Supplemental material for the paper entitled "Designing a Sales and Operations Planning (S&OP) tool for Small-Medium Enterprises (SMEs)"
Year: 2024
Type: supplementary-materials
Abstract: Goal: This research develops a reference design methodology for engineering lightweight, optimization-based Sales and Operations Planning (S&OP) systems tailored to the operational, budgetary, and technological constraints of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs). Design / Methodology / Approach: The study follows a design-oriented research approach that synthesizes literature insights, commercial Advanced Planning System (APS) evaluations, and requirements engineering. It translates SME operational needs into system specifications spanning software architecture, database design, optimization modeling, and user-interaction principles. The proposed methodology is instantiated through a cloud-based multi-user prototype that integrates input forms, an open-source mathematical programming solver, and a normalized relational database using a Model-View-Template (MVT) architecture. Results: The methodology establishes a systematic framework for translating SME requirements into a coherent software architecture. The resulting prototype enables integrated scenario analysis across sales forecasts, procurement, inventory, production, transportation, and delivery plans. The platform remains operationally lightweight and accessible, facilitating rapid optimization runs for small cross-functional teams. Limitations of the investigation: The proposed methodology was demonstrated through a single prototype instantiation. Empirical validation across broader industrial sectors and organizational contexts remains an avenue for future work. Additionally, the optimization module demonstrates architectural integration feasibility rather than a multi-objective or stochastic formulation. Practical implications: SMEs can leverage this reference design to implement cost-effective, easily deployed S&OP software. The architecture requires minimal user training, supports cross-functional collaboration, and enables rapid scenario evaluation, bridging the gap between manual spreadsheet planning and enterprise-level optimization. Originality / Value: Unlike prior studies that focus primarily on complex mathematical formulations or enterprise-scale APS, this paper contributes an integrated reference design methodology. It systematically addresses requirements elicitation, database normalization, optimization integration, and user interface design to suit the resource constraints of SMEs.
Author: For Double-Blind Peer Review
Language: English
Subfield: Strategy and Management
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W6969161704
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