Supply Chain Manager, SEA and Japan

Role Overview

Supply Chain Manager, SEA and Japan is a business critical and high impact role responsible of managing the overall planning, logistics and customer service operations in SEA and Japan in collaboration with internal and external stakeholders to ensure the delivery of business targets through maximized forecast accuracy & minimized bias, optimized inventory levels and maximum service levels.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Supply Chain Management

• Manage market supply chain activities of demand planning, logistics and customer service operations with the relevant internal and external stakeholders
• Lead the key business operations initiatives in SEA and Japan, be the spoke of Supply Chain with any internal and external stakeholders and ensure that these initiatives are executed as per the targeted volumes, values, and timelines.
• Ensure customers and plants are aligned with Service Level Agreement (SLA), handle clarification proactively-report any ambiguity to Planning manager.

Demand and Supply Planning

• Lead Demand Reviews for SEA and Japan, challenge sales forecast assumptions based on statistical forecast, communicate supply issues, share analysis, share ability to run activities as per suggested timing according to distributors stock, reporting any abnormalities noticed in distributors stock and sales report, supply delays affecting stock levels.
• Ensure accurate SKU level planning to support the rolling 4 months production & procurement plan to factories, and 24 months rolling forecast for crop related SKUs. This in accordance with approved service agreements with plants.
• Ensure accurate planning, SKU mix, aggregate volume leading to proper financial planning (Scenarios, Budgets, and long-range planning).
• Work closely with the key distributors to drive Collaborative Planning, Forecasting and Replenishment (CPFR), have one business plan across and harmonize the process to ensure availability and minimize lost & distress sales.
• Work closely with the supply planning team to have optimum service from the plants.
• Ensure that the sales analyst has the support to assemble and analyse all data related to sales forecast along with GBS (historical sales, market trends, seasonality, promotions), the base to drive the Demand Reviews.
• Manage the New Product (NPD) & launch process; liaise concurrently with all stakeholders to ensure timely product supply, including system integration and optimal packaging design where required.
• Ensure a low phase-out cost for non-performing SKU as an output of rationalization.

Distribution and Customer Service

• Ensure that the material and production constraints, storage, write offs implications & supply issues involving the plants are addressed and discussed with the relevant plant or supply chain teams in order to provide contingency plans for best utilization of resources aiming at optimizing it.
• Ensure to maintain Demand Replenishment Plans (DRPs) updated with the shipment plan in planning tool in accordance with Drop to plant calendar and work closely with customer service team, prompting the orders from distributors in accordance with Service Level Agreement (SLA), ensuring proper supply to answer the projected sales including incremental ones driven by ATL and BTL aligned on activities.
• Ensure that the customer orders to dropped to respective plants and their loading and shipment plans are tracked to make sure they are in line with the needs of the business and the distributor.
• Ensure that the actual orders captured by CS team are reconciled and ensure forward outlook planning.

Performance Monitoring and Improvement

• Track and monitor the variance in term of performance versus outlook and cycle to cycle changes, share findings and analysis with the teams.
• Measure to improve-KPIs:
  • Forecast accuracy (IMS) lag-1/lag-3
  • Forecast accuracy (Shipment) lag-3
  • Sales Plan Performance (IMS and Shipment) lag-3
  • Case fill
  • Logistics cost
  • Order prompt%
  • Freshness
• Solve ad-hoc inquiries related to supply chain.
• Adhere to company procedures and deadlines.

Position Selection Criteria

• Bachelor’s degree in business, engineering, supply chain, or similar field,
• Customer/Distributor facing experience preferred.
• Proficiency in ERP (SAP for e.g.) & planning tools (OMP, O9, Blue Yonder etc.).
• 10-12 years of experience in CPG / FMCG with experience in the Food & Beverage industry preferred.
• Hands on experience of Demand Planning is a must.
• Knowledge of supply chain concepts and application.
• Team Management experience is desired.

• Excellent communicator who facilitates bottom up and top-down communication channels together with effective negotiating skills at various levels in the organization both internal and external stakeholders.
• A proven “doer” who acts with speed and agility to deliver results.
• Embodies winning as a team culture with full commitment to continuous improvement.
• Ability to meticulously plan and pivot when required.
• Team player