Materials Planner: Demand-Driven Purchasing & Scheduling

POLYTEK DEVELOPMENT CORP; Comstock Charter Township (MI); On-site; USD 60,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

Polytek Development Corp., a leading maker of mold making and casting materials, is seeking a Materials Planner I to manage raw material planning and procurement for manufacturing. You will ensure material availability, coordinate site purchasing, and support production scheduling to meet customer demand and operational goals.

The role requires 3–5 years in materials planning, strong knowledge of MRP/ERP systems, and proficiency in Excel.

Qualifications

• Must understand, speak, read, and write English.
• Associate’s or Bachelor’s Degree in Supply Chain Management, Business, Operations Management, Manufacturing, or related field preferred; equivalent experience will be considered.
• 3–5 years of experience in materials planning, production scheduling, purchasing, inventory management, customer service, or supply chain operations within a manufacturing environment.
• Working knowledge of MRP/ERP systems, inventory management principles, purchasing processes, and production scheduling concepts.
• Experience managing purchase orders, supplier communications, and inventory replenishment activities.
• Ability to analyze inventory, demand, and supply data to support production and purchasing decisions.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite, particularly Excel.
• Ability to prioritize multiple tasks in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong organizational, analytical, problem-solving, and time-management skills.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills with cross-department collaboration.
• APICS/ASCM certification or related coursework is a plus, but not required.

Responsibilities

• Plan, order, and track raw materials end-to-end to support manufacturing operations.
• Use ERP/MRP systems to plan material requirements, monitor inventory levels, and ensure timely replenishment.
• Create, release, monitor, and maintain purchase orders for raw materials, packaging components, indirect materials, and site services.
• Coordinate with suppliers to confirm order acknowledgments, delivery dates, and shipment status.
• Proactively track open purchase orders and expedite materials to prevent shortages.
• Collaborate with Production, Operations, Customer Service, and Quality teams to align material availability with demand.
• Develop and maintain inventory levels that minimize excess inventory and working capital.
• Analyze inventory trends, forecasted demand, and supplier performance to identify risks and opportunities.
• Maintain accurate BOMs, item master data, lead times, and planning parameters in ERP.
• Manage inventory control processes including cycle counts, discrepancy investigations, and corrective actions.
• Work with suppliers and corporate purchasing to achieve competitive pricing and improved service levels.
• Monitor supplier performance and build strong vendor relationships.
• Generate and maintain reports on inventory, shortages, supplier deliveries, PO status, and scheduling metrics.
• Support production scheduling by adjusting schedules based on material availability and capacity.

Skills

MRP/ERP knowledge

Inventory management

Procurement

Production scheduling

Supplier management

Excel

Cross-functional collaboration

Analytical problem solving

Communication

Time management

Education

Associate or Bachelor’s Degree in Supply Chain Management, Business, Operations Management, Manufacturing or related field

Tools

ERP/MRP software

Microsoft Excel

Job description

Polytek Development Corp., a leading maker of mold making and casting materials, is seeking a Materials Planner I to manage raw material planning and procurement for manufacturing. You will ensure material availability, coordinate site purchasing, and support production scheduling to meet customer demand and operational goals.

The role requires 3–5 years in materials planning, strong knowledge of MRP/ERP systems, and proficiency in Excel.