Example walkthrough · fictional packaging category

Build a category plan

Explore the six steps. Nothing here creates data or records approval.

1. 1. Define scope

   Include cartons used by two sites. Exclude labels. Decide how to respond to a proposed price increase.

   Next action: Confirm the owner and the products in scope.

2. 2. Understand demand

   List the people who specify, order and use packaging. Check volumes, specifications and upcoming changes.

   Next action: Obtain site forecasts; the example contains no real demand data.

3. 3. Review market

   Compare the supplier’s cost explanation with relevant material indices and alternatives.

   Next action: Inspect the example brief and its evidence gaps.

   Inspect example evidence brief

4. 4. Assess opportunities

   Compare negotiating the proposal, changing specifications and testing alternative suppliers.

   Next action: Validate each option’s costs and operational impact.

5. 5. Agree strategy

   Prepare a recommended response and delivery plan, retaining sources and assumptions.

   Next action: An authorised reviewer must approve the current evidence; a generated draft is not approval.

6. 6. Deliver and measure

   Create the linked sourcing work after approval and track delivery tasks.

   Next action: Finance validates the baseline and realised value separately.