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Michael Rafael Mandla
Supply Chain Director - North America at Henkel
Michael Rafael Mandla is a seasoned professional currently serving as the Director of Supply Chain for North America at Henkel.1 With a strong background in Supply Chain management, he specializes in Sales and Operations Planning (S&OP) and holds a Six Sigma Greenbelt certification.
Career Highlights
Michael has built an impressive career at Henkel, progressing through various key roles within the organization:
- Director of Supply Chain - North America (current position)
- Supply Chain Manager - North America
- Global Supply Chain Policies and Procedures Manager
- Business Process Owner - Project Management
- Business Analyst - Project Management Office
Skills and Expertise
Michael is known for his:
- Leadership in cross-functional projects within Supply Chain
- Strong interpersonal and communication skills
- Teamwork and enthusiasm
- Flexibility and positive attitude
Education and Background
Michael studied at Universiteit Maastricht. His international exposure has provided him with valuable multi-cultural experiences, fostering a deep interest in different cultures.
Additional Experience
Before his tenure at Henkel, Michael gained diverse experience through internships at companies such as:
- Rödl & Partner w Polsce
- KPMG
- German honorary consulate / Ben Buecker Law offices
He also founded Maaslife.nl, demonstrating his entrepreneurial spirit.
Michael Rafael Mandla's professional journey showcases a dedicated and versatile leader in the field of Supply Chain management, with a particular focus on the North American market at Henkel.
Highlights
I’m happy to share that I’ve obtained a new certification: Certified in Production and Inventory Management (CPIM) from Association for Supply Chain Management (ASCM)!
Attended this week the ASCM Connect 2023 conference in Louisville with four great Henkel colleagues as well as hundreds of other supply chain professionals.
A great opportunity to take a step back and reflect on what we are doing as well as how we are doing things. (Generative) AI was everywhere throughout the event.
My seven key takeaways from the last days:
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We need proper proper processes in order to automate. Automating without processes is “making stupid faster”.
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Let’s not try to solve everything at once with AI, let’s start with a small problem or area and implement a solution, but let’s start somewhere. However, we need to understand what the real problem is that we try to solve in order not to fall for the buzz words.
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67% of companies still rely on spreadsheets to manage (portions of) their supply chain.
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BANI (Brittle; Anxious; Non-linear; Incomprehensible) is the new VUCA.
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Supply chain after COVID: Just in Time is a concept that does not work in a VUCA / BANI environment. Strategic buffers are necessary to make supply chains less chaotic.
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The threat associated with our current geopolitical situation is real. Are supply chains relying too much on low cost vs. risk management? The low cost focus (raw materials, services, location selection, etc.) is too short term focused and does not consider potential and probable mid-term developments.
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Risk assessments are important. Acting upon identified risks is essential.
#ASCMCONNECT #supplychainmanagement
