--- title: What has S&OP ever done for us? A great deal actually ... description: Can Integrated Supply Chain Planning replace an S&OP process? S&OP is very important. The CEO role is critical. image: https://supplychain.enchange.com/hs-fs/file-15779791-jpg/blog_images/1195237_old_letters-resized-600.jpg --- [Login](https://www.enchange.com/login/) - - - - [![Enchange](https://supplychain.enchange.com/hubfs/Enchange_October2019/Image/logo.png)](https://www.enchange.com/) # Route to Market & Supply Chain Blog # What has S&OP ever done for us? A great deal actually ... Posted by Michael Thompson on Fri, Dec 17, 2010 - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) ![Is S&OP really necesarry?](https://supplychain.enchange.com/hs-fs/file-15779791-jpg/blog_images/1195237_old_letters-resized-600.jpg?width=181&height=116&name=1195237_old_letters-resized-600.jpg)From [Monty Python to S&OP](https://supplychain.enchange.com/bid/33123/What-has-S-OP-ever-done-for-us) via [integrated supply chain planning](https://supplychain.enchange.com/bid/33453/The-Role-of-Integrated-Supply-Chain-Planning) to [forecasting and related issues](https://supplychain.enchange.com/bid/33453/The-Role-of-Integrated-Supply-Chain-Planning), and a conclusion shared by our two protagonists that S&OP is not really necessary, we received the following in our mailbag ... Dear Mike, I have been following your blog series [“What has S&OP ever done for us”](https://supplychain.enchange.com/bid/33123/What-has-S-OP-ever-done-for-us) and the debate between your CEO Reginald and Head of Supply Chain Development, Jacek. How can this be a debate when both parties share the same view, albeit for entirely different reasons?  Furthermore I suspect that Reginald & Jacek do not share a common view of what S&OP actually is. I am a CEO who has implemented S&OP in several of the companies in which I have led.  S&OP works.  And it works well if, and only if, the boss drives it and is seen to drive it.  So to answer the question you have posed – What has S&OP ever done for us?  A great deal for the companies I have run. I accept some of the technical arguments that Jacek is using.  However, he also describes ‘supply chain life’ somewhat from an idealistic point of view. I am afraid that your blogs are in danger of dismissing S&OP as aged and irrelevant. It is not.  I wonder if you would allow me to share my views and join your debate. Yours sincerely Anne CEO (Brewing Multinational, name withheld by request) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Dear Anne Many thanks for your letter. I agree with you.  Although Jacek makes a strong case, my experience of 100’s of S&OP implementations is that S&OP can have a dramatic impact on supply chain and overall company operations. You are most welcomed to join our next debate in the series. Yours sincerely Mike (Moderator) #### Does anyone else wish to contribute?  Please do share your thoughts & experiences regarding S&OP and Integrated Supply Chain Planning. #### More to come ....   ## In this series: 1. [What has S&OP ever done for us?](https://supplychain.enchange.com/bid/33123/What-has-S-OP-ever-done-for-us) 2. [Is S&OP Really Necessary? Integrated Supply Chain Planning](https://supplychain.enchange.com/bid/33409/Is-S-OP-Really-Necessary-Integrated-Supply-Chain-Planning) 3. [The Role of Integrated Supply Chain Planning](https://supplychain.enchange.com/bid/33453/The-Role-of-Integrated-Supply-Chain-Planning) 4. [Is S&OP Really Necessary? Forecasting & Supply Chain Responsiveness](https://supplychain.enchange.com/bid/33656/Is-S-OP-Really-Necessary-Forecasting-Supply-Chain-Responsiveness) 5. [To S&OP or not to S&OP - That is the question](https://supplychain.enchange.com/bid/34101/To-S-OP-or-not-to-S-OP-That-is-the-question) 6. [What has S&OP ever done for us? 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