Spares Demand Planner

$71,300 - $121,200/Yr

KLA - Ann Arbor, MI

Full-time - Mid Level

Ann Arbor, MI

Computer and Electronic Product Manufacturing

About the position

KLA is seeking a Spares Demand Planner to join our Aftermarket Supply Chain Operations team. This role is crucial for managing the spare parts planning throughout the product life cycle for various product lines. The successful candidate will work closely with the service organization and collaborate with Product Support, Sales/Marketing, Procurement, and Engineering teams to track the growth of the installed base, manage global inventory plans, and oversee the overall spares business for their assigned product lines. The planner will be responsible for optimizing the spares stocking strategy and will work with the supply chain team and manufacturing to identify opportunities for inventory reductions while ensuring customer satisfaction. The Spares Demand Planner will tackle complex issues that require in-depth analysis of various factors. This includes overseeing the spares plan for assigned product lines to ensure that the right inventory is available at the right time to support KLA customers. The planner will collaborate with new product introduction leaders and the supply chain and procurement teams to develop effective spares inventory strategies that align with customer support strategies for new products. Utilizing spare demand planning methodologies and statistical forecasting techniques, the planner will drive optimal spares support strategies and conduct root cause analysis to identify corrective actions and improvements. Additionally, the planner will monitor and report on key performance indicators (KPIs) such as fill rate performance and planned versus actual inventory levels. This role requires maintaining strong communication with the Product Support Organization (PSO) to ensure effective knowledge transfer and execution of the best support plans for global customers. The planner will also manage cross-functional projects that impact fill rate performance and partner with supply planning and procurement teams to design supply chain solutions based on business data and product knowledge. The role may involve occasional domestic and/or international travel.

Responsibilities

• Oversee spares plan for assigned product lines to ensure right spares inventory for current, mature, and new products are positioned at the right place and time to support KLA customers.
• Work closely with new product introduction leaders; supply chain and procurement for assigned products to ensure right spares inventory strategies/plans to support KLA new product customers' support strategies.
• Use spare demand planning methodology coupled with survival and statistical forecasting methodologies to drive optimal spares support strategy along with trend/variance root cause analysis to determine and drive corrective actions and improvements with respective owners.
• Monitor and report out metrics and KPIs such as fill rate performance vs. field rate targets and planned inventory vs actual inventory to identify opportunities of increased agility while reducing total inventory and cost of service.
• Maintain strong communication path with PSO (Product Support Organization) ensuring cross functional knowledge transfer allowing to execute and drive best support plan for global customers.
• Ensure that established fill rate performance targets and inventory or service commitments are incorporated into the global spares plan.
• Manage and/or participate in cross-functional projects that impact current and future fill rate performance.
• Partner with supply planning team and procurement to design supply chain solution recommendations and strategic/tactical plans based on business data, commodity, and product knowledge; present proposals and recommendations to senior management and leaders; track and ensure implementation and execution.
• Support and participate as required in projects, partnering with advance analytics team to develop data sets and sophisticated reports, dashboard with multiple and different analytics view; drill-down options; dynamic pivot tables and charts, to facilitate fast and effective supply chain and business decision making.

Requirements

• Bachelor's Level Degree and related work experience of 5 years OR Master's Level Degree and related work experience of 3 years OR Doctorate (Academic) Degree and 0 years related work experience.
• Strong preference for experience in semiconductor equipment industry or other complex, high-mix, low-volume products.
• Experience with multiple aspects of advanced supply chain operations, including supply and demand management effectiveness (upturn and downturns) and achieving cost reductions.
• Self-driven, independent, yet a strong team player.
• Creative, innovative, and resourceful with a passion for speed, agility, simplification, and proactive action.
• Process oriented with proven experience turning big data into meaningful analyses that lead to actionable results for supply chain operations.
• Strong data and analytical skills and track record for creating processes to improve business performance.
• Ability to effectively deal with ambiguity, identify gaps, and implement innovative solutions to increase operational efficiency.
• Strong leadership and interpersonal skills, lead through curiosity and continuous improvements.
• Effective communication and presentation skills.
• Proficiency in MS Excel.

Nice-to-haves

• Background in statistics and probability is a plus.
• Experience with Tableau, Power BI or other business intelligence/analytical tools/services is a plus.
• Experience with SAP ERP system is a plus.

Benefits

• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Employee stock purchase plan
• Health insurance
• Opportunities for advancement
• Paid time off