Business Operations Supply Chain
Resume:
Robert B. Rimpler
•Director of Business Operations and Product Planning
• ***.*******@*****.*** • 713-***-****
• linkedin.com/in/rob-rimpler • Houston, TX
Professional Summary:
Results-driven supply chain leader with 15 years of experience in global hardware supply planning, S&OP, inventory management, and cross-functional collaboration in the semiconductor industry. Proven track record of leading end-to-end supply planning, driving operational excellence, optimizing inventory, and supporting new product launches. Skilled at developing scalable processes, generating actionable insights through advanced reporting, and presenting to executive leadership, demonstrating our team’s ability to manage risk, communicate effectively with stakeholders, and deliver sustainable supply solutions.
Career Highlights and Strategic Initiatives:
o Enhanced forecast accuracy by over 20% for key accounts through the implementation of advanced demand management techniques and continuous improvement in forecasting methods. o Led the redesign of the demand planning process, achieving a 35% reduction in planning cycle times and increasing agility in responding to demand variability and customer order changes. o Developed and deployed demand planning Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), resulting in improved customer Quarterly Business Review (QBR) scores and vendor ranking in Continuity of Supply (COS) metrics. o Established integrated Sales and Operations Planning (S&OP) communication channels among sales, marketing, technical, and production teams, fostering cross-functional collaboration and reducing response and lead times. o Developed and supervised a high-performing demand planning team of five, utilizing team-building, conflict resolution, and mentorship to strengthen collaboration and increase employee retention Professional Experience:
Kioxia, Houston, TX
Director of Business Operations & Demand Planning (6 years) 05/2019 - Present In this customer-facing role, I was promoted from Senior Manager to Director within my first two years, and currently lead a team of five global demand planners overseeing demand planning and business operations for SSDs in our Global Account group, supporting tier 1 accounts such as Dell, HPe, EMC, IBM and HPi.
• Lead the global forecasting and supply planning team for hardware products, managing 18-month demand forecasting by region to support over $1B in revenue per half for major enterprise customers.
• I spearhead the execution of long-range business strategies focused on operational excellence, scalability, and revenue growth. This includes designing planning frameworks that support global supply chain agility and responsiveness to market shifts.
• Generated weekly and monthly supply plans to meet operational needs, integrating plans with sales, logistics, and operations teams to ensure alignment across the organization.
• Act as the primary liaison between the Customer, Demand Planning and Operations Program Management, driving inventory strategies based on evolving business requirements and customer demand.
• Communicated supply plan risks, opportunities, and baseline assumptions to stakeholders, and collaborated with supply chain teams to develop and implement contingency plans to mitigate customer impact.
• Track and reported month-over-month and cumulative supply plan changes by product and supplier, providing transparency and actionable insights to leadership.
• Owned NPI (New Product Introduction) supply forecasting, managing all supply planning requests for new launches, including SKU transition planning and long lead time component requirements.
• Managed end-of-sale inventory planning, regularly communicating inventory runout timing and excess inventory liabilities to cross-functional teams, and led disposition strategies to minimize scrap risk.
• Developed and maintained all inventory reporting, including dashboards, ad hoc analyses, and presented weekly supply metrics and recommended actions to address constrained supply or risks.
• Prepared and delivered monthly supply planning updates at S&OP meetings with leadership and cross-functional teams.
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• Partnered with business systems teams to develop and enhance internal and external tools, improving the sustainability and scalability of the supply planning function Toshiba - HDD/SDD, Austin & Houston, TX
Sr Manager of Business Operations & Demand Planning (10 years) 06/2009 – 05/2019 In this customer-facing role, I was promoted from Manager to Senior Manager within my first four years, where I led both strategic and tactical Sales & Operations Planning (S&OP) activities, collaborating cross-functionally to assess demand variability, supply constraints, and financial impacts for executive decision-making. My role emphasized cross-functional integration, performance measurement, and continuous improvement, aligning with best practices in demand planning, master scheduling, and exception management.
• Led global supply and demand planners, overseeing supply planning and business operations for 42 global sites.
• Administered worldwide inventory control, planning, and positioning, ensuring optimal inventory levels and supporting seamless order fulfillment.
• Managed end-to-end operations for NPI launches, SKU transitions, and inventory runout planning, collaborating with cross-functional teams to ensure successful product lifecycles1.
• Developed and implemented communication channels and reporting tools for practical information sharing with sales, operations, and executive leadership.
• Drove risk management initiatives, including excess inventory tracking and disposition, and collaborated with legal and compliance teams on contract and export requirements Fujitsu (HDD Division), Austin, TX
Global Account Manager / CSR / Demand Planning, (4 Years) 2005 - 2009 I developed and maintained strong relationships with key global accounts, enabling a deep understanding of customer requirements and consistently high satisfaction levels. By analyzing customer forecasts, historical data, and market trends, I created accurate demand plans that optimized inventory levels and ensured timely product availability. I also led cross- functional projects to achieve account-specific objectives and managed stakeholder communications, while preparing and presenting regular performance and inventory reports to senior management to support strategic decision-making.
• Developed and maintained strong relationships with key global accounts, gaining deep insight into customer needs and expectations to ensure high levels of satisfaction and retention.
• Analyzed customer forecasts, historical sales data, and market trends to generate accurate demand plans, supporting optimal inventory levels and timely product availability across global markets.
• Led cross-functional projects to achieve business objectives for major accounts, managing project timelines, resources, and stakeholder communications to deliver results on schedule.
• Prepared and presented regular reports on account performance, demand forecasts, and inventory positions to senior management, providing actionable insights for strategic decision-making.
• Collaborated with internal teams—including sales, operations, and supply chain—to align supply planning with customer requirements and business goals.
• Supported ongoing process improvements in supply planning and inventory management, contributing to enhanced efficiency and service levels for global customers Additional Experience
Emerson (Analytical Instrumentation division), Account Manager / CSR (2 Years) 2003 - 2005 Education & Certifications
Associate Degree in Computer Science, MTI College of Business & Technology, Houston, TX Professional Membership, ASCM (Association for Supply Chain Management)
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