Manufacturing Buyer/Planner

Description

The Buyer/Planner is responsible for managing assigned commodities within an OEM manufacturing environment, including supplier development, purchase order management, materials planning, and cost and quality performance. This role partners closely with Engineering, Quality, and Operations to ensure reliable, cost-effective sources of supply.

Requirements

• Identify, develop, and maintain reliable sources of supply within assigned commodities.

• Negotiate purchase agreements and contracts to secure favorable pricing, terms, and conditions.

• Review engineering drawings for outsourced machined components and prepare quote packages for qualified regional suppliers capable of cost-efficient production.

• Solicit quotations from qualified suppliers to ensure competitive sourcing, and support quoting and cost-gathering efforts for new product introductions.

• Conduct regular site visits to major suppliers within assigned commodity areas.

• Build and maintain strong working relationships with key suppliers.

• Assist the Materials Manager in developing supplier certification and rating programs.

• Place, follow up on, expedite, and de-expedite purchase orders to ensure deliveries align with the material requirements plan.

• Manage commodities of responsibility to consistently achieve targeted inventory turns.

• Plan material purchases to minimize inventory investment, maximize operating efficiency, and achieve lowest total cost.

• Maintain and periodically review Item Master data — including order quantities, lead times, and authorized supplier information — to support accurate MRP.

• Review, approve, and procure items requisitioned by other departments per purchase order approval procedures.

• Maintain purchase order history and inventory item master databases to ensure data accuracy and completeness.

• Investigate purchase price variances that fall outside acceptable tolerance.

• Communicate material specifications and quality requirements; negotiate pricing; establish delivery commitments; identify substitutions and improvement opportunities.

• Audit supplier quality performance to ensure compliance with target quality levels; initiate corrective action as needed.

• Process rejected material per department procedures and drive corrective action on non-conforming material.

• Develop and publish commodity strategies for assigned procurement areas.

• Participate in assigned cost reduction committee(s).

• Contribute to the development of new purchasing procedures and programs.

Additional Responsibilities

• Help maintain an orderly, professional work area.

• Comply with all policies and rules in the company employee handbook.

• Adhere to ISM ethical standards for supply management.

Required

• Associate or bachelor’s degree in business, operations, or a related field; or 10+ years of related experience and/or training; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

• Minimum of 5 years of purchasing experience in an OEM manufacturing environment.

• Ability to interpret technical drawings, including GD&T.

• Working knowledge of Material Requirements Planning (MRP).

• Experience with automated/ERP purchasing systems.

• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and word processing; at least 1 year of experience with integrated manufacturing systems.

• Solid understanding of purchasing department practices and standard business procedures.

• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced environment, remaining flexible to changing deadlines and priorities.

Preferred

• Knowledge of CNC/machine tooling.

• Working knowledge of Lean Six Sigma.

• ASCM or ISM membership/certification.