Prompt Engineering Tips

Learn how to craft effective prompts to get better, more useful responses from Supply Chain Brutus and other AI tools

The Golden Formula for Great Prompts

Context + Task + Format + Examples = Better Results

Use this formula as your foundation for creating effective prompts

Fundamental Principles

Be Specific and Clear

Vague questions get vague answers. The more specific you are, the more useful the response will be.

❌ Weak Prompt

"Help me with supply chain stuff"

✅ Strong Prompt

"Explain the difference between push and pull supply chain strategies, and provide a real-world example of each in the retail industry."

Provide Context

Give Brutus background information about your situation, course level, and specific needs.

✅ Good Context

"I'm a junior studying supply chain management. I'm working on an assignment about inventory optimization for a case study involving a pharmaceutical company. Can you explain the EOQ model and how it might apply in this context?"

Ask for Examples

Request real-world examples, case studies, or step-by-step demonstrations to better understand concepts.

✅ Requesting Examples

"Explain network optimization in supply chains and provide a specific example of how Amazon might use this approach in their fulfillment strategy."

Specify Output Format

Tell Brutus how you want the information presented - as a list, explanation, comparison, or step-by-step guide.

✅ Format Specification

"Create a comparison table showing the advantages and disadvantages of JIT vs. traditional inventory management, with 3-4 points for each category."

Supply Chain Specific Prompting

These techniques are particularly effective for supply chain analytics and management topics:

Use Industry Terminology

Include relevant supply chain terms to get more precise and technical responses.

✅ Industry-Specific

"Analyze the bullwhip effect in a three-tier supply chain (manufacturer, distributor, retailer) and explain how information sharing can mitigate demand amplification."

Request Data Analysis Help

Ask Brutus to help interpret data, suggest analytical approaches, or explain statistical concepts.

✅ Data Analysis Request

"I have monthly demand data showing high variability (CV = 0.8). What forecasting methods would be most appropriate, and how should this variability influence my safety stock calculations?"

Ask for Problem-Solving Steps

Request structured approaches to complex supply chain optimization problems.

✅ Step-by-Step Request

"Walk me through the steps to solve a facility location problem using the center-of-gravity method. Include the mathematical formulation and explain when this method is most appropriate."

Connect Theory to Practice

Ask how theoretical concepts apply to real business situations.

✅ Theory-Practice Connection

"How do companies like Zara implement lean principles in fast fashion? Connect this to the theoretical concepts of waste elimination and continuous improvement."

Advanced Prompting Techniques

Chain of Thought

Ask Brutus to show its reasoning step-by-step for complex problems.

"Think through this step-by-step: How would you design a distribution network for a new e-commerce company selling furniture nationwide?"

Role Playing

Ask Brutus to take on specific roles or perspectives.

"Act as a supply chain consultant. What recommendations would you give to a company experiencing frequent stockouts?"

Comparative Analysis

Request comparisons between different approaches or solutions.

"Compare and contrast centralized vs. decentralized inventory management for a multinational corporation."

Scenario Planning

Explore different "what-if" scenarios for decision making.

"What would happen to supply chain costs if fuel prices increased by 40%? Analyze both short-term and long-term impacts."

Error Analysis

Ask Brutus to identify potential problems or risks.

"What are the main risks of implementing a vendor-managed inventory system, and how can they be mitigated?"

Learning Check

Test your understanding by asking for quiz questions or explanations.

"Create 3 multiple-choice questions about transportation modes that would test understanding of cost vs. speed trade-offs."

Iterative Prompting Strategy

Don't expect perfect answers on the first try. Use follow-up prompts to refine and improve responses:

Start Broad, Then Narrow

Begin with general questions, then ask for more specific details on interesting points.

Example Sequence

1. "Explain supply chain sustainability practices" 2. "Tell me more about carbon footprint measurement in logistics" 3. "How specifically do companies calculate Scope 3 emissions for transportation?"

Ask for Clarification

If something isn't clear, ask Brutus to explain it differently or provide more detail.

✅ Clarification Request

"Your explanation of the newsvendor model was helpful, but can you explain the overage and underage costs in simpler terms with a concrete example?"

Build on Previous Answers

Reference earlier responses to build more complex understanding.

✅ Building Context

"Based on your previous explanation of ABC analysis, how would this inventory classification method work for a hospital managing medical supplies?"

Request Alternative Approaches

Ask for different perspectives or methods for the same problem.

✅ Alternative Approaches

"You explained linear programming for this optimization problem. Are there other methods that might be more appropriate for a small company with limited data?"

Common Prompting Mistakes to Avoid

Being Too Vague

❌ Too Vague

"Help with my project"

✅ Specific

"Help me understand how to calculate reorder points for a product with variable demand and lead time"

Asking Multiple Questions at Once

❌ Multiple Questions

"What is lean manufacturing and how does it relate to Six Sigma and what companies use these methods and what are the benefits?"

✅ Focused

"Explain the core principles of lean manufacturing and provide one example of successful implementation"

Assuming Prior Knowledge

❌ Assuming Context

"How do I improve the current situation?"

✅ Providing Context

"Our company is experiencing 15% stockouts on fast-moving consumer goods. How can we improve our demand forecasting accuracy?"

Not Specifying Depth Level

✅ Specify Depth

"Provide a beginner-level explanation of supply chain risk management suitable for someone with no prior business experience"

🚀 Quick Reference: Prompt Starters for Supply Chain Topics

Explanation "Explain how..." "What is the difference between..." "Define... and provide examples"
Analysis "Analyze the impact of..." "What factors influence..." "How would you evaluate..."
Problem Solving "How would you solve..." "What steps should I take to..." "What approach would you recommend..."
Comparison "Compare and contrast..." "What are the pros and cons of..." "Which method is better for..."
Application "How does this apply to..." "Give me a real-world example of..." "How would [company] implement..."
Learning "Help me understand..." "Walk me through..." "Break down the process of..."