Materials Manager

Job Description

Job Description

Position: Materials (Supply Chain) Manager

Reports To: General Manager

Direct Reports: Buyer(s), Scheduler & Expeditor, and Customer Service

Main Location: Trimaster, Guelph, Ontario

Salary Range: $110K to $130K

Summary

The Supply Chain (Materials) Manager is responsible for leading the end-to-end supply chain function for Trimaster Manufacturing, including customer order management, demand planning, production scheduling, material planning, procurement, inventory management, customer service, and supplier performance.

This position ensures the organization has the right materials, in the right quantities, at the right time to meet customer commitments while optimizing inventory investment, working capital, and operational efficiency.

The Supply Chain Manager owns the integrity and execution of the planning systems within the ERP (Microsoft Business Central), including MRP, Production Scheduling (MPS), Rough Cut Capacity Planning (RCCP), and planning master data. Working closely with Production, Engineering, Quality, Sales, and Finance, the Supply Chain Manager develops strategies that improve customer service, supplier performance, inventory management, and overall operational excellence.

Responsibilities

Leadership

• Build a culture of accountability, teamwork, and continuous improvement within the Materials team.
• Hire, train, coach, and mentor team members to support department effectiveness and professional growth.
• Develop and execute the overall supply chain strategy for Trimaster Manufacturing.
• Establish supply chain objectives, processes, and performance metrics aligned with company goals.
• Lead continuous improvement initiatives focused on improving delivery performance, inventory management, supplier performance, and operational efficiency.

Demand Planning, MRP, & MPS

• Own the execution, accuracy, and effectiveness of the Master Production Schedule (MPS) and Material Requirements Planning (MRP) processes within Microsoft Business Central.
• Execute the automated MPS/MRP planning functions within Business Central to translate customer demand into planned production orders, purchase orders, and transfer orders.
• Maintain the MxAPS Production Schedule to align production requirements with customer demand, available capacity, inventory strategy, and delivery commitments.
• Review and validate MRP/MPS-generated recommendations, ensuring appropriate action is taken through production order releases, purchase order creation, and inventory transfer requirements.
• Own the release of production orders from planned status into active production orders based on customer requirements, material availability, capacity constraints, and production priorities.
• Ensure planning parameters within Business Central—including lead times, reorder policies, safety stock, lot sizes, and planning horizons—support accurate MPS/MRP outputs.
• Monitor MPS and MRP performance, identify planning exceptions, and drive corrective actions to improve schedule stability, material availability, and customer delivery performance.
• Collaborate with Production to ensure released production orders are executed effectively while maintaining clear accountability between production planning and shop-floor execution.

Planning System Ownership

• Own the integrity of supply chain data within Microsoft Business Central.
• Maintain accurate planning parameters including:
  • Lead times
  • Safety stock levels
  • Reorder policies
  • Lot sizing rules
  • Supplier information
  • Planning calendars
  • Inventory attributes
• Working through engineering, ensure Bills of Material (BOMs), routings, and manufacturing data support effective planning.
• Identify opportunities to improve ERP functionality, data accuracy, reporting, and planning accuracy.
• Partner with Engineering, Production, and Quality during new product introduction to ensure supply chain readiness.

Procurement & Supplier Management

• Personally manage all relationships and contracts with outside service providers.
• Lead procurement activities supporting production requirements and customer commitments.
• Manage supplier relationships including material suppliers, subcontractors, and outside processing providers.
• Establish supplier performance expectations and monitor:
  • On-Time Delivery
  • Quality Performance
  • Lead Time
  • Cost Performance
  • Responsiveness
• Support sourcing initiatives, cost reduction opportunities, and supplier risk mitigation strategies.
• Develop supplier improvement plans where performance gaps exist.
• Negotiate commercial terms, pricing, tooling agreements, and supplier contracts as required.
• Maintain supplier continuity plans for critical materials and services.

