Demand Analyst jobs
In supply chain, the customer’s demand issues are the supplier’s demand issues, and it doesn’t make much difference what stage of the chain you’re at. If the customer needs something, it’s your job to supply it, and if that means making it, buying it or digging it out of the ground, your supplier/customer relationship depends on it.
The demand analyst will be charged with ensuring there are no shortfalls in supply to the customers, and this is achieved through a blend of forecasting, handling direct requests from customers and analysing past data. In large companies, the demand analyst will be part of a team, dealing with specific products or categories of product, so your specialist area might be quite focused.
It is in customers’ own interest to ensure their orders are accurate, well forecasted and communicated in a clear and timely manner, but as a supplier you’ll be dealing with a number of customers and it only takes one of them to spring surprises on you to throw a spanner in the works. By building up profiles of the customers’ needs and turning them into orders for your own warehouses, you’ll ensure a flawless supply goes to each customer while keeping just enough redundancy for fluctuations in demand and not over-ordering or placing onerous demands on your own suppliers.
The skills required
Demand analysis is a task that will require an above average aptitude at mathematics as you’ll be performing calculations practically all of the time. Although software will be of invaluable assistance in the complex calculations, an instinct for maths will make sure you’re getting off on the right foot.
You’ll need to be able to get the results of your forecasted demands over to your own team in order to ensure demand is met, so verbal, written and graphical communication skills will be vital. There may also be extensive contact with customers, particularly when trying to glean information to feed into your demand calculations, so again these skills will come to the fore.
Finally, you might be overseeing, or part of, a team of analysts, in which case interpersonal skills will need to be well developed.
Demand Analyst Jobs in Bolton
Located in the Greater Manchester area, the town of Bolton is a thriving community with plenty of opportunities for those seeking Demand Analyst positions.
The town's history extends back thousands of years and signs of a Neolithic settlement include a stone circle on Cheetham Close. Bronze Age burial mounds in the region were excavated by the Victorians and the town was given a market charter in 1251. In fact, the medieval market was held until the 18th century.
Bolton has long been known for its textile industry and several innovations, including the spinning mule, led to the town's prosperity during the Industrial Revolution. However, there was substantial decline in the 1920s and today the chimneys and empty mills are the only reminders of this part of the town's past.
However, there is still an element of manufacturing to be found in Bolton, with smaller scale paper manufacturing, textiles and steelworks in operation.
Warburtons is headquartered in the town and has been since it was established in 1876. Now one of the UK's most popular brands of bread, this company produces millions of loaves every year. In addition to its head office, there are also two bakeries in Bolton.
For the most part, however, Bolton's modern economy relies on the service sector and tech. The town is home to a number of offices that specialise in data processing and there are several call centres and IT companies.
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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 Demand Analyst for your business or find you a job as a Demand Analyst then contact one of our consultant team on 0333 121 3345.
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