Product Planning Specialist

Job Overview

Provides the resource to proactively manage the strategic product groups (i.e. Reman, Undercarriage) through input into planning system that controls inventory performance with order fill.  Manages parts requirements to the supply chain and manages capacity constraints of key suppliers.  Manages tactical supplier relationships.  Manages core requirements to support parts requirements.  Determines rework and interchangeability to minimize inventory obsolescence risk.  Balances market intelligence with system recommendations.

Scope

This position manages the balance between market intelligence and system forecasts and order policies of a proportional share of $300M of inventory consisting of 220,000 parts.  Performance of this position is measured by forecast accuracy, availability, and inventory management. Forecast and order policy decisions impact a proportional share of $636M of annual purchases and the efficiency of a supply chain consisting of 1,400 suppliers. This position manages the responsibility for commodities and product lines as assigned by the Supply Chain Manager. 

Key Job Responsibilities

• Plan inventory, schedule material, launch purchase order requirements, manage core inventory and align system forecasts utilizing current and future business trends to maximize inventory, availability, and supply chain performance.
• Address expediting needs to ensure stock availability minimizing backorders and stock out conditions.
• Manage Supplier Capacity Shortages to ensure adequate supply base for parts support.
• Determine interchangeability of parts for supercession management and rework opportunity to avoid surplus and obsolescence.
• Maintain performance metrics, conduct root cause analysis, and establish counter measures to achieve business plan objectives
• Meet with suppliers as required to maintain or improve supplier performance in collaboration with the Purchasing and Customer Care teams.
• Participant and meeting facilitator in the SIOP/ Hansei process for mining and construction machines.
• Develop reports and presentations that track performance to goals or provides information for action.
• Perform other duties as assigned by the Supply Chain Manager
• Cross training as required.
• Knowledgeable in all aspects of associate planner/planner positions providing the ability to stand in for the scheduling planner and/or manager as needed.

Qualifications/Requirements

• Bachelor of Science Degree in Supply Chain Management, Engineering, Logistics or a related business discipline preferred. APICS/CPSM certification or work towards certification a plus.
• 3-5 plus years of experience in planning and supply chain execution
• Technical aptitude, including the understanding of Bills of Material, ability to determine rework requirements
• Knowledge and experience in Materials Management processes and policies or equivalent experience
• Action oriented; sense of urgency driven
• Accepts the need for change, communicates and defends the need for change throughout the organization, creates an open and receptive environment
• Embraces accountability and responsibility – individual and shared.  Acts as back up for the Supply Chain Manager as appropriate
• Manufacturing, production planning and/or whole goods product experience a plus 
• Professional PC skills in Excel, Power Point, Access, SAP, Servigistics or other commercial inventory planning systems   
• Regular attendance.
• Physical Requirements:  While performing the duties of this job, the associate is required to have ordinary ambulatory skills sufficient to visit other locations; and the ability to stand, walk, stoop, kneel, crouch, and manipulate (lift, carry, move) light to medium weights of 1-10 pounds.  Requires good hand-eye coordination, arm, hand and finger dexterity, including ability to grasp, and visual acuity to use a keyboard, operate equipment and read application information.  The associate frequently is required to sit, reach with hands and arms, talk and hear.

Additional Information