Materials Planner jobs
Getting products out of the factory and the money in the bank is the ultimate aim of any production enterprise, be it a factory, studio or building site. But at the other end of the process, the materials need to come into play at just the right time. Failure to optimise this side of the business can at best result in inefficiencies and reduced profits, at worst failure to deliver on orders, lost customers and even collapse. No pressure then, materials planners.
The job of the materials planner will be to secure a steady flow of materials into the production process to ensure productivity can continue in line with demand. However securing material supply can be a balancing act because storage has a cost too. This is never truer than in the “just in time” model of production, where materials don’t have time to gather dust – they arrive on site just as they are ready to be used. It means there’s little room for error and it requires military planning, but the savings can be huge. Another reason over-ordering is bad is because it affects cash flow. Money spent on latent materials isn’t available for other purposes and that might necessitate borrowing.
So with the employer’s process in mind, the materials planner will need to liaise with suppliers and organise the optimum means of delivery of materials to meet productivity demands. This can fluctuate seasonally or daily, and the planner will need to have the projections and the orders to hand to make procurement decisions, perhaps daily. While JIT is not always appropriate or possible, as the ultimate model for efficiency of at least one point in the supply chain, any step taken towards it is generally a profitable one.
The skills required
The most important skill of the materials planner will be an analytical mindset. He or he might have to juggle a number of needs to end up at an optimum outcome, and that can mean making decisions that in isolation could look inefficient, but which will add efficiency to the whole system. Mathematics aptitude will be enormously helpful, as will familiarity with planning IT solutions.
There could be some negotiation as part of the job, but at the least the materials planner will regularly need to be in touch with suppliers to place orders. Good communications skills will be required for this part of the job. The planner will be in constant touch with analysts, buyers and sales teams, so the need to be communicative will be at the heart of the position.
Materials Planner Jobs in Wallasey
After years of sailing the seven seas and bringing back cargoes and unlikely tales, the upper ranks of the merchant and military navies wanted somewhere pleasant to live, and if they weren’t fed up of the sea, one such place might have been Wallasey. The town at the northern tip of the Wirral, opposite Liverpool, sprung up for just this reason, and it was full of large homes for such seamen to retire to. The town had a small presence already in the shape of a fort and lighthouse, both to protect the port, but it was barely inhabited. New Brighton, the most resort-like part, was named after Brighton on the south coast, and it was hoped that it would emulate its success.
Wallasey’s population of around 60,000 is well connected by road, rail and sea. The M53 to Chester starts in the town and the Kingsway tunnel (known locally as the Wallasey Tunnel) picks up at the same point. By rail Wallasey is linked to Liverpool, the Wirral, North Wales and Chester, and the Mersey Ferry crosses from Wallasey’s Seacombe terminal (as well as Birkenhead). Birkenhead and Wallasey would now probably be completely merged were it not for the dock that stretches 2600 metres inland.
Wallasey is now an integral part of the Liverpool and Birkenhead conurbation, and it is no longer a retreat for retired seamen, with most of their houses being converted into bed and breakfasts or flats long ago. The town’s economy is now linked with those of its neighbouring towns and Liverpool, and that is not bad news for anyone looking for Materials Planner work, as the region still has plenty of manufacturing and distribution industry.
Popular locations
Cast UK’s supply chain opportunities
Cast UK’s founder members and consultants all come from the logistics, procurement and supply chain sectors, so we know what employers and candidates are looking for in their staff and careers respectively. We are a growing force in the UK recruitment industry, mainly because these are the only sectors we deal with. Many employers often come to us first to create a candidate shortlist because they know we’re tightly focused on delivering the best people to them.
Applicants approach Cast UK for many reasons. They might be seeking more job fulfilment, they could have been made redundant or they might simply be relocating for family reasons, so it’s good to know that we always have the complete range of positions available nationwide. Please see what’s available in your region and if you’ve seen something you’re interested in, do get in touch – whether it’s today or tomorrow, we might have the ideal position for you.
To find out more about how Cast UK can help you recruit a Materials Planner for your business or find you a job as a Materials Planner then contact one of our consultant team on 0333 121 3345.
Contact us