Dan Dodd has over 15 years of experience in operations and supply chain management. He will discuss implementing sales and operations planning (S&OP) and operational excellence at companies like Cooper Industries and start-ups. S&OP is key to operational excellence and sets strategic direction, though it is only 25% of the effort while lean is 75%. Medical device companies have opportunities to improve with average inventory turns of 2.1 compared to other industries. Regulations have slowed change but factors are emerging like hospital ownership and expiring patents.