Supply Chain Planner

General Description:

The Supply Chain planner is responsible to fulfil all sales orders from Univar’s customers, with the focus on service in terms of lead-time and delivery reliability (On Time and In Full). In the meantime, the planner acts as a service provider to the supplier by meeting supplier’s order restrictions and ensuring the quality of supply chain processes.

The planner is part of a supply chain team that is responsible to make inventory and service targets, support and set up new business and manage lost business. The team works closely with the Commercial teams of multiple Business Units, each serving an Industry or Product Line.

The planner is responsible to operate according to the Supply Chain Minimum Standards that contain the key process requirements. Also, the planner is able to review his/her performance using the Univar Tableau dashboards, and take appropriate actions.

Success or failure is largely determined by the pro-active attitude of the planner and his/her ability to coordinate with others while challenging from his/her supply chain expertise. Determining the risks for the supply (what can go wrong), focus on clear communication (did the other party understand my plans) and a goal oriented approach to supply issues (what needs to be done to achieve the desired supply, inventory and service position).

Tasks/Responsibilities:

Each planner has a clear set of products assigned, for which he/she coordinates the supply chain with Logistics, Operations, Customer Service and the Commercial manager (Product Management & Sales). The planner is responsible for the service of product deliveries to the customer and meeting cost, inventory and supplier restrictions (end-to-end). Coordination includes finding solutions for customer requests and resolutions for conflicting goals in gross margin, profitability and working capital. Timely and factual escalation is an important skill for success.

• Purchase with suppliers contracted by Product Management
  • Manage and Purchase using the ERP MRP-planning functionality
  • Combine material requirements into efficient purchases or according to Supplier’s rules (like full truck ordering)
  • Ensure purchase prices are up to date (provided by Product management)
  • Balance the Purchase in relation to resulting inventory, supplier and transport restrictions and commercial input on pricing/demand expectations/strategic positions (and escalate where needed for valid decision making)
  • Ensure correct Purchase Order approval according to the Univar DOA
• Internal Purchase with European Distribution Center for centrally distributed products
• Shipments between Univar plants (Stock Transfer Orders)
• Shipping inbound with carriers contracted by Logistics.
• ERP system Planning Parameters (Master data)
• Inventory management
  • Total inventory
  • Targets per SKU
  • Excess inventory identification and reduction
  • Product Availability for sales orders
  • Manage and use Univar Product Segmentation Tool; Stocking decision, Reorderpoints and Safety Stocks
• Bad inventory; Report and Manage reduction with Operations, Product Management and Sales. Log all actions, manual provision decisions and root causes in the Bad Inventory report.
• Daily meeting with Customer Service and Logistics/Operations to check for deviations from the plan to avoid out-of-stocks and delays in customer deliveries
• Service: Coordinate with Logistics, Operations and Customer Service to achieve On Time In Full shipments to customers
• Cost-efficiency and quality control of the supply flows
• Communicate clearly around the supply situation, customer and supplier requirements and costs
• Non-conformances handling
• Escalation management and coordination (fast, clear and detailed communication to all stakeholders)
• Continuous Process Improvement on planning processes linking to business requirements
• Improve/ liaise with suppliers to improve supply confirmation and delivery accuracy
• Point of Contact for planners in other Univar locations, Product Management and Customer Service
• Perform other tasks as required, like managing (small) projects, supplier meetings, supply chain analytics
• Monitor performance in Univar Tableau reporting

Key Decisions

• Purchase Order - timing and quantity
• Product Segmentation (stocking/non-stocking)
• Inventory target per SKU (Stock Keeping Unit) with ReOrder Point/Safety Stock and Order Quantity
• ERP Planning parameters (Mikro/Xpoda settings)

Targets:

• On Time In Full delivery to customers (%)
• Stock availability (%) - reduction of stock outs
• Inventory (Total euro, turns, DSI, Excess euro)
• Bad Inventory (euro, % total inv)
• Delivery performance suppliers (%)
• Comply with Supply Chain minimum standards

Contacts:

Main/Operational

• Suppliers (Sales/Customer Service and Planning/Supply Chain)
• Commercial Manager (Product Management & Sales)
• Product Manager assistant
• Customer Care (Commercial)
• Logistics (Operations or Supply Chain)
• Operations (Univar sites)
• Third Party Warehouses
• Supply Chain planners in other locations
• Supply chain manager

Sales (Commercial)

Profile:

• Education: bachelor or university degree or compensation in experience
• SAP experience is a plus, MS Excel experience is a must
• Fluent in English
• 4 years of relevant working experience in planning, transport, customer service is a plus
• Retail or Chemical experience is a plus
• Analyzing skills
• Communication skills
• Organization sensitive
• Strong negotiation skills between stakeholders
• Able to change and adjust in a fast moving environment
• Ability to deal with ambiguous situations

About Univar Solutions

Want to work for a company that is reimagining distribution? Join Univar Solutions, the premier global distributor of chemicals and ingredients. Our goal is to function as a direct extension of our customers’ teams; to serve as an ally in their quest of business success. At Univar Solutions, we’re building on our more than 90 years of experience and drawing on deep resources – inventory and logistics experts, scientists, PhDs, procurement, customer service, sales and marketers-to deliver consultative services and an unmatched portfolio to solve customers’ formulation and operational challenges. When you work for Univar Solutions, you’ll play an important role in shaping how we deliver more than chemical and ingredients.