Materials Managers are responsible for the managing raw materials components of a supply chain. They must monitor and determine the best use of materials used to produce a variety of consumer products. Materials Managers are responsible for purchasing new materials, and evaluating existing projects to identify materials needed for production or repairs.
Materials Managers also collaborate with the design or engineering team to ensure that products that are produced meet or exceed industry standards of quality and performance. All projects must be carefully examined, and the right materials must be located and purchased in order to comply with these standards.
The Materials Manager job requires having a keen ability to locate the necessary raw materials for the project. This generally involves developing a good working relationship with vendors and suppliers of the parts and materials, and being able to negotiate for the best prices and delivery rates so that projects can be completed at reasonable cost and in tandem with delivery schedules.