About Abbott
Abbott is a global healthcare leader that helps people live more fully at all stages of life.
Our portfolio of life-changing technologies spans the spectrum of healthcare, with leading businesses and products in diagnostics, medical devices, nutritionals and branded generic medicines.
Our 113,000 colleagues serve people in more than 160 countries.
Serving the Irish Market
Abbott serves the Irish market with a diverse range of healthcare products including diagnostics, medical devices and nutritionals products.
In Ireland, Abbott employs over 6,000 people across ten sites.
We have six manufacturing facilities located in Clonmel, Cootehill, Donegal, Longford and Sligo and a third-party manufacturing management operation in Sligo.
Abbott has commercial, support operations and shared services in Dublin and Galway.
We have been operating in Ireland since 1946.
Abbott Nutrition Division
Abbott Nutrition produces a range of infant formulae in all pack sizes under the brand name "Similac".
To complement the range of "Similac" infant formulae, the facility also manufactures a range of follow on formulae under the brand name of "Gain".
The essential ingredient is liquid skim milk and this is combined with carbohydrate, vegetable oils, vitamins and minerals.
The product is blended, pasteurised, dried and packaged at the site and once packaged, is distributed to Europe, South East Asia, the Middle East, Latin America and Canada.
A Global Partner
Established in 1975, Abbott Nutrition in Ireland is the largest powder manufacturing facility for the production of infant formulae within the Abbott Corporation worldwide.
Approximately 1,000 dairy farms in Ireland and Northern Ireland supply quality milk to the Cootehill facility which processes 500,000 litres per day.
This secure supply together with Ireland's reputation as a green, clean environment is of significant strategic importance to Abbott Nutrition.
Job Overview
The role of Materials Planner will involve the following:
PURPOSE OF THE JOB
The Planner is responsible for detailed plant scheduling and coordinating the flow of information and product through the supply chain.
The role is a key contact with important customers, with suppliers, with Abbott Distribution and also with other Abbott locations.
Key Responsibilities
- Provide a planning function to ensure plant output aligns with market needs and agreed schedules through the supply chain.
- Offer backup expertise to other planning areas and support the Purchasing and Warehouse functions.
- Maintain accuracy in the inventory control system.
- Ensure effective management of Material Requirement Planning (MRP) and inventory.
- Ensure customer focus and product availability through effective MRP management, while maintaining cost and quality compliance.
- Continuously analyze MRP parameters (reorder point, minimum lot size, rounding values, etc.).
- Monitor inventories and address slow-moving or obsolete stock.
- Schedule materials to meet plant operational requirements, ensuring efficient and effective purchasing practices.
- Collaborate with internal functional areas to ensure operational efficiency.
- Drive continuous improvement within the planning area to promote operational excellence and improve financial performance.
- Maintain local planning policies and procedures in line with overall Abbott requirements.
- Manage key metrics to measure performance against set targets, analyze data to support decision-making, and report findings to the appropriate audience.
- Develop and grow relationships with other manufacturing sites, corporate teams, ANSC Purchasing, and ANSC Materials Management, as well as suppliers and other elements of the supply chain.
- Maintain records and files for key suppliers and assist in monitoring supplier performance against KPIs.
- Adapt to changes in job functions due to updates in GMP, EHS, technical/new equipment, quality procedures, and SOPs.
- Be adaptable and flexible to changing plant needs.
- Report to the Planning Manager within the overall Materials Management function.
- Work with ALOG (Planning Center) and supply chain members to meet target performance on KPIs, including customer service and inventory levels.
- Ensure compliance with local (including ISO) and Abbott rules, policies, and regulations, as well as all regulatory requirements (local and market-specific).
- Provide data to support the development of the annual plan and product cost.
Requirements
- Bachelor's Degree: Appropriate qualification in either Purchasing/ Production Planning e.g. Diploma in Purchasing or relevant APICS (American Production and Inventory Control Society) examinations.
Or
- General Degree with relevant Manufacturing experience.
- A minimum of 3 years experience within a regulated manufacturing environment
- Previous experience in a planning or supply chain role is essential
Key Skills
- Excellent interpersonal skills and communication skills.
- Good team working skills are required but also the ability to work alone on own initiative.
- A high level of computer literacy is required.
- Good logic and computing capability is required.
- A high level of integrity is essential.
- The ability to handle complex issues in a high profile, immediate environment is required.
- Ability to adapt and change as the needs of business dictates.
Learn More About Us
Connect with us at www.abbott.com or https://www.ie.abbott/, on LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/company/abbott-/, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/Abbott and on Twitter @AbbottNews.