Expert IBP/S&OP Solutions for Business Excellence
About Me
My company Planning Lab transforms through expert Integrated Business Planning (IBP) and Sales & Operations Planning (S&OP) consulting. With decades of implementation success across many industries, I help organisations achieve operational excellence. Contact me today.
About Planning Lab
Planning Lab is a New Zealand-based consultancy specialising in Integrated Business Planning (IBP) and Sales & Operations Planning (S&OP). Founded as a side hustle in the early 2000s and launching full-time operations in 2023, I have delivered significant results including inventory reductions of up to 30%, markedly increased forecast accuracy, 5X improvements in BOM accuracy, and enhanced service levels. The biggest measure of success? When a company goes ‘quiet' - the absence of noise indicates that planning and operations are under control, and management can instead focus on delivering strategy.
My expertise
My expertise spans the complete spectrum of business planning: from Integrated Business Planning to Sales & Operations Planning and Manufacturing Resource Planning (MRPII). This comprehensive experience encompasses all component functions including RCCP, CRP, DRP, and MRP, enabling us to identify high-impact improvements across your entire planning ecosystem. Having navigated the complexity journey countless times, we bring practical, proven solutions to rapidly move organisations past the 'complexity' hump and toward lasting results.
Our Leadership
Planning Lab is led by Rob Finlayson, who brings over 25 years of Business Excellence expertise, beginning with a successful Class A implementation before Y2K. Rob has guided successful IBP and S&OP implementations across diverse sectors including dairy, packaging, telecommunications, forestry & wood products, freight/logistics, FMCG/CPG, and consumer electronics. His guiding philosophy that 'simplicity lies on the other side of complexity' has proven invaluable in transforming organisations' operations.