Supply Chain Planning Manager-Product Change Contorl

Caterpillar•Lafayette, IN

6d•Onsite

About The Position

Your Work Shapes the World at Caterpillar Inc. When you join Caterpillar, you're joining a global team who cares not just about the work we do – but also about each other. We are the makers, problem solvers, and future world builders who are creating stronger, more sustainable communities. We don't just talk about progress and innovation here – we make it happen, with our customers, where we work and live. Together, we are building a better world, so we can all enjoy living in it. About Large Power Systems Division The Large Power Systems Division (LPSD) is part of Caterpillar’s Power & Energy segment. Through this global organization, Caterpillar designs and manufactures large (greater than 18 liters) diesel and natural gas engines, powertrains and key engine systems. LPSD products and solutions support customers across power generation, industrial, marine, oil & gas, rail, services and Cat® machine applications worldwide. LPSD teams work across regions and functions to deliver safe, reliable and compliant solutions that help solve our customers’ toughest challenges. Role Definition We’re looking for an experienced supply chain professional to join our Large Power Systems team as a Supply Chain Manager at our Lafayette, Indiana facility. In this role, Lead the Product Change Control and New Product Introduction (NPI) Supply Chain teams, ensuring successful execution of engineering changes, new product releases, make-buy decisions, and supply chain readiness activities.

Requirements

Analytical Thinking: Knowledge of techniques and tools that promote effective analysis; ability to determine the root cause of organizational problems and create alternative solutions that resolve these problems. Level Working Knowledge: Approaches a situation or problem by defining the problem or issue and determining its significance. Makes a systematic comparison of two or more alternative solutions. Uses flow charts, Pareto charts, fish diagrams, etc. to disclose meaningful data patterns. Identifies the major forces, events, and people impacting and impacted by the situation at hand. Uses logic and intuition to make inferences about the meaning of the data and arrive at conclusions.
Cross-Team Integration: Understanding of the importance of inter-team collaboration in breaking down silos and achieving business results; ability to lead employees from various functions to communicate, coordinate work across divisions, and collaborate in solving problems as one team. Level Working Knowledge: Maintains a strong internal network that promotes informal collaboration. Shares information that may be relevant to other teams across divisions. Assesses the potential synergies from combining common practices across teams. Identifies differences among teams that could cause barriers to effective integration. Applies relevant information gathered from comparable teams to own team.
Planning and Organizing: Knowledge of the process of planning and arranging tasks and resources; ability to plan and organize both time and resources to get things completed while structuring and maintaining work in a systematic and highly methodical way. Level Working Knowledge: Raises awareness of potential bottlenecks and disruptions to the schedule. Breaks tasks into manageable steps that can be incorporated into a personal work plan. Escalates concerns over competing or conflicting priorities. Monitors progress continuously and adjusts tactics for handling situations on a case by case basis. Creates action plans that ensure the accomplishment of responsibilities.
Process Improvement: Understanding and insight into evaluating current product quality and production methods and ability to maintains focus on the continuous improvement of processes, products and services. Level Working Knowledge: Defines the critical workflow for executing key processes. Identifies process problems that limit performance. Implements methods for improving and establishing controls for critical processes. Focuses on the most significant problems to maximize efficiency gains. Surfaces systemic problems to be addressed at the organizational level.
Project Management: Knowledge of effective project management strategies and tactics; ability to plan, organize, monitor, and control projects, ensuring efficient utilization of technical and administrative resources to achieve project objectives. Level Extensive Knowledge: Utilizes preferred tools, techniques and methods for estimating project cost and time. Plans, estimates, staffs, organizes and monitors significant projects. Identifies risks and vulnerabilities; creates contingency plans. Conducts regular and ad-hoc project reviews with project team, sponsors, and clients. Maintains open communication among project participants and interested parties. Communicates reporting requirements; creates monitoring and control mechanisms.
Supply Chain Management - MFG: Knowledge of functions, principles and techniques used in supply chain management; ability to develop and use, strategies, practices and tools for controlling the logistical processes. Level Working Knowledge: Discusses considerations for integrating partner and supplier transactions. Recognizes software systems or components used to manage supply chain. Summarizes supply chain considerations for different types of products or components. Participates in supply chain analysis and uses it to spot trends and improvement opportunities. Works with a specific part of supply chain management process.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree or higher in Supply Chain Management, Logistics, Business Administration, Operations, Engineering, or relevant years of experience.
Professional supply chain certifications (CPIM, CSCP) that demonstrate advanced planning and supply chain management expertise.

Responsibilities

Lead Product Change Control and NPI Supply Chain teams to execute engineering changes, new product releases, make-buy decisions, and readiness activities.
Drive end-to-end material readiness by ensuring parts availability, supplier alignment, and smooth product transitions without production disruption.
Partner with Engineering, Manufacturing, Purchasing, and Operations to implement MCS and EMCC solutions for product introductions and engineering changes.
Lead Job Readiness activities, ensuring approvals, signoffs, and milestones are completed for on-time implementation.
Align engineering effective dates with manufacturing needs and supplier lead times to support seamless change execution.
Develop and coach a high-performing team supporting change coordination, manufacturing releases, NPI readiness, and production support.
Resolve complex product change, release, and supply chain issues through cross-functional collaboration.
Drive continuous improvement in change management, job readiness, material availability, KPIs, and supply chain risk mitigation.
Manage complex global supply chain workstreams, supplier relationships, inventory strategies, and performance analysis to improve delivery and efficiency.