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 Maidstone
The county town of Kent, Maidstone is situated on the River Medway and is just over 30 miles south-east of London. A bustling town with plenty of history and pretty public gardens, Maidstone is also an excellent option for those seeking CPFR Manager positions.
Archaeological evidence suggests that the area around Maidstone has been occupied since the Neolithic era, while the Romans and Normans also had settlements here. For much of the town's history, its economy relied on the river, which powered mills and served as a trade route.
By the 18th century, Maidstone had built up a number of industries, including stone quarrying, brewing and cloth making. Paper was also manufactured here and a technique for making wove paper was developed by James Whatman in 1740.
Today, Maidstone is a thriving community with plenty of retail space, restaurants and accommodation. It's also home to a number of large companies, such as KEF, which makes loudspeakers on the site of what was once a metalworking facility.
Maidstone is home to one of the largest office centres in the country. A significant amount of paper and package making is still carried out here and Aylesford is the largest paper recycling facility in Europe - it also manufactures newsprint.
In recent years, a number of tech and communications companies have also set up operations in Maidstone.
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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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