Material Planner

Material Planner

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Operations Management, Business Administration, or a related field.
• 3+ years proven experience in material planning, production scheduling, or supply chain management within the automotive or manufacturing industry.
• Proficiency in ERP systems (e.g., SAP, Oracle) and advanced skills in Excel for data analysis and reporting (formulas, pivot tables, etc.).
• Experience in Engineering Change Management or New Product Introduction is necessary.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate closely with production teams to develop and optimize detailed supply plans aligned with customer demand and capacity constraints.
• Lead MRP process. Build and validate supply plans with suppliers.
• Work collaboratively with Logistics Specialists to transform supply plans into transportation plans that ensure adequate production coverage while minimizing transportation costs.
• Coordinate with suppliers to ensure timely delivery of materials, components, and sub-assemblies in accordance with production schedules.
• Monitor and adjust supply plans as needed to accommodate changes in demand or operational requirements.
• Collaborate with sales, marketing, and production teams to validate forecasts and adjust plans as necessary.
• Develop contingency plans to mitigate supply chain risks and ensure continuity of material supply.
• Maintain accurate inventory levels of raw materials, components, and finished goods to support uninterrupted production.
• Utilize ERP and inventory management systems to track stock levels, analyze usage patterns, and forecast future material needs.
• Implement strategies to minimize stock-outs, reduce excess inventory, and optimize inventory turnover.
• Hold suppliers accountable to ship according to defined supply plans and escalate deviations to buyers and management as necessary.
• Evaluate supplier performance based on metrics such as on-time delivery, quality standards, and cost-effectiveness.
• Partner with the Warehouse team to ensure cycle counting is done per established schedule following ABC classes.
• Lead investigation and resolution of inventory discrepancies.
• Identify opportunities to optimize production processes, reduce lead times, and enhance overall supply chain efficiency.
• Implement lean manufacturing principles and best practices to drive continuous improvement in material planning and inventory management.
• Lead or participate in cross-functional teams focused on process improvement projects.
• Foster strong relationships and effective communication with cross-functional teams including procurement, logistics, quality assurance, and engineering.
• Provide timely updates on material availability, production status, and potential issues impacting schedules.
• Collaborate on initiatives to resolve supply chain bottlenecks and improve operational performance.

Preferred Qualifications

• Proficiency in Google Suite is nice to have.
• Proficiency in Oracle Netsuite is nice to have.
• Additional languages such as Mandarin or Spanish are nice to have.