Inventory Optimization & Process Control Lead

Job summary

The role involves optimizing inventory levels through demand forecasting and financial alignment while implementing systemic controls to reduce discrepancies. You will also lead process redesigns and collaborate directly with shop floor teams to drive operational compliance and cultural change.

Job details

Key Responsibilities * Demand Forecasting & Financial Alignment: Analyze sales demand, production schedules, and historical data to forecast inventory needs. Determine precise purchasing triggers and lead times to ensure material availability while optimizing working capital and minimizing holding costs. * Root Cause & Pattern Analysis: Analyze cycle counts, physical inventory audits, and production logs to identify recurring variance patterns, systemic error sources, and operational bottlenecks. * IT & System Control Implementation: Collaborate with the IT team to design, configure, and enforce system safeguards within the ERP/WMS environment to minimize human error and automate data accuracy. * Process Redesign & SOP Creation: Update, standardize, and simplify Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for inventory movement, raw material consumption, scrap reporting, and finished goods recording. * Floor-Level Collaboration & Training: Spend significant time on the shop floor partnering with operators and floor supervisors to understand daily operational realities and train teams on revised workflows. * Piloting & Change Management: Lead short-term pilot programs for new inventory protocols, gathering feedback, refining processes, and driving cultural adoption across shifts. * Sustaining & Auditing: Establish ongoing audit frameworks and visual management tools to ensure compliance stickiness and long-term behavioral change. Qualifications & Experience * 3–5+ years in inventory control, demand planning, continuous improvement, or systems/process management in a fast-paced manufacturing environment. * Solid understanding of the financial aspects of inventory management, including forecasting, purchasing cycles, safety stock calculations, and working capital optimization. * Strong experience working with Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) or Warehouse Management Systems (WMS). * Proven track record in root cause analysis methodologies (e.g., 5 Whys, Fishbone diagrams, Gemba walks, Lean/Six Sigma principles). * Exceptional interpersonal skills with the demonstrated ability to build trust on the shop floor while effectively presenting solutions to executive leadership. * Demonstrated capability in change management—shifting floor behavior from reactive workarounds to standard compliance. Candidate Scorecard Mission Statement Eliminate recurring inventory discrepancies by diagnosing root causes, co-designing systemic and operational controls, and establishing sustainable floor-level habits. Concurrently, utilize demand forecasting and financial principles to optimize purchasing cycles and ensure precise material availability. Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) Objective / Metric Target Outcome Timeline Inventory Accuracy Achieve and maintain overall inventory record accuracy above 98%. First 6 months Discrepancy Recurrence Reduce repeat variance categories by 75% through root-cause resolution. First 9 months Forecasting & Stock Levels Maintain 99% raw material availability for production while reducing excess obsolete inventory by 25%. Ongoing SOP Compliance & Audits Establish weekly audit scorecards with floor compliance exceeding 95%. First 3 months System Safeguards Implement at least 3 automated IT/ERP system controls to eliminate manual entry risks. First 6 months

What you’ll do

The role involves optimizing inventory levels through demand forecasting and financial alignment while implementing systemic controls to reduce discrepancies. You will also lead process redesigns and collaborate directly with shop floor teams to drive operational compliance and cultural change.

Requirements

Candidates must have 3-5+ years of experience in inventory control or process management within a manufacturing environment. Proficiency in ERP/WMS systems and a strong background in root cause analysis methodologies like Lean or Six Sigma are required.

Listed skills

• Change Management · Preferred
• ERP systems · Preferred
• Inventory Control · Preferred
• Supply chain management · Preferred
• Data analysis · Preferred
• Root Cause Analysis · Preferred
• Demand Forecasting · Preferred
• Process Improvement · Preferred
• Lean · Preferred

Other relevant skills

Identified from the job description. Confirm important requirements above.

• Demand Forecasting
• Inventory Control
• Process Improvement
• ERP Systems
• WMS
• Root Cause Analysis
• Lean
• Six Sigma
• Change Management
• Data Analysis
• SOP Creation
• Financial Alignment
• Visual Management
• Auditing
• Operational Bottlenecks
• Supply Chain Management
• Sales Analysis
• Workflow Management
• Demand Planning
• Automation
• Business Process Reengineering
• Management
• Continuous Improvement Process
• Cycle Counting
• Enterprise Resource Planning
• Finished Good
• Forecasting
• Gemba
• Standard Operating Procedure
• Leadership
• Interpersonal Communications
• Inventory Management
• Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
• Lean Six Sigma
• Warehouse Management Systems
• Working Capital
• Pattern Recognition
• Physical Inventory
• Purchasing
• Relationship Building
• Safety Stock
• Process Management

Job areas

• Manufacturing
• Logistics
• Management & Leadership
• Engineering
• Data & Analytics
• Process Optimization Engineer
• Inventory Control Manager
• Supply, Distribution and Related Managers
• Supply Chain Managers
• Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers