Demand Planner

**Position Summary:**

The Demand Planner collaborates with Sales, Commercial Operations, Production Planning, and Procurement to develop and maintain demand plans across Culp’s product lines. The role analyzes customer forecasts, historical sales, inventory levels, and market information to translate demand into planning recommendations that support product availability, appropriate inventory levels, and customer commitments. Planning activities support both domestic production and procurement from Culp’s China platform and other vendor partners.

Reporting to the Supply Planning Manager, this position develops rolling demand plans covering a three- to six-month horizon and prepares weekly production and replenishment recommendations. The Demand Planner serves as a liaison among customer-facing teams, domestic production planners, and China platform procurement partners, aligning demand requirements with production timing, purchasing lead times, and inventory availability. The role measures plan performance, communicates changes and risks, and recommends adjustments to improve planning effectiveness.

**Position Responsibilities:**

**Demand Planning & Forecast Analysis**

* Gather and analyze customer forecasts, historical sales, order trends, and relevant market information to develop rolling three- to six-month demand plans across assigned products and customers.
* Review sales against forecasts, inventory levels, and planned production or purchased supply weekly. Recommend minimum and maximum stock levels and planning adjustments that support availability while limiting excess inventory.
* Gather product information, production changes, supplier updates, and sales forecasts from customers and internal partners to develop fact-based production and replenishment recommendations.
* Engage directly with customers as needed to validate forecasts, clarify future requirements, and share information relevant to demand planning.
* Maintain and share analyses of customer projections against on-hand inventory, incoming supply, and planned requirements to identify inventory gaps.
* Research and analyze customer order history to determine future demand and incorporate findings into forecasts, reports, and trend analyses.
* Monitor domestic production requests, China platform procurement plans, open orders, and active inventory against forecasted demand. Partner with Production Planning and other cross-functional teams to adjust timing or quantities as needed.
* Develop and share reports on forecast performance, delivery results, and inventory levels against plan to support stakeholder decisions.
* Monitor on-time product availability and delivery performance across domestic and internationally sourced supply, communicating planning risks and recommended actions to support customer expectations.
* Collaborate with planning partners to reduce the number of SKUs on allocation through accurate demand plans and timely production or replenishment recommendations.

**Product Lifecycle & Cross-Functional Coordination**

* Prepare weekly production and replenishment recommendations and coordinate execution timing with domestic production planners and international vendor partners, considering production, purchasing, and transit lead times.
* Communicate demand changes, inventory gaps, and supply constraints to Sales, Commercial Operations, and Supply Planning to support timely decisions and customer communication.

* Partner with Sales, Commercial Operations, Production Planning, and Procurement on product launches, transitions, and end-of-life phase-outs, aligning demand plans with domestic production and China platform replenishment requirements.

* Coordinate website product offerings with Sales, Marketing, Design, Quality, and IT, aligning new-product readiness, sample SKUs, product information, images, and listing updates with product launches, additions, transitions, and discontinuations.

* Perform other related duties and growth assignments as assigned.

**Role Qualifications/Essential Skills & Experience:**

* Proficient with analyzing data and translating the results into presentations capable of influencing business decisions.
* Proficient in Excel and able to build charts, graphs, and other relevant visual tools.
* Proficient in Microsoft Word/Excel and AS400 preferred.
* Strong interpersonal and relationship building skills.  Able to partner across multiple departments and work collaboratively.
* Strong attention to detail
* Exceptional documentation skills
* Ability to multi-task and handle numerous assignments simultaneously.
* Ability to work well with others in a diverse professional team environment.

**Education requirements**:

Three to five years of forecasting/demand planning experience in a manufacturing setting preferred.

* BA/BS in Business Management, Communications, or another applicable field of study.
* Commensurate experience considered.