Supply Manager jobs
Demand can be an unpredictable beast, and taming it is the holy grail of any manufacturing operation. In most cases there will be a reliable background demand, relatively predictable seasonal demands, plannable increases following sales and marketing campaigns and finally the almost random element of events that take manufacturers by surprise. The reason this can all be a problem is that materials cannot be conjured up from nowhere to meet demand – they need to be sourced, and a shock to the manufacturer’s system will probably also be a shock to the supplier’s when the order comes in.
This is why supply needs to be given a good deal of attention and have a dedicated team ensuring its constant activity. The supply manager will oversee a team of purchasers and analysts who will be on a never-ending mission to reconcile current stock levels with forecasted demand. Under the manager’s instruction, they will be seeking out the best deals from suppliers and putting in orders in a timely manner to ensure delivery.
For the manager’s part, he or she will be in regular contact with the sales and marketing teams, the shop floor, senior management and the suppliers themselves to keep the factory supplied with the raw materials needed for their processes.
The skills required
The supply manager will first and foremost need people management and communication skills. They will be dealing with a diverse set of stakeholders from boardroom to factory floor, sales and marketing to suppliers. The information shared must be precise, accurate and timely if the manufacturing is to take place in an efficient and customer-friendly way.
Organisational skills are also vital in the supply manager. The tangle of demands from higher up the chain has to be reconciled with the capabilities of the suppliers, and much work will be done planning deliveries so that they arrive with the minimum of cost in terms of procurement and storage.
Supply Manager Jobs in Stafford
Staffordshire’s county town of Stafford is relatively small by county town standards, with its population of just over 50,000; in fact Stoke-on-Trent, Tamworth and Newcastle-under-Lyme are larger. That said, Stafford is at the centre of a cluster of towns whose populations total over 120,000. Stafford is located on the M6 and is about half way between Stoke-on-Trent and Birmingham, each of which is approximately 14 miles (22 km) distant.
The town’s history is varied and well documented to the fifth century, and the eleventh-century castle stands to this day. Stafford used to have a long tradition of shoemaking, which sadly died out in the latter 20th century. It was also a major railway hub until the reforms of the 1960s led to the closure of the Stafford & Uttoxeter Railway and the Shropshire Union Railway, and with them Stafford became a relatively normal through line between Crewe and Birmingham and London.
Occasionally, Supply Manager jobs become available in Stafford, as it is a relatively populous region and some major manufacturing plants are found there. The electrical engineering giant Alstrom, which makes huge electrical transformers, is in the middle of the town, and Bostik and Littleworth (diesel engines) have large sites here; there are also a few trading and industrial estates and a sizeable shopping centre. Being the county town, the public sector is a large employer, and Stafford also serves as a commuter town for the cities to the north and south.
Popular locations
Cast UK’s supply chain opportunities
People approach Cast UK for a number of 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 Manager for your business or find you a job as a Supply Manager then contact one of our consultant team on 0333 121 3345.
Contact us