The Impact of Sales and Operations Planning Practices on Manufacturing Operational Performance in a South African Company.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of sales and operations planning processes on production operational efficiency at the organization. The objective of the paper was to examine the extent to which sales and operations planning practices enhance efficiency, the relationship between operations performance and sales planning, and how sales and operations planning can assist the organization in addressing factors that lead to ineffective efficiency. A quantitative research technique was used to collect data for this research, the data was analysed using a descriptive method. The sales and operations planning practices literature were reviewed and the results of the data obtained from the organization employees/participants were presented. The results of the study demonstrated that sales and operations planning (S&OP) incorporates all the procedures that connect the organisation's strategic goals with its production process. The influence of sales and operations planning procedures on operational performance were consistently and effectively demonstrated on the organization's operational characteristics such as quality, delivery, stock, and flexibility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]