Increased visibility by robust planning process at food producer

At a glance

To support the growth strategy of a European food manufacturer, Lanark set up a robust planning process, including sales & operations planning (S&OP), and facilitated the implementation of a forecast and planning software.

The challenge?

This European food manufacturer reviewed its corporate strategy to drive growth. However, the company lacked planning visibility and readiness to support this strategy. As such, they needed to streamline and energise the planning process.

Lanark’s solution

To get a solid planning process, Lanark first developed the role of a demand planner. For a period, the Lanark experts took up this role operationally, before handing it over to the food manufacturer.

As part of this structured planning approach, a forecast and planning software was selected and implemented. Lanark played a crucial role in liaising the business and technical teams, establishing trust, open communication and better collaboration.

Lanark developed and implemented a structured S&OP cycle to improve alignment between demand, supply, and financial planning. The new process provides a clear monthly rhythm with defined responsibilities across all departments, enabling proactive and data-driven decision-making. To ensure consistency and clarity, Lanark also shaped ID cards for all S&OP meetings, defining the agenda, KPIs, inputs, outputs, and RACI.