Job Title: Demand Planner Job status: Full-time employee, Exempt Salary Department: Materials / Supply Chain Reports to: Supply Chain Manager Demand Planner Summary / Objective The Demand Planner is responsible for developing, analyzing, and maintaining accurate demand forecasts that drive production planning, inventory management, and customer service levels. This role translates customer forecasts, blanket purchase orders, order history, and sales input into a reliable demand signal used across Master Scheduling, Purchasing, and Customer Service. Working closely with the Supply Chain Manager, Master Scheduler, and Sales teams, the Demand Planner balances forecast accuracy with inventory efficiency in a make-to-order, high-mix precision machining environment. This position plays an important role in the company's Sales & Operations Planning (S&OP) process and helps ensure the shop floor is planning to the right demand at the right time. Essential Duties and Responsibilities - Develop and maintain demand forecasts by customer, part number, and product family, using historical sales data, customer forecasts/blankets, releases, and input from Sales and Customer Service.
- Provide schedule and production status updates to customers.
- Analyze demand trends, seasonality, and variability; identify and proactively communicate significant shifts in demand to the Supply Chain Manager and Master Scheduler.
- Reconcile customer forecasts and blanket purchase order releases against actual usage and consumption; investigate and resolve discrepancies with Customer Service and Sales.
- Partner with the Master Scheduler to translate the demand plan into an executable production schedule, ensuring alignment between forecast, capacity, and material planning.
- Monitor forecast accuracy and bias and drive continuous improvement in forecasting methods, assumptions, and tools.
- Lead or support the monthly S&OP process, including preparing demand review data, reports, and recommended action items.
- Collaborate with Purchasing to ensure raw material (bar stock) and long-lead component needs are aligned with forecasted demand and customer commitments.
- Maintain and update demand planning data within the ERP/MRP system, including forecasts, safety stock levels, and planning parameters.
- Identify slow-moving, excess, or at-risk inventory driven by forecast changes and recommend corrective action.
- Support new program launches and customer demand ramp-ups or ramp-downs with appropriate planning adjustments.
- Prepare and present regular reports on forecast accuracy, demand trends, and inventory risk to the Supply Chain Manager.
- Evaluate and recommend improvements to demand planning processes, tools, and best practices.
- Communicate proactively with cross-functional teams (Sales, Customer Service, Master Scheduling, Purchasing, Quality) to ensure demand signals are understood and actioned.
- Performs other duties as assigned.
Knowledge, Skills & Abilities - Strong analytical and quantitative skills; comfortable working with large data sets in Excel (pivot tables, formulas, forecasting functions).
- Working knowledge of demand planning and forecasting methodologies (e.g., statistical forecasting, moving averages, trend and seasonality analysis).
- Understanding of S&OP/IBP principles and how demand planning integrates with production and inventory planning.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills; ability to present data clearly to cross-functional teams and leadership.
- Strong organizational skills and high attention to detail.
- Ability to work independently and manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced, high-mix manufacturing environment.
- Comfortable interfacing directly with customers and sales representatives to gather and validate forecast information.
- General understanding of manufacturing/machining processes helpful; willingness to learn precision machining terminology (screw machines, CNC, Swiss-type, secondary operations).
- Proven ability to build and maintain effective cross-functional working relationships.
- High level of integrity, professionalism, and sound judgment.
Education and Experience - Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Business, Operations Management, or a related field preferred.
- Minimum 2-4 years of experience in demand planning, forecasting, inventory planning, or a related supply chain role.
- In lieu of a degree, 5 or more years of relevant, progressive supply chain/materials experience will be considered.
- ERP/MRP system experience required; experience with shop-floor ERP systems (e.g., E2/Shoptech, JobBOSS, Global Shop Solutions, Epicor, Estitrack or similar) preferred.
- Experience in a manufacturing environment strongly preferred; job-shop, make-to-order, or precision machining background a plus.
- APICS/ASCM certification (CPIM, CSCP) a plus.
- Advanced proficiency with Microsoft Excel; experience with forecasting or demand planning software a plus.
Work Environment / Physical Demands - Work is performed primarily in an office setting adjacent to an active machine shop floor.
- Occasional time on the production floor to gather information; may be exposed to elevated noise, coolant/oil mist, metal chips, and moving machinery. Appropriate PPE (safety glasses, hearing protection) is required when on the floor.
- Primarily sedentary role with occasional standing and walking; occasional lifting up to 25 lbs.
Benefits - 401(k)
- 401(k) matching
- Health Insurance
- Vision Insurance
- Dental Insurance
- Life Insurance
- Short-Term Disability (STD) Insurance
- Paid Time Off (PTO)
- Paid Holidays
RW Screw LLC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. This job description describes the general nature of the role and is not an exhaustive list of duties; responsibilities may be modified as business needs require.
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