ZUHAL SAHBUDAK
Istanbul
Summary
Supply chain and operations leader with 20+ years of experience in manufacturing, plant management and end-to-end supply chain execution. Delivered measurable results in demand and supply planning, inventory optimization and logistics, including a 4% reduction in production costs. Led a plant transfer CAPEX project, completed on time without sales disruption. Strengthened operational excellence through continuous improvement and cross-functional coordination.
Overview
1
1
Certification
28
28
years of professional experience
Work History
Supply Chain & Customer Experience Manager
Saint-Gobain Abrasives MEA
İstanbul
07.2025 - 06.2026
- Led end-to-end supply chain and customer service operations, aligning customer needs with operational capacity.
- Lead S&OP and demand & supply planning processes, integrating sales, operations and supply plans.
- Optimize inventory, service level and OTIF performance to improve customer satisfaction.
- Coordinate customer service, logistics, procurement, import-export and supplier processes.
- Developed customer-focused processes for order management and delivery, enhancing issue resolution and performance.
- Improve KPI tracking, reporting and data-driven decision-making using SAP/ERP and Power BI/data analytics.
- Manage supply and logistics risks, balancing continuity, cost and service levels.
- Strengthened team collaboration and cross-functional initiatives, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and operational excellence.
- Lead slow-moving inventory reduction projects (approximately 75% reduction by year-end 2025). Achieved 100% of the year-end inventory target. MTS & MTO results exceeded target.
Plant Manager
Saint-Gobain Abrasives MEA - CA&TW&DC
Eskisehir
04.2022 - 10.2025
- Raise occupational health and safety performance to the highest Saint-Gobain standards.
- Ensure smooth post-relocation integration of the plants and completion of union-related processes.
- Complete onboarding and training processes for new employees and reduce employee turnover.
- Solving quality issues and achieving approx.100% closure of quality-related customer complaints.
- Increase cross-plant capabilities and operational flexibility.
- Launch planned and preventive maintenance activities and develop WCM projects.
Plant Manager
Saint-Gobain Abrasives MEA - CA
Kocaeli
02.2021 - 07.2022
- Established strong safety culture, resulting in elimination of unsafe practices
- Led plant production, maintenance, quality, cost, productivity, planning operations, and logistics.
- Optimize capacity, resource and workforce planning.
- Managed budget, CAPEX, and operating costs to align with identified losses and business needs
- Drive performance and continuous improvement initiatives based on OEE, productivity, scrap, OTIF, AR, MTS and MTO indicators.
- Support Lean/Kaizen culture and team development to achieve sustainable operational performance.
- With oven optimization approx. 42% electricity saving, scrap reduction, recycling projects, machine optimization with the suppliers.
Plant Manager
Duravit AG
Istanbul
01.2018 - 12.2020
- Managed a sanitaryware plant with 150+ employees and £10 million in sales responsibility, ensuring operational efficiency and employee engagement.
- Led production planning, quality control, inventory management, product cost analysis, safety measures, and continuous improvement initiatives, achieving 10% cost savings in production by year-end.
- Prepared annual budget and CAPEX plans, monitored financial variances, and implemented corrective actions to optimise resource allocation.
Production Manager
Duravit AG
Istanbul
01.2016 - 12.2017
- Supported plant manager in overseeing operations at Duravit Sanitaryware Factory.
- Lead monthly, weekly and daily production planning and scheduling processes.
- Coordinate with demand planning, procurement and operations teams to ensure the right products and materials are available at the right time.
- Manage KPIs, process improvement, team development, logistics processes and maintenance coordination.
- Manage the production team of 80 blue-collar employees, ensure their personal development by regular training
- Ensure European production standards and occupational safety.
- Implement Lean manufacturing principles and lead FMEA and productivity improvement projects.
Demand Chain Manager
Duravit AG
Istanbul
07.2014 - 01.2016
- Coordinated demand chain activities and managed import-export operations to streamline processes.
- Monitored staff performance and developed improvement plans.
- Managed inventory control, reducing waste and ensuring optimal stock levels at all times.
- Developed and delivered comprehensive training programmes, improving team skills and performance.
Demand Chain Chief
Duravit AG
Istanbul
01.2006 - 07.2014
- Manage production planning and logistics planning activities and lead 10 teams.
- Manage inventory quantities and values and coordinate annual inventory activities.
- Enhanced logistics performance by managing annual contracts with logistics service providers.
- Report logistics costs, delivery lead times, storage costs and packaging costs.
- Implement the Bundle System in Turkey and provide training to Duravit teams in China and India in 2011.
- To gave also Basic Data&BOM&Routing DIAS Implementation trainings in India Duravit in 2012-2013.
- Led Outsource Warehousing Project in 2012, managing yearly contracts and achieving approximately 20% cost savings.
