Improving Performance Management through Dynamic S&OP

Aluminium Dunkerque is the largest aluminum smelter in Europe, producing nearly 300,000 tons of aluminum annually. It alone produces approximately two-thirds of France's aluminum, and its electricity consumption represents 1% of total national demand, the equivalent of half a nuclear reactor unit. The site operates seven days a week.

"Today, we have forecast visibility up to six months ahead, compared to one or two months previously."

- Camille Beck, S&OP Coordinator at Aluminium Dunkerque

1. A Modern Solution for Better Business Management.

The five-person consolidation and reporting team at Aluminium Dunkerque, an industrial site with 600 employees and three entities, was looking for a simple and accessible solution to manage its consolidation needs. Aluminium Dunkerque's information system relied primarily on Excel, which posed significant challenges:

• Decision-making: Difficulty making reliable strategic decisions.
• Forecasts: A very limited forecast horizon (1-2 months maximum) and an inability to accurately project revenue and inventory.
• Processes and roles: Lack of clarity.
• Inventory valuation: Difficulty valuing approximately €100 million of inventory per month.
• Business management: Need to better manage the business with real data.
• Data reconciliation: Monthly manual reconciliation was required

The company's main objective was therefore to regain control of the information system in order to improve data quality and enable more strategic and accurate decision-making.

“The challenge is to regain control of the information system so that decisions can be made based on real data and better manage the business.”

- Camille Beck, S&OP Coordinator at Aluminium Dunkerque

2. An Implementation Tailored to the Specific Needs.

After reviewing several S&OP solutions, Aluminium Dunkerque was forced to choose between SAP and OneStream, whose S&OP offering proved to be a highly effective solution for the finance team. OneStream was the best choice for Aluminium Dunkerque because it improved performance by enabling teams to collaborate more closely, target more accurately, and develop detailed financial plans.

The deployment relied on a hybrid approach, combining agile and traditional methods. The project was structured into nine sprints, each organized into two- to four-week iterative loops.

This pace allowed for phased progress, with regular unit testing and validation phases, ensuring a high level of quality. A functional mockup was presented in the third sprint to facilitate users' projection of the final solution. The approach was designed to be flexible, scalable, and open to unforeseen events, thanks to the implementation of a dynamic backlog.

"From the very beginning of the project, the deployment teams truly sought to understand the company's needs and challenges. From the tender phase onward, we particularly appreciated their proactive approach, marked by numerous questions aimed at understanding our operations. This allowed us to better project ourselves into using the tool."

- Camille Beck, S&OP Coordinator at Aluminium Dunkerque

3. Key Success Factors.

The success of this project is the result of a combination of several determining factors: the human aspect, a relevant methodology, a judicious technological choice, rigorous change management, and clear governance.

The unwavering commitment of management, including the CEO, firmly anchored the project in the company's overall strategy. At the same time, the proactive involvement of business users and tailored support ensured buy-in on the ground. Finally, raising awareness of digital culture greatly facilitated the adoption of the tools and new working practices.

The methodological approach adopted, both hybrid and flexible, was based on short, iterative sprints, including continuous testing and validation phases. The rapid creation of a mockup and the use of a backlog made it possible to efficiently integrate unexpected requests.

The choice of OneStream proved strategic, thanks to its user-friendly interface, convincing functional demonstrations, and its ability to adapt to the site's specific needs. Finally, change management was facilitated by short, targeted training modules integrated into the HR system, as well as precise clarification of roles and processes. The entire process was supported by rigorous governance, including a clear definition of responsibilities and structured project management.

"The clarification of processes thanks to OneStream has truly strengthened team engagement. Employees are now more motivated and invested in each step, which is reflected in the team dynamic and overall efficiency."

- Camille Beck, S&OP Coordinator at Aluminium Dunkerque