Inventory Management and Purchasing Associate

Job Description

Job Summary:

The Supply Chain Associate – Inventory Management & Purchasing will support daily supply chain operations by proactively managing inventory and executing purchasing activities to ensure accurate inventory levels and order fulfillment. This role is ideal for a recent college graduate looking to develop hands-on experience in supply chain operations, procurement, and inventory planning. The associate will utilize the FACTS ERP system to monitor inventory levels, manage stock purchasing, maintain inventory accuracy, and support proactive inventory planning to ensure product availability while optimizing working capital.

Duties/Responsibilities:

Inventory Management:

• Understand the purchasing needs and demands of the company.
• Maintain accurate inventory records within the FACTS system.
• Monitor inventory levels and ensure inventory accuracy through cycle counts and system reconciliation.
• Assist in optimizing warehouse layout by establishing appropriate picking, bulk, and outbound shipping locations, and defining warehouse zones to improve inventory accessibility, picking efficiency, and overall operational flow.
• Manage Min/Max inventory parameters to maintain optimal stock levels.
• Investigate and resolve inventory discrepancies.
• Support regular inventory audits and reporting.
• Generate and process purchase orders based on inventory requirements and demand forecasts.

Proactive Inventory Planning:

• Analyze historical demand and inventory trends to anticipate replenishment needs.
• Utilize reporting and data extracts from FACTS to proactively manage stock levels.
• Adjust reorder points and quantities based on sales velocity and lead times.
• Work closely with operations and sales teams to ensure product availability.
• Support continuous improvement initiatives for inventory planning and purchasing processes.

FACTS/Systems Ownership & Key User Support:

• Serve as the key user for the FACTS ERP system, developing strong proficiency in inventory, purchasing, and order management functions.
• Act as the primary point of contact for FACTS-related questions and troubleshooting within the branch.
• Train and support branch team members in proper use of the system to ensure consistency and accuracy in inventory and purchasing processes.
• Assist in documenting system procedures and best practices and cascading system knowledge to the broader team.
• Identify opportunities to improve processes and system utilization to enhance inventory accuracy and operational efficiency.
• Support the adoption and implementation of AI-enabled tools and system enhancements that integrate with FACTS or other operational systems, helping identify opportunities to automate inventory planning, purchasing processes, and any other workflows between quote-to-cash.
• Perform other duties as assigned.