Customer Operations & Inventory Planning Lead

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 execution across domestic and international operations.

This 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. The role partners 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.

• Serve as the primary customer service, operational and planning partner for assigned Cut & Sew customers and accounts.

• Build and maintain strong 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 accurate 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.

• Provide secondary account support as needed to maintain continuity of service.

• Analyze inventory position, backorder, DRP, sales, forecast, and production reports to identify risks and establish priorities.

• Develop and maintain inventory plans for finished goods and raw material components supporting Cut & Sew production.

• Monitor minimum and maximum inventory levels and recommend adjustments that 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 teams to address shortages, excess inventory, aging inventory, and service opportunities.

Demand, Production & Fulfillment Planning

• Analyze customer forecasts, historical sales, promotions, and future requirements to develop demand and production recommendations.

• Plan Stokesdale fabric production required 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 in partnership with Product Development, Manufacturing, and Sales to enable seamless, on-time product launches.

• Coordinate new product requirements, material readiness, production timing, inventory availability, and customer delivery expectations.

• Partner cross-functionally to identify execution risks, 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 teams to improve supply chain processes, reduce cost, and improve delivery lead times.

• Partner with Logistics to coordinate external requirements and the 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.

• 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 capability with data analysis and reporting.

• Experience using ERP systems such as AS400, SAP, or similar platforms.

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to convert data into actionable recommendations.

• Demonstrated 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; or 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.