Materials Planner

Acoust-A-Fiber, Inc.; San Antonio (TX); On-site; USD 85,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job summary

Acoust-A-Fiber, Inc. is seeking a Senior Materials Planner to ensure materials availability for production while maintaining inventory and accurate schedules.

You will coordinate material planning, production scheduling, inventory control, and cycle counting to support customer requirements in a fast-paced automotive manufacturing environment. The role partners with Production, Purchasing, Customer Service, Warehouse, Quality, and other functions to identify material risks, resolve shortages,

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management or related field preferred.
• 5+ years of materials planning, production planning, scheduling, or inventory-control experience preferred.
• Automotive or Tier 1/Tier 2 manufacturing experience strongly preferred.
• Experience with MRP/ERP systems.
• Experience with cycle counting, physical inventory, inventory reconciliation, and material shortage management.

Responsibilities

• Plan and coordinate materials based on production needs.
• Release material needs after reviewing MRP.
• Monitor material availability and shortages.
• Collaborate with Purchasing and suppliers to resolve shortages.
• Monitor inventory levels and balance targets.
• Support engineering changes and new product launches.

Skills

MRP knowledge

Production scheduling

Inventory management

Analytical skills

Cross-functional coordination

Attention to detail

Independent work

Education

Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management

Equivalent combination of education and experience

Tools

ERP software

APICS CPIM (preferred)

Job description

The Senior Materials Planner is responsible for ensuring materials are available to support production requirements while maintaining appropriate inventory levels and accurate production schedules. This position coordinates material planning, production scheduling, inventory control, and cycle counting activities to support customer requirements and efficient plant operations.

The role works closely with Production, Purchasing, Customer Service, Warehouse, Quality, and other plant functions to identify material risks, resolve shortages, maintain inventory accuracy, and support on‑time delivery in a fast‑paced automotive manufacturing environment.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Plan and coordinate raw materials, components, and purchased parts based on production requirements, customer demand, and inventory levels.
• Review MRP requirements and release or communicate material needs as appropriate.
• Monitor material availability and proactively identify potential shortages that could impact production.
• Work with Purchasing and suppliers to address material shortages, delivery changes, and other supply concerns.
• Monitor inventory levels and help balance material availability with inventory targets.
• Support engineering changes, new product launches, and material phase‑in/phase‑out activities as applicable.

Production Scheduling

• Develop and maintain production schedules based on customer requirements, available materials, capacity, and plant priorities.
• Communicate production schedule requirements and changes to Operations and other affected departments.
• Monitor daily production performance against the schedule and adjust planning priorities when necessary.
• Identify scheduling constraints and elevate risks that could affect customer delivery.
• Coordinate changing priorities in response to customer releases, material availability, equipment issues, or other operational conditions.

Inventory Control

• Support accurate inventory transactions and physical inventory processes.
• Coordinate and perform cycle counts and investigate inventory discrepancies.
• Analyze variances and work with Operations, Warehouse, and other departments to identify root causes.
• Support corrective actions to improve inventory accuracy.
• Review slow‑moving, excess, and obsolete inventory and communicate concerns to management.
• Support annual physical inventory preparation and execution.

Operational Support

• Monitor material‑related issues that could cause production interruptions or customer delivery risks.
• Participate in daily production and materials meetings as required.
• Maintain planning reports, inventory data, and key supply‑chain metrics.
• Support continuous improvement initiatives related to material flow, inventory accuracy, scheduling, and planning processes.
• Maintain accurate information within the company's ERP/MRP system.
• Follow established safety, quality, environmental, and company procedures.

Qualifications

Education

• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Business, Operations, Logistics, or a related field preferred.
• Equivalent combination of education and relevant manufacturing experience may be considered.

Experience

• 5+ years of materials planning, production planning, scheduling, or inventory‑control experience preferred.
• Automotive or Tier 1/Tier 2 manufacturing experience strongly preferred.
• Experience working with MRP/ERP systems.
• Experience with cycle counting, physical inventory, inventory reconciliation, and material shortage management.
• Experience supporting a fast‑paced manufacturing operation with changing customer requirements.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Strong knowledge of MRP and materials planning principles.
• Strong understanding of production scheduling and inventory management.
• Ability to analyze customer demand, inventory, production requirements, and material availability.
• Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills.
• Ability to prioritize multiple production and customer requirements.
• Effective communication and cross‑functional coordination skills.
• High level of accuracy and attention to detail.
• Ability to work independently without direct supervisory responsibility.
• Automotive manufacturing and customer‑release/EDI knowledge is preferred.
• APICS/ASCM CPIM certification is preferred but not required.

Key Performance Indicators

• Inventory accuracy
• Cycle‑count completion and accuracy
• Excess and obsolete inventory
• Premium freight attributable to material‑planning issues
• Customer delivery performance related to planning

Physical Demands / Work Environment

The position primarily operates in an office and manufacturing environment and may require regular movement throughout production and warehouse areas. The employee may occasionally be required to stand, walk, bend, reach, and lift materials or containers up to approximately 25 pounds. Appropriate personal protective equipment must be worn when entering designated manufacturing areas.

AAF is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or veteran status.

We believe in the power of diversity and inclusion in the workplace and strive to create a culture where all employees feel valued, respected, and empowered. Our policies and practices are designed to promote equal employment opportunities and prohibit discrimination, harassment, and retaliation.