Oliver Wight lead sponsors of Australian S&OP Forum 2013

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA, February 16, 2013 (Press-News.org) The originators of Sales and Operations Planning (S&OP), Oliver Wight, are lead sponsors of Akolade's Australian Sales & Operations Planning Forum 2013 - the first event of its kind in the country. Taking place 13th-15th March at the Stamford Plaza in Melbourne, the event covers key industry topics, from S&OP and Globalisation, to Integrated Business Planning, Demand Forecasting and Continuous Improvement.

Attracting top industry leaders in S&OP, supply chain, demand planning, sales, operations and logistics nationwide, the S&OP Forum will provide a crucial insight into S&OP and IBP in the current Australian corporate climate. Global business improvement specialists, Oliver Wight, will be chairing Day One of the event, presenting on the evolution of S&OP to Integrated Business Planning (IBP), and hosting a workshop on implementing an effective IBP and S&OP framework.

"As Australia goes through a period of economic uncertainty and volatility, businesses are starting to realise that they can no longer rely on substandard sales, operations and planning frameworks and processes,' explains Mike Reed, Managing Partner of Oliver Wight Asia Pacific. 'Integrated Business Planning provides a holistic view of the business and has the power to drive superior results in today's environment."

Oliver Wight's workshop on day three of the event 'How to develop and implement an effective IBP/S&OP framework', is designed to provide delegates with a thorough understanding of the roles and function of IBP and S&OP. There will be insight into five critical success factors, and an opportunity to discuss and critique organisation structures, responsibilities and accountabilities that lend themselves to better IBP/S&OP results.

"A strong IBP framework offers organisations a 'window to future', and this event will provide an essential overview for how businesses can achieve this. It's an exciting conference for Australia; managers should leave reinvigorated to implement an effective and streamlined process, equipped with a good insight into how to develop the right culture, processes and tools for successful implementation," concludes Reed.

About Oliver Wight

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.