Senior Inventory Control Jobs in Elgin, IL (NOW HIRING)

Position Summary
The Materials Control Specialist is a senior-level Materials Control position responsible for executing and supporting complex material flow activities across receiving, shipping, inventory control, material staging, internal movement, raw material control, remnant management, and production support.
The Materials Control Specialist operates with a high degree of independence and is expected to resolve routine material discrepancies, support ERP transaction accuracy, maintain traceability, coordinate material readiness, and assist in training and guiding Materials Control Coordinators. This role serves as an experienced resource within the Materials Control team and helps ensure that material moves accurately and efficiently from receipt through production and final shipment.
The role is intended to provide advanced functional capability within Materials Control, strengthen problem-solving at the working level, and reduce the need for routine material flow and transaction issues to be escalated to the Materials Control Supervisor.
Key Responsibilities
1. Advanced Materials Control Execution
• Perform receiving, shipping, staging, material movement, inventory control, and production support activities as required
• Independently process more complex material transactions and resolve routine ERP, inventory, or material identification discrepancies
• Verify material identification, quantities, locations, job requirements, and associated documentation before material movement or processing
• Support accurate material issue, transfer, return, and completion transactions
• Ensure physical material condition and location remain consistent with system records
2. Material Readiness & Production Support
• Review production priorities and assist in ensuring required material is located, prepared, and staged for scheduled operations
• Identify jobs at risk due to missing material, incomplete preparation, location discrepancies, or other material constraints
• Coordinate with Production Control and the Materials Control Supervisor to resolve material readiness issues
• Support urgent production needs, recovery activities, and shipment-critical priorities
• Assist production personnel in locating and resolving material-related issues while maintaining proper transaction and traceability discipline
3. Receiving & Traceability
• Receive raw material, purchased components, outside processed product, and other incoming items in accordance with established procedures
• Verify purchase order information, quantity, material identification, heat or lot information, and required documentation
• Ensure material certifications and traceability information are properly maintained and associated with the correct material
• Identify discrepancies in documentation, identification, quantity, or condition and escalate as appropriate
• Coordinate with Quality, Purchasing, or the Materials Control Supervisor when receiving issues require additional review
4. Shipping Execution
• Prepare customer shipments in accordance with job, customer, quality, packaging, and documentation requirements
• Verify part numbers, revisions, quantities, destination, packaging instructions, and required shipping documentation
• Complete required ERP shipping transactions accurately and timely
• Support customer-specific packaging, labeling, source inspection, and shipment documentation requirements
• Identify and resolve routine shipment discrepancies before product leaves the facility
5. Inventory, Staging & Remnant Control
• Maintain accurate storage locations and material identification throughout assigned areas
• Perform cycle counts, inventory verification, and discrepancy investigation
• Support accurate control of raw stock, remnants, staged material, and assigned work-in-process locations
• Ensure usable remnants are properly identified, traceable, stored, and transacted
• Investigate misplaced, unidentified, incorrectly transacted, or quantity-discrepant material and support corrective action
6. Team Support & Training
• Serve as an experienced functional resource for Materials Control Coordinators and other assigned personnel
• Assist with onboarding, cross-training, ERP transaction training, and standard work development
• Reinforce proper receiving, shipping, staging, traceability, inventory, and material handling practices
• Provide feedback to the Materials Control Supervisor regarding recurring process issues, training needs, or performance concerns
• Provide coverage across Materials Control functions based on operational need
7. Continuous Improvement & Process Discipline
• Identify recurring transaction errors, material movement delays, inventory issues, or unnecessary handling
• Recommend improvements to storage, staging, labeling, transaction flow, and material handling practices
• Support implementation of standardized work and visual controls
• Maintain orderly, safe, and disciplined material storage and handling areas
• Support physical inventory, audit, and continuous improvement activities as assigned
Execution Authority
The Materials Control Specialist is authorized to:
• Perform approved Materials Control ERP transactions within assigned responsibilities
• Prioritize routine material activities in alignment with direction from the Materials Control Supervisor and Production Control
• Resolve routine material location, transaction, quantity, and documentation discrepancies
• Provide work guidance and training to Materials Control Coordinators
• Stop movement of material when identification, traceability, quantity, condition, or documentation appears incorrect
• Escalate material shortages, inventory discrepancies, shipment risks, or traceability concerns
The Materials Control Specialist does not have authority to:
• Independently change production schedule priorities
• Commit delivery dates to customers
• Substitute material, specifications, or material conditions without appropriate approval
• Disposition nonconforming material
• Change controlled manufacturing or inspection requirements
• Make purchasing commitments outside established authority
• Exercise formal disciplinary authority unless specifically delegated
Qualifications
• High school diploma or equivalent required; technical coursework or associate's degree preferred
Materials Control Specialist Job Description
• 3+ years of experience in materials, inventory control, shipping and receiving, warehouse operations, or manufacturing support preferred
• Experience in aerospace, defense, precision machining, or regulated manufacturing environments preferred
• Strong working knowledge of ERP/MRP inventory and material transactions
• Understanding of material identification, lot and heat traceability, inventory locations, and controlled material movement
• Experience with shipping and receiving documentation and processes
• Ability to read basic engineering drawings, purchase orders, job travelers, material specifications, and production documentation
• Strong organizational, problem-solving, and communication skills
• Ability to safely operate material handling equipment as required by the position
• Ability to work effectively in a high-mix, schedule-driven manufacturing environment
Physical Requirements
• Ability to stand and walk for extended periods throughout the workday
• Ability to frequently bend, stoop, squat, kneel, reach, and perform physical material handling activities
• Ability to safely climb and work from ladders as required to access material storage locations and perform inventory or material handling activities
• Ability to routinely lift, carry, position, or move items weighing up to 50 pounds
• Ability to handle heavier materials through the appropriate use of forklifts, cranes, hoists, pallet jacks, carts, team lifting, or other approved material handling equipment
• Ability to push and pull carts, pallet jacks, containers, and other material handling devices
• Ability to handle, position, count, label, package, stage, and inspect raw material, work-in-process, and finished product
• Ability to safely operate forklifts, pallet jacks, cranes, hoists, or other material handling equipment when trained and authorized
• Ability to visually read material markings, heat and lot identification, labels, job documentation, computer screens, and shipping and receiving documentation
• Ability to perform repetitive scanning, labeling, packaging, counting, and material handling activities
• Ability to perform the essential functions of the position with or without reasonable accommodation
Work Environment
• Work is primarily performed in manufacturing, warehouse, receiving, shipping, raw material storage, and production environments
• Regular exposure to manufacturing noise, forklifts, cranes, moving machinery, material handling equipment, and production traffic
• May be exposed to metal stock, sharp edges, oils, coolants, cutting fluids, dust, chips, and other conditions typical of a precision manufacturing environment
• May be exposed to temperature variations associated with loading docks, shipping and receiving areas, raw material storage, and manufacturing areas
• Work may require access to elevated storage locations using approved ladders
• Required to wear applicable personal protective equipment and comply with all site safety and material handling requirements
This position involves access to export-controlled information and/or items. To be eligible, applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States and must be able to perform all job duties in compliance with U.S. export control laws and regulations without current or future employer-sponsored export authorization.
This job description is intended to provide a general overview of the responsibilities and qualifications associated with this position. It is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, or working conditions. Responsibilities and duties may change at any time based on business needs, and the employee may be required to perform other tasks as assigned.