Production Estimator - Paperboard Packaging

Southern Champion Tray - Mansfield, TX

Full-time

Mansfield, TX

Paper Manufacturing

About the position

The Production Estimator for Paperboard Packaging at Southern Champion Tray LLC is a pivotal role that requires a blend of technical expertise and strong interpersonal skills. This position is primarily responsible for estimating costs associated with custom paperboard packaging, which includes providing formal estimates to the sales team, managing estimates for both new and repeat jobs, and maintaining a comprehensive understanding of the company's capabilities. The estimator will also play a crucial role in advising the team on critical information necessary for new business development. In addition to cost estimation, the role involves forecasting raw material needs and managing inventory levels to ensure that materials are readily available for production. The estimator will authorize and procure all necessary paperboard to support production needs and forecasted requirements. Collaboration is key in this position, as the estimator will work closely with the General Manager and Sales Manager to ensure that material costs are minimized while still achieving optimal performance. This includes determining pricing estimates that accurately reflect production job costs, which encompass materials, freight, inks, tooling costs, and more. The estimator will also be responsible for maintaining high levels of responsiveness to estimate requests, participating in daily scheduling and job planning meetings, and managing the supply and inventory of raw materials. This role requires a proactive approach to analyzing carton structures and providing recommendations to sales regarding specifications that can enhance profitability. Continuous improvement is a core aspect of this position, as the estimator will seek opportunities to refine processes and data management to positively impact financial results. Additionally, maintaining strong vendor and supplier relationships is essential, as the estimator will attend critical supplier meetings and serve as a backup to the production scheduler when necessary.

Responsibilities

• Estimate costs for all custom paperboard packaging and provide formal estimates to sales.
• Manage estimates for new and repeat jobs while maintaining a strong knowledge of SCT capabilities.
• Forecast raw material needs and manage inventory levels to ensure availability.
• Authorize and procure all paperboard to support production and forecasted needs.
• Collaborate with General Manager and Sales Manager to minimize material costs while maximizing performance.
• Determine pricing estimates based on accurate production job costs including materials, freight, inks, and tooling costs.
• Work with Customer Service and Sales to gather necessary information for accurate estimates.
• Prioritize and organize workload and estimate requests for high responsiveness and accuracy.
• Participate in daily scheduling and job planning meetings with stakeholders.
• Initiate board purchases and issue purchase orders for paperboard procurement.
• Oversee and manage the supply and inventory of raw materials for responsive service.
• Manage estimating parameters in the Manufacturing ERP system.
• Analyze carton structure types and materials to determine cost estimates.
• Provide recommendations to sales regarding carton specifications to improve profitability.
• Set up and update item information in manufacturing systems to maintain data integrity.
• Guide Operations and Sales on updates regarding raw materials and vendor information.
• Maintain knowledge of SCT's costs in relation to manufacturing capabilities.
• Partner with Plant Leadership to ensure machine standards are current.
• Seek opportunities for continuous improvement in processes and data management.
• Participate in special projects aimed at process improvements and departmental goals.
• Maintain strong vendor and supplier relationships through effective communication.

Requirements

• Minimum of 3+ years of experience in a cost estimating role.
• Experience with cost estimating in the paperboard packaging or folding carton industry is required.
• Knowledge of cost accounting and procurement of raw materials is a plus.
• Demonstrates knowledge of basic accounting principles, including profit & loss.
• Strong working knowledge of machine and production capabilities.
• Proficiency with MS Office suite and experience with Radius (Manufacturing Resource Planning software - MRP).
• Ability to manage relationships with raw material suppliers.

Nice-to-haves

• Experience with procurement of raw materials is preferred.
• Strong technical aptitude.