Materials Manager

Hitachi, Ltd.; Michigan City (IN); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Hitachi Global Air Power US, based in Michigan City, Indiana, seeks a Materials Manager to oversee inventory and material movement across multiple facilities, ensuring production lines are supplied on time.

The role reports to the Vice President of Operations and leads material-handling teams, coordinating with manufacturing, purchasing, engineering and quality to optimize costs and delivery performance. Strong leadership and continuous improvement mindset are essential.

Qualifications

• Five plus years of experience in material management, including inventory management systems.
• Ability to establish self as credible leader and partner with site leadership as a trusted member of staff.
• Humble, respectful, agile, eager to learn; Transparent, shares information candidly.
• Focused, quick learner, strategically prioritizes work and commits to results.
• Leadership ability: strong communicator, decision-maker, collaborative.
• Problem solver: analytical minded, challenges processes, critical thinker.

Responsibilities

• Manage material inventory control, shipping/receiving, handling, and storage to support production and delivery schedules.
• Identify opportunities to reduce transportation, storage, and handling costs.
• Strategize inventory volumes and storage capacity to maximize productivity and efficiency.
• Support transformation efforts to digitally transform material handling systems (AGVs, AMRs, cobots) for palletizing.
• Maintain balanced workloads and optimize resource allocation across teams.
• Explain work requirements and procedures; train workers in new procedures; provide guidance.
• Coordinate with manufacturing, purchasing, engineering, planning, and quality to resolve shortages.
• Provide weekly schedules for direct reports, including overtime hours.
• Monitor overtime to stay within budget while ensuring adequate coverage.
• Enforce Hitachi governance and safety policies; discipline as needed in coordination with HR.
• Review and act on safety incidents; oversee audits for improvements.

Skills

Material management

SAP

Microsoft Office

Leadership

Inventory control software

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Inventory Management, Supply Chain Management, or Logistics

Graduate degree in logistics- or business-related field

Material Management certification (CPIM, CSCP, CLTD, CLT)

Tools

SAP

Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access)

Job description

The Company

We build the machines that power industry. We are Hitachi Global Air Power, a leading global industrial compressed air manufacturer driving the innovations that keep the world moving.

From our headquarters in Michigan City, Indiana, our compressed air solutions power manufacturing operations all around the globe; from food and beverage to life-saving pharmaceuticals and cutting-edge semiconductor chips. Our portable compressors provide the air power to build roads and bridges, lay pipelines and aid in oil and gas mining and production.

We are a team of innovators, engineers, and quality experts with a shared vision to create the next generation of efficient, environment-forward compressed air solutions that meet the demands of today, while boldly contributing to a sustainable, circular economy. With more than 60 years of legacy and trusted performance through our brands - Hitachi, Sullair, and Champion (Australia), we are proud of our reputation for reliability, durability, and performance and groundbreaking engineering.

Join us in building a future where your work has an impact. At Hitachi Global Air Power, you’ll be part of a global network that’s shaping the future of industrial power.

Summary of the position

The Materials Manager oversees material-related operations to ensure that all incoming and outgoing inventory is processed for Hitachi Global Air Power US, LLC (HGAP). Responsible for material storage and movement within several manufacturing and storage facilities to ensure manufacturing lines receive the correct material when needed.

This position is located at the Hitachi Global Air Power manufacturing plant in Michigan City, Indiana, and reports to the Vice President of Operations.

Key Accountabilities

• Ensure all Inventories are aligned with Sales Product Strategy and Production needs meeting Customer On-Time delivery expectations.
• Improve warehouse layout to drive sustainable inventory and production plans that meet the business financial targets and meet or exceed our customer and shareholder expectations.

Duties and responsibilities

• Manage material inventory control, shipping and receiving, handling, and storage throughout manufacturing and storage facilities in support of production to ensure delivery demands and schedules are met.
• Identify opportunities to reduce transportation, storage, and handling costs.
• Strategize about inventory volumes and storage capacity to maximize productivity, rearranging containers for improved efficiency while allowing material handlers to easily navigate between aisles.
• Support transformation efforts to digitally transform material handling systems such as automated guided vehicle systems (AGVs), autonomous mobile robots (AMRs), and collaborative robotic arms (cobots) for palletizing.
• Maintain balanced workloads by shifting assignments, workers and other resources under own control to achieve the most effective material handling and material processing operations.
• Explain work requirements, methods, and procedures; instruct workers in new procedures; and provide advice when problems arise.
• Adjust plans, assignments, and methods as necessary to accomplish the work effectively and economically.
• Coordinate activities with manufacturing, purchasing, engineering, planning, and quality departments to resolve material shortages.
• Provide weekly schedules for direct reports, including starting/ending times, as well as overtime hours.
• Monitor overtime hours to stay within budget while maintaining adequate coverage to support operations.
• Hold direct reports accountable to uphold Sullair values and policies; issue discipline as required in conjunction with the Human Resource Department.
• Review and execute corrective actions for Near Miss and Recordable safety incidents. Oversee proactive audits for discoveries of potential safety-related issues.

Qualifications

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in Inventory Management, Supply Chain Management, or Logistics
• Graduate degree in a logistics- or business-related field a plus
• Material Management certification, such as CPIM, CSCP, CLTD, and CLT, a plus

Professional experience

• Five plus years of experience in material management, including inventory management systems.
• Ability to establish self as credible leader and partner with site leadership as a trusted member of staff.
• Humble: respectful, receptive, agile, eager to learn.
• Transparent: shares critical information, speaks with candor, contributes constructively.
• Focused: quick learner, strategically prioritizes work, committed.
• Leadership ability: strong communicator, decision-maker, collaborative.
• Problem solver: analytical-minded, challenges existing processes, critical thinker.
• Working knowledge of Inventory Control Software, SAP, Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access).

Key behaviors

• Lifting up to 35 lbs, lifting over 35 lbs. requires a lifting device, crane, or assistance from another associate
• Standing and walking minimum of 8 hours, must be able to bend/stoop, squat/crouch, kneel and twist
• Must understand and comply with Sullair Safety Standards

Physical requirements

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to walk, talk, and/or hear. The employee is occasionally required to stand, sit, and use hands to finger, handle, or feel. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 35 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus.

Direct reports

• Material Handler Supervisors
• Shipping / Receiving Supervisor

The successful candidate is responsible for complying with Hitachi Global Air Power US Code of Ethics and related policies. In performing the job, the incumbent shall take all steps necessary to comply with our safety rules and requirements and must actively support the organization's efforts to meet and exceed its goals of creating and maintaining a safe workplace.

This description is to serve as a guide. It is intended to be flexible and will continue to evolve over time with business needs and demands and may be updated periodically and at the Company's discretion.

Hitachi Global Air Power US is an equal opportunity employer and will not discriminate based on race, religion, color, age, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, genetic information, veteran status, physical or mental disability, or other protected categories under applicable law, whether in recruitment, employment, promotion, transfer, compensation, or other conditions of employment.