Varatharaj Kannan Soundararajan Email and Phone Number

• Optimized Demand Forecasting: Applied statistical modelling techniques (XGBoost, SARIMAX) to improve parts demand forecasting accuracy, enhancing operational efficiency.• Cost Savings: Identified liquidation opportunities for non-moving and obsolete parts, generating ₹29 Crore in savings; reduced excess inventory by ₹26 Crore through ERP tuning recommendations.• Inventory Norms Optimization: Created simulations to optimize inventory norms, boosting production planning efficiency.• Fill Rate Improvement: Enhanced fill rate by 18% for the New Regional Logistics Centre by optimizing stocking norms and part lists using Pareto analysis.• Fuel Cost Reduction Tool: Developed a Python tool to strategically refuel trucks based on real-time diesel prices, fuel tank capacity, and route constraints, achieving a 13% reduction in fuel expenses.• Automation & Packaging Cost Savings: Automated Bill of Material (BoM) consolidation and packaging cost calculations using Python, leading to cost-saving opportunities across 1,044 live variants.• Inbound Logistics Optimization: Developed an ML model for truck placement based on accumulated load volume, improving logistics efficiency and automating truck allocation decisions.

• Business Analysis Leadership: Led business analysis for key supply chain initiatives, translating business requirements into actionable insights and developing metrics and KPIs for inventory, warehouse, and logistics operations.• Cross-functional Collaboration: Drove inventory optimization, cost reduction, and lead time improvements by collaborating with cross-functional teams, achieving measurable results.• Business Intelligence Enhancement: Analysed SAP transaction data to build business intelligence models, enhancing real-time reporting and supporting data-driven leadership decisions.• Dashboard Development: Managed business intelligence dashboards using Tableau, Power BI, Snowflake, and AWS, delivering key operational insights to stakeholders.• Data Mart Implementation: Facilitated the implementation by overseeing requirements gathering, stakeholder management, and User Acceptance Testing (UAT) to deploy analytics capabilities.• Site Performance Scorecard: Developed and led the creation for CEO awards, managing data pipelines, SQL queries, and scoring models to rank sites, supporting executive decision-making.• Digital Operations Platform: Contributed as a functional business analyst to design and implement a platform ensuring end-to-end supply chain visibility.• Real-time Reporting Infrastructure: Established using EDW and Tableau, improving visibility and accountability across operations.

• Market Target Achievement: Exceeded targets by improving fill rate, inventory turns and reducing backorders.• Distribution Requirement Planning: Managed DRP for Ford parts distribution centres across India, optimizing procurement from vendors and affiliates.• Critical Deliveries Management: Prioritized Vehicle Off Road (VOR), Back Orders (BO), and VIP orders for timely deliveries.• Inventory Liquidation: Led initiatives generating savings of ₹1.2 Crore and improved Inventory Turnover Ratio (ITR) by 23% through targeted efforts.• Process Efficiency: Automated supply chain workflows using Alteryx, eliminating non-value-added activities.• Supplier Relationship Management: Established strong relationships ensuring timely receipt of parts and minimizing supply constraints.• Shipment Coordination: Managed FCL and LCL shipments from overseas, coordinating with suppliers, consolidators, and customs teams.• Cost Reduction: Reduced air freight expenses by 13%, maintaining air-sea shipping ratios within targets.• Procurement Optimization: Conducted cost-volume benefit analyses for parts supportability and sourcing strategies.• RCCA Analysis: Performed to address delivery issues, reducing backorders and excess stock.• Supply Performance Improvement: Collaborated on ATB/OTB analysis, improving performance for Ford India.• Demand Pattern Analysis: Analysed customer demand patterns to improve OTIF and order fill rate.• Work closely with cross functional teams such as Purchase, Pricing, STA, Claims and resolve issues in timely manner• Used Alteryx and DBMS tools to analyse data and create self sustaining processes to generate Backorder and VOR reports to work upon by Inventory Analysts

Spare Parts Warehousing and Supply Chain:• Followed up with vendors to achieve service ratio targets.• Generated OS&D reports for all SKUs with issues and collaborated with vendors on countermeasures.• Held regular vendor meetings to reduce claims, rejections, and improve packaging.• Ensured stock maintenance by checking EOQ and binning all vendor and in-house SKUs as per QUP.• Coordinated with vendors and production teams to ensure stock availability of regular VOR (Vehicle Off Road) and VIP (Very Important Parts).• Managed documentation and rejections based on Maintenance Operating Standards (MOS) and Standard Operating Procedures (SOP).• Monitored supply claims, conducted analysis, and provided closure for all vendor parts.Logistics Planning and Warehouse Operations:• Accepted vendor parts after quality audits and parameter verification.• Managed material receiving from global vendors and generated Goods Receipt Notes (GRNs).• Sorted and stored materials based on the Warehouse Optimization System.• Oversaw depot and interplant transfers, including quality and quantity verification and stock adjustments.• Scheduled picking based on allocations and managed domestic sales picking, packing, auditing, and dispatching materials as required.• Handled invoicing and E-Way bill generation to ensure regulatory compliance.• Settled dealer claims, analyzed insurance claims, and improved service ratios by coordinating with dealers and the dispatch team.• Arranged and monitored transportation, including truck scheduling and cost decisions.• Conducted physical inventory counts and monitored Warehouse Optimization System (WOS) performance.

• Vendor Packing Implementation: Developed and implemented packing solutions with vendors, including cost formulation.• New Packaging Development: Created new packaging designs based on part nature and market research.• Packaging Optimization and Cost Saving: Optimized packing processes, leading to significant cost reductions.• Demand Forecasting and Procurement: Forecasted demand and managed RFQ/PR/PO processes for consumables like corrugated boxes, straps, and gloves.• Vendor Relations: Maintained business relationships with packaging and consumable vendors to ensure consistent supply.• Financial Coordination: Cleared payments and followed up with the finance department on pending transactions.

• Operational Support: Assisted in various aspects of warehouse and supply chain operations to gain foundational industry experience.• Training and Development: Participated in training programs focusing on logistics, procurement, and inventory management.• Process Improvement: Supported senior executives in implementing operational improvements and efficiencies.• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Worked with different departments to understand end-to-end supply chain processes.