Three broad categories of supply chain planning are:

Three broad categories of supply chain planning are:

• A. Long range, mid-range, near-term
• B. Macro planning, meso planning, micro planning
• C. Strategic, tactical, operational
• D. Long range, intermediate range, and short range

Answer: (D)

In supply chain planning, the main idea is to organize decisions by how far into the future they affect. The three broad categories are defined by horizon: long-range planning looks far ahead and drives network and capacity decisions; intermediate-range planning covers aggregate decisions like production levels, inventory targets, and workforce levels over months to a couple of years; short-range planning handles the day-to-day scheduling and execution within weeks or days. This horizon-based structure helps ensure consistency across time scales, so detailed short-term plans align with longer-term capacity and network choices. The other classifications describe different concepts: some refer to levels of decision-making (strategic, tactical, operational) rather than time horizons; others use macro/meso/micro or near-term terminology, which are less standard for the broad planning categories by time frame. The horizon-based grouping long-range, intermediate-range, and short-range best captures the three layers of planning across time.

In supply chain planning, the main idea is to organize decisions by how far into the future they affect. The three broad categories are defined by horizon: long-range planning looks far ahead and drives network and capacity decisions; intermediate-range planning covers aggregate decisions like production levels, inventory targets, and workforce levels over months to a couple of years; short-range planning handles the day-to-day scheduling and execution within weeks or days. This horizon-based structure helps ensure consistency across time scales, so detailed short-term plans align with longer-term capacity and network choices.

The other classifications describe different concepts: some refer to levels of decision-making (strategic, tactical, operational) rather than time horizons; others use macro/meso/micro or near-term terminology, which are less standard for the broad planning categories by time frame. The horizon-based grouping long-range, intermediate-range, and short-range best captures the three layers of planning across time.