Materials Planner

Job Description

Job Description

Job Title: Materials Planner

Reports To: Inventory Manager

Job Summary

The Materials Planner is responsible for managing inventory, maintaining Manufacturing Resource Planning (MRP) systems, providing accurate demand analysis, and coordinating purchase orders and deliveries with vendors and suppliers. The Materials Planner will maintain a customer-focused approach to all job duties.

Essential Duties

• Coordinate and manage multiple production schedules cooperatively with manufacturing personnel, purchasing personnel, and various vendors based on material status and customer needs.
• Develop and maintain positive working relationships with vendors, suppliers, and internal teams utilizing communication methods such as on-site visits, video conferencing, telephone calls, and email messaging.
• Analyze sales order releases to confirm planning capacity and materials requirements.
• Enter new customer orders and monitor throughout the process, including communicating delays to Sales.
• Monitor capacity and communicate bottlenecks or excess capacity to the department manager and production manager.
• Maintain inventory levels within company goal levels.
• Monitor product fluctuations, forecast future usage, and plan accordingly.
• Place purchase orders for production materials and expedite delivery as needed.
• Maintain price lists on an ongoing basis as raw material changes occur.
• Furnish quotes to Sales for purchased products.
• Issue purchase orders to vendors and manage logistics of purchased products, including working with freight brokers and managing and submitting import documents as needed.
• Negotiations with suppliers including logistics
• Review and sign contracts with vendors.
• Maintain order controls in ERP.
• Prepares and submits reports to team on analysis of production lines; including margins, inventory turns, DIOH, and company cost of carrying inventory
• Perform other related tasks as needed.

Required Skills and Abilities

• Ability to communicate in both the written and spoken language of English to a level that will allow the safe and effective performance of the job.
• Ability to work from and understand verbal instructions.
• Ability to handle stress in a fast-paced environment.
• Ability to successfully manage multiple projects and deadlines.
• Ability to effectively work with resource planning system, spreadsheets, word processing documents, and other applicable computer systems and software, especially Microsoft Excel.
• Excellent interpersonal, listening, and negotiation skills.
• Strong critical thinking, troubleshooting, and analytical skills.
• Capacity to calculate, analyze, and track figures and make competent decisions based on those figures.
• Communication, teamwork, and customer service skills are critically important as the employee is expected to work directly and indirectly with all levels of employees, customers, and outside vendors.
• Consistently demonstrate a high level of responsibility and accountability in assigned tasks.

Education and Experience

• Knowledge of supply chain principles and processes typically acquired through the completion of a Bachelor's degree in Material Planning, Supply Chain Management, or a related field, or equivalent work experience.

Physical Requirements

• Constant walking, talking, hearing, sitting, standing, repetitive motions, movements requiring fine motor skills and visual acuity.
• Occasional carrying, reaching, handling, grasping, climbing, pushing, pulling, kneeling, crawling, balancing, stooping.
• Work is typically performed in conditions typical of a warehouse and manufacturing environment though certain tasks/projects may occur outside.
• Safety glasses, steel/composite toed shoes, hearing protection, and high visibility vest required when working in warehouse and manufacturing environments.

Company Culture & Values

• A Commitment to Our Purpose (COMMITTED PEOPLE) – Our mission is to serve and build up our customers, suppliers, communities, and each other, guided by the principles of our Lord Jesus Christ. The commitment to serving and building up is easily seen in those employees that exemplify this value.
• Without Our Customers We Are Nothing (CUSTOMER FIRST) – We realize that we are blessed to serve our customers and without them, our company does not exist. They rely on us for their success and that is a responsibility we cannot take lightly. Our focus must be on serving them with as seamless communication and access to products as possible.
• Kind, Humble and Positive (HUMBLE) – These positive traits do not mean being a doormat to others. But when a person is kind, humble and positive it comes through in their genuine caring for those around them.
• A Desire For “Expert” (EXPERTS) – Our people want to be seen as the experts in their specific roles. From how we convert a bag efficiently and with highest quality, to knowledge of the product portfolio, to desiring to know more about tax or human resource policy – the desire for “expert” drives us in each of our roles.
• Intentional Growth – Developing of Self and Others (PERSONAL GROWTH)– Times, tools, and customer expectations change. Our team members are interested in developing themselves and those around them. We know that a stronger team is one that makes our customers and our fellow employees happier.
• Strong Work Ethic (HARD WORKERS) – The commitment to serve those around us is honorable and we respond to this by putting our strongest effort into that purpose.
• High Expectations of Self and Others (HIGH EXPECTATIONS) – We expect ourselves, and those around us, to put in our best effort. When others struggle, we help them align towards perfection. When we struggle, we are open and humble to hear it and course-correct accordingly.
• If It Isn’t Safe, We Don’t Do It (SAFETY) – All people deserve to return home to their loved ones safely and work in an environment where they can best execute their tasks safely. When choosing between safety and profit, safety and efficiency, safety and feelings, safety, and “x” – we choose safety.

Travel Requirements

This position may require occasional overnight travel and occasional travel within the workday.

Driver Qualification

The ability to drive a company owned/leased vehicle or personal vehicle on behalf of the company may be required. Inclusion in the company’s driver qualification program is required to drive a company owned/leased vehicle or personal vehicle.

Becoming a qualified driver includes:

• Agree to the company driving policies that apply to company owned/leased vehicle or personal vehicle as applicable.
• Possess and maintain a valid driver license and be a minimum of 21 years of age.
• Maintain an acceptable driving record, as evidenced by completion of a baseline motor vehicle record check and ongoing monitoring.
• When driving a personal vehicle on behalf of the company, must provide a copy of the declaration page from personal auto insurance that shows the policy dates and minimum coverage amounts ($300,000 bodily injury per accident/$100,000 property damage per accident or if driving less than 5 hours/200 miles a year $50,000 bodily injury per accident/$10,000 property damage per accident or the state minimum, whichever is more). This requirement is initially and then annually thereafter.

This job description is intended as a general outline of the primary responsibilities of the position. It is not intended to be an exhaustive or comprehensive list of all duties, responsibilities, or activities that may be required. The employer reserves the right to modify, add, or remove any responsibilities, duties, or activities as deemed necessary with or without notice.

Volm Companies is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to qualified individuals with disabilities and other protected characteristics. If you require reasonable accommodation to perform the essential functions of the job, please inform us and we will work with you to address your needs.

Benefits

As a family-owned and operated company, we offer a comprehensive benefits package designed to support you and your family. We offer a strong foundation of benefits, including access to medical, dental, and vision coverage, an HSA employer contribution, and a 401k with profit sharing to secure your future. To support your overall well-being and family life, we offer additional benefits beyond the core package, such as paid vacation, wellness stipends, childcare reimbursement assistance, and much more. We are committed to continuously enhancing our benefits to meet the evolving needs of our team.