Purchasing Buyer – Raw Material

Job Title: Purchasing Buyer - Raw Material

Company: Aisin World Corp. of America

Department: Purchasing - Raw & Indirect Material

Location: Northville, MI or Seymour, IN

Position Responsibilities

The incumbent is expected to perform the following functions that the company has determined are essential to this position:

Material & Indirect material purchase/cost analysis/ cost reduction:

• Become a commodity expert, develop deep understanding of material types, applications, suppliers and competition in the field, contribute to development of Aisin NA Raw Material strategy.
• Coordinate and analyze total volume usage, spend, and forecasts for material suppliers
• Detail quotation analysis for all cost drivers; total supply chain analysis.
• Cooperate closely with cross-functional team to execute purchasing activities with suppliers, investigate potential suppliers when necessary.
• Assess prospective suppliers for new model programs and localization activities.
• Lead cost reduction activities for Aisin affiliated companies, and support and cooperate with Aisin's group companies.
• Support commodity purchasing team with (raw) material cost inputs, and cost reduction activities.
• Analysis of various inputs and conditions from cross-functional departments to find cost savings opportunities.
• Responsible for document control for material RFQ's, LOI's, ECI's, quotations, and sourcing documentation.
• Negotiate prices, delivery schedules, payment terms, confidentiality agreements, master purchase agreements, changes in process, terms, engineering requirements, and other items as required with suppliers.
• Prepare reports and presentations as necessary.

Program Development:

• Identify suppliers for new business and review their capabilities per engineering requirements.
• Support Aisin affiliated companies to identify potential suppliers cost competitiveness.
• Facilitate, support, and coordinate activity, visits, and communication between various Aisin groups; i.e. act as window to supplier for Aisin and window to Aisin for supplier.
• Develop and maintain record of supplier assessments.
• Work with design team to identify new, local, or advanced materials for mass or cost savings.
• Manage key supplier relationships effectively.

• Support development of intelligence activities regarding the competitor and supplier information including, but not limited to, new products, product and process improvement, VA / VE, profit improvement, cost reduction and so on.
• Report major, weekly and monthly activities to the Management.
• Operate with “cross-functional” approach and accordingly accept / assume new responsibilities as dictated by business environment.
• Function as a key person to compile / summarize / analyze and communicate necessary data and develop summary and status documents / materials.
• Support development of cost estimations for engineering analysis, business opportunities and other needs as directed.
• Support the launch of new programs, including tracking prototype / trial materials.
• Assist to develop effective plans and strategies for material cost control.
• Establish & control documented activity plans as necessary.
• Develop and execute short-term and long-term plans with other purchasing groups, engineering, and other teams.
• Other tasks and duties as assigned.

Required Skills and Abilities

Essential Skills and Experience:

• 2 – 5 years of demonstrated experience and accomplishments in each of the areas described above.
• Experience in manufacturing and technical environment.
• Experience in raw/indirect material purchasing for manufacturing processes.
• Understand manufacturing processes and costs associated with those processes.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Demonstrate analytical & negotiation ability.
• Excellent organization and time management skills.
• Ability to work effectively in a collaborative environment.
• Ability to demonstrate patience and verify facts.
• Demonstrated ability to persevere and complete difficult tasks.

Beneficial Skills and Experience

• Experience in automotive industry with understanding of standard job functions and requirements within the industry.
• Experience in multi-cultural environment, preferably Japanese-based.
• Fluency in English with additional language skill in Japanese, Chinese, German, and/or Spanish.

Education/Training/Certifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Engineering Technology, other Applied Science, or Purchasing supply chain management is preferred. Bachelor's degree in Business or other non-technical area is acceptable based on proven technical skill.

Travel Requirements

• Approximately 10-20 %
• Must be willing and available to travel to such locations and with such frequency as is necessary and desirable to meet business needs.

Work Environment Requirements

With reasonable accommodation:

• Must be able to operate a personal computer, telephone, and other office equipment.
• Must perform job duties onsite, when necessary, except those duties that are customarily or by their nature performed offsite (for example, offsite customer visits).
• Must be able to work effectively in a fast-paced environment.
• Must be able to work on multiple assignments at once, and complete assignments within deadline and budget (if applicable) with satisfactory quality.
• Must be able to operate as an effective team member.
• Must be committed to a high standard of safety and be willing and able to comply with all safety laws and all company safety policies.

Attendance/Work Hour Requirements

• Must maintain an acceptable attendance record.
• Must be willing and available to work weekends and holidays as necessary and desirable to meet business needs.