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 Weston-super-Mare
Located 18 miles (30 km) south east of Bristol and directly across the Bristol Channel from Cardiff, Weston-super-Mare is a popular seaside resort that benefited hugely when the railways came its way in the 1800s. Its strange name comes from the Anglo-Saxon “west tun” (west settlement) and the Latin “super mare” meaning upon sea. One of the most influential engineers of all time, Isambard Kingdom Brunel, also used to live there, proving that peculiar names must be in the water – and probably explaining why a sleepy village got a railway!
The town did have some industry in the past. The Westland aircraft company, which was based in Yeovil, had its helicopter manufacturing and maintenance plant in Weston-super-Mare. The company is famous for its Wessex, Sea King, Puma and Lynx military, coastguard and rescue helicopter. One of the most famous helicopter pilots in the world (no, not Noel Edmonds), Prince William, pilots Sea Kings. The factory closed down in 2002, and Weston-super-Mare is now home to The Helicopter Museum.
Weston-super-Mare’s economy is mainly focused on tourism, but there is some industry and distribution activity in the area, partly due to its location as the gateway to the South West. Discount supermarket Lidl has its southern distribution centre there, and there is some other light industry in the town. While it may not seem the first place you’d look for a CPFR Manager job, they do come up from time to time, and there will always be a demand in nearby Bristol too.
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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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