Regina (Devarani) Narayanan

Experience

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  Distribution & Warehousing Network Limited (DAWN)

  Apr 1995 - Jun 2016

  The purpose of this role was to oversee the Procurement function within the organization and implement cost cutting measures whilst improving efficiencies. Key responsibilities• Mange the procurement and sourcing of domestic and Import products.• Negotiate with all Suppliers to ensure that the groups purchasing remained globally competitive. • Analyse inventory levels of the various divisions. • Keep abreast of import regulations, taxes, political and economic situations in suppliers countries to ensure reliability of source.Achievements• Reduced excess and obsolete stock by R100 million.• Streamlined the import process which resulted in a cost saving of 15%.• The company implemented ideas and recommendations from my dissertation into Procedures and policies resulting in an increase in efficiencies and cost savings. Show less The purpose of this role was to oversee the Procurement function within the organization and implement cost cutting measures whilst improving efficienciesKey responsibilities• Procurement and sourcing of domestic and Import products.• Visit foreign suppliers and markets to negotiate prices, lead times and quality• Manage stock levels across all 9 locations of the company. Achievements• Through changes in the system and creating reports, I was able to reduce stock outs and increase the sales on imported products from 10% to 23%. Show less Managing the company’s purchasing function with focus on continuous improvement, providing a lean and agile supply chain that optimises inventory and stock. Managing stock of over 1700 stock items, maintaining required stock levels (up to R27 million).Sourcing suppliers and negotiating pricing, supply levels and quality at a national level.Continually reviewing the overall ‘value’ offered by existing suppliers to ensure company’s purchasing remains competitive.Managing supplier performance and implementing corrective action to address underperformance.Market research and sourcing of new products.Compiling and placing indent orders, expediting as necessary. Timely effective communication of forecasts and purchase orders to suppliers.Maintaining product costs and selling price on a national level.Managing nationwide stock ensuring excess and aged stock processed.Maintaining strong supplier relationships with over 170 suppliers, ensuring effective communication and mutual satisfaction.Handling customer and supplier queries and managing stock returns.Managing stock inventory master files and annual budget.Development of incentive schemes for sales team. Show less Managing the effective procurement of stock to ensure reliable, continuous supply of quality products from suppliers.Managing stock of over 5100 stock items, maintaining required stock levels (up to R14 million).Sourcing suppliers and negotiating pricing, supply levels and quality.Continually reviewing supplier performance and implementing corrective action as required.Managing nationwide stock ensuring excess and aged stock processed.Market research and sourcing of new products.Maintaining product costs and selling price.Timely effective communication of forecasts and purchase orders to suppliers.Maintaining strong supplier relationships with over 170 suppliers, ensuring effective communication and mutual satisfaction.Handling customer and supplier queries and managing stock returns.Managing stock inventory master files.Development of incentive schemes for sales team Show less Promoted from Assistant Buyer to Internal Sales, focusing on the effective sales and supply of products to customers, support the external sales team.Timely effective communication of forecasts and purchase orders to suppliers.Managing stock outs, excess stock and buyout purchases.Negotiating pricing, delivery schedules and supply levels with suppliers.Proactively seeking new business from existing and prospective clients, promoting new product range.Managing telephone enquiries, compiling information and quotations and following up on quotations with customers.Ensuring customer complaints, issues and queries reached successful and appropriate conclusion. Show less

  • Commercial Manager at Dawn Procurement

    Apr 2015 - Jun 2016

  • Import Procurement Manager at Wholesale Housing supplies a Subsidiary of Dawn Ltd

    Jan 2011 - Apr 2015

  • Central Purchasing manager at Wholesale Housing supplies a Subsidiary of Dawn Ltd

    May 2010 - Dec 2010

  • Buyer at Wholesale Hardware Distributors a Subsidiary of Dawn Ltd

    Sept 2000 - Apr 2010

  • Internal sales / Assistant Buyer at Saffer a division of Dawn

    Apr 1995 - Aug 2000
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  Aspect Furniture

