Oliver Wight Reveal Five Simple Questions to Maximise the Benefits of Integrated Business Planning (advanced S&OP)

VICTORIA, AUSTRALIA, May 23, 2012 (Press-News.org) Business improvement specialists Oliver Wight, have published a white paper revealing how organisations with a Sales and Operations Planning (S&OP) or Integrated Business Planning (IBP) process can make the most of their monthly review meetings - to ensure the key issues facing the business are addressed in a standardised way, plans are validated and the required decisions made.

S&OP, originated by Oliver Wight in the early 1980s, has become the business management process of choice for thousands of organisations across the world. This white paper, 'Five Simple Questions - How to get the best from your S&OP or IBP process', unveils the questions which will push the S&OP process to become more than just 'forecasting' and help it mature into the series of valuable business meetings required for IBP.

Mike Reed, Oliver Wight Partner and author of the white paper, explains how "many organisations have adopted the language of S&OP but not always the fundamental practices to make it successful, and consequently are not experiencing the true benefits it can bring. The Five Question concept gives businesses a simple way of structuring information and discussion at each of the IBP review meetings to optimise their effectiveness as well as accelerate the benefits of the IBP process as a whole."

The following questions outlined by the white paper are simple 'must-haves' to be considered by all participants and answered at the end of each IBP review meeting - product management, demand, supply, integrated reconciliation and the management business review - in order for plans to be 'signed off':

1. How are we performing now?
2. Is the plan valid?
3. Is the plan sufficient?
4. What if?
5. What is needed to deliver the plan that is not already in place?

"These fundamental questions will help any business keen to evolve its S&OP process; fuel its financial and strategic objectives; and help it adopt IBP as the fully integrated management and supply chain collaboration process it is today," concludes Reed.

Oliver Wight has a 40 year track record of delivering business improvement to some of the world's best-known organisations. With a team of professionals offering a wealth of experience, Oliver Wight is the largest consultancy of its type, with offices throughout Europe, South Africa, North and South America, and the Asia Pacific region. We believe that sustainable business improvement can't be delivered by external consultants but only by our clients' own people, so unlike other consultancy firms, we transfer our knowledge to them, helping deliver performance levels and financial results that last.

Integrated Business Planning
At the leading edge of management thinking and practice, our Integrated Business Planning (IBP) model lies at the heart of our clients' journey to outstanding business performance. Oliver Wight are the originators of sales and operations planning (S&OP) and IBP can most simply be described as advanced S&OP. However, unlike S&OP, IBP brings a truly strategic perspective, integrating diverse processes - in the extended supply chain, product and customer portfolios, customer demand and strategic planning - into one seamless management process.

Supply Chain Optimisation
In an uncertain business climate, volatile demand and unpredictability can expose weaknesses in supply chain performance. Supply Chain Optimisation helps companies improve sub-standard systems and processes, delivering a significant return to the bottom line.

Meeting the Class A Standard
The Oliver Wight Class A Checklist is the longest standing and most successful business assessment tool. The latest, Sixth Edition, raises the bar, and sets ever more demanding standards for companies on their journey to business excellence and the Oliver Wight Class A standard.