Manufacturing Operations Planner/Buyer

Assist in workforce productivity optimization and work quality by eliminating potential delays and obstacles through proper planning and coordination of manpower, parts and materials. Maintain inventory of finished product at various distribution warehouses and in‑plant raw material within an established budget. Responsible for buying raw materials, ingredient items, and packaging at the optimum value to maximize profit. Perform all jobs safely, efficiently and accurately to maintain and improve the performance of the entire plant in the areas of Safety, Quality, Reliability (SQR) and our customer 1st strategy. Provide leadership that embodies our 7 Kroger Manufacturing High‑Performance Work System principles. Demonstrate the company's core values of respect, honesty, integrity, diversity, inclusion and safety. Assist in planning and scheduling production work on a weekly basis with emphasis on production reliability. Maintain appropriate records and files to permit meaningful analysis and report results of work completed to the Plant Staff. Minimize production line changeovers by combining like item production runs through long range planning. Ensure top priority is given to replenish out of stock items. Assist in forecasting long lead time or high‑volume usage materials. Review long range plan of finished product to ensure line capacity availability and inventory dollar level, meet Budget Guidelines. Ensure equipment availability prior to scheduling by communicating with appropriate teams. Review the actual versus estimated labor and materials used for completed jobs. Coordinate, obtain, and evaluate projected finished product requirements, maintain economic inventory levels beyond immediate operational requirements, and maintain a continuity of supply of procured raw materials and packaging at a reasonable cost consistent with quality specifications and operations requirements. Maintain price list and price quotations, to include soliciting and analyzing quotations, resolving invoice discrepancies, and maintaining market pricing and purchasing records. Establish and maintain positive vendor relations, to include evaluating performance, interviewing representatives, reconciling complaints and adjustments, originating communications, visiting vendor facilities, and arranging and participating in meetings between vendor representatives, and plant and company personnel. Schedule all inbound finished product. Balance delivery loads and times while staying within shift limits. Balance deliveries with shipping requirements at warehouse as well as receiving parameters of each warehouse. Coordinate and participate in monthly physical inventory counts. All other reasonable assignments from plant management. Follow established programs, policies and practices to produce safe quality foods that meet regulatory and Company Requirements. Support the development, implementation, maintenance, and ongoing improvement of the SQF. Accountable to the Kroger Manufacturing Food Safety and Quality Principles. Must be able to perform the essential functions of this position with or without reasonable accommodation. Must be able to work around ingredients and/or finished products known to contain food allergens. #J-18808-Ljbffr