Materials Manager - Production Floor

We are hiring an Inventory and Materials Manager - Production Floor who will leverage the Steelcase Materials Strategy and Playbook, Lean Manufacturing principles, and best practices to lead production-floor inventory, warehouse operations, and material flow. This role ensures material availability, inventory accuracy, and efficient movement of materials to support safe, reliable, and cost-effective manufacturing operations.

What You Will Be Doing

Lead production-floor inventory and material flow activities to ensure uninterrupted support of manufacturing operations while maintaining lean inventory levels and operational excellence.

Key responsibilities include:

• Lead warehouse operations, inventory control, material handling, and production-floor material flow.
• Maintain inventory accuracy across raw materials, work-in-process, and finished goods.
• Develop and manage supermarkets, Kanban and pull systems, FIFO controls, safety stock strategies, and point-of-use replenishment.
• Proactively identify and resolve material shortages and supply risks impacting production.
• Oversee cycle counts, bin audits, inventory reconciliation, and material disposition processes.
• Partner with Production, Planning, Purchasing, Logistics, Engineering, and Finance to support schedule attainment and inventory performance.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives focused on material flow, inventory accuracy, labor productivity, warehouse efficiency, and working capital.
• Establish policies, procedures, standard work, and performance metrics that strengthen material management processes.
• Lead, coach, and develop inventory, warehouse, and material handling team members.

Required Skills and Competencies

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience.
• 7+ years of Materials Management, Inventory Management, Production Logistics, Supply Chain, or Manufacturing Operations experience.
• 3+ years of leadership or supervisory experience.
• Demonstrated ability to lead teams, develop talent, and drive performance.
• Strong understanding of manufacturing operations, material flow, inventory management, warehouse operations, and ERP/MRP systems.
• Experience with Warehouse Management Systems (WM/IM), preferably SAP ERP.
• Experience utilizing Kanban systems, pull systems, supermarkets, and line-side replenishment methodologies.
• Experience managing inventory accuracy through cycle counts, audits, FIFO controls, safety stock management, reconciliation processes, and corrective actions.
• Financial acumen including budgeting, inventory investment, and project justification.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, communication, and cross-functional collaboration skills.
• Understanding of manufacturing processes, engineering methods, capacity analysis, and operational support functions.

Preferred Skills and Competencies

• APICS/ASCM certification or equivalent supply chain credential.
• Experience in a lean manufacturing environment utilizing standard work, visual management, and continuous improvement methodologies.
• Knowledge of environmental, labor, and regulatory compliance requirements.
• Understanding of the Steelcase Quality System.
• Proven success improving inventory accuracy, warehouse performance, and material flow.
• Experience supporting make-to-order or mixed-model manufacturing environments.

Leadership Expectations

The successful candidate will:

• Build a high-performing materials organization through coaching, development, and accountability.
• Anticipate and mitigate material-related risks to ensure uninterrupted production.
• Use data and metrics to drive decision-making and operational results.
• Foster strong cross-functional partnerships across Operations, Planning, Purchasing, Logistics, Engineering, and Finance.
• Champion safety, continuous improvement, inventory discipline, and operational excellence.

Role Purpose

The Inventory and Materials Manager - Production Floor leads inventory control, warehouse operations, and production material flow to ensure material availability, inventory accuracy, and efficient manufacturing execution while developing a high-performing materials organization.

Additional Information

#mid_senior_level #LI-Onsite #Engineering #Manufacturing #Project Management

At Steelcase, we put people at the center of everything we do. We understand the role of work and believe that it can bring meaning and purpose to the lives of our customers and our employees. We prioritize supporting our employees both in and out of work, in all aspects of their lives. When we bring our talents together, we make a positive lasting impact through our work and communities.

Steelcase provides employment opportunities to all qualified employees and applicants without regard to race, color, creed, genetic information, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, age, disability, or veteran status and bases all employment decisions only on valid job requirements. If we can make the application process easier through accommodation, please email us at [email protected].