Industry: Manufacturer
Location: Farmington Hills, MI
Salary: $60-65K
Visa Sponsor: No
Language: English: Business Level, Japanese: Business Level
Detail: Title: Supply Chain Specialist
Industry: Teir 2 Supplier
Location: Farmington Hills, MI
Salary: $60-65K
Start: negotiable
Summary:
The Supply Chain Specialist has broad-ranging responsibilities across all aspects of Supply Chain Operations.
This position is responsible for processing product orders received through the EDI system, email, or directly
from customers or company employees. This position is also responsible for managing inventory through the
database; maintaining and analyzing daily inventory levels required to meet customer demand; and creating and
implementing logistics plans for products purchased from Kurabe group companies and external vendors
Responsibilities:
Customer Service:
•Prepares for all necessary shipping documents and makes data entries into Phreebooks.
•Processes customer orders by sending information to the warehouse and freight forwarders.
•Creates sales orders and invoices.
•Sends advanced shipping notices (ASN) to customers.
•Arrange courier shipments (eg: FedEx, UPS, and DHL) for prototype and service part orders.
•Files all customer sales orders related documents.
•Receives forecasts from customers and updates an inventory matrix.
•Coordinates with the warehouse to release the required parts on due date when received the release orders from customers.
•Creates and sends the request forms (Yosei-hyo, Ringi-sho) and purchase orders to the company’s overseas locations based on the forecasts or purchase orders received from customers.
•Follows up on orders and coordinates shipping schedules with Kurabe overseas locations to ensure delivery by specific dates.
•Communicates with customers, carriers, freight forwarders and suppliers when issues arise on the shipments.
•Checks shipping orders to ensure they are accurate with regards to quantity shipping.
• Negotiate with customers on order quantities or delivery schedules when an inventory shortage or shipment delay is expected.
Inventory Control / Order Analysis:
•Updates inventory matrixes and Phreebooks based on forecasts from customers.
•Receives shipping notices from the company’s overseas locations and inputs data of inbound shipments into Phreebooks and update inventory matrixes.
•Sends the information of inbound shipments to the warehouse and freight forwarders.
•Communicates with EDI and ERP system providers to maintain and improve the current EDI system and establishes the new EDI connections with WMS systems of the warehouses.
•Arranges shipments for returning products to the company’s overseas locations.
•Manages prototype and service parts inventory stored at the company.
•Reconciles inventory reports between Phreebooks and WMS of each warehouse and performs inventory valuation monthly.
•Reconciles open order balance referring to order balance matrixes from HQ in Japan and updates Phreebooks.
•Prepares order planning matrixes and create order/delivery plans analyzing past delivery records, the latest forecasts from customers, and market information.
•Establishes release and delivery procedures for new customers coordinating with the warehouses, freight forwarders and customers.
•Summarizes and analyzes comparison reports on various warehouse costs and evaluates shipping-method costs as necessary.
Logistics
• Issues RFQs to freight forwarders for estimated shipping costs by air, ocean, and truck; understands all charges
shown in the quote; and calculates estimated costs according to our sales requests.
• Performs cost analyses related to logistics and warehouse inventory management.
• Develops and implements logistics plans to optimize cost and shipping time frames.
• Monitors inbound shipments from Vietnam and Japan and communicates with various freight forwarders and our notified party to support smooth U.S. drayage operations and eliminate unnecessary additional costs, such as container storage and extra chassis fees.
• Confirms invoice details from forwarders and warehouses and ensures all charges are correct. If additional charges appear, requests the reason and determines whether they can be removed or reduced.
• Collects the latest information about the status of the global logistics supply chain and shares it with our sales team and management.
• Understands the new normal in global logistics matters following the COVID-19 pandemic and maintains adequate inventory levels in KAC warehouses.
• Understands USMCA rules and Mexico logistics regulations, such as IMMEX, and develops plans for how they
may apply to KMX business.
• Coordinates domestic LTL or FTL shipments with third-party logistics providers, such as CH Robinson, for
pallet transfers between various warehouse locations. This includes, but is not limited to, managing the
movement of empty pallets, damaged cartons, and cross-docking shipments.
Other & Miscellaneous
• Creates and updates standard operating procedures (SOP).
• Creates barcode shipping labels based on AIAG or customer standards.
• Makes efforts to gain product knowledge and become familiar with product markets.
• Seeks continuous improvement and identifies more efficient and cost-effective ways to improve work processes.
• Performs special projects and other miscellaneous duties as assigned by the Supply Chain Operations
Manager and management.
• Reports to work according to the company schedule and complies with all company policies and procedures.
• Follows up to complete any assigned work.
• Maintains high ethical standards in the workplace.
• Maintains good communication with supervisors, staff members and outside contacts.
• Maintains a clean and safe work area.
• Supports the introduction and implementation of the ISO 9001/IATF 16949 quality-control system.
• Possesses a solid understanding of the Minimum-Security Criteria (MSC) of C-TPAT and provides support to
ensure and maintain compliance with C-TPAT standards.
• Stay informed of global supply chain trends, evolving trade policies, and U.S. tariff regulations, and proactively adapt to
changing business conditions.
Qualifications/Requirement:
•English and Japanese language skills - Native or native-like Japanese proficiency preferred.
•Trading Knowledge - Knowledge of customs, incoterms, and documents for imports/exports.
•Skills - Supply-chain specialists must have strong analytical skills to interpret complex data relating
to supply-chain processes. These skills can enable them to make informed decisions to improve operational
efficiency and cut costs.
• Communication - Supply chain specialists require good communication skills because they communicate
regularly with suppliers, clients, and internal teams. Efficient communication helps to ensure clarity, avoid
misunderstandings, and ensure the smooth running of the supply chain.
• Problem Solving - Challenges and issues are bound to arise in the ever-evolving supply chain sector. A good
supply chain specialist can solve problems swiftly and efficiently to maintain smooth operations.
• Software Skills - Proficiency in supply chain management software is crucial for modern supply chain
specialists. They usually work with various types of software for inventory management, procurement, and
transportation logistics.
• Math Skills – Ability to work productively with numbers and accurately perform arithmetic,
algebraic, or geometric calculations as needed.
• Product Knowledge – Maintain an up-to-date knowledge of the company’s products and/or services.
• Technical Communication – Able to communicate (reading, writing, speaking) by using specialized
vocabulary, terminology and concepts.
• Trading Knowledge – Maintain an up-to-date knowledge of customs, Incoterms, and documents for
imports/exports
