Torchora
Back to Home

Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for a Materials Analyst

💰 $65,000 - $95,000

Supply ChainManufacturingLogisticsProcurementOperations

🎯 Role Definition

A Materials Analyst serves as the critical link between supply chain strategy and operational execution. This role is fundamentally about data-driven decision-making to ensure the right materials are in the right place, at the right time, and at the right cost. The analyst is the guardian of material flow, meticulously planning, forecasting, and managing inventory levels from raw components to finished goods. By leveraging enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems and analytical tools, they proactively identify potential shortages, mitigate supply chain risks, and drive continuous improvement in material management processes. This position is essential for maintaining production continuity, optimizing working capital, and supporting the overall financial health of the organization.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

  • Inventory Coordinator / Clerk
  • Junior Buyer / Procurement Specialist
  • Production Planner

Advancement To:

  • Senior Materials Analyst / Team Lead
  • Materials Manager
  • Supply Chain Manager

Lateral Moves:

  • Procurement Analyst / Sourcing Specialist
  • Logistics Planner / Analyst
  • Demand Planner

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

  • Analyze inventory levels, material usage, and demand patterns to establish and maintain optimal safety stock, reorder points, and replenishment strategies.
  • Utilize Material Requirements Planning (MRP) and other ERP system modules (like SAP, Oracle, or JDE) to plan, schedule, and manage the procurement of materials to meet production schedules.
  • Proactively identify and resolve material shortages, coordinating with procurement, suppliers, and logistics to expedite deliveries and find alternative solutions.
  • Monitor and manage slow-moving and obsolete (SLOB) inventory, developing and implementing strategies for disposition, rework, or return to reduce carrying costs.
  • Develop and publish key performance indicators (KPIs) and detailed reports on inventory accuracy, supplier on-time delivery, stock outs, and inventory turnover.
  • Serve as the primary point of contact for all material-related inquiries from production, engineering, and customer service departments.
  • Conduct regular audits and cycle counts to ensure physical inventory matches system records, investigating discrepancies and implementing corrective actions.
  • Collaborate closely with the procurement team to communicate material forecasts to suppliers and monitor their capacity and performance.
  • Maintain the integrity of master data within the ERP system, including lead times, pricing, supplier information, and item parameters.
  • Analyze and maintain the accuracy of Bills of Material (BOMs) to ensure correct material planning for new products and engineering changes.
  • Participate in new product introduction (NPI) projects to establish material planning strategies and ensure supply chain readiness for launch.
  • Lead or contribute to cost-reduction initiatives by identifying opportunities for material consolidation, process improvements, or supplier negotiation.
  • Evaluate the impact of engineering change orders (ECOs) on material availability and inventory, coordinating the phase-in/phase-out of components.
  • Generate and manage purchase requisitions based on MRP signals and planning analysis, ensuring timely placement of purchase orders.
  • Build and maintain strong working relationships with suppliers to resolve issues, improve communication, and enhance overall supply chain efficiency.
  • Track and analyze inbound material flow, identifying potential delays and working with logistics partners to ensure timely receipt.

Secondary Functions

  • Support cross-functional teams with ad-hoc data requests and detailed exploratory analysis on material costs, usage trends, and inventory valuation.
  • Contribute to the continuous improvement of supply chain processes by recommending enhancements to ERP system configurations and planning methodologies.
  • Collaborate with engineering and quality departments to manage the qualification and introduction of new or alternative materials.
  • Assist in the development and documentation of standard operating procedures (SOPs) for inventory control and material planning.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

  • ERP/MRP Proficiency: Deep practical experience with enterprise planning systems such as SAP (MM/PP modules), Oracle, JDE, or similar platforms.
  • Advanced Data Analysis: Expertise in Microsoft Excel, including pivot tables, VLOOKUP/XLOOKUP, complex formulas, and data modeling.
  • Inventory Management Principles: Strong understanding of inventory control concepts like ABC analysis, Just-in-Time (JIT), safety stock calculation, and economic order quantity (EOQ).
  • Data Visualization: Ability to create insightful reports and dashboards using tools like Tableau, Power BI, or Qlik.
  • Supply Chain Acumen: Solid knowledge of end-to-end supply chain processes, from sourcing and procurement to manufacturing and logistics.
  • Bill of Materials (BOM) Management: Experience in reading, analyzing, and maintaining complex multi-level BOMs.

Soft Skills

  • Analytical & Problem-Solving Mindset: The ability to dissect complex problems, interpret data from multiple sources, and develop effective, logical solutions.
  • Exceptional Attention to Detail: A meticulous and precise approach to data entry, analysis, and reporting to ensure accuracy and reliability.
  • Strong Communication Skills: Ability to clearly and concisely communicate complex information, both written and verbal, to suppliers, and internal stakeholders at all levels.
  • Collaboration & Teamwork: Proven ability to work effectively within and across teams, including operations, finance, and engineering.
  • Sense of Urgency & Proactivity: A drive to anticipate future needs and potential issues, taking initiative to prevent problems before they impact production.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

  • Bachelor's Degree from an accredited institution.

Preferred Education:

  • Bachelor's or Master's Degree in a relevant field.
  • Professional certifications such as CPIM (Certified in Production and Inventory Management) or CSCP (Certified Supply Chain Professional) from APICS/ASCM are highly valued.

Relevant Fields of Study:

  • Supply Chain Management
  • Business Administration
  • Logistics & Operations Management
  • Industrial Engineering

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 2-5 years of experience in a materials planning, inventory control, or supply chain analysis role within a manufacturing or distribution environment.

Preferred: Direct experience in a fast-paced manufacturing setting (e.g., automotive, electronics, CPG) with a strong emphasis on MRP-driven planning and lean principles.

Explore More Careers