This role coordinates and oversees key workload activities to ensure materials are available when needed. Responsibilities include tracking orders, expediting shipments, managing stock issues, resolving record discrepancies, making decisions on sourcing changes, and providing training and support for Material Availability Analysts toward departmental objectives.
JOB DUTIES:
Acting as a lead within a team-based "cell" setup, this position organizes the workload of Material Availability Analysts and tackles special projects related to order processing, inventory systems implementation or updates, and expediting policies.
Review team workloads to determine if assignments need adjusting or redistributing to resolve challenges or meet urgent requirements. Apply knowledge of supplier capabilities, system needs, and company procedures to recommend improvements that help complete tasks promptly and eliminate delays. Serve as the central contact for sourcing, records accuracy, systems support, and material availability within the cell.
Special projects may include evaluating supplier delivery performance, overdue schedules, and service loss metrics to suggest corrective actions; reviewing backorder and stock service levels to find and address root causes; and analyzing transportation costs and premium shipping to develop strategies for cost savings without sacrificing timely material delivery.
Participate in Lean initiatives as the green belt representative for Parts Availability, contributing ideas, gathering customer feedback, and sharing expertise on how various projects impact Materials Availability.
Analyze data such as supplier reports and internal investigations to deliver appropriate training to Material Analysts and suppliers in person or through conference calls.
Work closely with Material Availability Analysts to ensure the cell model is running smoothly and explore ways to enhance system efficiency. Provide guidance to maintain quality standards and meet delivery deadlines, presenting recommendations for change to supervisors.
As the department s acknowledged expert, this position regularly offers technical advice on complex matters to both internal and external customers.
Internal contacts may span Caterpillar s global operations and subsidiaries, while external interactions include worldwide customers and vendors. The job requires quick identification and resolution of less obvious problems, using judgment within policy guidelines to select the best solution from multiple options. The role influences critical quality objectives, such as Customer Satisfaction, Continuous Improvement, Timeliness, Accuracy, Efficiency, Cost Savings, and Process Quality, and helps develop new quality improvement initiatives.
Required Qualifications:
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Bachelor s degree in engineering, science, or commerce, with 3-4 years of experience
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Knowledge of Availability & Inventory Management, Purchasing, Transportation & Engineering or Customer Services, Storeroom and/or Manufacturing
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Excellent verbal and written communication skills
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Strong teamwork, analytical, problem-solving, and communication abilities
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Advanced MS Office skills and strong presentation skills
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Willingness to work AP/US/Europe shifts
What You Have:
Business Acumen: Knowledge of business concepts, tools, and processes that are needed for making sound decisions in the context of the companys business; ability to apply this knowledge appropriately to diverse situations.
Level Working Knowledge:
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Comments on the organizations business model and financial goals.
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Communicates key considerations for business decision making process.
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Cites examples of types of information needed to make sound business decisions.
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Participates in business task to get things done in own unit or area.
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Caters to key stakeholders and their priorities.
Standard Operating Procedures: Knowledge of established standard operating procedures (SOP); ability to design, implement and evaluate standard operating procedures affecting daily and strategic business operations in order to increase operational efficiency.
Level Basic Understanding:
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Compiles current research relevant to standard operating procedures.
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Explains usage of standard operating procedures in business operations.
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Describes main issues and considerations when using standard operating procedures.
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Identifies key features and functions of standard operating procedures.
Effective Communications: Understanding of effective communication concepts, tools, and techniques; ability to effectively transmit, receive, and accurately interpret ideas, information, and needs through the application of appropriate communication behaviors.
Level Extensive Experience:
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Demonstrates both empathy and assertiveness when communicating a need or defending a position.
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Communicates well downward, upward, and outward.
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Employs appropriate methods of persuasion when soliciting agreement.
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Maintains focus on the topic at hand.
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 Extensive Experience:
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Ensures capture of lessons to be learned from a problem-solving effort.
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Organizes potential problem solvers and leads problem resolution efforts.
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Uses varying problem-solving approaches and techniques as appropriate.
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Contributes to standard practices for problem-solving approaches, tools, and processes.
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Analyzes and synthesizes information and devises alternative resolution strategies.
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Develops successful resolutions to critical or wide-impact problems.
