Demand Planner

This is the role

Advanced Interlayers implemented a formal demand planning in 2002, as part of an Oliver Wight MRPII class A implementation. Over the next 22 years demand planning established its reputation as a highly valued part of IBP (Integrated Business Planning). For AMI, Demand Planning is critical to manage a complex supply chain including 10,000 material customer combinations across a 10 site manufacturing footprint, supplied to end customers via 60 ship-from locations where order lead-times of less than one week are more the norm than the exception. Ensuring service excellence and providing clear visibility into the demand which is driving short-term, and mid-term operational requirements and resultant financials are key outcomes of the demand planning process.  To accomplish this, a process was deployed to capture quantitative and qualitative information. Facilitated by standardized IBP tools (OMP, Power-BI,) and an educated business team to run it. The Advanced Interlayers Demand planner is a critical part of the Global demand planning organization. He or she ensures that a monthly and weekly unbiased consensus demand plan, covering the expected Sheet and Intermediate sales, is effectively created, communicated, and tracked to execution.
 

Responsibilities

• Run Monthly demand cycle for EMEA and manage the following data in OMP: Statistical forecast, coordination of customer input with CSR team, coordination of sales rep input with commercial team, market forecast data from assumptions by Market Segment, Upside and Downside Scenario information and the final consensus plan after the IBP review meetings.
• Monitor and update the demand plan on a weekly base to maximize accuracy for execution by supply chain.
• Prepare and lead monthly Sales Intelligence meetings and provide input to Segment and Global demand meetings.
• Attend weekly EMEA TBR meeting as demand team representative to inform team of short-term demand changes and to gather input to update the demand plan.
• Coordinate with Integrated Planners to assess short-term planning needs and risks.
• Focus on forecast accuracy and reliability by using the designed tools and processes. Discuss the learning with the different stakeholders providing input in the demand planning process.
• Use Power-BI to create KPI visibility and assist demand manager to continuously improve forecast performance metrics (WMAPE, Bias, Baseline Forecast Improvement).
• Ensure data integrity and quality by reviewing data, identifying unusual occurrences, seeking explanations, and assisting in developing corrections to prevent reoccurrences.
• Build relationships and work with appropriate stakeholders (e.g., Sales, Product Management, Supply Chain, Marketing, Finance) to gain qualitative and quantitative information affecting short-term demand forecasts.
• Use Power-BI to visualize and analyze data to help Demand Manager and demand team manage by exception.
• When needed, facilitate and lead monthly IBP Demand Review.
• Back-up Demand Manager when needed.
   

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in economics, engineering, data science, supply chain (or equivalent). 
• 2+ years of experience with data analysis, supply chain or data-related roles required.
• Languages: fluent written and verbal skills in English, Dutch is a plus.
• You enjoy data analysis as well as working within teams.
• Able to distill trends, handle both quantitative and qualitative forecasting and capture business knowledge.
• Analytical-minded: Proficient in data acumen, data mining and analysis techniques.
• System-minded: Ability to learn new technology quickly. Knowledge of SAP/OMP/PowerBI is a plus. Advanced Excel skills are required.
• A flexible team player with high resistance to stress and good written and verbal communication skills to interact across the organization.
• Monitors progress of performance and changes approach accordingly.
• Ability to formulate good judgments and clear rationale in making decisions, considering all relevant inputs and alternatives. 
• Solid time management and organization skills