Supply Chain Planner / Supply Chain Analyst

Supply Chain Planner / Supply Chain Analyst

Focus: Demand forecasting | Material requirements planning (MRP) | Inventory and supply planning

Position Overview

The Supply Chain Planner / Supply Chain Analyst forecasts finished-goods demand, plans production and raw-material requirements, monitors inventory coverage, and coordinates timely material replenishment. The role combines numerical analysis with spreadsheet-based planning to ensure material availability, minimize shortages and excess inventory, and support reliable customer fulfillment. The planner works with Sales, suppliers, and logistics partners to translate demand signals into actionable supply and ordering plans.

Key Responsibilities

Demand Forecasting and Finished-Goods Planning

• Create and maintain finished-goods forecasts using financial forecasts, historical sales, current demand patterns, and Sales input.
• Develop production plans based on forecast demand, inventory, lead times, and available capacity.
• Incorporate KPIs, mathematical calculations, lead times, and operational constraints into planning assumptions.
• Review forecast-versus-actual performance, identify trends or discrepancies, and recommend adjustments.

Material Requirements Planning (MRP)

• Calculate raw-material requirements to support forecasted finished-goods production.
• Determine material needs using production schedules, demand forecasts, bills of materials where applicable, on-hand inventory, and incoming deliveries.
• Plan across multiple suppliers, raw materials, finished goods, and SKUs.
• Identify shortages, capacity constraints, and supply risks early, and coordinate corrective actions.

Inventory Management and Forward-Cover Reporting

• Prepare and maintain forward-cover reports showing how long raw-material and finished-goods inventory can support forecasted demand or production.
• Monitor inventory coverage, stock availability, and projected consumption against demand and production plans.
• Highlight shortages, excess or at-risk inventory, timing gaps, and other risks.
• Maintain accurate planning data and communicate material risks to stakeholders.

Ordering and Supply Planning

• Prepare order reports identifying materials to order, quantities, and required timing.
• Account for supplier lead times, minimum order quantities, delivery schedules, inventory levels, and production requirements.
• Coordinate with suppliers and partner vendors to confirm material availability and expected delivery dates.
• Track open orders and delayed shipments, escalate disruptions, and support continuity of supply.

Required Qualifications and Skills

• Strong numerical, analytical, and problem-solving skills, including the ability to interpret KPIs, identify trends, and investigate discrepancies.
• Advanced Microsoft Excel or spreadsheet-modeling skills; PivotTables, lookup functions, complex formulas, and large datasets are valuable.
• Working knowledge of demand forecasting, inventory planning, replenishment, and MRP principles.
• Ability to manage interconnected calculations across multiple SKUs, suppliers, raw materials, and finished goods.
• Strong attention to detail, organization, follow-through, and risk identification.
• Clear communication and collaboration skills with Sales, suppliers, logistics partners, and internal operations teams.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with ERP or supply chain planning systems such as SAP, Oracle, NetSuite, or comparable platforms.
• Experience in manufacturing, consumer packaged goods (CPG), distribution, or another inventory-intensive environment.
• Exposure to production planning, bills of materials (BOMs), safety stock, reorder points, supplier lead-time management, and inventory coverage reporting.

Key Stakeholders and Collaboration

• Planning Lead / Ties: Workflow guidance, planning coordination, and onboarding.
• Internal Sales Team: Sales expectations, demand forecasts, customer requirements, and demand changes.
• Suppliers / Partner Vendors: Material availability, lead times, order status, and delivery schedules.
• Logistics Partners: Shipment status and resolution of delivery delays or supply disruptions.

Measures of Success

• Forecast and planning accuracy, supported by regular forecast-versus-actual reviews.
• Timely identification and resolution of material shortages and supply risks.
• Reliable inventory coverage and forward-cover reporting.
• Accurate, timely order recommendations aligned with lead times and production needs.
• Improved material availability while balancing excess inventory and operational continuity.

Specific systems, reporting formats, and planning procedures may vary by business requirements.