Global Supply Chain Analyst

About the role

Ashley Furniture Industries is the world's largest manufacturer of home furnishings. As a family committed to innovation and excellence, we invest in developing future leaders and helping every team member learn from the best in the business. If you're ready to grow, you've come to the right place. The Supply Chain Analyst role is crucial in executing purchasing, managing supplier relationships, optimizing inventory levels, and ensuring product availability to meet customer demands.

Primary Responsibilities

• Purchase finished goods and component materials from global manufacturers and suppliers based on organizational requirements and demand forecasts.
• Negotiate with suppliers on purchase order status, expediting, deferring, or canceling orders as necessary to maintain proper inventory levels and fulfill customer demands.
• Provide direction to global manufacturers and suppliers regarding required dates and quantities for production scheduling to meet customer demand.
• Generate and analyze inventory reports; make data-driven decisions to optimize inventory levels based on cost efficiency and service level requirements.
• Make strategic decisions on purchasing or transferring product based on knowledge of product performance, supplier capabilities, and market conditions.
• Identify severe inventory shortages or capacity constraints that could adversely affect customer satisfaction; communicate issues to management and recommend solutions.
• Evaluate the reliability of supply chain flow to ensure product availability; make recommendations for vendor warehousing strategies and align supplier capacity with demand forecasting.
• Contribute to the planning of long- and short-term business objectives by providing supply chain insights and analysis.
• Chart, analyze, and interpret key process measures to identify trends, risks, and improvement opportunities.
• Train suppliers on the Company's supplier websites and systems; ensure understanding of key elements and provide ongoing support as needed.
• Positively and professionally represent Ashley to suppliers, communicating company needs and gathering critical information regarding production schedules and capabilities.
• Initiate, build, and maintain strong working relationships with internal and external customers, especially those impacting Supply Chain function effectiveness.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, Logistics, Operations Management, or related field required.
• 2+ years of experience in supply chain planning, procurement, inventory management, or related field required.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with ability to interpret data and make sound business decisions.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel (pivot tables, VLOOKUPs, data analysis).
• Experience with ERP systems (SAP preferred) and supply chain management software.
• Knowledge of inventory optimization, demand planning, and procurement processes.
• Excellent negotiation and supplier relationship management skills.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills for cross-functional collaboration.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment.
• Understanding of global supply chain dynamics and international supplier coordination.
• Detail-oriented with strong organizational and time management abilities.

Preferred Qualifications

• APICS certification (CPIM, CSCP) or similar supply chain certification preferred.
• Experience working with global manufacturers and overseas suppliers.
• Familiarity with supplier portals and procurement systems.
• Knowledge of logistics, transportation, and warehousing operations.
• Experience in furniture manufacturing or similar industries a plus.