Category: S&OP

Digital supply chain, S&OP

How to move IBP from a Tedious Process to an Executive Decision Factory

When I was IBP manager at a multi-billion-dollar CPG company about 10 years ago, I remember a marketing director telling me just before the executive IBP meeting; ‘Niels, this feels like going to the dentist every month’. I agreed with him. Back then, preparing for a monthly IBP meeting was a painful, tedious effort, with my full planning team consumed and running overtime to get … Continue reading How to move IBP from a Tedious Process to an Executive Decision Factory

Niels2 Comments
Leadership, Positive mindset, S&OP

Three common weaknesses in supply chain

In a recent Forbes article, three common supply chain weaknesses are highlighted: Being reactive rather than pro-active Lack of visibility Lack of accountability The behavioural weaknesses – lack of pro-activity and accountability should be no surprise to me or the readers of my blog. As the S&OP mindset study I conducted with Supply Chain Movement in 2017/2018 show similar results. We made an S&OP mindset … Continue reading Three common weaknesses in supply chain

Niels2 Comments
Leadership, Positive mindset, S&OP

A Short Guide to Behavioural Coaching in Support of World Class S&OP

To be most effective, S&OP requires a positive, growth-oriented, mentally tough mindset as well as constructive behaviours. It is unlikely that a critical mass of effective behaviours is present in every company that implements S&OP. On top of this, S&OP practitioners indicate that behaviours are not addressed enough in S&OP implementations. There are different behavioural change requirements during S&OP maturity stages. This article suggests three … Continue reading A Short Guide to Behavioural Coaching in Support of World Class S&OP

Niels3 Comments
Leadership, S&OP

Why we Need to Rethink S&OP Vision, Culture, and Language

PREVIEW In their three-part Foresight series entitled “Misconceptions, Missteps, and Bad Practices in S&OP,” (Foresight issues 46, 47, 48) Chris Gray and John Dougherty expose a baker’s dozen of blunders blocking the road to an effective S&OP process.  S&OP Is the New Name for ERP. To Make S&OP Work, We’ll Need New Software. For Our Company, S&OP Is Operations (O) and Inventory without Involving Sales (S)! Make to Stock, … Continue reading Why we Need to Rethink S&OP Vision, Culture, and Language

Niels4 Comments
Leadership, S&OP

S&OP 3.0 – The Future of Planning

Sales and Operation Planning (S&OP) made it’s break through in the 80’s, when Material Requirement Planning (MRP) was the hottest planning methodology around, computer screens had monochrome green letters, our music and dress sense were questionable, and it was common for companies to have a command and control management style. With it roots in the supply chain, this S&OP 1.0 had a strong focus on … Continue reading S&OP 3.0 – The Future of Planning

Niels4 Comments
Leadership, Positive mindset, S&OP

The key elements of an effective S&OP mindset

Most of us like to achieve high performance consistently and at any time. However, often we can be highly effective at one time, and other times we’re very unproductive. Research shows that there are five attributes that either positively or negatively impact our performance variation for a task or a challenge. Abilities: what are the skills and resources I need? Can I apply my strengths … Continue reading The key elements of an effective S&OP mindset

Niels2 Comments
Leadership, S&OP

S&OP mindset shows a lack of pro-activity and long term focus

Some companies run their Sales & Operations Planning (S&OP) with great effectiveness. However, too often S&OP maturity and performance stalls, even when the supporting S&OP processes and systems are properly implemented. S&OP culture and leadership has often been proposed as a mechanism to improve S&OP performance. More specifically, Tuomikangas and Kaipia (2014) suggest that this includes “the organizational mind-set and practices that facilitate and advance … Continue reading S&OP mindset shows a lack of pro-activity and long term focus

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Positive mindset, S&OP

Benchmark your S&OP Mindset

S&OP is an enterprise wide business planning process that can only be effective and sustainable when it is supported by the right mindset and behaviours. Individuals and teams with a superior mindset will increase S&OP effectiveness and are proven to perform better and show increased well-being. You can down load a free S&OP mindset checklist HERE I also would like to ask you a favor … Continue reading Benchmark your S&OP Mindset

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Leadership, Positive mindset, S&OP

Checklist for an S&OP Mindset

For those of you who’ve been following supplychaintrend for a while, you know I’ve written many blogs about how mindset improves S&OP and business performance. And maybe more importantly, it can also improve employee well-being. I’m pleased that in collaboration with the leading European Supply Chain Platform – Supply Chain Movement – I developed a checklist to assess if your organisation has an effective mindset. … Continue reading Checklist for an S&OP Mindset

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Leadership, S&OP

The ‘Why’ in S&OP: or How to Find More Meaning

There is a lot of evidence that S&OP is hard to implement and get right. And when S&OP is implemented it often stalls, doesn’t make enough progress and doesn’t deliver enough value. The reasons are plenty, but one of the core reasons is the lack of senior leadership support. Another reason is that employees just get tired of an overly dogmatic, bureaucratic process and data … Continue reading The ‘Why’ in S&OP: or How to Find More Meaning

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