Materials Manager

Kewaunee Scientific Corporation•Statesville, NC

2d•Onsite

About The Position

Coordinate the receipt, restocking, and inventory verification of internal material requirements to ensure timely and accurate delivery to production lines. Oversee inventory optimization, including the management of excess and obsolete materials, cycle counting programs, receiving and transfer dock operations, and maintaining appropriate safety stock levels. Maintain detailed records and enforce cost-control procedures, with a strong focus on loss prevention through continuous monitoring, analysis, and reporting. Lead, coach, and develop the team responsible for material flow and inventory processes, while managing labor efficiencies, direct labor hours, and overtime (OT%) to meet operational and financial targets. Manage and optimize material replenishment systems, including Kanban, min-max, vendor managed inventory (VMI), discrete ordering, and consignment programs. Ensure consistent on-time, line-side delivery of materials to support uninterrupted production and operational efficiency. Oversee and manage timed delivery routes to improve flow, accuracy, and responsiveness. Drive initiatives to reduce transportation waste, streamline material movement, and lower overall handling costs. Continuously identify and implement inventory reduction strategies and process improvements to enhance efficiency, improve inventory turns, and support overall operational performance.

Requirements

Proficient in Word, Excel, and Outlook and experience with an ERP system.
Strong proven leadership; mentoring and coaching skills.
Inventory and product control experience required.
Good communication skills to interact with other departments.
Understands manufacturing process, flow and lean principles.
Monitors and ensures quality of work.
Self-directed and sense of ownership.
Attention to detail.
Valid Driver’s License.
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 effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of managers, clients, customers, and the general public.
Ability to apply mathematical operations to such tasks as frequency distribution, determination of test reliability and validity, analysis of variance, correlation techniques, sampling theory, and factor analysis.
Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions.
Ability to interpret an extensive variety of technical instructions in mathematical or diagram form and deal with several abstract and concrete variables.

Responsibilities

Coordinate the receipt, restocking, and inventory verification of internal material requirements to ensure timely and accurate delivery to production lines, including reliable on-time, line-side delivery to support manufacturing efficiency.
Ensure adequate inventory levels are maintained and determine material, and capacity needs to meet expected demand across the materials team.
Utilize business systems to monitor inventory levels, identify shortages, and generate timely signals for response and replenishment actions.
Manage and optimize inventory performance, including tracking inventory turns and driving improvements through inventory reduction initiatives and optimized stocking strategies.
Oversee inventory optimization efforts, including management of excess and obsolete materials, and develop processes to eliminate waste and reduce overall inventory levels.
Conduct and manage cycle count programs in accordance with company policies, resolving discrepancies and ensuring inventory accuracy and timely execution.
Maintain, analyze, and ensure accuracy of inventory records through continuous monitoring, reporting, and system discipline.
Enforce cost-control procedures with a strong focus on loss prevention and operational efficiency.
Notify appropriate managers of shortages, risks, or issues that could impact manufacturing or material flow.
Lead, coach, and develop the team responsible for material flow, including assigning responsibilities and priorities for Kanban and material coordinators, while managing labor efficiencies, direct labor hours, and overtime (OT%) to meet operational and financial targets.
Manage and optimize material replenishment systems, including Kanban, min max, vendor-managed inventory (VMI), discrete ordering, and consignment programs to ensure efficient and reliable material availability.
Lead Kanban system administration, including signals, pull systems, audits, and corrective actions to ensure system effectiveness across the facility.
Oversee and manage timed material delivery routes to improve material flow, accuracy, responsiveness, and line-side support while reducing transportation waste and handling inefficiencies.
Develop and implement standard operating procedures (SOPs) to ensure efficient movement of materials and finished goods while maintaining minimal inventory investment.
Lead lean material flow and inventory management initiatives, proactively identifying and eliminating waste in all material handling processes.
Apply structured problem-solving methodologies (PDCA, 8D) and lead improvement projects (A3) to drive operational excellence.
Promote team engagement by encouraging idea generation and participation in cost reduction, quality improvement, and process improvement initiatives.
Instruct and support manufacturing staff on proper procedures for locating, handling, and utilizing production inventory.
Implement, maintain, and advance 5S standards within materials and inventory area.
Continuously identify and implement process improvements to enhance efficiency, improve inventory accuracy, and support overall operational performance.
Perform other duties as assigned.
Manage processes and teams for the department staff, such as receiving, stockrooms, warehouse, material coordination and inventory.