Replenishment Analyst
Summary
Directs and forecasts inventory replenishment needs based on historical demand and current levels. Manages inventory spend, analyzes deadstock, and negotiates vendor returns to achieve turn goals and customer service metrics.
PRIMARY FUNCTION
The Replenishment Analyst is responsible for ensuring Viking's branch network has the right inventory, in the right place, at the right time. This role combines analytical thinking, forecasting, and business partnership to anticipate inventory needs before shortages occur.
Rather than simply reacting to inventory requests, the Replenishment Analyst uses historical sales trends, customer demand, inventory performance, and business insights to forecast future needs, recommend purchasing decisions, and optimize inventory across a multi-million-dollar distribution network.
This is an ideal opportunity for someone who enjoys working with numbers, identifying patterns, solving business problems, and turning data into actionable recommendations. Successful candidates are naturally curious, detail-oriented, proactive, and enjoy making informed decisions that improve customer service and operational performance.
MAJOR DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES
- Analyze historical sales, inventory movement, customer demand, and business trends to accurately forecast inventory requirements across assigned branch locations.
- Develop replenishment strategies that ensure products are available when customers and branches need them while balancing inventory investment and inventory turn goals.
- Monitor inventory performance daily to identify potential shortages, excess inventory, and emerging trends before they become business issues.
- Evaluate inventory data and recommend purchasing decisions that optimize customer service, working capital, and inventory health.
- Analyze Order-to-Complete (OTC), Fill Rate, inventory turns, service levels, and other key performance metrics to identify opportunities for continuous improvement.
- Review safety stock levels and recommend adjustments based on changing customer demand, seasonality, sales forecasts, and branch feedback.
- Partner closely with branch operations, sales teams, suppliers, and internal stakeholders to understand upcoming demand and proactively position inventory.
- Identify slow-moving, excess, and obsolete inventory and recommend the most effective disposition strategy, including redistribution, vendor returns, or inventory reduction initiatives.
- Monitor supplier performance and collaborate with vendors to improve order fulfillment, lead times, and overall inventory performance.
- Analyze inventory challenges, identify root causes, and develop practical solutions that improve service levels while maintaining healthy inventory investment.
- Communicate inventory recommendations and analytical findings clearly to operations leadership and business partners.
WHAT YOU'LL LOVE ABOUT THIS ROLE
- You'll solve business problems using data every day.
- Your recommendations will directly impact customer satisfaction and operational success.
- You'll have the opportunity to influence purchasing decisions across a multi-million-dollar inventory network.
- You'll work with a variety of departments including Operations, Sales, Branch Leadership, Purchasing, and Suppliers.
- Every day brings new analytical challenges requiring critical thinking and problem solving.
- You'll spend more time analyzing data and making recommendations than simply processing transactions.