Demand/Inventory Planner at Phillips Consulting

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or  equivalent from a reputable institution
  Minimum of 5 - 7 years working experience in  demand forecasting and inventory planning and management
• Previous experience within a food/FMCG manufacturing environment in a Supply Planning function

Job Responsibilities

Forecasting and Analysis

• Coordinate inputs from sales teams to assess initial forecast and generate business demand plan
• Review historical sales trends, research demand drivers, prepare forecast data, develop statistical forecast models, and evaluate forecast results
• Work with the production team to reconcile significant variances and refine the forecast model to reflect updated sales and marketing assumptions
• Lead periodic sales and operations meetings to review forecasts and plan
• Employ the best methods (statistical models and software tools) in creating forecasts and respective inventory targets

Inventory Planning

• Coordinate, manage and consolidate the ordering (weekly, fortnightly or monthly as may be required) of inventory items by all business locations with the Warehouse and Procurement teams, ensuring that each business location’s order is:
  • Rationalized and aligned with the sales trend, budget and or forecast of the business location
  • Made in a manner that significantly reduces or minimizes excess inventory of items across all business locations
  • Delivered “on time and in full (OTIF)” to all business locations
• Work with all relevant internal functions to actively reduce inventory costs whilst not compromising service quality by actively leading and managing the inventory planning and forecasting process by:
  • Designing and generating weekly, monthly and quarterly statistical forecast reports
  • Continuously improving forecasting techniques, methods and approach
  • Relating and measuring the impact of forecast accuracy on the business and making recommended adjustments to forecast and safety stock levels based on changes in demand and market trends.
  • Prepare, report, and communicate forecast and inventory measurements to management (forecast accuracy, inventory plan vs. targets).
  • Scheduling and driving quarterly joint reviews of performance with the Procurement and Distribution functions within the organization
  • Constantly monitoring, reporting on and initiating actions to be taken on inventory levels across all business locations, ensuring that stocking levels are always in alignment with agreed metrics
• Facilitate reporting/presentation on Regional Business Performance, highlighting areas of opportunity
  • Volume performance
  • Order Fulfilment
  •  Market Shares & Numeric Distribution
  •  Forecast Accuracy
• Act as the single point of contact between the Operations team of the Business and all other internal functions involved in procurement and distribution of inventory items
  • Consistently review all exception reports, operating policies and procedures and develop new working practices to support identified commercial and cost control opportunities

Competence Requirements

Functional Requirements/Skills:

• Practical and thorough understanding of statistical analysis and forecasting methods
• Strong MS Excel Skills
• Basics of production and material resource planning

 General Requirements/Skills:

• Strong numeracy and analytical skills
• Strong oral and written Communication skills
• Commercial awareness
• Ability to maintain cooperative working relationships
• Ability to acquire sufficient technical knowledge to understand the company’s business and products.
• Basic understanding of operations in the Food industry