A Strategic Planning Process for Several Supply Chain Echelons

This paper investigates the ability of a team from a manufacturer and its supply chain partners to formulate strategic plans for entire supply chains. Research aims to improve the process of formulation by combining knowledge from operations strategy and socio-technical research. The research uses a process called Strategic Operations and Logistics Planning (SOLP) in which a team of managers craft strategy. SOLP assists them to derive order-winning criteria and design policy actions for certain product groups. The SOLP process was carried out twice at a heavy fabrication business. The managers used the process to craft strategies whilst the researchers, acting as facilitators, studied the planning process by interviews and participant observation. The research concludes that a strategic supply chain plan can be formulated. The need to include members from all supply chains echelons in the team and the effect of their capability and authority is investigated. Assistance is probably necessary for full implementation of those plans.\u