Materials & Inventory Manager

Position Summary

The Materials & Inventory Manager oversees the procurement of raw materials, purchased components, supplies, and production-related services. This role ensures that materials are sourced at the right quality, quantity, cost, and timing to support efficient production and meet company operational needs.

Key Responsibilities

Team Leadership & Warehouse Operations

• Lead and supervise a team of material handlers, ensuring effective inventory control, warehouse organization, and day-to-day materials management.
• Oversee physical cycle counts, barcoding processes, and inventory transaction accuracy.
• Supervise the issuing of components to production orders and ensure completed production orders are closed in a timely manner to maintain accurate costing.

Purchasing & Vendor Management

• Approve purchases and disbursements completed by subordinates, ensuring alignment with production requirements and company procedures.
• Evaluate and recommend volume purchases of raw materials or purchased products based on marketplace economics, production needs, and cost considerations.
• Approve purchased item pricing, sales terms, and traffic routes in accordance with standard operating procedures.
• Direct or conduct vendor negotiations related to rejected materials, components, supplies, and adjustments for purchased items that do not meet specifications.
• Investigate potential suppliers, interview vendor representatives, analyze competitive bids, and select vendors for placement on the approved supplier list.

Inventory Control & Planning

• Control and manage inventory of raw materials, purchased components, manufacturing supplies, manufactured parts, and parts sales inventory.
• Establish and maintain inventory levels and order points by considering procurement lead times, economical order quantities, storage costs, manufacturing requirements, and customer service needs.
• Supervise inventory audits, cycle counting procedures, related reporting, and maintenance of inventory transaction records.
• Forecast inventory requirements to support procurement planning, raw material and component deliveries, and efficient storage space utilization.
• Supervise the sale of scrap and surplus raw materials.

Professional Development & Additional Duties

• Attend training classes and seminars to strengthen purchasing and inventory management skills.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Manufacturing, Purchasing & Inventory Experience

• 7+ years of purchasing, inventory, and production control experience in a manufacturing environment.
• Experience supervising material clerks, cycle counters, and forklift operators.

Systems & Process Knowledge

• Comprehensive knowledge of ERP systems and related procedures; Epicor ERP experience preferred.
• Knowledge of barcoding processes and RF scanner use.
• Knowledge of Lean manufacturing principles or related training.

Analytical & Technical Skills

• Ability to perform calculations related to procurement and inventory management.
• Ability to read, analyze, and interpret technical resources related to procurement, inventory management, and applicable governmental regulations.