Inventory Product Specialist

Job Description

Job Description

The Machine Inventory Product Specialist is responsible for managing a category of machine inventory. This individual is a product expert in their category, staying current with product features and benefits, configurations, and sourcing options. The ideal candidate will possess a deep understanding of Caterpillar machinery, product offerings, and sourcing methods, and will proactively use this knowledge in a collaborative manner to optimize inventory management, setting machine configurations, stocking levels, and providing sourcing solutions that balance the needs of inventory turns, market share, cost, customer benefit, and profitability. This position provides product training to the sales team in partnership with vendors and works closely with other HOLT departments.

Essential Functions :

• Models, promotes, and reinforces the consistent use of HOLT’s Values Based Leadership (VBL) tools, models, and processes to ensure alignment with our Vision, Values, and Mission.
• Is a product expert on the models, configurations, and applications in an assigned product category.
• Advises sales reps on compatibility, specifications, and sourcing solutions including new orders, changing existing orders, PDC availability, dealer trades, reconfiguration of on hand units and substitution of alternative models.
• Stays current with annual product updates, new product introductions, product options, features and benefits, and competitive product offerings as well as industry, application, quoting and delivery trends across all Regions within Holt to provide insight for monthly forecasts and ensure that the correct models, work tools, and configurations are always in stock to meet customer demand.
• Leads configuration teams to create and maintain standard configurations in Holt’s IT systems as well as maintain inventory model mix levels that balance the needs of inventory turns, market share, cost, customer benefits, and profitability.
• Maintains configuration compatibility with vendor ordering processes.
• Reviews sales order / rental agreement, ensure the configuration of the machines is correct, and executes the winning sourcing strategy in partnership with the sales team, deal team, product support team, other dealerships, and vendor product sourcing methods. Submits advanced orders for specialty products.
• Demonstrates a collaborative and wholistic approach while working closely with the other dealership teams (Deal Team, Worktools, Heavy Rents, Texas First, SITECH, Product Support, Sales Team, Yard Team, Transport) and vendors (Caterpillar, Weiler, others) to forecast demand, ensure the timely availability of machines, optimize inventory, and support customers.
• Maintains relationships with all North American Caterpillar dealers and vendors to trade and source.
• Communicates Annual Product Updates, NPI information, and other product update information in a meaningful way to the organization.
• Provides product training to the Sales Team in partnership with vendors.
• Maintains accurate and up-to-date inventory records, ensuring proper tracking, storage, and documentation of products based on product specifications and technical requirements.
• Conducts regular cycle counts, audits, and reconciliation of inventory to ensure accuracy and resolve discrepancies while monitoring inventory performance metrics, such as product turnover rates, stock levels, and order fulfillment performance.
• Prepares and maintains inventory reports and dashboards, analyzing sales and inventory data to identify trends, adjust inventory levels, product mix, and stock forecasts to match the needs of current and future customers.
• Assists with returns, exchanges, rework, insurance claims, product failure investigations. Engage with training with In-Territory sales team on product. Engage with In-Territory yard team on Inventory process training. Works safely always and adheres to all applicable safety policies; complies with all company policies, procedures, and standards.
• Calculates demo and fuel charges for all new machines.
• Submits insurance claims on damages to any new machine shipped from the factory via vessel, rail, or domestic truck.
• Conducts physical inventory counts at each assigned location.
• Assists Inventory Control Technicians (ICTs), New Inventory, Heavy Rental Fleet and Texas First Rental Fleet with any inventory related questions.
• Engages with the accounting department to reconcile any inventory accounts.
• Performs other duties assigned.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities :

Education and Experience :

Supervisory Responsibilities :

Travel :

Physical Requirements :

Work Environment :

Disclaimer :

Please note that the above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by employees assigned to this classification. They are not to be interpreted as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of the incumbents so classified. All incumbents may be required to perform duties outside of their normal responsibilities, as needed.

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