Job Title: Inventory Planning Manager

Location: Swords Chapel Lane

Reports To: Head of Supply Chain

Department: Supply Chain

Job Summary:

The Inventory Planning Manager is accountable for developing and executing inventory strategies that drive optimal stock levels across the supply chain at an appropriate level of financial investment. “Inventory” is defined as those materials that support manufacturing of end instruments and the supply of spares for same.

The role balances supply and demand, minimizes excess inventory, reduces MRB holding to negligible levels, and considers last time buys, vendor consignment stocks, obsolescence and redundant inventory, and costs associated with transport and storage for material requisitions.

The manager collaborates cross-functionally with procurement, production, and logistics teams to align inventory plans with overall SCM strategy and wider business objectives.

Key Responsibilities:

·        Develop and manage inventory planning processes to support SCM and wider business goals, meeting both S&OP targeted output for instruments, and the supply of spare parts for same, at an appropriate level of financial investment.

·        Fully utilize planning logic (system parametrization, system based rules, system functionality) resident on ERP (SAP) system.

·        Formalise inventory budgeting process for working capital investment, and associated budgeted requirements (external storage requirements as eg)

·        Optimise ECO process (Engineering Cut Over) ensuring residual inventories are minimized, service continuation, appropriate last time buys to support same.

·        Work close with SAP SCM development function regarding plans such as EDI capability development, WMS deployment.

·        Co-ordinates production plans, schedules, labour planning, capacity planning, with Manufacturing, utilizing SAP/Off line tools

·        Manage and mentor inventory analysts and procurement/planning personnel and ensure deployed processes are understood and adhered to.

·        Monitor inventory KPIs, creating continuous improvement plans and projects to drive corrective actions where needed.

·        Collaborate with procurement, logistics and production teams to align supply plans with inventory targets, manufacturing schedules and logistics team impact.

·        Implement appropriate inventory optimization tools and systems to improve accuracy and efficiency, providing business case and payback

·        Work closely with Strategic Procurement to identify and mitigate risks related to inventory, including supply disruptions, supplier switching, supplier capacity constraints and S&OP uplift.

·        Work closely with Inventory Control function regarding inventory integrity and form

Key Performance Indicators:

Candidates should be able to communicate and prove how they have implemented, measured, and managed inventory in respect of significant KPIs:

·        Inventory Turnover Ratio.

·        Days of Inventory on Hand

·        MRP Planning Changes

·        Service Level (%)

·        Stockout Rate (%)

·        Excess Inventory Values

·        Obsolete, Redundant Inventory Values

·        MRB Inventory Values

·        Scrap Inventory Values

·        Working Capital Impact

Qualifications:

·        BSc in Supply Chain Management, Business, Engineering, or related field, MSc preferred

·        APICS/CPIM/IBF/IIPMM Certification a distinct advantage

·        Six Sigma Belt qualification advantageous

·        Data Analytics qualification advantageous

Preferred Skills:

·        5+ years detailed experience in inventory planning across a wide supplier base (number and location), considerable SKU base (number, volume, transactional volume)

·        Established SME in inventory planning processes.

·        Financially astute, with proven experience in managing multi-million (€) working capital arrangements

·        Experience in wider SCM, Procurement, Manufacturing a distinct advantage.

·        Experience in spare parts management a distinct advantage.

·        Strong analytical skills and proficiency in inventory planning tools (e.g., SAP, Oracle, NetSuite), planning on SAP a distinct advantage

·        Excellent communication and cross-functional collaboration skills.

·        Demonstrable change management skills.

·        Experience of implementing/over-hauling planning capabilities within a company to achieve targeted improvements.

·        Experienced in S&OP/IBP processes specifically in Supply Planning, and NPI/PPM

·        Experience in manufacturing, retail, or distribution environments, with healthcare, medical device, bio-science industry experience being a distinct advantage

·        Demonstrable advanced Excel and data analysis capabilities including visualization skills and the ability to tell a story via data – modeling skills an advantage. #siemens