Material Planner

thyssenkrupp Bilstein of America Inc; Hamilton (OH); On-site; USD 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health, Dental & Vision Coverage

401K matching

Paid time off + holidays

Tuition reimbursement

Gym reimbursement

Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

Discounted BILSTEIN products

Job summary

thyssenkrupp Bilstein of America, Inc. in Hamilton, OH is seeking a Material Planner I to manage procurement and inventory for production, coordinate with suppliers, and optimize inventory practices. The role emphasizes strong supplier relationships and quality assurance.

The ideal candidate will handle ERP/SAP-based planning, maintain safe processes, and collaborate across Procurement, Scheduling, and Quality teams to ensure on-time deliveries and efficient operations.

Qualifications

• Knowledge of inventory control, ERP systems, and distribution operations.
• Experience with SAP/MRP and supplier coordination.
• Strong analytical skills and attention to detail.

Responsibilities

• Maintains a safe working environment and adheres to PPE policies.
• Orders raw materials, packaging materials, and supplies as needed.
• Maintains inventories and uses lead times to meet production needs.
• Creates P.O.s, schedules, and balances inventories using SAP.
• Investigates discrepancies with suppliers to prevent recurrence.
• Monitors on-time delivery and expedites when needed; works with Scheduling.

Skills

Inventory control

ERP (SAP)

MRP

Analytical skills

Time management

Communication

Education

High school diploma

Bachelor’s degree preferred

Tools

SAP

MS Office

Job description

thyssenkrupp Bilstein of America, Inc. is a world class manufacturer of suspension solutions headquartered in Hamilton, Ohio USA. thyssenkrupp Bilstein of America supplies products to a wide range of Original Equipment Automotive Manufacturers as well as Aftermarket and Motorsports customers. Our Aftermarket operations are based out of Poway, CA and our Motorsports operations are based out of Mooresville, NC.

For decades, the name BILSTEIN has been synonymous with high tech in suspension design, driving comfort, and safety. In order to expand this position BILSTEIN became a division of thyssenkrupp Technologies AG in 1988, and a wholly owned subsidiary in 2005. This partnership has enabled us to continue the BILSTEIN tradition of excellence.

Summary

The Material Planner I is responsible for managing the procurement and inventory of materials, coordinating with suppliers, monitoring delivery schedules, and optimizing inventory practices to support efficient production processes while fostering supplier relationships and quality assurance.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Maintains a safe working environment by complying with all safety and environmental policies in the workplace. Advocates for and promotes a safe work environment by reporting Near Misses and/or other safety and environmental hazards, wearing all required PPE and encouraging others to do the same.
• Orders all incoming raw materials, packaging materials, supplies and other items as needed by the plant directly.
• Maintains adequate inventories of materials and supplies by developing and using a broad and deep working understanding of Plant operational requirements and supplier lead times.
• Performs activities that determine quantities of and delivery schedules for raw materials, parts and assemblies required to meet scheduled production, using SAP to create P.O.’s, schedules, balance inventories, and ensures inventory is not excessive.
• Investigates and documents causes of significant discrepancies with suppliers in order to prevent reoccurrence.
• Follows up with suppliers to ensure on-time delivery dates. Monitors and resolves red lights (stock out risks) and unplanned production on a daily basis. Work with Scheduling to determine options including potential expedited shipments.
• Monitors supplier schedules to determine opportunities to push out demand requirements, i.e. pull in or push out on at least a weekly basis.
• Manages supplier relationships to ensure that supplier expectations are clearly understood and performance against those expectations are being measured and monitored on a regular basis.
• Responsible for entering Logistics Quality Notifications (LQNs) for non-conforming suppliers.
• Monitors receiving exception log in order to resolve discrepancies in the receiving process.
• Seeks out and implements inventory best practices as appropriate.
• Monitor courier portals in order to track expedites/hot inbound shipments.
• Required to learn third-party portal for web EDI, as well as understand traditional EDI connection. Onboard new supply base.
• Work cross-collaboratively with Procurement, Program Management, Supplier Quality, Scheduling, etc.
• Participates and audits physical inventory.
• Performs all other duties and responsibilities as assigned.

Qualifications & Experience

• Demonstrated knowledge of principles and practices of inventory control, central warehousing, and distribution operations.
• Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.
• Proven experience identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
• Demonstrated ability to estimate sizes, distances, and quantities; or determining time, costs, resources, or materials needed to perform a work activity.
• Proven experience monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
• Experience working with large ERP systems (SAP preferred) with strong understanding of Material Requirements Planning (MRP).
• Knowledge of Microsoft Office Products (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
• Demonstrated ability to identity and respond to complex vendor problems, issues and situations that require the use of knowledge of existing processes/procedures/precedents, sounds judgment, creativity, resourcefulness, adaptability and flexibility.
• Independent & organized work style with the ability to effectively manage time, prioritize work responsibilities, assume and manage multiple tasks without close supervision, and meet deadlines.
• Strong analytical capabilities and initiative to take action as appropriate and necessary.
• Exhibits integrity through fair and ethical behaviors in all activities; maintains accountability for performance.
• Strong attention to detail with well-developed organizational and communication skills.
• Proven experience developing work processes to improve outcomes for the team/customers.
• Must be able to work as needed outside of typical business hours.

Education

• High school diploma. Bachelor’s degree preferred

The [above] is intended to describe the general content of and requirements for the performance of this job. It is not to be construed as an exhaustive statement of duties, responsibilities, or requirements. To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Bilstein has great benefits to offer!

• A state-of-the-art OE manufacturing plant with a strong focus on safety and cleanliness.
• Multiple competitive Health, Dental & Vision Coverage options.
• 401K matching program.
• Paid time off + 13 paid holidays.
• Paid volunteer hours.
• Tuition reimbursement program.
• Gym reimbursement.
• Company-paid short-term disability and life insurance.
• Internal growth opportunities.
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP).
• Discounted BILSTEIN products.