Sr. Executive PC&L- Central Material Planner

Job Title:Sr. Executive PC&L-Central Material PlannerLocation:Pune, India Department:Production Control & Logistics (PC&L) Reports To:Team Lead PC&L- Central Material Planner BGEUJob Purpose: The Material Planner ensures timely material availability through demand analysis, inventory, transport and system management, and cross-team coordination to continuously optimize resources and performance.Key Responsibilities: • Ensure Timely Availability of Materials: Plan and coordinate the supply of raw materials and purchased components to support uninterrupted production operations. • Analyze Demand and Forecast Requirements: Use customer schedules, historical data, ERP systems, and planning tools to anticipate material needs and align supply with production demand. • Manage Inventory Levels, Transportation and Boards: Balance inventory targets and cost efficiency by optimizing stock levels and coordinating inbound logistics to meet delivery timelines. Keep the Shipping and Receiving board current with shipment requirements and on-time execution performance tracking to support visibility and high delivery performance. • Coordinate with Suppliers: Communicate regularly with suppliers to confirm orders, track shipments, resolve issues, and ensure on-time delivery of materials. • Maintain Accurate ERP and MRP Data: Ensure timely and accurate updates in ERP systems and planning tools to reflect material status, order changes, and inventory movements. • Mitigate Supply Risks and Prevent Shortages: Identify potential supply chain disruptions and implement proactive measures to avoid material shortages or production delays. • Support Compliance and Customer Requirements: Ensure planning activities align with internal policies, industry standards, and customer-specific logistics and delivery expectations. • Drive Continuous Improvement Initiatives: Participate in efforts to reduce inventory and transportation costs, improve planning accuracy, and enhance overall supply chain performance.Core Experience: Mandatory: • Automotive manufacturing experience, ideally in a Tier 1 supplier environment • Material planning and control in a high-volume production setting • Inventory management and replenishment strategies • Demand analysis and forecast alignment using customer schedules and historical data • Supplier coordination for order confirmation, shipment tracking, and issue resolution • Inbound logistics and transportation planning • Receiving board management for visibility and performance tracking • Compliance with customer-specific logistics and delivery requirements • Lean manufacturing and continuous improvement initiatives Optional but Valuable: • Experience with Just-In-Time (JIT) and Just-In-Sequence (JIS) logistics • Exposure to E-Kanban, RFID, or digital replenishment systems • Familiarity with web-portals and EDI systems • Experience with Product Lifecycle Management (e.g., Engineering changes, product launch, ramp-ups, aftermarket, or End of Business) • Experience with global sourcing or import/export logistics • Participation in cost reduction and inventory optimization initiativesFunctional Competencies: Mandatory: • Language: English (proficient); Local Language (proficient) • SAP ERP system usage, especially in MM (Materials Management), PP (Production Planning) and WM (Warehouse Management) • Advanced Excel (pivot tables, VLOOKUP, conditional formatting) • MRP execution and exception message handling • Inventory analysis and optimization • Material availability checks and shortage resolution • Basic statistical analysis for demand variability and safety stock calculation • Problem-solving tools (e.g., 5 Whys, Fishbone, PDCA) • Understanding of IATF 16949 and ISO 9001 standards Optional but Valuable: • MES system familiarity • Power BI or Tableau for visualizing material flow and inventory KPIs • Project management • Lean Six Sigma tools applied to material flow and planning • Foreign language proficiency for supplier communication and global coordination Education & Experience: • Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Supply Chain, or related field (Master’s degree preferred) • 4–6 years of relevant experience in Material Planning within automotive manufacturingBehavioral Competencies: • Strong analytical and problem-solving skills • Effective communication and cross-functional collaboration • Results orientation and accountability • Agility in managing dynamic supply and demand conditions • Proficiency in ERP systems and planning tools