GENERAL DESCRIPTION
The Buyer/Planner is responsible for planning, purchasing, and managing raw materials, components, supplies, and services to support manufacturing operations. This role provides day-to-day tactical execution and coordination across Sales, Engineering, Supply Chain, Quality, and Operations to ensure uninterrupted production, optimal inventory levels, supplier performance, logistics execution, and compliance within a regulated manufacturing environment.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:
- Manage inventory and demand planning activities to maximize order fill rates and improve inventory turns.
- Adhere to purchasing requirements and stocking levels for low-volume, high-mix products.
- Source, qualify, and manage suppliers for new and / or existing products to achieve measurable cost savings.
- Use inventory data, purchase requisitions and MRP/ERP systems to determine material requirements.
- Communicate with suppliers to confirm order status, adjust delivery schedules, obtain return authorizations
- Maintain accurate purchasing records, including purchase orders, approvals, and vendor / supplier documentation and reevaluations.
- Prepare periodic reports related to purchasing.
- Establish, monitor, and report supplier performance metrics and vendor scorecards.
- Support and participate in ongoing quality initiatives and continuous improvement efforts.
- Participate in meetings related to new product introductions, projects, supplier evaluations, and production planning.
- Manage inventory programs including Kanban to ensure uninterrupted manufacturing flow.
- Obtain weekly Kanban supply counts and place orders to maintain needed stock levels.
- Place all MRO (Maintenance, Repair & Operations) purchases orders.
- Track all MRO purchases for both locations and provide regular status updates.
- Run monthly container shipment reports.
- Verify all raw material quantities required for container shipments.
- Create Inter-Branch Transfers (IBTs) for container shipments and distribute accordingly.
- Document and communicate raw material shortages, items not in-house, and required purchasing actions related to container loads.
- Complete and manage all container documentation and spreadsheets.
- Reconcile credit card expenses including receipt attachment and purchase order matching.
- Complete and manage credit applications for new suppliers or suppliers with repeated purchases.
- Perform other related duties as assigned by management.
WORKING CONDITIONS
Good working conditions (office environment) with frequent exposure to warehouse and manufacturing areas. The warehouse and manufacturing areas may be dusty, noisy, dirty and may have unpleasant odors.