Sales & Operations Planning

The Path Forward for Agility

March 7, 2018

Sales and operations planning. So important, yet success is so elusive. While many companies approach S&OP as a technology implementation, success requires a focus on 60 percent culture, 30 percent process and 10 percent technology. Companies cannot get to success without technology, but it cannot be the primary focus. A successful implementation can improve agility by 25 percent to 35 percent. -Lora Cecere, Founder, Supply Chain Insights

Bit by Bit, Whole Foods Gets an Amazon Touch

March 7, 2018

The New York Times

Some signs are subtle, like the “Whole Foods + Amazon” one near the bananas. Others are more obvious, like the kiosk with Amazon devices for sale.

Retailers Use Gun Controls to Make Policy Statement and Manage Image, Experts Say

March 5, 2018

Los Angeles Times

Three major U.S. retailers voluntarily restricted gun sales to make a policy statement and manage their image with consumers in the aftermath of the Florida school massacre, marketing experts said Thursday.

Kohl’s Has a New Plan to Get You Into Its Stores: Groceries

March 5, 2018

The Washington Post

Less is more, Kohl’s executives are finding, as the department-store chain continues to shrink its locations and whittle down the items in its stores.

Coping With Complexity in Life Sciences Supply Chains

February 23, 2018

SupplyChainBrain

Designing, developing and deploying a global supply chain solution in the life sciences industry is easier said than done.

Schneider Electric: A Veteran Company at Technology's Cutting Edge

February 20, 2018

SupplyChainBrain

Artificial intelligence and machine learning: When it comes to supply chain processes, there's hype — and there's reality.

How Merck Is Building an End-to-End Supply Chain

February 14, 2018

SupplyChainBrain

There's no question pharmaceutical supply chains are complicated. Add industry and government regulations — topped with geographical complexities — and it's become more challenging than ever for multinational companies to get beyond node-to-node planning.

China Wants to Enter the U.S. Car Market, but a Rough Road Lies Ahead

February 12, 2018

Los Angeles Times

Germany was first. It shipped the Volkswagen Beetle to the United States in 1949. It got off to a slow start only to be embraced by an enthusiastic American public.

Practical Tips to Improve Demand Planning

February 9, 2018

Logility

Come for the Food, Stay to Buy Clothes? To Attract Shoppers, More Retailers Add Restaurants to Their Stores

February 9, 2018

Los Angeles Times

Retailer Mark Werts was dining in a Hong Kong restaurant a few years ago when he noticed most people were doing more than chewing.

Sales & Operations Planning

The latest news, analysis, trends and solutions regarding sales and operations planning (S&OP) and its impact on supply chain management. New technologies in S&OP are transforming the way companies do business - and allowing them to stay ahead of the competition in their industries. As these solutions continue to evolve, businesses are discovering new ways to increase efficiency and cut costs. Learn how companies around the world are using S&OP solutions for supply chain optimization.