Case Study: Business Process Management - Applying Best Practices to Sales and Operations Planning

The Sales & Operations Planning function balances supply and demand at the SKU/sub-SKU level to maximize in-stock performance while minimizing inventory levels. Managing this process is not about reporting on actual performance, nor is it about an application that produces a monthly plan. Instead, what is required is an environment that allows planners to continually adjust SKU/sub-SKU demand and production on a forward basis, thus tuning the business to the realities of the marketplace as they unfold. This also provides management a continuous roll-up of the future, enabling them to provide conscious, top-down direction with known tradeoffs.