Supply Chain Planner

The Asahi Kasei Group operates with a commitment of creating for tomorrow. Our business sectors, Material, Homes, and Health Care, contribute to the development of society by anticipating the changing needs of those around the world. We look for candidates that offer a fresh perspective and a variety of skills to help us achieve our commitment.

We are currently seeking applications to fill the following job opening at Celgard where we develop and manufacture membrane battery separators that are critical components used in lithium-ion batteries for electric drive vehicles (EDVs) and energy storage systems (ESS).

Company:

Celgard, LLC

Job Description:

About Us

For more than 50 years, Celgard has been a proven global leader in the development and production of high-performance membrane technology. Our products are used in a broad range of energy storage and other barrier-type applications, including lithium-ion batteries, lithium primary and other specialty battery solutions, technical textiles such as waterproof breathable apparel and medical personal protective equipment (PPE) and other specialty applications. Headquartered in the United States, we operate manufacturing facilities in the USA and China and have sales and technical service staff located strategically throughout North America, Europe, and Asia.

Celgard is part of Polypore International, a leading global high technology company specializing in microporous membranes. Polypore brings advanced development and manufacturing know-how as well as unique problem-solving capabilities to customers' lithium-ion and lead-acid battery development teams. Polypore is an Asahi Kasei Group company, which is a diversified group of companies led by holding company Asahi Kasei Corp., with operations in the material, homes, and health care business sectors. We are creating for tomorrow!

About The Role

We are seeking a Supply Chain Planner to be a part of the team based in Concord, NC. This position will be responsible for balancing supply and demand of raw materials for two manufacturing locations by developing excel based tools to improve efficiency and visibility to the global supply chain required to support Celgard’s US business. The ideal candidate will need to help solve production problems, seek to improve processes, and help fulfill Company expectations.

Reporting Relationships

This position directly reports to the Director of US Supply Chain and does not supervise others

Asahi Kasei’s Values

• Sincerity – Being sincere with everyone
• Challenge – Bolding taking challenges, continually seeking change
• Creativity – Creating new value through unity and synergy
  
  

Key Accountabilities

• Review forecast of major US customers to determine upcoming demand requirements. Engage directly with customers to make sure the demand statements are clear and upcoming seasonal or business trends are understood.
• Planning raw materials for two US manufacturing sites to ensure we are supporting plant operations and minimizing demurrage/storage costs
• Design or improve existing excel planning templates to increase visibility, accuracy, and the level of automation.
• Determine inventory build strategy (make to stock vs. make to order) based on demand and supply forecasts in a way that optimizes operational and financial performance.
• Participate in and lead continuous improvement projects designed to improve operational and organizational efficiency.
• Analyze production plans to improve upon supply chain team KPIs: minimizing production changeovers, minimizing aged inventory, and increasing on time shipment percentage
• Create inventory targets to appropriately balance the concerns of managing cash flow, physical storage limitations, and service level by location.
• Develop and maintain a master planning process which can support global sales with a combination of domestic and international sources of supply, accounting for factors such as manufacturing and transportation lead time, risks for global logistics, etc.
  
  

Qualifications

Education Background:

• Bachelor’s degree, preferably with a focus in business, supply chain, or a related field preferred.
  
  

Knowledge & Experience:

• 5+ years of of supply chain planning experience
• Knowledge of MES and ERP systems, especially AX, and able to learn, use and master a system to support the business
• Strong planning, organization, and problem-solving skills.
• Advanced user of Microsoft Excel
• Comfortable challenging organizational status quos with peers in supply chain, sales, and operations
• Able to work with a global team, including meetings which take place outside of normal US working hours.
  
  

Key Attributes:

• Strong intellectual, strategic, and analytical ability
• Excellent written and oral communication skills
• Demonstrated ability to work cross-functionally in a heavily matrixed organizational structure
• High energy and positive attitude
• Self-starter with an entrepreneurial mindset for problem solving
• High levels of personal integrity, honesty, and clarity
• Culturally sensitive and able to operate effectively with colleagues in Europe and Asia
• Willingness to participate in early morning or evening calls with other regions as needed
  
  

Working Environment

This position is in a manufacturing plant setting that would require working in a production environment around chemicals. Work will require standing and walking for up to 25% of the time. Lighting and temperature are adequate. You may be required to lift up to 35 pounds and/or force necessary to push, pull, or otherwise move objects.

As an equal opportunity employer, Asahi Kasei believes a diverse workforce will provide us with the ability to continuously support the changes in the economy, society, and environment.