Materials Scheduler jobs
Any successful and profitable business must keep costs to a minimum whilst maximising customer satisfaction and quality. This can be achieved in a multitude of ways, but in production businesses, the costs associated with acquiring, storing and using materials cannot be ignored if maximum profitability is to be achieved.
The cost of a materials delivery does not end with the invoice being paid. Owning a surplus of materials that are waiting to be used has its own physical costs, in terms of floor space, security and such like. There is also the cash flow implication of over-ordering to consider. On the opposite side of the equation is under-ordering. Trying to acquire just enough material to meet current needs can be a poor strategy if there’s a sudden spike in demand. Somewhere in between these extremes is a happy medium, and the materials scheduler will be in charge of achieving it.
By taking the best information possible from analysts, forecasters, sales representatives and company records, the materials scheduler will build up a picture of future needs so that he or she is in a better position to keep the optimum amount ordered, which for most purposes is enough to meet all productivity needs plus a little in reserve. Needless to say, in real life it’s much more complicated than that, which is why a good materials scheduler is such an important member of any supply chain team.
The skills required
The materials scheduler will be part analyst, part forecaster, part procurer, part negotiator. The job will require a day to day grasp of stock levels, costs, availability and demand, and the scheduler will need to make sense of it all and turn it into concrete orders. The overriding considerations will be customer satisfaction and profitability, and these elements will need to be satisfied by blending all the available information. Therefore a good analytical and organisational brain will be a strong point.
Much of the scheduling, stock taking and ordering work will be carried out using various software products, some of which might be unique to the employer, others which might be common. A good grasp of a range of solutions will be a requisite in the materials scheduler.
Materials Scheduler Jobs in Aldershot
Aldershot is a town that has grown up around the British army. It was a small village surrounded by barely useable land until the Crimean War, when a military base was located there. Within a few years the population had exploded from less than a thousand to around 16,000, which is about half its current population. It is known as the home of the British Army, and several regiments are based there.
The Hampshire town is located about 30 miles (50 km) south west of the centre of London, 7 miles (12 km) west of Guildford and 16 miles (26 km) south east of Reading. It is at the centre of a large conurbation that takes in Farnborough, Farnham, Fleet and Camberley, and together the population is close to a quarter of a million. Immediately to the north of Aldershot is Farnborough, home of one of the UK’s most important air shows, which is both a trade fair for military and civilian aircraft and a public spectacle.
While Aldershot is dominated culturally and, to some extent, geographically by the barracks, there is a static population living in the town and its adjacent neighbours, and there is a diverse range of industry in the area. Logistics and Supply chain professionals looking for Materials Scheduler work should therefore find rich pickings in Aldershot. It’s well connected to the transport network, with the M3 passing to its north and a comprehensive rails service. And failing that, you might be able to hitch-hike on a tank.
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Cast UK’s supply chain opportunities
Cast UK’s founder members and consultants all come from the logistics, supply chain and procurement sectors, so we know what employers and candidates are looking for in their staff and careers respectively. As we only deal with these fields, many employers come to us first to create a candidate shortlist because they know we’re tightly focused on delivering the best people to them.
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.
Cast UK is growing in logistics, procurement and supply chain recruitment, partly because these are the only sectors we deal with. People approach us for many reasons, whether seeking more job fulfilment or simply relocating with the family, so it’s good to know that we always have the complete range of positions available nationwide.
To find out more about how Cast UK can help you recruit a Materials Scheduler for your business or find you a job as a Materials Scheduler then contact one of our consultant team on 0333 121 3345.
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