Vinolin Pillay - Supply chain planning in retail/manufacturing and small/large organizations

In this episode, ⁠Ben⁠ and ⁠Wim⁠ chat with ⁠Vinolin Pillay⁠, a supply chain professional who has navigated various roles in both large and small organizations.Starting his career as a replenishment planner at Africa's largest retailer, Shoprite, Vinolin then shares his journey into positions at Nampak and GUD Holdings before landing as a supply chain manager at a cosmetics company.Vinolin provides practical insights into the differences between retail and manufacturing, and the unique challenges in small vs. large organizations. 

Key topics include: 

• Vinolin’s career progression from retail to manufacturing and why he made that choice. 

• A breakdown of his Demand Matrix—a framework to help align sales and planning departments. 

• The challenges of managing people dynamics as a Type A person, and how he grew as a leader. 

• His thoughts on off-the-shelf vs. customized software solutions and the risks of improper system implementation. 

⁠Vinolin's LinkedIn profile⁠

TIMESTAMPS

• (0:03) – Intro to the podcast  

• (0:23) – Introducing Vinolin Pillay and his 14-year career in supply chain planning 

• (0:36) – Vinolin on what keeps him engaged in the evolving world of supply chain planning 

• (1:35) – Career journey: From Shoprite to Nampac, GUD, and his current role in cosmetics 

• (2:53) – Deliberate transition from retail to manufacturing—challenges and learning curves 

• (3:51) – Large vs small organizations: Which offers more growth potential? 

• (5:47) – Vinolin’s advice on starting in big companies vs. smaller ones 

• (7:19) – Key skills for planners: Data analysis, attention to detail, and leadership 

• (8:42) – The importance of integrated systems in retail vs. manufacturing 

• (10:36) – Planning during COVID: How Vinolin leveraged data to map future demand 

• (12:01) – Collaboration between sales and planning teams: Crucial for success 

• (14:00) – The Demand Matrix and how it shapes planning strategies 

• (19:31) – Best of breed vs integrated systems: Pros, cons, and personal preferences 

• (23:23) – Managing teams: Vinolin’s growth as a Type A planner turned manager 

• (26:14) – Vinolin’s final advice for new planners entering the field