Program Manager, Logistics Cost-To-Serve

Who We Are 

Applied Materials is the global leader in materials engineering solutions used to produce virtually every new chip and advanced display in the world. We design, build and service cutting-edge equipment that helps our customers manufacture display and semiconductor chips – the brains of devices we use every day. As the foundation of the global electronics industry, Applied enables the exciting technologies that literally connect our world – like AI and IoT. If you want to work beyond the cutting-edge, continuously pushing the boundaries of science and engineering to make possible the next generations of technology, join us to Make Possible® a Better Future.  

What you will do

As part of the Applied Global Services (AGS) network optimization team, your primary role will be to apply supply chain advanced analytics and optimization approaches to solve complex network problems including distribution network design, transportation mode and routing, inventory hub and spoke, warehousing capacity, and other areas where simulation and modeling can bring significant cost and service improvements.

Cost to Serve (CTS) program aims to identify and eliminate waste, non-compliance to the standard bill-of-distribution, and offer cost insights by customers or product to broader operations stakeholders for better decision making. The primary objective is to reduce our logistics cost and drive productivity by optimizing the logistics cost per shipped unit of the product or to a customer. The program will provide visibility into costs as the product moves from suppliers to customers and identify gaps, design, policy or operations related inefficiencies and drive improvements.

This position, we are looking for a senior technical lead to help develop and operationalize this end-to-end logistics cost to serve model for Applied Materials’ spares distribution supply chain. The development of this model will involve identifying underlying drivers of each of the cost components under logistics and other relevant P&L cost items as deemed necessary. In this role, you will have elaborate engagements with several stakeholders across Logistics Operations, Analytics, Finance and IT. You will work with cross-functional teams to brainstorm on costs, build a framework for identifying drivers of costs from scratch and utilize data-science and other relevant technology platforms to enable setting up an end-to-end tracking for all costs and their drivers.

Use of data science, machine learning, and similar advanced optimization techniques in the field of supply chain operations is highly desirable in-order to successfully setup this capability. In this highly visible role, you will collaborate with key functional stakeholders to gain expertise in the technical and functional areas of supply chain optimization.

Key Responsibilities

• Cost-to-Serve Modeling: Develop and maintain a comprehensive cost-to-serve model, incorporating costs like transportation, inventory holding, order processing, customer service, and returns across the entire supply chain.
• Data Analysis: Extract and analyze large datasets from various supply chain systems to identify trends, patterns, and cost drivers impacting customer service levels.
• Logistics Functional: Develop a good understanding of current network design, planning and fulfillment policies, warehousing and transportation operations for various modes (truckload, LTL, parcel and HWA freight, etc.), other related business processes critical for influencing the logistics cost
• Customer Segmentation: Segment customers based on their cost-to-serve profile to prioritize service strategies and identify potential cost-saving opportunities.
• Cost Optimization: Identify and implement strategies to reduce cost-to-serve, such as optimizing delivery routes, inventory levels, order fulfillment processes, and supplier selection.
• Performance Reporting: Create detailed reports and dashboards to visualize cost-to-serve metrics, highlighting areas for improvement and tracking progress against targets.
• Collaboration: Work closely with cross-functional teams including sales, operations, procurement, and logistics to align cost-to-serve strategies with overall business objectives.
• Process Improvement: Identify and implement process improvements to streamline operations and reduce associated costs within the supply chain.
• Scenario Analysis: Conduct "what-if" simulations to evaluate the impact of potential changes on cost-to-serve and customer service levels.

Functional Knowledge

Demonstrates depth and/or breadth of expertise in own specialized discipline or field.

Business Expertise

Demonstrates understanding of business, cross-functional, financial, and people aspects and ability to analyze business processes.

Leadership

May lead functional teams or projects with moderate to high resource requirements, risk, and/or complexity without direct reporting authority over the project team.

Problem Solving

The ability to structure complex problems, do root cause analysis with an eye for recognizing data patterns and process connections. Ability to deep-dive large sets of data from multiple sources, formulate/validate hypotheses, and make business recommendations.

Impact

Work autonomously in an ambiguous environment yet collaborate in a matrixed team environment, seeking to understand business problems, attention to details, challenge status quo, and apply continuous innovation in a fast-paced environment.

Interpersonal Skills

Excellent written and verbal communication skills and ability to successfully communicate ideas and sell strategic plans to cross-functional stakeholders. Ability to multi-task in a fast-paced environment.

Minimum Qualifications

• A graduate degree in a quantitative OR operations field such as Operations Research, Industrial Engineering, Supply Chain, Statistics or related major.
• 7-10 years of overall experience in supply chain analytics, logistics, transportation, or related function.
• Knowledge of cost-to-serve modeling and its application in supply chain optimization.
• 5+ years of hands-on experience with data modeling using SQL, Python, etc. Solid understanding of statistical modeling techniques such as regression, classification, decision trees, etc.
• Experience with supply chain management systems (ERP, WMS).

Preferred Qualifications

• Prior experience developing an end-to-end cost-to-serve capability for a fortune 500 organization is highly desirable.
• MBA/MS degree and demonstrated work experience in solving supply chain optimization problems is highly desired.
• Spares & Service, aftermarket domain experience is a plus.
• Process mining tools experience is a plus.
• Hands-on experience using optimization software such as Gurobi, CPLEX, or Xpress.
• Willingness to roll up your sleeves and do whatever is necessary to achieve program objectives.

Applied Materials is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to diversity in the workplace. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, national origin, citizenship, ancestry, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, disability, veteran or military status, or any other basis prohibited by law. To learn more about our commitment to DEI visit the Applied Materials Inclusion page.   

Qualifications

Education:

Bachelor's Degree

Skills:

Certifications:

Languages:

Years of Experience:

4 - 7 Years

Work Experience:

Additional Information

Time Type:

Full time

Employee Type:

Assignee / Regular

Travel:

Yes, 10% of the Time

Relocation Eligible:

No

Applied Materials is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to diversity in the workplace. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, national origin, citizenship, ancestry, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, disability, veteran or military status, or any other basis prohibited by law.