Supply Chain Planning Analyst (Early Talent) 2 Openings

Caterpillar Inc.; Lafayette (IN); On-site; USD 81,000 - 122,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical benefits

Dental benefits

Vision benefits

401(k) savings plan

HSA

Paid time off

Job summary

Caterpillar Inc. is seeking an entry-level Supply Chain Analyst to support inventory optimization, cost and price analyses, and purchase order generation.

You will partner with cross-functional teams to drive process improvements and align activities with business goals across the Large Power Systems Division. Ideal candidates have a 4-year degree and are prepared to develop in a fast-paced environment, contributing to improved inventory turns and on-time delivery.

Qualifications

• Strong interpersonal and communication skills.
• Analytical and problem-solving abilities.
• Background in Supply Chain, Manufacturing/Operations, or Logistics is highly desired.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to align supply chain activities with business objectives and customer requirements.
• Lead inventory and warehouse optimization initiatives.
• Support development and execution of supply chain strategies to improve performance and service levels.
• Identify opportunities to improve capacity, inventory health, and efficiency across facilities.
• Assist with lead time alignment and replenishment strategies in line with Lean initiatives.
• Analyze inventory trends and coordinate with LPAs and suppliers to reduce excess material.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Analytical skills

Problem solving

Communication

Supply Chain background

Education

Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain

Job description

Job Description

Your Work Shapes the World at Caterpillar Inc.

When you join Caterpillar, you're joining a global team who cares not just about the work we do – but also about each other. We are the makers, problem solvers, and future world builders who are creating stronger, more sustainable communities. We don't just talk about progress and innovation here – we make it happen, with our customers, where we work and live. Together, we are building a better world, so we can all enjoy living in it.

Career Area

Supply Chain and Logistics

Job Description

When you join Caterpillar, you're joining a global team who cares not just about the work we do – but also about each other. We are the makers, problem solvers, and future world builders who are creating stronger, more sustainable communities. We don't just talk about progress and innovation here – we make it happen, with our customers, where we work and live. Together, we are building a better world, so we can all enjoy living in it.

About LPSD

The Large Power Systems Division (LPSD) is part of Caterpillar’s Power & Energy segment. Through this global organization, Caterpillar designs and manufactures large (greater than 18 liters) diesel and natural gas engines, powertrains and key engine systems. LPSD products and solutions support customers across power generation, industrial, marine, oil & gas, rail, services and Cat machine applications worldwide. LPSD teams work across regions and functions to deliver safe, reliable and compliant solutions that help solve our customers’ toughest challenges.

Job Summary

The Supply Chain Analyst is an entry-level role responsible for supporting supply chain, sourcing, cost, price analyses, contract/purchase order generation, along with supporting facility performance targets related to inventory optimization, inventory turns, warehouse capacity utilization, and order-to-delivery performance. This position develops foundational supply chain, inventory management, and data analysis skills while partnering with cross-functional teams to identify and implement process improvements. Analysts support inventory reduction initiatives, replenishment strategies, material flow optimization, and lead time alignment efforts that drive operational efficiency. The role provides exposure to surplus and obsolete inventory management, inventory disposition strategies, and material replenishment collaboration processes. This position serves as a development pipeline for future MRC Coordinator and RSSM Coordinator roles, with opportunities to progress into these positions within 1-3 years.

What You Will Do

• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure alignment of supply chain activities with business objectives and customer requirements.
• Support the development and execution of supply chain strategies that improve operational performance, service levels, and overall business outcomes.
• Lead inventory and warehouse optimization initiatives in support of strategic business objectives, identifying opportunities to improve capacity, inventory health, and facility performance.
• Identifying and recommending improvement solutions for the supply-chain process.
• Supports lead time rationalization projects focused on alignment of system parameters to supplier lead time and demand requirements.
• Lead teams tasked with designing and implementing pull replenishment strategies in support of Lean initiatives.
• Analyze inventory trends and collaborate with Logistics Planning Analysts (LPAs) and suppliers to reduce excess material, improve inventory health, and support warehouse space optimization.
• Support inventory optimization efforts through the identification and disposition of excess and obsolete material while collaborating with stakeholders to prevent future inventory accumulation.

