Role Overview:

We have a suitable opening in the Operations Division for the role Category Planner, based in Pune Plant. You come with a relevant experience of 3-6 years with an FMCG in a similar role or any role in Supply chain Planning or Procurement. In this role, you will manage the supply of materials (RM/PM) according to the production plan schedules, challenge supply parameters, and control inventory levels. Develop the supplier relationship in a collaborative and partnership approach in an international environment.

Job Responsibilities:

- Material Requirement Planning (MRP): Analyze and execute weekly/monthly MRP runs to determine packaging material requirements based on the master production schedule (MPS) over 12 months of horizon.

- Supplier Management: Place purchase orders with local and international packaging material suppliers. Monitor delivery schedules, track lead times, and proactively resolve any supply bottlenecks or delays.

- Inventory & Stock Optimization: Manage inventory levels of packaging components (bottles, caps, pumps, labels, cartons) to meet safety stock targets & cover norms, minimize write-offs, and prevent obsolescence.

- Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner closely with Production Scheduling, Quality Assurance, Procurement, and Launch teams to align on new product launches, packaging design transitions, and quality clearance processes.

- Performance Tracking: Maintain supply chain KPIs such as supplier service levels (OTIF - OnTime, In-Full), inventory rotation days, and material shortage occurrences. Participate in supplier performance monthly reviews partnering with Sourcing teams.

- Transition Management: Coordinate the seamless phase-in/phase-out of packaging materials for promotional offers and structural product renovations, ensuring zero production downtime and minimal leftover component write-offs.

- Supplier Risk Mitigation & Capacity Planning: Conduct regular capacity reviews with critical packaging suppliers to foresee potential raw material constraints (e.g., plastics, glass, paperboard) and co-develop backup supply strategies.

- Sustainable procurement: Support Organisations or the Future sustainability commitments by managing the introduction of recyclable shippers, removal or reduction of cardboard waste & tracking their impact on inventory flow and supply stability.

Key Deliverables:

- Timely Availability of PM

- Inventory, Cover Days, Saturations and E&O

- Managing Supplier OTIF

- Timely release of Orders & MSS to suppliers

- Production/Service loss due to Shortage

Key Competencies:

- Assertive Communication

- Understanding of Supply chain

- Ability to read Data & identify trends

- Anticipation & Attention to detail, Coordination & strong follow up

- Basics of Excel, Powerpoint & PowerBI

Reporting To:

- Plant Manufacturing Supply Chain Head

Education - BE/B.Tech (IIT/NIT)