In this edition of Five Questions with a Ford Leader, we go behind the scenes with Neelufa Abdool, General Manager, Demand Planning Operations. Neelufa operates at the critical crossroads of Sales, Finance, and Production, steering the “engine room” that ensures the right vehicles are built at the right time.
Tasked with balancing competing department priorities to drive Ford’s overall profitability, Neelufa’s role is a complex puzzle of sales planning, vehicle distribution. From leading a high-performance team that continuously challenges the status quo to ensuring every customer's dream vehicle is delivered with the utmost care, she leads with active listening and transparent communication. Get to know Neelufa in this Q&A to learn how she navigates the journey from forecast to driveway, and why her ultimate road trip requires a Raptor!
For many outside of your department, Demand Planning can sound like a complex technical term. If you were explaining it to a colleague, how would you describe what your team does and why it is so critical to Ford’s success?
Demand Planning at Ford is essentially about making sure the right vehicles are built at the right time, in the right quantities, to meet customer demand as efficiently as possible. We are often referred to as part of the engine room of the business covering key areas including forecasting, aligning production, supporting profitability and timely distribution.
Demand Planning is often where “the rubber meets the road” between Sales, Finance, and Production. How do you use the Ford OS Behaviours—particularly Collaboration and Seek to Understand—to align these different departments when they have competing priorities?
Demand Planning sits at the crossroads of Sales, Finance, and Production, so collaboration is key! Working together and bringing all stakeholders along on the journey early enough, makes a significant impact on the way we work. For me, a vital element of “Seek to Understand” is active listening. Listening to each department’s perspective before proposing trade-offs. Being passionate about one’s area is great but understanding what is important to all involved, makes for the best scenario for Ford. This ensures decisions are transparent, balanced, and aligned with Ford’s overall success.
What is one thing you would like your colleagues to understand about the journey of a vehicle—from the moment a forecast is made to the moment the customer takes delivery?
What begins as a forecast transforms into a treasured car/bakkie in someone’s driveway. For many South Africans what they drive is an extension of themselves and for most, it is the 2nd most expensive purchase they will make. This is why the planning process needs the utmost care to ensure that every customer is a happy one.
As we head into the second half of the year, what are you most looking forward to for your team?
The 2nd half can often be a blur as it goes by so quickly, but I look forward to seeing my team continue to grow and achieve their personal and professional goals. My team is a high performance one, who are continuously working on bettering what we do and challenging the status quo to put Sales and Ford in the best possible position to win.
Rapid Fire – Neelufa Abdool:
- Summer or winter? Winter! Definitely Winter
- Cook at home or eat out? My husband is the lead chef at home and he is the BEST! So, cook at home
- Texting or calling? Texting, there’s less pressure
- Road trip or flight? Road trip (in a Raptor)
- Save money or spend it? Find a balance, be responsible and save often but spoil yourself occasionally