Lukasz Walczak

Head of Group Production Planning | Supply Chain | S&OP | SAP S/4HANA | Global Operations | FMCG & Food | AI

Darmstadt, Hesse, Germany

About

I lead global production planning across 50+ manufacturing sites, managing teams of 100+ planners and driving process/system rollouts at scale. Over 15 years in FMCG, Food, and Beauty (P&G, Coty, Döhler Group), I've built planning systems that cut inventory and improved service levels. Specialized in Planning, SAP PP/DS, and digital transformation of supply chain processes. Beyond my corporate role, I actively explore AI's potential by independently producing AI-generated content using Claude Code, Gemini, GPT, Kling, ElevenLabs, and Meshy — applying emerging technologies hands-on rather than just following trends.

Experience

  • DöhlerGroup (Full-time · 6 yrs 3 mos)
    • Head of Group Production Planning
      Oct 2024 - Present · 1 yr 10 mos

      • Architected and deployed a global Production Planning process blueprint across 55 manufacturing sites, establishing a unified operational standard across the entire group • Led the functional design and global rollout of SAP PP/DS and S/4HANA as the standardized planning platform, driving digital transformation at scale • Built and governed a global community of 100+ production planners across multiple continents, providing strategic mentorship and functional leadership • Held end-to-end accountability for Finished Goods and Semi-Finished Goods inventory across the global manufacturing network • Spearheaded integration of advanced analytics and automation into planning workflows, eliminating manual processes and increasing planning accuracy • Designed and implemented global planning KPIs, creating full visibility into performance across the manufacturing network • Identified and eliminated process variations across sites, driving efficiency gains throughout the global supply chain

    • Head of Planning
      Jun 2021 - Oct 2024 · 3 yrs 5 mos

      • Led all planning operations across 7 production areas, covering production planning, detailed scheduling, supply planning, order management, and master data management • Built, coached, and developed a high-performing planning team of 30, designing an efficient organizational structure to support business growth • Owned full responsibility for Service, Inventory, and Cost budgets within the planning function • Redesigned end-to-end planning processes, eliminating waste and significantly improving operational throughput • Drove and facilitated the plant's S&OP process, aligning supply and demand across stakeholders • Developed planning tools and reports that increased team efficiency and reduced manual workload

    • Senior Manager Supply Chain Management
      May 2020 - Jun 2021 · 1 yr 2 mos

      • Held global service responsibility across 52 locations, partnering with local teams to identify and resolve operational bottlenecks • Led cross-functional Supply Chain projects and designed performance dashboards in Celonis to enable real-time monitoring of service KPIs • Defined and implemented process standards for local teams, ensuring consistent and compliant operations across the network • Managed complex escalations, ensuring rapid resolution and minimal impact on service continuity

  • Supply Chain Team Leader at Cornelius Polska sp. z o.o.
    Nov 2017 - Mar 2020 · 2 yrs 5 mos

    • Managed Purchasing, Logistics, and Office Administration teams, delivering KPIs across On Time In Full (OTIF), inventory, and cost savings • Redesigned and optimized the end-to-end supply chain network, ensuring full compliance with import and export regulations • Negotiated supplier contracts and drove cost efficiency initiatives across the procurement portfolio • Successfully led the full ERP system migration for the Polish branch, ensuring business continuity throughout the transition

  • Coty Inc. (Warsaw)
    • Initiatives Operations Leader
      Jan 2017 - Nov 2017 · 11 mos

      • Managed end-to-end operational delivery of new product development projects, coordinating cross-functional teams across multiple delivery workstreams • Oversaw structured product phase-in and phase-out processes, ensuring seamless transitions with no supply disruption

    • Distribution Requierements Planning Work Process Improvement Leader
      Oct 2016 - Dec 2016 · 3 mos

      • Led the transition of all distribution requirements planning activities from P&G to Coty, ensuring continuity and zero operational disruption • Designed and implemented improved work processes and productivity tools, accelerating team onboarding and performance

  • Procter & Gamble (Full-time · 3 yrs 1 mo)
    • DRP Work Process Improvement & Transition Leader
      Nov 2015 - Oct 2016 · 1 yr

      • Managed the seamless transfer of distribution requirements planning from P&G to Coty, maintaining full operational continuity throughout • Customized SAP APO functionalities to align with new business requirements, improving planning system efficiency

    • DRP Deployment Planner
      Oct 2013 - Nov 2015 · 2 yrs 2 mos

      • Led the migration of distribution requirements planning operations from Germany to Poland, ensuring uninterrupted supply continuity • Managed global-scale distribution requirements planning for Wella product lines, coordinating across multiple international markets

  • Loan Technician at Depuy Synthes companies of Johnson & Johnson
    Jun 2009 - Sep 2013 · 4 yrs 4 mos

    • Managed end-to-end service logistics for reusable orthopedic medical devices, maintaining strict quality and compliance standards • Delivered high-quality customer service through effective coordination between clinical, logistics, and supply teams