Inventory Control

Position Summary

We are seeking an experienced Inventory Control Manager to lead all inventory functions at our metal casting foundry. This role owns the accuracy, availability, and cost-efficiency of raw materials (scrap, ingot, alloys, sand, resins, refractories), work-in-process castings, finished goods, tooling/patterns, and MRO supplies. The ideal candidate combines hands-on shop-floor experience in a heavy manufacturing environment with strong ERP, cycle counting, and process improvement expert

Key Responsibilities

- Manage day-to-day inventory operations across raw materials, WIP, finished goods, consumables, and MRO stores
- Develop and maintain cycle count programs and lead annual physical inventories; drive inventory record accuracy to 98%+
- Establish min/max levels, reorder points, and safety stock for melt materials, molding sand, binders, refractories, and consumables based on production schedules and lead times
- Partner with purchasing to plan material requirements against the casting schedule and prevent melt-line or molding-line stockouts
- Maintain accurate item master, BOM, and location data in the ERP/MRP system; investigate and resolve transaction discrepancies
- Track and reduce inventory carrying costs, obsolescence, scrap loss, and shrinkage; report KPIs (turns, accuracy, fill rate, aged inventory) to plant leadership
- Oversee receiving, put-away, staging, kitting, and shipping processes; ensure proper material identification, heat/lot traceability, and FIFO rotation
- Manage returnable containers, pattern/tooling storage, and customer-owned material accountability
- Supervise, train, and develop inventory/warehouse staff (cycle counters, material handlers, storeroom attendants)
- Support quality and customer audits with accurate traceability records (heat numbers, certs, lot control)
- Lead continuous improvement initiatives (5S, lean, barcode/RFID implementation) in material storage and flow
- Ensure compliance with safety policies, including safe handling of scrap metal, chemicals, and heavy loads

Qualifications **Required:**
- Bachelor's degree in supply chain, Operations Management, Business, or equivalent experience
- 5+ years of inventory control or materials management experience in manufacturing, with 2+ years in a supervisory role
- Strong working knowledge of ERP/MRP systems (e.g., SAP, Oracle, Epicor, Plex, Infor)
- Proven cycle count program management and root-cause analysis of inventory variances
- Advanced Excel skills (pivot tables, lookups); comfort with data analysis and KPI reporting
- Ability to work on the shop floor in a hot, heavy-industrial environment

**Preferred:**
- Foundry, forging, steel mill, or heavy metals manufacturing experience
- APICS/ASCM certification (CPIM or CSCP)
- Experience with heat/lot traceability requirements (e.g., ISO 9001, IATF 16949, or defense/aerospace standards)
- Lean/Six Sigma training; barcode or RFID system implementation experience
- Forklift and overhead crane familiarity

Working Conditions

- Split between office and foundry floor; exposure to heat, noise, dust, and fumes with required PPE
- Occasional lifting up to 50 lbs; standing and walking for extended periods
- May require occasional off-shift or weekend availability for physical inventories or urgent material issues