George Milic – Navigating supply planning across industries, systems, and cultures

In this episode, ⁠⁠⁠⁠Ben⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠Wim⁠⁠⁠⁠ welcome ⁠George Milic⁠, a seasoned supply chain professional with over two decades of experience at renowned companies like IKEA, Apple, Zoetis, and currently Unilever.

George shares his journey across different supply planning roles, reflecting on key transitions across sectors such as retail, tech, pharmaceuticals, and consumer goods.

He discusses building S&OP processes from scratch in a startup environment, adapting to fast-paced supply chains at Apple, and aligning financial and demand forecasts.George also provides insights into training planning teams, leveraging systems like JDA, Anaplan, and SAP, and adapting to cultural differences between the U.S. and Europe.

Key topics covered include: 

• Building S&OP processes in startups with limited tools 

• Differences in supply planning between retail, tech, and pharma sectors 

• Comparing supply chain cultures between the U.S. and Europe 

• Leveraging AI and machine learning in modern planning systems 

• Best practices for training planners and facilitating system adoption 

• Aligning financial and demand forecasts in cross-functional S&OP 
• Key advice for young professionals entering supply chain

• Key timestamps:
  • (0:03) – Introduction & George Milic career path 
  • (2:30) – Early experiences at Dollar General: operational supply planning and forecasting 
  • (3:33) – Moving to IKEA: supply planning, customer service KPIs, and working in Europe 
  • (4:38) – Shifting to process support roles: training planners and system enhancements at IKEA 
  • (5:44) – Implementing S&OP processes from scratch at a startup: Excel-heavy planning challenges 
  • (7:15) – Joining Apple: leading global supply planning for iPhone models 
  • (8:31) – Comparing supply chain dynamics at IKEA and Apple: speed, value, and priorities 
  • (10:45) – Role at Zoetis: bridging financial forecasting and demand planning 
  • (12:04) – Aligning financial and volume forecasts: challenges and best practices 
  • (15:02) – System usage in planning: SAP for demand planning, Anaplan for financial forecasting 
  • (16:01) – Current role at Unilever: demand planning for the nutrition portfolio 
  • (17:06) – Reflections on supply chain systems: similarities, differences, and automation progress 
  • (19:00) – How AI and machine learning are shaping demand and supply planning today 
  • (21:00) – Best practices for training planners: staying close, customizing training, and process feedback 
  • (24:07) – Cultural differences in supply chain planning: U.S. results focus vs. European relational emphasis 
  • (26:29) – Final advice: continuous learning, attending trainings, and networking on LinkedIn 

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