Requisition ID: 7320 

Job Title: Supply & Demand Planner, ANZ 

Job Country: Australia 

Here at Avanos Medical, we passionately believe in three things:

• Making a difference in our products, services and offers, never ceasing to fight for groundbreaking solutions in everything we do;
• Making a difference in how we work and collaborate, constantly nurturing our nimble culture of innovation;
• Having an impact on the healthcare challenges we all face, and the lives of people and communities around the world.

At Avanos you will find an environment that strives to be independent and different, one that supports and inspires you to excel and to help change what medical devices can deliver, now and in the future. 

Avanos is a medical device company focused on delivering clinically superior breakthrough solutions that will help patients get back to the things that matter. We are committed to creating the next generation of innovative healthcare solutions which will address our most important healthcare needs, such as reducing the use of opioids while helping patients move from surgery to recovery. Headquartered in Alpharetta, Georgia, we develop, manufacture and market recognized brands in more than 90 countries. For more information, visit www.avanos.com.

The Demand & Supply Planner role will be reporting to the ANZ Supply Chain and Customer Care Manager and will be accountable for driving S&OP Process, optimizing the supply of finished goods from demand, procurement, sourcing, and shipment to customers as well as perfomrming logistic /operations activities, managing day to day 3PL warehouse tasks. Drive continuous improvement projects in transport and warehouse operation by working with 3PL. Drive cost savings and efficiency in transport and warehouse cost. The individual will be a key business partner to support sales, marketing, and distribution teams.

This position contributes to effective planning of the national stock, international replenishment plans with vendors and effective deployment of inventory, analysis of inventory health, Perfomrming day to day 3PL activities, new product introduction and driving S&OP Process to ensure the best business outcomes.

Demand Planning                                                         

• Lead S&OP process by Utilizing a collaborative and consensus approach by working with Sales, Marketing and Finance to obtain and ensure that current and accurate information is used for demand forecasts to improve forecast accuracy results.
  • • Engage Sales & marketing team in discussions
    • Present accurate and clear presentation slides.
    • Analyse the data prior to the meeting and provide insights based on your data analysis
    • Capture accurate meeting minutes and follow up
• Develop demand forecasts (operational forecasts) at multiple levels of aggregation for multiple time horizons as part of a demand planning function.
• Review historical sales trends, research demand drivers, prepare forecast data, develop statistical forecast models, and evaluate forecast results.
• Closely coordinate and communicate business action plans with Global supply planning, Demand planning and Marketing.
• Lead root-cause analysis into major forecast variances
• Lead initiatives to improve forecast accuracy
• Maintain demand plan to accurate represent future customer demand for the next 24 months
• Facilitate cross-functional discussions and drive actions in identifying potential demand issues quickly, reduce inventory obsolescence risk.
• Use Effectively demand planning tool to develop accurate statistical forecast by running batch jobs, removing history abnormalities, maintaining system parameters accurately and making sales and marketing adjustment by using uploading tools.
• Communicate pro-actively with Sales and marketing when demand execution (sell-thru) falls short or over expectation to understand if forecast reinstates required & work with supplier to manage return to targeted supply & inventory coverage.

Supply planning                                                             

• Develop a supply plan for imported traded/Finished goods and monitor short to medium term fluctuations in inventory level vs. target
• Set Inventory levels across ANZ to meet local sales plan and ensure outstanding customer service.
• Using S4 hana and advanced planning tools (Demand solution or any other demand planning tool) the role expects individuals to execute supply and demand planning to identify demand & supply imbalances, check and maintain inventory target levels, inventory health, lead Product rollover.
  • • Maintain accurate safety stock level, 
    • Review and Maintain accurate planning parameters in S4 HANA
    • Set inventory targets.
    • Develop reporting for analysis purpose,
    • Do daily root cause analysis of low OTIF results and define improvement plan,
    • Effectively manage Demand solution, batch job runs, navigation etc.
    • Lead product rollovers meetings, version change over, attend or arrange product rollover meetings with Global team
    • Effective communication to cater internal customer requirements promptly, accurately
• Improve OTIF by defining improvement plans based on root cause analysis.
• Proactively identify Demand and inventory problems as they appear and act to mitigate against supply disruptions.
• Maintaining strong working relationships and communications directly with internal marketing, sales & logistics department as well as the Global planning, GSM and suppliers to confirm Production/shipping schedules and monitor open purchase orders to ensure on-time deliveries.
• Conduct root cause analysis for supply chain issues/variances and perform define corrective action plans to avoid reoccurrence and reduce backorders.
• Providing the accurate forecast to supplier to avoid any future supply issues
• Review out of stock situations or shortage of supply issues and recommend mitigating actions

Inventory/ Logistics Analyst                                   

• Work with distribution and 3PL to manage and prioritize inbound receipt of sea freight/air freight on time.
• Manage the operational relationship with 3PL warehouse, Manages Quality and financial audits, and relationships
• Drive continuous improvement projects in transport and warehouse operation by working with 3PL. Drive cost savings and efficiency in transport and warehouse operations.
• Work with carriers and forwarders to optimize Air/ Sea freight cost, service issues and lead time.
• Process timely transport, warehouse, and carriers’ invoice on time.
• Lead Finished Product disposal process and action monthly.
• Highlight financial exposures and risks related to transport and customs duties.
• Owns resolution of inventory discrepancies,
• Manage 3PL interfaces and resolve daily.
• Update ETA dates in to S4 Hana based on shipping details.

Standard operating procedure (SOP) and Projects

• Develop and update SOP with new compliance and policy as require.
• Support M&A activities as require within our job scope
• Support Local, regional or Global projects within job scope

Manage and develop various KPI reports and publish Daily, Weekly, or monthly as required.

Required Qualifications:

• Preferably University educated or Tertiary qualification in APICS/CPIM is preferred,
• Minimum of 3 years’ experience in Demand supply and Logistic Planning
• Strong negotiation skills and interpersonal communication skills
• Strong knowledge of SAP S4 Hana, Demand solutions and Advanced Planning systems
• Strong analytic skills to manage large quantities of quantitative data
• Advanced Excel and presentation skills
• Effective time management skills to be able to manage conflicting priorities
• Excellent problem-solving skills to drive continuous improvement

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience in medical device company will be an advantage.

Avanos Medical is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or any other characteristic protected by law.

IMPORTANT: If you are a current employee of Avanos or a current Avanos Contractor, please apply here.

Join us at Avanos
Join us and you can make a difference in our products, solutions and our culture. Most of all, you can make a difference in the lives, people, and communities around the world.

Make your career count
Our commitment to improving the health and wellbeing of others begins with our employees – through a comprehensive and competitive range of benefits. We provide more than just a salary – our Total Rewards package encompasses everything you receive as an employee; your pay, health care benefits, retirement plans and work/life benefits.