The Danaher Supply Chain Leadership Development Program (SCLDP) provides an accelerated training program for college graduates who are at the top of their class and have proven the ability to excel in today’s fast-paced manufacturing environment. The program will provide graduates, who wish to pursue a career in Supply Chain Management, the opportunity to get exposed to the various facets of Supply Chain Management within a diverse manufacturing organization. The SCLDP is designed to provide us with future Supply Chain leaders for significant management positions. The SCLDP will build on the technical skills of the participants by providing them exposure to experienced Danaher professionals through three assignments at various manufacturing and division locations. Assignments will typically last 12 months but will vary based on several factors. Participation in the program will require geographic flexibility. Each rotation will include detailed exposure and involvement in the Danaher Business System (DBS). To be successful in Supply Chain Management within Danaher, professionals must be able to take a lead role in promoting, supporting, and participating in the DBS approach at each facility.
This process starts by recruiting candidates at specific schools with highly regarded supply chain management programs. Candidates must possess undergraduate or graduate degrees in supply chain management. To be considered, the right candidate must have relevant manufacturing experience and have held leadership positions on campus. Candidates must also demonstrate strong interpersonal skills, have natural leadership tendencies, a high energy level, and have a willingness to relocate without geographic restrictions.
The following are descriptions of the six (6) structured assignments. Participants will be placed in three (3) of these assignments during their rotation. Selection of the assignment will involve the participant’s preference, availability of the assignment, and the needs of the organization. The specific responsibilities within each assignment may vary based upon the immediate needs of the business. Some assignments share some of the same objectives. These objectives overlap from various assignments, as they are the foundation of sound supply chain management practices.
Auction Process Management (prerequisite for Buyer or Commodity Management rotation): Online bidding is the foundation of Danaher’s negotiation process with suppliers and the standard for how pricing is set within the supplier base. In this rotation the SCLDP participant will be tasked with developing bid packages (demand definition and forecast, drawings, technical specifications), identifying qualified suppliers and completing an online bidding event using Danaher’s tool set.
Commodity Management: Developing and executing a sound strategy for obtaining optimal benefit from a set of suppliers in a commodity is a fundamental skill in Supply Chain Management. Participants will be assigned a commodity and tasked with assembling data on demand and capability requirements, suppliers, market forces, and plant needs for price variance, inventory reduction, low cost region sourcing, and related. Participants will recommend and debate strategy for the commodity and be tasked to implement that strategy during the rotation.
Buyer: Understanding the daily, tactical execution of plant material requirements is a key to implementing sound strategies in the Supply Chain. Participant will be assigned to a commodity or value stream at a Danaher plant and will be responsible for ensuring the continuity of material to support daily needs. Participant will negotiate price and delivery and will issue purchase orders to qualified suppliers. Strategic needs for the area of responsibility will be identified and delivered in this rotation.
Planner/Kanban Management: Inventory management is a critical focus for all Danaher locations. As a planner, the participant will be responsible for ensuring the continuity of materials required for daily production. Taking a poor performing cell, which has historical delivery problems, and stabilizing the schedule by using level loading tools and/or applying the Danaher setup wheel, is core to the achievement of a benchmark manufacturing process. The participant will learn the basics of the Danaher Materials Process (Kanban Management) and will be responsible for maintaining and implementing the process to minimize inventory levels while ensuring availability. Basic use of various ERP/MRP systems will be learned. Understanding the impact of other Supply Chain Management activities (i.e. low cost region sourcing, auctions, buying, part transition and quality, etc.) on inventory will be a key take-away.
Quality Receiving/Inspection: There is nothing more important in the execution of a Supply Chain Strategy than maintaining the quality of incoming materials. Poor quality impacts every aspect of the supply chain. In this rotation the participant will learn the processes for inspecting incoming parts and approving materials that are either newly purchased or are being transitioned to a new supplier with unproven performance on the part. Instruction on the use of measurement equipment, material certification, returning non-conforming parts, and approving new material will be received.
Area Management: Danaher prides itself on the quality of our leaders and leadership starts on the production floor. Our Area Managers are responsible for managing both the production process and the skilled, dedicated workforce that puts the product out the door everyday. The Area Manager is responsible for building the best team, training the associates on benchmark manufacturing processes and ensuring that all QDCS and DBS initiatives are met and sustained.
- Coordination of daily production requirements
- Managing and training a diverse workforce of dedicated associates
- Implementing lean conversion initiatives in accordance with the DBS tool kit
- Facilitating the communication and coordination of activities between the manufacturing process and the support functions
We are confident that participation in this rotational program will prepare the participants for a fast-pace, successful career within Danaher’s Supply Chain Management team.
Relocation: Exposure to the different manufacturing environments and processes within Danaher is key to the growth and development of the SCLDP participants. In order to facilitate this, the participants may be asked to relocate at the completion of each rotation. The selection of the assignment location will involve the participant’s preference, availability of the assignment, and the needs of the organization. Relocation is handled in accordance with Danaher’s Smart Sum Value relocation policy. Associates are discouraged from purchasing a primary residence while in the rotational program as relocation costs for the sale and purchase of a home are not covered by the Smart Sum relocation policy.
