MRO Repair & Reliability Specialist

Pixelle; Northern (KY); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Pixelle in Kentucky is seeking an MRO Repair & Reliability Specialist to oversee end-to-end repairable materials, manage vendor repair cycles, and control repair costs in line with mill and OEM standards. The role partners with Maintenance, Engineering, Storeroom, Operations, and Procurement to improve reliability, material availability, and lifecycle cost, using SAP S/4HANA and cost data.

Ideal candidates will have a Bachelor's degree and 3–5 years of experience in MRO, strong vendor

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain, Business, Engineering, Maintenance, or a related field preferred.
• Three to five years of relevant experience in MRO materials, industrial maintenance, equipment repair, procurement, repairable asset management, vendor management, or related manufacturing function.
• Experience with industrial repair vendors and high-value mechanical components such as motors, gearboxes, pumps, valves, rolls, and related equipment preferred.

Responsibilities

• Own the end-to-end process for identifying, tracking, and managing repairable MRO materials and components.
• Coordinate repair scope, technical specifications, testing requirements, and disposition decisions with Maintenance and Engineering.
• Manage vendor communications, purchase orders, shipping, repair status, and return logistics.
• Monitor vendor turnaround time, repair quality, cost performance, warranty performance, and recurring repair issues.
• Provide repair cost, lifecycle, and historical information to support decision-making.

Skills

MRO materials

Vendor management

Cost analysis

Repair cost evaluation

Project management

Communication

Analytical thinking

Inventory management

Education

Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain, Engineering or related field

Equivalent work experience considered

Tools

SAP S/4HANA

Microsoft Excel

Maintenance/repair systems

Job description

The MRO Repair & Reliability Specialist is responsible for the end-to-end management of repairable MRO materials, vendor repair cycles, warranties, and repair-related cost control. This position ensures high-value components including motors, gearboxes, pumps, valves, and other repairable equipment—are properly identified, evaluated, repaired, tracked, and returned to service in accordance with mill and OEM standards.

The position serves as a key liaison among Maintenance, Engineering, Storeroom, Operations, Procurement, and external repair vendors. The MRO Repair & Reliability Specialist uses technical knowledge, cost analysis, vendor management, and repair history to improve equipment reliability, material availability, repair turnaround time, and overall lifecycle cost.

The role requires the ability to independently manage multiple repair cycles, evaluate repair-versus-replace alternatives, identify recurring equipment and vendor issues, and make recommendations that support maintenance and reliability objectives.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Repairable Material & Asset Management

• Own the end-to-end process for identifying, segregating, tracking, and managing repairable MRO materials and components.
• Maintain accurate visibility of repairable inventory, including material condition, location, repair status, cost, and expected return dates.
• Coordinate the movement of repairable materials between the mill and approved repair vendors.
• Ensure completed repairs are properly documented, inspected as appropriate, and returned to the correct inventory or operating location.
• Establish and maintain consistent processes to prevent repairable materials from accumulating in maintenance shops, operating areas, or other uncontrolled locations.
• Prioritize critical repairs based on operational needs, equipment criticality, material availability, and business impact.
• Maintain appropriate documentation and repair history for critical and high-value repairable assets.
• Obtain and evaluate repair quotations and coordinate vendor selection in accordance with Procurement requirements and established approval processes.
• Coordinate repair scope, technical specifications, testing requirements, and disposition decisions with Maintenance and Engineering.
• Manage vendor communications, purchase orders, shipping, repair status, and return logistics.
• Monitor vendor turnaround time, repair quality, cost performance, warranty performance, and recurring repair issues.
• Verify repair documentation, testing results, and applicable warranty coverage before equipment is returned to inventory or service.
• Pursue warranty claims, credits, rework, and other recoveries when appropriate.
• Develop productive relationships with repair vendors and service providers while holding suppliers accountable for quality, cost, service, and delivery expectations.
• Identify and upscale vendor performance issues and recommend alternative repair sources when appropriate.
• Evaluate repair-versus-replace alternatives using repair cost, replacement cost, equipment condition, repair history, expected useful life, lead time, and operational risk.
• Identify opportunities to reduce expedited freight, emergency purchases, premium repair charges, repeat repairs, and other avoidable costs.
• Provide repair cost, lifecycle, and historical information to support Maintenance, Engineering, Procurement, and operational decision-making.
• Analyze repair history, repeat failures, warranty issues, and repair trends to identify root causes and continuous-improvement opportunities.
• Partner with Maintenance, Engineering, Procurement, and other stakeholders to improve equipment reliability and reduce total lifecycle cost.
• Identify opportunities to standardize repair processes, specifications, vendors, and documentation.
• Track and quantify cost avoidance and savings associated with repair-versus-replace decisions, warranty recoveries, vendor negotiations, and process improvements.

