Applying Expert Systems Technology to the Implementation of a Forecasting Model in Foodservice

The objective of the study was to develop a naive expert system model to replicate the forecast process made by the forecast knowledge expert in a foodservice operation. An expert system for forecasting menu items was developed. The expert system then was tested by the forecast knowledge expert, researcher, and other users to evaluate its user-friendliness and accuracy. Error was computed using Mean Absolute Deviation (MAD) and Mean Squared Error (MSE); MAD was reduced from 21.60 to 0.27, and MSE was reduced from 717.86 to 1.07. Percentage of acceptability was 81%. Results of this study indicated that expert systems can be used in the foodservice industry to assist both experts and nonexperts in the forecast process.