The Supply Chain Detective™ and the Mystery of the S&OP Phantoms!

The company had no formal S&OP (Sales and Operations Planning), or SIOP (Sales, Inventory and Operations Planning) process. The ability to forecast or track performance was sporadic and haphazard.

The CEO had mandated the implementation of a new S&OP process. An expert in S&OP implementation and operation had been hired to get this process in place.

But month after month the progress in getting a S&OP process in place was reported as either slow or stalled. Yet everyone on the Executive team voiced their support for S&OP. Still nothing happened.

What was really going on? What phantom was getting in the way of forward progress on getting S&OP in place?

This was another case for The Supply Chain Detective™.

Continue reading “The Supply Chain Detective™ and the Mystery of the S&OP Phantoms!”

4 Challenges in Starting and Sustaining a SIOP (S&OP) Business Process!

A Sales, Inventory and Operations Planning (SIOP) business process is an essential element for running a successful business.  SIOP will allow you to improve your forecasting, capacity and resource planning, cash flow, and inventory levels.

Yet there are many challenges with getting a proper, functioning SIOP process in place.  If the benefits are so clear why is it so difficult to get SIOP going and then to sustain it?

Continue reading “4 Challenges in Starting and Sustaining a SIOP (S&OP) Business Process!”