Warehouse Controller

Mercian Labels is at the top of its game, an independently owned multi-award winning full-service label manufacturing business with strong brand recognition for excellence. Our vision is to become a **World Class** manufacturer of labels and we are passionate about delivering ‘Speed & Service’ to our customers.

We are seeking to appoint a **Warehouse Controller** to oversee the activities of the purchasing and inventory control department and manage the inventory of materials for the company. Having a strong and controlled supply chain will be key to achieving a world class manufacturing status, and this role will be pivotal to allowing this to succeed.

You will ensure we always have **appropriate levels of stock** of our consumables items, and we are buying at the best rates possible and at the right time to ensure we never run out of core items.

You will look after the waste aspect of the business; ensuring we are buying the best service as required for the business and looking for opportunities to **reduce waste** where possible.

This role requires the overseeing and coordination of daily **warehousing activities**, liaising closely with the supply chain department to ensure any potential delays are avoided. You are required to ensure the stock is accurately stored, managed and stock controlled. Taking responsibility for warehouse tidiness is a key part of the role and will be reflected in the day-to-day **presentation of the factory** and stocking areas. It is important to support our daily pre-press activities ensuring materials are readily available in advance when jobs are ran on press.

**Purchasing**
- Identify opportunities to make improvements or savings within the business, and then tactically select suppliers that best meet our commercial terms and needs.
- Anticipate future material availability or problems and liaise with our suppliers and supply chain manager.
- Prepare purchase orders for supplies, materials and parts, sometimes bulk ordering for future call off.
- Liaise with our planning and scheduling department to ensure that any out of the ordinary jobs have the most suitable material selected and purchased.
- Ensure all purchase orders of stock follow our company financial control policy.
- Seek opportunities to automate or improve supplier purchasing or stock control.
- Control our waste contracts for the business ensuring we are compliant and utilising the service in the best way and looking for options to reduce waste and/or costs where possible.

**Inventory Control**
- Proactively manage inventory levels of consumable items to ensure consistent availability and minimise stock outs.
- Accept goods in on a Flexi or Counterbalance Forklift, and ensure goods are accurately reflected in our ERP system.
- Ensure stock and stock takes are 100% accurate at all times.
- Utilise CERM to monitor stock levels, track consumption patterns, and forecast future needs.
- Ensure internal stock levels are maintained and regularly reviewed and updated with demand and supply chain in mind. Utilise investigation processes where the system is not working as expected.
- Ensure the rotation of stock is well controlled utilising the oldest rolls first and controlling smaller rolls.
- Deliver materials to the Printing or Finishing machines when required.

**Continuous Improvement**

To plan and deliver a continuous stream of purchasing/inventory improvements using appropriate lean manufacturing techniques, constantly initiating changes across the function.

**Quality Improvement**
- To support all areas within the business to ensure the products we are purchasing are fit for purpose and meet the standards we expect.
- Where this has not been the case then you will be required to liaise with the supply chain manager to understand these problems.

**Additional Responsibilities **To cover for holidays and sick cover, you will be required to cover the Dispatch department. Other tasks to support the business plan as and when required including working extra hours if required to ensure company business objectives are met. To support problem solving on our Centralised waste extraction system.

**Person Specification**

**Essential**:

- **Forklift License (Flexi or Counterbalance)**:

- **Must have an excellent understanding of the duties involved in managing the movement of stock efficiently and accurately.**:

- **A good standard of IT knowledge (ERP Systems - such as SAP).**
- Be a team player with good interpersonal skills, willing to be flexible and engage with all different departments.
- Positive and professional “Can-do” attitude.
- Strong decision making and accountability.
- Able to react quickly and manage/balance competing multiple priorities and achieve positive results.
- Careful, considered approach
- Ability to exercise tact, courtesy and ethics when dealing with vendors.
- Excellent organisational skills and attention to detail.
- Excellent time management skills with a proven ability