Materials Manager
Thyssenkrupp · Hamilton
thyssenkrupp Bilstein of America, Inc. is a world class manufacturer of suspension solutions headquartered in Hamilton, Ohio USA. thyssenkrupp Bilstein of America supplies products to a wide range of Original Equipment Automotive Manufacturers as well as Aftermarket and Motorsports customers. Our Aftermarket operations are based out of Poway, CA and our Motorsports operations are based out of Mooresville, NC.
For decades, the name BILSTEIN has been synonymous with high tech in suspension design, driving comfort, and safety. In order to expand this position BILSTEIN became a division of thyssenkrupp Technologies AG in 1988, and a wholly owned subsidiary in 2005. This partnership has enabled us to continue the BILSTEIN tradition of excellence.
Summary:
The Materials Manager is responsible for leading all aspects of customer demand management, material planning, and production scheduling to ensure uninterrupted operations and exceptional customer service. This role oversees Customer Demand Analysts, Material Planners, and Production Schedulers while coordinating closely with Sales, Purchasing, Manufacturing, Logistics, and Suppliers. The Materials Manager ensures material availability, manages production capacity, maintains appropriate inventory levels, drives supplier performance, and implements continuous improvement initiatives to support customer delivery requirements and business objectives.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
- Provide leadership and strategic direction for Customer Demand Management, Production Scheduling, and Material Planning functions through a team of managers.
- Lead, develop, and hold accountable managers responsible for customer demand planning, production scheduling, and material planning to achieve business objectives and deliver exceptional customer service.
- Ensure planning processes, systems, and controls effectively support customer demand, production requirements, inventory objectives, and operational performance.
- Provide oversight of customer demand planning activities to ensure customer forecasts, schedules, and requirements are accurately translated into production and material plans.
- Direct the development and execution of production scheduling strategies that balance customer demand, manufacturing capacity, inventory levels, labor availability, and operational efficiency.
- Provide leadership and oversight of material planning activities to ensure uninterrupted material availability while optimizing inventory investment and minimizing supply chain risk.
- Establish performance expectations and key performance indicators for planning functions and monitor organizational performance to ensure customer delivery, inventory, and operational objectives are achieved.
- Review customer scorecards, planning metrics, and operational performance trends; direct corrective actions and continuous improvement initiatives to improve customer satisfaction and business performance.
- Lead the organization's response to significant changes in customer demand, capacity constraints, supplier performance issues, and material shortages by partnering with cross-functional leaders to develop and execute mitigation strategies.
- Serve as the executive escalation point for customer demand, production planning, scheduling, inventory, and material planning issues, ensuring timely resolution of critical business risks.
- Partner with Sales, Operations, Manufacturing, Engineering, Purchasing, Logistics, and Supply Chain leadership to align planning strategies with customer requirements and business priorities.
- Ensure compliance with customer-specific requirements, scheduling agreements, delivery expectations, and internal planning processes.
- Drive continuous improvement initiatives focused on planning accuracy, schedule attainment, inventory optimization, supplier performance, customer satisfaction, and operational excellence.
- Establish a culture of accountability, collaboration, safety, and continuous improvement while developing organizational capability through coaching, mentoring, succession planning, and talent development.
- Support business objectives by identifying opportunities to improve planning processes, reduce costs, mitigate risk, and enhance overall supply chain performance.
- Ensure compliance with all company safety, environmental, quality, and regulatory requirements while promoting a safe and healthy work environment.
Qualifications & Experience:
- Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Business, Engineering, Operations Management, or a related field; or an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.
- Extensive experience in supply chain planning, demand planning, production scheduling, materials management, or manufacturing operations within a manufacturing environment.
- Proven experience leading multiple planning functions and developing high-performing teams, including experience leading through managers or supervisors.
- Demonstrated success balancing customer demand, production capacity, inventory, and material availability to achieve operational and customer service objectives.
- Strong understanding of demand planning, production scheduling, inventory management, material planning, capacity planning, and end-to-end supply chain processes.
- Proven ability to establish priorities, drive accountability, and achieve results in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.
- Experience leading cross-functional collaboration across Operations, Manufacturing, Engineering, Purchasing, Logistics, Sales, and Customer Service.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to interpret data, identify trends, assess risk, and implement effective solutions.
- Experience utilizing ERP/MRP systems and planning tools to support supply chain operations; SAP experience preferred.
- Demonstrated ability to coach, mentor, and develop leaders while fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
- Experience leading process improvement initiatives focused on customer service, inventory optimization, operational efficiency, and supply chain performance.
- Automotive manufacturing experience and familiarity with OEM customer requirements, EDI systems, and customer scheduling processes preferred.
The [above] is intended to describe the general content of and requirements for the performance of this job. It is not to be construed as an exhaustive statement of duties, responsibilities, or requirements. To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Bilstein has great benefits to offer!
- A state-of-the-art OE manufacturing plant with a strong focus on safety and cleanliness.
- Multiple competitive Health, Dental & Vision Coverage options.
- 401K matching program.
- Paid time off + 13 paid holidays.
- Paid volunteer hours.
- Tuition reimbursement program.
- Gym reimbursement.
- Company-paid short-term disability and life insurance.
- Internal growth opportunities.
- Employee Assistance Program (EAP).
- Discounted BILSTEIN products.