Materials Manager

Summary Description

Cathcart Rail, headquartered in Columbus, Ohio, is a leading freight rail services and transportation company. We employ nearly 1,000 employees in more than 100 locations in 33 states and operate the largest railcar services network in the industry, encompassing 18 large railcar repair facilities and more than 75 field services locations in addition to a rail services division that operates three short line railroads and a dozen contract switching and transloading sites.

This Position shall provide support to the Plant Manager through the maintenance of the facility's plant-wide inventory and tracking system. This Position oversees the safe and organized handling of parts and components and is responsible for ensuring the accuracy and integrity of the facility inventory, inventory systems, and processes. The duties and responsibilities include working with the Corporate Procurement Department to meet needs, supervising the Plant Materials Department staff, working with Production Management and Inspectors, and assisting in the daily operation of the facility, as requested by the Plant Manager.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Supervise Plant Materials Department staff and provide training, performance appraisals, and coaching as needed
• Ensure Plant Materials Department staff is receiving, managing, and transacting materials, both physically and systemically in accordance with Company Policies and Procedures
• Provide daily material status updates to Production Management
• Assure controlled access to materials is maintained
• Perform daily facility/warehouse walk-throughs to ensure materials are correctly stored and labeled and to review housekeeping
• Work closely with Plant Material Handlers and Production Managers at the facility to keep abreast of issues that may occur and assist in their resolution with respect to parts and inventory
• Develop and manage vendor relationships to support strategic and budgeted purchasing and material control goals and ensure vendor compliance with Company Policies
• Supervise and coordinate rollouts and ongoing implementation of Company Policies, Procedures, and Programs for inventory control, procurement, data management, and reporting
• Monitor material pricing, inventory quantity, and transactions for errors and take corrective action as issues are identified
• Continually seek ways to lower costs while maintaining Company quality standards
• Timely order of materials and services in accordance with Company Policies and Procedures
• Obtain quotations for new and existing parts and services, as required
• Timely follow-up on open purchase orders; including backorders
• Coordinate and conduct facility physical inventory and cycle counts with the Plant Materials Department staff
• Understand and monitor inventory accuracy measurements and take corrective action as issues are identified
• Manage aging inventory and prepare inventory analysis reporting for the Plant Manager and others, as required
• Obtain and maintain part numbers and perform system data entry
• Monitor vendor performance and timely address problem areas
• Confer with vendors and Accounts Payable personnel to resolve materials and vendor invoicing issues; such as damages, quality issues, and incorrect pricing, parts, and quantity
• Maintain working knowledge of purchasing and inventory systems
• Other duties, responsibilities, and projects as requested or required by the Plant Manager

Qualifications

• High school diploma and 3 to 5 years experience in a manufacturing environment
• Minimum 2 years materials/inventory experience
• Minimum 1-year purchasing experience
• Prior supervisory or management experience required
• Ability to present facts and recommendations in oral and written form
• Knowledge of purchasing and inventory control
• Proficient in personnel computer software applications, including Word, Excel, Outlook
• Knowledge of and skill in using office equipment including copiers, telephones, fax machines, calculators, and filing systems
• Ability to operate equipment used in handling materials
• Ability to organize and prioritize tasks to ensure timely completion
• Ability to make independent judgments within scope of responsibility