Materials Planning Analyst

Job Description:

Your Work Shapes the World at Caterpillar Inc.

When you join Caterpillar, you're joining a global team who cares not just about the work we do – but also about each other. We are the makers, problem solvers, and future world builders who are creating stronger, more sustainable communities. We don't just talk about progress and innovation here – we make it happen, with our customers, where we work and live. Together, we are building a better world, so we can all enjoy living in it.

Responsibilities
• Participates in scheduling production and delivery processes in accordance with current productivity and cost efficiency standards.
• Develops and executes material planning for a product line to ensure that all material requirements for assigned programs are met within the allocated time frame.
• Organizes the flow of materials within the manufacturing unit and the transferring of materials to and from the inventory or warehouse.
• Generates forecasts and manages replenishment planning for parts and materials to ensure specified service levels are met.

Degree Requirement
Degree or equivalent experience desired

Skill Descriptors
Decision Making and Critical Thinking: Knowledge of the decision-making process and associated tools and techniques; ability to accurately analyze situations and reach productive decisions based on informed judgment.
Level Extensive Experience:
• Differentiates assumptions, perspectives, and historical frameworks.
• Evaluates past decisions for insights to improve decision-making process.
• Assesses and validates decision options and points and predicts their potential impact.
• Advises others in analyzing and synthesizing relevant data and assessing alternatives.
• Uses effective decision-making approaches such as consultative, command, or consensus.
• Ensures that assumptions and received wisdom are objectively analyzed in decisions.

Problem Solving: Knowledge of approaches, tools, techniques for recognizing, anticipating, and resolving organizational, operational or process problems; ability to apply knowledge of problem solving appropriately to diverse situations.
Level Extensive Experience:
• Ensures capture of lessons to be learned from a problem-solving effort.
• Organizes potential problem solvers and leads problem resolution efforts.
• Uses varying problem-solving approaches and techniques as appropriate.
• Contributes to standard practices for problem-solving approaches, tools, and processes.
• Analyzes and synthesizes information and devises alternative resolution strategies.
• Develops successful resolutions to critical or wide-impact problems.

Relationship Management: Knowledge of relationship management techniques; ability to establish and maintain healthy working relationships with clients, vendors, and peers.
Level Working Knowledge:
• Provides prompt and effective responses to client requests and interactions.
• Monitors client satisfaction levels on a regular basis.
• Alerts own team to problems in client satisfaction.
• Differentiates the roles and responsibilities in a business relationship.
• Works with clients to address critical issues and resolve major problems.

Internal Resource Coordination: Knowledge of the techniques, tools and applications associated with coordination of internal resources; ability to synchronize and integrate activities, responsibilities, and command and control structures to ensure that internal resources are used most efficiently in pursuit of business objectives.
Level Extensive Experience:
• Resolves issues related to collaborative efforts in varying business conditions.
• Designs a comprehensive tool set to ensure the integrity and confidentiality of business information.
• Optimizes existing collaborative styles using advanced coordination skills.
• Advises on organizational best practices for internal resource coordination.
• Monitors overall coordination programs and business activities for compliance with relevant policies.
• Trains others on coordination techniques according to a particular business requirement.

Distribution Requirements Planning (DRP): Knowledge of the process, issues and considerations for systematically managing distribution of inventory for multiple plants or warehouses; ability to apply related knowledge and experience in real practice.
Level Working Knowledge:
• Works with real-time inventory software, moving supplies to where needed, when needed.
• Interprets the impact of bottlenecks and delays on operating costs.
• Follows processes and applies technologies for items and inventory management.
• Assists in solving issues related to distribution to meet orders or inventory replenishment requirements.
• Works with basic distribution requirements planning (DRP) processes and operations.

Manufacturing Requirements Planning (MRP): Knowledge of the processes, practices and systems used in manufacturing requirements planning (MRP); ability to optimize planning for manufacturing cycles and ensure capacity and materials availability.
Level Extensive Experience:
• Monitors total plant production scheduling vis-a-vis orders.
• Evaluates considerations for synchronizing demand for products with production capabilities.
• Participates in sequencing work to meet targeted delivery dates for multiple and critical orders.
• Participates in setting parameters for reorders, min/max levels, lead days and job days.
• Coordinates capacity and materials planning for net demand within a planning period.
• Adjusts plans based on sales forecasts, custom orders and demand-driven orders.

Materials Handling and Management: Knowledge of material handling and management in plants; ability to perform, monitor and improve processes related to storage, transportation and handling of raw and hazardous materials.
Level Working Knowledge:
• Assists in the responding of and dealing with emergency issues related in materials handling.
• Works with the packaging and storage of inbound or outbound materials.
• Performs the packing, shipping, identifying and transporting of materials.
• Explains key environmental issues for handling hazardous goods.
• Follows procedures to handle hazardous materials, hazardous substances and pollutants.

Transportation - MFG: Knowledge of transportation; ability to transport materials and goods to and from suppliers, distribution centers, manufacturing facilities and customers.
Level Basic Understanding:
• Explains basic measurements used in transportation management.
• Locates and interprets carrier costs, rates and time requirements.
• Identifies the various modes of transportation and their application.
• Describes the types, purpose and use of basic shipping documents.

This Job Description is intended as a general guide to the job duties for this position and is intended for the purpose of establishing the specific salary grade. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as an exhaustive summary of all responsibilities, duties and effort required of employees assigned to this job. At the discretion of management, this description may be changed at any time to address the evolving needs of the organization. It is expressly not intended to be a comprehensive list of “essential job functions” as that term is defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Posting Dates:

Caterpillar is an Equal Opportunity Employer (EEO).