Sales and Operations Planning (S&OP) is a process used by businesses to balance supply and demand, and ensure that operations are running smoothly. It is a key component of the supply chain management process, and involves a cross-functional team of stakeholders from sales, operations, finance, and other departments. The process begins with forecasting demand and sales, and then moves on to inventory management, production planning, and supply chain optimization. The goal of S&OP is to ensure that the company is able to meet customer demand while optimizing resources and costs. The process helps to identify areas of potential improvement, and can be used to identify areas of risk and develop strategies to mitigate them. S&OP is an important tool for businesses to ensure that they are able to meet customer demand while optimizing resources and costs. It is a key component of the supply chain management process, and can help businesses to stay competitive in a rapidly changing market.