Manager, Materials

Columbus McKinnon Corporation•Chattanooga, TN

About The Position

The Materials Manager oversees master production scheduling, raw material allocation, work-in-process coordination, and inventory management to align supply plans with strategic business objectives outlined in the Sales Inventory Operations Process (SIOP). The role manages purchasing activities to support timely procurement of materials and services and improve On Time Delivery metrics. In a lean manufacturing environment, the manager directs personnel involved in purchasing, distributing, and expediting materials, as well as shipping, receiving, inventory control, and production scheduling. The position supports uninterrupted operations by securing goods and services needed for production, safety, maintenance, and other functions, purchasing competitively and wisely to promote customer satisfaction, profitability, and organizational growth.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree from a four-year college or university, and/or five to ten years of related experience and/or training, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
Experience leading supply management processes within a manufacturing organization.
Hands-on experience with supply chain management software; SAP is preferred.
Thorough understanding of MRP and its inputs in a manufacturing environment.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office software, including Excel and Word.
Ability to analyze data, find creative solutions, generate reports, and present findings.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
Customer-centric, service-minded attitude with a strong sense of urgency.
Ability to read, analyze, and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures, or governmental regulations.
Ability to write reports, business correspondence, and procedure manuals.
Ability to present information effectively and respond to questions from groups of managers, clients, customers, and the general public.
Ability to calculate figures and amounts such as discounts, interest, commissions, proportions, percentages, area, circumference, and volume.
Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of variables where only limited standardization exists.
Ability to lift, lower, push, or pull up to 40 lbs. safely.

Nice To Haves

CPIM certification.
SAP experience.

Responsibilities

Develop and implement supply plans to meet customer orders, forecasted demand, and inventory stocking requirements.
Collaborate with cross-functional teams to manage inventory according to business strategy constraints and targets.
Participate in monthly Sales and Operations Planning meetings and take accountability for supply chain reporting.
Ensure proper utilization of ERP systems across the team.
Prepare and report department Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), including analysis and countermeasures.
Maintain critical raw-material inventory parameters, considering supply lead time, warehouse, and transportation constraints.
Work with demand management, manufacturing, quality, warehousing, and transportation teams to resolve material issues.
Measure, analyze, and report key process metrics, monitoring adherence to KPIs.
Identify potential material shortages and develop action plans.
Manage long-term capacity status, product shortage reporting, and daily information flow among supply planning partners.
Define and implement Make-to-Order (MTO) and Make-to-Stock (MTS) strategies.
Ensure appropriate inventory levels for all product lines.
Oversee purchasing activities to ensure timely procurement of materials and services.
Establish and maintain purchasing systems and procedures that support compliant and ethical relationships with vendors and suppliers.
Supervise the issuance of purchase requisitions and orders, ensuring accuracy, completeness, and timeliness.
Monitor MRP recommendations and ERP reports for adequacy and accuracy.
Expedite or escalate problem purchase orders when necessary.
Manage purchases, inventory levels, and delivery timing to achieve inventory and on-time delivery goals.
Evaluate excess and obsolete material and drive corrective actions.
Request bids, analyze costs, and negotiate the best possible cost of ownership with suppliers.
Identify and lead cost-savings initiatives, supporting Lean and continuous improvement initiatives.
Optimize and maintain parameters and records associated with purchased parts in the ERP system.
Use inventory stratification processes and PFEP (Plan for Every Part) to determine appropriate inventory levels and purchase quantities.
Oversee resolution of transactional and quality issues related to purchased materials.
Maintain confidentiality of information obtained during the course of work.
Perform other related duties as assigned.