Karsten Paaris

Manage entire chain from whole goods demand planning, material availability, assembly, and delivery.

Managing component supply for emerging assembly operations in Europe as well as purchased custom products suppliers for Deere´s Turf product line portfolio.

Responsible for the demand planning of turf products build in various locations in the US and sold in the European region through a central warehouse. Products include walk behind mowers, riding lawn equipment, utility vehicles, fairway mowers etc. This assignment also incorporates supply management responsibilities for European suppliers for purchased whole goods. This assignment incorporates direct personnel responsibility for a group of tactical planners in Europe as well as a dotted line responsibility

Supply Management responsibility within the John Deere Turf platform for outside purchased products. The Turf platform includes walk behind mowers, riding lawn equipment, utility vehicles... for both commercial and private consumers. I had responsibility for outside purchased product activities generated out of the European supply base. These purchased products incorporated various kinds of cooperations and business models between Deere and suppliers and different go to market strategies.

I had supervision responsibility for two assembly groups in the tractor assembly line for John Deere tractors build in Mannheim. The two groups consisted of 90 workers and included dotted line responsibilities for four salaried assistants. Within this function I got acquainted to lean manufacturing principles, 5S, Kaizen, material flow processes. I was directly responsible for quality, productivity and effectivity for my groups. Within this function I also needed to work closely together with works councils

I was the European based Supply Base Manager in a team of 5 international Managers for the global wheel and tire procurement for all John Deere products. These products include the entire tractor range, combines, forage harvesters, sprayers, forestry and construction equipmen... you will get a full overview on the Deere.com website. My responsibility included an international supply base with various production facilities and incorporated an an annual three digit million spend for various Deere factories

I started my career at John Deere as a tactical buyer for wheels and tires for the Mannheim tractor factory including the requirements for the nearby Zweibruecken combine factory. Within this position I was responsible for a double digit million annual spend for these commodities. This function included cost reduction activities, price negotiation responsibilities, development of a pricing model for different tire brands based on image and market positioning, logistic concepts (e.g. warehousing, delivery..)