Material Planner

Job Overview

As a Material Planner at Harbinger Motors, you will be integral to our manufacturing operations, ensuring efficient supply of components and raw material necessary to cover our production needs. Your role will be pivotal in maintaining seamless supply chain operations and meeting inventory targets with precision.

What You’ll Do:

• Material Planning and Coordination:
• Collaborate closely with production teams to develop and optimize detailed supply plans aligned with customer demand and capacity constraints.
• Lead MRP process. Build and validate supply plans with suppliers.
• Work collaboratively with Logistics Specialists to transform supply plans into transportation plans that ensure adequate production coverage while minimizing transportation costs.
• Coordinate with suppliers to ensure timely delivery of materials, components, and sub-assemblies in accordance with production schedules.
• Monitor and adjust supply plans as needed to accommodate changes in demand or operational requirements.
• Collaborate with sales, marketing, and production teams to validate forecasts and adjust plans as necessary.
• Develop contingency plans to mitigate supply chain risks and ensure continuity of material supply.
• Inventory Management and Optimization:
• Maintain accurate inventory levels of raw materials, components, and finished goods to support uninterrupted production.
• Utilize ERP and inventory management systems to track stock levels, analyze usage patterns, and forecast future material needs.
• Implement strategies to minimize stock-outs, reduce excess inventory, and optimize inventory turnover.
• Supplier Relationship Management:
• Hold suppliers accountable to ship according to defined supply plans and escalate deviations to buyers and management as necessary.
• Evaluate supplier performance based on metrics such as on-time delivery, quality standards, and cost-effectiveness.
• Inventory control:
• Partner with the Warehouse team to ensure cycle counting is done per established schedule following ABC classes.
• Lead investigation and resolution of inventory discrepancies.
• Continuous Improvement Initiatives:
• Identify opportunities to optimize production processes, reduce lead times, and enhance overall supply chain efficiency.
• Implement lean manufacturing principles and best practices to drive continuous improvement in material planning and inventory management.
• Lead or participate in cross-functional teams focused on process improvement projects.
• Cross-functional Collaboration:
• Foster strong relationships and effective communication with cross-functional teams including procurement, logistics, quality assurance, and engineering.
• Provide timely updates on material availability, production status, and potential issues impacting schedules.
• Collaborate on initiatives to resolve supply chain bottlenecks and improve operational performance.

Who You Are:

• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Operations Management, Business Administration, or a related field.
• 3+ years proven experience in material planning, production scheduling, or supply chain management within the automotive or manufacturing industry.
• Proficiency in ERP systems (e.g., SAP, Oracle) and advanced skills in Excel for data analysis and reporting (formulas, pivot tables, etc.).
• Experience in Engineering Change Management or New Product Introduction is necessary.
• Proficiency in Google Suite is nice to have.
• Proficiency in Oracle Netsuite is nice to have.
• Additional languages such as Mandarin or Spanish are nice to have.
• Strong analytical abilities with a focus on problem-solving and decision-making in a fast-paced environment.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills to effectively collaborate with internal teams and external suppliers.