M, P and L Manager jobs
Materials, planning and logistics (MP&L) is the blanket name for the activities that make up the supply chain, and is often thought of as the “big picture” approach as opposed to focusing in on specific elements of the chain. The idea is that efficiency will be achieved because it is often the interactions between the supplied parties that causes snarl-ups. Having materials delivered too early or in too great a quantity, for example, can cause stockpiling problems; even though it is probably more efficient to deliver in greater bulk, any cost benefits can be lost in the storage surplus.
The M, P and L manager will be in charge of a supply chain team whose job will be to keep the whole process running smoothly, anticipate and act on potential problems, achieve ever greater efficiency and ultimately keep the customers happy.
As manager, you will be assigning team members to certain jobs which will largely be centred on gathering performance data and being the company’s points of contact for their relevant accounts. While their information will be focused, you as manager will be in charge of the big picture, working out ways of making the system better, alongside analysts and other managers.
The skills required
As with any management post, being able to deal with people will be a key skill. Being receptive to suggestions as well as taking instructions from above will help keep the office running smoothly and harmoniously. However, knowing when to apply your authority and expertise to a given situation will help maintain the unified objectives of the supply chain in place.
There will be a good deal of data gathering, analysis and manipulation in the role. A good head for mathematics will stand you in good stead, but perhaps more importantly, a strong aptitude for IT applications will be required, as that will be the usual way of handling data and making forecasts. Although existing IT experience will be useful, you may find that the new employer uses its own bespoke system, in which case an ability to pick up software solutions quickly will be helpful.
M P and L Manager Jobs in Newcastle-under-Lyme
The Staffordshire town of Newcastle-under-Lyme (not to be confused with Newcastle-upon-Tyne) adjoins the city of Stoke-on-Trent along all of its eastern edge; without looking at a boundary map it would be difficult to discern where one ends and the other begins. The town did have a similar industrial history to Stoke, namely pottery and porcelain manufacture, until the mid-1700s when it all but stopped, giving way to brick making, clothing, cotton milling, coal mining and engineering. Engineering and clothing manufacturing still dominate the town’s industries; many military and police uniforms are made here.
In the early 1900s, the Stoke area was an amalgamation of a number of moderately sized towns, chief among them Stoke, Hanley, Newcastle-under-Lyme, Burslem, Fenton, Tunstall, Longton, Smallthorne, Kidsgrove, and Audley. A motion was put to parliament to amalgamate them all into one city in what was known as the Federation of Stoke-on-Trent. Newcastle-under-Lyme was the only one to reject the plan, partly because the others were heavily involved in the pottery industry and Newcastle no longer was. Newcastle’s opposition was recognised and so it came to be that the town now exists almost engulfed by Stoke-on-Trent.
With a population of about 75,000 and a huge regeneration effort recently being completed, Newcastle-under-Lyme has undergone something of a rebirth of late, after a few decades of gradual decline. We do see more M P and L Manager jobs appearing in the town, which is often indicative of renewed economic activity.
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Cast UK’s supply chain opportunities
Applicants approach Cast UK for many reasons. They might be seeking more job fulfilment, they could have been made redundant or they might simply be relocating for family reasons, 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.
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 a growing force in the UK recruitment industry, mainly because these are the only sectors we deal with. That means that many employers often come to us first to create a candidate shortlist because they know we’re tightly focused on delivering the best people to them.
To find out more about how Cast UK can help you recruit a M, P & L Manager for your business or find you a job as a M, P & L Manager then contact one of our consultant team on 0333 121 3345.
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