Systems & Reporting

• Maintain accurate repairable material, vendor, cost, and asset information in SAP S/4HANA and other applicable systems.
• Develop, maintain, and communicate reports and KPIs related to:
• Repair turnaround time
• Warranty recovery
• Repeat repairs and recurring failures
• Critical repair status and material availability
• Provide regular updates to stakeholders regarding critical repairs, costs, warranties, expected completion dates, risks, and material availability.
• Maintain documentation necessary to support repair history, vendor performance evaluation, warranty claims, and future repair-versus-replace decisions.

Safety & Environmental

• Comply with all plant and departmental safety requirements and applicable environmental procedures.
• Ensure repairable materials are managed, packaged, shipped, and stored in accordance with applicable safety, environmental, and transportation requirements.
• Report safety, environmental, and material-handling concerns through established procedures.
• Promote safe work practices when coordinating repair activities with employees, contractors, and external service providers.

Qualifications

Education & Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain, Business, Engineering, Maintenance, or a related field preferred. An equivalent combination of education and relevant experience will be considered.
• Three (3) to five (5) years of relevant experience in MRO materials, industrial maintenance, equipment repair, procurement, repairable asset management, vendor management, or a related manufacturing function.
• Experience working in a manufacturing or heavy industrial environment strongly preferred.
• Experience working with industrial repair vendors and high-value mechanical components such as motors, gearboxes, pumps, valves, rolls, and related equipment preferred.
• Experience supporting maintenance, reliability, storeroom, procurement, or engineering organizations preferred.
• Experience in pulp and paper or another continuous-process manufacturing environment is preferred.
• Demonstrated experience evaluating repair costs, vendor quotations, repair-versus-replace alternatives, or other cost-control opportunities preferred.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Working knowledge of MRO materials, repairable assets, industrial equipment, and vendor repair processes.
• Strong organizational and project-management skills with the ability to independently manage multiple repair cycles, vendors, priorities, and deadlines.
• Ability to analyze repair costs, repair-versus-replace alternatives, inventory information, repair history, and vendor performance and make sound business recommendations.
• Ability to understand technical repair information and effectively coordinate with Maintenance, Engineering, Procurement, and external repair vendors.
• Strong analytical and critical thinking skills with the ability to identify trends, recurring failures, and cost-reduction opportunities.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to clearly communicate repair status, costs, risks, priorities, and recommendations to stakeholders at multiple levels of the organization.
• Strong attention to detail and demonstrated follow-through.
• Ability to prioritize critical work and effectively manage competing demands in a manufacturing environment.
• Ability to work independently with limited day-to-day direction while collaborating effectively across departments.
• Demonstrated ability to build productive relationships with internal customers, suppliers, and external service providers.
• Strong business and cost-management mindset with an understanding of how repair decisions affect equipment reliability, material availability, and overall operating cost.

Computer Skills

• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications, particularly Excel.
• SAP S/4HANA experience preferred.
• Experience with inventory, maintenance, purchasing, or repair-tracking systems preferred.
• Ability to develop and maintain reports, metrics, and analyses related to repair performance and cost.

Work is performed in both office and manufacturing environments and may include exposure to loud, hot, humid, indoor, and outdoor conditions. The position requires regular travel throughout the facility, including the use of stairs, ladders, elevated platforms, and elevators.

Occasional travel to vendor locations may be required.

Equal Opportunity Employer
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