Summary: Responsible for the negotiation and monitoring of assigned vendors which can include both domestic and international suppliers. Vendor management should be focused on supplier quality, inventory management, and maintaining competitive pricing. In addition, this buyer will support the new product introduction process in managing vendor RFQ/RFP and initial procurement for prototyping.
Duties and Responsibilities
- Establish and accomplish cost reduction goals base on product category and/or commodity
- Execute ECO changes as needed with suppliers, effectively achieving engineering goals while meeting costing requirements and preserving supplier relationships
- Purchase inventory items from domestic and international suppliers to maintain sufficient inventory levels to maintain JIT and MRP inventory control processes
- Participate in writing the purchasing work instructions and departmental procedures to support ISO 9000:2015 QMS
- Work with the Materials Manager to develop and negotiate product and supplier specific long-term agreements and supply contracts
- Communicate with stakeholders to gather current requirements and specifications to be used within an RFI, RFQ, or RFP
- Analyze MRP forecasts and usage, applying thorough knowledge of the company’s products and business objectives for sound procurement decisions
- Actively work to resolve constraints in our supply chain that impact availability
- Support PMT (Product Management Team) in sourcing prototypes and initial sourcing of production quantity to support on time first customer shipments for assigned projects
- Develop purchasing strategy to eliminate single sourced scenarios of critical components
- Diversify commodity spend that result in a more balance distribution between suppliers
- Maintain appropriate documentation for audit and control procedures, in addition to timely and accurately, update purchasing records and data
- Other related duties as assigned
Qualifications, Education & Experience
- A blend of business acumen, strategic insight and technical knowledge driving a big-picture vision with day-to-day practical capabilities to bring the strategic vision to reality
- Experience in using Infor Syteline or similar ERP software
- Experience managing international supply partners
- Experience in importing and customs practices
- Experience in procurement of engineered metal and plastic components for manufacturing
- Minimum of 3+ years of progressive experience in a procurement related role
- Proficiency analyzing large amounts of data and distilling information into relevant business proposals
- Background in phase gate product development process is preferred
- Organizational and leadership abilities
- Knowledge of lean manufacturing principles
- Excellent communication skills
- Problem-solving aptitude and creative thinking ability
- Team player who can build relationships at all levels of the business
- Bachelor’s degree