Demand Planning Analyst

Role Overview

• Develop accurate demand forecasts of all line items for their accountable segment of the business by using a combination of statistical forecasting integrated with insights gained via partnering with Sales, Marketing, Operations and Finance departments.
• Ensure consistent integration into the forecast of customer insights, base business trends, merchandising promotional plans, new item volumes, plan-o-gram changes and seasonal volume with the goal of reducing working capital and minimizing forecast error.
• Work cross functionally toward continuous improvement of forecast accuracy and improve the error rate below targeted levels of Weighted Mean Absolute Percentage Error (WMAPE) and Bias.
• Analyze, maintain, and modify key item-level system replenishment settings such as minimum ship quantity and shipment increment.
• Develop/maintain statistical safety stock strategy utilizing inventory optimization tools.
• Maintain forecasting system models, history, alerts, and system data integrity to ensure the publication of a 104 week operational forecast by item by distribution center in SAP APO DP / JDA Manugistics systems.
• Manage timely new item and version change setups.
• Manage customer specific systems and tools integration with the forecasting system.
• Provide Sales and Operations teams with timely analysis, guidance, and decision-making to ensure that the supply chain is in the best position to execute the demand plan generated from the total operational forecast.
• This includes generating and publishing to key stakeholders, monthly and weekly demand forecasts, including clear identification of assumptions highlighting significant changes since release of previous report.
• Planners with Key Account responsibility will maintain accountability for specific Customer focused metrics, including Customer Case Fill, Customer Service Levels, Planned Arrival Accuracy, Customer Inventory Levels, Customer Inventory Turns, and provide packtype / brand analysis for customer level forecasts to validate alignment with CSE expectations and customer retail performance.
• Provide input to support monthly IBM Demand meetings and incorporate IBM feedback to improve forecasting process.
• Provide documented insights into forecast changes, growth rates, promotions, distribution changes, and customer insights as well as supporting points for the current brand/packtype forecasts.
• Perform ad hoc analyses, as required, in support of contingency planning.
• Proactively develop others within the planning organization through the sharing of best demonstrated processes and knowledge transference.
• Provide cross functional leadership across departments to solve for demand related issues caused by forecast error, demand constraints, unplanned promotional opportunities, etc.
• Act as a lead on special projects, providing leadership as a functional expert to represent Demand Planning needs.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Supply Chain, Mathematics, Information Systems or equivalent experience
• At least 1-4 years of relevant experience
• Capacity to work within multiple internal and external information systems including SAP, Manugistics, and customer-specific systems
• Proficient in understanding of fundamental business management and supply chain principles and concepts
• Thorough understanding of key internal and external order fulfillment processes
• Proficient in all Microsoft Office applications, particularly Access and Excel
• Ability to communicate effectively with internal and external partners at all levels
• Ability to implement and execute forecasts and sales plans
• Capacity to analyze customer-specific data and reporting vehicles
• Strong mathematical skills

Benefits

• Health insurance
• 401(k) matching
• Paid time off
• Professional development opportunities