Logistics Analyst Toyota (Business Administration, BBA)

Ishika Panjwani, Toyota Motor Manufacturing Corporation

By Barkha Saini, Career Centre Peer

Ishika graduated from Laurier with an Honours Bachelor of Business Administration degree, with a concentration in supply chain management and a minor in economics. As a business student who participated in an array of case competitions, business presentations, and elevator pitches that exposed her to solving real-life business problems, Ishika became increasingly passionate about the business world.

Ishika initially thought about building a career in finance or insurance, but she soon realized that she loved using mathematics to solve and streamline supply chain problems. In addition to this, she had supply chain professors who served as great mentors, further inspiring her in this direction. Following graduation, Ishika secured a role as a logistics analyst with Toyota Motor Manufacturing Corporation and has been working there ever since.

Ishika’s day starts off by updating the key performance indicators (KPIs) for the company. She then moves on to solve supply chain abnormalities by contacting various concerned parties to ensure a smooth supply of parts essential for production. Toyota follows “just-in-time production”, which means that each car manufacturing part is used as soon as it arrives. An example of a supply chain abnormality would be a truck breaking down due to mechanical issues or perhaps poor weather on the way, which results in the part not being delivered as scheduled. In this case, Ishika’s role would be to mitigate the impact of this delay on production. She would start by figuring out the new ETA for the truck. After the ETA is established, she would identify whether there is any yard inventory to replenish the gap. If there is no yard inventory, then she tries to arrange for alternative transportation to get the parts or contact any of the other three production plants to check their inventory levels. When abnormalities occur, immediate resolution is necessary, requiring a high amount of effort as this can lead to a huge impact on the global supply chain. These situations can result in a heavy workload and demand continuous input from the analysts.

Ishika’s role also requires her to frequently visit the production area as this helps an analyst to better understand manufacturing concerns such as packaging, supply and logistics. These periodic site visits allow for the opportunity to employ Kaizen, a Japanese philosophy focusing on continuous improvement. These site visits also allow for a better understanding of shop workers' duties, which plays a key role when implementing new ideas around how to help reduce their workload and optimize efficiency. Ishika's role also entails presenting daily to her team regarding what steps were taken throughout the day to reach their goals. Ishika enjoys having a new set of challenges every day and feels very valued and important in this role as her decisions can have a huge impact on the supply chain.

According to Ishika, high-level Excel knowledge is needed for this role. Other crucial skill sets would be data analysis and understanding of Power BI, SAP, or any other inventory management software. To be successful in the role, one should possess strong communication and analytical skills as the role revolves around communicating well with others.

Ishika believes that the supply chain industry is growing, and her role offers continuous learning and skill development. She notes major advancements in technology that are helping to streamline processes and reduce communication discrepancies. Gaining experience as a materials analyst would also be an asset for anyone looking to grow their career in the supply chain management industry. The materials analyst role is similar to a logistics analyst, with a bit more emphasis and understanding of the supplier side to meet customer demands. Materials analyst/ordering experience will be an asset when applying for a logistics analyst role. Her workplace provides an opportunity to prosper through job rotations to different departments whenever there is an opening. The supply chain field also entails significant prospects for advancement into higher-level managerial roles overseeing all logistics operations.

To target a career in supply chain, Ishika advises students to participate in case competitions such as the Nestle Case Competition, which provides opportunities to solve many real-world supply chain problems. She also encourages students to connect with recruitment organizations as Ishika herself was hired for her role at Toyota through Tundra Technical Solutions. Ishika also urges students to participate in any internships or related curriculum to help build their skills and to network as much as possible. Finally, take advantage of all resources available through the Career Centre to ensure a strong path to success.

If you enjoy understanding the links between different components, problem-solving, data analysis, and interacting with different stakeholders, then a career as a logistics analyst may be for you!