Manufacturing MRP Planner

Challenge Mfg. Company LLC; Walker (MI); On-site; USD 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Health Savings Account with employer $

Flexible Spending Accounts

401k matching

ESOP shares

Tuition reimbursement

Paid time off

Job summary

Challenge Manufacturing is seeking a Manufacturing MRP Planner to forecast demand, manage suppliers, and minimize inventory while meeting on-time delivery goals at our Walker, MI plant. The role emphasizes cross-functional collaboration with quality, production, and logistics teams to sustain continuous supply.

The ideal candidate has 2+ years in material planning or purchasing, experience with Plex ERP, and familiarity with automotive manufacturing processes.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree preferred (major or concentration in Supply Chain Management/Logistics is a strong plus).
• 2+ years of experience in material planning, inventory management, purchasing, or a related position.
• Experience with Plex Systems ERP strongly preferred.
• Previous experience in automotive industry preferred.

Responsibilities

• Participate with Material Requirement Planning improvements/implementation team.
• Monitor inventory levels against agreed target levels.
• Ensure integrity of Data Entry.
• Estimate materials required for production.
• Coordinate activities with warehouse and production teams.
• Prepare and maintain progress and other reports.
• Review long-term forecasts to identify and mitigate possible capacity/material issues and recommend appropriate action.
• Ensuring the consistent and adequate supply of materials necessary for production.
• Tracking production volume and monitoring customer demand patterns and purchasing trends.
• Participate in launch meetings to plan out activities in future time periods.
• Perform ongoing analysis of weekly, monthly and future capacity to optimize product level loading and achieve manufacturing continuity during low and high-volume months.

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management/Logistics

Tools

Plex ERP

MS Office

Job description

Who We Are

Challenge Manufacturing’s mission is to manufacture with operational excellence by empowering our employee-owners. As a leading tier 1 supplier of complex metal assemblies for the global automotive industry, we drive innovative solutions for future mobility. We believe the best ideas come from individual unique perspectives. These ideas combined with the teamwork of industry leaders allow us to accomplish any challenge. Our team members take pride in the work we do and embody our core values of safety, ownership, and teamwork every day; they are the true driving force in our operations. Challenge is proud to be one of the largest employee-owned automotive companies in North America. One of the many benefits of joining the Challenge team is the ESOP program. This program allows Challenge to give shares of the Company to all employee-owners annually. These shares are an additional retirement benefit that will continue to grow during your time at Challenge. Being part of an ESOP means our employee-owners share in Challenge’s success! Challenge is #QualityDriven and #PeoplePowered!

Who We Want

The Manufacturing MRP Planner responsibilities include forecast demand planning, manage suppliers to achieve 100% on time delivery, address supply chain disruptions, and work cross functionally with other Challenge departments. They will plan material receipts to meet delivery expectations of forecasted and actual sales while minimizing inventory levels; Utilizing MRP systems to calculate exact quantities of raw materials required based on production schedules. This position will work one-on-one with suppliers to ensure no disruptions to Challenge manufacturing supply chain. The Manufacturing MRP Planner will work with suppliers on maintaining accurate subcontract material inventory and investigating all discrepancies.

What You'll Do

• Participate with Material Requirement Planning improvements/implementation team
• Monitor inventory levels against agreed target levels
• Ensure integrity of Data Entry
• Estimate materials required for production
• Coordinate activities with warehouse and production teams
• Compile worksheets and specifications of orders
• Prepare and maintain progress and other reports
• Review long-term forecasts to identify and mitigate possible capacity/material issues and recommend appropriate action
• Ensuring the consistent and adequate supply of materials necessary for production
• Tracking production volume and monitoring customer demand patterns and purchasing trends
• Participate in launch meetings to plan out activities in future time periods
• Perform ongoing analysis of weekly, monthly and future capacity to optimize product level loading and achieve manufacturing continuity during low and high-volume months.
• Review demand and supply to understand bottleneck and propose alternative capacity or areas needing capacity improvement to meet demand
• Participate in business planning meetings to plan out activities in future time periods
• Constantly look for improvements and help implement solutions.
• Recommend components to stock to support a pull system for products and to reduce lead-times
• Read and analyze charts, work orders, production schedules and other records/reports to determine production requirements and to evaluate current production estimates and outputs
• Team attitude; eager to cooperate with others with exceptional interpersonal communication skills. Willing to put in extra effort and hours as needed.
• Competent with computer software such as, Microsoft office (Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint, MS Project).
• Knowledge of MRP/ERP systems (Plex is a strong plus).