- Compiled monthly and yearly logistics reports detailing costs, storage, and delivery metrics. (Costs of deliveries and storage, delivery days, cost of packaging)
- Set targets for planning and logistics, tracking monthly results with the team.
Production Planning Chief
Duravit AG
Istanbul
01.2005 - 01.2006
- Follow up sales demands and delivery dates and Performance Figures weekly with Sales Dep. of the orders (Local & IC & 3rd Party)
- Led packaging cost, inventory model, Kaizen and Lean Six Sigma projects also with blue-collars.
- Conduct statistical analyses for productivity and benchmarking.
- Implemented cost model in DIAS with Finance Department after training in Germany. in DIAS with Finance Department after 2 weeks training in Germany
- Implementation of Yearly Inventory Model in DIAS after training in Germany with all worldwide LOG Group.
Production Planning Engineer
Duravit AG
Istanbul
03.2004 - 01.2005
- Implemented DIAS PP model after 3 weeks training in Germany, enhancing production planning processes.
- Coordinated production, quality, sales demand, delivery dates, and purchased materials with Germany to ensure alignment and efficiency.
- Supported ERP, MRP, master data, BOM, and routing implementations, contributing to streamlined operations.
- Wage per piece system for workers
- Prepared monthly and yearly activity reports, along with monthly inventory for semi-finished products.
Material Planning Engineer
DYO Paint Plant
Kocaeli
12.2002 - 03.2004
- Utilised SAP R/3 PP module to prepare SAP MM reports and create purchase orders, ensuring accurate inventory management.
- Prepared weekly and monthly reports, managing Fictive Bonded Warehouse requirements aligned with production consumption.
Student
International Education
Guildford, United Kingdom
11.2000 - 08.2002
- Anglo European School - Bournemouth - UK - 2000
- Farnham College - Farnham - UK - 2001 - 2002
- Guildford University - Guildford - UK - Business English 2002
- FCE (First Certificate in English) - UK - 2002
Production Planning Engineer
Mutlu Battery Plant | Istanbul
İstanbul
07.1998 - 11.2000
- Prepared the weekly production plan for all workstations and managed control processes.
Education
Bachelor's Degree, Industrial Engineering
Kocaeli University
İzmit, 4101-1998
Skills
- Plant & Operations Management End-to-End Supply Chain Management Process Management Project Management S&OP Demand & Supply Planning Inventory Management Customer Service & Service Management Leadership Production Planning Logistics & Distribution Procurement & Supplier Management Import & Export Lean Management & Continuous Improvement Budget & CAPEX Management KPI & Performance Management SAP / ERP Power BI I Operational excellence I Quality assurance I Positive mindset I Team Leadership
Websites, Portfolios, Profiles
www.linkedin.com/in/zuhal-sahbudak-56ab8499
Certification
BTK Artificial Intelligence Trainings - 2026, SAP - FM (Future Master) - FC (Forecast) & MTS & MTO Dashboard Training - 2025 - 2026, S&OP and S&OE Project - 2026, Power BI Training - 2025, WCM (World Class Manufacturing) Training - 2023-2024, ISO 19011 Internal Auditor Training - 2024, Saint-Gobain HSE Training & Meetings - 2023-2024, Saint-Gobain Technical Manufacturing Training - Netherlands - Poland - Italy - France - 2022, WIM (Women in Manufacturing) Training & Meetings - France - 2021, AION BOM & Routing Training - Online - 2021, Saint-Gobain Finance Training - France - Online - 2021, Leadership - Eriksson & Associates Ltd. | 2018, Innovation - Algorithm Business Consulting | 2017-2019, Process Control Management - D&D Management Consulting | 2011-2013, Leadership - Trio - Eriksson & Associates Ltd. | 2012-2013, Duravit Leadership Pool - CONBEN Consulting, Germany | 2008-2009, KALDER Quality Congress | 2005-2018
Timeline
Supply Chain & Customer Experience Manager
Saint-Gobain Abrasives MEA
07.2025 - 06.2026
Plant Manager
Saint-Gobain Abrasives MEA - CA&TW&DC
04.2022 - 10.2025
Plant Manager
Saint-Gobain Abrasives MEA - CA
02.2021 - 07.2022
Plant Manager
Duravit AG
01.2018 - 12.2020
Production Manager
Duravit AG
01.2016 - 12.2017
Demand Chain Manager
Duravit AG
07.2014 - 01.2016
Demand Chain Chief
Duravit AG
01.2006 - 07.2014
Production Planning Chief
Duravit AG
01.2005 - 01.2006
Production Planning Engineer
Duravit AG
03.2004 - 01.2005
Material Planning Engineer
DYO Paint Plant
12.2002 - 03.2004
Student
International Education
11.2000 - 08.2002
Production Planning Engineer
Mutlu Battery Plant | Istanbul
07.1998 - 11.2000
Bachelor's Degree, Industrial Engineering
Kocaeli University