Demand Analyst Supply Chain: Key Roles & Job Description

Role of Demand Analyst in Supply Chain Management

Demand analyst supply chain work for businesses either small or big where supply chain management is required. They are also needed in e-commerce which sells small items such as clothing, food, toiletries, and shoes, and large items such as electronics, cars, furniture, pharmaceuticals, and so on. Demand analyst supply chain is required to be specialized in some focus areas of supply chain management, including:

• Demand planning
• Supply chain network design
• Raw material sourcing
• Production planning
• Inventory planning
• Distribution planning

5 Skills to Become a Demand Analyst Supply Chain

Similar to other job roles, the supply chain business should need soft (workplace) and hard (technical) skills. Below are the skills necessary for a supply chain demand analyst:

1. Communication Skill

They should collaborate with multicultural colleagues and teams such as customers and suppliers.

2. Interpersonal Skill

The demand analyst supply chain management deals with the complex delivery of goods between suppliers, inventory, and customers. So effective communication between them is necessary for affection.

3. Critical Thinking Skill

They should be a critical thinker and make quick decisions about issues arising during supply chain operations. Also, demand analyst supply chains find ways to overcome costs and enhance efficiency.

4. Organizational Skill

They should maintain the records and all data from various systems to manage multiple tasks simultaneously.

5. Time Management Skill

Time management is important in today’s fast-paced global environment with competing urgencies and meeting deadlines. Therefore demand analyst supply chain must have time management skills.

5 Major Responsibilities of the Demand Analyst Supply Chain

The demand analyst is the mediator between various supply chain management companies that want to buy overseas, functioning end-to-end projects ensuring products are delivered from point A to B. Therefore, the main duties of demand analyst include:

1. Checked data on recent company operations, controlling various sections like sourcing, warehousing, supplies, and production schedules.
2. Gathering and analyzing data to minimize costs and enhance efficiency.
3. Controlling supply chain tasks and warehousing.
4. Managing skilled relations with vendors as a company representative to endorse an optimistic image.
5. Finding ways to optimize the supply chain planning processes such as assessing approaches, procedures, instruments, and technology.

How to Become a Demand Analyst Supply Chain?

To become a demand analyst supply chain, you should have a bachelor’s degree. If you have one previously and want to switch careers, skip the first step and continue to grow your skills and experiences. Below are the steps to get started as a demand analyst supply chain.

Step 1: Acquire a Degree

To become a demand analyst supply chain you need a bachelor’s or master’s degree to start a job. Some people land this job without a degree. Still, the chance of getting hired is pronounced when you have a degree, especially in business, engineering, finance, economics, statistics, supply chain management, business administration, education, mathematics, and marketing. Because the field of demand analyst is tough and requires management in a complex and fast-paced environment. So the knowledge of supply chain management tools and systems is also necessary for the strong foundation of business insights.

Step 2: Boost Your Skills

You should build up strong knowledge about:

• Supply chain management and supply chain analytics.
• Have strong communication skills to collaborate with multicultural suppliers, customers, and colleagues.
• Have technical skills and work with supply chain tools and systems.
• Robust time management skills to ensure the timely delivery of finished goods and raw materials.
• Must have command of the following supply chain management software:
  • MS Excel
  • MPS/MRP systems
  • Crystal reports and PowerPoint
  • Production methods
  • Resources management
  • Applicable software applications
  • MS word

Step 3: Submit for Entry-level Jobs

Now, you are ready to apply for a job. Follow these steps:

• Create your resume.
• Write a cover letter.
• Search for industries that require a demand analyst supply chain.
• Submit your resume and cover letter in an industry.
• Prepare for the interview.

Supply chain graduates study demand analyst supply chain in detail during supply chain management courses offered by AIMS including the logistics management and supply chain diploma and MBA degree in supply and logistics management to develop skills, so the students can easily work as demand analysts in any organization.

Demand Analyst Supply Chain Job Descriptions

The following example helps you to understand the job description of a demand analyst supply chain.

1. Position

“Entry-level demand analyst in the supply chain department”.

2. Requirements

Managing and reporting on demand and supply for all goods, tracking costs of new products/materials, and communicating with employees across the organization to keep everybody notified of current situations. Daily tasks include data analysis to recognize any potential issue in demand or supply for goods, tracking products, interaction with vendors to confirm they can deliver what is required, keeping relations with employees across the organization to stay updated, and ready reports on findings and updates to management.

3. Characteristics Responsibilities and Duties

• Analyze the location of materials, supplies, and products.
• Estimate market changes and perceptions to optimize and forecast process performance.
• Expand business relations with suppliers and clients.
• Create strategies to reduce the cost or time needed to store and deliver products.
• Assess logistics systems, and recognize and urge areas for optimization.

4. Education and Experience

This position needs a bachelor’s degree in business, supply chain management, or systems engineering.

5. Required Skills

• Strong data analyzing ability.
• Ability for inventory management.
• Business and managerial management abilities.
• Communication, organizational, and critical thinking skills.
• Profound attention to all facets.

6. Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor’s in business administration, operations management, or any related field.
• One year of experience in a supply chain position or relevant.
• Robust analytical skills.
• Ability to work in a group or team.
• Proficient in computer software, such as Excel and Outlook.

15 FAQs for the Demand Analyst Position

These are the most frequently asked questions for the role of demand analyst supply chain:

Q1. Why are you interested in working as a demand analyst supply chain?

Q2. Can you explain your experiences managing and applying supply chain strategies?

Q3. What analytical skills are the most important for this job?

Q4. What are your experiences supervising supplier performance, such as delivery time and product quality?

Q5. Can you share your experience when you had to work with another department and resolve an issue?

Q6. What kind of software are you familiar with?

Q7. What programs can you learn fast if you don’t know it?

Q8. How have you settled and applied procedures for tracking and managing supply chain metrics such as lead times and inventory stages?

Q9. Do you have any professional certification related to this role?

Q10. What were your duties as a demand analyst at your last organization?

Q11. How do you switch stress during work? Any examples of when you successfully manage problematic tasks?

Q12. What are the important scenarios you have learned in your last job that will help you here?

Q13. How would you respond if your findings open a gigantic rise in demand vs. supply for a necessary product?

Q14. What are your professional aims and how will this position help you to achieve them?

Q15. What are the major challenges faced by supply chain organizations these days? Any idea how to overcome them?