Materials Inventory & Planning Team Lead

Dana Incorporated•Fort Wayne, IN

16h

About The Position

The Materials Inventory & Planning Team Lead is the frontline supervisor for the materials team, leading and coordinating material handlers and clerks to ensure timely delivery, proper storage, and accurate tracking of materials. The role promotes safety, productivity, and continuous improvement in material flow and inventory accuracy. The position leads annual physical inventory planning and execution, manages cycle counting and inventory KPIs, and supervises three hourly cycle counters. It also manages three salaried planners at the Fort Wayne plant, ensuring materials flow into the plant to support production while maintaining inventory targets. The role coordinates with suppliers and the plant, develops planning procedures and reporting, analyzes material shipments and delays, and oversees inbound receipt reconciliation so physical receipts match invoices and payments can be made on time.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree or at least four years of applicable experience.
At least seven years of experience.
Required MRP experience.
Experience with demand-planning methodologies.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office, including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
Knowledge of procurement activities.
Ability to work effectively with others.
Ability to learn quickly and adapt.
Effective communication and analytical skills.

Nice To Haves

Experience with SAP, Ariba, eMaint, or AS/400 (Epicor) is preferred.
At least two years of experience in production or inventory control in a manufacturing environment is preferred.

Responsibilities

Plan, organize, and facilitate the annual physical inventory (API), ensuring it meets variance targets and is completed on schedule within the allotted timeframe.
Manage three hourly cycle counters and the cycle-counting process; review ABC classifications and ensure counts are timely and accurate.
Investigate inventory discrepancies and make adjustments within the role’s authority.
Supervise cycle counters and monitor inventory levels to maintain system accuracy.
Monitor inventory KPIs, including inventory value and days on hand, to provide appropriate order coverage without exceeding inventory targets.
Manage three salaried planners for the Fort Wayne plant, ensuring material flow supports production while maintaining inventory targets.
Serve as a liaison between the plant and suppliers.
Develop standard operating instructions and procedures for planning activities, KPIs, and reports.
Analyze incoming international and domestic material shipments and communicate root causes of delays.
Analyze and adjust material requirements to firm orders with suppliers.
Train planners in planning methods and tools, applying best practices across Dana.
Oversee receipt variances and reconciliations to support timely invoice payment.
Develop a system to ensure physically received materials match invoices.
Lead, coach, and mentor manufacturing personnel to support efficient production operations.
Implement continuous improvement initiatives to improve production quality and reduce costs.
Perform root cause analysis and resolve problems.
Handle conflict resolution and problem-solving as necessary.