A leading FMCG company situated in Durban is urgently seeking the expertise of an experienced Brand Group Planner to join their team.The successful incumbent for this position will be responsible for:Demand PlanningDevelop demand forecasts for New and Existing products based upon demand patterns and business trends/assumptions.History correction: Correct historical sales data to improve quality of time series input into statistical forecasting.Statistical forecasting: Analyse and assign appropriate statistical models and parameters to enrich statistical forecasts in order to generate accurate base line forecasts in SAP-APO.Promotion Planning: Utilise promotional volumes/plans obtained from Sales/Marketing to finalise promotional volume input into SAP (i.e. EPP).Propose and implement solutions to improve forecast accuracy and minimise bias.Responsible for the finalization of the category demand plans by leading the Pre-S&OP Meetings and its resultant inputs and outputs.Inventory Planning and ReplenishmentReplenishment of products from Hubs/PCs/3PMs using aligned process (CRP/MIP/NDF).Safety Stock Planning using ASAS in APO: Monthly creation and refinement of safety stock to ensure optimum inventory levels by product.Support the Launch/Relaunch (L/RL) process by ensuring uninterrupted supply of new and relaunched products.Active management of Critical stock (i.e. excess, obsolete, close to expiry) using HIT to ensure reduction of bad inventory.Exception Management: Review APO Supply Planning alerts as required on a daily/weekly/monthly basis and execute actions with supply units.Left over Management of Relaunches ensuring the optimum amount of inventory and lowest write off costs.Leading VAS process with the external supplier by ensuring stock is reworked efficiently and timeously and at the agreed pricing addressing any financial workflows queries promptly.Master Data ManagementCreate and maintain demand and supply product master data for new, relaunched, and exiting products in SAP PLM/PE2/APO.Ensure high integrity of product master data via monthly health check and overall data management.Sales & Operations PlanningLead and execute monthly S&OP meetings (i.e Pre-S&OP) for responsible categories in order to ensure alignment of plans across the key business areas.Support monthly meetings between Key Account Managers and their respective customers to provide forecasting insights and analytics.Actively contribute to category specific S&OP meetingsProactively identify and advise the business of potential supply risks and opportunities in forward plan.Assess and present mitigating and cost-effective options to the business to close the supply gaps.Performance Management-ReportingGenerate and analyse monthly Demand & Supply Planning (KPI/PI) reports: Service Level, Forecast Accuracy, Forecast Bias, Inventories as well as Write Downs/Scrapping to enable performance and root cause managementProject ManagementLead and manage delivery of Planning-specific savings initiatives and other optimization projects.Key requirements:University or similar Bachelor's degree – ideally in Supply Chain, Engineering, Commerce, Statistics & Mathematics or Other SciencesA Minimum of 3 years' experience in a demand planning/forecasting and/or supply/production planningComputer literate and proficient in Microsoft office suite (Excel, Word, Power point, Outlook)Good knowledge of SAP Modules (R/3, APO-DP, APO-SNP, PLM. Working knowledge of MM and BI advantageous. Please note that correspondence will only be conducted with shortlisted candidates for this position. Should you not hear from us within 3 days, please consider your application unsuccessful.
