Supply Chain Manager in Mankato, Minnesota at Kinperium-Hiniker LLC

Kinperium-Hiniker LLC (Hiniker) is a Minnesota based manufacturer. With roots in the agricultural equipment industry going back to 1970 and continuing today, we know how to build tough, productive, reliable equipment. Hiniker is known for sturdy cultivators, efficient shredders, and niche equipment such as the cover crop seeder and NH3 monitors.

In 1995, Hiniker branched into designing and manufacturing snow removal equipment, which is a trusted tool for many. Hiniker snow and ice equipment is built to enable the operator to work as efficiently as possible. We do this with innovative and purpose-built designs like the Hiniker C-Plow and the Hiniker Scoop Plow. We also manufacture a line of spreaders and skid steer plows. In 2024, we expanded our offerings with the acquisition of Daniels Plows, further strengthening our commitment to high-quality snow removal solutions.

We are currently seeking Supply Chain Manager at our facility in Mankato, MN. The Supply Chain Manager will have responsibility for working with the production and engineering team to develop a Kanban-based production system in the plant to maximize production runs. This role will “own” the acquiring the part and distributing it for processing through production in a prompt and timely manner.

Supply Chain Manager responsibilities will include planning and scheduling production runs, acquiring and receiving parts from third parties, stocking and managing inventory, and ensuring components are picked from the warehouse, so the plant operates efficiently. As part of this role, the Supply Chain Manager will lead the development and execution of sourcing strategies that forecast demand and optimize cost, quality, risk, and supplier performance across the Company and contribute to the financial performance of Kinperium- Hiniker (Hiniker). The Supply Chain Manager will perform and prepare cost-benefit and forecast supply analysis reports for management review, negotiate and execute favorable contracts with selected vendors or suppliers. Hiniker is going through a review of their MRP system (Epicor) with a third-party consultant to maximize its effectiveness, and the Supply Chain Manager will be a key participant in any changes Hinkier makes.

This role requires working closely with cross functional teams—operations, finance, legal, engineering, and leadership—to ensure that Hiniker’s supply chain supports short and long-term business goals.

This position is onsite and located in Mankato, MN.

Supply Chain Manager Duties and Responsibilities:

Strategic Leadership

• Develop and implement planning, sourcing, and distribution strategies that align with the company’s goals and objectives.
• Provide input into the design of a new Kanban system for the production floor
• Analyze market trends, cost drivers, and supply risks to inform the leadership team about sourcing issues.
• Analyze company spending, identify consolidation and/or cost-saving opportunities and efficiency gains.
• Perform workflow analysis with the production and engineering team to ensure that the correct parts are on the plant floor in a timely manner
• Identify material opportunities for innovation, cost savings, and process improvement including which parts should be produced in house
• Manage and mentor the purchasing and planning team on best practices to achieve Hiniker’s goals

• Identify, evaluate, and onboard new suppliers; and maintain strong relationships with current and key suppliers.
  • Lead supplier evaluations, scorecards, and performance reviews.
• Negotiate contracts, pricing, service levels, and agreements.
  • Oversight to ensure any legal requirements
  • Mitigate contractual risks.
• Work with Hiniker to maintain a cost management mindset, continually identifying cost reduction opportunities from MRO and supplies to raw materials, equipment, etc.
• Communicate forecasts and market information to key suppliers to assist them in meeting our production needs.

Cross Functional Collaboration

• Partner with internal stakeholders to understand requirements and ensure sourcing and fulfillment strategies meet operational needs particularly given the seasonality of the snow and agriculture business lines
• Support new product introductions or service expansions with sourcing expertise whether they be third party or in-house
• Work with legal and compliance teams to manage contract terms and mitigate risk.
• Regular communications with leadership and operations teams regarding usage versus forecast, incoming planned material receipts, and potential supply chain bottlenecks.
• Collaborate with operations team to maximize production efficiency through effective management of the supply chain
• Work with leadership and sales to understand the competitive landscape of our products and identify sourcing opportunities to improve our competitiveness.

Operational Excellence

• Develop and maintain the production schedule to maximize capacity and minimize operational costs.
• Lead RFP/RFQ processes from design through award.
• Drive continuous improvement in sourcing processes, tools, and analytics.
• Own and be accountable for all supply chain ERP data creation and upkeep.
• Monitor KPIs such as schedule attainment, inventory dollars, cost savings, supplier performance, quality of suppliers and on-time delivery to the production floor
• Manage inventory levels and maximize inventory turns and optimal service levels by managing vendors to ensure JIT supply chain reliability

Compliance and Controls

Supply Chain Manager Skills and Abilities:

• Strategic thinker with a data driven mindset.
  • Analytical and project management skills.
• Excellent contract, negotiation, and supplier performance management skills.
  • Confident negotiator who balances cost, quality, and risk.
• Demonstrated knowledge of business management, supply chain, strategic sourcing, and warehouse management experience.
• Demonstrated leadership in managing a small team and enabling them to grow in their role
• Ability to influence stakeholders at all levels.
• Collaborative partner who builds trust across teams.
• Comfortable navigating ambiguity and driving clarity.
• Experience implementing and/or operating in a Kanban production environment
• Excellent MRP skills, ideally using EPICOR
• Excellent Microsoft EXCEL skills.

Supply Chain Manager Education and Experience:

EOE/Minorities/Females/Veterans/Disabled. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status.