Resources

Short, concrete fact sheets on S&OP, processes and supply chain — designed for SMEs.

• What Is S&OP?

  S&OP (Sales and Operations Planning) aligns demand with business capacity. Definition, the 5-step cycle, and why it matters for an SME.

• Onboarding Process: A Model for SMEs

  A documented onboarding process model for integrating a new employee at an SME: key steps, practical application, and the mistake to avoid.

• Process Improvement: The Method

  A simplified process improvement (BPM) method for SMEs: identify, map, analyze, redesign, and monitor. Steps and the mistake to avoid.

• Supply Chain Consultant: When and Why

  When does it make sense for an SME to bring in a supply chain consultant? The signals, what they actually deliver, and the mistake to avoid before hiring.

• Supply Chain Training In-House

  In-company supply chain training builds your teams' skills on your own processes. Who it's for and how it unfolds.

• Demand Forecasting: The Methods

  Demand forecasting methods explained for an SME: qualitative and quantitative approaches, choosing the right method, and the mistake to avoid.

• Safety Stock: How to Calculate It

  What is safety stock for, and how do you calculate it? The factors that determine it, the logic of the calculation, and the common mistake to avoid in an SME.

• OTIF: Definition and Management

  OTIF (On Time In Full): definition of this service-rate indicator, how to measure and manage it in an SME, and the common misinterpretation.

• Cost-to-Serve

  Cost-to-serve measures what it actually costs to serve a customer or a product. Definition, analysis method, and the mistake to avoid.

• Dual Sourcing: The Strategy

  Dual sourcing secures procurement by relying on two suppliers. Principle, advantages, when to adopt it in an SME, and the mistake to avoid.

• Aggregate planning: the tactical production plan

  Aggregate planning is the tactical layer of planning, between S&OP and the master schedule. Definition, role and why it matters for an SME.

• Reorder point and economic order quantity

  The reorder point tells you when to replenish; the economic order quantity (EOQ, Wilson), how much to order. Logic, method and the mistake to avoid.

• Inventory turnover

  Inventory turnover measures how many times stock renews over a period. How to calculate it, how to interpret it and the mistake to avoid in an SME.

• MRP: the net requirements calculation

  MRP and the net requirements calculation: from gross to net requirements using stock and open orders. Method, role in an SME and the mistake to avoid.

• Supply chain KPIs: building your dashboard

  Which supply chain KPIs should an SME track? The 5 to 7 essential metrics — OTIF, turnover, cost-to-serve — and how to build your dashboard.