supply planner interview questions

• “Please tell me about your experience in the supply chain industry”
• “How do you ensure you have enough stock in readiness for potential customers?”
• “Give an example of supporting a customer who had a last-minute request”
• “Give an example of negotiating with a supplier”

A demand Planner is a professional tasked with inventory planning purposes. They use sales, marketing, and analytical data to forecast demand. They are essential professionals in the supply chain of any business. To succeed in this role, you need a degree in Business, Procurement, Supply Chain Management, or in a related field.

SUPPLY CHAIN Interview Questions And TOP SCORING ANSWERS!

How do you ensure there is sufficient stock for future business functions without overcapitalizing on production materials?

Reveals the candidates understanding of business analytics.

What techniques do you use to keep track of inventory levels across multiple locations?

Showcases the candidates knowledge of logistics and inventory management.

How would you assist the company if they wanted to reduce production rates for a few months?

Tests the candidates problem-solving skills and ability to predict logistics needs.

Do you have experience collaborating with overseas suppliers?

Suppliers may be located across the world, so employers may expect you to have a process in place for staying in touch with them. Describe your strategy for staying connected with suppliers.

Example: “In my previous position, I worked directly with Japanese suppliers to obtain materials for our best-selling product. We communicated regularly using a chat management software that allowed the supplier to update us on the progress they made on creating and shipping our supplies.”

What is supply chain management?

This is a basic definitive question that employers may ask to ensure you can describe supply chain management to customers or other employees. Interviewers are typically looking for a simple answer that clearly defines the term in a way thats easy to understand.

Example: “Supply chain management is the management and planning of all supply chain activities that take place in a business. This can include product development, logistics, sourcing and producing.”

1 What has been your most challenging moment in a supply chain role? How did you resolve it?

Hiring managers typically ask this question to learn how youll handle difficult situations in the workplace. Answer this question honestly by describing a time when you were assigned a challenging task and your process for resolving it.

Example: “I once had a supplier who was running behind on shipments. I reached out to our suppliers to better understand the problem and to get the materials shipped to us as soon as possible. Once they arrived, I instructed our team to assemble and prepare the products for shipping right away.”

Example: “I believe supply planning involves three main skill sets—analytical, communication and organization. A supply planner needs to be able to analyze data and make predictions about future inventory levels. This means I need to understand how different factors like customer demand and production schedules affect our current supply of goods. Communication is also an important skill because I often work with other members of my team on projects. It’s essential for me to clearly communicate ideas and instructions to ensure everyone understands what we’re doing.”

Example: “If I had to choose one type of inventory to manage, I would choose raw materials because they’re essential to producing finished goods. If there’s an issue with raw materials, it could lead to issues with production or shipping. For example, if we didn’t have enough cotton to produce our shirts, we wouldn’t be able to ship them out to customers.”

Supply chain management is a key component of supply planning. Employers ask this question to make sure you have the necessary knowledge and experience to succeed in this role. In your answer, explain that you understand what supply chain management entails and how it relates to supply planning. Share an example of when you used supply chain management techniques to help achieve company goals or objectives.

Example: “I use a project management tool called Trello to help me organize my supply planning tasks. I find it helpful to create separate boards for each of my projects so I can keep track of all of my different inventory needs. For example, if I have two clients who are requesting supplies on different timelines, I can move their projects to separate boards so I know which client’s needs come first. This allows me to focus on one task at a time while still keeping an eye on both projects.”

Supply planners need to be able to manage multiple projects at once, so interviewers may ask you this question to see how you prioritize your work. In your answer, explain the steps you take when managing multiple projects and highlight any specific tools or software that helps you with this process.

Technical supply chain interview questions

Many roles involved in the supply chain require a higher degree of experience and technical understanding of supply chain operations. The following list of questions can help you learn more about technical applicants.

What are Supply Chain Jobs?

According to Supply Chain 24/7, these jobs tend to pay more than traditional service industry roles. These jobs tend to be heavily focused on science, technology, engineering, and math (high innovation areas). The volume of these jobs is rapidly growing in large companies, such as Dell, GE, IBM, and Intel, which are transitioning from manufacturing to traded services.

The supply chain is a common entry point for many new employees and businesses can expect to hire many entry-level team members. Even so, hiring managers must be sure they’re recruiting the correct personnel for the role.

Here are general supply chain interview questions you can use:

FAQ

What is the role of a supply planner?

What are the questions asked in supply chain interview?

What makes a good supply planner?

What skills does a supply chain planner need?

• Good communication skills. Good communication skills are important in many lines of work. …
• A strong sense of ethics. …
• Commitment to quality. …
• Time management. …
• Tech knowledge.