Buyer - Tier 1 Automotive

Buyer

Under the direction of the Purchasing Manager, the Buyer is responsible for contacting suppliers to expedite all purchases to ensure on-time deliveries. Responsible for flow of communication within the Purchasing team.

JOB DUTIES & ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Issue Purchase Orders and follow up with suppliers until the material is received in the system – including MRO. 
• Coordinate the pickup of materials from our suppliers.
• Request required paperwork from suppliers of raw materials and MRO (such as invoices, TDS, MSDS, COA, packing lists, and certificates)
• Communicate with suppliers to ensure that specified delivery dates are met on purchase orders issued by Purchasing or Supply Chain.
• If supplier is unable to meet the specified delivery date, issue Change Order showing new agreed upon delivery date and promptly advise the departments involved (i.e., Production Planning, Materials Management, Production, etc.).
• Understand the Automated Procurement System and its relationship to the various interfacing systems. Maintain purchasing databases to ensure dependent departments have prompt and accurate information. Use generated reports and screens for control and manufacturing decisions.
• Review the various databases of the Automated Procurement System daily for reschedules and cancellations and take appropriate actions urgently. 
• Assist Production Planning in reviewing purchased parts shortages to determine if sufficient quantities are available and or in transit to allow a manufacturing schedule change if and when required.
• Process all Accounting tasks for price and quantity discrepancies.
• Post daily acknowledgements to purchase orders. Follow up on un-acknowledged orders and confirm with vendors.
• Review rejected material and complete disposition with corrective action.
• Review metrics for validity and provide daily maintenance to ensure accuracy.
• Determines proper quantities of materials (resins, inserts, packaging etc.) and establishes deliveries to meet the production schedule, using MRP, machine run time, and knowledge of other relevant facts.
• Monitor the forecast for the raw materials, including packaging.
• Keeps Schedulers apprised of material availability problems through daily contact and attending production scheduling meetings. Participation in these meetings should also be to find out the needs of materials and services from the Production team. 
• Establishes and monitors inventory processes, including Kanbans, VMI, Pull/Lean and Consignment programs with vendors. Monitors inventory value and continually works to reduce levels without interrupting service to the plant.
• Maintains reasonable level of inventories, economical to supply parameters and production schedules.
• Follow the Purchasing department's increase process as is required.
• Participates in all functions of Physical Inventory.
• Contributes to the development & implementation of planning & acquisition processes as well as purchasing req's, purchases, & procedures.
• Works closely with appropriate teams in the development and engagement of sourcing strategies.
• Knows and contributes to the objectives and goals of the Supply Chain group. Create scorecards to monitor performance. 
• Presents and elaborates on the month PPV report and clarifies any questions. 
• Help with audits such as IATF and ISO. 
• This list of duties and responsibilities is not all inclusive and may be expanded to include other duties and responsibilities, as management may deem necessary from time to time.

Qualifications

KNOWLEDGE

• Minimum education requirement is a Bachelor’s Degree in Business, Supply Chain, or related coursework from 4-year college or university with at least 3 years of related experience (i.e., purchasing, customer service, or production scheduling). May instead have an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience; additional experience may be substituted for education.
• APICS certification strongly preferred.
• Knowledge of the materials purchased, programs, and procedures that are related to the work of the purchasing department.

SKILLS

• Must work independently, receiving a minimum of detailed supervision and guidance.
• Demonstrates a professional and mature demeanor at all times, working in a positive and professional manner with internal/external contacts. Ability to deal with people in a patient and positive manner.
• Must be dependable and have excellent attendance record.
• Self-starter, with a highly developed sense of urgency and self-motivation to work independently with limited supervision.
• Detail-oriented accuracy in work and good follow up skills.
• Working knowledge of PC software including Excel and Word. BPCS experience preferred.
• Effectively present information in one-on-one and small group situations to customers, clients, and other employees of the organization.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills (at all levels both internally and externally).

ABILITIES

• Ability to calculate figures and amounts such as discounts, rebates, proportions, and percentages.
• Ability to read and apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions given in written, oral, or diagram form.
• Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists.
• While performing the duties of this job the employee is regularly required to sit, use hands, handle objects, talk, and hear. The employee is occasionally required to stand, walk, reach with hands and arms, climb or balance, stoop, kneel, and crouch.  The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds.
• Ability to write reports, business correspondence, and procedure manuals.