  Nov 2016 - Jul 2020

  Procurement and Supply Chain Manager

  The purpose of this role was to manage the Procurement and management of Inventory and bespoke products required for manufacturing of project orders.Key responsibilities• Procurement and sourcing of domestic and Import products.• Manage subcontracting of manufactured products• Coordinate and manage the stock levels of warehouses and 3PL facilities. • Create documents and finalize arrangements for Import and Export orders.Achievements• Reduced international freight costs up to 20%, by streamlining and facilitating negotiations between suppliers and freight forwarders..• Reduced obsolete and aged stock by $200k• Introduced procedures and policies regarding warehousing and purchasing thus improving efficiencies and creating transparency around stock levels.• Worked with the operations team to achieve a 90% DIFOT level. Show less

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  P&F Global Ltd

  Jul 2020 - Jun 2021

  Procurement and Freight Specialist

  The purpose of this role was to manage the Procurement of Inventory items and oversee both the local and international freight to meet the forecasted demand of sales.Key responsibilities• Procurement and sourcing of domestic and Import products.• Manage and Develop supplier relationships.• Coordinate and manage the transfer of goods between suppliers, warehouses and 3PL facilities. Achievements• Reduced international freight costs upto 40%, by negotiating routes and rates with suppliers and service providers.• Changed packaging materials in the warehouse to more greener options, increasing the company’s sustainability focus.• Found new suppliers to mitigate risk in the supply chain Show less

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  Bluelab

  Jun 2021 - Jul 2022

  Supply Chain Specialist

  The purpose of this role was to Identify, develop, implement, and Champion best practice supply chain processes and waste removal within the Supply Chain.Key responsibilities• Identify and develop cost savings opportunities within the Supply Chain• Manage and Develop supplier relationships.• Supervise and monitor day to day purchases ensuring continuity of supply.Achievements• Developed an understanding of ESGs, enabling the creation of reports to understand the company’s footprint in terms of sustainability.• Changed packaging materials in the warehouse to more greener options, increasing the company’s sustainability focus.• Created and Introduced scorecards for suppliers resulting in improving relations and managing efficiencies.• Streamline the purchasing function to be in line with lean manufacturing and Just in time practices. Show less

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  Furniture Zone NZ

  Aug 2022 - Oct 2023

  Procurement and Supply Chain Manager

  The purpose of this role was to manage Stock levels ensuring that the product range was in keeping with market trends, to support sales and revenue.Key responsibilities• Strategic local and global purchasing of products for projects and retail stores.• Manage the Procurement and Freight function.• Oversee the warranty department and work with suppliers to resolve quality issues.Achievements• Managed the procurement and inventory levels of the business thus improving stock turns from 1.8 to 3.3 in under 1 year.• Optimised inventory by introduction of new product lines and retired older lines to better meet demand based on current trends and customer tastes. This initiative directly contributed to a lift in profit margin by 8%• Changed service providers, by reviewing prices and costs from current vendors resulting in a 30% cost savings. • Introduced SLA and Supplier agreements which contributed to better supplier relationship management resulting in improving payment terms and abolishing the need for deposits. • Created analysis and reporting structures that allowed for better decision making for all engaged stakeholders.• Found new suppliers to mitigate risk in the supply chain. Show less

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  CHINT Solar

  Apr 2024 - now

  Procurement and supply chain manager

  Part of the EPC team contracted to Construct the Kowhai Park Solar Farm at Christchurch airport• Develop and maintain strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders to ensure optimal performance.• Work collaboratively, negotiate and engage with key stakeholders to facilitate delivery andcompliance with the purchasing strategy.• Communicate with stakeholders the impact of market change and potential effects on supply.• Recommend solutions without compromising quality or service while optimising cost.• Stay current and up to date on any changes that may affect the supply and demand of needed products and materials and advise others of any impact.• Contribute to new business initiatives and projects and review and communicate the impact on Purchasing activities.• Assist Senior Management in ensuring effective relationships with client businesses through maintaining an appropriate interface between procurement and suppliers.• Due diligence reporting provides relevant, up to date information to ensure stakeholders caneffectively and proactively manage project costs. Show less