In-house S&OP System Go-Live: Resolving Planning Coordination Challenges and Building a New Engine for Intelligent Operations

Recently, the company held a work‑reporting meeting on the implementation phase of the S&OP (Sales and Operations Planning) system. General Manager Zhao Liangman, Chief Financial Officer Tang Xianyang, Deputy General Manager Cao Zhendong, and heads of relevant business departments attended the meeting.

The meeting began with the Digital Intelligence Engineering Department presenting a functional demonstration and showcasing the results of the S&OP system, comprehensively highlighting its end-to-end intelligent integration—from sales orders to production work reporting.

At the meeting, Tang Xianyang pointed out that since its launch in June 2025, the system has exceeded expectations in terms of completion, delivering performance that is stronger and an architecture that is more advanced than the external vendor systems previously evaluated. He emphasized that the system cannot address every issue; therefore, it is essential to focus on core business challenges, clearly define functional boundaries, and leverage management practices and business rules to fill gaps where the system falls short. He also set forth specific requirements for the next phase of work. First, Strengthen data monitoring to ensure synchronization with ERP data, thereby preventing data anomalies that could give rise to settlement risks. Second, Ensure storage security, prevent unauthorized backend modifications, and establish a robust data security framework. Third is Advance system integration by proactively planning for seamless connectivity with PLM, CRM, HRM, and other enterprise systems, thereby establishing a unified data platform centered on S&OP. He called on all employees to embrace the initial imperfections of the system, firmly believing that the in-house‑developed solution boasts “unlimited upgrade potential,” and reiterated that the system’s design must consistently adhere to a business logic that “places planning at the core.”

During the Q&A session, Deputy General Manager Cao Zhendong, speaking as the representative of the user departments, outlined three key requirements: first, to adopt a forward-looking perspective when addressing minor issues in the system’s early stages, recognizing that system development is an ongoing process of continuous improvement; second, to ensure data accuracy by adhering strictly to established rules and preventing discrepancies between data and actual business operations; and third, to foster robust interdepartmental collaboration and harmonize rules across teams, thereby eliminating the confusion caused by parallel sets of online and offline procedures.

At the conclusion of the meeting, Zhao Liangman urged all staff to remain market‑oriented, continuously submit improvement suggestions for the S&OP system, and set forth specific requirements. First, solidify the operational rules. The marketing and planning departments must clearly define delivery and rush‑order policies to ensure the rigidity and authority of planning operations. Second, optimize the procurement cycle. The procurement department must standardize the material procurement cycle to provide a stable basis for system-based production scheduling. Third, iteratively upgrade the system. The design department should draw on Huawei’s experience with the IPD framework, prioritizing the current phase by ensuring the system’s stability and reliability, consolidating existing functionalities first, and gradually rolling out upgrades in subsequent stages. Fourth, transform one’s way of thinking. All departments must review their own policies and coordinate closely, accept the potential increase in workload during the system’s initial phase, and ensure that subsequent improvements are effectively implemented. He emphasized that the adaptability of a self-developed system far surpasses that of off-the-shelf solutions, and called on all staff to shift their mindset and, with a spirit of collaboration, “work together to get things done.”