Materials Planner

Job Summary

The Materials Planner is responsible for planning and managing the availability of raw materials, packaging materials, and other production supplies to support manufacturing operations. The role ensures materials are available in the right quantity, at the right time, while balancing inventory levels, production requirements, supplier lead times, and cost efficiency.

Working closely with Procurement, Production Planning, Manufacturing, Warehouse, Logistics, and suppliers, the Materials Planner helps maintain uninterrupted production and supports the efficient flow of materials across the supply chain.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop material requirements plans based on production schedules, sales forecasts, inventory levels, and supplier lead times.
• Monitor inventory levels of raw materials, packaging materials, and production supplies to ensure continuous availability while minimizing excess inventory.
• Plan and coordinate material replenishment to support production schedules and customer demand.
• Work closely with Procurement to ensure timely purchasing and delivery of required materials.
• Collaborate with Production Planning and Manufacturing teams to align material availability with production requirements.
• Monitor supplier performance, delivery schedules, and material shortages, and coordinate corrective actions when necessary.
• Identify potential material supply risks and recommend contingency plans to prevent production disruptions.
• Analyze inventory trends, material consumption, and demand forecasts to optimize inventory levels and reduce waste.
• Ensure proper inventory rotation by considering FIFO/FEFO principles, shelf-life requirements, and material traceability.
• Maintain accurate planning parameters, material master data, and inventory records within the ERP system.
• Prepare inventory, material availability, and planning reports to support operational and management decision-making.
• Participate in continuous improvement initiatives that enhance inventory management, material planning, and supply chain efficiency.
• Ensure compliance with company policies, quality standards, food safety requirements, and inventory control procedures.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Industrial Engineering, Logistics, Business Administration, Operations Management, or a related field.
• Preferably 2–4 years of experience in materials planning, inventory planning, production planning, supply chain, or manufacturing operations.
• Experience in FMCG, food manufacturing, consumer goods, or a similar manufacturing environment is highly preferred.
• Knowledge of Material Requirements Planning (MRP), inventory management, production planning, and supply chain processes.
• Experience using ERP systems such as SAP, Oracle, Microsoft Dynamics, or similar platforms is an advantage.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel and data analysis.
• Strong analytical, planning, problem-solving, and organizational skills.
• Excellent communication and coordination skills with the ability to work effectively across Procurement, Production, Warehouse, and Supply Chain teams.

Key Competencies

• Material Requirements Planning (MRP)
• Inventory Planning & Control
• Supply Chain Planning
• Production Planning Support
• Inventory Optimization
• Forecasting & Demand Analysis
• ERP Systems
• Data Analysis & Reporting
• Supplier Coordination
• Cross-functional Collaboration
• Problem Solving
• Continuous Improvement