Weighted lead forecasting optimizes the forecasting parameters to minimize the average error measure between the historical data and the fit values, offset by 0, 1, 2, and so on, up to the specified number of periods (weighted lead). It uses the simple lead technique for several lead periods and then averages the forecast over the periods, optimizing this average value. Use this technique when the future forecast for several periods is most important. For example, weighted lead forecasting can be used if your company must order extremely expensive manufacturing components zero, one, and two months in advance, making any forecast for all the time periods up to two months out the most important.