Demand Planning & SIOP Leader
FLSmidth · Chennai
The Demand Planning & SIOP Leader (Sales, Inventory & Operations Planning) at FLSmidth is responsible for leading the global demand planning and integrated business planning process to optimize forecast accuracy, production alignment, and customer delivery performance. This role ensures cross-functional synchronization among Sales, Operations, Supply Chain, and Finance to deliver reliable demand visibility, effective capacity planning, and operational execution across the mining capital equipment business.
Key Responsibilities
Strategic Leadership
- Develop and lead FLSmidth’s global SIOP framework to ensure a disciplined, transparent, and data-driven planning process that aligns commercial and operational priorities.
- Partner with Sales, Product Line, and Operations leaders to establish a unified demand plan that supports business growth and customer satisfaction.
- Drive collaboration across functional areas to balance demand, supply, and inventory in line with strategic objectives.
- Provide executive leadership with accurate demand visibility and capacity alignment to support growth and customer delivery.
- Champion process standardization and system integration for global SIOP implementation.
- Support executive decision-making by providing scenario planning, risk assessments, and business insights.
Demand Planning & Forecasting
- Lead the development of a comprehensive demand planning process that integrates sales forecasts, customer insights, and market trends for capital equipment and spare parts.
- Incorporate sales input, market intelligence, and customer project visibility into forecast accuracy improvements.
- Implement forecasting tools and analytics that enable data transparency and predictability across global regions.
- Measure and improve forecast accuracy (FA%) and forecast bias through ongoing performance review.
- Continuously refine forecasting techniques to account for project-based variability and global market conditions.
SIOP Process Ownership
- Own and facilitate the monthly global SIOP cycle, driving consensus among commercial, operational, and financial stakeholders.
- Lead executive-level SIOP meetings, presenting key metrics, risks, and mitigation actions.
- Integrate supply chain capacity planning, production scheduling, and resource planning into the demand plan.
- Drive alignment between the SIOP plan and the company’s budget, long-term planning, and financial forecasts.
- Monitor and communicate key performance indicators, risks, and recovery plans.
- Partner with Finance to align operational plans with financial budgets and forecasts.
Operational Excellence & Systems
- Lead the deployment of digital planning tools, dashboards, and analytics to enhance forecast visibility and execution accuracy.
- Leverage ERP and advanced planning systems (APS) to provide end-to-end visibility and performance tracking.
- Ensure process compliance, data integrity, and KPI governance across business units.
- Implement predictive planning capabilities and digital dashboards for decision-making.
Leadership & Team Development
- Build and lead a high-performing global Demand Planning and SIOP team.
- Develop organizational capability in data analysis, scenario modeling, and collaborative planning.
- Foster a culture of transparency, accountability, and cross-functional teamwork.
Qualifications
Education & Experience
- Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Engineering, Business, or related field (MBA or advanced degree preferred).
- 10+ years of experience in demand planning, SIOP, or supply chain management within capital equipment or heavy industrial manufacturing, ideally in a project-based environment.
- Proven experience implementing and managing SIOP or IBP processes across complex, project-based environments.
- Strong understanding of global manufacturing, order-to-delivery, and supply chain planning dynamics for engineered-to-order (ETO) products.
- Proficiency in ERP and advanced planning/forecasting tools (Kinaxis, O9, or equivalent).
- Lean Six Sigma certification or APICS/ASCM certification (CPIM, CSCP, or CLTD) preferred.
Skills & Competencies
- Strong analytical and strategic planning skills.
- Strong business acumen with a focus on operational and financial alignment.
- Excellent communication and influencing skills across global and cross-functional teams.
- Experience driving organizational change and continuous improvement.
- Strategic thinker with hands-on execution capability.
Key Performance Indicators
- Forecast Accuracy and Bias (%).
- On-Time Delivery (OTD) and Customer Service Level.
- Inventory Turns and Working Capital Efficiency.
- SIOP Process Adherence and Maturity Index.
- Alignment between Operational and Financial Plans.
As an equal opportunity employer, FLSmidth embraces diversity and equality by promoting an environment of inclusion. We encourage applicants of all backgrounds and perspectives to apply - the more diverse our employees are, the stronger our team is. In our commitment to equal opportunity and eliminating bias, we kindly request that you exclude personal information such as age, ethnicity, marital status, number of children, and photographs from your application materials.
FLSmidth is the leading supplier of engineering, equipment and service solutions to customers in the mining and minerals industries – for more information please visit FLSmidth.com/careers
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