Page 12 - Newsbites March 2021
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brings - base cleanse and forecasting base. are currently testing and training on the IBP
We have had a very positive start to 2021 tool with a view to going live at the end of
and our adoption of the monthly forecasting March.
cycle. Across all Business Units, Demand
Planners, who are responsible for base Spirit Value “T” for Teamwork
volume, are meeting with Sales, who are
responsible for uplift volume (and sales Over the last three months through the
conditions) and together are arriving at peak work periods where
a consensus forecast. This collaboration the Supply team has been
around a forward-looking number is at the working on master data and
heart of the new Gazelle tool and monthly testing for the Supply go
cycle, the feedback both from demand plan- live or where we have
ning and sales at this early stage is that the preparing a new Brand
sessions are going well. Of course it will take Owner such as General
us some time to work out the right level of Mills to go live, the whole
detail for these account reviews, the right Commercial Ops team has
frequency to hold them and how to optimise supported each other,
this whole process so that it is more efficient covering each other Brands
for everyone’s time and delivering added to ensure continuity, whilst
value. “Gazelling”. I’d like to thank
all of the team for this supportive approach
Remembering the purpose is to forecast and dedication. A true team effort, well
better so that the Supply Planning team know done!
what stock to inform the Brand Owner that
we require, so that customers can receive the Chris Waller left the Demand Planning team
fullest service levels that we can provide. In at the end of February and will be replaced
time we will start measuring forecast by Meg Ellott at the end of March, and I’d
accuracy as we continue to embed these like to welcome Meg to the team.
monthly routines.
Stock
Supply Planning
Whilst we embed all of the new gazelle tools
The last part of the main Gazelle modules to and processes, one of the core objectives
go live is Supply Planning. This completes the of the tools is to have a “better” stock hold-
end to end process on all of the new Gazelle ing – ie. Sufficient stock in the warehouse
tools – IBP & CBP. Essentially the consensus to meet the consensus forecast agreed by
forecast agreed upon as above, will then flow sales and demand planners, but not too
through on the IBP tool to the Supply much that we are over-stocked and run into
planners, to give them a forward planning issues with dates, paying for storage and
tool to allow them to give Brand Owners tying up working capital. Post Easter there
forward forecasts of what we would like to will be a renewed focus on Stock, with the
buy of each SKU and ultimately make the Back to Basics sessions put back in the
purchase. The Supply Planners, led by Sean, diary with a focus on stock and laterally
forecasting.
