Supply Chain Planning Engineer

Job Description:

Your Work Shapes the World at Caterpillar Inc.

When you join Caterpillar, you're joining a global team who cares not just about the work we do – but also about each other. We are the makers, problem solvers, and future world builders who are creating stronger, more sustainable communities. We don't just talk about progress and innovation here – we make it happen, with our customers, where we work and live. Together, we are building a better world, so we can all enjoy living in it.

Role Definition
Performs analysis to identify and develop business improvement opportunities with increasing scope and complexity to evaluate return on investment (ROI) of the opportunity.

Responsibilities
• Identifying, defining, leading implementation of integrated supply chain solutions and performance improvements, including building internal and external alliances to explore opportunities.
• Establishing and strengthening effective linkages, partnerships, and best practices with business partners and internal functions.
• Investigating and incorporating industry benchmarks, metrics and best practices to develop optimal supply chains for suppliers and/or product sets.
• Leads the development and analyzes data and information to identify and prioritize opportunities for improving performance and creating more cost-effective supply chains, inventory utilization, and business partnerships.

Degree Requirement
Degree or equivalent experience desired

Skill Descriptors
Business Process Improvement: Knowledge of business process improvement best practices and ability to use methods for identifying, evaluating, introducing and implementing more efficient approaches to performing business related activities.
Level Extensive Experience:
• Analyzes business processes, identifies alternative solutions to outdated processes and assesses their feasibility.
• Evaluates financial, cultural, technological and other factors that need to be addressed.
• Recommends new approaches that seek the use of advanced technology.
• Establishes requirements for large changes in the overall mission, roles, responsibilities and processes necessary to make business improvements.
• Participates in defining organizational strategic goals and purposes; defines how to gather and keep customers.
• Works to overcome BPI resistance from managers, the labor force and other groups.

Analytical Thinking: Knowledge of techniques and tools that promote effective analysis; ability to determine the root cause of organizational problems and create alternative solutions that resolve these problems.
Level Extensive Experience:
• Seeks discrepancies and inconsistencies in available information; explains variances.
• Organizes and prioritizes the sequence of steps to be taken to remedy the situation.
• Identifies many possible causes for a problem based on prior experience and current research.
• Quantifies the costs, benefits, risks and chances for success before recommending a course of action.
• Approaches a complex problem by breaking it down into its component parts.
• Chooses among a diverse set of analytical tools according to the nature of the situation.

Decision Making and Critical Thinking: Knowledge of the decision-making process and associated tools and techniques; ability to accurately analyze situations and reach productive decisions based on informed judgment.
Level Extensive Experience:
• Differentiates assumptions, perspectives, and historical frameworks.
• Evaluates past decisions for insights to improve decision-making process.
• Assesses and validates decision options and points and predicts their potential impact.
• Advises others in analyzing and synthesizing relevant data and assessing alternatives.
• Uses effective decision-making approaches such as consultative, command, or consensus.
• Ensures that assumptions and received wisdom are objectively analyzed in decisions.

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:
• Ensures capture of lessons to be learned from a problem-solving effort.
• Organizes potential problem solvers and leads problem resolution efforts.
• Uses varying problem-solving approaches and techniques as appropriate.
• Contributes to standard practices for problem-solving approaches, tools, and processes.
• Analyzes and synthesizes information and devises alternative resolution strategies.
• Develops successful resolutions to critical or wide-impact problems.

Project Management: Knowledge of effective project management strategies and tactics; ability to plan, organize, monitor, and control projects, ensuring efficient utilization of technical and administrative resources to achieve project objectives.
Level Extensive Experience:
• Utilizes preferred tools, techniques and methods for estimating project cost and time.
• Plans, estimates, staffs, organizes and monitors significant projects.
• Identifies risks and vulnerabilities; creates contingency plans.
• Conducts regular and ad-hoc project reviews with project team, sponsors, and clients.
• Maintains open communication among project participants and interested parties.
• Communicates reporting requirements; creates monitoring and control mechanisms.

Logistics Management: Knowledge of logistics and management; ability to follow proper processes and run operations for effective and efficient movement of materials and finished products.
Level Extensive Experience:
• Manages logistics processes through process improvement, prioritization, and project planning.
• Implements and maintains monitoring systems to provide information on shipment status, shipped date, in transit location, estimated arrival date, and actual delivery date.
• Develops and analyzes logistics plans that affect production, distribution, and inventory.
• Works with historical, legislative and practical issues associated with domestic freight.
• Participates in contract negotiations and interfaces with selected carriers necessary to maintain expected levels of service.
• Consults on all major logistics processes, their interactions and operational requirements.

Procurement: Knowledge of buying and procurement; ability to work with organizational strategies and practices, and use tools for buying goods, supplies, equipment and services needed to conduct business.
Level Extensive Experience:
• Monitors effectiveness of procurement policies in high-cost or critical path purchases.
• Selects appropriate qualified suppliers and negotiates related contracts.
• Compares and contrasts alternative sourcing strategies (sole sourcing, reverse auctions, etc.).
• Develops alternative sources of supply for the manufacturing organization.
• Assists in creating contingency plans for and with critical suppliers.
• Coordinates the procurement of a variety of products, materials and services.

Supply Chain Management - MFG: Knowledge of functions, principles and techniques used in supply chain management; ability to develop and use, strategies, practices and tools for controlling the logistical processes.
Level Extensive Experience:
• Manages supply chain finance activities and measurements of effectiveness.
• Advises others on capacity issues at various points in the supply chain.
• Monitors the complete supply chain management process.
• Consults on supply chain network design projects or processes.
• Quantifies and evaluates benefits and risks of various supply chain strategies and approaches.
• Participates in joint planning, process design/redesign with clients and partners.

Posting Dates:

Caterpillar is an Equal Opportunity Employer (EEO).