Planner

Career Area:

Job Description:

Your Work Shapes the World at Caterpillar Inc.

When you join Caterpillar, you're joining a global team who cares not just about the work we do – but also about each other.  We are the makers, problem solvers, and future world builders who are creating stronger, more sustainable communities. We don't just talk about progress and innovation here – we make it happen, with our customers, where we work and live. Together, we are building a better world, so we can all enjoy living in it.

Role Definition

Manages purchased material requirements, taking appropriate actions to ensure material availability when needed, with appropriate inventory levels required to support customer requirements and inventory administration.

Responsibilities

• Establish and maintain material planning methods and safety stock strategies, understand and monitor delivery/response times, forecasting methods and the subcontracting process, in accordance with assigned products and services, complying with materials and demand planning guidelines.

• Execution and monitoring of purchase orders according to the demand signals for the assigned products, starting from placing purchase orders until the delivery of the product, ensuring that the correct material is delivered to the right place and at the right time.

• Monitor inventory levels and maintain appropriate safety stock targets to support operational requirements.

• Identify potential shortages and proactively develop mitigation and recovery plans.

• Perform routine audits and validation of planning, inventory, supplier, and transactional data to ensure system accuracy.

• Investigate data discrepancies and implement corrective actions to improve planning reliability.

• Coordinate and maintain drop-ship material flows between suppliers, subcontractors, and manufacturing partners.

• Ensure accurate system visibility of inventory and material ownership throughout the supply chain network.

• Manage inventory strategies supporting approved second-source suppliers.

Desired Qualifications:

• 3+ years of experience in supply chain planning, materials management, procurement, or inventory control.

• Strong working knowledge of ERP/MRP systems (SAP, Oracle, JD Edwards, QAD, or equivalent).

• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills, including:

Pivot Tables

VLOOKUP/XLOOKUP

Power Query

Data validation tools

Conditional formatting

Dashboard reporting

• Experience managing inventory transactions, material planning, and supplier coordination.

• Possesses strong acumen for data validation

• Experience with drop-ship, consignment, and subcontract manufacturing models.

• Familiarity with supplier performance metrics such as OTD, TAKT attainment, inventory turns, and forecast accuracy.

• Experience in Continuous Improvement and lean methodologies

Summary Pay Range:

Compensation and benefits offered may vary depending on multiple individualized factors, job level, market location, job-related knowledge, skills, individual performance and experience. Please note that salary is only one component of total compensation at Caterpillar. 

Benefits:

Subject to plan eligibility, terms, and guidelines. This is a summary list of benefits.

• Medical, dental, and vision benefits*

• Paid time off plan (Vacation, Holidays, Volunteer, etc.)*

• 401(k) savings plans*

• Health Savings Account (HSA)*

• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs)*

• Health Lifestyle Programs*

• Employee Assistance Program*

• Voluntary Benefits and Employee Discounts*

• Career Development*

• Incentive bonus*

• Disability benefits

• Life Insurance

• Parental leave

• Adoption benefits

• Tuition Reimbursement

* These benefits also apply to part-time employees

Posting Dates:

Any offer of employment is conditioned upon the successful completion of a drug screen.

Caterpillar is an Equal Opportunity Employer, Including Veterans and Individuals with Disabilities.  Qualified applicants of any age are encouraged to apply.

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