Materials Manager

Materials Manager

Requirements

• 7+ years of experience in materials management or a related field.
• Strong understanding of inventory and SAP/MRP or similar systems.
• Experience working with cross-functional teams and in leadership roles.
• Ability to read and interpret business, technical, and regulatory documents.
• Skilled in writing reports, business correspondence, and procedures.
• Proficient in presenting to leadership and external stakeholders.
• Strong problem-solving abilities in non-standardized scenarios.
• Comfortable with statistical and mathematical reasoning (percentages, ratios, forecasting).
• Proficient in software systems, including inventory, database, spreadsheets, and word processing.
• Knowledge of Lean CI tools such as A3 Thinking, Kanban, VSM, 5S, PDCA, and Tiered Daily Management.

Responsibilities

• Plan and implement cost-effective procurement, inventory control, planning, and quality control activities for production materials.
• Develop and maintain policies, procedures, and systems for material control to reduce costs and improve efficiency.
• Monitor inventory levels to ensure proper balance between stock availability and cash flow management.
• Maintain adequate inventory turns, minimize backorders, and ensure continuous supply availability.
• Forecast inventory needs over a rolling 90-day period.
• Collaborate with Marketing and Sales to support forecasting and new product rollouts.
• Lead the Planning team in utilizing tools such as the Master Production Schedule (MPS) and Material Requirements Planning (MRP) system.
• Ensure material availability as scheduled, while maintaining minimal inventory levels.
• Guarantee quality and timely delivery of purchased items aligned with production and customer requirements.
• Eliminate past due backlog and manage backorders for stocked products.
• Supervise storeroom and central supply teams in receiving, issuing, and delivering materials.
• Oversee purchase order preparation and administration, including change notices and policy compliance.
• Assign procurement tasks appropriately across the team.
• Optimize office workflows and introduce improved systems and equipment as needed.
• Manage the disposal of surplus materials.
• Participate in or facilitate value stream mapping (VSM) workshops to identify material flow bottlenecks and reduce lead times.
• Lead Daily Management for Planning, Procurement, and Warehouse teams with visual metrics and tiered huddles.
• Develop and sustain standard work for critical materials management processes, such as MRP review, Kanban replenishment, and cycle counts.
• Coach team members on Lean material flow principles, including supermarket pull systems, FIFO lanes, and point-of-use storage.
• Lead cross-functional CI projects to reduce inventory, eliminate back-orders, and improve OTIF (On-Time-In-Full) performance.
• Use structured problem-solving tools (e.g., A3 thinking, 5-Why) to address material shortages, supplier issues, and planning discrepancies.
• Champion One Watts CI tools and ensure warehouse layout and procurement practices support Lean flow and visual management.
• Maintain CI visual boards and track improvement activities and results.

Preferred Qualifications

• Prior experience in a Lean manufacturing environment is highly preferred.
• Experience implementing the SAP system is a plus.
• Bachelor’s degree (B.A.) from a four-year college or university is preferred.