National Planning Manager  (National Planning Manager )

• Is an integrated role between Supply Chain and finance providing a consolidated end to end financial planning overview within the 3-month horizon.
•  Leads the execution of the 3 month Rolling plan across South Africa ensuring optimized supply from source and Other Oil Companies to Depo’s with streamlined distribution.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Lead planner for Refining, Supply and Logistics Commercial Business Management (CBM) process
• Responsible for the optimised 3 month Rolling Master Plan
• Cost planning of Primary Transport from source to depos via the Inland and Coastal channels and forecasting impacting the various channel of trade PnL’s
• Responsible for the analysis of storage and handling activities that affect and impact the planning process

Lead and manage cross functional teams including procurement, logistics, planning and warehousing.

Responsible for cost optimization across all operational activities.

Management of inventory policy and responsible for effective process implementation aligned with company governance policies.

S&OP lead across 9 national branches

Responsible for long term business planning aligned to business 5 year strategy. 

• Responsible for the start-up of the catering division

• Sales and marketing and securing contracts from multinational corporates

• Created menu’s and facilitated the RND trials of menu options

• Sourcing of fresh supplies, packaging supplies, catering equipment

• Set up catering kitchen maintaining budget targets

• Managed the financial aspect of the business

• Sourced and trained a team to successfully run the kitchen independently and cater for corporate functions

• Duel Leadership role that managed and lead the South African business to successfully implement the EMEA S&OP process and lead the regional production planning team across two sites.

 Responsibilities

• Executed planning structural change by implementing the standard EMEA S&OP process across the South African region.
• Performed strategic analysis to support long-range business plans inclusive of manufacturing footprint (consolidation and expansion across EMEA).
• Introduced the 12-month Master Production Schedule across two South African production sites ensuring strategic alignment between operations and commercial.
• Integrated demand, capacity, financial and commercial planning to achieve long term Business Objectives.
• Custodian for Working Capital Management and cost mitigation plans.
• Lead Mill planning team to build capability by providing direction, coaching, support and development needs.
• Provided insight to Tactical planners (based in UK) & Mill Planners (based in SA) in support of short term planning execution.

Highlights and achievements

• Reintroduction of Kimberley Clark KCP converting capacity to optimize the full utilization of asset capacity mitigating the cost impact of shutting assets and increased product cost
• Project lead to outsource product from EMEA mills and balancing local capacity to ensure full delivery of financial commitment
• Collaborative development of a Curtailment and white space financial cost estimator for strategic decision making used in the S&OP process
• Collaborative development of a Recycled Fiber volume and cost estimator also used in the S&OP process
• Been instrumental in ensuring 95% service levels consistently from Jan 2017 to Dec 2017 – Bath Tissue Category
• Being S&OP Lead in 2017 have demonstrated the ability to influence the business to make long term decisions based on incorporating supply, financial and sales cost impact (Total business improvement service level from 85% 2016 to 92% 2017 and forecast accuracy from 94% 2016 to a 99% 2017)
• In my dual role as Production planning lead I have been able to build capability, skill and develop each planner to operate on a local and regional level ensuring consistent and full supply of product to the business reflected in the results indicated above.

 West, East, Central Africa (WECA) Supply and Demand Planner (Tactical)

Scope of Role

• Specialized role that required all planning proficiencies (demand, supply, production and import) to effectively balance demand and supply between the WECA customer’s, commercial managers and supply centers across EMEA.

Import Supply Optimizer (Tactical)
Scope of Role

• Responsible for replenishment of import demand by sourcing product from global Kimberly Clark entities.

Production Supply Optimizer (Tactical)
Scope of Role

• Role based in the Mill Facility which lead production planning team and owned the Tactical S&OP process between the Mill and head office cross functional teams.

Duties and Responsibilities for all Tactical Roles

System Capability

• Optimized system capability through APO (Demand Planning, MPS and MRP) and SAP to deliver objectives, maintaining accurate master data and inventory requirements.

Supplier Management (Local and Global)

• Identified and set-up product sourcing MAPS within product specification and cost requirements.
• Negotiated Service Level Agreement (SLA), including Minimum Order Quantity (MO), production cycles, forecasting/supply parameters and supply chain terms are implemented.
• Implemented service level agreements combined with the introduction of supplier Dashboards which monitored supplier KPI’s
• Consolidated medium and long-term materials forecasts as required by suppliers and purchasing.

Inventory Management

• Facilitated SKU rationalization programs which supported Working Capital
• Controlled raw material and packaging inventories in order to provide optimum customer service and meet working capital objectives.
• Implemented quarterly safety stock reviews to effectively manage slow and fast moving inventory

Project Management

• Executed rollover management and SKU introduction with focus on minimizing obsolete, slow moving and non-moving materials and finished goods.
• Effective management of EPD and NPD by identifying scope of project, write off implications, stock run-outs, listing date determination, lead-time and duration of project and ETA’s
• Support the business project teams with managing the introduction of new items to the business as well as the phasing out of old through project management tools

Sales and Operations Process (S&OP)

• Enabled the decision making process by clearly demonstrating risk, opportunities and cost impacts via the Weekly S&OP forum.

