Zonal Service Lead (Logistics)

Job Context & Major Challenges

UltraTech Cement is the largest cement manufacturer in India with an installed capacity of about 116 million tonnes. The company has production facilities in 50+ locations spread across the country and has plans to grow further through acquisition and green field expansion. The UltraTech brand occupies a premium position with a market capitalization of 1.5 lakh+ crores. The Indian cement industry has a capacity of 545 million tonnes and a supply demand gap putting pressure of prices due to excess capacity. The market has strong regional players in each Zone and has strong brand competition.

Supply chain is extremely critical in ensuring the delivery of cement from the manufacturing locations to the consumption centers. Further, cement is a distribution intensive product with focus in cement movement being on high volumes and low distribution cost. Logistics function plays a key differentiator role through its distribution network and the focus has been on creating continuous value and service differentiation at each stage right from planning to delivery. The nature of cement consumption in urban locations is quite different from the nature of cement consumption in rural locations which calls for differentiated supply chain strategies to serve urban and rural customers. Keeping these factors in mind, having an agile and responsive supply chain is absolutely essential for attaining industry leadership.

An effective Vendor Management ensures an alignment of different categories of service providers to satisfy both internal and external customers, building relationship with Railways for long term policies and improving loading / unloading infrastructure. It is vital to focus on multiple variables like cost of delivery, mode of delivery, expected service level, protecting quality, creating facilities, use of technology, lot size, lead time, inventory management and optimal handling operations.

The major challenges include serving diversified customers across India, managing complex supply chain and maintaining strong customer interface by ensuring On time in full supplies to the customers at optimum cost.

SERVICE EXCELLENCE:

Monitor Service Level trends of Depots in Zone on regular basis and feedback to ZLH and PLH for required corrective actions in network / business practices

Capture Voice of Customer through online and telephonic conversations and drive initiatives to engage the team for the same

Ensure service to key customers and key B2B sites

Define Inventory norms for each location in the zone

Ensure process standardization by driving SOPs, identify key factors and communicate it to execution owners on initiatives to drive service improvement

Extend the Online and Mobile application access to customers which in turn will benefit both the internal and external customers

Facilitate plants and regions to have SLAs with sales team by geography

Drive service initiatives like Ultra 7 to 7, OET, Delivery feedback

Analyze competition benchmarking on service parameters by geography

Identify new service locations with tactical intent to increase market share

Defining fleet mix requirement for each geography

COST & EFFICIENCY MANAGEMENT:

Drive cost optimization for the zone in close collaboration with PLH and RLH

Driving efficiency KPIs across plants and regions

Ensure mitigation of losses due to demurrage, wharfage, cut and torn, damages, ageing

Stay in close coordination with PLHs and RLHs to strike the optimal balance between Asset utilization, inventory holding capacity and crossing KPIs

NEW INITIATIVES/PROJECTS:

Implementing new tools & technology in the zone; Suggest technology initiatives for ease and efficiency in execution and ensure service level improvement for major markets, Key Accounts and Key Sites

Work with Plant Excellence Managers for benefit realization of new initiatives like e-bidding, EPOD, Paperless operations etc.