Job Title:  Buyer/Planner

As the Buyer/Planner, you will be responsible for coordinating the flow of released materials within specific departments according to production schedules to limit cost and disruption, while meeting customer delivery requirements.  You will also be responsible for planning and coordinating production control schedules in order to ensure an optimal flow of approved materials to meet production timelines and requirements. 

What you will do:

Vendor Relations:

• Develop and maintain excellent vendor relationships.

• Solicit quotes, conduct bid evaluations, evaluate costs, negotiate optimum delivery schedules, and ensure the best combination of price, quantity discount, and product quality.

• Coordinate and review vendor service contracts (i.e. office machines, landscaping, cleaning services, waste management).

• Measure, report and improve supplier scorecards resolving misunderstandings, complaints, rejected materials, delivery, and performance issues.

• Vendor Quality - Coordinate updates to ISO status. 

• Vendor Quality - Follow up with Supplier SCARS or quality issues as needed for closure.

• Manage Vendor REACH / RoHs certifications.

• Solicit Supplier Surveys for new Suppliers adding to ASL.

• Recommend alternate sourcing as needed. 

• Resolve vendor conflicts and payment issues within ERP, Quality and Purchasing systems. 

Cost Savings:

• Support cost savings initiatives, including implementing programs and reporting on results.

• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of the current markets and evolving technologies and methodologies to identify opportunities for cost reduction and/or process improvements.

• Participate in lean manufacturing continuous-improvement efforts as they relate to planning and manufacturing.

Freight:

• Data 2 Logistics (validating freight invoices)

• Resolve Freight issues - payments / lost / damage

Planning / Materials:

• Manage material availability, inventory, and capacity levels to provide optimal lead-times by using appropriate data and analytical tools.

• Analyze demand data and usage histories to maintain item parameters for managing inventory and MRP efficiency. 

• Provide detail analysis for make or buy decisions.

• Communicate and prioritize schedules with production ensuring requirements are met for Sales, Engineering and Quality activities. 

• Generate, release, monitor and expedite purchase and work orders to meet schedule.  

• Update and maintain daily Order Tracking files along with ERP data to support weekly production meetings and user reporting.

• Responsible for all ECO and non-conforming material disposition for manufactured parts.

What we are looking for:

• Bachelor’s degree in related field required.

• 5+ years’ relevant experience working in a manufacturing business; or equivalent combination of education and experience.

• Must be able to effectively communicate technical concepts, problems, and ideas to various levels within the organization.

• Knowledge of manufacturing processes required: material/production control and basic lean manufacturing concepts, etc.

• Proficiency in ERP utilizing MRP and purchasing systems a must.

• A solid understanding of planning principles and an ability to effectively negotiate is required.

• Must be proficient in Microsoft Office, with intermediate to advanced Excel skills required.

• APICS Certification desired. 

• Ability to work as an individual contributor and in a team environment

• Ability to travel <10%

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