Materials Planner

Materials Planner 

Department: Operations/Warehouse 

Purpose of the Role:

The Materials Planner plays a critical role in ensuring efficient material flow across service and project operations. This position supports technicians, office staff, and procurement by managing inventory, returns, and item records, while maintaining accurate data in Netsuite ERP and optimizing material usage. The Materials Planner is responsible for optimizing material utilization, reducing unnecessary purchases, and supporting inventory accuracy throughout the organization. 

Key Responsibilities:

Expedite and Materials Requests: 

• Manage and prioritize warehouse expedite requests from technicians and office personnel: 

• Service material 

• Missing project materials 

• Extra material for projects 

• Update NetSuite ERP to reflect material changes on sales orders and service tickets. 

• Ensure timely fulfillment of urgent material requests while maintaining inventory accuracy. 

Material Returns: 

• Manage material returns from technicians 

• Stage the material and determine what happens to it next 

• Stage with project 

• Return to inventory 

• Return to vendor - stage material and communicate with Buyer 

• Non-inventory 

• Scrap 

• Stage returned materials appropriately and communicate next steps with relevant stakeholders. 

• Maintain accurate records of all returned materials and inventory transactions. 

Sales Order and Quote Review: 

• Review quotes / sales orders before procurement 

• Identify alternative materials in stock for sales orders / service tickets (instead of buying new) 

• Identify, substitute, and eliminate duplicate item names 

• Create new part numbers in Netsuite ERP, as required 

Inventory Oversight: 

• Manage the service stock shelf 

• Monitor check-out sheet 

• Monitor stock levels and initiate request to transfer from Kardex or to purchase replenishment 

• Van stock 

• Count vans every 6 months 

• Process material back to warehouse 

• Determine if returned material is stock or DNI 

• Support overall inventory optimization and availability. 

Cycle Count Reconciliation: 

• Cycle count reconciliation 

• Review count results 

• Investigate variances 

• Report findings to warehouse manager to determine adjustments needed 

Item Record Management:

• Item Records 

• Create new item records in Netsuite 

• Review new item record requests for existing item names, to eliminate duplicates 

General Warehouse Support: 

• Warehouse duties, as required 

• Collaborate with warehouse staff to maintain efficient daily operations. 

Expectations: 

• Maintain accuracy and timeliness in Netsuite updates 

• Communicate effectively with technicians, CSRs, Buyers, and Warehouse Manager 

• Demonstrate initiative in identifying cost-saving and efficiency opportunities 

• Uphold inventory integrity and support continuous improvement