Summary: The Supply Planner will be responsible for leading supply planning activities, ensuring that inventory levels, production schedules, and procurement strategies, and Material Requirements Planning (MRP) processes align with customer demand, production capacity, and corporate objectives.
This position requires a strategic approach to balancing supply and demand while minimizing costs and maintaining high service levels across the supply chain.
Key Responsibilities:
- Demand and Supply Balancing
Collaborate with Demand Planning, Sales, Marketing, and Operations teams to align supply plans with forecasted demand.
Conduct demand-supply gap analysis and create mitigation strategies.
Analyze inventory and capacity constraints, recommending adjustments as needed.
Develop and execute inventory strategies that meet service-level goals while optimizing inventory levels.
Monitor and maintain appropriate safety stock levels and reorder points to ensure product availability.
Lead efforts to reduce excess inventory, obsolete stock, and improve inventory turns.
- Production Planning & Scheduling
Work closely with Production and Operations teams to create and adjust production schedules, considering material availability, production capacity, and demand forecasts.
Ensure that production plans align with the overall supply chain and business strategy.
Manage long-term capacity planning to support future growth initiatives.
- Material Requirements Planning (MRP)
Oversee the execution of the MRP process, ensuring that materials are available for production and products are available for delivery to customers.
Review MRP outputs to ensure the right materials are ordered in the right quantities at the right time to support production schedules.
Collaborate with Procurement and Production teams to address material shortages, lead time issues, or overages identified through MRP.
Utilize MRP to manage and optimize material flow, identifying areas for improvement in efficiency and cost management.
- Supplier Collaboration & Procurement Planning
Coordinate with Procurement to ensure timely availability of raw materials and components.
Manage supplier lead times and resolve supply issues by identifying alternatives and negotiating terms.
Collaborate on supplier performance metrics, ensuring reliable delivery and quality.
- SI&OP (Sales Inventory and Operations Planning)
Participate in monthly SI&OP meetings, providing insights into supply capabilities, risks, and opportunities.
Lead monthly SI&OP Supply Review,
Support cross-functional alignment to achieve company financial and operational goals.
- Risk Management & Contingency Planning
Identify potential risks within the supply chain (e.g., supply shortages, demand fluctuations, production delays) and develop contingency plan options.
Proactively address supply issues before they impact customer delivery or operational performance.
Exhaust all feasible mitigations options to satisfy demand, communicate detailed demand forecast constraints.
- Data Analysis & Reporting
Analyze supply chain data (lead times, inventory levels, production schedules) to identify trends and areas for improvement.
Prepare regular reports on key performance metrics, such as forecast accuracy, service levels, and inventory turns.
Provide data-driven recommendations to senior leadership for supply chain optimization.
Lead supply chain projects aimed at improving efficiency, reducing costs, and enhancing customer satisfaction.
Champion the use of supply chain software and tools to enhance planning accuracy and visibility.
Stay up to date on industry trends, best practices, and technological advancements in supply chain management.
Preferred Qualifications:
Bachelors degree in Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, or a related field (Masters preferred).
5+ years of experience in supply planning, production planning, or inventory management in a manufacturing or distribution environment.
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
Proficiency in supply chain management software (e.g., Ideally D365, Or SAP, Oracle, or Kinaxis) and advanced Excel skills.
Excellent communication and collaboration skills across cross-functional teams.
Ability to manage multiple tasks and deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
APICS certification (CPIM or CSCP) is a plus.
