As the Supply & Demand Planning Manager you will play a pivotal role in ensuring the seamless integration of demand forecasting, supply planning, production planning, and sales and operations processes. You will be responsible for developing and executing strategies to optimize inventory levels, minimize lead times, and enhance overall supply chain performance, ensuring the mid- to long-term balance between demand and supply. This position offers an exciting opportunity to lead cross-functional collaboration and drive continuous improvement initiatives within a dynamic manufacturing environment.
Key Responsibilities:
Demand Planning:
- Collaborate with sales, marketing, and customer service teams to gather and analyze demand forecasts.
- Utilize forecasting models and tools to generate accurate demand plans for various product lines and customer segments.
- Monitor demand trends, market dynamics, and customer behavior to anticipate changes and adjust forecasts accordingly.
Supply Planning:
- Work closely with procurement and manufacturing teams to develop supply plans that align with demand forecasts and inventory targets.
- Optimize production schedules, capacity utilization, and inventory levels to ensure on-time delivery while minimizing costs and risks.
- Identify potential supply chain disruptions and implement risk mitigation strategies to maintain continuity of supply.
Production Planning:
- Coordinate production activities based on demand forecasts, inventory levels, and manufacturing capabilities.
- Establish production schedules, allocate resources, and monitor progress to meet customer requirements and operational objectives.
- Continuously assess production efficiency and capacity constraints to drive improvements in productivity and throughput.
Sales and Operations Planning (S&OP):
- Lead the S&OP process to facilitate alignment between demand, supply, and financial plans.
- Conduct regular S&OP meetings to review performance, resolve conflicts, and make data-driven decisions to optimize inventory investments and customer service levels.
- Drive cross-functional collaboration and consensus-building to achieve integrated business planning objectives.
Performance Measurement and Continuous Improvement:
- Develop key performance indicators (KPIs) and dashboards to monitor supply chain performance metrics such as forecast accuracy, inventory turns, and service levels.
- Analyze performance data and identify areas for improvement in demand planning, supply planning, and production planning processes.
- Lead or participate in projects to implement process enhancements, system upgrades, and best practices to drive operational excellence.
Qualifications:
- Proven experience (6+ years) in supply chain planning roles, with a focus on demand planning, supply planning, production planning, and S&OP processes.
- Strong analytical skills with proficiency in demand forecasting techniques, statistical modeling, and data analysis tools.
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively across functional teams and influence decision-making at all levels of the organization.
- Demonstrated leadership capabilities, including the ability to motivate and develop teams, drive change initiatives, and foster a culture of continuous improvement.
- Fluency in English; proficiency in Dutch is a plus.
