SAP Principal Functional and Solution Consultant - Manufacturing

Introduction

We are seeking an experienced SAP S/4HANA Consultant with specialiSed expertise in defence manufacturing processes. The ideal candidate will play a critical role in implementing and optimising SAP S/4HANA functionalities to support core manufacturing, including compliance requirements unique to the defence industry. This role requires deep process knowledge across Engineer-to-Order (ETO), Make-to-Stock (MTS), Make-to-Order (MTO) scenarios, with strong integration skills across SAP modules.

1. Solution Design & Delivery

• Analyse defence manufacturing requirements, compliance needs, and operational workflows.

• Configure and deploy SAP S/4HANA Manufacturing and Supply Chain modules (PP, PP/DS, MM, EWM, QM, PS).

• Support Engineer-to-Order (ETO), complex BOM management, variant configuration, and serial number management.

• Design solutions for shop floor integration, work order management, and manufacturing execution.

• Integrate SAP with CAD/PLM systems and defense-specific logistics/maintenance applications.

• Design and configure Materials Requirement Planning and its integration with Procurement and Inventory Management.

2. Compliance & Regulatory Enablement

• Ensure solutions meet defence industry compliance (ITAR, EAR, NATO codification, export control, cybersecurity frameworks).

• Implement strong traceability, auditability, and data security controls within SAP.

• Support configuration management, restricted data handling, and quality assurance processes.

3. Program Delivery

• Conduct workshops and requirement-gathering sessions with defence manufacturing stakeholders.

• Provide workarounds/solutions for the process gaps in SAP S/4 and review Functional Specifications for the process gaps, if any.

• Drive unit testing, system integration testing (SIT), and user acceptance testing (UAT).

• Provide end-user training and post go-live support.

4. Integration & Optimisation

• Ensure seamless integration with Finance (FI/CO), MRO, Supply Chain, and Procurement modules.

• Recommend best practices for manufacturing planning, scheduling, and cost tracking.

• Contribute to continuous improvement initiatives and SAP S/4HANA upgrades.

5. Other Key activities

• Conduct training sessions for end users and key stakeholders on SAP Manufacturing functionalities.

• Provide ongoing support and troubleshooting for processes and solutions related to SAP Manufacturing.

• Oversee data migration and cleansing processes to ensure accurate master data for Materials, BOM, Routing and other relevant data for manufacturing.

• Develop custom reports and dashboards to provide insights into KPIs related to Manufacturing Processes

Your role and responsibilities

The SAP Manufacturing Consultant is a senior expert responsible for designing, optimizing, and implementing robust and innovative solutions across the entire manufacturing lifecycle. This role focuses on leveraging SAP's comprehensive Manufacturing portfolio, including SAP S/4HANA (PP, QM), SAP Digital Manufacturing (DM) / Manufacturing Execution (ME) / Manufacturing Integration and Intelligence (MII), and other relevant SAP Business Technology Platform (BTP) services. The architect will serve as a strategic advisor to business leaders, translating complex manufacturing challenges into efficient, integrated, and sustainable SAP solutions that drive operational excellence, production efficiency, quality control, and asset management.

• Experience:
  • [12-15]+ years of progressive experience in SAP consulting and implementation, with a dedicated focus on Manufacturing solutions.
  • [5-7]+ years in a lead architect or solution architect role specializing in SAP Manufacturing.
  • Proven experience leading multiple full lifecycle SAP S/4HANA Manufacturing implementations and/or SAP Digital Manufacturing Suite deployments.
  • Extensive experience with various SAP Manufacturing solutions, including:
    • SAP S/4HANA: Production Planning (PP), Plant Maintenance (PM), Quality Management (QM), Master Production Scheduling (MPS), Material Requirements Planning (MRP).
    • SAP Digital Manufacturing (DM) / Manufacturing Execution (ME) / Manufacturing Integration and Intelligence (MII): Deep expertise in one or more of these is crucial.
    • Related areas: Production Planning and Detailed Scheduling (PP/DS), Advanced Planning and Optimization (APO), Process Orchestration (PO/PI).
  • Strong understanding of S/4HANA architecture and its impact on manufacturing processes.
• Technical Skills:
  • Deep functional and technical understanding of SAP S/4HANA Manufacturing modules.
  • Proficiency in SAP Digital Manufacturing Cloud (DMC), SAP ME, and/or SAP MII configuration and implementation.
  • Strong understanding of integration between SAP ERP/S/4HANA, MES, and shop floor systems (OT/IT convergence).
  • Proficiency in SAP BTP - Integration Suite (CPI) for connecting manufacturing systems.
  • Experience with master data management strategies for manufacturing (e.g., Bill of Materials, Routings, Work Centers).
  • Familiarity with IoT integration into manufacturing processes.
• Certifications & Methodologies:
  • Relevant SAP certifications in S/4HANA Manufacturing or SAP Digital Manufacturing.
  • Project management certifications (PMP, Agile Scrum Master) are a plus.
  • Enterprise Architecture certifications (e.g., TOGAF) desirable.
  • Proficiency in Agile and SAP Activate methodologies.
• Soft Skills:
  • Exceptional analytical, conceptual, and problem-solving skills to address complex manufacturing challenges.
  • Superior communication, negotiation, and presentation skills, with the ability to influence and collaborate effectively with all levels of stakeholders.
  • Strong leadership capabilities with a proven ability to guide and mentor technical and functional teams.
  • Excellent business acumen and a strong understanding of end-to-end manufacturing processes across various industries (e.g., Discrete Manufacturing, Process Manufacturing).