Materials Planner

By: Yingqian Chen & Tony Tran 

Description: Material planners can be found in manufacturing companies that need a steady supply of raw materials or inputs in place in order to continue the manufacturing process. Materials planners also work in conjunction with buyers to control and plan levels of inventory on hand in order to fulfill orders and operate at effective capacity.

Responsibilities: Materials planners must work with others in the firms to fulfill their duties and often contribute to the strategy of a firm. Often it is the duty of a material planner to keep the manufacturing process running smoothly. In order to do this, they often utilize information from a forecast and to plan for the proper levels of inventory needed to fulfill demand.  

Skill Set: At a minimum a bachelor’s degree from a business program is required. Degrees in specialized fields such as supply chain management and finance are preferred.

On top of the educational requirements, successful material planners are tenacious in term of negotiating deals and tactfully attaining product in the most cost efficient manner. Sometimes additional certifications such as the Certification in production and Inventory Management (CPIM) are required. This certification may be obtained with further job training and examinations.

Work Environment:  Material planners may be found in the heart of manufacturing plants where actual production occurs or in the office working with different departments in order to compile extensive information to plan and control levels of inventory. Many times material planners will work in the purchase department within the company.  

Salary and Job Opportunities:

In March 2012 it was reported that the median salary for a materials planner can range from $49,392 to $67,341. Of course, pay increases in accordance with experience. There are many opportunities to move up after being an entry-level materials planner. Specifically, one may obtain a position as a materials manager, which requires more management duties as well as a solid foundation of materials planning.

Moving forward: Materials planners are promoted from entry level planners to senior level planners and then ultimately to materials managers. The span of time between promotions can be between 2-3 years been entry level and senior level and upwards of 7 years until eventually becoming materials manager. This is because extensive knowledge and experience are often preferred, especially by larger companies or those with greater complexity or breadth of products.

Why Materials Planner?: Once an individual has established themselves as a material planner, many opportunities for advancement throughout the supply chain are available. One may transfer to a role within purchasing, forecasting, and other teams directly tied to the production process of a firm.  

Additional links and resources:

·      Opportunities of employment with one of the world’s leading supply chains: http://www.simplyhired.com/a/jobs/list/q-material+planning+apple/l-mountain+view,+ca

References in blog:

·      http://www.ehow.com/about_6530377_job-description-materials-planner.html

·      http://www.wisegeek.com/what-does-a-material-planner-do.htm

·      http://www1.salary.com/Materials-Planner-I-Salary.html

·      http://www.materialsmanagement.info/material-planning.htm

·    http://www.mymajors.com/skills-and-knowledge/Material-Planner

Videos:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VEhfv8KWPKo

Additional Video: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VsHVJ4nvjXQ

Inventory Specialist

Jon Griesen & Nhua Phan

An inventory specialist manages a firm’s inventory by the most efficient and cost-effective means possible. One of the primary duties of someone in this position is to carefully account for all inventory within a firm. This is imperative for the firm to function efficiently because without a solid grasp as to how much inventory one currently has and how quickly it is being consumed, one cannot make accurate determinations about future inventory purchases.

The position may be found within various tiers of a firm. Certain positions are distanced from high level management, while others may comprise a portion of the higher level management team. A wide range of companies need inventory specialists in order to effectively run their operations, including Target, Home Depot, Mercedes-Benz and Apple. Generally, a bachelor’s degree (business/management related fields) is looked upon very favorably by someone wanting to hire an inventory specialist, but it is not always required depending on the firm in question. In addition, the APICS CPIM (Certified in Production and Inventory Management) certification is held in high esteem by certain firms and may provide a competitive advantage.  The mean salary according to several online sources ranges from roughly $36,000-$50,000, but has extremes on both ends of the spectrum depending on the stage in the individual’s career. Once someone is an inventory specialist they may rise to a higher level management position if sufficient time is invested.

Inventory specialists employ various techniques in order to manage their inventory, such as those employed in order to keep a proper count of inventory. Counting inventory can be accomplished in many ways, ranging from physical counts to electronic counts or approximations based on weight or other factors. The frequency of the count also varies considerably from company to company. Some companies use continuous review systems, and others use periodic review systems. To determine which method should be used a firm considers several elements, such as the size of the business, diversity of products offered and quantity of inventory held.

In summary, an inventory specialist is integral to the operation of many firms by providing insight on how to streamline operations and making sure that inventory is always readily available for all types of customers. Although their roles may vary depending on the type of business in question, they all work to keep track of the inventory within a firm. “Inventory Specialist” is truly a diverse job title, and without being able to keep track of and manage the products that a firm sells, it would be almost impossible for the firm to successfully compete in the current competitive climate. 

