Pieter Tillon - Connecting strategy and planning: insights on S&OP, demand & supply, and team development

In this episode, ⁠⁠Ben⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠Wim⁠⁠ speak with ⁠Pieter Tillon⁠, a supply chain leader with extensive experience across companies like Miele, Daikin, and Perrigo. 

Pieter discusses his journey through the different facets of supply chain management, from operations to planning, and how he learned to adapt to various business strategies. 

He shares his perspective on the critical role of demand planning, why it should align closely with business strategy, and the lessons he’s learned from managing supply chain planning teams. 

Key topics covered include: 

• Pieter's career path through different industries and roles in supply chain 

• The importance of aligning planning with business strategy to drive results 

• Distinction between demand and sales 

• Dual role of demand & supply planning 

• Best-in-breed tools vs platform depending on the type of company 

• Building a culture of trust and collaboration in supply chain teams 

• Advice for young professionals regarding attitude & communication skills 

TIMESTAMPS: 

• (0:22) – Pieter's career journey and supply chain experience across various roles and industries 

• (1:29) – Positioning supply chain planning within company strategy 

• (2:04) – Aligning supply chain planning with the business strategy using the Tracy and Wiersema model 

• (4:02) – Integrating operational planning: connecting strategy with actionable planning steps 

• (7:03) – Starting demand planning with limited tools and scaling to S&OP 

• (11:56) – Finding true demand vs. sales data and the impact of stockouts 

• (15:01) – Balancing demand and supply planning roles within organizations 

• (17:06) – Choosing the right planning tools: best-in-breed vs. integrated ERP systems 

• (20:41) – Recruiting and training for the right supply chain planning attitudes and skills 

• (22:15) – The dynamic role of planners and finding the “rare breed” in supply chain planning 

• (26:00) – Advice for developing a growth-oriented mindset in supply chain planning 

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