Inventory & MRO Analyst

The Inventory & MRO Analyst is responsible for optimizing maintenance repair and operations (MRO) inventory to ensure maximum equipment uptime in a highly automated multi-line food manufacturing facility. This role manages a multi-million-dollar repair and maintenance (R&M) budget drives inventory accuracy and ensures critical spare parts availability for continuous production in a USDA-regulated environment.

The ideal candidate combines data analytics maintenance planning and inventory control expertise to reduce downtime improve asset reliability and control costs

Key Responsibilities Inventory & MRO Analyst

Strategic MRO Inventory Optimization

• Design and continuously refine inventory segmentation strategy (critical spares vs. consumables vs. long-lead items vs. rarely used insurance spares).
• Perform criticality analysis (ABC equipment criticality) to identify parts that directly impact production uptime.
• Build and maintain dynamic min/max and safety stock models using:
  • Usage variability
  • Supplier lead times (standard vs. expedited)
  • Equipment failure patterns
• Drive risk-based stocking strategies:
  • Zero-stock tolerance for uptime-critical components
  • Vendor-managed inventory (VMI) where viable
• Lead SKU rationalization initiatives:
  • Identify duplicates across OEMs or lines
  • Standardize components across similar equipment
• Actively manage inventory lifecycle:
  • Introduce new parts for new equipment or upgrades
  • Phase out obsolete or end-of-life components

Deep Maintenance & Reliability Integration

• Translate maintenance strategies into inventory requirements:
  • PM (Preventive Maintenance) kits
  • PdM (Predictive Maintenance) replacement profiles
  • Breakdown/spare readiness models
• Work directly with Maintenance Planners to:
  • Pre-stage parts for shutdowns rebuilds and changeovers
  • Build kitted jobs for faster wrench time execution
• Analyze failure data (via CMMS) to:
  • Identify chronic part failures
  • Recommend higher-spec or alternative components
  • Adjust stocking levels based on real failure curves
• Support planned outage execution:
  • Ensure all parts are available weeks in advance
  • Create contingency plans for critical equipment
• Embed reliability concepts:
  • MTBF (Mean Time Between Failure) alignment with stocking
  • MTTR (Mean Time to Repair) reduction via parts readiness

Financial Ownership & R&M Cost Control

• Serve as the day-to-day steward of a multi-million-dollar R&M budget.
• Develop annual MRO spend forecasts by:
  • Asset class (processing packaging automation)
  • Maintenance strategy (PM/PdM/reactive)
• Conduct monthly variance analysis:
  • Identify cost spikes by line failure type or supplier
  • Partner with maintenance to correct cost drivers
• Drive cost-out initiatives including:
  • Repair vs. replace analytics
  • Use of refurbished/rebuilt components
  • Reduction in emergency purchases and premium freight
• Monitor and reduce:
  • Inventory carrying costs
  • Excess and obsolete (E&O) inventory
• Track and improve financial KPIs:
  • Inventory turns
  • Cost per operating hour
  • Maintenance cost per pound produced

Advanced Data Analytics & Decision Support

• Own MRO data governance within CMMS/ERP:
  • Item master accuracy (descriptions specs cross-references)
  • BOM (Bill of Materials) integrity for all key assets
• Build and maintain analytics dashboards such as:
  • Stockout events vs. downtime impact
  • Parts usage trends by equipment and failure mode
  • Spend by vendor category and asset class
• Perform predictive analysis:
  • Anticipate part demand based on production schedules and historical failures
• Identify hidden inefficiencies:
  • Overstocked but unused items
  • Frequently expedited parts (poor planning signal)
• Provide actionable insights to:
  • Maintenance leadership
  • Plant leadership
  • Supply chain teams

Vendor Strategy & Supply Risk Management

• Classify suppliers based on criticality:
  • OEMs for specialized automation components
  • Strategic distributors for high-use consumables
• Lead supplier performance management:
  • On-time delivery
  • Lead-time consistency
  • Pricing competitiveness
• Negotiate:
  • Blanket POs for high-usage items
  • Consignment/VMI programs
  • Emergency supply agreements
• Develop multi-sourcing strategies for high-risk parts
• Mitigate risk of:
  • Single-source dependency
  • Long-lead imported components
• Coordinate rapid-response sourcing during uptime emergencies

Warehouse & Inventory Control Excellence

• Establish best practices for MRO storeroom operations:
  • Logical bin locations aligned to usage frequency
  • Clear labeling and barcoding standards
• Lead and enforce cycle counting programs:
  • Daily/weekly cadence based on criticality tiers
• Investigate and resolve discrepancies:
  • Root causes (process gaps improper usage tracking etc.)
• Drive 5S and visual management in storeroom areas
• Improve technician experience:
  • Fast part identification and retrieval
  • Reduced time searching for materials
• Implement controls for:
  • Unauthorized withdrawals
  • Untracked parts usage (key data integrity risk)

