Raw Materials Planner

Job Description

We are looking to strengthen our Supply Chain team with a Raw Materials Planner who would be responsible for ensuring the timely availability of raw materials required for production while maintaining optimal inventory levels and minimizing supply chain costs. This role involves planning material requirements based on production schedules, demand forecasts, inventory levels, and supplier lead times.

You will work closely with Procurement, Production, Logistics, QC and other relevant functions to ensure continuity of production, manage material shortages and supply risks, and support the achievement of Sika Korea's operational efficiency, inventory optimization, and customer service objectives.

Your Key Responsibilities would be as follows:

Raw Materials Planning

• Develop and maintain raw material replenishment plans based on production schedules, demand forecasts, inventory levels, and material requirements.
• Calculate material requirements using the ERP system, taking into account bills of materials, lead times, minimum order quantities, and safety stock levels.
• Ensure raw materials are available in the required quantities and at the right time to support production plans.
• Monitor material availability and proactively identify potential shortages, excess inventory, and supply constraints.
• Review and adjust planning parameters, including safety stocks, reorder points, lot sizes, and procurement lead times.
• Coordinate with Production and Planning teams to align material availability with production priorities and schedule changes.

Procurement and Supplier Coordination

• Work closely with Procurement to ensure purchase requisitions and purchase orders are created and released in accordance with material requirements.
• Follow up on supplier confirmations, delivery schedules, overdue orders, and changes to committed delivery dates.
• Coordinate with suppliers and internal stakeholders to resolve delivery delays, quantity discrepancies, and other material supply issues.
• Provide Procurement with accurate and timely information regarding future material requirements and expected demand.
• Support the identification of alternative sourcing options when supply constraints or shortages arise.

Inventory Management and Optimization

• Identify slow-moving, obsolete, excess, and at-risk inventory and coordinate corrective actions with relevant stakeholders.
• Maintain inventory levels in line with agreed targets, service requirements, and net working capital objectives.
• Review inventory accuracy and help investigate discrepancies between system records and physical stock.
• Support inventory counting activities, stock reconciliations, and root-cause analysis of recurring inventory issues.
• Consider shelf life, expiry dates, storage requirements, and material-specific handling constraints when planning replenishment.

Cross-Functional Coordination

• Collaborate closely with Production, Procurement, QC, Logistics, and Finance to ensure effective material flow.
• Communicate material shortages, delivery risks, and potential production disruptions in a timely manner.
• Participate in production planning meetings and supply chain reviews.
• Coordinate with QC to ensure that incoming materials are released and available for use in accordance with applicable quality requirements.
• Escalate critical material shortages and propose recovery plans to minimize production disruption.
• Support alignment between supply plans, production capacity, and business priorities.

Systems, Data, and Reporting

• Maintain accurate material planning data in the ERP system, including lead times, lot sizes, safety stocks, and planning parameters.
• Monitor and report key planning and inventory performance indicators.
• Analyze material consumption, forecast accuracy, supplier delivery performance, and inventory trends to identify improvement opportunities.
• Ensure timely and accurate maintenance of purchase requisitions, delivery schedules, planning records, and other relevant master data within the role's scope.
• Identify opportunities to improve planning processes, system utilization, and data quality.

Qualifications

Qualifications and Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Logistics, Business Administration, Industrial Engineering, or a related discipline.
• 3–5 years of experience in materials planning, production planning, inventory management, or a related supply chain role.
• Experience in a chemicals or manufacturing environment is preferred.
• Experience with ERP systems, such as SAP, is highly desirable.
• Good understanding of material requirements planning, inventory management, procurement processes, and production scheduling.
• Experience working with suppliers and cross-functional teams in a manufacturing environment.

Required Skills and Competencies

• Ability to manage multiple materials, priorities, and deadlines effectively.
• Strong numerical and analytical skills, with the ability to interpret inventory, consumption, and demand data.
• Ability to identify potential supply disruptions and develop practical solutions.
• Clear and timely communication with suppliers and internal stakeholders along with very good English skills
• High level of accuracy in planning data, order quantities, delivery dates, and inventory records.
• Ability to work effectively across and with multiple functions
• Willingness to challenge existing processes and improve supply chain performance.
• Good working knowledge of Microsoft Excel; experience with reporting and data visualization tools is an advantage.

Additional Information

The SCM team in Sika Korea is part of the Supply Chain and Procurement department, which includes Supply Chain, Planning, Logistics, Procurement, and Customer Service. This role would report to the Supply Chain Manager and Planner role and would be playing a pivotal role responsible for raw materials planning across all factories and site in Korea.

We offer competitive salaries, aligned with local market benchmarks and the specific scope and responsibilities of each role. Compensation is determined based skills relevant to the position, education and/or training.  We are committed to fair and equitable pay practices in accordance with applicable laws and regulations.

Company Description

Sika is a specialty chemicals company with a globally leading position in the development and production of systems and products for bonding, sealing, damping, reinforcing, and protection in the building sector and industry. Sika has subsidiaries in 103 countries around the world, produces in over 400 factories, and develops innovative technologies for customers worldwide. In doing so, it plays a crucial role in enabling the transformation of the construction and transportation industries toward greater environmental compatibility. In 2025, Sika’s 33,700 employees generated annual sales of CHF 11.20 billion. Since 1998, Sika AG is present in Korea through its subsidiary Sika Korea Ltd. which employs more than 90 people and has 3 branch offices in Korea.