Please invite your chapters to listen to Mark Neuman on May 15 at 7:00 Central Standard Time as he presents “One-of-A-Kind Inventory Management”.

To join the webinar, access the link below: http://apics.adobeconnect.com/r7vmckzt6rl/

There are three ways to listen:

1.      Through your computer speakers

2.      Use the conference call 1-888-354-0094, participant code: 0108736743

3.      Use the “Call me” function, where you can enter your phone number when prompted, when joining the meeting.  Example ‘+1-641-621-7918’.  The system will call you within seconds.

One-of-A-Kind Inventory Management

This presentation covers how to deal with cycle counting in “The Real World”. Most ERP systems have a cycle counting module built into the system. Following the vanilla package (usually the ABC analysis) or as Mark calls it “the cookie-cutter”, may not be right for your organization.

We will explore a method of defining how to create a custom cycle counting program to fit your business. This involves, defining your business model, determining the inventory mix, examining the flow of materials and the purpose of the program. If you are a small company without a formal ERP system this can still work for you.

The take away from this presentation is a method of attaining 99.5 – 100% inventory accuracy if you are so inclined and have the discipline and resources to make it happen. The cost to reach this level will pale in comparison to the cost of operating at lower accuracy levels.

Elizabeth Albers, a current senior supply chain management student ar Bowling Green State University, has recently received the R. Gene Richter Scholarship awarded by a partnership between the R. Gene and Nancy D. Richter Foundation and the Institute for Supply Management.  Awarded to future leaders in supply chain, Elizabeth was the BGSU SCMA president, as well as an E&R Foundation Scholar at the 2012 APICS International Conference in Denver.

Elizabeth is one of just 10 students to receive this national scholarship and is the fifth BGSU student to win this prestigious award in the last 8 years.  She will be presented with her award later this month at the ISM International Conference in Dallas, Texas.

APICS Toledo in partnership with Owens Community College Findlay Campus introduces one of five modules in the “Principles of Operations Management” series. 

The APICS Principles of Distribution and Logistics program will provide fundamental knowledge of operations management and understanding of the core concepts necessary to effectively manage an organization’s supply chain. 

Class Content

Operations management foundations

Introduction to distribution and logistics

Distribution channel design

Inventory management

Distribution requirements planning (DRP)

Warehouse management

Packaging and material handling

Transportation management

Transportation operations 

Class Dates and Time:

Monday Evenings, 6:00 P.M. – 9:00 P.M. from June 3, 2013 to August 26, 2013 

To register for this class, go to https://www.owens.edu/workforce_cs/continuing_ed.html and click on the Summer Work brochure. 

Registration Deadline is May 20, 2013

To bring the Principles of Operations Management to your workplace, contact

To learn more about APICS Principles of Operations Management, visit the APICS website at

http://www.apics.org/careers-education-professional-development/courses/foundational-courses/principles-of-operations-management

On Tuesday, March 19, APICS Toledo sponsored a half-day workshop, “The Beer Game:  A Production/Distribution Simulation”.  It was held at the Holiday Inn Express in Perrysburg, facilitated by Michael D. Ford, CFPIM, CSCP, CQA, CRE, CQE.

The workshop was a great success!

36 people participated in “The Beer Game”, including corporate teams from Dynamic Dies, Gerdau Special Steel, JAC Products, Materion Brush, and Wacker Chemical.  Participants assumed the roles of suppliers, manufacturers, distributors, retailers, and final consumers, and the objective was to manage inventory, cases of “beer”, to simultaneously achieve optimal customer service while minimizing inventory.  After each round, the cost of supply chain inventory was calculated, and the winning team was the team with the lowest total cost of inventory after 36 rounds, “weeks”, of business.  The winning team was from Dynamics Dies….congratulations!

