Operations
S&OP
S&OP is a recurring alignment process that brings demand, supply, inventory, and financial targets into one plan.
Also known as
Sales and operations planning
Direct answer
What is S&OP?
S&OP is a recurring alignment process that brings demand, supply, inventory, and financial targets into one plan. Without one plan, marketing, purchasing, and finance optimize against each other. A lean S&OP process makes assumptions, constraints, and decisions transparent.
Practical example
A monthly review evaluates campaign uplift, supplier delays, and cash limits together before updating the purchasing plan.
What teams should remember
S&OP is a recurring alignment process that brings demand, supply, inventory, and financial targets into one plan.
Without one plan, marketing, purchasing, and finance optimize against each other. A lean S&OP process makes assumptions, constraints, and decisions transparent.