Buyer/Planner

Purchasing Agent

Performs day-to-day activities to fulfill purchasing requirements. Places orders with suppliers and expedites deliveries utilizing just-in-time practices. Develops and executes sourcing plans to meet cost savings, inventory, and quality objectives. Develops and maintains supplier relationships and maintains supplier database within ERP database. Reports to Director of Strategic Sourcing; works closely with Production Planner and other Purchasing Agents; Supports Managers and Supervisors in all Production and Engineering Teams. Successful performance will result in improved supplier reliability, reduced material costs, and reduced inventory levels while maintaining customer satisfaction. Company growth will also be supported through improved purchasing and inventory control processes.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities include the following (Other duties may be assigned):

1. Procurement and Sourcing (45%)

• Monitoring inventory levels, placing purchase orders, and following up with suppliers to meet or expedite delivery schedules.
• Managing inventory levels to meet goal.
• Identifying and executing purchasing and operational cost savings or quality improvement projects.
• Performing market analysis and executing sourcing plans.

Result: High quality and reliable materials supply while minimizing cost and inventory levels

2. Supplier Management (20%)

• Developing and maintaining relationships with suppliers.
• Communicating expectations and coordinating routine communication with suppliers.
• Coordinates the establishment of new suppliers.
• Maintaining purchasing databases within Mapics.
• Coordinating returns and issue resolutions with suppliers.

Result: Excellent relationships, clear expectations, and well documented profiles for supplier base.

3. Production Scheduling (20%)

• Monitoring inventory levels and internal manufacturing capacity relative to customer demand, developing production and quality inspection schedules and priorities
• Releasing manufacturing orders, analyzing and providing customer order lead-times

Result: Internal production areas are effectively scheduled. Effective utilization of internal manufacturing capacity while maintaining high customer service levels and inventory turns.

4. Special Project Execution (10%)

• Providing leadership, coordination, or input for purchasing and production control process improvement projects.

Result: Efficient and cost-effective purchasing and production control systems.

5. Quality Systems Maintenance (5%)

• Ensuring purchasing and production control systems and procedures are implemented as required to follow all FDA/ISO, CE, and MHW requirements.
• Ensuring proper response to internal and external audit findings.

Result: Purchasing and production control systems meet regulatory requirements.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

Other Duties (other duties may be assigned) :

• Establishes inventory levels and determines purchase quantities and delivery dates from suppliers.
• Selects suppliers to order from, based upon price, lead time, and capabilities.
• Provides leadership for purchasing and production control process improvement, cost savings, and quality system improvement projects.
• Successful performance will result in improved supplier reliability, reduced material costs, and reduced inventory levels while maintaining customer satisfaction.
• Materials reorder and open order reports, sales back-order reports, shipped on-time results, inventory reports, financial reporting of material costs and inventory levels, and supplier performance reports.
• Access to information concerning product reliability, product and material suppliers, supplier performance, manufacturing capabilities and methods, product specifications, sales goals, departmental budgets, e-mail communications and web pages.
• Places purchase orders for any raw material, third party products, equipment, tooling, MRO supplies, and office supplies from approved suppliers with approvals as required.

Education and/or Experience:

Bachelor's Degree or equivalent education or experience. NAPM/APP certification preferred. 3-5 years related experience in manufacturing environment.

Other Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Ability to make quick, effective decisions.
• Excellent written and oral communications, organizational, and interpersonal skills.
• Proven analysis and project execution skills.
• Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings, and familiarity with machining manufacturing methods.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, and Mapics or comparable MRP system knowledge.
• Regular and predictable onsite attendance is required for the ability complete work.
• Requires face-to-face interaction with team members, peers and management to complete work and provide support.

Physical Demands:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the individual will primarily remain in a stationary position, often standing or sitting for prolonged period. The individual must frequently lift and/or move equipment and supplies up to 25 pounds. The individual must operate laboratory instruments and mechanical equipment. The individual may perform constant repeating motions that include the wrists, hands, and/or fingers. The individual is required to perceive attributes of objects and materials.

Work Environment:

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.