Kaney
Engineering, manufacturing, and testing aerospace systems
Materials Manager
About the job
- A bachelor's degree in Supply Chain, Operations, Business, Engineering, or a related field is required.
- Three to five years of experience in materials management, supply chain, purchasing, or production planning is required.
- Experience in aerospace, defense, precision machining, or manufacturing is required.
- Strong enterprise resource planning/materials requirements planning experience with Epicor, Infor, SAP, Oracle, or an equivalent system is required.
- Strong analytical and Microsoft Excel skills are required.
- Strong analytical, negotiation, and problem-solving skills are required.
- The ability to manage supplier relationships and cross-functional projects effectively is required.
- Knowledge of inventory planning, supplier performance metrics, and strategic sourcing principles is required.
- Excellent communication and organizational skills are required.
- Develop and execute production material plans aligned with customer demand and master production schedules.
- Manage materials requirements planning recommendations and ensure timely release of purchase orders and manufacturing orders.
- Analyze excess, obsolete, and slow-moving inventory and develop reduction plans.
- Establish inventory policies, including safety stock and reorder points.
- Manage procurement of raw material, machined components, outside processing, hardware, and indirect materials.
- Negotiate pricing, lead times, and supplier agreements.
- Develop strategic supplier relationships focused on quality, cost, delivery, and responsiveness.
- Coordinate daily material availability with production scheduling.
- Lead shortage meetings and establish recovery plans.
- Support engineering changes and material transitions.
- Ensure material transactions are completed accurately within the enterprise resource planning system.
- Lead productivity projects focused on supplier performance improvement and Purchase Price Variance savings.
- Improve inventory turns and cash utilization.
- Reduce supplier lead times.
- Improve supplier on-time delivery.
- Standardize planning processes across Kaney locations.
- Experience in aerospace, defense, medical device, or precision manufacturing.
- APICS CPIM or CSCP certification.
- Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, or continuous improvement experience.
- Experience supporting AS9100 manufacturing environments.
- Government contracting or defense industry experience.
- Aerospace or highly regulated industry experience.
About the company
Kaney Inc. provides high-precision motion and position-control actuation, test equipment, aircraft harnesses, laboratory infrastructure, and large-system integration for Aerospace, Defense, Medical, and UAV/UAM markets. Its offerings cover the full lifecycle from design to aftermarket support, including system engineering and certification work, backed by AS9100 certification. Actuation and motion-control solutions enable precise movement for aircraft, test setups, and integrated systems, while harnesses, labs, and validation equipment ensure reliable performance. The company differentiates itself through a global footprint, end-to-end capabilities, and a proven track record with major customers, aiming to deliver certified, ready-to-deploy solutions quickly.
Company Size
51-200
Company Stage
N/A
Total Funding
N/A
Headquarters
Rockford, Illinois
Founded
N/A
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Simplify's Take
What believers are saying
- On July 14, 2026, Kaney invested $2.88 million in BGT Aerospace capacity and automation.
- Kaney added Dustin Sargent as BGT site lead, strengthening execution during expansion.
- BGT won Northrop Grumman's 2024 Supplier Excellence Award, supporting new defense wins.
What critics are saying
- BGT Aerospace serves Northrop Grumman, Safran, and Virgin Galactic; program loss hits revenue fast.
- Velocity One now controls Kaney; integration missteps can dilute engineering culture by 2027.
- Aerospace certification failures or quality escapes at Freeland can trigger customer audits and contract suspensions.
What makes Kaney unique
- Kaney owns electromechanical actuation, motion control, and advanced power systems across aerospace and medical markets.
- Kaney runs FAA Part 145 and EASA-certified repair stations, combining manufacturing with aftermarket service.
- Velocity One acquired Kaney on February 24, 2026, adding mission-critical engineering depth to the platform.
