Breaking Down Silos
S&OP Crossfunctional Collaboration
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Description
Many organizations find that their S&OP process breaks down not because of tools or data, but because teams struggle to work together effectively. Sales, operations, supply chain, and finance often come to the table with different goals, assumptions, and pressures. This session will explore why these disconnects happen in everyday practice (missed handoffs, unclear decision rights, competing goals, etc.) and how they impact the S&OP process.
We will hear from Tamara Fox, Director of Production Planning at Sartori Cheese, how she works with cross-functional teams to collaborate on production plans, align on shared goals, and builds trust to achieve positive outcomes.
In breakout groups, participants will discuss simple, practical ways teams can improve collaboration, such as:
- creating shared definitions of demand
- making assumptions visible early
- setting up short “pre-meetings” to resolve issues before the main S&OP review
- using consistent formats for data and updates
Participants will leave with specific ideas they can try right away to reduce surprises in monthly meetings, encourage honest discussion when plans don’t match reality, and keep decisions moving when departments disagree. Whether your S&OP process is new or well established, this session will offer practical steps for helping teams work together more comfortably, openly, and effectively.