Materials Planner

Summary

The Materials Planner is responsible for ensuring the timely availability of materials, spare parts, and consumables required to support maintenance operations and distribution activities. This role focuses on balancing material availability with inventory optimization, supporting service levels, and maintaining continuity of supply to internal and external customers.

- Develop and execute materials planning strategies for MRO parts, consumables, and distribution items to support operational needs and customer demand.

- Maintain appropriate inventory levels to ensure material availability while minimizing excess and obsolete stock.

- Review material forecasts, historical usage, and lead times to create accurate demand plans.

- Coordinate with suppliers, procurement, and warehouse teams to ensure timely replenishment and delivery.

- Monitor open purchase orders and expedite as needed to prevent stockouts.

- Manage and maintain ERP/MRP data accuracy, including reorder points, safety stock, and lead times.

- Collaborate with maintenance, production, and service teams to anticipate upcoming material requirements.

- Identify slow-moving and obsolete materials, recommending actions for disposition or rationalization.

- Track and report on supplier performance, delivery reliability, and material shortages.

- Support continuous improvement initiatives to enhance material flow, procurement efficiency, and inventory accuracy.

- Assist in annual inventory counts, cycle counting, and root cause analysis of variances.

Positional Qualifications & Requirements

- Associate or Bachelor’s degree in supply chain management, Operations, Business Administration, or related field (or equivalent experience). - 3+ years of experience in materials planning, inventory control, or supply chain within MRO, distribution, or industrial parts environment.

- Strong understanding of MRP/ERP systems (SAP, Oracle, D365

- , or similar).

- APICS CPIM or CSCP certification.

Skills & Abilities

- Proficient in Microsoft Excel and data analysis for inventory and demand management.

- Working knowledge of supply chain metrics such as inventory turns, fill rate, and service levels.

- Excellent organizational, analytical, and problem-solving skills.

- Effective communication and collaboration with cross-functional teams and suppliers.

- Experience with lean inventory practices and demand-driven replenishment (Kanban, Min/Max, JIT).

- Familiarity with maintenance operations or spare parts management.

- Detail-oriented with strong analytical capabilities.

- Proactive problem solver with a sense of urgency.

- Customer-focused mindset with commitment to service reliability.

- Strong team player who thrives in a fast-paced distribution environment.