{"id":18853,"date":"2024-08-05T12:55:24","date_gmt":"2024-08-05T10:55:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/eyeonplanning.com\/blog\/demand-planning-process-copy\/"},"modified":"2024-08-15T09:03:31","modified_gmt":"2024-08-15T07:03:31","slug":"advanced-supply-chain-planning","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/eyeonplanning.com\/blog\/advanced-supply-chain-planning\/","title":{"rendered":"The 5 phases of an advanced supply chain planning system implementation"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Bart Paridaen<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

Across industries, supply chain leaders will be replacing, upgrading, or expanding the capabilities of their advanced supply chain planning systems (APS)<\/a> in the coming years to achieve their digital transformation goals and boost performance. <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Implementing advanced supply chain planning systems requires a thoughtful and systematic approach that ensures alignment with business objectives, seamless integration with planning processes, a robust and integrated functional solution across the IT landscape, and smooth adoption by the organization.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In this blog, we dive deeper into what drives this steady increase in the implementation of advanced planning systems\u2019 capabilities. On top of that, we also share the 5-phase digital transformation framework towards creating sustainable value from your next APS implementation.
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Global disruptions as a new norm<\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n

Market dynamics and market complexity are at an <\/span>all-time high. You can hardly speak of impactful <\/span>supply chain events anymore, as global disruptions <\/span>are no longer the exception, but the new norm. Many <\/span>companies have experienced in recent years that <\/span>they lack the digital planning capabilities to meet <\/span>their needs for supply chain visibility, planning agility, <\/span>scenario planning, and speed of decision-making. <\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>
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<\/span>Companies are increasingly looking for ways to <\/span>improve the efficiency of their planning process, <\/span>automate repetitive planning tasks<\/span>,<\/span> and optimize network <\/span>capacity<\/span> and inventory. Building on a solid <\/span>operating model, <\/span>advanced <\/span>supply chain <\/span>planning tools <\/span>provide<\/span> the technical capabilities to achieve these goals.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>
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<\/span>The pace of technological advancement and tool <\/span>stack evolution (e.g., the retirement of SAP APO) <\/span>is forcing companies to rethink their future digital <\/span>strategy. There are many options to choose from, <\/span>and companies need to decide which APS strategy <\/span>best fits their longer-term needs and priorities.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Advanced <\/span>supply chain <\/span>planning systems implementation: f<\/span>ocus on business and design<\/span><\/h3>\n

While the benefits of advanced planning systems\u2019 capabilities are clear, the path to realization is not always that clearly defined.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In our experience, companies fail to realize the full value of an implementation because they focus too much on the technical solution and not enough on business readiness, functional and applied design expertise, and a robust APS capability and support model. In addition, an advanced supply chain planning systems implementation requires focus, and investment in creating the optimal mix of process excellence, They start their <\/span>advanced<\/span> planning system <\/span>digital transformation with a focused (re)definition of the supply chain operating <\/span>model, which is then translated into a well-standardized process and organizational blueprint prior to <\/span>vendor selection.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

1. Transformation plan & blueprint<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

They start their <\/span>advanced<\/span> planning system <\/span>digital transformation with a focused (re)definition of the supply chain operating <\/span>model, which is then translated into a well-standardized process and organizational blueprint prior to <\/span>vendor selection.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

2. Tool <\/span>selection<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n

They ensure that user requirements are clearly defined and unambiguous, and they <\/span>identify<\/span> unique and <\/span>high-value use cases that the tool should support as input to the vendor selection process. On top of that, <\/span>they conduct a proof of concept or proof of value to assess the functional capabilities, intuitiveness, and <\/span>performance of the solution(s) before making a final tool selection decision.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n

3. A<\/span>dvanced <\/span>planning systems <\/span>readiness assessment<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n

They evaluate and make targeted investments in the supporting capabilities that will determine the system\u2019s robustness and level of adoption. Specifically, they perform an early assessment of master data maturity and alignment of master data processes, governance, and support tools.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Next, they make sure to assess and upgrade planner skills and enable timely change engagement. Finally, they define upfront what the future advanced planning system support model will look like and anticipate the required organizational changes.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

4. A<\/span>dvanced<\/span> planning system <\/span>design & solution development<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n

They ensure early vendor involvement in the functional design and solution design efforts. This is to gain a solid understanding of the functional coverage supported out-of-the-box versus the required customization (also considering the solution development roadmap). They apply an agile approach to configuration development with a good balance between core functionality, usability\/user engagement, and performance.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

They make well-balanced decisions on the phasing of complexity, allowing for the adoption of baseline planning capabilities before introducing more advanced functionality.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

5. Go live, operationalization, and continuous improvement<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n

They allow for sufficient time during hypercare to transfer knowledge and skills from the central project team to local owners. A clear ownership and governance model for the different categories of support and continuous improvement (integration, performance, master data, functional enhancements) is in place.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

On top of that, they have dedicated specialist roles in place with clear ownership and resource allocation, because over time, an SME or key user model is not sufficient to drive structural standardization and continuous improvement of the solution.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Ready to <\/span>drive sustainable value from your next <\/span>advanced <\/span>supply chain <\/span>planning system implementation?<\/span><\/h3>\n

Our extensive implementation experience has led to the creation of a proven framework<\/a> that will help you become an advanced supply chain planning system champion and realize sustainable value.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Our guide is your essential ingredient for APS success, helping you discover:<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n