S&OP (Sales & Operating Plan) is a rigorous and regular process that aligns the company’s forecasting, sales, production, inventory, customer service and product development processes and resources. It is a critical element for the entire supply chain in which R&G implements a regular process that involves and aligns the highest level of management of the company / business unit focusing as one team on a common view of the future needs and operating plans.
The daily/weekly planning around individual SKUs is something that is already established and happens on an operational level with a monthly review of targets with sales and customer service. This can always be improved, but it clearly works. The bigger need is for a longer-term planning on product portfolios, volume growth, capacity planning and anticipated changes in customer requirements. These are subjects for which there is often no quick fix. It is S&OP at a different level with a different timeframe. Cross-functional cooperation and combined planning sessions can have huge benefits in being better prepared for what we know is coming.