Sean Richards, Cpsm, Cpim
About Sean Richards, Cpsm, Cpim
Sean Richards is a Manager of Demand Planning at Federal Signal Corporation, where he has worked since 2017. He holds degrees in Electrical Engineering and Business, and has a diverse background in engineering and supply chain management.
Work at Federal Signal Corporation
Sean Richards has been employed at Federal Signal Corporation since 2011, holding various positions over the years. He currently serves as the Manager of Demand Planning, a role he has occupied since 2017. Prior to this, he worked as Supplier Development Manager from 2012 to 2017 and as Product Manager for the Amber Market from 2011 to 2012. His tenure at the company also includes roles as Senior Manufacturing Engineer and Electrical Engineer II. Throughout his time at Federal Signal, he has contributed to significant improvements in forecasting accuracy and inventory management.
Education and Expertise
Sean Richards holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Illinois at Chicago, which he completed from 2000 to 2007. He also earned an Executive Master of Business Administration (EMBA) from Northern Illinois University between 2009 and 2011. Additionally, he has a Bachelor of Music in Music Engineering Technology from the University of Miami, obtained from 1989 to 1993. His educational background supports his expertise in engineering, business management, and demand planning.
Background in Engineering and Sales
Before joining Federal Signal Corporation, Sean Richards worked as a Sales Engineer at Sweetwater for one year from 1998 to 1999. He also gained experience in audio engineering at Cutters from 1995 to 1998. His early career in engineering and sales provided a foundation for his later roles in manufacturing and demand planning, allowing him to develop a diverse skill set that integrates technical knowledge with business acumen.
Achievements in Demand Planning
In his current role as Manager of Demand Planning, Sean Richards has implemented several initiatives to enhance operational efficiency. He originated average age of inventory measurements by product family for the Sales and Operations Planning (S&OP) process. He also improved weighted forecast accuracy for the top 80% of revenue-generating products by 25% within a single quarter. Additionally, he automated demand history-driven classification of finished goods, resulting in a 10% reduction in safety stock dollars.
Inventory Management and Cost Reduction
Sean Richards has successfully managed inventory levels and reduced costs during his tenure at Federal Signal Corporation. In 2017, he achieved a reduction of excess and obsolete inventory by over $925,000. His efforts in implementing a cloud-based forecasting and S&OP system have also contributed to improved stakeholder engagement and forecast accuracy, demonstrating his commitment to optimizing supply chain operations.