Job Description

The Buyer/Planner is responsible for coordinating procurement and planning efforts throughout designated internal and external manufacturing areas. The incumbent is responsible for near and intermediate term planning and purchasing based on demand, capacity/capability and lead time and buffer requirements, purchasing of raw materials, components and services from local/regional/global suppliers, to meet production and customer requirements, verifying availability of proper tooling/designs and management of stock and planning strategies for finished goods/raw materials within SAP/Oracle.

PRIMARY DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

Purchasing

• Procures materials components, supplies and services necessary for the operation of the Company
• Set-up and maintain material, supplier and planning system data in the MRP/ERP system
• Develop and communicate purchasing agreements.
• Participates in purchasing initiatives, cost reduction programs, etc.
• Works as the purchasing liaison between facilities. Negotiates blanket orders as needed.
• Develops purchasing reports for vendor analysis, purchase volumes, On-Time Delivery (OTD), etc.
• Communicates problems, results, and important issues to applicable supervisors, scientists, and engineers.
• Ensures that requisitions receive proper signatory permission.
• Place orders with Approved Suppliers from properly executed requisitions and expedites critical materials as necessary.
• Works with suppliers to resolve quality, delivery, and pricing problems.
• Challenges price increases, particularly those greater than the rate of inflation and evaluates bids consistent with the total cost of ownership

Planning

• Review and plan all new sales order demand within designated MRP. Responsible for entering accurate delivery dates on sales orders.
• Maintains current and long-term forecasts required to drive production and inventory planning requirements.
• Responsible for high level plan within capacity and load parameters set by operations.
• Ensure completed work orders are technically completed in a timely manner and work order aging is limited to 3 months.
• Utilize Oracle/SAP for planning production requirements, component availability and

Reporting, Analysis and Production Control

• Utilize SAP to report/track purchasing and production metrics: capacity, loading, backlog, lates and OTD.
• Work with departmental management to utilize SAP for Capacity Planning and Load

Computerized Record & Technical Database

• Responsible for maintenance of SAP purchasing and receiving system to include new vendor entry, consumable and raw material part entry and part cost entry.
• Responsible for testing and upgrading purchasing system with new releases of SAP.
• Updates procedures as required.

EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE

• Degree in Business Administration, Supply Chain Management or equivalent.
• Minimum 5 years progressive experience in planning, inventory control, purchasing, shipping or materials management function
• Experience with problem analysis and resolution
• Experience with networked PC based computer system (MS Office, spreadsheets, access, graphics, Email, ERP/MRP systems)
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills
• Strong analytical, planning and organizational skills.
• Effective negotiating skills, ability to negotiate contracts
• Advanced computer skills that include Microsoft Office Suite products
• Ability to handle diverse, detailed tasks
• Ability to integrate knowledge of manufacturing processes, customer service demands, accounting principles, product design and ERP systems requirements
• Set a high standard of ethics, professionalism and competency