Data Analyst - Manufacturing

The Data Analyst Manufacturing turns production, labor, quality, inventory, and shipment data into clear, accurate information that helps leaders improve performance. This role develops reliable reporting, identifies trends and root causes, and partners with operations, finance, supply chain, quality, and maintenance to support timely, fact-based decisions.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Collect, validate, organize, and analyze manufacturing data from ERP, production tracking, timekeeping, quality, inventory, shipping, and other business systems.
• Create and maintain daily, weekly, and monthly dashboards and reports for production output, labor efficiency, incentive performance, scrap, rework, quality, attendance, inventory, finished goods, and on-time shipment.
• Analyze variances to plan, prior periods, standards, and targets; identify meaningful trends, risks, and improvement opportunities.
• Partner with plant and department leaders to define key performance indicators, establish consistent metric definitions, and improve data accuracy.
• Build automated or repeatable reporting processes that reduce manual work and improve the speed and reliability of information.
• Support capacity planning, staffing analysis, labor planning, scheduling, and production forecasting using historical and current operating data.
• Provide ad hoc analysis to support operational decisions, process improvement projects, cost reduction efforts, and leadership meetings.
• Investigate data discrepancies, document findings, and coordinate corrective action with system owners and department leaders.
• Develop clear visualizations and concise summaries that make complex information understandable for frontline and senior leaders.
• Maintain confidentiality of employee, payroll, financial, and business-sensitive information.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in business analytics, data analytics, industrial engineering, operations management, finance, statistics, or a related field; equivalent relevant experience may be considered.
• Two or more years of experience in data analysis, business analysis, operations analysis, or a related role; manufacturing, distribution, or logistics experience strongly preferred.
• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills, including formulas, PivotTables, lookups, charts, data validation, and data-cleaning techniques.
• Experience creating reports and dashboards in Power BI, Tableau, or a similar business-intelligence tool.
• Working knowledge of ERP systems and the ability to learn internal data structures and processes quickly.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, organization, and attention-to-detail skills.
• Ability to explain data findings clearly to leaders and team members with different levels of technical knowledge.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities, meet deadlines, and work independently while partnering effectively across departments.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in furniture, wood products, upholstery, or other discrete manufacturing environments.
• Experience with SQL, Power Query, Power Pivot, DAX, Python, or other data-querying and automation tools.
• Experience analyzing labor efficiency, production standards, incentive pay, scrap, inventory, or finished-goods flow.
• Knowledge of lean manufacturing, continuous improvement, or root-cause analysis methods.

Work Environment and Physical Requirements

This position works primarily in an office setting with regular time spent in a manufacturing and warehouse environment. The employee must be able to move through production and warehouse areas, communicate effectively with team members, and use standard office equipment. Appropriate personal protective equipment is required when entering production areas.