CPFR Manager jobs
Collaborative planning, forecasting and replenishing (CPFR) has proved to be one of the most important breakthroughs in the supply chain field, particularly in high-volume retail outlets such as supermarkets but also with large home wares stores. With the suppliers being privy to selected sales information in real-time or at some other regular interval, in its simplest form they can either continually replenish stocks (which can be inefficient) or use forecasting and analysis to calculate the optimum time to send a bulk delivery. It can slash admin costs and keep shelves stocked, but it can also be used to gauge the effect of promotions and such like.
The CPFR manager will be in charge of the operation, overseeing the team running the system and liaising with suppliers to negotiate deals and set up new lines. He or she will be in charge of the accounting system and will need to ensure suppliers are paid in the manner agreed, an area which can cause problems if badly administered.
Moreover, the task of the CPFR manager will be to get the best out of the system, decide when its use is inappropriate so that the traditional ordering system can be reverted to, reduce waste and ensure that predicted needs will be available when required.
The skills required
A clear and concise manner of communication will be an essential quality for this job. That might be face to face, over the phone or electronically, and will be with senior management, suppliers and the team he or she is overseeing.
A keen ability to monitor the system and be alert to issues before they arise will be key. The danger that buyers can go into autopilot is ever-present and can lead to overstocking of seasonal products or under-stocking of products that are about to be heavily promoted.
Sales and negotiation skills will be advantageous, too. Using CPFR can put specific challenges on the negotiation process as the costs involved to the supplier can easily be overlooked. Preparation is key when meeting existing or potential suppliers with a view to initiating or modifying a CPFR programme.
CPFR Manager Jobs in Dundee
Dundee is an industrious city that has changed its roles many times over the centuries. Its North Sea-facing front made it ideal for whaling, and the industries that surround it, such as boatbuilding, whale oil processing and jute manufacture (it was discovered that jute could be lubricated with whale oil). Those industries are gone now, but after World War II the city was to have something of a boom. The company NCR set up in Dundee, initially making shop cash registers, and later moving on to making banks’ cash machines. The company was also a pioneer of the now-ubiquitous magnetic strips, and also made computers.
The electronics company Morphy Richards was formed and based in Dundee after a merger, and Michelin tyre factory was also established. All this time, industry worked along shipbuilding, but by the 1980s this industry was in terminal decline. Along came Timex, who manufactured Sir Clive Sinclair’s ZX Spectrum in the city; this home computer was a huge success, owing to its colour graphics and reasonable price. However the Timex factory closed in the early 1990s.
The city was also a publishing magnet, and many a child grew up reading DC Thompson’s famous output: Beano, Dandy and the gung-ho Commando comic books. And when they grew up, they played Lemmings and Grand Theft Auto, developed by Dundee’s Rockstar Games. There is also a strong biomedical and biotech industry in the city.
Dundee is such a thriving place that no short article can do it justice. And of course, all this moving of materials and products, and the servicing of its 150,000 population means that CPFR Manager positions are regularly required.
Popular locations
Cast UK’s supply chain opportunities
Cast UK’s founder members and consultants all come from the logistics, procurement and supply chain sectors, so we know what employers and candidates are looking for in their staff and careers respectively. Cast UK is growing in this part of the UK recruitment industry, mainly because these are the only sectors we deal with, which means that many employers come to us first to create a candidate shortlist because they know we’re tightly focused on delivering the best people to them.
People approach us for many reasons, whether seeking more job fulfilment or simply relocating with the family, so it’s good to know that we always have the complete range of positions available nationwide.
Please see what’s available in your region and if you’ve seen something you’re interested in, do get in touch – whether it’s today or tomorrow, we might have the ideal position for you.
To find out more about how Cast UK can help you recruit a CPFR Manager for your business or find you a job as a CPFR Manager then contact one of our consultant team on 0333 121 3345.
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