Inventory Management

• Own inventory performance and inventory optimization strategies.
• Maintain inventory accuracy through effective planning processes and collaboration with production and warehousing
• Monitor and improve:
  • Inventory turns
  • Excess & obsolete inventory
  • Material shortages
  • Inventory valuation
  • Inventory availability
• Establish appropriate inventory policies to support customer service objectives while minimizing working capital investment.

Customer Service and Order Management

• Working collaboratively with the General Manager, provide leadership and direction to Customer Service.
• Ensure customer orders are processed accurately and efficiently. Escalate issues to the General Manager as they arise.
• Monitor customer delivery requirements and proactively identify risks.
• Support customer communication regarding delivery commitments, constraints, and recovery plans.
• Participate in customer planning, forecasting, and replenishment meetings.
• Support strategic customer relationships through strong supply chain execution.

Cross Functional Collaboration

• Collaborate with Production, Engineering, Quality, Sales, Finance, and Warehouse teams to optimize material flow and customer delivery.
• Partner with production floor leadership to ensure transfer orders and material movements are executed according to planning requirements.
• Support new product introductions by collaborating with engineering to ensure supply chain requirements are identified and implemented early in the process.
• Support tariff, customs, and supply chain risk management activities.

Continuous Improvement

• Identify supply chain bottlenecks and implement corrective actions.
• Lead Lean and continuous improvement activities related to planning, procurement, inventory, and material availability.
• Develop standardized processes and work instructions.
• Implement best practices in supply chain planning and execution.
• Improve forecast accuracy, schedule stability, and supplier performance.

Supply Chain KPIs

• Customer on time delivery
• Schedule accuracy
• Late orders
• Material availability
• Work center utilisation
• Capacity accuracy
• Inventory turns
• Inventory accuracy
• Excess & obsolete inventory
• Supplier on time delivery
• Material and purchase price variance

Recurring Responsibilities

Weekly

• Produce production schedule and review accuracy & attainment.
• Execute and review MRP/MPS requirements.
• Review material shortages and recovery plans.
• Produce 12 month capacity plan and review constraints.
• Review supplier delivery performance.
• Review transfer order requirements and execution status.
• Conduct Materials department meetings.

Monthly

• Report inventory KPIs including valuation and turns.
• Report purchasing KPIs including supplier performance and PPV.
• Review customer delivery performance.
• Participate in Customer CPFR (Collaborative Planning, Forecasting, and Replenishment) meetings.
• Complete supplier performance reviews.
• Review subcontract and material cost variances.
• Participate in Sales & Operations Planning (S&OP) activities.

Annually

• Participate in budgeting.
• Develop improvement roadmap.

Skills & Competency (Must Have)

• Advanced ERP and MRP system knowledge.
• Strong understanding of manufacturing supply chain principles.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to translate data into actionable decisions.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong leadership and team development skills.
• Strong negotiation and supplier management abilities.
• Ability to work effectively across departments.
• High attention to detail with strong organizational skills.
• Demonstrated continuous improvement mindset.
• Ability to manage competing priorities in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Business, Engineering, Operations Management, or equivalent experience.
• 5–7 years of progressive supply chain leadership experience within a manufacturing environment.
• Minimum 3 years of experience using Microsoft Business Central in a manufacturing environment.
• Strong understanding of:
  • MRP
  • MPS
  • Capacity planning
  • Inventory management
  • Procurement
  • Supplier management
  • Production planning
• Experience supporting aerospace, defense, medical, or other regulated manufacturing environments considered an asset.

Work Conditions

• Primarily office-based with regular interaction on the manufacturing floor.
• Occasional travel between Precinmac locations, customers, and suppliers (<5%).

Certifications (Considered an Asset, not a Requirement)

• ASCM/APICS CPIM (Certified in Planning and Inventory Management)
• ASCM/APICS CSCP (Certified Supply Chain Professional)
• ASCM/APICS CLTD (Certified Logistics, Transportation and Distribution)
• Supply Chain Canada SCMP designation
• CSCMP membership