Demand planning in supply chain management is the process of forecasting or anticipating customer demand for products and services. It involves analyzing past sales patterns and external data to project future sales and create a comprehensive plan that takes into account customer needs, inventory levels, and production capacity. The goal of demand planning is to ensure that the right product is available in the right quantities at the right time so that customer expectations are met and organizations can maximize their profits. By creating an accurate demand plan, companies can optimize their inventory levels, improve customer service, and reduce costs associated with excess inventory or production shutdowns.