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Supply Chain Planning S&OP
‘4Supplychain helps you plan with confidence and precision’
Supply chain planning processes play a key role to achieve maximum service level, efficiency and reduced cost. For our manufacturing clients, we therefore improve the Sales & Operations Planning (S&OP) process and often develop it further into Integrated Business Planning (IBP). S&OP topics include demand planning (forecasting), supply (production) planning, executive S&OP and the S&OP planning cycle. For retail clients, we improve on-shelf availability by optimizing store- and DC replenishment. In addition to the more regular S&OP processes, we optimize specific topics such as Trade Promotions (TPM) and Product Life Cycle Management.
Supply chain planning
Supply chain planning is essential in any supply chain to increase customer satisfaction, optimize resource utilization and reduce costs. By accurately forecasting demand and adjusting production, inventory and purchasing accordingly, risks can be controlled and cooperation between partners can improve. It also offers flexibility in the event of changes and contributes to sustainability goals through more efficient use of, for example, transport and consumption of raw materials. For our production clients (food, pharma, agri, etc.) we improve Sales & Operations Planning (S&OP) or Integrated Business Planning (IBP). S&OP topics include demand planning (forecasting), supply (production) planning, executive S&OP and the planning cycle. For retail clients, we improve in-store availability by optimizing store and DC replenishment. In addition to the more regular S&OP processes, we optimize specific topics such as Trade Promotions Management (TPM) and Product Life Cycle Management (PLC). The underlying KPIs we set up are forecast accuracy and forecast bias for demand, On Time In Full (OTIF) for service level and days inventory on-hand (DIO) for inventory.

S&OP
Sales & Operations Planning (S&OP) is a broad business process by which the management team continually establishes focus and alignment among all functions of the organization (sales, finance, manufacturing, purchasing, supply chain, etc.). S&OP is the achievement of agreement between functional areas to achieve the best possible balance between supply and demand and to meet profitability goals. S&OP ensures that strategy is translated into daily activities and that daily activities are prepared to execute what is to come.
How we help our clients:
- Designing, describing and establishing a suitable S&OP process when it is new to the organization and supporting its implementation
- Improve specific S&OP areas, such as demand planning, supply planning, inventory management, promotions, material planning, etc.
- Selecting the most appropriate software when relevant (drafting requirements, long list, demos, guiding choice)
- Implementing and optimizing the use of software (think SAP IBP, Anaplan, Altas John Galt, o9, Netstock, Slimstock and others)
- Interim positions such as planning manager, supply chain manager, demand planner, supply planner and production planner. Please also see our interim page for these.
Retail store and DC supply
Planning processes within retail companies operate differently than in a manufacturing environment. The emphasis is on detailed planning to achieve the right availability in the store. We help our retail customers improve the planning of the chain, for example by working on store replenishment parameters, optimization of the supply of the distribution center and the upstream chain. Here, too, we guide the selection and implementation of appropriate software.
How we help our clients:
- Designing, describing and establishing suitable DC- and store replenishment processes when new to the organization and supporting implementation
- Improve specific planning areas such as forecasting, inventory optimization, vendor terms and promotions, etc.
- Selecting the most appropriate software when relevant (drafting requirements, long list, demos, guiding choice)
- Implementing and optimizing the use of the software
- Interim positions such as planning manager, supply chain manager or planner. Please also see our interim page for these.
S&OP maturity scan
• Demand & Supply plan
• Meeting structure and collaboration
• Organization and people
• Software landscape
• KPI's
S&OP implementation
S&OP software selection and implementation
A good talk about supply chain planning?
We’d like to get in touch to provide you with the right information.