BASIC FUNCTION:

Responsible for managing inventory ($10M-$20M) to achieve operating targets (financial and inventory service level KPI’s), as well as the execution of purchase orders, inventory and logistics problem resolution, supplier management, and other duties as required to minimize the inventory investment while maximizing the customer service level.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Responsible to achieve the customer service level goal and the appropriate inventory level of the category(s) assigned.  Metrics are service level, inventory investment, and inventory turn.
• Manage suppliers to improve overall delivery performance.  Metrics are lead time and on time delivery.
• Track, analyze and report on inventory data (service level, days on hand, obsolescence, target inventory levels, supplier performance and lead time variability, etc.).
• Manage inventory replenishment parameters to achieve desired outcome.
• Manage obsolescence risk for the assigned category(s).  Metric is inventory reserve.
• Manage inventory planning related activities (i.e. promotions) with cross functional areas such as Merchandising, Sales, Production Planning, etc
• Proactively address inventory shortages with both short term, and long term solutions
• Develops and implements inventory control processes and procedures.
• Lead events/activities with suppliers and LZB distribution/manufacturing facilities.
• Lead continuous improvement supply chain initiatives
• Manage suppliers to resolve issues and prioritize production of critical inventory items.
• Execution of purchase orders and order expediting
• Forecast management and adjustment.
• Ensure inventory is shipped and received in a timely manner
• Other duties as assigned

MINIMUM JOB REQUIREMENTS:

• BS/BA degree required.
• Minimum of 7 years’ experience in inventory management required.
• Strong analytical, quantitative and data management skills with ability to look at information creatively and develop solutions for problems based on findings from data.
• Experience in supplier performance improvement is required.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel required.  MS Access, Business Objects and E1 experience will be helpful.
• Must be a team oriented individual who works well with others in various levels and departments (Merchandising, Sales, Production Planning, and Logistics).
• A high degree of customer service is required for this position
• Excellent communications skills required.
• International sourcing experience preferred.
• APICS certification (CPIM) or Six Sigma Greenbelt certification preferred.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSBILITIES:  None

APPLICATION:

Interested Candidates should submit both resume and salary requirements to:

Position: Supply Chain Manager 

Company: A leading global supplier of Polymer Additives providing technical solutions for PVC, Polyolefin, urethanes, ABS, polystyrene and rubber products. The company was founded in 1920 and now enjoys sales of over $2 Billion. With 17 locations the Plastic Colorants Division is designed to be one of the industry’s best solution providers in supplying color and additive concentrate. We have the ability to fill orders from 50lbs to truck load and rail. With unmatched FDA product formulation capabilities, we have knowledge of all thermoplastic resin and compounding systems. 

Your unique role with the company: This position will be accountable for the effective development, implementation and maintenance of the production plan to meet forecasted sales, finished goods and raw material inventory targets, forecasted absorption and desired OTIF rates. Additionally, this position is responsible for supervision of warehouse operations and purchasing for the site. Reporting to Plant Manager.

• Manages 2 salaried schedulers and 12 hourly warehouse personnel
• Implement and manage SAP MRP module for the site and act as SAP Material Master
• Manage the operation of the warehouse and provide plant oversight of the site purchasing function.
• Conduct monthly inventory audits.
• Formulate raw materials forecasts.
• Publish updated shipping schedules keeping customer service and logistics abreast of any changes.
• Develop schedules for equipment use: forecast other resource requirements (operates, maintenance labor, QA/QC, technical support, etc.) 

Community Information: Evansville, Indiana- population 117,429

• The commercial, medical and cultural hub of Southwestern Indiana.
• Broad economic base known for stability, diversity and vitality. Five NYSE companies are headquartered in Evansville, along with two others traded on the NASDAQ.
• Schools consistently ranked as some of the best in the US
• 2008 was voted the city in the country in which to live, work, and play by the readers of Kiplinger and in 2009 the 11^th best. 

What we are looking for in a Candidate:

• Bachelor’s degree in business
• A minimum of three-five years experience in a manufacturing environment.
• Proficient in SAP
• APICS certification preferred

CAPACITY PLANNER

JOB PURPOSE:

Implement and maintain a production capacity planning program. Take the lead in any activity that affects capacity required to achieve production requirements.

DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Track and report capacity allocation and utilization.
• Provide daily reports and direction to manufacturing to ensure required production levels are achieved.
• Coordinate with departments and identify proper allocation of material, labor and root causes to issues and recommend corrective actions affecting ability to run and achieve production plans.

Daily Tasks:

• Establish a firm 6 month capacity plan with a long term forecast.
• Revises capacity plan when required due to design changes, labor or material issues
• Recommend changes to manufacturing capacity to ensure alignment with production schedules.
• Plans and forecast for future inventory levels based on sales forecast, current inventory levels and purchase orders.
• Monitors variations in forecast and inventory levels, and performs corrective actions as needed which could include recommendation on outsourcing of product.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Automotive Tier I and/or Tier II manufacturing experience helpful
• Strong mathematical skills
• Strong Computer skills with knowledge of Microsoft Applications and documentation skills
• Work as a team member as well as dependant and self-directed
• Ability to communicate effectively with others and the ability to use thinking and reasoning to solve a problem.

