Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Accomplishments
References
Languages
Websites
Timeline
Generic

Lala Gumede

Johannesburg

Summary

Dynamic and Assertive Supply Chain Management professional with over nine years of experience in end-to-end supply chain operations, specializing in Sales and Operations Planning (S&OP), inventory management, and order-to-cash (O2C) processes in the healthcare sector. Holds a B.Com. in Supply Chain Management (2024) and is pursuing a Postgraduate Degree in Project Management (2025, expected). Expertise in SAP systems (9 years), Lean methodologies, and managing 3PL/4PL partners to drive efficiency and customer satisfaction in Sub-Saharan Africa. Proven leader in cross-functional teams, delivering cost reductions and OTIF improvements, while building strong stakeholder networks. Meticulous Operations Lead with a natural gift for maximizing efficiency and reducing costs. Seasoned with a 9-year background in the the logistic field. Exceptional leadership and interpersonal traits to create a positive work atmosphere.

Overview

17
17
years of professional experience

Work History

Sales Operations Lead Africa

Philips South Africa Commercial (Pty) Ltd
Johannesburg
10.2022 - Current
  • Lead supply chain and sales operations across Africa, achieving 100% sales force compliance, rapid quote turnaround, on-time tender submissions, and 100% order booking accuracy.
  • Drive S&OP processes, aligning internal and external stakeholders to improve forecast accuracy by 20% and OTIF rates by 25%.
  • Manage and develop a team of 4 direct and 15 indirect reports, fostering a training-focused culture aligned with corporate values.
  • Oversee 3PL/4PL logistics, reducing costs by 15% through optimized warehousing and transportation while ensuring SLA/KPI adherence.
  • Leverage 9 years of SAP expertise (CRM, MP1, Business One, PO1, APO) to streamline inventory management, reducing stock write-offs from $895k (FY22) to $105k (FY23).
  • Implement Lean and Kaizen initiatives, leading supply chain projects to enhance process efficiency and achieve AOP targets.

Order, Quote, and Tender Specialist

Philips South Africa Commercial (Pty) Ltd
Johannesburg
09.2015 - 09.2022
  • Managed end-to-end O2C processes for medical equipment and consumables, resolving customer queries within 24 hours and ensuring timely order processing.
  • Led tender management, securing cost-effective 3PL/4PL contracts, improving service quality and cutting costs by 10%.
  • Spearheaded a decentralized stock project, increasing OTIF rates by 25% and boosting customer satisfaction and sales.
  • Drove local procurement, achieving 30% raw material localization, reducing costs and lead times by 15%.
  • Utilized 9 years of SAP experience (CRM, MP1, Business One, PO1, APO) and UPS systems to manage stock and back-orders.

Call Centre Manager

Hospitality Dynamics
Johannesburg
08.2014 - 08.2015
  • Led operational planning and customer escalations, aligning processes to enhance service delivery and meet customer demands.
  • Supported multi-channel client engagement, improving operational efficiency and supporting marketing campaigns.

Commercial/Operations Intern

Mango Airline
Johannesburg
02.2008 - 07.2014
  • Completed a rotational graduate program in sales, marketing, logistics, and tender management, gaining cross-functional expertise.
  • Contributed to exceptional customer experiences through effective collaboration within commercial teams.

Education

Postgraduate Degree - Project Management, Risk Management, Strategic Planning

Regent Business School
Johannesburg
12-2025

Bachelor of Commerce (BCom) - Logistics Management, Strategic Management, Research Methodology, Supply Chain Management, Operations Management

Regent Business School
Johannesburg
12-2024

Skills

  • Supply chain optimization
  • Sales and operations planning (S&OP)
  • Order-to-cash (O2C) process optimization
  • SAP systems (CRM, MP1, Business One, PO1, APO)
  • 3PL/4PL partner management
  • Lean and Kaizen methodologies
  • Inventory and demand planning
  • Stakeholder relationship management
  • ERP systems
  • Logistics systems
  • Analytics
  • Microsoft Power BI
  • Microsoft Excel
  • Microsoft Word
  • Microsoft PowerPoint

Accomplishments

  • Reduced stock write-offs at Philips from Euro895k (FY22) to Euro105k (FY23) through robust inventory controls and streamlined processes.
  • Increased sales order intake for hospital pharmacy consumables from Eruro1.6M to Euro2.8M via improved forecasting and process optimization.
  • Secured cost-effective 3PL/4PL contracts, maintaining service quality, and reducing logistics costs by 12%
  • Implemented a decentralized stock project, enhancing OTIF rates, customer satisfaction, and sales
  • Awarded emplyee of the year for 2023 and 2024

References

  • Serena Maghraj, S&OP Manager, Philips South Africa, +27 843 142 104, serena.meghraj@philips.com
  • Sonia Ditlopo, +27 761 275 536, soniaditlopo@gmail.com

Languages

  • English (Fluent)
  • IsiZulu (Fluent)
  • Sesotho (Fluent)

Timeline

Sales Operations Lead Africa

Philips South Africa Commercial (Pty) Ltd
10.2022 - Current

Order, Quote, and Tender Specialist

Philips South Africa Commercial (Pty) Ltd
09.2015 - 09.2022

Call Centre Manager

Hospitality Dynamics
08.2014 - 08.2015

Commercial/Operations Intern

Mango Airline
02.2008 - 07.2014

Postgraduate Degree - Project Management, Risk Management, Strategic Planning

Regent Business School

Bachelor of Commerce (BCom) - Logistics Management, Strategic Management, Research Methodology, Supply Chain Management, Operations Management

Regent Business School
Lala Gumede