S&OP has enjoyed something of a resurgence in recent years. However, while 85% of respondents to a recent survey by Hughenden Consulting said they were following S&OP with discipline ‘somewhat to completely,’ 40% said they believed a monthly meeting was enough to qualify as S&OP, and 94% were making crucial supply chain decisions outside the process.
The key to good S&OP is leadership. Michael J. Hassenger, S&OP Process Owner at Caterpillar, will be presenting at the S&OP Innovation Summit in Boston this September 22–23. He notes that ‘The most effective S&OP processes are well led. Leaders are engaged, spark and conduct spirited discussions and hold participants accountable for actions.’
He further cites three key areas that companies have to get right, including ensuring that people are clear on their role in the process and that they have adequate training to fulfill their responsibilities. It is also vital that the process be defined enough in terms of cadence, sequence, and deliverables, and that the right technology is in place.
The supply chain is the most expensive and constrained function, yet it is also often the most important to get right. Also speaking at the S&OP Innovation Summit will be more than 25 industry leaders, including the Senior Director of Global Supply Chain at Mondolez, who will present on finding the right supply chain for your innovation, and Gretchen Petersen, Director of Global Demand Planning at Osprey Packs, who will provide a case study for how to implement S&OP from scratch.
The event will also bring together 150 senior level delegates, providing opportunities to develop and nurture ideas around the presentations, and form fruitful connections that should deliver better S&OP moving forward. Amy Hill, curator of the event, notes that, ’S&OP is still proving a challenge for many companies. We’re really excited by the calibre of speakers we have at the event, and hope that this event will enable attendees to better execute the process in the future.’
Early bird prices end on Friday, July 22 and there are now limited passes. For more information on the summit or to secure your exclusive discounted pass, please contact Elliott at ejay(at)theiegroup(dot)com (+44 207 193 1812) or simply register online.
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