KPI Management

Service Level - Monitored Service Levels and coordinated Root Cause Analysis (RCA) between the cross functional teams
Forecast Accuracy - Measured Forecast Accuracy and initiated strategies that positively supported GAP to Target.
Working Capital - Continuously managed working capital and service level optimization of finished goods

Highlights and Achievements in all Tactical Roles

• Regional project lead for Female Pads outsourced from Bahrain involving the cross functional and cross regional collaboration to supply local capacity GAP’s
• WECA Supply lead to manage product runout sourced from a regional mill in preparation for the mill close down. Excess product was successfully imported into the Nigerian region which enabled volume growth and minimal write off.
• Strategic management of exporting Product to an EMEA market.
• Nominated leader for all new imported products
• Facilitated daily National Supply Chain meeting involving Cape Town, Durban, Gauteng head office supply chain team.
• Coach and mentor peers within the WECA and Consumer business
• Mill Supply Project lead for the shut-down of three assets in support of a regional restructure ensuring minimal cost impact (packaging, raw material and base-sheet write off), no SKU stock outs and timely project completion
• The development of a base-sheet Tactical planning tool to streamline the tissue planning process which has been used to make outsourcing critical business decisions for the project management of the tissue machine planned downtime (duration - one month)
• The transition from excel planning to the incorporation and utilization of an ERP tool (APO) and the training development of the planning team which resulted in a successful implementation and standards that’s is comparable with the EMEA planning units.
• Managed, trained and lead a team of three new planners in a period of three months
• Implemented fixed grade cycles for the KCP, Multifolder and PCMC Asset to reduce change over times and accurate TIP/TOPS.
• Improved TIP/TOPS from an average of 50% to an average of 70%
• Reduced NWC (FG) and have been continually and effectively planning curtailment to reduce FG stocks.
• Developed feasible capacity planning tools and run out reports for the production planners
• Drew up KPI reports for the team to track and improve performance

Converting Production Planner
Scope of Role

• Responsible for the short term production planning for the conversion of base tissue into finished product between various categories utilizing SAP and APO

Duties and Responsibilities

• Optimized production plans to best manage assets taking into account the demand forecast, distribution requirements, and asset constraints in order to meet customer service objectives
• Executed Product/Packaging Rollovers, introduction and discontinuations in order to best meet Business Division Objectives
• Managed day to day inventory issues, including communication and issue resolution between the interested parties
• Responsible for BOM changes, initiation for approval and updating the SAP system

Materials Planner
Scope of Role

• Responsible for the buying and management of packaging inventory with emphasis on driving Working Capital and efficient Supplier Management supporting finished goods planning process

Duties and Responsibilities

• Responsible for changing the weekly delivery schedules when problems occur
• Placing of orders for materials in SAP with pre-approval from supply optimizer
• Ensured materials plans are discussed and agreed with the Supply Optimizer as well Mill Logistics.
• Reduced Raw material and Finishing Supplies overstocks.
• Supported the business project teams with managing the phasing out of packaging to ensure minimum write-offs.

• End to end planning role responsible for the finite weekly plans and 3 month rolling plans to define capacity and MRP.
• Managed the procurement of materials and was involved in supplier management. Accountable for key KPI’s (Working Capital, Service Levels and plan vs actual)

Import Planner
Scope of Role

• Responsible for replenishment of import demand by sourcing product from global Reckitt Benckiser entities.

Duties and Responsibilities for Materials/Production/Import Planner

• Responsible for the weekly master schedule and established 3-month plant capacity requirements
• Co-ordinated with department supervisors to determine status of assigned projects.
• Managed procurement of purchase orders for finished goods, materials, locally and Overseas taking into account strict lead times
• Facilitated the production and logistics plans for offsite co-packers and third manufacturers
• Coordinated regular meetings with suppliers to ensure all required materials for production are delivered accordingly.
• Prepared monthly forecast for suppliers and weekly open order reports.
• Was accountability for finished product, capacity planning, distribution center and warehouse inventory, for my portfolios (key KPI’s).
• Developed and maintained an accurate, timely, complete, and executable material requirement that was aligned with the company’s Annual Operating Plan, Sales and Operations Planning committee.
• Assured timely and proper disposition of excess and/or obsolete material (i.e. rework, re-inspect or scrap)

Highlights and Achievements

• Received best planner awards in 2009
• Improved Dettol Soaps portfolio service levels to 99% month on month in 2009
• Consistently achieved and maintained KPI’s

• Responsible for routine planning and scheduling of the plants manufacturing and Packing departments
• Managed and ensured that customer requirements are met throughout all stages of production.
• Involved in customer service regarding customer order status, dispatch dates and customer satisfaction.
• Responsible for the management of the customer forecast and new orders.
• Ensure the availability of resources (staff, equipment and stock).
• Responsible for the bulk stores and stock control investigations.
• Responsible for the supply, issue and control of all production works orders.
• Facilitated weekly production meetings.
• Assisted validation officer with work study projects to evaluate and monitor production hours utilized and product output.
• Interacted with the quality control officers regarding the release of raw and printed packaging materials.
• Compiled monthly production reports for the company head directors.

Previous Position Held

Kyalami Abbott Diagnostics – Healthcare and Diagnostics (2006 – 2007)
Operations Quality Assurance Technician

University of Kwa-Zulu Natal – Nelson R Mandela School of Medicine
2002 – 2004
Research Technician
Mycotoxin Analyst Technician
Experiential Trainee Student