Manager, Stores

Imagine working at the forefront of innovation in fluid-flow technology, with over 1,400 colleagues across the globe, and contributing to a legacy of excellence that spans eight manufacturing facilities on four continents. Armstrong Fluid Technology is more than just a leader in our industry; we are a community of the brightest and most creative minds, driven by a shared mission to engineer the future and safeguard our planet.

As part of our team, you'll be immersed in an environment that fosters growth, creativity, and collaboration. Here, you'll have the opportunity to push boundaries, tackle exciting challenges, and develop cutting-edge solutions that promote energy efficiency and reduce environmental impact. Every day offers the chance to make a meaningful contribution to a more sustainable future, driving innovations that help lower global carbon footprints. Together, we’re creating a legacy that goes beyond business—one that’s changing the world for the better.

The Manager, Stores is accountable for the safe custody, accurate recording and timely supply of all materials in the factory: raw materials, components, packing materials, consumables, spares, tools and, where applicable, finished goods. The role ensures that production never waits for a material that should have been available, that system stock always matches physical stock, and that inventory is stored, handled and issued safely, in the right sequence and in compliance with statutory and audit requirements

Key Accountabilities

Receiving and Inbound Control

Receive materials against valid PO, invoice and delivery challan; verify quantity, specification, batch/lot, expiry and condition of goods.

Coordinate with Quality for incoming inspection and ensure materials are segregated (accepted, on hold, rejected) until cleared.

Post GRNs in the ERP promptly and accurately.

Raise shortage, excess, damage and wrong-supply reports and coordinate with Purchase and suppliers for resolution or return.

Schedule vehicle unloading and manage dock/gate flow to avoid detention and congestion.

Storage, Location Control and Material Preservation

Define and maintain storage layout, bin and rack locations, and a location-wise record of every item.

Apply FIFO/FEFO strictly and ensure batch, lot and expiry traceability.

Protect materials from damage, contamination, moisture, rust, pest and pilferage; arrange special storage for hazardous, high-value, temperature-sensitive and fragile items.

Ensure clear labelling, identification tags, colour coding and status marking.

Optimise space utilisation through layout improvement, racking and vertical storage.

Issue and Supply to Production

Issue materials against approved requisitions, work orders or BOM-based pick lists in the right quantity, at the right time and to the right location.

Support line-side replenishment systems (kanban, two-bin, milk-run) to reduce production waiting time.

Ensure every issue, return and transfer is booked in the ERP on the same day.

Control issue of consumables, tools and spares through authorised indents and consumption tracking.

Handle returns of unused, excess or rejected material with proper documentation.

Inventory Accuracy and Control

Maintain min, max, reorder and safety stock levels in coordination with Planning.

Run daily/weekly cycle counts (A-class items most frequently) and the annual physical verification; investigate every variance and correct root causes.

Reconcile stores records with ERP and Finance records at month end.

Maintain accurate stock status for unrestricted, quality inspection, blocked and consignment stock.

Prevent unauthorised movement of stock through gate pass and access controls.

Replenishment and Shortage Management

Review stock against reorder levels daily and raise purchase requisitions on time.

Share a daily/weekly critical shortage list with Planning, Purchase and Production.

Work with Planning and Purchase to track in-transit materials and expedite urgent requirements.

Provide early warning of potential line stoppages and maintain a record of shortage incidents with root causes.

Slow-Moving, Obsolete and Scrap Management

Prepare monthly ageing and non-moving stock reports and review with Planning, Purchase and Finance.

Drive actions for slow-moving and obsolete items: reuse, substitution, return to vendor, rework or disposal.

Segregate, store and account for scrap and surplus; support scrap sales with proper weighment, documentation and approvals.

Support write-off proposals with complete documentation and approvals.

Dispatch, Outbound and Documentation (where applicable)

Plan picking, packing, labelling and loading of finished goods against dispatch schedules.

Prepare dispatch documents: delivery challan, invoice copy, packing list, e-way bill, gate pass and lorry receipt, with the billing/logistics team.

Ensure right product, right quantity, right packing and right documentation on every dispatch.

Coordinate with Logistics for vehicle placement, loading supervision and proof of delivery.

Manage returns and customer rejections: receipt, inspection coordination and credit documentation.

Safety, Housekeeping and Compliance

Enforce safe stacking, load limits, fire safety, emergency access and safe handling of hazardous material.

Ensure material handling equipment (forklifts, pallet trucks, cranes, stackers) is maintained, inspected and operated only by authorised, trained personnel.

Implement 5S and visual management across all stores.

Comply with statutory and regulatory requirements (factory rules, hazardous storage rules, GST documentation, environmental and fire norms).

Investigate incidents and near misses and close corrective actions.

Systems, Data Integrity and Reporting

Ensure timely and accurate ERP transactions: GRN, issue, transfer, return, scrap, stock adjustment.

Maintain accurate material master data in coordination with Planning and IT (description, UoM, storage location, batch management).

Deploy and improve barcode, RFID, WMS and other digital tools for traceability and accuracy.

Publish daily, weekly and monthly MIS: stock status, GRN pending, shortages, ageing, accuracy, issue turnaround and safety.

Audit Readiness, Cost Control and Continuous Improvement

Maintain audit-ready records for internal, statutory, customer and certification audits (ISO, IATF, GMP, etc.); close audit observations on time.

Control stores operating cost (manpower, equipment, packaging, handling losses, pilferage and shrinkage).

Reduce handling damage, search time, double handling and material losses through Kaizen and lean tools.

Standardise SOPs, work instructions and checklists for all stores activities.

People Leadership and Team Development

Plan manpower and shifts to match inbound, issue and dispatch peaks.

Set clear goals, review performance and coach store staff and supervisors.

Train team members on ERP, material handling, safety, FIFO/FEFO and documentation discipline.

Build backup and succession cover for critical roles; maintain discipline, engagement and ethical conduct.

KPIs by KRA

The Stores and Warehouse function will be evaluated across 11 Key Result Areas (KRAs), with KPIs and indicative targets calibrated to the industry, plant maturity, and existing performance baseline.

Receiving and Inbound Control will focus on completing Goods Receipt Note (GRN) postings within 24 hours, unloading vehicles within 2–3 hours, maintaining receiving accuracy of at least 99%,

Reducing vehicle detention costs to zero or by 20% year-on-year, and reporting all material discrepancies to the Purchase team within 24 hours.

Storage, Location Control and Material Preservation

Focus on maintaining at least 99% location accuracy, ensuring 100% FIFO/FEFO compliance, limiting expiry, damage, and deterioration losses to less than 0.2% of in