Ashapura (now part of Azelis)
Founded in 2003 and headquartered in Mumbai, Ashapura is the leading distributor of F&F ingredients in India, representing more than 225 principals with well-established partnerships and serving over 900 customers globally through the breadth and depth of its portfolio of products.
In 2022, Ashapura joined Azelis, a leading global innovation service provider in the specialty chemical and food ingredients industry. Azelis is present in over 60 countries across the globe with knowledgeable teams of industry, market and technical experts, each dedicated to a specific market within Life Sciences and Industrial Chemicals. We offer a lateral value chain of complementary products to more than 63,000 customers, supported by ~2,200 principal
relationships, generating a revenue of €4.15 billion (2023).
Across our extensive network of more than 70 application laboratories, our award-winning staff help develop formulations and provide technical guidance throughout the customers’ product development process. We combine a global market reach with a local footprint to offer a reliable, integrated and unique digital service to local customers and attractive business opportunities to principals. EcoVadis Platinum rated, Azelis is a leader in sustainability. We
believe in building and nurturing solid, honest and transparent relationships with our people and partners. Azelis Group NV is listed on Euronext Brussels under AZE.
Impact through ideas. Innovation through formulation.
We currently employ around 4,200 talented individuals in more than 60 countries and 70 labs across Europe, Asia Pacific and Americas.
That’s 4,200 professionals. 4,200 problem solvers. 4,200 go-getters.
People are our key assets — that’s what we believe in. We embrace change as an invaluable opportunity to grow, learn and become ever better at what we do. And with a team that’s united in passion, vision, and values, we believe that
we are able to work together to achieve everything we set our minds to. The Life Sciences and Chemicals industry is ripe for disruption, and we are looking for like-minded enthusiastic, and innovative people who are thirsty for a challenge to join us in making a difference.
The Mission
Takes charge of organizing demand planning and propose stock replenishment to management. To develop, define and implement tools and benchmarks to ensure a performance-driven supply chain culture within the organization.
Optimize supply chain activities through the implementation of relevant supply chain policies, processes, projects and actions plans.
Demand Planner will act as the Company’s central liaison between the business, management and other staff functions, and to assist and support the overall Integration project into the Azelis D365 Digital/IT environment, including, but not limited to, ERP, CRM, SharePoint, etc.
Reporting line & Location
The role will report hierarchically to the Business Director, F&F. This role will also have a functional reporting line to the APAC Senior IT Manager. Post successful completion of the project, this role will be reporting to Senior Manager, Supply Chain.
The role will be based out of Mumbai, India. This role will be required to work on 2 Saturdays/month.
Main Accountabilities
Strategic
Establish an overview, structure and priorization of potential risk areas, and initiate required actions;
Understand supply chain costs and define a specific cost saving potential plan, setting out targets to increase efficiency and cost savings;
Ensure realization and measurement of cost savings;
Develop and communicate Supply Chain trends/metrics for the business;
Ensure the optimization of the warehousing (WH) and transport (road/sea);
Evaluate Company performance measurement techniques and identify areas of improvement through the setting and monitoring of KPIs;
Assess, appoint, liaise with and ensure budgetary control over any third party service providers that will benefit the supply chain performance;
Champion supply chain connectivity and performance with major partners (customers, suppliers and third party providers);
Identify and deliver plans to improve vendor/customer experience;
Build and develop relationships with all internal and external stakeholders;
Alignment of country/regional SCM processes to Azelis best practice operating processes;
Prepare monthly regional S&OP (Sales & Operational) meetings;
Work closely with functional teams to adhere to ERP and CRM Integration go-live plans and support all associated workstreams in the Integration project and beyond.
Operational
Planning Process:
Utilize historical data, market trends, and statistical models to develop accurate demand forecasts for various products and/or product categories;
Own and manage the end-to-end demand planning process, including data collection, analysis, forecasting, and validation. Consolidate forecast and needs from sales team;
Harmonize forecasting process across the organization;
Optimize inventory levels by balancing demand forecasts with supply chain capabilities, taking into account lead times, production capacity, and stock replenishment strategies;
Ensure demand & forecast with minimum deviation;
Ensure stock replenishment;
Communicate aggregate demand & forecast to principals (suppliers), issue purchase orders (PO’s) to principals.
Identify opportunities to enhance demand planning processes, systems, and tools, and actively contribute to process improvement initiatives;
Demand Process:
Follow up with principals on good deliveries;
Bounded WH/ Third Party Logistics Management (issue DO (Days Outstanding) to Third Party Logistics & arrange shipment to selling countries).
Customer Services:
Controls & monitors day-to-day transactions to minimize DSO (Days of Sales Outstanding) & DIV (Days of Inventory).
Integration Project
Systems Testing & Process Documentation and Improvement:
Document including, but not limited to, “As-Is” processes for the organization and to create standard operating procedures (SOPs) as needed to support business operations;
Execute on required Azelis Digital/IT systems testing, including, but not limited to, D365 ERP, D365 CRM, SharePoint, etc.;
Provide feedback to the Integration Project team on the impact to the business processes/operations when working in the Azelis Digital/IT environment and its systems;
Identify process improvement areas to establish/refine processes to better support business operations, while ensuring no significant loss in operational effectiveness and efficiencies when working in the Azelis Digital/IT environment and its systems;
Collaborate with all colleagues assigned to the Integration Project to drive process integrations, optimizations and harmonizations for the benefit of Azelis
Key Skills
Bachelor’s degree(or higher) in Science and Technology, Business, Marketing, Economics, or a related field;
Preferably 3-5 years of experience in market research, market analysis, or a similar role for the B2B specialty chemical industry, Flavours and Fragrance ingredients, Aroma Chemicals or B2C food or beauty industry;
Strong analytical skills w ith proficiency in demand forecasting techniques, statistical modeling, and data analysis.
Familiarity with demand planning software and tools.
Solid understanding of supply chain principles and inventory management concepts.
Strong proficiency in using Microsoft Excel and other data analysis tools.
Excellent communication and presentation skills, with the ability to effectively communicate complex concepts and collaborate with cross-functional teams.
Detail-oriented with strong organizational and time management skills.
Ability to work in a fast-paced environment and handle multiple priorities.
Experience with ERP systems and demand planning modules is preferred.
Knowledge of industry-specific demand patterns and trends is a plus.
Change management experience in Demand Planning (& Supply Chain) processes.
Easily adapt to changing environment and responsibilities based upon organizational needs.
The requirements of the job will develop and change due to the needs of the business, and you will be expected to adapt to these changes. This list is not absolute, and you will be expected to carry out any tasks and duties for which you are trained.
Post Merger Integration & Go-live
All main accountabilities and roles & responsibilities will be reviewed and aligned after the closure of the Integration Project. This will be done in collaboration with the relevant Regional and local teams