Supply Chain Analyst

Position Summary

This position is responsible for planning and scheduling manufacturing activities, optimizing material and labor utilization within established guidelines of inventory and customer service levels.

Little Rapids Corporation will manufacture products in a manner that respects the safety and health of our associates, the environment, and the communities in which we operate. We believe that every associate plays a critical role in creating a safe work environment by exhibiting personal safe behaviors.

• Achieving financial plan results via operational planning
  • Develop and implement optimal capacity planning and production scheduling for assigned machines to meet service and inventory requirements
  • Execute plan in collaboration with customer service, sales, and manufacturing
  • Establish accurate raw material forecasting and execute purchasing aligned to the demand/supply plan
  • Maximize functional use of JDE ERP and PS systems to plan production schedule
• Improve cash flow
  • Establish balance between customer demand and operational execution related to finished goods and raw material inventory
  • Manage raw material inventories via appropriate methods of inventory planning i.e. min/max, kanban, material requirements planning etc
  • Validate raw material inventory levels and collaborate with production teams to support inventory accuracy
• Continuous improvement / Process focus
  • Clear 2‑way communication with manufacturing team focused on production scheduling
  • Anticipate and mitigate for manufacturing disruptions
  • Standardize raw material ordering and lead times
  • Provide feedback on vendor performance and identify improvement opportunities
  • Execute and support site continuous improvement activities
  • Collaborate with safety teams in efforts to implement safety improvements

• Achieve or exceed desired production goals aligned with Financial Plan
• Meet or exceed established expectations for service to customers
• Reduce interruptions to machine schedule while delivering on customer expectations
• Meet/exceed monthly inventory targets
• Operate as a contact and reliable resource for associates

• Position is onsite to support manufacturing
• Resolve conflicts between customer requirements, sales managers, and production needs
• Utilize JDE ERP and PS systems to plan production schedule
• Organize and analyze relevant data
• Communicate daily production changes and activities to operations and customer service team
• Maintain and share production planning reports
• Order raw materials necessary to fulfill production demand
• Facilitate reconciliation of inventory discrepancies with manufacturing team
• Attend, participate, and facilitate daily meetings with operations and customer service
• Collaborate with all internal parties to understand concerns
• Proactively support systems and process improvement for the planning process

This is not an exhaustive list of duties or functions and may not necessarily comprise all of the "essential functions" for purposes of the ADA.

• Bachelor’s degree in business with operations management focus
  • 3 years of production scheduling in lieu of degree
• 1 year production scheduling experience preferred
• Lean and Six Sigma experience or training preferred
• APICS certified or progress toward certification program a plus

• High levels of collaboration and teamwork
• Ability to effectively work independently
• Effective and efficient verbal and written communication with a high level of professionalism
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and working knowledge of ERP systems (preferably JDE)

The ability to work in a normal manufacturing environment to include: sitting, standing, or walking for long periods of time; climbing stairs; operating various standard office equipment; carrying paper documents/files; reaching; bending; twisting; crawling; speaking on the telephone, etc. Position may require some travel – Valid driver’s license is required. This position requires regular attendance at work.

The ability to wear required personal protection gear (i.e., hearing, eye, and foot protection as well as other personal protective equipment such as gloves and aprons, etc.); tolerating loud noise (maximum of 95 dB); tolerating extreme heat, cold and dusty environment.

EOE including disability/veteran