Acceptance Testing, Agile Programming Methodologies, Analysis Skills, Available-to-Promise, Best Practices, Bill of Materials (BOM), Blueprints, Business Analysis, Business Model, Business Plan, Business Processes, Calendar Management, Change Management, Communication Skills, Consulting, Continuous Improvement, Cross-Functional, Demand Forecasting/Planning, Design Document, Documentation, Documentation Models, Forecasting, Gap Analysis, Integration Testing, Inventory Levels, Inventory Turns, Leadership, Metrics, Offshoring, Performance Analysis, Performance Metrics, Performance Tuning/Optimization, Presentation/Verbal Skills, Problem Solving Skills, Process Development, Process Flow, Process Improvement, Process Modeling, Production Planning, Production Schedule, Project Execution, Quality Metrics, Requirements Management, Requirements Validation/Verification, SAP, SAP Administration, SAP MM, Software Administration, Supply Chain, System Test, Team Player, Technical Training, Technical/Engineering Design, Test Plan/Schedule, Test Scenario, Testing, Time Management, Traceability, Unit Test, User Experience Design (UXD), Vendor/Supplier Planning, Writing Skills
Job Description
Must Have Technical/Functional Skills
" Strong understanding of SAP S/4HANA and ECC architecture with deep expertise in SAP Advanced Planning and Optimization (APO) and its core modules, including Demand Planning (DP), Supply Network Planning (SNP), Production Planning & Detailed Scheduling (PP/DS), and Global Available to Promise (GATP).
" 7 10 years of hands-on experience in SAP APO, including participation in at least two end to end implementation projects covering blueprinting, realization, testing, deployment, and post go live support.
" Proven expertise in APO planning functionalities, including demand forecasting, supply planning, network planning, production scheduling, and distribution planning.
" Extensive experience in configuring and customizing APO planning processes to align with complex business and supply chain requirements.
" Strong knowledge of master data setup and integration, including Material Master, BOMs, Routings, PDS/PPMs, Locations, and Resources across ECC/S/4HANA and APO.
" Solid understanding of end to end supply chain processes, including demand planning, supply planning, production planning, distribution, and scheduling best practices.
" Experience working with planning-related SAP Fiori apps and an understanding of user experience and interface design principles in planning scenarios.
" Hands-on experience in system testing, including unit testing, integration testing, and User Acceptance Testing (UAT), ensuring solutions meet business expectations and quality standards.
" Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to perform fit gap analysis and propose effective, scalable solutions.
" Proficient in business process modeling and documentation using tools such as BPMN and SAP Solution Manager.
" Experience in monitoring and optimizing APO planning performance, including analysis of key planning KPIs and system performance indicators.
" Good understanding of integration touchpoints between APO and SAP modules such as SD, MM, PP, WM/EWM, as well as external systems.
" Familiarity with Agile and hybrid delivery methodologies, with experience working in collaborative, cross functional project teams.
" Ability to act as a bridge between business stakeholders and technical teams, effectively eliciting, documenting, validating requirements, and ensuring solution traceability through testing.
" Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with proven experience in leading workshops, design discussions, and stakeholder presentations.
" Strong knowledge of supply chain KPIs and metrics, including forecast accuracy, service levels, inventory turns, and production adherence.
" Demonstrated ability to lead and coordinate onsite and offshore teams, ensuring effective collaboration, timely delivery, and high quality project execution.
Roles & Responsibilities
" Engage with business stakeholders to gather, analyze, and validate planning requirements related to SAP APO (DP, SNP, PP/DS) and SAP S/4HANA Planning functionalities.
" Configure and enhance SAP APO and S/4HANA planning solutions, including demand forecasting, supply and network planning, production planning, scheduling parameters, and planning analytics to meet business objectives.
" Collaborate closely with technical and integration teams to ensure seamless data flow and integration between APO, S/4HANA (PP/MM/SD), and external systems.
" Design, develop, and execute testing cycles including unit testing, integration testing, and User Acceptance Testing (UAT) to validate planning configurations and business scenarios.
" Prepare and maintain comprehensive functional documentation, including User Requirement Specifications (URS), functional specifications, process flows, and solution design documents, in line with organizational standards.
" Provide application maintenance and support for APO and S/4HANA planning solutions, delivering Level 2 and Level 3 support to key business users as required.
" Conduct end user training sessions and functional workshops to enable effective adoption of APO and S/4HANA planning capabilities and best practices.
" Analyze new business demands and evaluate changes to existing planning processes for small, medium, and continuous improvement initiatives.
" Translate business requirements into functional and technical designs, ensuring accurate configuration, clear traceability, and well defined test scenarios.
" Identify process optimization opportunities within APO and S/4HANA planning frameworks and recommend practical, value driven improvements.
" Coordinate and lead onsite and offshore project teams, ensuring effective collaboration, adherence to timelines, and successful delivery of project milestones.
" Monitor and analyze planning and supply chain KPIs (forecast accuracy, service level, inventory, production adherence), and recommend corrective or optimization measures.
" Support change management activities, assisting users during transitions to APO enhancements or S/4HANA planning transformations, including cutover and post go live stabilization.