Key Result Areas
The job holder is responsible for developing and implementing supply chain processes that align with the business strategy and capitalize on new opportunities to drive company growth. This role leads the Sales, Inventory, and Operations Planning (SIOP) process and oversees daily activities, including production planning and inventory management across the supply chain network.
A primary focus is ensuring inventory availability to meet business requirements, while achieving inventory turnover and cash conversion targets, maintaining key performance indicators (KPIs), and driving continuous improvement throughout the supply chain.
This position involves direct interaction with customers to ensure that their supply chain requirements are understood and integrated into Fujifilm's supply processes, thereby maintaining high levels of customer satisfaction.
Key Responsibilities
Supply Chain Management
- Develop and implement strategic plans to optimize efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and product delivery.
- Provide subject matter expertise (SME) to supply chain processes and establish performance controls.
- Interact with customers and the Sales team to support needs and develop supply chain solutions.
- Oversee the end-to-end supply chain process in SAP, including maintaining Bills of Material (BoMs), forecasting production requirements and inventory, and converting plan orders into process orders, to ensure efficient production workflow and alignment with supply chain objectives, ensuring timely product availability.
- Oversee the planning function in developing an achievable production schedule to ensure on-time availability of material for shipment, considering business planning inputs, plant shutdowns, MOCs, new product launches (NPI), and using rough-cut capacity planning and known constraints.
- Progress root cause analysis of material shortages and provide available to promise (ATP) analysis and commitments to sales and customer service functions. Participate in development of safety stock requirements covering raw materials, WIP and finished goods.
- Advise business and management on supply chain operations and impact on working capital.
- Manage the implementation of supply chain components for new products (NPI), categories, or customers.
- Ensure supply chain activities are effectively auditable and comply with all regulations, including Fujifilm’s ISO9001 Quality Management System (QMS) and ISO14001 Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) requirements.
- Establish KPIs for measuring supply chain performance, and identify and pursue opportunities for continuous improvement to enhance efficiency and reduce costs.
- Promote the development and communication of “Best Practices” within the supply chain community. Ensure raw materials are monitored and identify any shortages or bottlenecks for production through shortage analysis and liaising with procurement function
Lead the Business SIOP Process
- Establish and maintain the Sales, Inventory, and Operations Planning (SIOP) process, including data management, timelines, and meeting structures to ensure visibility to stakeholders and highlight issues that may introduce risks to meeting the budget or require higher-level resolution.
- Ensure SIOP data inputs and reviews include production requirements, budget considerations, inventory impacts, new product timelines, and relevant KPIs.
- Regularly review and analyze forecasted demand versus actual demand to understand changes and trends, and implement mitigation actions to avoid stockouts or excessive stock builds
- Collaborate with the sales team to ensure appropriate planning modes (MTO, MTF) and set safety stock levels for final production and work-in-progress (WIP), incorporating a routine review process.
- Continuously adjust the SIOP process as needed to accommodate business changes and improve the overall process based on feedback.
SAP Optimization
- Maintain SAP to ensure the data is up-to-date, track progress updates, and review setups for efficiency improvements. This includes management of Production Hierarchy and Bills of Material (BOMs). Ensure that operational material masters, BOMs, product routings, work centers, lead times, and batch sizes are accurately created and maintained in SAP.
- Identify and drive projects within SAP to optimize supply chain processes and enhance overall efficiency.
Optimizing Distribution Network
- Develop and implement network planning and inventory management processes across multiple external warehouses and customer consignment locations while considering the lowest possible landed cost. Plan for future network and regional warehouse space requirements using inventory and sales forecast projections.
- Oversee operational activities with third-party warehouses and manage the supply chain elements of consignment arrangements.
- Ensure a balanced supply and demand across the Fujifilm inventory network/warehouses. Take responsibility for all aspects of inventory control for all sites and external storage locations, managing materials from production and between Fujifilm sites/networks.
Inventory Management and Optimization
- Oversee inventory management to maintain optimal stock levels, minimize costs, and achieve business inventory targets. Optimize inventory globally through DOI/Turns, SLA adherence, forecast accuracy, and safety stock management. Conduct structured inventory reviews to support business requirements and consider strategies for inventory reduction with risk assessment.
- Progress development of safety stock requirements covering raw materials, WIP and finished goods working with procurement, manufacturing and sales.
