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Business Term

予測精度

Forecast Accuracy / フォーキャスト・アキュラシー

Forecast accuracy measures how close forecasts were to actual results and whether planning assumptions can be trusted.

Formula
Common example: MAPE = average(
Use when
Use Forecast Accuracy to decide setting inventory and staffing levels because it highlights data freshness and the complexity versus reliability tradeoff.
Watch out
Forecast, actual, horizon, error metric, outlier rule
Updated: 2026. 05. 14.Quality: ReviewedSources: 2
What it means

Forecast accuracy quantifies error between forecast and actual values for sales, demand, inventory, hiring, or cash flow. It should be used to improve assumptions, detect bias, and manage uncertainty, not simply to reward lucky guesses.

How to calculate it

Common example: MAPE = average(|actual - forecast| / actual). Some teams report accuracy as 1 - error rate. Formula | Common example: MAPE = average(|actual - forecast| / actual). Some teams report accuracy as 1 - error rate. | Use it as the primary operating calculation Bridge | Prior error + demand volatility - model improvement - data freshness improvement +/- bias correction = current error | Use it to explain changes between reviews Segment | Split by customer, product, channel, and period | Use it to find deterioration hidden by averages

LensFormula / treatmentWhen to use itDetail 1Detail 2
FormulaCommon example: MAPE = average(actual - forecast/ actual). Some teams report accuracy as 1 - error rate.Use it as the primary operating calculation
BridgePrior error + demand volatility - model improvement - data freshness improvement +/- bias correction = current errorUse it to explain changes between reviews
SegmentSplit by customer, product, channel, and periodUse it to find deterioration hidden by averages
What counts / what does not

This metric is comparable only when inclusion and exclusion rules stay stable. Include | Forecast, actual, horizon, error metric, outlier rule | These make comparisons stable Exclude | Forecasts edited after actuals, changed actual definitions, unexplained exclusions | They inflate accuracy Define explicitly | MAPE, MAE, RMSE, weighted error | The right metric depends on use case

ItemTreatmentWhy it matters
IncludeForecast, actual, horizon, error metric, outlier ruleThese make comparisons stable
ExcludeForecasts edited after actuals, changed actual definitions, unexplained exclusionsThey inflate accuracy
Define explicitlyMAPE, MAE, RMSE, weighted errorThe right metric depends on use case
What moves the number

Breaking the metric into drivers clarifies what action should follow the review. Data freshness | Stale data misses change Demand volatility | Turbulence increases error Forecast bias | Systematic optimism or pessimism distorts plans

DriverMetric impact
Data freshnessStale data misses change
Demand volatilityTurbulence increases error
Forecast biasSystematic optimism or pessimism distorts plans
When it helps

Use Forecast Accuracy to decide setting inventory and staffing levels because it highlights data freshness and the complexity versus reliability tradeoff. It changes prioritization by forcing teams to state the horizon, boundary conditions, and controllable drivers. It informs adjustments when model bias or seasonality shift, so decisions stay grounded in current conditions.

  • Use Forecast Accuracy to decide setting inventory and staffing levels because it highlights data freshness and the complexity versus reliability tradeoff.
  • It changes prioritization by forcing teams to state the horizon, boundary conditions, and controllable drivers.
  • It informs adjustments when model bias or seasonality shift, so decisions stay grounded in current conditions.
How to use it
  • Define the unit and horizon before comparing data freshness across options.
  • Keep the primary driver separate from secondary noise and one-off shocks.
  • Document data sources, estimation steps, and confidence ranges for review.
  • Translate the tradeoff into thresholds that can be monitored over time.
  • Revisit assumptions when the market boundary or policy setting changes.
Decision cautions

Do not decide from the number alone; align assumptions, period, segments, and companion metrics. Accuracy alone can hide the range of risk. MAPE can behave badly with small or near-zero actuals. Editing forecasts after results destroys trust.

  • Accuracy alone can hide the range of risk.
  • MAPE can behave badly with small or near-zero actuals.
  • Editing forecasts after results destroys trust.
Read with

Companion metrics turn a good-or-bad reading into a discussion of causes and actions. Sales Pipeline Coverage | Evidence for sales forecasts | Explains accuracy drivers Business Plan | Budget and plan | Feeds error learning into planning Scenario Planning | Range of uncertainty | Complements point forecasts

MetricRoleWhy read together
Sales Pipeline CoverageEvidence for sales forecastsExplains accuracy drivers
Business PlanBudget and planFeeds error learning into planning
Scenario PlanningRange of uncertaintyComplements point forecasts
Example

A quarterly revenue forecast of $10M lands at $9M, a 10% miss. Because forecasts have been optimistic for three quarters, the team revises stage probabilities and separates base, downside, and upside cases. After the review, the owner did not treat the metric in isolation. They compared it with companion metrics, checked segment differences, documented assumption changes, and verified data quality before changing the plan. Whether the number improved or deteriorated, the team identified the driver, assigned an owner, and fed the learning into the next budget, operating review, or experiment cycle.

Compare with

Budget attainment | Actual versus target | Forecast accuracy is actual versus forecast Demand forecast | Estimate of future demand | Accuracy evaluates forecast quality Confidence interval | Uncertainty range | Accuracy evaluates past performance

MetricDifferenceWhy read together
Budget attainmentActual versus targetForecast accuracy is actual versus forecast
Demand forecastEstimate of future demandAccuracy evaluates forecast quality
Confidence intervalUncertainty rangeAccuracy evaluates past performance
Common mistakes
  • Forecast Accuracy is not a universal rule; results depend on boundary assumptions and data quality.
  • A single metric like data freshness is not sufficient without considering model bias and seasonality.
  • Short term movements can mislead when responses happen with lags.
Frequently asked questions
Is MAPE enough?

Not always. It is unstable with small or near-zero actuals, so use MAE or RMSE when appropriate.

Is higher accuracy always better?

Generally yes, but not if it hides risk ranges needed for decisions.

Can outliers be excluded?

Yes with a pre-defined rule. Do not remove inconvenient results after the fact.

Sources
SourcesKindLink
OpenStax: Introductory Business StatisticsTier-S open textbookOpen
Wikipedia: ForecastingSupplemental referenceOpen