Manufacturing Stores Lead: Lean Inventory & Kit Management

Engineering Stores Manager

Location: Halstead (own transport required due to rural location)

Salary: £30-40K depending on experience

Purpose of the Role

To lead and manage the stores function in support of a manufacturing production target. The Stores Manager ensures all materials are available on time, stored securely, and issued efficiently to maintain production flow and reduce downtime. This role is crucial for maintaining high inventory accuracy and a lean, responsive stores operation.

Key Responsibilities

• Maintain accurate stock levels for over 2,000+ line items
• Ensure timely stock replenishment aligned with the build schedule and BOMs
• Manage cycle counts and investigate discrepancies to achieve >98% stock accuracy
• Maintain minimum and maximum stock levels to avoid shortages or overstocking
• Organize and manage stock takes, monthly and yearly

Stores Operations

• Oversee goods-in, storage, and issuing processes with a focus on speed and accuracy
• Implement and maintain bin locations, kitting systems, and Kanban for high-movement items
• Support kit preparation aligned to weekly production schedules (e.g. 4-5 units/week)
• Oversee returns to stock and non-conforming materials procedures

Team Leadership

• Lead and manage a small team of 3-6 stores personnel including FLT operators and pickers
• Set clear priorities for daily operations, driven by production schedules
• Deliver training on safe handling, stock control, and supply chain usage

Coordination and Communication

• Liaise daily with Production Planning and Purchasing to synchronize materials flow
• Escalate shortages proactively and help resolve supply chain disruptions
• Work closely with Quality and Engineering to control part changes and material revisions

Health, Safety, and Housekeeping

• Maintain a safe and organized stores environment in line with 5S and HSE guidelines
• Ensure all racking, FLTs, and lifting equipment are inspected and compliant
• Lead incident reporting and root cause analysis where required

Continuous Improvement

• Support lean initiatives to reduce waste in material handling
• Drive layout changes to improve accessibility and reduce walk time
• Recommend changes to improve supply chain materials traceability

Key Skills & Experience

• Minimum 3 years in a Stores or Warehouse Supervisor/Manager role in manufacturing
• Experience in low- to medium-volume, high-variety build environments (ideally automotive, HGV, or coachbuilding)
• Competent in supply chain MRP systems
• Strong organizational and problem-solving skills
• Able to read engineering part lists and BOMs
• Licensed forklift driver (Counterbalance/Reach) – desirable

Qualifications

• NVQ Level 3 or equivalent in Warehousing, Supply Chain, or Logistics
• IOSH Managing Safely or equivalent – desirable
• Continuous Improvement/Lean qualification or demonstrable experience – advantageous

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