Supply Analyst jobs
At one end of the supply chain, demand analysts will be examining sales opportunities and underlying trends, trying to calculate the level of productivity a manufacturer will have to reach in order to satisfy customers. They will be feeding that information to the production management, who in turn will look to the procurement and staffing personnel to ensure the demand can be met.
The supply analyst will be called upon to help with this task, finding sources of raw materials and components, examining the marketplace for availability and costs, and ultimately helping to keep the machines running.
The supply analyst will need to be able to keep in touch with all relevant stock levels in order to determine when replenishment is required, but of course this will need to be done in anticipation of need, rather than in response to it. There will need to be an understanding of seasonality in the industry, too. Everyone knows that items such as chocolates have peaks around Christmas, Mother’s Day and Easter, whereas sun block will be in greater demand in summer. But as industries get more specialised, such knowledge can be a little more esoteric, which is where the study of past trends can come into play.
The skills required
The job of supply analysis is best suited to people with an organisational and logical bent. Much of the work will involve keeping abreast of the current situation in the store rooms, but the ultimate aim is to help keep them stocked at their optimum level. With certain products such as foodstuffs, a just in time approach will be needed, but with more permanent products, the best solution with regard to price, shipping costs and storage expenditure will be chosen.
While supply chain experience will be desirable, being in a spending position in a company will also be good experience. Depending on the position and the structure of the supply team, however, supply analysts can sometimes be taken straight from graduation.
Supply Analyst Jobs in Derbyshire
Situated in the East Midlands, Derbyshire is a county that shares a border with Greater Manchester, as well as Yorkshire, Nottinghamshire, Staffordshire, Cheshire and Leicestershire.
Much of the Peak District is located within Derbyshire and just some of the towns in the region include Derby and Chesterfield, meaning there are many opportunities for those seeking Supply Analyst positions.
For most of its history, Derbyshire's economy has been based on agriculture, while the mining of natural resources such as coal, iron, lead and limestone were of particular importance during the Industrial Revolution. Of these, only the limestone quarries are still in operation.
The chocolate company Thorntons was established near Alfreton in 1911 - its headquarters are still based there today.
After the second world war, the first diesel-electric mainline passenger train was unveiled at the Locomotive Works in Derby and the British Rail Research Division was opened in 1964 with an aim to improve the country's train network. This eventually became the DeltaRail Group, which currently provides software and other technology for signalling and control systems.
JBC-Power Systems manufactures engines in the south of the county, Buxton Water is bottled here and Bombardier Transportation builds the rolling stock for the London Underground network.
Other companies with manufacturing facilities or an otherwise large presence include Rolls-Royce, Toyota and Trebor Bassets.
Popular locations
Cast UK’s supply chain opportunities
People approach Cast UK 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.
We are a growing force in logistics, procurement and supply chain recruitment, partly because these are the only sectors we deal with. Our founder members and consultants all have backgrounds in these jobs, so we know what employers and candidates are looking for in their staff and careers respectively.
Thanks to this focus, many employers come to us first to create a candidate shortlist because they know we’ll deliver the best people to them. 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 best position for you.
To find out more about how Cast UK can help you recruit a Supply Analyst for your business or find you a job as a Supply Analyst then contact one of our consultant team on 0333 121 3345.
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