Inventory Associate

 Alcan Cable has six basic categories of products that it manufactures and markets:  rod, strip, bare cable, service cable, Teck, and building wire.  There are three main customer groups through which these products are sold:  Utility, Distributor, and OEM.  These products are an important outlet for Alcan Cable and the Division is expected to provide an acceptable return on its own operation.  In this context, the effective planning, preparation, and control of inventory regarding costs and customer service are essential. 

 

This position reports to the Inventory and Planning Manager and has the following major responsibilities:

 

  * Uses historical demand, inventory status, and production guidelines to determine appropriate, distributor group inventory replenishment.

  * Reviews inventory status and takes corrective action to assure effective distribution of finished goods inventory.

  * Administration of utility customer blanket order programs.

  * Coordinates efforts between Scheduling, Sales Administration, and Plant personnel for

 effective order administration of customer stock requirements.



 

MAJOR FUNCTIONS OF THE POSITION

 

The incumbent must translate a historical demand forecast into a preliminary requirement schedule of what is needed to be produced for finished goods replenishment.  These finished goods requirements are weighed against available production and inventory directives in order to coordinate a deployment plan which details what will be produced and stocked with the overall goal of optimal customer service while respecting the company?s financial commitment.

 

In conjunction with guidelines established by the Operations and Inventory Managers, the incumbent must continually review inventory status and determine the need for corrective action such as stock transfers, regionalization, or consolidation of specific items, surplus, damage removal, and expedition of such.

 

This position shares in the administrative effort to provide the necessary inventory of Finished Goods for utility customers blanket order programs.

 

Coordinates efforts between Scheduling, Sales Administration, and Plant personnel for effective order administration of the following:

 

  * Reconciliation of stock replenishment orders to production quantities.

  * Customer and stock order discrepancies.

  * Additions/Deletions of orders in current production cycle.

  * Any ?exceptions? requiring Operations and Inventory Planning authorization.

  * Plan and establish high volume item schedules and ensure the proper execution of these weekly

schedules with the respective participating plants.

 

On his/her own initiative and as directed, the incumbent must participate in special projects and activities to enhance the effectiveness of the Operations and Inventory Planning Department.

 



PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTABILITIES

 

Inventory administration of the U.S. Utility customer blanket order programs.  In this position the incumbent reports functionally to the Inventory and Planning Manager.

 

Administration of distributor finished goods inventory within established guidelines as to quantity, mix and deployment by developing, coordinating, and helping execute sound plans.

 

Administration of corrective actions to minimize the frequency and duration of stock-outs, control the cost of stock transfers and assure timely disposition of surplus, damaged, and otherwise slow-moving or inactive material.

 

Assure sound and constructive interpersonal work relationships in the area of order administration are maintained with plant personnel, sales, marketing, and all levels of management.

 

Provide useful information pertaining to inventory management and operations planning for division and departmental management.  These communications should be timely, relevant, concise and accurate.

 

Oversee the Vendor Managed Inventory program.

 

The incumbent shares the responsibility for the following tasks with other operations and inventory planning personnel: 

 

  * Disposition of plant work-in-process

  * Monthly reports

  -Backorder reports

  -Customer committed stock reports

  -Inventory turns reports

  -Offsite inventory reports

  * Facilitation of cross border transactions

 

 

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

 

To be effective the incumbent should have strong analytical skills, possess good human relations skills and have an understanding of inventory management principles, manufacturing processes, and sales principles.  This position requires a Bachelors Degree in Business Administration, Management or equivalent training/certifications in these disciplines and/or a minimum of 5 years of relevant business experience.