Chasing Air Miles
I have travelled widely over the years and tried to add one new country each year until I stumbled at just under 50 locations. Many were holidays but the majority were business travels with few opportunities available to actually explore the places. “Oh, you must be so lucky to travel so much” said so many people, but no, it really is not fun these days but I do recall some notable flights.!
During the hundreds of flights taken I have seen some very unusual things aboard aircraft. On one internal flight in the Middle East, the passenger in the Business Class seat next to me was a hooded falcon. Taking a flight out of Kuala Lumpur I soon realised I was the only person on the passenger list which is a rather spooky situation when you are in a near deserted Boeing 747 – service was brilliant! However, my most frightening experience was seeing man carry a blister pack of craft knives on board a flight out of Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. How did that happen post 9/11?
Smells Fishy
More recently, I scanned surrounding passengers in that dull period on a lengthy flight after the inedible food had been consumed and before the hopeful sale of duty free items. After a double-take I realised a nearby young girl was holding delicately a small, clear plastic bag with a live goldfish inside. How does that happen in these security conscious days? I suppose the amount of liquid was less than 100ml so it was designated as safe to take on board but what if her finned friend was not really a fish........? Would the fish need a pat-down search? Could it be a secret agent like James Pond? What would be the scale of the risk......groan but thank you, I'm here all week.
When you are trying to secure the safety of hundreds of passengers on a plane and potentially on the ground you really do need a set of strict and consistent rules. If one airport drops its guard or lets something through with a nod and a wink, something significant could be missed.
Put your Flight Attendant in an upright position
Safely back on terra firma and running an FMCG business with Sales & Operational Planning (S&OP). You need a set of consistent and widely understood processes, procedures and measures to get the best out of S&OP. Ok, so the implications of bending the rules here are not usually life threatening but getting this wrong can certainly bring your career to halt and make those eagerly awaited bonus payments few and far between.
Here are Enchange's top 10 tips to a totally terrific S&OP
- CEO and senior board buy-in is mandatory. Without this, do not even bother to start S&OP.
- Appoint a process leader who knows S&OP inside out and has gravitas across the business.
- Create a Data Management role to facilitate accurate and reliable data that is readily converted into information which leads to clear and focused actions.
- Do not promote or advertise S&OP as a Supply Chain process or one that it is designed to improve SC performance. Yes, it will but the ultimate objective is increased sales.
- Agree and display a set of focussed KPIs that involve all disciplines to motivate co-operation and team working.
- Get the right people involved in the meetings – do not allow people to delegate to more junior colleagues or double-hatting.
- Get meeting dates in diaries for at least 12 months, rolling.
- Insist on personally seeing minutes and action lists; do not let meeting discipline fall away.
- Be hard and consistent on dissenters and laggards.
- Once committed, do not stop S&OP or you will end up with a business in a afar worse condition than when you started.
If you stick to these rules you will be successful. I have seen this in many disparate environments quickly leading to improved top and bottom lines. No, it is nowhere rocket science but sticking to the rules really can make your sales take off.
Help, I need somebody
If you have any Supply Chain or Route to Market problems or opportunities you would like to discuss, then please reach out to Enchange.com via telephone, email, or live chat.
