Job Description

Job Location: Smalley LZ - Lake Zurich, IL 600476004

Position Type: Full Time

Salary Range: $120,000.00 - $140,000.00 Salary/year

Job Shift: Office

Job Category: Production ControlAbout us

Smalley is the global manufacturing leader of precision metal formed products – known for our Spirolox® retaining rings and Crest-to- Crest® wave springs. Our success is propelled by our inventive spirit, devoted team members, extensive engineering proficiency, and technical ability, cultivated by over 100 years of manufacturing excellence. We supply to industries including aerospace, automotive, medical, energy, robotics and industrial machinery – supporting over 70% of the Fortune 500 global manufacturers. We are proud of our commitment to delivering innovative, high-quality products, relentless pursuit of improvement, and unwavering dedication to providing excellent service to our valued customers.

Why Smalley?

At Smalley, we take pride in cultivating an inclusive work environment that values creativity, collaboration and diversity. We believe in our associates' unique perspectives that they bring to every challenge, which is why we will empower you to push the boundaries of what is possible. We are committed to nurturing an enjoyable work atmosphere demonstrated through activities such as Spirit Days, Cancer Awareness events, Health and Wellness activities, and fun sports opportunities to play in basketball, bags, and ping pong tournaments!

We Offer

• Competitive compensation and benefits package as well as: Medical, Dental, Vision, 401k match, Life insurance, Tuition Reimbursement, PTO, and more!
• Opportunities for career advancement and professional growth
• Ongoing learning and training and development opportunities
• Company and department led team-building activities and events

Position Overview

The Inventory and Planning Manager is responsible for leading and optimizing end-to-end supply chain operations, including demand planning, production planning, and inventory management. This role ensures alignment between customer demand, manufacturing capacity, and supplier performance to deliver best-in-class service, cost efficiency, and working capital performance.

The Inventory and Planning Manager drives cross-functional coordination, system effectiveness, and continuous improvement to support overall business growth and operational excellence.

Key Responsibilities

Integrated Planning & S&OP

• Lead the Sales & Operations Planning (S&OP) / Integrated Business Planning (IBP) process.
• Align demand forecasts, production capacity, and supply plans
• Partner with Sales, Customer Service, and Operations to reconcile forecast vs. actual demand.
• Develop executable supply plans that balance service, cost, and inventory
• Drive improvements in forecast accuracy and demand visibility

Production Planning Oversight

• Ensure alignment between demand, capacity constraints, and material availability
• Partner with Manufacturing to optimize throughput, reduce bottlenecks, and improve schedule adherence
• Establish planning standards, parameters, and governance across the team

Inventory & Working Capital Management

• Define and execute strategies to achieve target inventory turns and service levels.
• Establish and monitor inventory strategies (safety stock, reorder points, min/max levels)
• Own inventory strategy across WIP and finished goods
• Balance working capital objectives with customer service expectations.
• Reduce excess and obsolete inventory through improved planning and lifecycle management

ERP / Systems & Data Management

• Serve as the functional leader for ERP/MRP planning systems
• Ensure accuracy of core planning data (BOMs, routings, lead times, safety stock)
• Develop and monitor dashboards to track supply chain performance

Cross-Functional Leadership

• Act as the central interface between Sales, Operations, Procurement, and Finance.
• Support new product introductions (NPI) with planning and inventory strategies.
• Coordinate with Procurement to ensure material availability and supplier alignment.

Process Improvement & Systems

• Drive continuous improvement in planning processes, including forecast accuracy and planning cycle times.
• Drive lean initiatives within planning (pull systems, Kanban, WIP reduction)
• Establish standard work, KPIs, and dashboards to improve inventory performance.
• Support digital initiatives (e.g., advanced analytics, automation, and integrated planning tools).

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

• On-Time Delivery (OTD) / Customer Service Level
• Inventory Turns & Days on Hand
• Forecast Accuracy
• Supplier On-Time Delivery & Quality Performance
• Schedule Adherence / Plan Attainment

QualificationsQualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Operations, Engineering, or related field
• 8–12+ years of experience in supply chain, planning, or procurement within manufacturing
• 3–5+ years of leadership experience managing cross-functional teams
• Experience in high-mix, low-to-medium volume or regulated environments preferred

Technical Skills

• Strong expertise in ERP/MRP systems (SAP, Oracle, Epicor, etc.); Infor Syteline preferred
• Advanced proficiency in data analysis and Excel
• Experience with S&OP / demand planning processes
• Understanding of lean manufacturing and inventory optimization techniques

Apply today and discover the opportunities that await you!

A reasonable estimate of the base salary range for this role is $120,000 - $140,000. Please note that actual salaries may vary within the range, or be above or below the range, based on factors including, but not limited to, education, training, experience, professional achievement, business need, and location. This role is bonus/and or incentive eligible.

EEO/Affirmative Action Smalley is an equal opportunity employer and believes in equal opportunity for all employees and applicants. Accordingly, all employment decisions are based on the principles of equal opportunity. These decisions include recruitment, selection, promotion, transfer, discipline, compensation, benefits, training, and other personnel actions involving persons in all job titles and shall occur without regard to race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy (including childbirth and related conditions), age, national origin, disability, genetic information, veteran or military status, sexual orientation, gender identity, creed, ancestry, marital status, or any other legally protected class as recognized by applicable law.

You may be eligible for the following competitive benefits: medical, dental vision, life, accident & disability, parental leave, tuition reimbursement, employee assistance program, paid holidays, paid time off and 401(k).

Should you need further assistance to apply to any of our job postings or have any general questions, please contact us at 847-719-5900.