walton College of Business. He received a B.S., Summa Cum Laude, from the University of Missouri and a M.S. and Ph.D. from The Pennsylvania State University. Waller is an expert in consumer products and retail supply chain management. He is often involved in projects to improve supply chain management processes at leading consumer products companies. His research has been published over the past 12 years in 10 different academic journals. His research has focused on replenishment, forecasting, supply chain design and logistics decision making.

Bechtel recently retired from the Procter & Gamble Co. (P&G) after a 33-year career, primarily in supply chain and logistics roles. He helped pioneer P&Gís multi-functional team based customer business development organization in the late 1980s. At the time of his retirement, he was the director of customer service and logistics for the Wal-Mart customer team where he had global responsibility for the companyís customer service and logistics results at Wal-Mart in the 10 countries where Wal-Mart has operations. During his assignment in Northwest Arkansas, Bechtel also served as team leader for P&Gís Supercenter team.

For more information on these seminars, please contact the Center for Management and Executive Development at (479)575-3933, or visit their Website at http://cmed.uark.edu.