What are the responsibilities and job description for the Supply Chain Manager position at Nichiha?
Job Title: Supply Chain Manager
Department : Logistics
Location: Johns Creek
Position Summary: This position serves as the critical link between the manufacturing and sales functions, aligning production planning with market demand. The role is responsible for maintaining optimal inventory levels across the organization to prevent stockouts and overstock situations, providing quantitative analysis of how inventory movements impact profitability, and delivering actionable recommendations to the Logistics Director and senior management.
Essential Duties And Responsibilities
Demand Forecasting & Supply Planning
Working in close collaboration with the sales team, develop and manage short-term and long-term demand forecasts. Interpret customer trends and order patterns, translate them into executable manufacturing plans, and communicate clearly to the production team what needs to be made, when, and in what quantities. Ensuring that products are always available when needed is the most fundamental mission of this role.
Inventory Optimization & Min/Max Management
Establish Min/Max inventory parameters for all locations and SKUs, and continuously monitor daily inventory levels. Proactively identify early signs of stockouts or excess inventory and take corrective action before issues escalate. Lead periodic inventory reviews and cycle counts to maintain consistently high data integrity.
Sales & Operations Planning (S&OP) Facilitation
Act as the bridge between the sales and manufacturing functions by organizing and facilitating regular S&OP meetings. When gaps arise between "what we want to sell" and "what we can produce," find workable solutions that account for the priorities of both sides and ensure the entire organization is aligned and moving in the same direction.
Inventory P&L Analysis & Executive Reporting
Quantitatively analyze how changes in inventory levels affect the company’s profit and loss. Incorporating perspectives such as carrying costs, obsolescence risk, and write-down exposure, use data to recommend forward-looking strategies to the Logistics Director and senior management. For slow-moving and aged inventory, develop and execute specific reduction plans.
Zone Picking Performance Analysis & Reporting
Collect and analyze performance data from the warehouse’s Zone Picking system (units picked per hour, order accuracy, shipment cycle time, etc.). While day-to-day operational management is handled by the Logistics Manager and Senior Logistics Manager, this role interprets KPI trends from that data and proposes improvement insights to the Logistics Director and relevant departments.
Freight & Transportation Cost Management
Continuously analyze freight costs by transportation route, carrier, and mode combinations to identify opportunities for cost reduction. Evaluate carrier performance based on contract terms and actual results, and support negotiations. Regularly report freight cost movements and budget variance to the Logistics Director.
Process Improvement & Systems Optimization
Proactively identify opportunities for improvement across inventory management, supply planning, and the broader supply chain, and lead initiatives that improve accuracy, shorten lead times, and reduce costs. Play a central role in the implementation and ongoing maintenance of inventory management systems and tools.
Required Skills/Abilities
Department : Logistics
Location: Johns Creek
Position Summary: This position serves as the critical link between the manufacturing and sales functions, aligning production planning with market demand. The role is responsible for maintaining optimal inventory levels across the organization to prevent stockouts and overstock situations, providing quantitative analysis of how inventory movements impact profitability, and delivering actionable recommendations to the Logistics Director and senior management.
Essential Duties And Responsibilities
Demand Forecasting & Supply Planning
Working in close collaboration with the sales team, develop and manage short-term and long-term demand forecasts. Interpret customer trends and order patterns, translate them into executable manufacturing plans, and communicate clearly to the production team what needs to be made, when, and in what quantities. Ensuring that products are always available when needed is the most fundamental mission of this role.
Inventory Optimization & Min/Max Management
Establish Min/Max inventory parameters for all locations and SKUs, and continuously monitor daily inventory levels. Proactively identify early signs of stockouts or excess inventory and take corrective action before issues escalate. Lead periodic inventory reviews and cycle counts to maintain consistently high data integrity.
Sales & Operations Planning (S&OP) Facilitation
Act as the bridge between the sales and manufacturing functions by organizing and facilitating regular S&OP meetings. When gaps arise between "what we want to sell" and "what we can produce," find workable solutions that account for the priorities of both sides and ensure the entire organization is aligned and moving in the same direction.
Inventory P&L Analysis & Executive Reporting
Quantitatively analyze how changes in inventory levels affect the company’s profit and loss. Incorporating perspectives such as carrying costs, obsolescence risk, and write-down exposure, use data to recommend forward-looking strategies to the Logistics Director and senior management. For slow-moving and aged inventory, develop and execute specific reduction plans.
Zone Picking Performance Analysis & Reporting
Collect and analyze performance data from the warehouse’s Zone Picking system (units picked per hour, order accuracy, shipment cycle time, etc.). While day-to-day operational management is handled by the Logistics Manager and Senior Logistics Manager, this role interprets KPI trends from that data and proposes improvement insights to the Logistics Director and relevant departments.
Freight & Transportation Cost Management
Continuously analyze freight costs by transportation route, carrier, and mode combinations to identify opportunities for cost reduction. Evaluate carrier performance based on contract terms and actual results, and support negotiations. Regularly report freight cost movements and budget variance to the Logistics Director.
Process Improvement & Systems Optimization
Proactively identify opportunities for improvement across inventory management, supply planning, and the broader supply chain, and lead initiatives that improve accuracy, shorten lead times, and reduce costs. Play a central role in the implementation and ongoing maintenance of inventory management systems and tools.
Required Skills/Abilities
- Strong analytical capabilities — able to interpret complex data and translate findings into concrete business recommendations
- Proficient in Excel (pivot tables, Power Query, complex formulas, etc.)
- Experience with database and BI tools such as Microsoft Access, SQL, Power BI, or Tableau
- Ability to independently build analytical models for demand forecasting, inventory optimization, freight analysis, and KPI reporting
- Experience with ERP systems (SAP, Oracle, or equivalent)
- Understanding of fundamental inventory accounting concepts and the P&L impact of inventory decisions
- Basic understanding of warehouse operations and Zone Picking systems (direct floor management experience not required)
- Ability to build trust and work effectively with diverse stakeholders including sales, manufacturing, finance, and senior leadership
- Strong attention to detail with the ability to manage and prioritize multiple projects simultaneously
- Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, Finance/Accounting, or a related field.
- APICS CPIM or CSCP certification is preferred.
- Minimum 7 years of hands-on experience in demand planning, inventory management, supply chain, or a related field. Candidates with manufacturing industry experience and/or knowledge of the building materials or industrial materials sector are strongly preferred.