Materials Planner

Company / Location Information

A.O. Smith is a global leader applying innovative technologies and energy-efficient solutions to products manufactured and marketed worldwide. The company is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of residential and commercial water heating equipment and boilers, as well as a manufacturer of water treatment products for residential and light commercial applications. A. O. Smith is headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, with approximately 12,000 employees at operations in the United States, Canada, China, India, Mexico, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom.

Primary Function

Lead complex material planning and purchasing activities across suppliers, product lines, business units, or manufacturing locations while driving inventory optimization, process improvement, and supply chain performance initiatives.

Responsibilities

• Lead planning and purchasing activities for complex material portfolios, business units, or multiple manufacturing locations.
• Maintain advanced planning parameters and master-data strategy within SAP.
• Analyze supply requirements and capacity constraints to ensure material availability.
• Develop inventory optimization strategies that balance working capital, customer service, and operational risk.
• Lead resolution of critical supplier shortages and supply disruptions.
• Evaluate supplier performance trends and coordinate corrective actions with sourcing teams.
• Drive engineering change management and product transition activities.
• Develop and implement material planning process improvements and identify automation opportunities.
• Lead inventory reduction initiatives targeting excess and obsolete inventory.
• Analyze planning metrics, interpret business impact, and provide recommendations to management.
• Support SIOP and supply review processes by providing supply-risk assessments and planning insights.
• Serve as a subject matter expert for SAP planning functionality and inventory planning methodologies.
• Lead cross-functional projects involving supply chain optimization and process standardization.
• Coach and mentor junior planners while providing technical guidance.
• Support organizational initiatives including centralization, standardization, and operational excellence programs.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain, Business, Engineering, Operations, or a related field preferred.
• 5+ years of experience in material planning, purchasing, inventory management, or supply chain operations.

• Advanced experience with SAP planning and purchasing systems.

• APICS/ASCM CPIM certification strongly preferred.

• Expert knowledge of MRP, inventory management, safety stock, Kanban, and replenishment methodologies.

• Proven experience with inventory optimization and working-capital reduction initiatives.
• Experience leading cross-functional supply chain improvement projects.

We Offer

Competitive compensation package and comprehensive benefits plans which include medical and dental insurance, company-sponsored life insurance, retirement security savings plan, short- and long-term disability programs and tuition assistance.

ADA Statement & EEO Statement

In developing this job description care was taken to include all competencies needed to successfully perform in this position. However, for Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) purposes, the essential functions of the job may or may not have been described for purposes of ADA reasonable accommodation. All reasonable accommodation requests will be reviewed and evaluated on a case-by-case basis.

We consider all applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, gender identity and expression, marital or military status. We also provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and applicable state and local law.