A company's approach to strategic supply-chain planning might not be as innovative as it thinks. Shekar Natarajan, director of supply chain at Pepsi, shows how to make sure that you're considering all the angles.

To keep pace with changing consumer demand, companies are embracing strategies that require a much broader set of skills on the distribution end, says Dave Kilzer, principal of Consultleague.

A sales and operations planning approach can yield big benefits to the organization, says Karen LaBombarda, principal at TMG Associates. But first, companies must overcome people's natural resistance to change.

Sales and operations planning systems, coupled with good business processes, can help companies to achieve a common internal "language" when tackling issues of supply, demand and customer service, says Oracle Corp.'s Guy Yehiav.