Job Description

As an Inventory/Material Management Consultant, you will analyze, design, and implement efficient inventory management strategies to ensure proper stock levels, reduce waste, and maintain operational continuity. You will work with SGS Maine Pointe clients to streamline material flow, improve forecasting accuracy, and enhance overall supply chain visibility. This role requires a strong understanding of materials management principles, data analysis, and inventory control technologies.

Responsibilities:

Inventory Analysis & Optimization:

• Analyze current inventory management systems and procedures to identify inefficiencies.
• Develop strategies to optimize stock levels, ensuring a balance between meeting demand and minimizing excess inventory.
• Implement inventory forecasting methods to improve replenishment accuracy and reduce stockouts and overstocking.

Material Flow & Storage:

• Design efficient material flow processes, ensuring the timely movement of goods from suppliers to production or distribution centers.
• Advise on proper storage methods, warehouse layout, and material handling procedures to minimize waste, damage, and retrieval times.
• Collaborate with warehouse managers to optimize space utilization and improve material tracking.

Demand Forecasting & Planning:

• Work with sales and operations teams to forecast material demand based on historical data, market trends, and production schedules.
• Implement advanced forecasting tools and software to enhance accuracy in material planning.
• Provide recommendations for adjusting order quantities, safety stock, and reorder points based on demand variability.

Inventory Control Systems:

• Recommend and implement inventory management software (e.g., ERP or warehouse management systems) to improve visibility and control over stock levels.
• Ensure accurate and real-time inventory data by designing effective inventory tracking and reporting systems.
• Provide training to employees on inventory management tools and best practices.

Supplier and Vendor Management:

• Collaborate with procurement teams to ensure timely delivery of materials, aligning supplier performance with inventory needs.
• Evaluate supplier lead times, order accuracy, and reliability to ensure uninterrupted material flow.
• Establish metrics for supplier performance and work on improving relationships with key suppliers.

Cost Reduction & Efficiency:

• Identify opportunities to reduce material holding costs, including storage, handling, and transportation expenses.
• Implement strategies to improve turnover ratios, reducing capital tied up in excess inventory.
• Recommend initiatives such as vendor-managed inventory (VMI), consignment stock, and just-in-time (JIT) inventory to enhance efficiency.

Compliance & Risk Management:

• Ensure inventory management practices comply with industry standards, safety regulations, and quality requirements.
• Develop contingency plans for potential material shortages, supply chain disruptions, or demand spikes.
• Implement risk management strategies to address challenges such as obsolescence, perishability, or seasonality.

Performance Monitoring & Reporting:

• Establish key performance indicators (KPIs) for inventory management, such as inventory turnover, order fulfillment rates, and stock accuracy.
• Provide regular reporting and insights to senior management on inventory performance, stock levels, and areas for improvement.
• Recommend corrective actions to address inventory issues such as excess stock, stockouts, or slow-moving inventory.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in management, supply chain, engineering, operations management, business or relevant field. Advanced degree preferred.
• 5+ years of experience in inventory management, material management, or supply chain consulting.
• Proven experience with inventory control systems and methodologies such as just-in-time (JIT), lean inventory management, and demand forecasting.
• Ability to develop, sustain and proactively manage value-added customer relationships
• Capability to thrive in a fast-paced environment
• Problem-solving mindset with a proactive approach to process improvement.
• Demonstrated ability to adapt quickly to changing clients and multi-task multiple assignments on one engagement
• Demonstrated negotiation, change- management and influence skills
• Proven initiative, drive and focus on details
• Strong proficiency with Microsoft Office, particularly Excel, Word and PowerPoint
• Outstanding written and oral communication, facilitation, and presentation skills.
• Proven ability to communicate positively, directly and with impact to all levels.
• Detailed oriented problem solver with a proven ability to recognize a problem and implement corrective action when needed.
• Willingness to travel within the US and Canada, extensively and up to 100%.

Additional Information

_SGS is an Equal Opportunity Employer, and as such we recruit, hire, train, and promote persons in all job classifications without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, age, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetics, status as a protected veteran, or any other characteristics protected by law.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily with or without reasonable accommodations. The requirements listed above are representative of the knowledge, skills, and/or abilities required.

This job description should not be construed as an exhaustive statement of duties, responsibilities or requirements, but a general description of the job. Nothing contained herein restricts the company’s rights to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time.

If you are applying for a position within the United States and you have difficulty completing the on-line employment application because of a disability, please call 201-508-3149 for assistance and leave a message. You will receive a callback. Please note, this phone number is not for general employment information but is only for individuals who are experiencing difficulty applying for a position due to a disability._

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