Manager, Supply Chain

Key Accountabilities

Strategic & Analytical Thinking

• Forecasting demand and planning capacity while balancing cost, speed, and risk
• Making data-driven decisions using KPIs (inventory turnover, fill rate, lead time, OTIF)
• Seeing the end-to-end flow — not just their own link in the chain
• Adjusting to market shifts, tariffs, or supply shocks
• Driving continuous improvement (Lean, Six Sigma mindset)
• Understanding cost structures — procurement, warehousing, transportation, inventory carrying costs
• Making trade-off decisions that protect margins without hurting service levels

Ensure On-Time Delivery (OTD) and Procurement Execution

• Drive on-time delivery (OTD) as a top-level KPI, aiming for high performance across all suppliers and value streams.
• Oversee timely procurement by ensuring buyers act on purchase requisitions promptly and in correct quantities & Focus on LT on deliveries
• Conduct daily shortage and backlog reviews with planners and buyers to ensure a continuous flow of production orders.
• Lead a daily cadence meeting with the entire buyer-planner team to review order releases, past dues (quantity and dollar value), and commodity-specific challenges.
• Monitor and support adherence to consignment agreements for critical parts such as castings and impellers sourced through partners like the Regional Supply Chain team.

Lead Material Planning and Inventory Optimization

• Review Material Requirement Planning (MRP) signals regularly and coordinate material fulfillment by collaborating with suppliers and aggregating demand when feasible.
• Coordinate closely with global demand planners to align inventory and safety stock levels with forecasts.
• Optimize safety stock strategies, drive inventory turnover improvements, and enforce just-in-time (JIT) principles across Armstrong facilities and supplier sites.
• Lead efforts to improve forecasting precision and production order releases with internal planners, ensuring readiness aligned with capacity and customer expectations.
• Have CFT approach on new product launches and enhance material procurement plans accordingly.

Monitor and Improve Supply Chain Performance

• Develop and sustain delivery performance tracking systems using the PDCA (Plan-Do-Check-Act) methodology to drive continuous improvement.
• Track and analyze key supply chain metrics such as lead times, order handling cycle times, and fill rates to enhance operational performance.
• Collaborate with customer service and sales teams to improve lead times and streamline the quote-to-fulfill cycle.
• Monitor global trends, disruptions, and risks to adapt supply chain strategies using tools like dual sourcing, supplier localization, and logistics optimization.

Strengthen Supplier Management and Accountability

• Build and maintain strong supplier relationships through regular performance reviews, scorecards, and compliance checks.
• Conduct supplier audits and implement continuous improvement initiatives based on audit findings and operational KPIs.
• Collaborate with sourcing and supplier teams to proactively assess capacity constraints and implement delivery assurance strategies.
• Structure and assign supplier ownership clearly among buyers and planners by value streams, reducing overlap and improving accountability.
• Enforce ISO-compliant procedures for purchasing and planning functions to maintain quality and process integrity.

Lead and Develop Buyer-Planner Teams

• Supervise a team of buyer/planners categorized by product families and value streams.
• Clarify ownership of supplier portfolios by aligning responsibilities to specific value streams, reducing overlap and improving accountability.
• Drive transformation initiatives to realign team structure for better performance tracking and supplier relationship management.
• Conduct coaching, training, and performance reviews to build capability in ERP tools and supply chain analytics.
• Provide mentorship and day-to-day guidance to buyer-planners to improve performance and ownership.

Implement and Optimize Supply Chain Systems

• Lead the implementation of Kinaxis for advanced planning capabilities, guiding cross-functional teams through integration and change management.
• Monitor and correct LN ERP workflows and master data issues to ensure planning and execution systems are synchronized.
• Automate routine supply chain tasks and enhance system capabilities to improve forecast accuracy, planning responsiveness, and operational agility.
• Ensure that all systems are aligned to support dynamic planning requirements and real-time visibility into supply performance.

Integrate Supply Chain in New Products, Projects, and Regions

• Collaborate with engineering, sales, and program teams to support new product introductions (NPIs), phase-outs, and engineering change orders.
• Lead supply chain integration for new regional markets and strategic projects, ensuring timely sourcing, logistics setup, and compliance alignment.
• Participate in SIOP (Sales, Inventory & Operations Planning) processes with commercial teams to align inventory and demand.
• Streamline and optimize the New Change Process (NCP) to improve supply chain responsiveness to product lifecycle changes.

People Management

• Coaching and motivating warehouse, procurement, and logistics staff
• Delegating effectively across multiple sites or shifts
• Conflict resolution between departments (e.g., sales wants more stock, finance wants less)
• Building long-term supplier partnerships, not just transactional deals
• Managing multiple stakeholders — internal teams, 3PLs, customers, regulators

Problem-Solving Under Pressure

• Handling disruptions (supplier delays, demand spikes, logistics failures) quickly and calmly
• Root-cause analysis rather than just firefighting
• Building contingency plans and backup supplier networks

Communication & Negotiation

• Negotiating pricing, terms, and SLAs with vendors and suppliers
• Translating operational issues into business language for senior leadership
• Aligning sales, procurement, warehousing, and finance teams who often have conflicting priorities

What We’re Looking For

To thrive in this role, you should bring:

Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree Mechanical/Electrical/industrial engineering or Masters in business administration, supply chain management, operations management shall be an additional advantage.
• 10-15 years of demonstrated experience in supply chain, procurement and logistics functions in a configured manufacturing environment.
• Preferred to have the following:
• APICS Certified Supply Chain Professional (CSCP)
• Certified in Production and Inventory Management (CPIM)
• Certified Professional in Supply Management (CPSM) – from ISM
• Prior experience with enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems, ideally LN or similar such as SAP, CMS etc.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office, with advanced data organization and analytics capabilities in Excel and Power BI.
• Exposure to supply chain planning platform like Kinaxis.

Technical Skills

• Excellent understanding of materials planning and inventory management principles.
• Knowledge of lean manufacturing principles and experience in implementing process improvement initiatives.
• Knowledge of cost reduction and supply optimization initiatives.
• Knowledge of Lean or Six Sigma methodologies is considered an asset
• Knowledge of commodity costing & rich supplier Base locally/globally.
• Good understanding on Manufacturing processes.

Soft Skills

• Demonstrated success in leadership experience managing teams or cross-functional projects
• Strong analytical skills with proficiency in data analysis.
• Capability to thrive in a fast-paced environment and manage multiple priorities simultaneously.
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills to work effectively with diverse stakeholders, suppliers and team members.

Why Armstrong Fluid Technology?

By joining us, you’ll become part of a global community dedicated to pushing the boundaries of fluid-flow technology while upholding Armstrong's commitment to sustainability. You’ll have endless opportunities to learn, grow, and make a significant impact on the world. Together, we'll build tomorrow’s solutions today.