Global Planning Master Data Senior Analyst

Position Summary

The Planning Master Data Senior Analyst is responsible for the governance, accuracy, standardization, and continuous improvement of planning master data and planning parameters across the global manufacturing and distribution network.

The position serves as a subject matter expert for planning parameters that drive MRP, production planning, material planning, capacity planning, inventory, and supply planning. The role partners closely with Global and Regional Planning, Global and Regional Materials Management, Procurement, Manufacturing, NPDI, Engineering, Finance, and IT to establish global standards, improve data quality, and ensure that planning systems generate reliable and actionable supply plans.

The Senior Analyst will lead initiatives to identify, analyze, and correct master data and parameter issues that impact material availability, inventory, lead times, production schedules, planning stability, and customer delivery performance.

Key Responsibilities

1. Global Planning Parameter Governance

• Define and maintain global standards for planning parameters across plants, products, and planning environments.
• Govern parameters including:
  • Planning lead times
  • Safety stocks
  • Reorder points / Min-Max
  • Lot sizes, MOQ and order multiples
  • Planning time fences
  • Demand and supply planning settings
  • Make/Buy indicators
  • MRP planning policies
  • Sourcing and replenishment parameters
  • Supplier lead times
  • Manufacturing lead times
  • Capacity and scheduling parameters
  • Planning BOM and routing-related parameters
• Establish parameter ownership, approval processes, review frequency, and escalation mechanisms.

2. Master Data Quality & Analytics

• Monitor planning master data quality and identify parameter inconsistencies, missing data, and abnormal values.
• Develop data-quality dashboards, reports, and exception-management processes.
• Analyze the impact of master data on shortages, inventory, schedule adherence, and supply performance.
• Establish thresholds and automated checks for critical planning parameters.

3. Global Standardization

• Develop and deploy global planning parameter standards across all regions: AMER, EMEA, China, India, Asia and manufacturing locations.
• Identify differences between plants and determine opportunities for standardization.
• Support harmonization of planning processes and parameters during new plant/product implementations.
• Document global standards, business rules, and operating procedures.

4. Planning System & Digital Transformation

• Act as the Planning Master Data SME for ERP, APS, and planning-system implementations and enhancements.
• Translate business planning requirements into system and master-data requirements.
• Support implementation and optimization of planning tools such as ERP/MRP and advanced planning systems.
• Participate in testing, data migration, validation, and deployment activities.
• Identify opportunities for automation and AI-enabled master-data monitoring.

5. Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Partner with Global / Regional Planning, Global / Regional Materials Management, Procurement, Manufacturing, Engineering, NPDI, IT, Finance, and Product Management.
• Work with plant teams to resolve root causes of parameter and master-data issues.
• Provide training and guidance to planners, buyers, and master-data teams.
• Facilitate global alignment on planning-data ownership and governance.

6. Continuous Improvement

• Lead or support improvement projects focused on:
  • Planning stability / Material availability / Inventory reduction / Lead-time accuracy / Schedule adherence / Supplier performance / Planning automation
• Use data analysis and root-cause methodologies to identify systemic planning-data issues.
• Establish KPIs to measure planning master-data health and process adherence.

Key Deliverables / KPIs

• Planning master-data accuracy and completeness
• % of critical parameters within approved standards
• Parameter exception closure rate
• Planning BOM / routing accuracy
• Lead-time accuracy
• Safety-stock and inventory parameter accuracy
• Reduction in material shortages caused by master data
• Reduction in excess / obsolete inventory caused by incorrect parameters
• Planning stability / schedule adherence
• Master-data governance compliance
• Automation of parameter validation and exception management

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain, Operations, Industrial Engineering, Business, Data Analytics, or related field.
• 5+ years of experience in supply planning, materials planning, MRP, supply chain analytics, or master data.
• Strong understanding of MRP, production planning, inventory management, BOMs, routings, lead times, and supply planning processes.
• Experience working with ERP/MRP and/or advanced planning systems.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities.
• Advanced Excel and data-analysis skills; experience with Power BI or similar analytics tools preferred.
• Experience with large, complex manufacturing environments preferred.
• Strong project management and cross-functional communication skills.
• Ability to work effectively across global teams and multiple manufacturing locations.

Preferred Experience

• Oracle, Kinaxis, or similar planning platforms.
• Planning master-data governance.
• ERP/APS implementation or transformation projects.
• Manufacturing environments with ETO, CTO, or complex configurable products.
• SQL, Power BI, or other data-analysis/automation tools.
• Experience developing global planning standards and governance.

Experience with AI/digital applications in supply-chain planning.