Alper Arslan
Dubai,United Arab Emirates
Summary
A high-performing and visionary supply chain executive with over 20 years of experience, offering expertise across end-to-end supply chain functions in FMCG and manufacturing industries. Proven success in both B2B and B2C environments, with a strong track record in leading large-scale transformations, driving S&OP/IBP implementations, and delivering significant cost and efficiency improvements. With professional assignments in five countries-Turkey, Tunisia, Germany, Azerbaijan, and the UAE-recognized for a global perspective, strong cross-functional leadership, and the ability to align supply chain strategies with organizational goals, ensuring sustainable growth and operational excellence.
Overview
22
22
years of professional experience
12
12
years of post-secondary education
Work History
Head of Supply Chain
Global Food Industries
Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
12.2021 - 01.2025
- Lead Demand Planning, Material Planning, Production Planning, Warehousing, Logistics, and Customer Service functions, designing and executing integrated plans to drive manufacturing efficiency and support strategic business growth for the Frozen Food and Beverages categories
- Lead the implementation of best practices such as S&OP processes, systems integration, and optimization, ensuring efficiency and alignment with business goals
- Establish and oversee standardized procedures, training programs, and controls, utilizing dashboards to ensure adherence to plans and drive continuous improvement
- Optimize working capital inventories through stock optimization and SKU rationalization to align with business objectives
Head of Integrated Business Planning
Azersun Holding
Baku, Azerbaijan
11.2018 - 12.2021
- Established and led the Central Planning Team for Azersun FMCG Group, overseeing Demand & Supply Planning processes across 10 different food and non-food categories
- Led the implementation and optimization of the IBP process, coordinating all subprocesses and ensuring seamless information flow across departments while introducing IBP-specific KPIs to drive performance improvements across the organization
- Identified budget gaps and initiated actions to close them with cross-functional alignment
- Coordinated SKU rationalization and portfolio optimization activities, contributing to improved product profitability and operational efficiency
- Implemented ForecastPro statistical forecasting tool and achieved an average 15% increase in Forecast Accuracy (FA), reaching 75%-80% across all categories
- Reduced stock-outs to below 0.5% from 4% while decreasing inventories by 10%
Global S&OP and Systems Manager
Hayat Kimya
Istanbul
01.2017 - 06.2018
- Led global Supply Planning and Demand Planning teams and processes for all consumer goods categories
- (6 countries)
- Contributed to global CAPEX and supply network design activities, coordinated product launches/relaunches, budgeting, demand planning, capacity planning, production planning, material planning, and inventory planning to optimize resource allocation and costs at a global scale
- Coordinated monthly Sales and Operations Planning (S&OP) cycles, ensuring alignment between demand, supply, and financial forecasts
- Spearheaded the implementation of Demand Planning Software (SO99+) and Capacity Planning & Production Scheduling Software (ICRON)
Demand Planning and S&OP Manager
Hayat Kimya
Istanbul
08.2016 - 01.2017
- Led the Demand Planning Team and Demand Planning Process, developing a robust, unbiased, and comprehensive rolling sales forecast for all consumer goods categories
- Applied statistical methods and aggregation/disaggregation techniques to generate the baseline forecast, and ensured an accurate final consensus forecast within the Demand Review Process, collaborating with sales and trade marketing teams
- Coordinated and streamlined the monthly Sales and Operations Planning (S&OP) cycle, enhancing the integration of New Product Development, Demand Review, and Supply Review processes
- Achieved an average 10% increase in Forecast Accuracy (FA), reaching 75%-85% across all categories, ensuring Forecast Bias (BIAS) stayed within +/- 5%
Supply Planning Manager
Hayat Kimya
Istanbul
10.2013 - 08.2016
- Led Supply Planning Team (10+) and activities for Baby Care, Feminine Care, Personal Health Care, Home Care, and Tissue product categories
- Directed VAS (Value-Added Services) operations and managed the VAS Operations Team (50+) responsible for promotional product activities
- Actively contributed to the implementation of the S&OP processes across all consumer goods categories and coordinated the monthly Supply Review Process
- Managed inventory levels, achieving a 10% reduction in overall inventory and a 15% improvement in service levels, with OTIF surpassing 97% across all categories
Supply & Inventory Planning Manager
pladis Global
Istanbul
07.2011 - 10.2013
- Managed the Supply Planning Team and oversaw the end-to-end Supply Planning Process for the Chocolate Category, ensuring operational efficiency