Degree:

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent related experience within this discipline.

COMPENSATION/BENEFITS:

Roki America Co., Ltd offers an excellent compensation and benefits package

If you are interested in this position please contact Rick Vonderheide

PRODUCTION SCHEDULER

JOB PURPOSE:

Plan, coordinate and expedite production schedules. Oversee the work flow, material and labor required to ensure finished goods that are of good quality, meeting customer demands and on time delivery.

DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Develop, maintain and review the master production schedule.
• Confer with manufacturing and customers to coordinate production and shipping activities, resolve complaints and/or eliminate delays.
• Compile reports on progress of work, inventory levels, costs and production problems.
• Schedule and coordinate the flow of work within or between departments of a manufacturing facility.

Daily Tasks:

• Maintain inventory levels necessary to meet customer demands
• Revise production schedules when required due to design changes, material and labor issues or other interruptions.
• Confer with department supervisors to determine progress of work and completion dates.
• Prepare reports for Management regarding schedules, material problems, manning issues or anything that will prevents meeting customer demands.
• Distribute production schedules to required departments.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Automotive Tier I and/or Tier II manufacturing experience helpful
• Strong Computer skills with knowledge of Microsoft Applications and documentation skills
• Work as a team member as well as dependant and self-directed
• Ability to communicate effectively with others and the ability to use thinking and reasoning to solve a problem.

Degree:

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent related experience within this discipline.

COMPENSATION/BENEFITS:

Roki America Co., Ltd offers an excellent compensation and benefits package

If you are interested in this position please contact Rick Vonderheide

The APICS Toledo Board of Directors is delighted to announce the recipients of the 2013 APICS Toledo Chapter Student Scholarships.

Mike McLaughlin, a freshman at the University of Toledo studying Manufacturing Engineering, has been awarded an APICS Toledo Family Member scholarship.

Tianxin Wang, a senior at the University of Toledo studying Supply Chain Management and Information Systems, has been awarded an APICS Toledo Undergraduate scholarship.

The board congratulates both recipients and wishes them continued academic success.

Each year the chapter solicits scholarship applications from students who are immediate family of Toledo chapter members and from students studying Operations or Supply Chain Management in the greater Toledo area and awards a number of $500 scholarships.

Jenni Nollman (Senior Buyer at JAC Products Inc) has joined the chapter board of directors as Vice President for Student Liaison.

Jenni is an alumnus of the University of Toledo, she was also University of Toledo APICS Student Chapter President in 2011 and was selected by APICS to be an APICS Scholar at both the 2010 and 2011 APICS International Conferences. The other board members are delighted to have Jenni join them and consider her a great addition to the board.

January 15th - Bring Your Boss PDM

This is the chance for you to have your boss attend a chapter PDM at no cost. We encourage chapter members to invite their boss to attend this meeting, our speaker is John Veatch, Lean Concepts Inc. whose topic will be ”Are You Lean?” Take advantage of this offer to help your boss understand the value of APICS and the benefits of membership to you and to the company. Watch out for chapter e-mails with meeting details.

January 25th – Walleye Hockeye Night

This will be a joint event with NAPM Toledo and the BG and UT student chapters of APICS and NAPM. Come see the Walleye at the Huntington Arena with the opportunity to go behind the scenes and see the locker room area during the second period. Members can bring one guest and tickets are only $13 per person. Watch out for chapter e-mails with game details.

Detailed Scheduling and Planning Class

The chapter will be offering the DSP class, the third module in the CPIM program in January, we are just finalizing the class start date. This class will use the latest version (Dec 2012) of instruction materials. Unfortunately we will have to increase our fee as APICS has raised their pricing with the announcement of the new version. Watch out for chapter e-mails with class details and the registration form.

November 13th 1962

The American Production & Inventory Control Society grants a charter to the Toledo Chapter, the 69th APICS chapter to be formed.

November 13th 2012

50 years later the chapter is still going strong, rated a Platinum chapter by APICS, with over 160 members and 2 active student chapters.

Much has changed over the years but the chapter continues to serve chapter members and companies in the Toledo area by providing professional development and education opportunities for those interested in operations Management or Supply Chain

The Board of Directors thanks all past and current members for their support over the last 50 years and looks forward to the next 50 years.