Inventory Manager

SMS group USA

📍Shelby Township, MI
Posted May 19, 2026

Job Overview

Position

Inventory Manager

Company

SMS group USA

Location

Shelby Township, MI

Work Type

On-site

Job ID

li-4413324570

Job Description

Summary
Assist in management of plant material control functions, including forecasting, production planning, MRO and indirect material purchasing, shipping and receiving, and inventory control. Report to the Operations Manager and support all logistical activities to provide optimum workshop performance.

Who We Are
At SMS group, our people are our greatest asset. We offer an entrepreneurial environment that promotes a culture of innovation, growth, and inclusion. We offer company events, activities, and opportunities to participate in charitable initiatives that benefit the communities where we are located.

www.sms-group.us

What You'll Do

  • Work with Supervisors and Estimator to determine products and services needed for the business unit(s).

  • Make sure all Purchase Requisitions are entered as accurately as possible and electronic PO folders have all relevant material in them.

  • Make sure purchase orders requisitions contain all relevant information for material type, burnout specifications, machine finishes and drawings attached when needed.

  • Work with Shop Supervisors for scheduling and planning of material deliveries to meet customer demand and shop schedules.

  • Investigate any discrepancies between Purchasing and Receiving.

  • Manage and maintain planning of bill of materials and expedite purchased parts and raw material availability in response to operational plans.

  • Work with Operations and Project Managers to update bill of materials, routers and lot sizes.

  • Provide material availability to support on time production and deliveries of customer sales orders to meet plant goals.

  • Control plant inventory to optimize turnover and minimize investment. Align with the cycle count program and WIP audits to obtain accurate inventory values.

  • Monitor safety stock levels and establish order policies to balance inventory availability with low levels of investment.

  • Work with suppliers to establish consignments, Vendor Managed Inventory (VMI) programs and Just In Time (JIT) programs to support on time delivery goals.

  • Identify local sources of indirect materials, equipment, services or supplies and vet capabilities

  • Manage the indirect supplier selection process based on total cost of ownership (i.e. price, quality, support, capacity, reliability, etc.).

  • Oversee the shipping and receiving function to ensure error-free processing of shipments expeditiously.

  • Analyze and identify supply constraints to ensure daily operational support.

What You’ll Need

  • Degree in Supply Chain or Business Management with 5+ years of experience

  • APICS Certification (CPIM) preferred but not required

  • 5+ years of manufacturing experience preferred

  • 2+ years in materials management preferred

  • Must have a thorough knowledge of ERP planning or purchasing systems

  • Must be proficient in analytical problem-solving techniques and possess strong written and oral communication skills

  • Must be able to determine material requirements from prints

  • Good interpersonal skills and must be able to work with minimal supervision

What We Offer
Competitive compensation, medical/dental/vision coverage, paid vacation, paid holiday time, 401k with a company match, training, a tuition reimbursement program and more!

What We Do
SMS group is the leading partner in the world of metals. We are an original equipment supplier offering comprehensive maintenance and spare part services for metals production, continuous casting and rolling (flat and long products), tubes, welded pipes, forging, non-ferrous technology, and heat treatment plants - all from a single source.

SMS group Inc. is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, sex, religion, national origin, age, sexual orientation, disability, veteran status, gender identity or other categories protected by law. Employment is contingent upon successful completion of a drug screen and physical capacity profile test

Monday - Friday 40 hours/week

Interview Prep

AI-powered insights to help you prepare

Key Skills

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Practice Questions

💡Technical Questions (3)
  • 1.How do you approach establishing order policies and safety stock levels to balance inventory availability with minimizing investment?
  • 2.Can you explain your process for managing and updating Bill of Materials (BOMs) and routers in an ERP system?
  • 3.When investigating discrepancies between Purchasing and Receiving, what steps do you take to identify the root cause and resolve the issue?
🎯Behavioral Questions (3)
  • 1.Tell me about a time you successfully implemented a Vendor Managed Inventory (VMI), consignment, or JIT program with a supplier.
  • 2.Describe a situation where you had to expedite purchased parts or raw materials to prevent a delay in customer sales orders.
  • 3.Give an example of how you managed the indirect supplier selection process based on Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) rather than just price.
🧩Situational Questions (2)
  • 1.You discover a significant supply constraint for a critical raw material that will impact daily operational support and an upcoming shop schedule. What is your immediate action plan?
  • 2.A shipment arrives at the dock, but the physical items do not match the burnout specifications or machine finishes detailed on the purchase order, and the shop needs the material urgently. How do you handle this?

Resume Keywords

Make sure these keywords appear on your resume

Inventory ControlBill of MaterialsERP SystemsProduction PlanningVendor Managed InventoryJITTotal Cost of OwnershipCycle CountMRO PurchasingShipping and ReceivingSupply ChainManufacturing

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