When and Where

This will be a 1st Shift / 7 AM - 4 PM, M-F position located at our plant in Walker, MI.

What You Need to Have

• Bachelor’s degree preferred (major or concentration in Supply Chain Management/Logistics is a strong plus).
• 2+ years of experience in material planning, inventory management, purchasing, or a related position.
• Experience with Plex Systems ERP strongly preferred.
• Previous experience in automotive industry preferred.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Detail oriented and a high-level of organization.
• Computer literacy required, including MS Office (Excel) and ERP/MRP experience Personal attributes must include integrity and ability to conduct self in a firm, fair, friendly and consistent manner.
• Ability to solve problems in a fast-paced and high-volume environment with emphasis on customer service, accuracy and timeliness Has high standards of performance for self. Takes responsibility for actions, results, and mistakes. Is thorough, accurate, and reliable when performing and completing job tasks; demonstrates honesty and integrity in all aspects of work. Takes positive action to objectively resolve conflict by listening, staying focused on issue to find resolution, and monitoring progress. Maintains positive relationships by constructively resolving conflicts. Uses feedback from others to continuously improve performance and work relationships. Moves within own and/or other work areas (flexes) to support plant flow. Works with sense of urgency to meet needs of customers. Has necessary experience, skills, and knowledge to perform all aspects of job; rotates through all job responsibilities. Maintains knowledge and skills to perform job effectively.
• Has ability to focus on benefits of change and see it as positive; approaches change or newness in constructive/objective manner; views change as learning opportunity. Looks for good in others; works collaboratively with others; shares information and knowledge. Is at work when scheduled and ensures coverage when absent; takes timely breaks/lunches; uses time wisely.
• Up to 10% travel to the customer, other company manufacturing sites, supplier sites, and off-site training may be involved.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Health Savings Account with annual employer contributions
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• company-paid Short-Term Disability and Basic Life Insurance
• Voluntary Life and Long-Term Disability options
• Employer 401k Match
• ESOP shares
• tuition reimbursement
• Referral Bonus Program
• Challenge Incentive Program
• paid time off

Please note, while these benefits are part of what we offer, they may not all apply to this specific role. The details shared in this job description are intended to give you a general idea, but duties and responsibilities may evolve over time, with or without notice. And of course, we’re happy to provide reasonable accommodations to help individuals with disabilities succeed in their role.

Challenge Manufacturing’s mission is to manufacture with operational excellence by empowering our employee-owners. As a leading tier 1 supplier of complex metal assemblies for the global automotive industry, we drive innovative solutions for future mobility. We believe the best ideas come from individual unique perspectives. These ideas combined with the teamwork of industry leaders allow us to accomplish any challenge. Our team members take pride in the work we do and embody our core values of safety, ownership, and teamwork every day; they are the true driving force in our operations. Challenge is proud to be one of the largest employee-owned automotive companies in North America. One of the many benefits of joining the Challenge team is the ESOP program. This program allows Challenge to give shares of the Company to all employee-owners annually. These shares are an additional retirement benefit that will continue to grow during your time at Challenge. Being part of an ESOP means our employee-owners share in Challenge’s success! Challenge is #QualityDriven and #PeoplePowered! We’re excited to offer a range of awesome benefits, including medical, dental, and vision insurance, a Health Savings Account with annual employer contributions, Flexible Spending Accounts, company-paid Short-Term Disability and Basic Life Insurance, Voluntary Life and Long-Term Disability options, an Employer 401k Match, ESOP shares, tuition reimbursement, a Referral Bonus Program, Challenge Incentive Program, and paid time off. Please note, while these benefits are part of what we offer, they may not all apply to this specific role. The details shared in this job description are intended to give you a general idea, but duties and responsibilities may evolve over time, with or without notice. And of course, we’re happy to provide reasonable accommodations to help individuals with disabilities succeed in their role.