Material Planner I

Position Overview:

The Material Planner functions in a fast paced and dynamic environment. This role is responsible for maintaining appropriate inventory levels for all components within the network. This person will work closely with Purchasing, Planning, Operations, Customer Service and vendors to procure all components and ensure that the right product is available at the right time through an acute attention to detail and strong follow up and communication skills. The Material Planner will balance high levels of product availability while managing inventory investment. The successful candidate must be able to communicate effectively (both verbally and written form), access, analyze, and generate insight from large data sets, while working as part of a global team. This position will also have duties related to interpreting and analyzing Material Requirement Planning (MRP) requests and capacity issues. Determines and prepares production schedules for the manufacture of industrial or commercial products. Plans and schedules workflow.  Maintains production schedules by ensuring proper utilization of resources (machines, time, people, and materials). Identifies solutions to meet demand inputs to achieve the highest level of service at the lowest possible cost. Coordinates and improves upon all programs currently in place.

Essential Job Functions:

• Responsible for using parameters to drive inventory at a target level defined by part and by role within manufacturing unit (safety stock, planner codes, lead times, etc.)
• Responsible for multiple suppliers and components across multiple commodities.
• Purchases inventory by placing purchase orders and/or releases for blanket purchase orders. Coordinates incoming material with supplier base to ensure that material is available to meet manufacturing needs while keeping inventory on hand at minimum levels.  Communicates with suppliers on an ongoing basis. Expedites inventory as needed.
• Monitors inventory levels, supplier delays, demand changes, etc. against the incoming supply of material and manages exceptions. Escalates to Materials Manager or Purchasing as required.
• Identifies supply solutions to meet demand inputs to achieve the highest level of service at the lowest possible cost.  Reviews current inventory, reviews prior usage, and anticipates demand.
• Resolves inventory issues, cycle counts inventory, and engages in corrective action regarding inventory variances.
• Coordinates and communicates with other Planners to ensure on-time deliveries to the customer.
• Key purchasing contact for supplier performance and issue resolution.
• Interprets and analyzes MRP requests and capacity issues. Determines and prepares production schedules to establish sequence and lead time of each operation to meet shipping dates according to sales forecasts and/or customer orders.
• Analyzes production specifications/schedules and plant capacity data and performs mathematical calculations to determine manufacturing processes, tools, and human resource requirements. Coordinates with Corporate Planning to ensure company-wide capacity, logistics, and service objectives are met.
• Plans and schedules workflow of each department and operation according to previously established manufacturing sequences and teams.
• Determines and prepares production schedules to establish sequence and lead time of each operation to meet shipping dates according to sales forecasts or customer orders.
• Reviews and maintains Planner Workbench as assigned.  This includes Sales Order Facility Bench and Individual Work Center/Planner Specific Bench.
• Reviews and revises internal order date maintenance in accordance with product availability in Zeeland.
• Interfaces with Engineering and Manufacturing on all BOM and Routing Requests on active and new products.

Candidate Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree in related field; or equivalent.  Relevant professional certification desired.
• Two years of progressive experience with inventory, planning, purchasing, or logistics management in a manufacturing environment.  Experience with ERP preferred.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills to communicate with internal and external contacts at various levels.
• Strong organizational skills to establish priorities, identify and set goals, meet deadlines, etc.
• Demonstrated good problem-solving and negotiation skills to perform job duties independently and make decisions that meet company goals and objectives.  Ability to work on assignments that are broad in nature, involving a high degree of originality and ingenuity.
• Proficiency with tools/equipment related to the job (e.g.; advanced Microsoft Excel formulas.).

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