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Keep the planning decision explicit
I use S&OP / IBP to reconcile commercial demand, supply capacity, inventory and financial priorities. Predictive AI can improve inputs and highlight exceptions; leaders still need decision rights, tradeoff rules and an operating cadence.
Select a bounded use case
I prioritize an issue such as forecast bias, stockout risk, supplier delay or inventory segmentation. I define the decision, the planner who owns it and the action available when the model raises an exception.
Compare against an appropriate baseline
I compare the model with current planning performance and a simple statistical baseline using data held out from training. I examine performance by product segment and horizon, measure bias alongside forecast error and check whether recommendations improve a feasible operating plan.
Pilot inside the workflow
I show planners the drivers, confidence and limits of the recommendation, provide an override path and capture the reason for overrides. I measure adoption, exception resolution, service and inventory alongside predictive performance.
Scale with controls and ownership
I assign responsibility for data quality, model monitoring, access and periodic review. I monitor drift, refresh thresholds and retain fallback rules. I expand only when the pilot demonstrates useful decisions and sustainable operating value.
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JGSmith.com presents my executive experience and personal leadership services. I lead interim, fractional and advisory assignments through Digital-SCM, LLC, the consulting firm I founded. Enterprise consulting and transformation programs are scoped and contracted through Digital-SCM, with me leading the work.
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