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 Stevenage
Located about 28 miles (45 km) directly north of the centre of London, Stevenage was one of the new towns that were planned after the Second World War to provide new lives for those whose homes and livelihoods had been shattered in the Blitz. As with other towns such as Milton Keynes, Hemel Hempstead and Crawley, it was built on an existing village, although the infrastructure had to be upgraded. Stevenage boasted a pedestrianised town centre, the first purpose-built one in the UK, although ironically it was cars that would go on to put Stevenage on the map …
The town is well connected, with the A1(M) skirting its west side and the East Coast Mainline having a stop in the town. Luton airport is just to its west and Stansted is 16 miles (27 km) to the east. There’s a good deal of light industry in Stevenage, mainly concentrated in two industrial estates in its north-east and south-west corners, and these employ a good deal of its population.
The town has produced a number of top-ranking sportspeople in its recent history. Aston Villa, Manchester United and England winger Ashley Young was born there, and golfer Ian Poulter was born just outside the town in the neighbouring town of Hitchen. But in pole position is Lewis Hamilton, the local boy who started his career racing remote controlled cars before rising through the ranks and becoming Formula One world champion in 2008 for McLaren.
As with most of the purpose-built new towns, whose infrastructure was designed in the motoring age, Stevenage has attracted a healthy cross section of industries. With all the raw materials and finished products to move around, and a local population of around 90,000 to serve, Demand Analyst positions are not unusual in the town.
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 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.
Contact us