Jan Stentoft offers a unique perspective on S&OP. As a professor at the University of Southern Denmark, Jan helps countless businesses to forge more collaborative supply chains. At our recent S&OP Summit in the UK, Jan joined Sam Phipps for a quick interview, sharing key insights on:
The pivotal role S&OP plays in facilitating better cross-functional alignment.
How businesses can accelerate their S&OP adoption by creating top-level buy-in
What roadblocks do business face on their S&OP journey, and how do they overcome them
Hi Jan, why are events like the Slimstock S&OP Summit so important?
Today is a significant event because we are focusing on practical solutions that can help companies become more competitive.
Whatever the size of the business, critical areas of improvement are available. And S&OP can prove to be a decisive factor delivering these performance improvements.
What have been your key takeaways from today’s event?
One key takeaway from listening to the audience during my presentation is that they can see how internal integration is essential to running a successful S&OP.
Any new project must be anchored by top management support while also engaging different functions.
How can a well-established S&OP process contribute to enhancing cross-functional alignment?
The more mature the S&OP process is, the better positioned you are to explore business challenges, including:
Late deliveries.
Too much capacity.
Too much inventory.
Too much obsolescence.
The list could go on…
Your business can be far more aligned by discussing all those crucial figures simply because you have a process that facilitates healthy discussion.
What would be your biggest piece of advice to a business just getting started with S&OP to ensure a fast adoption?
First, I would ensure top management’s buy-in. Then, I would complete an exercise to map the way they’re doing business today. This can be achieved with a simple tool called a ‘brown paper exercise’. This exercise involves people across your business functions so you can see how you really do business today.
What would you say is the biggest roadblock that businesses face on their journey to S&OP?
Lack of stakeholder management. Every area of the business must appreciate the goal and the process. Typically, it’s the operations teams that really love S&OP, and it can be more difficult to onboard Sales, but it’s something you shouldn’t shy away from.
You should actively engage with Sales and begin treating them as important stakeholders. This will make your S&OP process up and running far more smoothly.
One final question: What one piece of advice would you give to your supply chain peers?
My advice would be to go back to their companies and speak out. Talk about S&OP and the benefits it can have. Put it on your agenda.
I hope they feel comfortable enough to share this knowledge because it can help so many businesses. It’s so crucial because S&OP can help you achieve sustainable competitive advantages in so many ways.
A huge thank you to Jan Stentoft for taking a few moments out of his busy schedule, and if you’d like to know more about how S&OP could create a sustainable competitive advantage for your business, get in touch here.
FAQs
How does S&OP contribute to improving overall business competitiveness?
S&OP facilitates better decision-making by providing insights and facilitating discussion in key areas such as demand forecasting, inventory management, and production planning. This ultimately leads to improved efficiency and customer satisfaction.
What role does technology play in supporting S&OP processes?
Technology plays a crucial role in supporting S&OP processes by providing tools for data analysis, demand forecasting, scenario planning, and performance monitoring. Advanced software solutions enable businesses to streamline their S&OP workflows and make more informed decisions.
What makes a successful S&OP?
A successful S&OP relies on robust cross-functional collaboration, strong top management support, accurate data analysis, and agile decision-making processes.
Who should ultimately lead your S&OP initiative?
Top management should ultimately drive your S&OP process. Key stakeholders from various departments, such as sales, operations, finance, and supply chain, must also be involved to ensure comprehensive alignment and decision-making.
Why are events like the Slimstock S&OP Summit important?
These events focus on practical solutions to enhance competitiveness. S&OP is highlighted as a crucial factor for performance improvement, offering valuable insights for businesses of all sizes.