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Benefits
Health Insurance
Dental Insurance
Flexible Work Hours
Professional Development Budget
Training Programs
Company News
Kaney, a Velocity One portfolio company, is investing $2.88 million to expand its BGT Aerospace facility in Freeland, Michigan. The investment will add advanced production equipment including new machining, precision grinding, automation, and inspection technologies to increase manufacturing capacity for precision ball screw assemblies and motion control components. As part of the expansion, Kaney has selected Morris Midwest to supply multiple five-axis CNC machining centres. The company also appointed Dustin Sargent as director of operations and site lead for BGT Aerospace. BGT Aerospace manufactures precision components for aerospace, defence, space, and advanced mobility applications. Its customers include Northrop Grumman, Safran, Virgin Galactic, and Hummingbird Aero. The company received the 2024 Northrop Grumman Supplier Excellence Award for Strategic Excellence.
Kaney announces $2.88 million investment to expand BGT Aerospace operations in Freeland. * ACCESS Newswire * 18 hrs ago * 2 min to read FREELAND, MI / ACCESS Newswire / July 14, 2026 / Kaney, Inc., a Velocity One portfolio company, today announced a $2.88 million investment in its BGT Aerospace facility in Freeland, Michigan, expanding manufacturing capacity, adding advanced production equipment, and reinforcing the company's long-term commitment to the local community. The investment supports Kaney's strategy to strengthen domestic manufacturing capabilities for aerospace, defense, space, and advanced mobility applications. "This investment reflects our confidence in BGT Aerospace and the Freeland community," said Steven Martinez, president, Kaney. "By investing in our people and expanding our manufacturing capabilities, we are positioning BGT for continued growth while strengthening our ability to support the evolving needs of the aerospace and defense industry."
Rockford engineering firm Kaney Aerospace joins national defense tech ecosystem. Posted: Feb 25, 2026 / 01:36 PM CST Updated: Feb 25, 2026 / 05:38 PM CST ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO) - Rockford's Kaney Aerospace, known for its advanced actuation, motion-control and power-system technologies, has been acquired by Velocity One, an aerospace and defense platform backed by Charlesbank Capital Partners. Kaney, founded and headquartered in Rockford, employs more than 110 workers, including over 20 engineers in electrical, mechanical, software and aerospace disciplines. The company develops high-reliability motion-control systems, electric brake components, cockpit controls, and test-lab architecture used by major commercial and defense aviation programs worldwide. Its products fly on platforms ranging from traditional commercial jets to emerging Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) and autonomous aircraft. In addition to aerospace, Kaney supplies tens of thousands of components and systems to major medical-device manufacturers each year, including high-precision gear assemblies and robotic system components. The company also operates an FAA Part 145 and EASA-certified repair station. Rockford executive takes pride in manufacturing aircraft components and parts Jeffrey J. Kaney, Sr., who has led the company through years of expansion into high-value engineering and electromechanical systems, continues in his leadership role. Karan Talreja, Vice President at Charlesbank Capital Partners, said the acquisition strengthens Velocity One's capabilities in motion control and actuation - core engineering areas that Kaney has built its reputation around. "Kaney Aerospace is a natural addition to the Velocity One platform, adding motion control and actuation capabilities that complement our existing portfolio," Talreja said in the announcement. Kaney Aerospace has been one of the Rockford region's key contributors to the aerospace supply chain - an industry that employs thousands across northern Illinois. While the companies did not disclose financial details, the acquisition places Rockford-based engineering and manufacturing talent into a larger national defense-technology ecosystem.
Velocity One, an aerospace and defense platform backed by Charlesbank Capital Partners, has acquired Kaney Aerospace. Financial terms were not disclosed. Headquartered in Rockford, Illinois, Kaney Aerospace specialises in electromechanical actuation, motion control and advanced power solutions for aerospace and medical applications. The company operates an FAA Part 145 and EASA-certified repair station, serving commercial and defense platforms worldwide, with growing adoption in Advanced Air Mobility and autonomous vehicles. The acquisition expands Velocity One's portfolio, which includes Cartridge Actuated Devices, EMCORE Corporation and Aerosphere Power & Navigation. Since 2022, Velocity One has assembled specialised aerospace and defense companies with expertise in mission-critical systems. RBC Capital Markets advised Kaney Aerospace, whilst Foley & Lardner served as legal counsel to Velocity One.
Kaney expects to invest about $1.7 million into its office and research and facility on First Street, Gondol's memo states.