Inventory Specialist

Department: Operations / Supply Chain
Reports To: Operations Department
Classification: Hourly, Non-Exempt
Supervisory Responsibility: None
Location: KEES, Inc. — Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin

Position Summary

The Receiving, Order Fulfillment & Material Handler is responsible for receiving inbound shipments, fulfilling internal and customer orders, and safely moving materials throughout the KEES facility.

This position performs the physical and system-related work necessary to receive, identify, store, pick, stage, and deliver raw materials, purchased components, work-in-process, finished goods, and supplies. The employee helps maintain accurate inventory records and ensures materials are moved to the correct location without damage, delay, or loss of identification.

This is a hands-on plant position with no supervisory authority.

Essential Duties and ResponsibilitiesInbound Receiving

• Unload inbound trucks and delivery vehicles using forklifts, pallet jacks, carts, and other approved material-handling equipment.
• Receive raw materials, purchased components, supplies, and other incoming shipments.
• Compare incoming shipments to purchase orders, packing slips, and delivery documents.
• Verify part numbers, descriptions, quantities, and other identifying information.
• Inspect shipments for visible damage, shortages, overages, or incorrect material.
• Enter or complete receiving transactions in the company’s ERP or inventory system.
• Label received materials and maintain proper material identification.
• Place materials in the designated inventory, inspection, staging, or production location.
• Separate and identify damaged, incorrect, or questionable material.
• Report receiving discrepancies to the appropriate supervisor, Procurement, or Quality representative.
• Maintain organized receiving-dock and inbound-staging areas.

Order Fulfillment

• Pick materials, components, and finished goods according to work orders, pick lists, customer orders, or other authorized requests.
• Verify that the correct part numbers and quantities have been selected.
• Stage materials for production, customer shipment, internal use, or pickup.
• Package and protect items to prevent damage during handling or shipment.
• Assist with packing slips, labels, and other order documentation.
• Notify the appropriate supervisor when an order cannot be completed because material is missing, damaged, incorrectly identified, or unavailable.
• Assist with loading outbound shipments when required.
• Return unused or incorrectly picked material to the proper inventory location.
• Complete the required inventory transactions for picked, issued, returned, or moved material.

Plant Material Handling

• Move raw materials, sheet metal, purchased components, work-in-process, finished goods, and supplies throughout the KEES plant.
• Deliver materials to production work centers based on instructions, pick lists, work orders, or established material requests.
• Move completed work from one operation to the next designated location.
• Transport material between receiving, inventory storage, production, inspection, assembly, packaging, and shipping areas.
• Use forklifts, pallet jacks, carts, cranes, and other approved equipment to move material safely.
• Maintain material identification while items are being moved or staged.
• Place material only in approved and clearly identified locations.
• Avoid blocking aisles, exits, fire equipment, electrical panels, work areas, or pedestrian walkways.
• Remove empty pallets, packaging materials, scrap containers, and other material-handling items from production areas as assigned.
• Report damaged material, unidentified parts, inventory discrepancies, unsafe storage conditions, or missing material to the appropriate supervisor.

Inventory Accuracy and Organization

• Complete inventory receipts, issues, transfers, returns, and location changes accurately and promptly.
• Maintain organized racks, shelves, floor locations, staging areas, and material-storage areas.
• Ensure materials are labeled and stored in the correct location.
• Assist with cycle counts and physical inventory activities.
• Count, measure, or verify inventory as directed.
• Report differences between physical inventory and system quantities.
• Help locate missing or misplaced materials.
• Follow established procedures for material traceability, lot identification, and inventory rotation when applicable.
• Avoid moving material without completing the required documentation or system transaction.

Safety and Housekeeping

• Follow all KEES safety policies and material-handling procedures.
• Wear required personal protective equipment.
• Operate material-handling equipment only when trained and authorized.
• Complete required equipment inspections before use.
• Report equipment damage, unsafe conditions, spills, blocked aisles, or damaged storage racks.
• Secure loads before moving or lifting them.
• Follow established load limits and safe lifting practices.
• Maintain clean and orderly receiving, fulfillment, inventory, and staging areas.
• Participate in plant housekeeping and 5S activities.
• Dispose of or recycle packaging materials according to company procedures.

Required Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent preferred.
• Previous experience in receiving, warehousing, order fulfillment, shipping, inventory, manufacturing, or material handling preferred.
• Ability to operate a forklift or successfully complete KEES forklift training.
• Ability to read purchase orders, packing slips, work orders, pick lists, part numbers, and material labels.
• Basic computer skills and the ability to complete transactions in an ERP or inventory system.
• Basic math skills, including counting, addition, subtraction, and quantity verification.
• Ability to accurately distinguish between similar part numbers and material descriptions.
• Ability to follow written and verbal instructions.
• Ability to work independently while following established priorities and procedures.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working in a manufacturing environment.
• Experience handling sheet metal, fabricated components, large weldments, or industrial products.
• Experience with ERP or warehouse inventory systems.
• Forklift, overhead crane, or material-handling experience.
• Familiarity with inventory-location systems, cycle counting, and material traceability.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Strong attention to detail.
• Dependable attendance and punctuality.
• Ability to maintain accurate material identification and inventory records.
• Ability to safely handle materials of different sizes, weights, and shapes.
• Ability to organize work and complete assigned tasks efficiently.
• Ability to recognize and report shortages, damage, discrepancies, and unsafe conditions.
• Ability to communicate clearly and professionally with production, procurement, quality, shipping, and office personnel.
• Willingness to perform a combination of receiving-dock, order-fulfillment, inventory, and plant material-movement duties.
• Ability to adjust between assignments as workload and plant needs change.

Physical Requirements

The employee must be able to:

• Frequently stand, walk, bend, reach, push, pull, and perform repetitive material-handling tasks.
• Regularly lift and carry materials weighing up to 50 pounds, with assistance or mechanical equipment used for heavier items.
• Enter and exit forklifts or other material-handling equipment throughout the workday.
• Work around moving equipment, manufacturing machinery, metal materials, sharp edges, noise, and changing temperatures.
• Visually inspect labels, part numbers, quantities, and materials.
• Safely maneuver material through plant aisles and production areas.
• Wear required personal protective equipment, including safety glasses, safety footwear, and hearing protection where required.

Work Environment

This position works primarily on the receiving dock, in material-storage areas, and throughout the manufacturing plant. The work environment may include vehicle traffic, forklifts, cranes, machinery, metalworking operations, noise, dust, outdoor temperatures near dock doors, and changing production demands.

Performance Expectations

Successful performance in this position includes:

• Inbound shipments are received accurately and without unnecessary delay.
• Materials are properly identified and placed in the correct location.
• Orders are picked accurately and staged when needed.
• Inventory movements are recorded correctly.
• Materials reach the correct production or shipping location without damage.
• Receiving, inventory, and staging areas remain organized and safe.
• Shortages, damage, and discrepancies are reported promptly.
• Material is not left unidentified or placed in unauthorized locations.
• Assigned work is completed safely, dependably, and with an appropriate sense of urgency.

Pay: $18.00 - $20.72 per hour

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Paid time off

Work Location: In person

Salary : $18 - $21