Method for implementation of sales and operations planning (S&OP) applied in automotive industry company

Abstract

The S&OP (Sales and Operation Planning) is a structured process of sales and operations planning that guides decisions toward production needs. This is a collaborative process, which aims to align various sectors involved in demand management, with the main part of the same support from senior management. The objective of this research is to propose a methodology for S&OP’s implementation, including mapping the process and the sequence of activities required, and demonstrates it by applying this implementation methodology in an automotive company. The proposed method was effective, since the S&OP’s process has run the company without unforeseen and delays, and even brought the standardization of demand management leading to periodic review of the amount of products to be manufactured. Other gains were obtained with the exchange of information that the S&OP’s meetings promoted, and the alignment between the various departments involved with this process.