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 the South East
As the most populous region of England, the South East stretches from Oxford to Southampton and from Reading to Dover, comprising some parts of the Greater London Urban Area and a number of the Home Counties, such as Buckinghamshire , Kent and Surrey.
The largest city in the in the South East is Brighton and Hove, while towns like Chatham, Gillingham and Strood make up the Medway conurbation, which has a similar population.
Over the years, the area has been an important part of the UK's economy and has been a centre for innovation - from the Enigma machine and Alan Turing's breakthroughs in computer technology, through to the development of Britain's space programme at Westcott.
Those looking for Materials Scheduler jobs in the South East will have a range of options to consider, as the region is home to a number of large companies specialising in everything from car manufacture to pharmaceuticals, food and beverages to petrochemicals and packaging to retail.
The main branch of Amazon.co.uk is based in Slough, while other top-name brands in the South East include PepsiCo, Harley-Davidson UK, Vodafone, Hovis, Ben & Jerry's, Blackberry, Panasonic UK, HP UK, Virgin Media and ExxonMobil UK.
Of course, transport is also a major part of the South East's economy, with Gatwick Airport, South Eastern Rail and the Channel Tunnel Rail Link and the Port of Dover all important elements.
Popular locations
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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