This is a hands-on plant role responsible for Stores, Purchasing, and Materials Planning for a ferro alloys manufacturing unit. The role owns end-to-end materials availability, inventory accuracy, vendor performance, and compliance across the plant supply chain.
Note: Prior experience in a ferro alloys plant is mandatory. Candidates from any other industry will not be considered.
Key Responsibilities
Stores & Inventory Management
- Overall responsibility for receipt, storage, preservation, and issue of all materials including:
manganese ores (by grade), coke, coal, quartz, fluxes, electrodes, refractories, spares, consumables, packing materials, PPE/safety items, and other plant requirements. - Define and monitor minimum/maximum/reorder levels, safety stock, and critical spares policy; ensure zero stock-outs for key items (e.g., electrodes, refractories, furnace spares).
- Ensure correct sampling, weighing, and documentation for raw material receipts, including wet vs dry basis, moisture handling, and dmtu-related adjustments for manganese ore where applicable.
- Coordinate with Quality/Inspection for incoming checks, approvals, and segregation of non-conforming materials.
- Maintain accurate stock records in ERP (SAP preferred / other ERPs); conduct cycle counts, reconciliation, and annual stock-takes with clear variance analysis and closure actions.
- Implement and enforce FIFO/FEFO, proper stacking/yard management, bin locations, safe handling, and housekeeping (5S) standards.
- Control issuance through authorised processes (indent/PR), traceability of spares/consumables, and documentation discipline.
Purchasing & Vendor Management
- Plan and execute purchases for all plant materials based on production plans, consumption trends, lead times, and shutdown schedules.
- Manage RFQ-to-PO cycle: issue RFQs, prepare techno-commercial comparisons (L1/TCO), negotiate, and finalise POs/contracts with clear specifications and delivery terms.
- Develop and maintain approved vendor lists; evaluate and onboard vendors (local and international) for raw materials, consumables, and spares.
- Negotiate price, payment terms, credit, delivery schedules, and service expectations; ensure ethical and transparent procurement practices.
- Coordinate logistics and import-related requirements (as applicable): Incoterms, freight, insurance, customs clearance, documentation, statutory/GST implications, and liaison with CHA/forwarders.
- Track and improve vendor OTIF (On Time In Full) performance; resolve delays, shortages, quality issues, and claims promptly.
Materials Planning & Cross-Functional Coordination
- Work closely with Production, Maintenance, Quality, and Finance to align material planning with furnace schedules, maintenance plans, and monthly production targets.
- Monitor consumption, yields, and losses; flag abnormal variances in raw material usage, spares consumption, and process-related wastage for corrective action.
- Drive cost optimisation opportunities through sourcing strategy, freight optimisation, alternate vendor development, inventory reduction, and process improvements.
- Support shutdown planning (major unloadings/overhauls) by ensuring critical spares and consumables are available as per plan.
Systems, Compliance & Reporting
- Ensure compliance with company policies, statutory norms, and audit requirements for inventory, procurement, and documentation.
- Implement and sustain SOPs for stores and purchasing; ensure safety compliance for material handling and storage.
- Prepare and present daily/weekly/monthly MIS:
- Stock position & critical shortages
- Pending PR/PO status and ageing
- Slow/non-moving inventory and action plan
- Consumption trends and key variances
- Vendor performance dashboards and procurement KPIs
- Support internal/external audits; close observations on time with preventive controls.
Required Experience & Eligibility(Non-Negotiable)
Experience (Mandatory)
- Experience specifically in a ferro alloys plant (SiMn/FeMn/FeSi/FeCr).
- Only ferro alloys industry experience is acceptable. Candidates from other industries (e.g., cement, steel, chemicals, FMCG, power, mining-only roles, etc.) will not be considered for this position.
Education / Background
- Degree/Diploma in Engineering / Materials Management / Commerce / Supply Chain (or equivalent).
- Strong hands-on exposure to stores + purchasing + materials management in a heavy industrial plant environment.
- ERP exposure required; SAP familiarity preferred (MM/Inventory modules or equivalent usage).
Skills & Competencies
- Strong understanding of ferro alloys raw materials, furnace-driven consumption patterns, and plant operations.
- Working knowledge of inventory control, stock audits, valuation/costing concepts, and documentation discipline.
- Basic understanding of imports, Incoterms, freight logistics, customs documentation, and GST implications.
- Strong negotiation skills, vendor relationship management, and issue resolution capability.
- High attention to detail, integrity, and ability to perform under pressure in a 247 plant environment.
- Good communication in English and [local language]; ability to coordinate across functions and with external partners.
Work Conditions
- Plant-site role in an industrial environment; requires regular yard/stores/furnace-area coordination.
- Work schedule: 6-day week; need-based presence during shutdowns, major unloadings, urgent breakdowns, and critical receipts.
