Running an Effective S&OP Process
What a working sales and operations planning cycle actually looks like month to month.
By SupplyChain.management · Last updated
Definition
S&OP is a monthly decision cycle that aligns demand, supply, inventory and financial plans.
Why it matters
Without a decision forum, planning conflicts get resolved informally and inconsistently.
How to interpret it
Judge the process by decisions made, not by meetings held.
How to improve it
Publish a fixed calendar, bring one agreed demand number, and close each cycle with owned actions.
Common mistakes
Turning S&OP into a reporting review with no decisions.