Degree Requirement

• Must have graduated from an accredited university with a 4 year degree or higher within the last TWO years or with a Future graduation date by May 2027.

What You Will Have

Decision Making and Critical Thinking: Knowledge of the decision-making process and associated tools and techniques; ability to accurately analyze situations and reach productive decisions based on informed judgment.

Level Basic Understanding

• Explains characteristics and steps in an effective decision-making process.
• Identifies issues and communicates with others when a decision needs to be made.
• Names decision makers in own environment and cites examples of past decisions.
• Describes types of decisions incumbent may and may not make in own job or function.

Manufacturing Requirements Planning (MRP): Knowledge of the processes, practices and systems used in manufacturing requirements planning (MRP); ability to optimize planning for manufacturing cycles and ensure capacity and materials availability.

Level Basic Understanding

• Describes basic concepts of materials and capacity management processes and procedures.
• Describes product life cycle and associated MRP cycle.
• Identifies parameters and considerations used in making decisions about production runs.
• Describes the use of bills of materials and other documentation needed to provide supplies.

Problem Solving: Knowledge of approaches, tools, techniques for recognizing, anticipating, and resolving organizational, operational or process problems; ability to apply knowledge of problem solving appropriately to diverse situations.

Level Working Knowledge

• Identifies and documents specific problems and resolution alternatives
• Examine a specific problem and understands the perspective of each involved stakeholder.
• Develop alternative techniques for assessing accuracy and relevance of information.
• Helps to analyze risks and benefits of alternative approaches and obtain decision on resolution.
• Uses fact-finding techniques and diagnostic tools to identify problems.

Process Improvement: Understanding and insight into evaluating current product quality and production methods and ability to maintains focus on the continuous improvement of processes, products and services.

Level Basic Understanding

• Identifies the main processes for which the group is responsible
• Demonstrates the ability to improve on ways of doing things.
• Applies the concept of continuous improvement to identify opportunities for greater efficiency.
• Seeking help to implement ideas for process improvement for the group.

Top Candidates will have

• Strong interpersonal and communication skills
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
• A background in Supply Chain, Manufacturing / Operations, Manufacturing Engineering, Inventory Management, Material Requirements Planning, Demand Management and/or Logistics is highly desired.
• Bachelor's degree related to Supply Chain, Industrial Engineering, or related degree with a graduation date of May 2027 or graduated in last two years.

Summary Pay Range

$81,370.00 - $122,060.00

Compensation and benefits offered may vary depending on multiple individualized factors, job level, market location, job-related knowledge, skills, individual performance and experience. Please note that salary is only one component of total compensation at Caterpillar.

Benefits

Subject to plan eligibility, terms, and guidelines. This is a summary list of benefits.

• Medical, dental, and vision benefits*
• Paid time off plan (Vacation, Holidays, Volunteer, etc.)*
• 401(k) savings plans*
• Health Savings Account (HSA)*
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs)*
• Health Lifestyle Programs*
• Employee Assistance Program*
• Voluntary Benefits and Employee Discounts*
• Career Development*
• Incentive bonus*
• Disability benefits
• Life Insurance
• Parental leave
• Adoption benefits
• Tuition Reimbursement
• These benefits also apply to part-time employees

This position requires working onsite five days a week.

Relocation is available for this position.

Visa Sponsorship is not available for this position.

Posting Dates

August 24, 2026 - October 29, 2026

Any offer of employment is conditioned upon the successful completion of a drug screen.

Caterpillar is an Equal Opportunity Employer, Including Veterans and Individuals with Disabilities.

Qualified applicants of any age are encouraged to apply.