Supply Chain Analyst

Aston Carter•Holland Charter Township, MI

3d•Onsite

About The Position

The Supply Chain Analyst manages a portfolio of 15–20 suppliers and oversees end-to-end inventory and purchase order performance for a high-volume manufacturing plant, with responsibility for both local and additional plant locations when suppliers serve multiple sites. This role focuses on tactical execution with exposure to strategic initiatives, including supporting a new SAP implementation, leading root cause investigations for shortages, and driving continuous process improvements across the supply chain. The analyst works closely with cross-functional teams to analyze supply chain performance, recommend and implement process enhancements, and ensure reliable material availability for daily production.

Requirements

Experience managing suppliers, inventory, and purchase orders in a manufacturing or similar environment.
2–3 years of post-college experience working with SAP, preferably SAP S/4HANA, in a supply chain or materials management context.
Strong proficiency in Microsoft Excel, including XLOOKUP, VLOOKUP, HLOOKUP, and Pivot Tables, to analyze and report on supply chain data.
Demonstrated ability to conduct 5 Why (5Y) or 8D investigations, perform root cause analysis, and implement permanent corrective actions for shortages.
Hands-on experience in procurement, inventory, and inventory management, including managing material availability for production.
Experience with vendor management and maintaining effective supplier relationships to support reliable delivery performance.
Understanding of Material Master data and its role in accurate planning, procurement, and inventory control.
Ability to define high-risk or high-level problems, collect and analyze data, develop solutions, and implement them effectively.
Strong communication skills, with the ability to interact professionally with suppliers and communicate project status to all levels of management.
Ability to work independently across the supply chain and thrive in a non-hierarchical, collaborative environment.
Experience in leading or coordinating small project teams and providing indirect work direction on strategic initiatives.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree required; a degree in Supply Chain or a closely related field is highly preferred.
Experience in the automotive industry, particularly in a high-volume manufacturing environment.
Background in a company of similar size and complexity, such as managing approximately 22 million in inventory and 6,500–7,000 parts for a plant.
Experience supporting production environments with 350–450 parts per build and 100–150 builds per day.
Familiarity with managing suppliers that support multiple plants and coordinating inventory across locations.
Demonstrated experience proposing and implementing continuous process improvements and high-level business tools.
Experience developing business plans or models for operations and supply chain leadership.
Ability to align process improvement and project goals with broader business objectives and strategies.
Interest in and ability to support a new SAP implementation and contribute to system and process optimization.
Strong organizational, analytical, and problem-solving skills, with attention to detail and follow-through.

Responsibilities

Manage 15–20 suppliers, including those providing parts to multiple plants, and ensure effective inventory management across all supported locations.
Monitor purchase orders received, delayed, and not received, and take timely action to resolve issues impacting material availability.
Review open order reports from suppliers each week, interpret shipment details, and update internal stakeholders on expected deliveries.
Communicate with suppliers primarily via email and, when needed, by phone to clarify order status, shipment dates, and potential delays.
Conduct 5 Why (5Y) or 8D root cause investigations when shortages occur, identify underlying issues, and implement permanent corrective actions with management support.
Focus on tactical supply chain projects while contributing to selected strategic initiatives that improve overall supply chain performance.
Represent the supply chain function on cross-functional business unit teams and act as a key liaison between operations and supply chain.
Propose, implement, and support multi-site or high-level business tools and process enhancements as part of continuous process improvement efforts.
Analyze and document supply chain processes using standard methodologies to identify gaps, inefficiencies, and opportunities for improvement.
Evaluate the entire supply chain, including logistics costs, materials, and sourcing strategies, and recommend improvements based on data-driven analysis.
Lead the integration of new high-level process changes into existing supply chain operations and ensure successful adoption by stakeholders.
Manage large projects related to changes in the supply chain, including planning, execution, and tracking of milestones and deliverables.
Communicate project status, risks, and results to all levels of management in a clear and structured manner.
Develop and deliver business plans or models that support operations management and other supply chain leaders in decision-making.
Define high-risk or high-level supply chain problems, collect and analyze relevant data, propose solutions, and implement actions to achieve desired results.
Identify, develop, and complete strategic-level work plans for the entire supply chain or for high-risk projects that require focused attention.
Own, develop, and implement business processes and related improvements to enhance efficiency, accuracy, and reliability across the supply chain.
Facilitate small to medium-sized teams with clear objectives and scope to drive process improvements and project outcomes.
Manage cross-functional supply chain projects that involve coordination with multiple departments and stakeholders.
Align project and process improvement goals with broader functional business objectives to ensure that initiatives support company priorities.
Work independently across the entire supply chain and operate effectively in a non-hierarchical, collaborative organization.
Provide back-up support for area coordinators, supervisors, and managers as needed to maintain continuity of supply chain operations.
Serve as a team leader on tactical projects of approximately 3 to 5 people and direct the work of others in projects or process improvement activities.
Provide indirect work direction to individuals assigned to strategic projects, guiding their contributions and ensuring alignment with project goals.