Network Optimization Analyst at Unilever

Main Job Purpose

Has overall responsibility for determining the production capacity needed by the sourcing units to meet changing demands for its products in the medium to long term (1-5 years). Understands how each sourcing unit operates in view of demand patterns and growth plans in-order to prepare future capacity requirements while tackling short term capacity constraints. Undertakes medium to long term planning activities to unlock capacity through:

• Maximizing asset utilization and identifies bottlenecks and unlocks within the Africa sourcing network
• Tracking manufacturing efficiency to optimize capacity utilization and for early decision making, leveraging knowledge of current and future technologies within current SUs and global networks
• Drive portfolio simplification and DBNR to meet market demand
• Drive source and supply costs optimization through capex management, benchmarking against other SUs on technology fit vs application
• Manage, allocate and drive prioritization of capex deployment taking into consideration SU & Business Group Priorities

Job Summary

• Responsible for capacity planning and for development/implementation of business cases to ensure capacity unlock through investment and consideration of alternative sourcing options including third party.
• Lead capacity planning activities ensuring delivery against operational volume requirements and which optimize manufacturing efficiency and costs
• Refine capacity planning systems and methods continually to ensure that each sourcing unit across respective MCO’s can better deliver on customer needs and meet business growth ambition
• Review the resolution of short-term supply issues escalated by the Supply Planning team, be the first point of contact for the Supply Planner to resolve supply constraints
• Drives planning process improvements and optimization of SC cost
• Works closely with Procurement on medium and long term RM/PM requirements and supply constraints, and advises the SU of these concerns; have full visibility of stock situation for strategic materials across the region. Also supports the RM/PM Resilience plan driven by Procurement
• Ensures and consolidates CU/OEE improvement plans for each site across the category. Highlight CU Hotspots and ensures plans are put in place to adequately close the gaps. Ensures outputs of the RCDSR are escalated to the MCO SC VP.
• Underutilized Assets & Plans to improve utilization: Ensures a clear roadmap is put in place to address underutilized assets and improve asset utilization
• Is responsible for planning and tracking the Capex budget for the category. Partners with the Cluster Engineering team & Global Engineering to determine Capex affordability by site for the Category. Ensures Capex budget is executed OTIF and as per agreed budget
• Drive Agility DBNR & Network segmentation.

Key Requirements

• Engineering background & Factory Experience is essential
• Experience in FMCG Supply Chain (Factory, Planning) is an advantage
• Technical & Financial Acumen
• Understanding of business processes from other functions (Factory, Capex, Procurement, Marketing, etc)
• Strong Influencing skills
• Detail oriented, with strong analytical skills

Preferred

• Unilever Supply Chain Knowledge
• Logistics, Supply Chain (APICS etc) qualification an advantage

Essential

• Minimum 3 years of experience in Technical Role and/OR
• 1-2 years’ experience in Operational Planning would be an advantage

Contacts

Internal

• Supply Planners on SU Capacity utilisation plans, performance, target stock levels, RM/PM supply risks & supply contingency plans.
• Demand Planners on demand plans (range forecasts where necessary), target bias & forecast.
• Category Technology Manager on Capacity needs, Capex plans & capacity impact of new technology.
• Regional Category Innovation Planners, Sourcing Planners & Product Group Directors on sourcing case preparation.
• Procurement on medium to long term RM/PM supply.
• 3PM Operational Team on strategic 3PM Capacity utilization.