Inventory Planner

Is spending the day working with numbers your forte? Are you recognized for your strong expertise and deep understanding of maintaining inventory of materials and finished goods to achieve target levels? Does having multiple priorities and shifting between tasks that allow you to achieve results and success excite you? Are you driven to make an impact to identify opportunities for improvement?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, keep reading because the Inventory Planner position at Edwards may be for you.  Edwards is a premier manufacturer and distributor of quality image apparel items for corporate, career, and casual markets. Edwards operates with the customer at the center of everything they do and they are dedicated to providing creative solutions and meeting customer expectations.

Job description

The Inventory Planner is critical to manage the inventory of materials and products to serve customer orders.

Here's what you can expect in the way of specific job responsibilities as well as time allocation estimates: 

Inventory Management (50%)

• Issues orders to vendors to maintain inventory of materials and finished stock product according to target levels
• Reviews backorders to ensure that they are filled on a timely basis
• Coordinates with vendors to determine status of orders and track on-time delivery
• Manages exceptions: special orders of custom product, delayed/incomplete delivery of orders
• Supports the addition of new product by setting up SKUs and initial inventory targets, and the phaseout of SKUs by managing decreasing inventory levels and coordinating with Sales to define phase out milestones
• Advises department manager of unusual material or finished product exceptions

Planning (40%)

• Maintains inventory levels of raw components according to previously established levels
• Establishes and maintains target stocking requirement levels

Vendor Management (5%)

• Onboarding and training of vendors in following company procedures and utilizing company ERP system

Process Improvement (5%)

• Participates in internal and external projects to improve materials and/or inventory utilization, lead time, etc.

 To be successful in this role, you need to have the requisite knowledge, skills and abilities:

• BS degree; OR 2-3 years related experience/training
• Works well in a team environment, and is passionate about the team's success.
• Proficient in understanding replenishment planning and inventory management; including ERP systems.
• Ability to work with mathematical concepts such as numerical trend analysis, percentages, averages, standard deviation.  
• Demonstrated strong technical, troubleshooting, analytical and problem-solving skills
• Desire and ability to quickly learn new things; ability to research issues and find solutions
• Great verbal and written communication skills; ability to speak effectively before groups of customers and/or associates.
• Detail oriented with flexibility to tolerate interruptions and shift from task to task as needed
• Is trustworthy – follows company policies, makes and keeps commitments, never betrays confidentiality

Our ideal Inventory Planner would carry out their responsibilities while displaying the following key behavioral competencies:

• Precision Result Focused – Focused on achieving accurate inventory levels to achieve service levels to support customer demand.
• Innovative Initiation – Proactively seek out opportunities to innovate and improve the management of inventory and finished goods in order to provide increasing value and opportunity for the business.

• Action Orientation –Takes quick action to resolve unexpected issues that impact inventory and service levels while maintaining continuity.
• Clear Communication – Communication is friendly, succinct and factual. Promptly provides information to management related to inventory issues that will affect operations and customer service issues.