Demand Planning Analyst

Lawinger Consulting, Inc.; United States; Remote; USD 80,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Lawinger Consulting seeks a skilled Demand Planning professional with mandatory SAP APO-DP expertise to lead forecasting, master data management, and lifecycle planning in a fast-paced global manufacturing environment.

You will upload forecasts, validate data, and support analytics to improve forecast accuracy, while collaborating with regional teams on APS deployment and stabilization.

Qualifications

• 3–5 years of professional experience in Demand Planning.
• Strong understanding of the end-to-end operational demand planning cycle.
• Experience in manufacturing, industrial, healthcare, technology, consumer goods, or related industries.
• Experience managing complex product portfolios and forecasting requirements.
• Ability to work effectively with global and cross-functional teams.

Responsibilities

• Forecast Planning & Maintenance: Manage portfolios driven by statistical forecasting; upload and validate forecasts; adjust forecasts as needed.
• Demand Planning Master Data Management: Create and cleanse DP master data; support EDI mapping; ensure data accuracy.
• Product Lifecycle & Change Management: Support Phase-In/Phase-Out and New Product Introduction; align forecasts with lifecycle changes.
• Demand Analytics & Performance Monitoring: Analyze forecast deviations; investigate forecast exceptions; assess ASP changes.
• Operational Planning Support: Support weekly/monthly reviews; respond to ad hoc analyses; collaborate across regions during APS deployment.

Skills

Demand planning

Forecasting

Analytical thinking

Team collaboration

Excel proficiency

Tools

SAP APO-DP

Kinaxis

Forecasting tools

Job description

The ideal candidate will have strong hands-on demand planning experience, mandatory SAP APO-DP expertise, excellent analytical skills, and the ability to work effectively in a fast-paced global manufacturing environment.

Key Responsibilities

Forecast Planning & Maintenance

• Manage product portfolios primarily driven by statistical forecasting.
• Upload, maintain, and validate demand forecasts.
• Execute forecast adjustments and realignments based on business requirements.
• Support forecasting activities related to open sales orders, including the FDO process.
• Maintain forecast change percentages and statistical forecasting parameters.
• Compare statistical forecasts with machine-learning forecasts and aggregated demand signals when required.

Demand Planning Master Data Management

• Create, maintain, and cleanse CVCs (Characteristic Value Combinations).
• Maintain Demand Planning IDs and associated planning master data.
• Support EDI mapping activities.
• Validate demand planning drivers, assumptions, and related master data.
• Ensure forecast and planning data remains accurate and reliable.

Product Lifecycle & Change Management

• Support PIPO (Phase-In/Phase-Out) activities and NPI (New Product Introduction).
• Execute commercial and forecast realignments associated with product lifecycle changes.
• Support demand planning activities related to product introductions, transitions, and changes.

Demand Analytics & Performance Monitoring

• Perform outlier analysis and investigate forecast exceptions.
• Analyze forecast deviations and identify potential demand planning issues.
• Review ASP (Average Selling Price) changes and assess their impact on demand.
• Provide analytical insights to support forecast accuracy and planning decisions.

Operational Planning Support

• Execute post-dated order reviews and exception checks.
• Support weekly and monthly demand review processes.
• Provide ongoing forecasting and demand planning support to regional business teams.
• Respond to ad hoc business requests and planning analyses.
• Collaborate with regional Demand Planning teams to maintain continuity during APS deployment and stabilization.

Required Qualifications

Experience

• 3-5 years of professional experience in Demand Planning.
• Strong understanding of the end-to-end operational demand planning cycle.
• Experience working in manufacturing, industrial, healthcare, technology, consumer goods, or related industries.
• Experience managing complex product portfolios and forecasting requirements.
• Ability to work effectively with global and cross-functional teams.

Systems & Technical Skills

• Hands-on experience with SAP APO-DP is mandatory.
• Experience with demand forecasting tools and enterprise planning systems; Kinaxis experience is preferred.
• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and data-management capabilities.
• Experience working with forecast data, planning master data, exceptions, and demand signals.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience supporting global APS transformation or planning system implementation/stabilization programs.
• Experience with statistical forecasting and machine-learning-based demand signals.
• Familiarity with product lifecycle processes, including PIPO and NPI.
• Experience supporting planning operations across multiple global regions.
• Strong communication and stakeholder-management skills.