Job Summary
The DRP Planner reports to Supply Planning Manager, and is responsible for Distribution Resource Planning (DRP) between plants / warehouses within a strategic business unit or within a given supply chain network. The DRP Planner plans transfers and maintains appropriate inventory levels across multiples sites, and typically manages $4-10 million in inventory value. The DRP Planner also works closely with supply planners and site schedulers to optimize production schedules at the supply sites while ensuring sustainable service level at destination shipment branches. The DRP Planner functional can be regional or global. If regional, the DRP planner is responsible to support the destinations from his/her sourcing region.
Job Description
Position in Organization
Reports to: Regional Supply Planning Manager
Direct Reports: This role has no direct report, is an individual contributor
Department: Supply Planning
Responsibilities
1. Demand Forecasting & Replenishment Planning
· Responsibility for determining when to replenish all destinations based on the demand forecast, required service level, inventory strategy, safety stock, and time fence indicators
· Configure DRP Network in the ERP tool
· Create replenishment orders based on system signals
2. Operational Planning and Execution
· Responsible for the operation of the DRP process on a daily, weekly, and monthly basis over a minimum of an 18-month horizon
· Review requirements at warehouses and create capacity-feasible loads in the ERP system
· Monitor past due in transits and resolve issues with logistics alongside stockout/stock high situations; taking appropriate action where required
3. Performance Measurement and Metrics:
· Responsible for DRP metrics performance to MPS / MRP II levels
· Establish and collect other appropriate metrics as necessary for planning
4. Collaboration and Supply Chain Coordination:
· Works and collaborates closely with supply planning manager and site production schedulers to ensure material is available to ship in time
· Holds a key interface with customer service on Available-to-Promise (ATP) issues
5. ERP System Configuration and Optimization:
· Responsibility for configuring the ERP system to replenish destinations, ensuring the system-generated plans are responsible and appropriate
6. Continuous Improvement and Issue Resolution:
· Support an ongoing report or meeting structure with the destination supply planner to address availability issues
Decision making
You will typically hold responsibility for replenishment planning activities; determining replenishment of destinations based on demand forecasts. You will co-ordinate and be responsible for the operation of DRP processes on an ongoing basis across an 18 month horizon and will support performance measurement for key metrics alongside providing insights and recommendations to supporting insights and opportunities for Supply Chain ERP processes and optimization. DRP planners decide when and how much to order from suppliers or manufacturers to meet anticipated demand while maintaining inventory within target levels. They must consider lead times, order quantities, and supplier reliability. The other typical decisions this role makes are:
Deciding the optimal inventory levels at various distribution warehouses. This includes determining safety stock levels to account for uncertainties in demand and supply.
DRP planners need to make decisions about how to minimize lead times in the supply chain, whether through inventory buffering or expedited transportation.
Determining the most cost-effective and efficient transportation methods and routes for distributing products.
What will it take
Job Competencies
Ensuring accountability: holds self and team to commitments and standards for managing inventory levels
Communicates effectively: communicates at various levels of the organization and externally to ensure demand plans are achieved
Optimizes work processes: Ability to operate with effective and efficient processes in order to complete and deliver successful outcomes; alongside a focus on continuous improvement
Plan and align: able to optimize production schedules and ensures all inventory levels are maintained to support plans
Collaboration: Effectively collaborates with site planners, customer service, and supply planning leadership, and plant leadership to ensure forecast, strategy and inventory levels are resourced and targets are met
Technical Knowledge and Skills
Advanced analytical and forecasting skills.
Excellent problem-solving skills, with ability to plan for, mitigate and resolve key risks or issues as they arise
Excellent communication skills, communicating clearly and effectively both written and oral across internal teams and other partners
Advanced knowledge of Microsoft Suite: Excel, PowerPoint, Word
Advanced ERP – JDE preferred
Position Requirements
Education: Bachelor’s degree in business or related field
Experience: Minimum 5 years’ experience in supply chain, production scheduling or related field.
IT Skills: Advanced Microsoft Office (Excel, PowerPoint) Experience working with ERP systems, JDE preferred
Language Skills: Verbal and written fluency in which English
Working arrangements: Minimum 3 days a week in the office
Traveling required: This role is based predominantly at our Porto site. There may be occasions where you may be asked to visit other Elementis sites