- Played a key role in implementing the Integrated Business Planning (IBP) process and led the Supply Review Process
- Developed supply scenarios, drove capacity planning, and contributed to investment decisions
- Achieved a 25% reduction in inventory coverage for raw and packaging materials, a 20% reduction in finished goods inventory levels, while cutting stock-out rates from 5% to below 1%
- Reduced setup times on major production lines by 20%
Senior Planning Engineer
Kordsa
Izmit
04.2008 - 06.2011
- Deployed long-term supply plans and detailed production schedules, ensuring timely replenishment of raw materials to optimize service levels and supply chain costs
- Developed monthly supply scenarios for the S&OP cycle and collaborated with Finance to assess their financial impacts
- Maintained optimal inventories of finished goods and raw materials, balancing cost and availability
- Increased CFR (Case-Fill-Rate) from 94% to 99%, significantly enhancing service performance
Senior Purchasing Specialist
Pulse Electronics Corporation
Stuttgart, Germany
09.2007 - 02.2008
- Managed procurement, ensuring uninterrupted supply for critical automotive customers
- Collaborated with demand managers to align forecasts and maintain supply chain visibility
- Identified cost savings, negotiated purchase prices, and ensured vendor compliance
- Facilitated production transfer to China, ensuring material flow and qualifying new suppliers
Material Planning and Procurement Engineer
Pulse Electronics Corporation
Bizerte, Tunisia
02.2007 - 09.2007
- Resolved post-ERP implementation issues, improving material planning & procurement processes
- Established processes to improve system efficiency and ensure timely replenishment for automotive and power parts production
- Reduced inventory levels while maintaining uninterrupted material supply for production
Supply Chain Engineer
Pulse Electronics Corporation
İzmir
07.2003 - 02.2007
- Led short-term and long-term supply planning, incorporating capacity planning, production planning, and scheduling to ensure on-time product availability
- Managed material planning, procurement and inventory control, ensuring cost-effective purchasing and maintaining optimal stock levels
- Led master data and production control teams to ensure data integrity, conduct BOM audits, and manage cycle counts, streamlining operations and supply chain processes
- Played a key role in ERP and APS (Advanced Planning and Scheduling) system implementations, enhancing material planning, procurement, and supply chain operations
- Contributed to Lean-Sigma and Kaizen initiatives to optimize processes and improve efficiency
Production Engineer
İşbir Sentetik Dokuma Sanayi A.Ş.
Balıkesir
10.2002 - 04.2003
- Managed daily production operations, optimizing process efficiency and resource utilization
Education
Executive MBA - Business Administration and Management, General
Sabanci University
Istanbul/Turkey 08.2010 - 12.2011
Bachelor of Science - BS - Industrial Engineering
Bilkent University
Ankara/Turkey 09.1998 - 05.2002
High School/Secondary Diploma Programs - Physical Sciences
Sırrı Yırcalı Anadolu Lisesi
Balikesir/Turkey 09.1991 - 06.1998
Skills
- Supply Chain Management
- Integrated Business Planning (IBP)
- S&OP implementation
- Supply Chain Strategy & Transformation
- Supply Chain Optimization
- Sales & Operations Planning (S&OP)
- Supply Network Optimization
- Logistics & Distribution Management
- Capacity Planning
- Production Planning & Scheduling
- Inventory Management
- Demand Forecasting & Demand Planning
- ERP Systems & MRP
- Procurement & Strategic Sourcing
- Materials Management
- Lean Manufacturing & Continuous Improvement
- Advanced Scheduling & Optimization Systems
- Operations Management
- Purchasing & Supplier Relationship Management
- Warehouse Management
- Business Process Improvement
- Crossfunctional Team Leadership
- Data Analytics & Supply Chain Intelligence
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Languages
Turkish
Native
English
Fluent
Azerbaijani
Advanced
German
Beginner
Timeline
Head of Supply Chain
Global Food Industries
12.2021 - 01.2025
Head of Integrated Business Planning
Azersun Holding
11.2018 - 12.2021
Global S&OP and Systems Manager
Hayat Kimya
01.2017 - 06.2018
Demand Planning and S&OP Manager
Hayat Kimya
08.2016 - 01.2017
Supply Planning Manager
Hayat Kimya
10.2013 - 08.2016
Supply & Inventory Planning Manager
pladis Global
07.2011 - 10.2013
Executive MBA - Business Administration and Management, General
Sabanci University
08.2010 - 12.2011
Senior Planning Engineer
Kordsa
04.2008 - 06.2011
Senior Purchasing Specialist
Pulse Electronics Corporation
09.2007 - 02.2008
Material Planning and Procurement Engineer
Pulse Electronics Corporation
02.2007 - 09.2007
Supply Chain Engineer
Pulse Electronics Corporation
07.2003 - 02.2007
Production Engineer
İşbir Sentetik Dokuma Sanayi A.Ş.
10.2002 - 04.2003
Bachelor of Science - BS - Industrial Engineering
Bilkent University
09.1998 - 05.2002
High School/Secondary Diploma Programs - Physical Sciences
Sırrı Yırcalı Anadolu Lisesi
09.1991 - 06.1998
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