APICS Updated CSCP Exam Questions and Answers by ernie

The Sales and Operations Planning (S&OP) process typically operates on a monthly cycle to maintain a balance between strategic oversight and tactical execution. The monthly frequency allows:

Regular Updates: Market conditions, customer demand, and supply chain dynamics can change frequently. A monthly review ensures that plans are updated regularly to reflect the latest information.

Alignment of Functions: It provides a structured timeframe for different functions such as sales, marketing, finance, and operations to come together, review past performance, and plan for the future.

Decision Making: Monthly meetings help in making timely decisions that can affect inventory levels, production schedules, and resource allocations, keeping the organization agile and responsive.

References

"Sales & Operations Planning - Best Practices" by John Dougherty and Christopher Gray

APICS, "The Essentials of Sales and Operations Planning"

According to the APICS Supply Chain Operations Reference Model SCOR, market research is one of the inputs for supply chain design, which is the process of determining how to structure and configure a supply chain to meet customer needs and business objectives. Market research is used to identify potential markets and analyze them in terms of size, growth, profitability, competition, regulations, customer preferences, and other factors that affect supply chain performance and strategy. Market research helps to determine which markets to enter or exit, how to segment customers, what products or services to offer, how to price them, how to distribute them, and how to promote them.