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Riken Elastomers Corp. - Supply Chain Specialist

Job DescriptionJob Description

Job Title: Supply Chain Specialist

Location: Plant

Department: Riken Elastomers Procurement

Reports to: Procurement Assistant Manager

FLSA: Exempt

Summary:

Perform duties associated with the buying process for PVC and TPE compounding manufacturing facility to ensure companies operational needs are met. Assist in coordinating, organizing, and overseeing all activities involved in the identification, acquisition, production, and distribution of company products to obtain optimum efficiency and alignment to the Company’s mission and vision while providing successful operations within Riken Americas to include its subsidiaries Riken Elastomers and Rimtec.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

General

  • Comply with all environmental, health, safety, and quality standards, including ISO.
  • Develop, adhere to, and monitor ISO standards related to job responsibilities.
  • Initiate or suggest ideas and support continuous improvement efforts in all areas of organization.
  • Support an innovative team mindset.
  • Responsible to be onsite to work with procurement team and support production,
  • Other duties as assigned.

Procurement:

  • Communicate with leadership teams any issues in procurement planning that could impact Riken Americas operations and make recommendations to protect Riken Americas.
  • Conduct price negotiations for several raw materials in coordination with the Procurement Manager and Assistant Procurement Manager.
  • Monitors ERP system to maintain inventory levels and communicate availability.
  • Expedite purchase orders as needed, resolve supplier issues, identify/escalate issues to management.
  • Develops and maintains necessary records and files for efficient operation.
  • Develops policies to increase efficiency throughout the supply chain while ensuring quality and safety; implements subsequent changes to processes.
  • Maintain and distribute daily a tracking system to monitor product orders, receipts, and inventory levels.
  • Communicate daily with Production, Research & Development (R&D), Quality, Management and Logistic (S&R) on supply chain related topics.
  • Monitors activity of 3rd party warehouse.
  • Monitors the performance of suppliers/vendors, assessing their ability to meet quality and delivery requirements; identifies and qualifies new suppliers/vendors in collaboration with the needs of other departments.
  • Studies market trends, interviews vendors, and recommends sources of supply.
  • Collaborate with other departments to close operational gaps in systems.
  • Participate in various committees related to procurement and production planning.
  • Assist department in establishing performance metrics for measurement, comparison, and evaluation of factors affecting supply chain.
  • Participate in projects for ERP optimization, that include automating and integrating preproduction (order entry related) systems.
  • Planning and implementation of further ERP enhancements aimed at maintaining and improving stable and efficient procurement operations.
  • Other duties as assigned.

Inventory:

  • Assist in analyzing and reporting on raw materials and packaging to maintain sufficient inventory.
  • Maintain procedures to control inventories at adequate supply levels based on stock levels, orders, production schedules and forecasts.
  • Work with suppliers of operating supplies to develop and maintain effective vendor supported inventory programs.
  • Assist in conducting annual physical inventories for Riken Americas.
  • Work with internal departments to provide suppliers with information relative to future needs.
  • Confer with Technical, Manufacturing, Sales, and suppliers to discuss defective or unacceptable material to determine source and take corrective action.
  • Proactively and responsibly engage in inventory optimization initiatives in collaboration with other departments.
  • Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

  • High school diploma or GED (General Education Degree) required; associate degree in business management, Accounting, Supply Chain Management, or Finance .
  • 2 Years’ previous experience in related supply chain field
  • Experience working in a manufacturing environment .
  • Experience with SAP or similar ERP system .
  • Knowledge of analytical, problem solving and organizational skills
  • IT knowledge and skills including knowledge and understanding of ERP and data systems .
  • Knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite or similar software to Excel and Power Point.
  • Employee must be able to relate to other people beyond giving and receiving instructions:

(a). can get along with co-workers or peers without exhibiting behavioral extremes

(b). perform work activities requiring negotiating, instructing, persuading, or speaking with others

Physical Demands and Work Environment: The physical demands and work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Physical demands:

  • Frequently required to sit/stand, walk, talk and hear
  • Occasionally required to use hands and fingers to feel, handle or operate objects, tools, or controls; and reach with hands and arms
  • Rarely required to climb, balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, and crawl
  • Rarely required to lift and/or move up to 55 pounds
  • Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, vision, and the ability to adjust focus.


Work environment: Plant and Office

  • Exposure to changes in temperature, dust, fumes, and chemicals
  • Exposure to moderately loud noise while in the plant
  • Personal protective equipment required while in the plant
  • Exposure to low noise levels while in the office

The duties listed above are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related or a logical assignment to the position.

The job description does not constitute an employment agreement between the employer and employee and is subject to change by the employer as the needs of the employer and requirements of the job change.


As an Equal Opportunity Employer, we are committed to a diverse workforce.

Riken Elastomers Corp. - Supply Chain Specialist

Hopkinsville, KY
Full time

Published on 08/24/2025

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