Richard Esterhuizen

*Lead material planning initiatives for a prestigious fastener company

*Direct importer and supplier to automotive fastener industry in South Africa

*Ensure smooth supply chain operations and timely production.

*Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to gather market insights and sales forecasts.

*Analyse historical consumption data , market trends, and supplier lead times to create accurate material plans

*Leverage demand and supply balancing to optimise inventory and co-ordinate with suppliers.

*Monitor and analyse KPI’S to evaluate demand accuracy and inventory turnover.

*Drive process improvement by utilizing planning software to identify areas for enhancement.

*Prepare reports for management, highlighting trends and opportunities for cost reduction.

*Foster strong relationships with customers and external partners, secure timely deliveries and maintain product quality.

*Analysis of forecasting levels of demand for products and services to meet company / OE customer needs and keeping a constant check on stock levels.

*OE Customers incl.(Ford Motor Company, Toyota, General Motors, KLTSA, DANA Spicer Axle, ZF,)

*Conducting research to ascertain the best products and suppliers in terms of best value, delivery schedules and quality.

*Liaising between suppliers, manufacturers (overseas & local), relevant internal departments and customers.

*Identifying potential suppliers, visiting existing suppliers, and building and maintaining good relationships.

*Negotiating contracts with suppliers and customers.

*Financial and budget reporting.

*Forecasting price trends and their impact on future activities.

*Strive to meet cost, productivity, accuracy and timeliness targets.

*Processing overseas and local purchase orders, processing payments and invoices.

*Expediting orders and arranging import, export and cross-border shipments including freight forwarding and clearance.

*Maintaining accurate records.

*Keeping contract files and using them for future reference (e.g. Catalogues, Technical Data & Specifications, Drawings, PPAP-3, Quality Documentation, APQP’s).

*Costing of overseas shipments.

*Managing duty rebates.

*Strategically plan and manage logistics, warehousing, transportation and customer requirements.

*Producing reports and statistics using computer software.

*Maintain metrics and analyse data to assess performance and implement improvements.

*Ensuring suppliers are aware of business objectives, developing an organisation’s purchasing strategy.

*Supervise, coach and train warehouse workforce.

• Ensured timely delivery of products by closely monitoring vendor performance and addressing any issues promptly.
• Built long-term supplier relationships with vendors to establish quality and competitive pricing.
• Maintained complete documentation and records of all purchasing activities.
• Collaborated with internal departments to better understand needs and determine purchasing requirements.
• Forecasted purchasing trends and improved merchandising strategies.
• Reduced procurement costs through strategic sourcing, competitive bidding, and effective negotiations.