Job Description

Key Areas of Responsibility

The Material Planner is responsible for effectively managing assigned production materials and supplier relationships to support on-time delivery in a just-in-time manufacturing environment.

• Manage assigned parts and supplier relationships, including issue identification, root cause analysis, and resolution.

• Develop and support suppliers to improve delivery performance and material reliability.

• Coordinate engineering changes and production schedules with suppliers and internal production teams to meet customer requirements while minimizing obsolescence risk.

• Analyze MRP and RPS data daily or weekly to generate accurate supplier releases for repetitive production materials.

• Investigate and resolve inventory discrepancies related to assigned parts or programs.

• Utilize MRP and RPS systems to establish and maintain optimal planning parameters to ensure adequate inventory levels.

• Communicate supplier requirements and releases using RPS and other approved planning tools.

• Communicate directly with customers regarding delivery performance and engineering change impacts.

• Report minimum inventory violations to customers as required.

• Coordinate and expedite production material from suppliers as needed, including managing premium freight for assigned parts.

• Support and process customer obsolescence claims when applicable.

• Communicate supplier-related discrepancies to suppliers, materials personnel, and management across all shifts.

• Assist with physical and system inventory activities as required.

• Support special assignments directed by Materials leadership, including inventory control initiatives and supplier problem resolution.

• Provide backup support for Material Coordinators as required.

• Maintain accurate documentation of all planning activities.

• Follow all emergency evacuation and safety procedures.

• Perform additional duties as assigned by management.

Site-Specific Responsibilities

• Review, analyze, and correct customer releases daily; investigate and resolve customer release discrepancies.

• Troubleshoot material system issues and communicate findings to appropriate stakeholders.

• Maintain and audit material system data integrity, researching and correcting discrepancies.

• Load and maintain data required for effective production material planning.

• Develop, modify, and maintain Uni-query reports.

• Identify, correct, and troubleshoot XTC system errors.

• Coordinate expedites, extra loads, and spot buys as required.

• Review and manage daily XPO shipment manifests.

• Coordinate customs clearance and brokerage activities, ensuring compliance with applicable trade regulations.

• Manage ocean freight shipments, including scheduling and tracking.

• Track rail and truck shipments, schedule deliveries, and set dock appointments.

• Manage dock scheduling, including reload coordination.

• Coordinate supplier delivery windows and routing instructions.

• Ensure supplier and carrier compliance with shipping and logistics requirements.

• Run weekly EDR reports and update tracking systems.

• Enter delivery performance reports into the ERP system.

• Manage dunnage return shipments and ensure reload execution.

Transportation and Oracle System Responsibilities

• Maintain freight plans and manage accessorial charges and costing within logistics management systems.

• Keep logistics and carrier management systems current, including carrier updates and cancelled loads.

• Enter and manage spot buys within logistics systems.

• Review, enter, and update freight charges for completed shipments.

Limits of Authority

The Material Planner is authorized to:

• Notify the Department Manager of conditions that may pose risk to production schedules, product assurance, facilities, employee safety, or customer satisfaction.

• Initiate actions to prevent material-related nonconformances affecting product, process, or systems.

• Identify, document, and report material, system, or supplier issues.

• Recommend, implement, and verify corrective actions through appropriate channels.

• Stop or delay processing and delivery of nonconforming material until issues are resolved.

Education, Experience, and Skills Required

• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

• One (1) to three (3) years of experience in materials planning or material control, preferably within an automotive manufacturing environment.

• Strong analytical skills with the ability to evaluate inventory levels and planning parameters.

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications, including Excel, Word, and Access, as well as ERP systems.

• Strong written and verbal communication skills.

• Demonstrated expediting and problem-resolution capabilities.

• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced JIT manufacturing environment.

• Professional certifications such as CPIM, CPM, or APICS credentials preferred.

• Ability to handle confidential information with discretion.

• Import/export and trade compliance knowledge is a plus.

Required Internal Training

• Orientation, vision, and culture training

• Departmental training, including:

• Materials Management

• Engineering Change Management

• Purchasing and Supplier Development

• Customer and supply chain databases

• Issue tracking and change control systems

• OEM supply portals and customer-specific systems

• Packaging, labeling, shipping, and routing guidelines

• Materials management operating guidelines