Material Planning Analyst

**Career Area**:
Supply Chain and Logistics

**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.

**Degree Requirement**

A degree or equivalent experience is preferred.

**Responsibilities**
- Coordinating flow of materials within the manufacturing facility. Coordinating transfer of materials (premium freight) to and from inventory or warehouse.
- Developing and executing material planning for a product line. Ensuring that all material requirements for assigned programs are satisfied within the allocated time frame.
- Scheduling and controlling the release of materials. Monitoring material inventory in the plant, in the warehouse, and by critical suppliers.
- Building up and following up procurement plan realization to ensure they align with business objectives.
- Tracking and analyzing supplier performance metrics. Collaborating and negotiating with supplier to deliver materials per requirements.

**Skill Descriptors**
Level Working Knowledge:

- Obtains information about product and service linkages with other products and services elsewhere in organization.
- Researches the target market and how the product and services are sold and delivered.
- Explains current status, delivery alternatives and announced updates to products and services.
- Summarizes key features of major products or services in own unit.
- Assesses own unit's product alternatives, costs, and pricing.

Level Working Knowledge:

- Identifies and documents specific problems and resolution alternatives.
- Examines a specific problem and understands the perspective of each involved stakeholder.
- Develops 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.

Level Working Knowledge:

- Works with real-time inventory software, moving supplies to where needed, when needed.
- Interprets the impact of bottlenecks and delays on operating costs.
- Follows processes and applies technologies for items and inventory management.
- Assists in solving issues related to distribution to meet orders or inventory replenishment requirements.
- Works with basic distribution requirements planning (DRP) processes and operations.

**Forecasting**: Knowledge of forecasting tools, approaches and practices; ability to determine product demand and estimate production requirements and loads.
Level Working Knowledge:

- Participates in preparation of short-term forecasts for a specific product or site.
- Gathers and analyzes demand data with specific tools and procedures.
- Locates useful information and sources of input used in weekly, monthly and quarterly forecasts.
- Researches seasonal trends for a major product or product line.
- Explains common types of business conditions and activities that impact demand.

**Inventory Management - MFG**: Knowledge of processes and methods of inventory management; ability to effectively manage local or distributed inventories of raw materials, work-in-progress and finished goods.
Level Extensive Experience:

- Ensures that the inventory is at an appropriate level and meets both internal and external requirements.
- Devises standard inventory management benchmarks to improve the processes.
- Provides guidance on inventory management for a specific product group or location.
- Applies systems and processes to identify and coordinate inventory requirements; resolves conflicts.
- Coordinates daily work of inventory management for different locations within a facility or a supply network.
- Reviews reports used for inventory management to find out related problems.

**Logistics Management**: Knowledge of logistics and management; ability to follow proper processes and run operations for effective and efficient movement of materials and finished products.
Level Working Knowledge:

- Assists in the development of process flows to track lead time by activity.
- Uses tools, with guidance, to forecast delivery times, determine costs and assess performance.
- Maintains records of all shipments and invoices using an established system.
- Participates in integrating logistics processes and developing effective networks.
- Works with logistics in a domestic environment.

**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.