Fascinators – the ornately compelling “headpieces” that women wear to British nuptials – are fascinating. Whether or not you appreciate these pieces of headgear whimsy, they present a perfect example of the challenges of sales and operations planning (S&OP). 

Challenge: A global food company was experiencing flat revenue and struggling to increase market share with demanding consumer expectations for ingredients and prices. Financial forecast credibility was debated, and plans were not consolidated. With a projected $100-million profit gap, timely accurate data was difficult to receive.