- Ensure a disciplined approach to materials planning and inventory control across the supply chain. Oversee inventory cycle counting and reconciliation as needed.
- Manage obsolete and slow-moving stocks efficiently, progressing them for provisioning or disposal through appropriate channels and in coordination with Finance and EHS (Environmental Health and Safety) departments.
Lead Staff to Success
- Foster a culture that embraces a modern Continuous Improvement (CI) approach in all activities, ensuring value is consistently brought to the business.
- Staff the department with capable individuals who can effectively support daily supply chain operations and the forward business strategy. Mentor and develop team members through training, goal setting, and continual guidance. Motivate, inspire, and empower the supply chain team to realize their full potential.
- Stay informed of industry best practices and trends, incorporating them into the organization where appropriate. Ensure staffing is proactive, ahead of the curve, and able to address new requirements with adequate time for training and skills development.
Key Relationships
Develop and maintain strong and positive partnerships with all stakeholders across the aqueous manufacturing sites, including Manufacturing, Engineering, Finance, Production Technology, Quality, and HR departments. Additionally, cultivate robust relationships with external partners and customers, such as the Inkjet Business Division, other group companies, and third-party suppliers/service providers.
Person Specification
We are looking for a seasoned Supply Chain Manager with substantial manufacturing experience and a proven track record in overseeing and managing production flow. The ideal candidate will have expertise in integrating and optimizing every stage of the product lifecycle. This individual must be a versatile leader, capable of adapting their style to suit various business and situational needs. They should be equally comfortable setting a visionary future direction and delivering on current goals and targets.
Essential Experience
- Bachelor’s degree in supply chain management, Business Administration, Operations, or a related field.
- Significant experience (7+ years) in managing and delivering supply chain functions, including SIOP, network warehousing, consignment arrangements, inventory management and coordination with procurement function.
- A minimum of 5 years of leadership experience managing personnel.
- Proven experience within a manufacturing environment, preferably in the chemical industry.
- Extensive experience with Material Requirement Planning (MRP), ideally using SAP for production planning and inventory management. Fluency and proficiency in practical application of MRP logic, scheduling logic, order policies, capacity planning, input/output control, product structures, routing and standard maintenance.
- Demonstrate financial understanding of materials and supply chain performance.
- Driving Cost reduction by streamlining processes and systems, consolidation of tasks, elimination of non-value-added processes
Preferred Experience/Know-How
- Strong mathematical, logical, and analytical skills.
- Proficiency with a wide range of software programs; strong capabilities in SAP and Excel are required. Experience with Cognos or BI, JMP, SQL, and Tableau is highly desirable.
- Problem-solving skills with experience in continuous improvement tools such as Six Sigma and value stream mapping preferred.
- Extensive experience in stakeholder management with a proven track record of successful collaboration.
- Exceptional leadership and communication skills.
- Familiarity with US and foreign customs and duty regulations, along with a general knowledge of export regulatory requirements.
- Demonstrated strategic thinking and planning abilities.
Capability Requirements
- Highly effective communicator, both externally and internally, with strong influencing and negotiation skills.
- Attention to detail while retaining a focus on strategic intent.
- Ability to engage in global communication and collaboration, with cultural sensitivity and understanding being key to global team success.
- Logical thinker capable of challenging the status quo when necessary.
- Emotionally controlled and able to cope well under pressure, exercising effective managerial judgment.
- Adept at analytics and an effective problem solver with a propensity for action.
- Strong capabilities in analytical, planning, prioritizing, and project management, while keeping sight of overall objectives.
- Displays commercial acumen and possesses well-developed financial skills.
- Positive and enthusiastic with exceptional personal drive, enjoys meeting challenging goals and overcoming obstacles.
- Strong financial and analytical abilities, with proficiency in managing business analytics to determine the optimum company footprint.
Other Information
Occasional travel may be required. This description is subject to periodic review and amendment.
Management Systems for Quality, Environmental, Health, Safety and Ethics
It is the responsibility of the individual to be aware of their own and their department’s Quality, Environment, Health, Safety and Ethics Objectives, Policies, Procedures and to ensure that any actions taken are not contrary to these or have any detrimental impact on the Companies obligations under our Code of Conduct, Legal or Regulatory requirements.