Material Planner/scheduler

**Job Purpose**
- The purpose of the Materials Planner Scheduler is to monitor material supply flow, identify any production shortages, maintain consistent inventories, and ensure that material resources are readily available to execute the production schedules for multiple production lines/work centers. The Material Planner's responsibilities include creating and maintaining production schedules, analyzing data and using planning tools/systems (Infor/SAP), coordinating and communicating with internal departments, and managing external customer demands.

**Req ID**
- 9522BR

**City**
- Peru

**State**:

- Indiana

**Company Description**
- Railroads transport goods and people millions of miles every day. At Progress Rail, we believe in going the distance with them. We are looking for talented and innovative team players to address the challenges of the rail industry today, ensuring success for the future. Build a long-term career with opportunities for growth and advancement as part of a vibrant network of close to 200 global locations. Our innovative team members work together to forge the bridge between ideas and success
- As a Caterpillar company, Progress Rail is an integrated rolling stock and infrastructure provider, delivering a full range of products and services to domestic and international railroad customers. Our customers enjoy one-stop shopping and comprehensive railway solutions - whether it rolls on the rail or is the rail itself. From locomotives, transit, freight cars and engines, to tracks, signals and advanced technology, we ensure customers can count on us to meet their needs.**Key Job Elements**
- Minimum duties and responsibilities:
- Create and maintain production schedules for manufacturing to support customer requirements;
- Work with manufacturing and suppliers/buyers on schedule attainability, capacity, and pricing;
- Release manufacturing orders to meet production plan and customer order due dates.

Advanced duties and responsibilities:
- Determining the required materials and generating production orders;
- Ensuring materials meet specifications, quality standards, and are delivered on-time;
- Ensuring the consistent and adequate supply of materials necessary for production;
- Coordinating with other departments regarding production goals, timelines, customer demands, etc.;
- Tracking production volume, monitoring customer demand patterns, and production trends;
- Scheduling and overseeing the supply and delivery of materials and products;
- Manage workload leveling, and flow of materials;
- Communicating with customers, suppliers, and distributors, as needed;
- Lead scheduling improvements of work order packets, capacity planning, and sharing production information throughout facility;
- Managing inventory issues, schedule changes, and cancellations;
- Identify problems/bottlenecks and help improve processes;
- Using data/planning tools in an effective manner; understanding of MRP using SAP or Infor, a plus.

**Education / Training**
- High School Diploma or equivalent required, college degree or equivalent preferred.

**Qualifications and Experience**
- A minimum of 1-2 years of experience in manufacturing;
- A minimum of 1-2 years material planning, inventory management, purchasing or related fields.

Preferred Skills:

- Prefer Bachelor’s degree in Business, Supply Chain, Logistics, Inventory Management, or related fields;
- Six Sigma Trained;
- Advanced Windows Operating Systems experience and/or Linux;
- Knowledge of manufacturing process;
- Experience in a Material Planning role in a heavy equipment Manufacturing Environment;
- Proficiency in Word, Outlook, Power Point, and material management systems;
- Solid Problem-solving, analytical and decision-making skills;
- Demonstrated ability to work in a self-directed, team-based environment;
- Strong communication and interpersonal skills to negotiate solutions with suppliers and internal customers.

Essential and Physical Activities Functions:

- Strength - Must be able to lift 40 lbs., items such as copier paper boxes and light unloading of office supplies;
- Motion - The position is primarily in an office setting requiring sitting at a desk majority of the day;
- Vision/Hearing Requirements - May spend long periods of time in front of computer screen;
- Work Environment - Will alternate time in an office environment and production plants, occasionally working in plant facilities requiring exposure to hot and cold environments along with noise exposure;
- Emotional Demands - Must have good communication skills; Must be able to handle demanding situations/timelines; Servant-Leadership - focusing on the needs of the team/others;
- Safety Sensitive - This is not a safety sensitive position. The material planner scheduler will be required to follow all plant and office safety rules, including PPE. The MPS maybe required to occasional operate material handling equipment such as fork trucks and will require training.

**Benef