Richard Tucker
Brighton,VIC
Summary
Dynamic supply chain professional with over 15 years of experience in supply planning, production scheduling, and procurement within high-volume manufacturing environments. Expertise in leveraging SAP, Infor M3, Power BI, and lean methodologies to enhance operational performance. Proven track record of driving efficiency improvements resulting in annual cost reductions of up to $620K and a 22% increase in output through effective cross-functional collaboration and process optimization. Committed to fostering innovation and continuous improvement to meet organizational goals and exceed performance expectations.
Overview
16
16
years of professional experience
Work History
Supply Planner
Bega Cheese
03.2022 - Current
- Develop and execute 24/7 supply and distribution plans for cream cheese, high-fat, and butter production lines, ensuring 100% customer fill rates while minimising costs.
- Manage material planning and distribution for third-party infant formula canning facility (Snow Brand).
- Serve as interim Master Scheduler during extended absences, maintaining production continuity.
- Facilitate weekly supply review meetings with sales, operations, and procurement teams to align on demand forecasts and resolve bottlenecks.
- Oversee weekly processing of 7 million litres of milk and cream, ensuring compliance with QA standards.
- Lead efficiency projects, reducing inventory holding costs and enhancing supply chain agility.
- Mentor graduate supply chain analysts and champion continuous improvement initiatives.
- Key Achievements:
- Increased cream cheese output from 600 to 730 metric tonnes per week (+22%) by optimising run sizes, minimising changeovers, and elevating milk protein levels.
- Strengthened cross-functional alignment via structured weekly reviews, accelerating issue resolution and improving forecast accuracy.
Materials Planner
Lion Group
12.2018 - 02.2022
- Managed end-to-end material planning, NPD execution, data integrity, and inventory optimisation using SAP and Power BI.
- Led daily Integrated Business Planning (IBP) meetings and served as primary liaison for label packaging suppliers.
- Drove value-creation projects, reducing waste and improving replenishment accuracy in a high-pressure FMCG environment.
- Key Achievements:
- Reduced NPD packaging write-off by $120,000 annually through staged ordering protocols.
- Optimised national inventory by 21%, eliminating excess safety stock while maintaining 99%+ product availability.
Production Planner & Procurement Officer
Criterion Industries
10.2014 - 11.2018
- Coordinated production across five departments (powder coating, joinery, aluminium doors, windows, laminating) to support national project demand.
- Implemented lean manufacturing principles, increasing throughput and easing capacity constraints.
- Consolidated supplier base by 30%, negotiated improved terms, and reduced excess inventory by $500K via NetStock forecasting system.
- Established quality control checkpoints, achieving 92% on-time, in-full (OTIF) delivery.
- Key Achievements:
- Reduced powder coating downtime by 12% and overtime by 10–15% through optimised sequencing.
- Improved OTIF to 92% within three days of order placement.
Production Scheduler
BlueScope Steel
02.2010 - 09.2014
- Generated dual-site production schedules balancing plant capacity, customer demand, and scrap targets.
- Monitored inventory health, minimised aged stock, and coordinated feed logistics to maximise storage efficiency.
- Conducted monthly safety audits and contributed to the Continuous Improvement Committee.
- Key Achievements:
- Won Continuous Improvement Excellence Award for a project saving $110,000 annually in scrap reduction.
- Co-launched ‘Switch On Safety’ initiative, reducing long-term injuries by 20% across Victoria.
Education
Bachelor of Business - Supply Chain Management
Victoria University
Melbourne01.2010
Victorian Certificate of Education -
Carey Grammar School
Kew, VIC01.2002
Skills
- Experience with SAP, Infor M3, and NetStock
- Power BI and advanced Excel proficiency
- Sales forecasting and operations alignment
- Supplier relationship management
- Supply chain optimization
- Technology implementation
Timeline
Supply Planner
Bega Cheese
03.2022 - Current
Materials Planner
Lion Group
12.2018 - 02.2022
Production Planner & Procurement Officer
Criterion Industries
10.2014 - 11.2018
Production Scheduler
BlueScope Steel
02.2010 - 09.2014
Bachelor of Business - Supply Chain Management
Victoria University
Victorian Certificate of Education -
Carey Grammar School
Professional Attributes
- Analytical problem-solving
- Cross-functional collaboration
- Change management leadership
- High-pressure decision-making