Olympus Advances IBP Maturity Through Cross-Functional Transformation with Oliver Wight
Nicole Hill, Vice President Supply Chain at Olympus APAC, reflects on a transformation that reshaped the company’s IBP approach and delivered a step-change in forecast accuracy.
Global medical devices company, Olympus has strengthened its Integrated Business Planning (IBP) capability through a major transformation initiative delivered in partnership with Oliver Wight, bringing together cross-functional teams to reshape ways of working and improve planning performance.
Our IBP journey took a significant turn when we partnered with Oliver Wight to bring together over 35 colleagues from sales, marketing, and demand planning for a series of focused sessions across two U.S. locations. These sessions were designed to challenge Olympus’s thinking and start the process of changing old patterns and ways of working. With Oliver Wight’s guidance, we created workshops that set the stage for meaningful change, and helped us to identify and recruit key change agents to champion the transformation.
The collaboration enabled Olympus to move beyond a narrow focus on supply, to fully integrating supply, demand, and inventory. By aligning on roles and responsibilities within the demand planning process, and with a strong new demand process leader in place, the results were remarkable: over the subsequent 18 months we reduced our +40% bias to what we now proudly call ‘unbiased,’ achieving a range within ±7%. For us, this was a game-changer and it has shown us what is possible with right alignment, shared understanding and mindset. The progress we’ve made is exciting, and the positive momentum continues to grow. It’s been an incredible journey, and I’m extremely proud to have been part of it.
— Nicole Hill, Vice President Supply Chain, Olympus APAC
The transformation highlights Olympus’s continued commitment to improving forecast accuracy, strengthening cross-functional alignment, and embedding sustainable IBP practices across the organisation.
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