Senior Supply Chain Manager

Company Overview
Nippon Seiki is a world-class manufacturer of instruments for vehicles, agricultural, and construction equipment. Established in 1946, Nippon Seiki Co., Ltd. is headquartered in Japan, with numerous facilities worldwide. Nippon Seiki North America ("NSNA"), a group company of Nippon Seiki, located in Auburn Hills, MI, is a tier one supplier of instrument clusters and head-up display units for FCA US, General Motors, BMW, Honda, Harley Davidson, Suzuki, Polaris, Arctic Cat and other OEM's.

Purpose of Job
The Senior Supply Chain Manager is responsible for leading and optimizing the end-to-end supply chain operations for the NSMX plant, ensuring alignment with NSNA regional strategies. This role drives integrated planning, sourcing, inventory management, production scheduling, and logistics execution to ensure customer satisfaction, operational efficiency, and cost competitiveness. This position plays a critical leadership role in balancing demand and supply, mitigating risks, and enabling scalable and resilient processes aligned with automotive industry standards.

Major Duties/Responsibilities
Top duties or activities in a given year. Not all tasks/steps performed are listed.

Strategic Leadership & Regional Alignment

• • Define and execute supply chain strategies aligned with NSMX and NSNA business objectives and plant operational goals.
  • Act as the primary liaison between NSMX and regional Supply Chain leadership, ensuring alignment in S&OP, capacity planning, and network optimization.
  • Lead transformation initiatives to improve supply chain maturity, digitalization, and operational excellence.

End-to-End Supply Chain Management

• • Oversee the full supply chain cycle: demand planning, procurement (direct/indirect), production planning, inventory control, warehousing, and logistics.
  • Ensure seamless material flow from suppliers to production and final customer delivery.
  • Maintain optimal inventory levels balancing service, cost, and working capital targets.

Sales & Operations Planning (S&OP) / IBP

• • Lead the S&OP/IBP process at plant level, integrating demand forecast, supply capabilities, and financial alignment.
  • Drive 24-week rolling forecasts, scenario planning, and capacity analysis to support dynamic market conditions.
  • Facilitate cross-functional decision-making with Production, Procurement, Finance, and Commercial teams.

Procurement & Supplier Management

• • Lead sourcing strategies for direct and indirect materials ensuring cost efficiency, quality, and supply continuity.
  • Proactively manage supply risks, dual sourcing, and localization initiatives.

Production Planning & Operations Integration

• • Ensure robust production planning and scheduling aligned with customer demand and plant capacity.
  • Optimize sequencing, capacity utilization, and constraint management to maximize throughput and efficiency.

Inventory & Warehouse Optimization

• • Establish inventory policies (safety stock, reorder points, FIFO compliance) to ensure material availability while minimizing excess.
  • Lead warehouse operations, layout optimization, and material handling efficiency.
  • Strengthen inventory accuracy, cycle counting, and ESD/material handling compliance.

Logistics & Customer Fulfillment

• • Ensure on-time, in-full (OTIF) delivery performance to customers.
  • Manage outbound logistics, transportation strategies, and expedited shipments when required.
  • Align packaging and shipping processes with customer and regulatory requirements.

Risk Management & Continuous Improvement

• • Identify and mitigate supply chain risks (capacity, supplier reliability, logistics disruptions).
  • Lead root cause analysis and corrective actions for service or performance failures.
  • Implement Lean, Six Sigma, and continuous improvement methodologies across the operation.

People Leadership

• • Lead, develop, and mentor a high-performing supply chain team.
  • Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
  • Drive KPI ownership and performance management across planning, purchasing, and logistics functions

Education, Experience and Knowledge
Required and/or preferred level of education, knowledge and skills that are necessary.

Education    
-Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Engineering, Supply Chain, Business, or related field (Master’s preferred).    

Related Experience

• 8–10+ years in Supply Chain roles within automotive or manufacturing environments.
• Minimum 4–5 years in leadership roles with regional or multi-site exposure.
• Proven experience in S&OP/IBP, procurement strategy, and production planning

Special Training or Competency    

General Knowledge:

• Understanding of IATF 16949, ISO 14001, AIAG standards
• Data-driven decision-making and advanced analytics    

Specific Knowledge:

• Advanced knowledge of MRP/ERP systems (PLEX, SAP, or similar)
• Strong expertise in demand planning, inventory optimization, and capacity planning

Soft Skills:

• Strategic thinking with execution discipline
• Strong stakeholder management across regions and functions
• High negotiation and influence capability
• Crisis management and decision-making under pressure
• Results-oriented with continuous improvement mindset

Specialized Training:

• MES/STS, PLEX

Other/Additional:

• English: Advanced (professional / business fluent required for NA reporting line)
• Spanish: Native / fluent

NSNA Competencies

• Adaptation/Flexibility: Includes keeping an open mind regarding new ideas and ways of doing things. Willing to consider alternative interpretations or ways of looking at the situation. Demonstrating flexibility.
• Initiative/Results Driven: Includes setting high standards of performance for self and others. Striving to accomplish goals even if it means personal sacrifice. Putting the goals of the organization above own goals.
• Judgment/Decision Making: Includes making decisions and takes actions that have beneficial impact. Effectively evaluating information in order to come up with sound conclusions and recommendations.
• Resource Management: Includes setting clear objectives to guide action for self or others to accomplish goals. Organizing or adjusting information, people and materials to meet those goals.
• Team Work: Includes encouraging and supporting the ideas and effort of others. Finding ways to help the team or group perform effectively.
• Leading Others: Includes leading by setting clear expectations for performance and responsibility. Serving as a role model of appropriate attitudes and behaviors. Diagnosing the needs and capabilities of employees and taking actions to maximize each person's development.

DISCLAIMER
The above information in this description has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications required of employees assigned to this job.