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Engineering Stores Manager
The Engineering Stores Manager is responsible for overseeing the receipt, storage, control, and issuance of engineering spares, tools, consumables, and equipment required for plant operations and maintenance. The role ensures optimal inventory levels, material availability, and compliance with safety, quality, and cost-efficiency standards. The position requires strong technical knowledge of engineering components, robust inventory management skills, and effective coordination with engineering, procurement, suppliers, and operations teams.
Key Responsibilities
1. Stores Operations Management
- Supervise day-to-day operations of the engineering stores, including receipt, storage, issuance, and accurate recordkeeping of spares, tools, and consumables.
- Ensure correct identification, tagging, binning, and preservation of all materials.
- Implement and maintain FIFO (First-In-First-Out) and FEFO (First-Expiry-First-Out) practices where applicable.
- Coordinate timely availability of materials to support preventive and breakdown maintenance activities.
- Oversee calibration, certification, and control of tools, instruments, and lifting equipment.
2. Inventory Management
- Maintain optimal stock levels by analysing consumption trends, lead times, and critical spares requirements.
- Conduct regular stock checks, cycle counts, and annual physical inventory verifications.
- Identify obsolete, slow-moving, and surplus inventory and recommend disposal or reallocation.
- Implement and maintain inventory management systems (ERP/CMMS/WMS) for real-time stock tracking and reporting.
3. Procurement & Supplier Coordination
- Liaise with the procurement team to source engineering materials, tools, and services.
- Verify supplier deliveries against purchase orders and ensure compliance with specifications and quality requirements.
- Support vendor evaluation by providing feedback on material quality, lead times, and supplier reliability.
- Contribute to cost-saving initiatives through alternate sourcing, vendor negotiations, and standardisation of spares.
4. Compliance, Safety & Quality
- Ensure engineering stores operations comply with ISO standards, HSE requirements, and internal policies.
- Maintain accurate documentation to support audits, inspections, and certifications.
- Ensure safe handling, labelling, and storage of hazardous materials, lubricants, and chemicals.
- Promote strong housekeeping, safety awareness, and continuous improvement practices within the stores.
5. Team Leadership & Development
- Lead, supervise, and manage engineering stores staff.
- Train team members on inventory systems, safety procedures, and correct handling of engineering materials.
- Allocate resources effectively and monitor staff performance against defined KPIs.
6. Reporting & Performance Monitoring
- Prepare regular reports on stock movement, material consumption, stock-outs, and cost variances.
- Monitor and report key performance indicators including inventory accuracy, order fulfilment rate, and stock turnover.
- Provide data and analysis to support budgeting, maintenance planning, and capital projects.
Experience, Skills & Competencies
- Strong knowledge of engineering spares, tools, and maintenance materials across mechanical, electrical, and instrumentation disciplines.
- Proficiency in ERP/CMMS/WMS systems (e.g. SAP, Oracle, Maximo or similar).
- Strong analytical, planning, and problem-solving skills.
- Excellent communication and coordination skills for working with cross-functional teams.
- Knowledge of lean inventory practices and continuous improvement methodologies.
- Proven ability to lead, train, and motivate store staff