Cross-Functional Leadership

• Act as the bridge between Maintenance Operations Finance and Procurement.
• Participate in:
  • Daily production/maintenance meetings
  • Weekly reliability reviews
  • Budget reviews and capital planning sessions
• Educate internal stakeholders on:
  • Inventory implications of maintenance decisions
  • Cost vs. reliability trade-offs
• Influence behavior:
  • Reduce just-in-case hoarding or over-ordering
  • Promote planned vs. reactive maintenance culture

Regulatory Food Safety & Audit Readiness

• Ensure all MRO processes comply with:
  • USDA requirements
  • Food safety standards (GMPs HACCP support)
• Manage proper storage of:
  • Food-grade lubricants
  • Chemicals and maintenance materials
• Maintain audit-ready documentation:
  • Inventory transactions
  • Supplier traceability where required
• Support internal and external audits:
  • Provide immediate visibility to inventory records
  • Demonstrate control over maintenance materials

Continuous Improvement & Digitization

• Lead or support Lean / Six Sigma initiatives such as:
  • Storeroom optimization
  • Inventory reduction without increasing risk
• Implement:
  • Barcode/RFID solutions
  • Mobile technician part issuance
• Drive CMMS maturity improvements:
  • Increased technician adoption
  • Improved data capture quality
• Benchmark against industry best practices for:
  • MRO inventory turns
  • Maintenance cost as % of asset value

What Strong Performance Looks Like in This Role

• No production downtime due to part unavailability
• Significant reduction in emergency purchase orders
• Improved maintenance efficiency (more planned work less reactive)
• Inventory reduced without increasing operational risk
• Clear data-backed decisions driving reliability and cost control

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

• Inventory accuracy 98%
• Stockout rate reduction
• Equipment downtime attributable to parts availability
• Inventory turns improvement
• R&M budget adherence
• Obsolescence reduction

Qualifications :

Education

• Bachelors degree in supply chain Engineering Business or related field
  (or equivalent experience)

Experience

• 37 years in MRO inventory maintenance planning or supply chain roles in manufacturing
• Experience in high-speed automated production environments required
• Food manufacturing or USDA-regulated experience preferred

Technical Skills

• Strong knowledge of MRO inventory management and spare parts planning
• Experience with CMMS/ERP systems (SAP PM/MM preferred)
• Advanced Excel and data analysis skills (Power BI/Tableau a plus)
• Understanding of reliability concepts (MTBF MTTR)

Core Competencies

• Analytical and data-driven decision-making
• Strong cross-functional collaboration
• Cost control and financial acumen
• Continuous improvement mindset (Lean/6 Sigma preferred)
• Detail-oriented with strong organizational skills

Why This Role Matters

This position is critical to ensuring uninterrupted production in a large-scale automated facility directly impacting uptime cost control and operational efficiency. Effective MRO management in this role drives both bottom-line performance and plant reliability.

Additional Information :

The pay range for this role is $44 - $47 (Hourly). Actual wage will vary based on several factors including but not limited to external market data internal equity location and candidate skill set and experience. Base pay is just one component of Jack Links Total Rewards package for Team Members. Other rewards may include annual incentive and program-specific awards. Jack Links provides a variety of benefits to eligible Team Members including medical dental and vision benefits life and disability insurance 401k participation paid holidays and paid time off.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS  

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by a Team Member to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job the Team Member will be required to wear the appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (i.e. beard/hairnet ear plugs frock boots etc.) stand for extended periods of time and use hands/arms to push pull reach and occasionally lift above head.  The Team Member must occasionally lift push pull up to 25 pounds and 50 pounds infrequently. Team Members are requested to visually inspect equipment and/or product. 

WORK ENVIRONMENT

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those a Team Member encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. The work environment is a plant setting with wet/slippery floors varying degrees of temperatures with an average temperature of 40 degrees in the production area.  Team Members will be exposed to raw and/or cooked meat products and moving equipment and will be required to follow all Food Safety Quality requirements.

EEO Statement:

Jack Links provides equal employment opportunity (EEO) to all persons regardless of age color national origin citizenship status physical or mental disability race religion creed gender sex sexual orientation gender identity and/or expression genetic information marital status status with regard to public assistance veteran status or any other characteristic that is protected by federal state or local law.

Jack Links is participant in the federal E-Verify program to confirm the identity and employment authorization of all newly hired employees. For information about the E-Verify program please visit:  job description is intended to generally describe the nature and level of work to be performed by team members in this position. It is not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities and skills required of team members performing this role.

Remote Work :

No

Employment Type :

Full-time