Neal Johnson

About Neal Johnson

I am a results-driven Supply Chain Professional with a passion for bringing complex products from the drawing board to the production line. With over 20+ years of experience across heavy manufacturing and industrial distribution, I specialize in the \"Concept-to-Launch\" lifecycle, ensuring that innovation is supported by a stable, cost-effective, and high-quality supply base.My expertise lies at the intersection of Engineering and Procurement. Whether it’s leading supply chain initiatives for new model year launches at Harley-Davidson or developing global sourcing strategies for complex casting components, I focus on mitigating risk before it hits the factory floor.Core Strengths: New Product Development (NPD): Expert in navigating the PPAP process, managing line-fills, and ensuring 100% part availability for SOP (Start of Production). Strategic Sourcing: Proven track record in category supply chain and identifying high-performance suppliers across China, India, Mexico, and Taiwan. Technical Integration: Advanced SAP power user with experience in JD Edwards, Oracle, and Power BI to drive data-led decision-making. Relationship Management: Certified Purchasing Professional (CPP) dedicated to building transparent, high-value partnerships with global vendors and internal stakeholders.I offer the stability and \'player-coach\' leadership that high-stakes manufacturing environments require. I am currently open to professional dialogue regarding Senior Procurement or Category Management roles where I can apply a \'cradle-to-grave\' sourcing strategy to drive immediate margin impact.Whether you are navigating complex NPD launches or seeking an audit-ready lead to stabilize a high-volume MRO supply. If your organization is navigating complex NPD launches or seeking to optimize a high-volume MRO category, I am available to discuss how my background in high-stakes procurement can drive immediate operational stability for your strategic goals.

Experience

1. Assistant Category Manager

   Würth MRO, Safety, & Metalworking

   Jul 2025 — Present

   Strategic Category Management: Lead the \"Below the Neck\" safety product assortment, managing supplier relationships and lifecycle strategies for a high-volume industrial portfolio.Operational Excellence: Partner with global vendors to eliminate supply chain bottlenecks, successfully reducing lead-time variability and resolving invoice/ASN discrepancies to improve overall supplier reliability.Data-Driven Inventory Optimization: Utilize advanced analytics to forecast demand and maintain high item availability, ensuring seamless drop-ship and stocked inventory performance for B2B customers.

Education

• Trinity International University

  BA Organizational Leadership, Communications

  2003 — 2007

Skills

• Customer Service
• Training
• Logistics
• Logistics Management
• Business Process Improvement
• Continuous Improvement
• Inventory Management
• Supply Chain Management
• Mrp
• Process Improvement Projects
• Powerpoint
• Microsoft Excel
• Strategic Planning
• Cross-Functional Team Leadership
• Project Planning
• Supply Chain
• Quality Assurance
• Leadership
• Sourcing
• Certified Purchasing Professional
• Purchasing
• Process Improvement
• Product Development
• Analysis
• Sap Products
• Microsoft Word
• Supplier Evaluation
• Supplier Compliance
• Agile Methodologies
• Sap
• Change Management