Demand Planner

Job Description

Job Description

Join Our Team at HuFriedyGroup – Innovating Excellence in Dental Instrument Manufacturing

HuFriedyGroup is a leading manufacturer of dental instruments and infection prevention products. Our 10,000-plus products, hand-crafted by highly skilled artisans, are known for their precision, performance, longevity, reliability, and quality. To help dental professionals be The Best in Practice, HuFriedyGroup provides a unique combination of world class products, value-added services, clinical education, and dental community platforms that result in superior clinician performance and enhanced safety for dental professionals and their patients. Working at HuFriedyGroup is so much more than a job, as every employee has a part in driving and supporting the organization’s inspirational vision to be a global force in advancing dental performance through Best-In-Practice dentistry that improves lives around the world.

Location: Northbrook, IL - Hybrid Schedule. The candidate must be a current resident of IL or located within a commutable range.

Position Summary

The Demand Planner is responsible for developing, maintaining, and improving demand forecasts to support production planning, inventory management, and customer service objectives. This role collaborates closely with Sales, Marketing, Operations, Customer Service, Manufacturing, and Procurement to ensure accurate demand projections and optimal inventory levels across a diverse portfolio of dental products.

The ideal candidate is highly analytical, detail-oriented, and able to translate business trends, customer insights, and historical data into actionable forecasts that support business growth while minimizing excess inventory and stockouts.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain monthly, quarterly, and annual demand forecasts for finished goods and key product categories.
• Analyze historical sales data, market trends, seasonality, promotions, new product launches, and customer demand patterns to improve forecast accuracy.
• Collaborate with Sales, Marketing, Customer Service, and Product Management to gather market intelligence and incorporate business assumptions into demand plans.
• Lead or support the Sales & Operations Planning (S&OP) process by providing demand insights and recommendations.
• Monitor forecast performance and key metrics, including forecast accuracy, bias, inventory turns, fill rates, and service levels.
• Identify demand risks and opportunities and proactively communicate potential supply constraints or excess inventory situations.
• Partner with Production Planning, Procurement, and Manufacturing teams to align supply plans with forecasted demand.
• Support inventory optimization initiatives to balance customer service requirements with inventory investment goals.
• Analyze product lifecycle changes, including new product introductions, product transitions, and product discontinuations.
• Develop reports, dashboards, and analytics to support decision-making and continuous improvement efforts.
• Participate in cross-functional projects related to supply chain optimization, ERP enhancements, and process improvements.
• Ensure data integrity within ERP, forecasting, and planning systems.

Qualifications

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, Operations Management, Industrial Engineering, Finance, Statistics, or a related field required.

Experience

• 2–5 years of experience in demand planning, forecasting, inventory planning, supply chain, or related analytical roles.
• Experience in a manufacturing environment preferred.
• Experience in medical device, dental, healthcare, or regulated manufacturing environments preferred.
• Experience with ERP and forecasting systems required.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Strong understanding of demand planning, inventory management, and supply chain principles.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel, including pivot tables, lookups, and data analysis tools.
• Experience with ERP systems such as SAP, Oracle, Microsoft Dynamics, or similar platforms.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and statistical forecasting skills.
• Ability to interpret large datasets and identify trends and business impacts.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines.
• Ability to work effectively with cross-functional teams and influence decision-making.
• Experience with Power BI, Tableau, or similar business intelligence tools preferred.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

• Forecast Accuracy (%)
• Forecast Bias
• Inventory Turns
• Customer Service Level / Fill Rate
• Inventory Days on Hand
• Stockout Reduction
• Excess and Obsolete Inventory Reduction
• S&OP Participation and Effectiveness

Working Conditions

• Primarily office-based environment with regular interaction with manufacturing operations.
• May require occasional travel between company locations or distribution centers.
• Ability to sit, stand, and work at a computer for extended periods.

Equal Employment Opportunity & Accessibility Statement

HuFriedyGroup is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. We prohibit discrimination and harassment of any kind based on race, color, religion, age, gender, national origin, disability status, genetics, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.

If you require reasonable accommodations to apply for a position, participate in the recruitment process, or perform essential job functions, please contact us at 773-868-5534. We are committed to supporting you throughout your journey with HuFriedyGroup!