Materials Planning Analyst

Great Dane; Huntsville (TN); On-site; USD 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive compensation

Health benefits

Pension Plan and 401(k)

Tuition Reimbursement

Paid holidays and vacation

Job summary

Great Dane is seeking an Inventory Planner to act as the on-site liaison for corporate buyers, ensuring material availability for scheduled production runs. You will report clear-to-build, audit inventory, and collaborate with purchasing and operations to optimize stock levels.

Proficiency in Excel and ERP planning modules (JD Edwards preferred) is required. The role emphasizes self-direction, effective communication, and process improvement to maintain production schedules and accurate

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain or related field; CPIM or equivalent certification preferred.
• Minimum of 2 years’ experience in inventory control.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and Word.
• Ability to communicate effectively via email with internal/external customers.
• Self-directed with initiative to improve processes.
• Ability to lead and communicate with individuals and teams.
• Travel: Minimal.

Responsibilities

• Regularly report clear to build status for assigned materials and components; flag risks and work with corporate buyers to mitigate them.
• Develop plant-level inventory strategies to optimize turnover and reduce excess/obsolete stock.
• Analyze purchasing trends; set safety stock levels, min order quantities, and recurring orders.
• Monitor open work orders and ensure timely disposition to avoid inventory impact.
• Assist corporate buyers and AP with invoice reconciliation.
• Coordinate with logistics to schedule material delivery before line start.
• Audit materials to verify locations and quantities; resolve discrepancies.
• Determine whether excess inventory should be redistributed, substituted, or disposed.

Skills

Inventory control

Communication

Self-direction

Team leadership

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain

APICS CPIM certification

Tools

Microsoft Excel

Microsoft Word

Job description

THE ROLE

At Great Dane, we rely on makers and we’re calling on them to join our expanding team, the time has never been better to Embrace Your Great and work in an environment with the highest safety standards in the industry.

THE ROLE

At Great Dane, we rely on makers and we’re calling on them to join our expanding team, the time has never been better to Embrace Your Great and work in an environment with the highest safety standards in the industry. The Position: This role will act as the on-site liaison for the corporate buyers, keeping them informed on inventory needs, supplier performance and collaborating on inventory strategy. In this role, you will collaborate closely with corporate purchasing and local operations teams to ensure the accurate and timely availability of raw materials and components required for scheduled production runs. You will be responsible for reporting “clear to build” on a scheduled cadence, performing audits, scheduling cycle counts, releasing open purchase orders to ship, level one expediting, and resolving inventory discrepancies. The ideal candidate will have proficiency in material or production planning, excellent communication skills, proficiency in Microsoft Excel and Word, and using planning modules in one of the major ERP systems, JDE preferred. This position requires a self-directed individual with a strong initiative to improve processes and ensure production schedules are adhered to.

Responsibilities

WHAT YOU’LL DO

• Regularly report out clear to build status for assigned materials and components. Highlight risks or shortages and collaborate with corporate buyers to mitigate risks.
• Develop and implement plant level strategies to optimize inventory turnover rates and reduce excess and obsolete inventory. Share best practices with peers within facility and other manufacturing locations.
• Analyze purchasing and consumption trends and work with corporate buyer to establish safety stock levels, minimum order quantities, and recuring orders.
• Monitor open work orders and ensure they are dispositioned in a timely manner to not negatively affect inventory.
• Assist corporate buyer and accounts payable department with invoice reconciliation efforts
• Work with corporate logistics to schedule material delivery prior to line start.
• Perform audits on assigned materials/components to verify locations and quantities are accurate.
• Assist in determining whether excess inventory is subject to redistribution, substitution, or disposal.
• Issue request for deviation or substitutions and implement approvals, advise stakeholders of status
• Assis with the processing of defective material, returns, scrap, and miscellaneous inventory adjustments.
• Work closely with production personnel and other departments regarding potential material issues such as delays, substitutions, vendor problems and shortages
• Collaborate with other Supply Chain staff to ensure effective use of inventory, and ensuring material are received at the right time, right material, right quantity for line consumption
• Own inventory accuracy for all assigned materials and components, schedule regular cycle counts and reconcile to ensure accuracy for assigned parts and notify management of discrepancy.
• Attend weekly safety meetings and communicate relevant topics to individual team members.
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

YOUR SKILLS & ABILITIES (REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS)

• Education: Bachelor’s degree with concentration in Supply Chain or other related field, or work experience in similar role and APICS, CPIM and/or equivalent certification required.
• Experience: Minimum of 2 years’ experience in the field. Must have inventory control experience.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and Word.
• Ability to effectively communicate via email with internal and external customers.
• Self-directed individual with the initiative to improve processes.
• Ability to instruct, lead, and communicate with individuals and teams.
• Travel: Minimal.

Physical/Mental Requirements

The physical demands and work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Physical demands: While performing duties of job, employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; sit; use hands to finger, handle or feel objects; reach with hands and arms; talk and hear. Specific vision abilities required by the job include close and distance vision.
• Work environment: The noise level in the work environment is usually minimal to moderate.

About Great Dane

With a history dating back to 1900, Great Dane has established itself as a transportation solutions leader of today – delivering innovative products and exceptional services that help our customers and employees succeed. We not only engineer durable and high-quality trailers and truck bodies; we foster relationships that last a lifetime.

WHY WORK FOR US?

Great Dane is a leading manufacturer of dry-freight vans, refrigerated trailers, and flatbeds with 10 manufacturing facilities and 20 service centers throughout the United States. With a legacy like ours comes a dedication to the hard-working individuals that make Great Dane what it is today. Our jobs are waiting to be filled by driven, challenge-focused & enthusiastic people like you.

Our culture is comprised of “Champions” and offers a rewarding workplace rooted in core values of safety, leadership, integrity, quality, and passion. Every employee has opportunities to learn, to grow, to succeed and to be engaged in a collaborative environment.

Benefits Overview

• Competitive compensation
• Benefits, including but not limited to dental, vision, and medical with employer contributions
• Retirement programs, including a Pension Plan and 401(k) Plan with employer match
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Paid holidays and vacation
• And more!

Great Dane is an Equal Opportunity Employer