Material Planning Supervisor

Slate Auto•Warsaw, IN

About The Position

Slate is seeking a proactive and detail-oriented Material Planning Supervisor to lead our automotive material planning team. This role is responsible for ensuring the uninterrupted flow of materials to support production schedules, while optimizing inventory levels and minimizing supply chain risks. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in automotive or high volume manufacturing, excellent leadership skills, and a deep understanding of supply chain planning systems and lean principles.

Requirements

12+ years related experience with Bachelor's degree, 8 years with Master's degree, 5 years with PhD or equivalent experience
Strong knowledge of MRP/ERP systems (e.g., SAP, Oracle, Plex, FUUZ, Etc.) and inventory control practices.
Proven leadership experience with the ability to coach and develop high-performing teams.
Excellent analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
Strong communication and interpersonal skills for effective cross-functional collaboration.
High proficiency in Microsoft Office, especially Excel (pivot tables, VLOOKUP, data analysis).

Nice To Haves

Experience with lean manufacturing, Six Sigma, or other continuous improvement methodologies.
Familiarity with automotive production systems, supplier logistics, and just-in-time (JIT) delivery models.
Knowledge of packaging engineering and returnable container management.
Experience supporting product launches and engineering change management.

Responsibilities

Supervise, mentor, and develop a team of material planners, setting clear goals and performance expectations.
Lead daily planning meetings and ensure alignment between production, procurement, and logistics teams.
Develop and implement strategic material planning processes that support business goals and customer requirements.
Create and manage material requirement plans (MRPs) based on production forecasts, customer orders, and inventory targets.
Ensure timely procurement and delivery of materials to meet production schedules without overstocking.
Monitor supplier performance and coordinate with purchasing to resolve delivery or quality issues.
Maintain optimal inventory levels by balancing supply and demand, reducing excess and obsolete inventory.
Analyze usage trends, lead times, and capacity constraints to improve planning accuracy.
Implement and maintain the Plan for Every Part (PFEP) to ensure efficient material flow and storage.
Oversee the transition of obsolete parts, ensuring minimum financial liability and waste reduction.
Support manufacturing changes / Change Management and process enhancements, ensuring materials are consistently available.
Support NPI & launch activities related to change management.
Establish standard operating procedures (SOPs) for material planning, improving efficiency and accountability.
Optimize cost-saving strategies while maintaining quality and productivity standards.
Utilize ERP/MRP systems to manage material planning, scheduling, and reporting.
Ensure data accuracy in bills of materials (BOMs), item masters, and inventory records.
Generate and analyze KPIs such as inventory turns, on-time delivery, and material availability.
Work closely with production, quality, engineering, and logistics teams to support new product launches and engineering changes.
Coordinate with suppliers and logistics providers to ensure timely inbound material flow.
Support packaging and labeling compliance for inbound and outbound materials.
Lead and participate in lean initiatives to streamline material flow and reduce waste.
Identify and implement process improvements to enhance planning efficiency and responsiveness.
Conduct root cause analysis for material shortages and implement corrective actions.