Inventory/Supply Planner

Roles & Responsibilities:

1. Production Planning

• Develop Production Schedules: Create and manage detailed production plans based on demand forecasts, customer orders, and inventory levels, ensuring that production runs efficiently and on time.
• Capacity Planning: Ensure that production capacity aligns with demand forecasts and available resources, adjusting schedules and processes when necessary to avoid bottlenecks or delays.
• Material Requirements Planning (MRP): Use MRP systems to determine the materials required for production, ensuring that all raw materials and components are available in the correct quantities and on time.

2. Inventory Management

• Minimize Stockouts and Overstocks: Use forecasting, demand planning, and safety stock strategies to balance supply with demand, ensuring that there are no disruptions in production.
• Inventory Audits: Ensure regular physical inventory counts are conducted, and stock discrepancies are identified and resolved promptly.
• Stock Rotation: Implement inventory practices, such as FIFO (First In, First Out), to ensure the proper rotation of stock, especially for perishable or time-sensitive materials.

3. Supply Chain Coordination

• Coordinate Logistics: Oversee the transportation of raw materials and finished products, ensuring timely deliveries to production facilities and customers while minimizing shipping costs.
• Manage Lead Times: Work with suppliers and logistics teams to optimize lead times for procurement and delivery to ensure that production schedules are not delayed.
• Supply Chain Risk Management: Monitor potential risks to the supply chain, such as disruptions, raw material shortages, or regulatory changes, and develop contingency plans to mitigate these risks.

4. Regulatory Compliance and Documentation

• Ensure Compliance with Regulatory Standards: Ensure that production and supply processes comply with relevant medical device regulations, such as ISO 13485, FDA regulations, and CE marking requirements.
• Maintain Records: Keep detailed records of production schedules, inventory levels, and supply chain activities to ensure traceability, particularly for medical devices, which require stringent documentation for regulatory purposes.
• Quality Control: Collaborate with quality assurance and regulatory teams to ensure that production and inventory practices adhere to industry standards and that products meet quality specifications.

5. Forecasting and Demand Planning

• Analyze Market Demand: Work with sales, marketing, and customer service teams to analyze market trends, customer demand, and product launches to forecast future production and supply needs.
• Adjust Production Plans: Adjust production plans based on updated forecasts, customer orders, or changes in demand to ensure that the production lines are running efficiently.
• Demand-Planning Software: Use forecasting and planning tools (e.g., ERP systems, demand planning software) to manage and track production and supply schedules.

6. Production Monitoring and Troubleshooting

• Monitor Production Progress: Oversee the production process to ensure that it is on track and that any delays, inefficiencies, or quality issues are addressed immediately.
• Troubleshoot Production Issues: Quickly identify and resolve production challenges, such as equipment breakdowns, supply shortages, or quality issues, to prevent delays.
• Maintain Production Flow: Ensure smooth coordination between different departments (e.g., procurement, quality, engineering, and logistics) to maintain uninterrupted production.

7. Continuous Improvement

• S&OP and IBP- Perform Sales & operation Planning as well as Integrated Business planning
• Process Optimization: Continuously look for ways to improve production and supply chain processes, reduce lead times, increase efficiency, and cut costs.
• Implement Lean Practices: Apply lean manufacturing principles to minimize waste, improve productivity, and optimize resources.
• Adopt New Technologies: Stay up-to-date with technological advancements in production planning, supply chain management, and inventory control, adopting new tools and systems to enhance operations.

8. Cost Management

• Budgeting and Cost Control: Work with finance and procurement teams to develop and manage production and supply budgets, ensuring cost-effective operations without compromising quality.
• Optimize Production Costs: Identify cost-saving opportunities in the production process, from sourcing materials to reducing waste, while maintaining product quality and compliance.

9. Customer Order Fulfillment

• Ensure On-Time Delivery: Ensure that customer orders are fulfilled on time, working with logistics and production teams to meet customer delivery requirements.
• Manage Backorders: Monitor backorders and ensure that they are processed promptly to meet customer expectations