Materials Planner

JOB SUMMARY

Reporting to the Production Manager, the Materials Planner is responsible for ensuring the timely and efficient availability of raw materials to support production schedules and customer demand. This role involves analyzing inventory levels, forecasting material requirements, and coordinating with internal teams to maintain optimal material flow throughout the manufacturing process. The Materials Planner maintains control and accuracy over all ERP/MRP transactions related to material planning, ensuring inventory integrity and supporting on-time delivery. This position is onsite at our Ravenna, OH facility.

 ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Monitor and analyze raw material inventory levels to ensure sufficient availability for production needs and customer demand.
• Develop and maintain accurate material forecasts based on production schedules, customer orders, and historical usage trends.
• Collaborate with procurement, logistics, and production teams to coordinate timely ordering and delivery of raw materials.
• Support production scheduling by aligning material availability with planned manufacturing activities and issuing necessary documentation.
• Execute and maintain accurate ERP/MRP transactions to ensure proper tracking of material movement and inventory integrity.
• Maintain data accuracy in ERP systems for production-related functions including lot numbers, packaging codes, nomenclature, and supplier information.
• Communicate regularly with cross-functional teams (Production, Logistics, R&D, Sales, HQ) to address material-related issues and support schedule attainment.
• Report and resolve issues related to damaged, contaminated, or non-conforming materials in coordination with appropriate internal contacts.
• Ensure compliance with ISO/IATF documentation and quality standards related to material planning and inventory control.
• Participate in month-end closing activities by completing required reporting and system updates in a timely manner.
• Continuously update and maintain the production schedule to reflect changes in material availability, customer demand, or equipment status.
• Serve as a backup to the Production Scheduler, performing scheduling duties as needed to ensure continuity of operations.
• Support continuous improvement initiatives related to material planning, inventory accuracy, and production efficiency.
• Demonstrate ethical leadership and proactive problem-solving in alignment with Jeong-Do Management principles.
• Performs all other duties as assigned.

SKILLS / COMPETENCIES: 

• Strong understanding of manufacturing workflows, process control, and material flow within a production environment.
• Practical knowledge of raw materials, production processes, demand planning, quality standards, cost efficiency, and distribution strategies.
• Demonstrates proactive leadership through Management by Walking Around (MBWA), ensuring systems and processes are functioning effectively.
• Self-motivated and action-oriented, with a strong sense of initiative and ownership.
• Accurate numerical skills with attention to detail in counting, tracking, and verifying material quantities.
• Effective interpersonal skills with the ability to collaborate across departments and communicate with internal and external stakeholders.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills to support cross-functional coordination and issue resolution.
• Proficient in Microsoft Excel (including VLOOKUP, Pivot Tables, SUMIF) and PowerPoint for data analysis and reporting.
• Experience with ERP systems, preferably SAP, for managing material transactions and inventory data.
• Familiarity with ISO/IATF standards and documentation practices related to material planning and quality compliance.
• Highly organized and capable of managing multiple priorities in a fast-paced, dynamic manufacturing environment.

EDUCATION / EXPERIENCE:

• Associate’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, Operations Management, or a related field required; Bachelor’s degree preferred.
• Professional certifications such as APICS CPIM (Certified in Production and Inventory Management) or CSCP (Certified Supply Chain Professional) are highly desirable.
• Minimum of 3 years of experience in a materials planning role within a manufacturing environment is required.
• Prior experience in the compounding or polymer industry, particularly with products involving multiple color variants and downstream processing, is strongly preferred.
• Proficiency in ERP systems (SAP preferred) and familiarity with ISO/IATF documentation standards is advantageous.
• Must be authorized to work in the United States.