&nbsp;Forecasting in which a prespecified set of instructions is used in forecasting individual time series that are part of a larger group of time series.&nbsp; The forecasting method may be predesignated by the user or may rely on automatic forecasting.&nbsp; If the group has a hierarchical structure (see <a href="search.pl?p=product hierarchy">product hierarchy</a>), the batch-processing program may allow reconciliation of item and group-level forecasts. For details and relevant software programs, see <A HREF="../dictionary/references.html#Tashman">Tashman</a> and <A HREF="../dictionary/references.html#Hoover">Hoover</a> (2001). <o:p></o:p></P>