Material Planning Analyst

Career Area:

Supply Chain and Logistics

Job Description:

Your Work Shapes the World at Caterpillar Inc.

When you join Caterpillar, you're joining a global team who cares not just about the work we do – but also about each other.  We are the makers, problem solvers, and future world builders who are creating stronger, more sustainable communities. We don't just talk about progress and innovation here – we make it happen, with our customers, where we work and live. Together, we are building a better world, so we can all enjoy living in it.

Updated: 09/29/2025

Role Definition

Schedules, plans and oversees material procurement, production and delivery processes.

Responsibilities

• Participates in scheduling production and delivery processes in accordance with current productivity and cost efficiency standards.

• Develops and executes material planning for a product line to ensure that all material requirements for assigned programs are met within the allocated time frame.

• Organizes the flow of materials within the manufacturing unit and the transferring of materials to and from the inventory or warehouse.

• Generates forecasts and manages replenishment planning for parts and materials to ensure specified service levels are met.

Degree Requirement

Degree or equivalent experience desired

Skill Descriptors

Decision Making and Critical Thinking: Knowledge of the decision-making process and associated tools and techniques; ability to accurately analyze situations and reach productive decisions based on informed judgment.

Level Working Knowledge:

• Applies an assigned technique for critical thinking in a decision-making process.

• Identifies, obtains, and organizes relevant data and ideas.

• Participates in documenting data, ideas, players, stakeholders, and processes.

• Recognizes, clarifies, and prioritizes concerns.

• Assists in assessing risks, benefits and consideration of alternatives.

Distribution Requirements Planning (DRP): Knowledge of the process, issues and considerations for systematically managing distribution of inventory for multiple plants or warehouses; ability to apply related knowledge and experience in real practice.

Level Working Knowledge:

• Works with real-time inventory software, moving supplies to where needed, when needed.

• Interprets the impact of bottlenecks and delays on operating costs.

• Follows processes and applies technologies for items and inventory management.

• Assists in solving issues related to distribution to meet orders or inventory replenishment requirements.

• Works with basic distribution requirements planning (DRP) processes and operations.

Internal Resource Coordination: Knowledge of the techniques, tools and applications associated with coordination of internal resources; ability to synchronize and integrate activities, responsibilities, and command and control structures to ensure that internal resources are used most efficiently in pursuit of business objectives.

Level Basic Understanding:

• Identifies basic characteristics of good business relationships or partnerships.

• Attends training to learn coordination skills with individuals and groups.

• Lists major techniques, tools and approaches for resource coordination.

• Describes the organization's culture and policies for coordinating with others.

Manufacturing Requirements Planning (MRP): Knowledge of the processes, practices and systems used in manufacturing requirements planning (MRP); ability to optimize planning for manufacturing cycles and ensure capacity and materials availability.

Level Basic Understanding:

• Describes basic concepts of materials and capacity management processes and procedures.

• Describes product life cycle and associated MRP cycle.

• Identifies parameters and considerations used in making decisions about production runs.

• Describes the use of bills of materials and other documentation needed to provide supplies.

Materials Handling and Management: Knowledge of material handling and management in plants; ability to perform, monitor and improve processes related to storage, transportation and handling of raw and hazardous materials.

Level Basic Understanding:

• Identifies key issues involved with different types of manufacturing materials.

• Discusses considerations for physical management of major types of materials.

• Identifies types of materials used in manufacturing flagship products or components.

• Describes packaging regulations and locates those specific to the requirements of the situation.

Planning and Organizing: Knowledge of the process of planning and arranging tasks and resources; ability to plan and organize both time and resources to get things completed while structuring and maintaining work in a systematic and highly methodical way.

Level Basic Understanding:

• Seeks help to modify priorities as new information surfaces or conditions change.

• Demonstrates the ability to estimate the time and resources required to complete tasks.

• Identifies own key assignments, schedules, and process steps.

• Applies the concept of 'critical path' in order to complete work in a timely manner and keep larger tasks on track.

Problem Solving: Knowledge of approaches, tools, techniques for recognizing, anticipating, and resolving organizational, operational or process problems; ability to apply knowledge of problem solving appropriately to diverse situations.

Level Basic Understanding:

• Explains the value of a disciplined approach to problem solving.

• Describes problem reporting and escalation practices.

• Utilizes accepted procedures for problem analysis and resolution.

• Identifies key aspects of problem-solving techniques used in own area.

Relationship Management: Knowledge of relationship management techniques; ability to establish and maintain healthy working relationships with clients, vendors, and peers.

Level Basic Understanding:

• Provides examples of the characteristics of effective business relationships.

• Identifies key business relationships in own organization.

• Describes the nature of a productive business relationship.

• Explains the benefits of building business partnerships.

This Job Description is intended as a general guide to the job duties for this position and is intended for the purpose of establishing the specific salary grade. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as an exhaustive summary of all responsibilities, duties and effort required of employees assigned to this job. At the discretion of management, this description may be changed at any time to address the evolving needs of the organization. It is expressly not intended to be a comprehensive list of “essential job functions” as that term is defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act.

This position requires working onsite five days a week.

 

Relocation is available for this position.

Visa Sponsorship is not available for this position.

Posting Dates:

November 5, 2026 - November 18, 2026

Caterpillar is an Equal Opportunity Employer.  Qualified applicants of any age are encouraged to apply

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