Supply Chain Planner

Job Description

Direct Materials Associate-Specialist – OCU – Non-Technical – 1st Shift | Cummins Inc.

The Tone:
This is a full-time role at Cummins Inc., offering on-site work with flexibility for hybrid arrangements. Cummins Inc. is a global power leader that designs, manufactures, distributes, and services engines and related technologies. This role is crucial for determining the quantity and order date for direct materials, ensuring that production schedules are met and independent customer demand is fulfilled. The Direct Materials Associate-Specialist directly impacts delivery and efficiency within the supply chain by managing supplier relationships and optimizing inventory flow.

The TL;DR
• Role: Full Time
• Type: On-site with Flexibility (Hybrid Potential)
• Location: Hybrid

• Team: Within the assigned team and with all support teams
• Mission: Ensures the continuous and accurate flow of direct materials to support manufacturing and customer needs.
• Tech Stack: Oracle or supply chain system, Excel, Access, TOAD, OMS

What You’ll Actually Do
• Plan Materials: Determines the required quantity and order dates for materials to align with the master production schedule and independent customer demand, initiating purchase and work orders to ensure timely supply.
• Manage Suppliers: Coordinates all aspects of material delivery with global suppliers, including understanding supplier operations, negotiating schedules to match customer demand, and participating in allocation calls to resolve constraints.
• Optimize Inventory: Implements strategies to improve inventory accuracy and reduce excess, works with suppliers to lower lead times, and manages part change requests to minimize obsolete inventory.
• Resolve Issues: Resolves materials-related issues at any stage of the manufacturing process, addresses component conflicts, and reconciles order boards for critical parts, often requiring 24/7 availability.
• Drive Improvements: Leads and participates in continuous improvement projects related to quality, safety, process, and material flow, while also developing and maintaining accurate material planning master data.

The Must-Haves
• Background: Requires a high school diploma, GED, or equivalent, demonstrating foundational knowledge in supply chain planning and direct materials management.
• Experience: Requires four years of relevant experience, or an associate’s degree combined with at least two years of relevant experience, or a bachelor’s degree. This includes experience in managing purchase orders, supplier relationships, and resolving complex supply situations.
• Skills: Proficient in materials planning system utilization, applying Plan for Every Part (PFEP) principles, managing master supply scheduling, executing part change control, and skilled in Microsoft Excel for analytical tasks.
• Bonus: Prior experience with Oracle or other comprehensive supply chain systems is preferred, alongside a proactive approach to identifying and resolving supplier issues.