Supply Chain Risk Management: Enhancing Your S&OP Process

An Interview with TBM Consulting: Supply Chain Risk Management, Getting Analytics Right, and Making Your S&OP Process More Effective

TBM Supply Chain practice leader, Brian Cromer, sat down with Generis Group, an organizer of high-level, industry-specific business events for senior executives, to discuss supply chain challenges for manufacturers, how analytics can help find solutions to these challenges, and how to develop a more effective S&OP process.

The global economy is increasingly dynamic and volatile which means manufacturers must be agile and responsive. From demand pressures to global trade policies, we discussed how manufacturers can flex their supply chain to respond to or adjust to short-term and long-term changes. With the help of analytics tools leaders can model the potential impact of decisions and what-if scenarios to address these challenges on financial performance. Finally, talked about how to improve the S&OP process to better connect demand planning to supply planning.

Download this Q&A to learn:

What are the top supply chain pressures and effective tactics for addressing them?
What impacts are global trade tariffs having on manufacturers’ supply chain decisions?
How can sophisticated analytics solutions making it easier to assess risk and make better supply chain decisions?
Why is the S&OP process so challenging and how can it be improved?

Frequently Asked Questions

Why are supply chain challenges so difficult for manufacturers to resolve?

Supply chain challenges are difficult to resolve because they are rarely caused by a single issue. The article explains that disruptions stem from a combination of demand volatility, supplier reliability, long lead times, and internal execution gaps. When organizations treat these challenges as external problems rather than system‑wide execution issues, they remain stuck in reactive mode instead of regaining control.

How do internal execution issues amplify external supply chain disruptions?

The article highlights that weak internal execution magnifies the impact of external disruption. Poor visibility, inconsistent planning, and siloed decision‑making cause small supply issues to cascade into missed deliveries, excess inventory, and expediting. When internal processes are unstable, organizations have fewer options and less time to respond effectively to supply chain challenges.

What actions help manufacturers better manage ongoing supply chain challenges?

Manufacturers can better manage supply chain challenges by focusing on what they can control operationally. The article emphasizes strengthening execution discipline, improving performance visibility, and reinforcing daily management routines. When organizations stabilize internal operations and align cross‑functional decisions, they become more resilient—reducing the impact of disruption and improving reliability even in uncertain supply chain environments.

Meet the Expert

Brian Cromer

Managing Director, Global Supply Chain PracticeEmail Brian

Brian Cromer is Managing Director of TBM’s Global Supply Chain practice where he helps clients to make operational improvements, reduce working capital and improve service levels while lowering the overall cost to serve.