Under minimal supervision and in accordance with Cummins Delegation of Authority Policy, determines the quantity and timing of materials required to meet the master production schedule and/or independent customer demand. Initiates and expedites purchase or production orders as required to ensure material availability and customer delivery requirements are met. The role is responsible for monitoring supply and demand, managing material planning parameters, addressing supply constraints and exceptions, and collaborating with suppliers, sourcing teams, manufacturing, quality, and other supply chain stakeholders to optimize inventory and delivery performance.
Responsibilities
Under minimal supervision and in accordance with Cummins Delegation of Authority Policy, determines the quantity and timing of materials required to meet the master production schedule and/or independent customer demand. Initiates and expedites purchase or production orders as required to ensure material availability and customer delivery requirements are met. The role is responsible for monitoring supply and demand, managing material planning parameters, addressing supply constraints and exceptions, and collaborating with suppliers, sourcing teams, manufacturing, quality, and other supply chain stakeholders to optimize inventory and delivery performance.
Key Responsibilities
Supply & Materials Planning
- Determine material quantities and order dates based on demand, master production schedules, inventory levels, lead times, and supply constraints.
- Initiate purchase and work orders to support demand plans and ensure timely material availability.
- Monitor materials planning systems for exception messages, alerts, shortages, past-due orders, and other supply risks.
- Perform root-cause analysis and take appropriate corrective actions to maintain alignment between supply and demand.
- Reconcile order boards for critical suppliers, critical parts, and past-due orders on a routine basis.
- Expedite purchase or production orders when required to support customer and manufacturing requirements.
- Provide accurate and timely updates on inventory availability, shortages, and back-order recovery plans.
Supplier & Stakeholder Collaboration
- Participate in allocation and supply constraint discussions with Sourcing Managers, suppliers, and other Cummins entities to understand constraints and their business impact.
- Collaborate with suppliers to improve lead times, optimize order quantities, and balance supply with demand.
- Take ownership and accountability for supplier schedules that support end-customer requirements.
- Collaborate with Supply Chain Planners and other stakeholders across the organization to reposition excess inventory to locations with supporting demand.
- Document, communicate, and follow up on action items that may impact the ability to execute the supply plan.
- Support supplier improvement initiatives focused on improving delivery and supply chain performance.
Inventory & Part Change Management
- Perform quality checks on material planning master data, including lead times, order quantities, and other planning parameters.
- Support Plan for Every Part (PFEP) activities and ensure material planning parameters support efficient material flow.
- Manage part change requests, including new part releases, supersessions, obsolescence, and engineering changes.
- Support ramp-up and ramp-down activities while balancing customer requirements and minimizing excess and obsolete inventory.
- Work with Quality to ensure timely disposition of non-conforming material.
Master Scheduling & Performance Management
- Support the establishment and maintenance of valid master production schedules for assigned products or product families.
- Validate that procurement, production scheduling, and replenishment plans are aligned with manufacturing and assembly requirements.
- Monitor materials and supply chain KPIs, identify performance gaps, and support actions to improve delivery, inventory, and supply performance.
- Assess the impact of supply chain performance on end customers and balance competing priorities to achieve business objectives.
HSE, Quality & Continuous Improvement
- Report work-related injuries, illnesses, incidents, and hazards and comply with applicable HSE standards, policies, procedures, and regulations.
- Complete required HSE, quality, and functional training.
- Follow applicable standard work, process documentation, and quality procedures.
- Participate in continuous improvement initiatives involving quality, safety, process efficiency, material flow, inventory, and supply chain performance.
- Identify opportunities to optimize processes and improve planning and reporting efficiency.
- Remain flexible and perform other responsibilities as required to support business goals.
Teamwork & Development
- Communicate effectively with assigned teams, suppliers, and cross-functional support functions.
- Build effective working relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
- Complete training and personal development activities aligned with business requirements and career goals.
- Demonstrate accountability, ownership, and the required level of proficiency in core competencies.
Skills & Competencies
- Strong understanding of materials planning, supply and demand management, inventory control, and production scheduling.
- Ability to use materials planning systems to manage supply and demand plans and resolve exceptions.
- Understanding of Plan for Every Part (PFEP) principles and their application across the end-to-end supply chain.
- Knowledge of part change control, including engineering changes, new part releases, supersessions, and obsolescence.
- Ability to analyze supply chain KPIs, identify gaps, understand customer impact, and support improvement actions.
- Strong problem-solving and root-cause analysis skills.
- Ability to manage complex, high-volume, and sometimes conflicting information.
- Strong communication and collaboration skills across different teams, functions, and audiences.
- Customer-focused approach with the ability to prioritize end-customer requirements.
- Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deliver results.
- Ability to optimize work processes and identify opportunities for continuous improvement.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and other analytical tools.
- Exposure to automation and analytics tools such as Power BI and SQL, with an interest in leveraging data to improve supply chain processes and reporting efficiency.
- Experience with planning or business systems and exposure to tools such as Excel, Access, TOAD, OMS, or similar applications is advantageous.
- Ability to work effectively in a collaborative, cross-functional environment.
- Demonstrates respect for diverse perspectives, cultures, and ways of working.
Experience
- Significant relevant experience or specialized skills gained through education, training, or on-the-job experience in areas such as:
- Materials planning
- Supply planning
- Production scheduling
- Inventory control
- Manufacturing operations
- Supply chain management
- Experience working with material planning systems, supply/demand planning, inventory parameters, or production schedules.
- Experience working with suppliers and cross-functional stakeholders to resolve material shortages, delivery constraints, and supply issues.
- Experience analyzing planning exceptions, inventory data, supply chain KPIs, and root causes is preferred.
- Exposure to data analytics, automation, Power BI, SQL, or other reporting/analytical tools is desirable.
- Experience supporting continuous improvement or supply chain optimization initiatives is an advantage.
Core Competencies
- Communicates effectively
- Customer focus
- Drives results
- Manages complexity
- Optimizes work processes
- Values differences
- Materials Planning System Utilization
- Part Change Control Management
- Plan for Every Part (PFEP)
- Master Supply Scheduling
- Materials KPI Management
Qualifications
Qualifications
- High school diploma, certificate of completion of secondary education, or equivalent experience that meets applicable regulatory requirements.
- College or university degree in Business, Supply Chain, Engineering, Operations, or a related field is preferred.
- Relevant certifications in supply chain, materials management, production planning, or inventory management are an advantage.
Cummins is an equal opportunity employer. Our policy is to provide equal employment opportunities to all qualified persons without regard to race, sex, color, disability, national origin, age, religion, union affiliation, sexual orientation, veteran status, citizenship, gender identity, or other status protected by law.