Customer Operations & Inventory Planning Lead

Culp, Inc.•High Point, NC

10d

About The Position

The Customer Operations & Inventory Planning Lead, Cut & Sew serves as the primary operational and planning partner for assigned Cut & Sew customers. The role oversees the end-to-end order lifecycle, customer operations, inventory planning, demand forecasting, production coordination, and fulfillment across domestic and international operations. The position translates customer demand and business requirements into executable supply and inventory plans that support service excellence, product availability, cost effectiveness, and on-time delivery. It works closely with Sales, Product Development, Manufacturing, Quality, Logistics, and customer teams to identify risks, resolve constraints, and drive continuous improvement. Independent judgment and data-driven decision-making are required to balance customer commitments, inventory investments, production capacity, and operational priorities.

Requirements

Strong understanding of customer operations, inventory planning, demand forecasting, production planning, and supply-chain processes.
Experience in a manufacturing or distribution environment, preferably supporting complex customer or product requirements.
Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel and strong data-analysis and reporting capability.
Experience using ERP systems such as AS400, SAP, or similar platforms.
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, including the ability to convert data into actionable recommendations.
Ability to manage multiple priorities, customer commitments, and operational constraints in a fast-paced environment.
Strong verbal, written, organizational, and cross-functional communication skills.
Ability to exercise independent judgment, influence partners, and make sound business decisions.
Ability to adapt to new processes, systems, and business requirements.
Bachelor’s degree in Business, Supply Chain Management, Operations Management, or a related field; alternatively, an associate degree with at least five years of progressive experience in customer operations, distribution, manufacturing, or supply chain.
Experience coordinating customer requirements and cross-functional operational activities.
Experience with inventory, production, order fulfillment, or demand planning.

Responsibilities

Serve as the primary customer service, operational, and planning partner for assigned Cut & Sew customers and accounts.
Build and maintain customer relationships through proactive communication, timely follow-up, and effective issue resolution.
Oversee open orders, inventory availability, delivery commitments, customer-specific requirements, and order fulfillment execution.
Provide inventory status, delivery lead times, shipping updates, and recovery plans to customers and internal stakeholders.
Lead resolution efforts for backorders, supply disruptions, quality concerns, production constraints, and customer escalations.
Maintain accurate customer master data and inventory status reports, and provide secondary account support as needed.
Analyze inventory position, backorder, DRP, sales, forecast, and production reports to identify risks and establish priorities.
Develop and maintain finished-goods and raw-material inventory plans supporting Cut & Sew production.
Monitor minimum and maximum inventory levels and recommend adjustments to protect product availability while limiting excess inventory exposure.
Review inventory in transit, returns, losses, production output, and future demand to maintain accurate supply plans.
Partner with Manufacturing, Sales, and Operations to address shortages, excess and aging inventory, and service opportunities.
Analyze customer forecasts, historical sales, promotions, and future requirements to develop demand and production recommendations.
Plan Stokesdale fabric production needed to support Cut & Sew manufacturing in Haiti.
Coordinate raw-material availability, manufacturing priorities, and production timing to support customer commitments.
Manage orders and required materials for regular demand, promotions, and new product launches.
Monitor plan performance and communicate demand changes, capacity risks, inventory implications, and recommended actions.
Use ERP systems, Microsoft Excel, and reporting tools to identify trends and improve planning effectiveness.
Support Launch Excellence with Product Development, Manufacturing, and Sales to enable on-time product launches.
Coordinate new-product requirements, material readiness, production timing, inventory availability, and customer delivery expectations.
Identify execution risks with cross-functional partners, establish recovery plans, and maintain accountability for key milestones.
Support account growth, promotional activity, and changing customer requirements through proactive operational planning.
Collaborate with Cut & Sew Operations and Manufacturing to improve supply-chain processes, reduce cost, and improve delivery lead times.
Partner with Logistics to coordinate external requirements and movement of goods between Culp locations in North Carolina and Haiti.
Coordinate customer delivery commitments with planning, manufacturing, quality, and logistics teams.
Assist with product returns and corrective actions in partnership with the Quality team.