Buyer/Planner

For more than 100 years, Atlas has been a leader in materials durability testing, offering a complete line of weathering testing instrumentation, laboratory, and outdoor testing services. Atlas products are designed and manufactured to conform to international and industry standard test methods, including ISO, ASTM, DIN, JIS and numerous others. Markets include automotive, paint and coatings, plastics and additives, textiles, pharmaceutical and consumer products, architecture, aerospace, photovoltaics, and packaging.

Headquartered in Mount Prospect, IL, Atlas employs over 250 colleagues around the world and operates major facilities in the US and Germany. Acquired by AMETEK in 2010, Atlas Material Testing is a business unit within AMETEK’s Measurement, Communication and Testing Division, which provides the design, integration and installation of critical communication systems, workflow, life-safety solutions and calibration instruments for temperature, pressure and process control.

Website: https://www.atlas-mts.com/

Atlas is currently seeking a Buyer/Planner to be responsible for all purchasing activities associated with supporting production and after sales service and parts requirements for an assigned product line. Specifically, the Buyer takes ownership for fulfillment of all Purchase Orders based on Atlas' master production schedule including the line management of independent customer demands. The Buyer will also purchase certain indirect material items as needed.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Create, release and monitor purchase orders, expediting and rescheduling as needed, to meet production schedules and customer requests while achieving on-time shipment and inventory investment objectives.
• Review MRP planning system daily; release and reschedule orders as needed to meet production schedules and customer requests.

• Communicate out-of-stock and delivery delays to customer service team via phone, email and reports.

• Manage supplier relationships for assigned suppliers.​​​​​​​
• Resolve quality issues with suppliers.

• Periodically benchmark purchased items total costs to ensure competitive pricing.

• For defective material, work with production, engineering and quality teams and suppliers to define root cause and corrective action.

• Monitor and report supplier performance based on defined performance indicators.

• Coordinate return and compensation for defective materials to suppliers.

• Communicate performance results to suppliers and collaborate with them to meet performance goals. Implement corrective actions for suppliers that do not meet performance goals.

• Identify and drive continuous improvement projects in accordance with budget goals.​​​​​​​
• Partner with engineering, production, product managers, and suppliers to identify and implement process and materials improvements to increase efficiencies, lower costs and improve quality.

• Assist Procurement Team Leader in understanding and monitoring key spending trends, cost drivers, market factors, geographic considerations, and strategic importance of critical commodities in order to implement appropriate sourcing strategies.

• Manage inventory investment in accordance with business objectives.​​​​​​​
• Proactively review and adjust delivery schedules to meet requirements.

• Monitor excess and obsolete inventory levels and take appropriate action to bring levels within defined levels.

• Manage and implement engineering changes with production team and suppliers.​​​​​​​
• Update item master information.

• Report cost change information.

• Update purchase orders to reflect changes.

• Manage material phase-in and phase-out.

• Communicate changes to suppliers and manage implementation of changes with suppliers.

• Define and maintain purchasing / planning parameters for assigned items.​​​​​​​
• Monitor and update system lead times based on actual / projected production and purchased part lead time.

• Develop and implement planning parameters to meet inventory investment objectives.

• Maintain cost information in ERP system and report details of all cost changes.

• Maintain key supplier information in ERP system.

Position Requirements:

• Education/Certifications: Bachelor’s degree in business or operations management or equivalent.

• Sourcing/purchasing/Quality certification such as (CPM, CPIM, CIRM, CQE, CSCP).

• Four to Five years of related experience and/or training.

• Practical knowledge of leading edge purchasing strategies.

• Experience managing supply relationships in an ISO9001 certified company.

• Strong drive for continuous process and productivity improvement.

• Demonstrated negotiation skills and ability to develop successful relationships with internal and external customers.

• Proficient in MS Office applications and strong understanding of MRP systems and their operation.

• Advanced MS Excel proficiency preferred.

Job Type: Full-time

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Employee discount
• Flexible schedule
• Flexible spending account
• Health insurance
• Health savings account
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Parental leave
• Professional development assistance
• Referral program
• Retirement plan
• Tuition reimbursement
• Vision insurance

Schedule:

• 8 hour shift
• Monday to Friday

Ability to commute/relocate:

• Mount Prospect, IL 60056: Reliably commute or planning to relocate before starting work (Preferred)

Education:

• Bachelor's (Preferred)

Experience:

• Purchasing: 4 years (Required)
• Negotiation: 4 years (Preferred)

Work Location: One location