Network Capacity Planner

at  Mars

JOB DESCRIPTION:

The Network Capacity Planner is a leading role in the integrated, intelligent and agile Mars Wrigley supply chain organization, focusing on the S&OP+ horizon. The Network Capacity Planner is accountable for the Long-Term Capacity management and Regional FG Inventory Performance within the network. The planner is responsible for balancing demand and supply through the creation of the consensus supply plan as well as proactively creating and analyzing different scenarios in real time against a defined scorecard including NSV and volume.
You could position the role as a mix between industrial engineering and supply chain planning. It includes topics such as: 1) setting-up a strategy to balance utilization across production lines that can make the same product, 2) making a plan how to manage next year summer’s labor restrictions, 3) calculating the right production frequency by balancing market and factory costs, 4) escalate mid-term risks for the production lines to senior leadership and liaise with industrial engineers, sites and finance for solutions, 5) participate in projects to apply new digital capabilities in network planning.
The above topics should give an idea about the scope of the role. Short term (0-3 months) planning tasks are not in the role, they are covered by the Network Production Planner.

• Own the assessment of supply mid-term capacity vs demand (4-36 months horizon), flagging any exceptions, driving solutions and decision making to close the gap. Engages Industrial engineering if capacity gaps require escalation
• Ensure sufficient capacity within the network, including inputs into Warehouse and Transportation capacity planning process owned by respective functions
• Own, set and manage replenishment strategy and define associated network parameters for each product within their portfolio (inc. semi-finished) across all nodes in the network in line with the inventory policy. Conduct regular parameters audits
• Review the net result of the parameter driven plan and create the consensus supply plan, balancing FG inventory and capacity with the objective to meet demand on-time and in full
• Ensure production & logistics performance (e.g., lead times, planning rates) are challenged and correctly reflected in the planning system to meet inventory targets
• Initiate scenario planning and course corrects in collaboration with market collaboration leads, Industrial engineering and activity management considering all constraints (e.g., expiry, allocation, source switches, etc..) to optimize the plan on service, cash and costs
• Execute allocations in case of supply constraint (affecting more than one market) in collaboration with the Network Production Planner (0-3 months) for mid-term capacity issues
• Own definition and updates of FG inventory targets and inventory policy
• Monitor service level and inventory exceptions to ensure that the parameters are correctly set to hit all pre-defined targets
• Review supply and inventory performance metrics, inventory outlook projection, identify gaps vs targets & improvement opportunities and liaise with relevant stakeholders to execute improvement action plans. Drive supply network improvements in cash, cost and customer service results
• Own FG inventory health analysis, root causing and drive decisions about Non-Performing Inventory within the network
• Provide relevant inputs on FG inventory parameters and inventory levels for activity management / seasonal activities / new product launches from network planning point of view
• Partner with Commercial and IE teams to provide insights on solving constraints in SCMR process
• Provide relevant information and report for the (local) S&OP+ meetings regarding supply vs demand (capacity) sufficiency and FG inventory performance
• Drive Continuous Improvement (CI)I via daily/weekly/monthly work processes
• Own personal capability growth to meet expected levels as defined for this role
• Provide back-up (vacation, training, illness, etc.) for other Network Capacity Planners