Sales and operations planning is the cornerstone of being demand-driven and a foundational process to propel growth strategies. As companies drive growth-growth in the innovation of new products, growth through expansion into new geographies, and growth in core markets-they must align functions through S&OP.
The S&OP process should be complemented by a strong root cause analysis and execution framework that ensures that the S&OP plan is continuously tracked with respect to the financial goals set forth by the company. In other words, the S&OP lifecycle should precede the financial reporting lifecycle of a company and should be in lock-step.
To make multi-echelon inventory optimization more impactful, it must take a more holistic approach that accounts for the implications of inventory decisions on total supply chain costs, for organizational realities and weaknesses in supporting functional areas.
Supply chain executives in the process industry sector are primarily concerned with being able to drive volumes in accordance with previously established plans, as well as with maximizing utilization of assets. Asset-intensive manufacturing operations are a key common theme across process industries.
Staying afloat during times of economic challenge may require companies to rethink the way they have traditionally conducted their businesses. Finding ways to standardize and streamline processes may be essential to reducing costs within the demand/supply chain planning functions.
If history is our guide, sales of food and beverage products will rise in the economic downturn. Food staples (cereal, bread, milk) along with convenience meals will gain volume as more families eat at home. It appears that 2009 is a time for food and beverage manufacturers to create big brands in big economies.
The elongation of the supply chain on both ends of the spectrum has resulted in a phenomenon where companies are able to compete at a global level for customers. Companies that were previously handicapped by lack of channel partners, high levels of investment in advertising and marketing are able to leverage the internet and compete with their larger competitors. In other words, globalization has resulted in increased customer centricity.
Aberdeen's research shows point-of-sale transaction data from retail locations is still a hurdle for 66 percent of manufacturers. The low levels of transaction data sharing cause increased complexities in tracking promotion effectiveness at the store or field level.
Aerospace and defense companies face an uncertain world in 2009 with a new presidential administration and a looming financial crisis. Supply chain professionals have a unique opportunity to deliver value to the business by bringing scale through an innovative and reliable partner network. Leaders will put the talent in place that can move beyond the traditional reactionary supply chain organization to one that helps achieve the goals of the business.
The latest news, analysis, trends and solutions regarding forecasting and demand planning and its impact on supply chain management. New technologies in predictive analytics and forecasting and demand planning are transforming the way companies are operating and performing ahead of competition in their industries. As these solutions continue to evolve, businesses are discovering new ways to increase efficiency and cut costs. Learn how companies around the world are using forecasting and demand planning solutions for supply chain optimization.
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