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 Lowestoft
On the north-eastern tip of Suffolk, 7 miles (11 km) south of Great Yarmouth and 21 miles (33 km) south east of Norwich, is the port town of Lowestoft. The town has a long history as a fishing and freight port town, and some of the earliest evidence of settlement in the UK has been found here. Unfortunately, the town's location and its harbouring of vessels and materials for the war efforts meant that it was bombed and shelled during both world wars, as was the case with many towns on the east coast.
Lowestoft got its railway link in the 19th century and this helped the town to boom as its trawlers' catches could be taken away to the cities quickly. The railway also stimulated other industry to set up there, as it made imports and exports simple by land and sea. Until the 1990s there were several multinational companies in the town, but they have largely gone now, and tourism plays a vital role – Lowestoft does have very attractive sandy beaches. Another well known industry was Lowestoft porcelain, which was among the finest in the world in its day.
It is not uncommon for Supply Analyst jobs to become available in Lowestoft and the surrounding area as the docks are still active, even if they are not at the same level as they were fifty years ago. There is still a major Birds Eye factory in the town, and the headquarters of Hoseasons Holidays is located there. Much employment comes from the oil and gas industries, too, and recently Lowestoft has become a key site for the manufacture of renewable energy equipment, from solar panels to offshore wind turbines. There is a population of around 65,000 and several ,moderately populated towns along the coast, which can all add up to a reasonably active logistics and supply chain sector.
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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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