For additional information regarding the Inventory Specialist position, please visit the following links:

http://www.wisegeek.com/what-does-an-inventory-specialist-do.htm

http://www.ehow.com/about_6106406_inventory-specialist-job-description.html

http://www.apics.org/careers-education-professional-development/certification/cpim

http://www.glassdoor.com/Salaries/inventory-specialist-salary-SRCH_KO0,20.htm

Purchaser/ Merchandiser/ Buyer

By: Micqueal Harris and Jacqueline Hamilton

The purpose of this position is to purchase finished goods, components, raw materials, and other items that may be used in a manufacturing or service setting.  While dependent upon a firm’s strategy, often the primary responsibility is to have the ability to obtain the highest quality goods at the lowest possible cost from the most reliable supplier.  As a buyer, before you decide which supplier to use, you might visit the perspective company to learn more about their product varieties and the services that they offer. You may expect to work an average workweek.  Forty-hours, Monday through Friday, overtime may be necessary to complete a project.

Purchasing agents make up the key component of the firm supply chain. To become a Purchasing Manager you will generally have to start out as a purchasing clerk, junior buyer, assistant buyers, etc. Some of their duties are to maintain records of products they purchase. Depending on the company, they will require at least a bachelor’s degree, with a preference for engineering and business majors. However, there are some successful people in this profession with high school being their highest level of education.

Entry positions typically last from 1 to 5 years. Seeing that you will generally start out in a training program. Which will eventually lead to one of the beginner positions within this profession. Forty-three percent of workers, with this title, work in wholesale trade and manufacturing industries. In this profession, the salary range is $54,150 to $94,970 a year. Positions in retail environments typically offer lower pay.

Purchasing agents may exert great influence over a firm’s supply chain. This position is essential to a firm because they source which products will be bought, so the firm can continue to supply their customers without disruption. Excellent customer service, negotiation skills, and the ability to develop and maintain long-term relationships are valuable traits in this position.

Additional information can be found at the following links:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buyer

http://www.collegegrad.com/careers/manag25.shtml

http://www.humanresources.hrvinet.com/purchasing-manager-job-description/

http://www.ehow.com/info_8444101_senior-buyer-responsibilities.html

http://everydaylife.globalpost.com/buyer-position-description-4203.html

http://www.indeed.com/q-Buyer-jobs.html

http://www.ehow.com/facts_5184267_buyer-position-description.html

Demand Planner/Forecaster/Analyst

The major responsibility of a supply chain demand planner is to develop both demand and inventory plans that will allow the company to meet its sales goals and satisfy its customers. Demand planners must often work closely with other departments of the firm, such as sales, marketing, and operations, in order to successfully predict future demand and what inventory levels will be needed in order to satiate all of their customers. Statistical forecasting is the first step in the process. Forecasters use historical data to determine possible variances, as well as current trends and economic changes that may have an effect on how consumers act. Once the demand planner feels comfortable with the forecasts, they are shared with suppliers and other key stakeholders, so they too know what to be expecting. The overall profitability of the firm is very much dependant on the demand planner, as overstocking can cost a company thousands of dollars, but not having enough of a certain product can be just as harmful, so it is essential that the forecaster be as accurate as possible with his estimates.  The average pay for a supply chain demand planner is estimated to be around $66,000 with the potential to increase over the course of a career.  However, in order to qualify for the position of a supply chain demand planner, a four year college degree in a related field is necessary.  Also, strong analytical, spreadsheet and mathematical skills are needed.  Furthermore, knowledge in inventory metrics, turns, margin contributions, scheduling, forecasting, and procurements are required. 

More Information: 

http://www.careersinsupplychain.org/job-roles-profiles/Descrpt/Planner.asp

http://searchmanufacturingerp.techtarget.com/definition/demand-planning

http://www.ehow.com/facts_5626904_demand-planner-job-description.html

http://www.indeed.com/salary/Supply-Chain-Planner.html

http://www.careersinsupplychain.org/job-roles-profiles/Descrpt/Planner.asp

Description

This blog is a part of a class project that requires students to write about supply chain management jobs.  Only student postings are allowed but external comments are welcome.

Students are required to contribute to the SCM303 Introduction to Operations Management blog by working in teams to contribute one entry during the semester. The entries should be about approved topic as indicated in the course syllabus.

Student entries should be concise (200-500 words) and provide links to further resources about the topic. News articles, videos, podcasts, etc. are all allowed and encouraged. Discussion questions are also encouraged.