Mechanical Buyer

About Air Techniques, Inc.
Founded in 1962, Air Techniques, Inc. set out to manufacture first-rate products for the dental industry. Over 64 years later, Air Techniques has grown from a small company into a successful corporation. At our New York headquarters, we design and build two main groups of products: utility room and digital imaging products. Our products are manufactured in a vertically integrated factory where compliance with the Food and Drug Administration Good Manufacturing Practices is paired with stringent Quality Standards. In-house engineering staff designs our products for the dental market. We are proud to maintain the ISO-13485 registration certification which reinforces our pledge to quality and customer satisfaction. At Air Techniques, we have earned our reputation in the dental industry through our commitment to quality and ensuring customer satisfaction. We are proud that Air Techniques represents superior quality to dealers and dentists worldwide.

Position Description:

Under the guidance of the Purchasing Supervisor, the Mechanical Buyer is responsible for sourcing and purchasing all types of mechanical parts that include Injection molding, castings, machined parts that are milled or turned, fasteners, gears, pulleys, sheet metal, or anything else that is mechanical in nature.

Tasks include, but are not limited to, developing new suppliers, obtaining competitive quotations from multiple vendors to manufacturing drawing and specifications, placing orders, verifying orders, expediting orders for on time deliveries, processing defecting material returns, and adjusting delivery requirements on the fly to meet customer and company production requirements. Being able to aggressively maintain on time vendor deliveries is a key requirement of the position. Cost reduction efforts through most effective purchase quantities and competitive bidding while maintaining high quality, on time deliveries, and reasonable inventory levels are expected.

Essential Functions and Responsibilities:

• Responsible for the development, strategy and ownership for their assigned commodities including materials, components and services purchased in support of the master production schedule and new product development. Commodities to include plastic molded parts, castings, machining tools, sheet metals, various fabrications
• Understand the workflow and dynamics of a manufacturing company and its necessary interactions with purchasing
• Demonstrated ability to read and interpret engineering drawings and understand fabrication and manufacturing technologies/techniques
• Responsible for RFP's, sourcing (domestically and internationally), proposal evaluation, negotiating agreements and contract terms based on the most competitive total cost of ownership solutions
• Manage supplier relationships and performance in areas of quality, inventory, delivery, service, continuous improvement, innovation, cost avoidance and cost reduction
• Maintain and track part parameters and availability within assigned commodity
• Collaborate with R&D, Engineering, and Quality teams throughout first article process
• Constantly evaluates parts and assemblies and recommends possible other candidates or assemblies that can be purchased from approved global sources of supply
• Collaborate with Planning department for regular forecasting
• Interfaces with Product Engineering when needed to ensure an accurate and timely implementation of new parts, revisions, or other tasks required to outsource assemblies
• Reports PPV, variances, progress, or anything else that applies to this position in a formal, and timely manner as required by the Purchasing Department Supervisor, or Operations Management
• Performs other duties, as assigned

Work Experience Requirements:

• Minimum of 6 years of professional experience
• Experience purchasing plastic molded parts, castings, tooling, complex mechanical components and assemblies
• Understanding of ISO, UL, CE, FDA requirements
• Experience with an MRP/ERP system

Core Skill Requirements:

• Understanding of purchasing principles
• Understanding of ISO, UL, CE, FDA requirements
• Proficient with Microsoft Excel including formulas, v-lookups, and pivot tables
• Creativity, flexibility, adaptability, excellent teamwork, and analytical skills

Education Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Engineering, Operations, Supply Chain Management or related experience required
• ISM certification a plus