Are you an experienced Supply Chain Leader who thrives on optimizing operations, building strong supplier partnerships, and delivering results in a fast-paced manufacturing environment?
We are seeking a Supply Chain Manager responsible for overseeing and coordinating all supply chain activities for the Airport Products Division in Fond du Lac, including production planning, purchasing and procurement, inventory management, shipping, receiving, and material handling operations. This role serves as the primary supply chain leader within the facility, ensuring materials, components, and services are available to support production requirements, new product introductions, and business growth objectives. The Supply Chain Manager develops and executes strategies that improve supplier performance, inventory management, material flow, and logistics efficiency while supporting operational excellence and customer satisfaction. The position directly supervises a team consisting of Purchasing and Logistics personnel and works closely with Operations, Engineering, Manufacturing, Customer Service, Finance, and Corporate Supply Chain teams.
Essential Functions of the Position:
Supply Chain Leadership
Lead and coordinate all supply chain activities within the facility, including planning, procurement, inventory control, logistics, shipping, receiving, and material handling.
Provide leadership, coaching, direction, and performance management for direct reports.
Establish departmental priorities, objectives, and performance metrics aligned with business goals.
Foster a culture of accountability, continuous improvement, teamwork, and customer focus.
Support the facility's growth initiatives and new product introduction programs.
Planning & Inventory Management
Coordinate production planning activities to ensure material availability and alignment with manufacturing schedules.
Monitor inventory levels and develop replenishment strategies that support production requirements while minimizing working capital.
Analyze demand trends, forecasts, and production requirements to optimize inventory investment.
Partner with Operations and Finance to improve inventory accuracy and inventory turns.
Identify and implement process improvements to enhance planning effectiveness and material availability.
Purchasing & Procurement
Lead all purchasing and procurement activities for direct and indirect materials.
Develop and maintain strong supplier relationships to ensure quality, cost competitiveness, delivery performance, and service levels.
Support supplier selection, qualification, performance reviews, and development initiatives.
Negotiate pricing, lead times, commercial terms, and supply agreements as required.
Drive cost reduction and supplier performance improvement initiatives.
Manage supplier risk and develop mitigation plans to minimize supply disruptions.
Support sourcing activities associated with new product launches and engineering changes.
Logistics, Shipping, Receiving & Material Handling
Oversee inbound and outbound logistics operations to ensure timely and cost-effective movement of materials and finished goods.
Ensure efficient receiving, storage, material movement, inventory transactions, and shipping processes.
Improve warehouse organization, material flow, and inventory accuracy.
Coordinate freight activities and transportation providers to support customer delivery requirements.
Develop and implement best practices for warehouse and material handling operations.
Continuous Improvement
Identify and implement opportunities to improve supply chain performance, inventory management, supplier performance, logistics efficiency, and overall operational effectiveness.
Support Lean Manufacturing and Continuous Improvement initiatives throughout the facility.
Develop and track key performance indicators (KPIs) including:
Supplier On-Time Delivery
Inventory Accuracy
Inventory Turns
Material Availability
Freight Cost
Supplier Quality
On-Time Shipment Performance
Cross-Functional Collaboration
Work closely with Operations, Engineering, Production, Customer Service, Finance, and Corporate Supply Chain teams to ensure alignment of priorities and objectives.
Support new product launches through supplier readiness, material planning, and inventory strategies.
Participate in strategic planning activities related to capacity, sourcing, inventory, and operational growth.
Support corporate supply chain initiatives and standardization efforts.
Additional Responsibilities
Ensure compliance with company policies, safety standards, and applicable regulations.
Maintain accurate supply chain data and system integrity within ERP/MRP systems.
Perform other duties and special projects as assigned.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSA's):
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.
Strong understanding of purchasing, procurement, supplier management, inventory control, and logistics operations.
Working knowledge of production planning and manufacturing scheduling processes.
Ability to lead and develop employees in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.
Strong negotiation and supplier relationship management skills.
Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making capabilities.
Experience using ERP/MRP systems in a manufacturing environment.
Knowledge of Lean Manufacturing principles and continuous improvement methodologies.
Strong organizational and project management skills.
Ability to prioritize multiple activities and adapt to changing business demands.
Excellent verbal, written, and presentation communication skills.
Advanced proficiency with Microsoft Office, particularly Excel.
Ability to influence cross-functional teams and drive results without direct authority.
Education & Key Experience:
Bachelor's degree in supply chain management, Operations Management, Business Administration, Engineering, Logistics, or related field.
Minimum 7 years of progressive supply chain experience within a manufacturing environment.
Demonstrated experience in: Purchasing & Procurement, Supplier Management, Logistics / Shipping & Receiving, Inventory Management.
Experience working with ERP/MRP systems (JD Edwards a plus).
Experience supporting production operations and manufacturing schedules.
Previous leadership experience with direct reports in a manufacturing environment.
Experience supporting new product introductions and production ramp-ups.
APICS certifications such as CPIM, CSCP, or equivalent, preferred.
Experience with Lean Manufacturing and Continuous Improvement methodologies.
Experience in heavy equipment, industrial equipment, automotive, agricultural, or similar manufacturing industries.
Alamo Group is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity, Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will be considered without regard to race, national origin, color, religion, age, genetics, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability or veteran status. We maintain a drug-free workplace and perform pre-employment substance abuse testing (where permitted by law).
