Buyer, Business

Introduction

At Senneca, we embrace the entrepreneurial spirit of the innovators that created our brands from traffic doors, to cold storage doors to fiberglass doors and beyond. We are committed to exceeding our customers’ expectations and to provide doors that offer safety and protection to our customers’ most important assets…people, products, capital investments and processes.

Support the facility through the creation, delivery, and upkeep of supply plans, purchase orders, inventory levels, reorder points, and other types of systems and documentation associated with the flow of materials.

The Buyer/Planner is responsible for purchasing materials for the production facility. This person will review supply plans based upon changes in forecast and customer demands. They will work closely with the supply chain team and the production team to manage capacity constraints and ensure finished goods product is available to meet our customer expectations. These products and services are to be secured at cost, quality and at delivery competitive levels consistent with company policy and performance standards.

The position is further responsible for the timely planning and scheduling of receipt and inventory control of the products.

• Initiates purchase orders and amendments for parts, services and/or special tools; arranges for submission and inspection of sample products as required; maintains close coordination with plant engineering to ensure timely execution of product and services sourcing activities.
• Work closely with Production to advise of potential supply issues and resolutions in purchased goods.
• Responsible for the timely planning and scheduling of receipt and inventory control of the products
• Have a thorough working knowledge of purchasing policies, processes and procedures, warehouse and inventory control.
• Secures and analyzes quotations, negotiates prices and terms with suppliers, and recommends suppliers with respect to cost, quality and delivery competitiveness for assigned responsibilities.
• Studies market prices and trends, engineering developments, and manufacturing method improvements applicable to assigned responsibilities; advises company activities with concurrence of the Commodity Manager.
• Interviews and confers with current and prospective suppliers to determine supply capabilities, transportation logistics inventory control and management; negotiates prices and delivery terms with guidance from Commodity Manager.
• Visits suppliers’ facilities to qualify them as new sources and assists in the resolution of production, design, quality and/or delivery problems.
• Works closely with the Commodity Manager to follow monthly supply plan for all international suppliers.
• Monitor item level forecast versus actual demand and revise supply plans as necessary.
• Manage supplier capacity constraints and make adjustments as necessary.
• Make sure supply plan keeps finished goods inventory levels in line with safety stock plan and achieves customer service level of 98% or higher.
• Ensure ERP is updated to match most recent supply plans.
• Work closely with Sales, Marketing and Customer Service to advise of potential supply issues, and resolutions.
• Help manage slow moving and obsolete finished goods sku’s for proper disposition.
• Performs miscellaneous-related duties as assigned by the Commodity Manager.

• Bachelor’s degree preferred in business/sourcing.
• Related experience:
  • 1 – 3 years in a buying/sourcing position
  • Experience in a manufacturing plant.
• APICS: CPIM and/or CPP certification preferable.
• Reporting Relationship:
  • Reports directly to the Supply Chain Manager.
• Job Knowledge/
  
  Skills Required:
  • Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
  • Ability to effectively interact and communicate with vendors.
  • Strong negotiating skills.
  • Exceptional strategic, analytical and decision making abilities.
  • Effective written and verbal communication/presentation skills.
  • Ability to work independently and be a self-starter.
  • Working knowledge of Microsoft Office and INFOR Industrial knowledge a plus.
  • Ability to handle a variety of tasks and situations in a calm and effective manner.
  • Attention to detail.
  • Excellent organizational skills.
  • Problem analysis and problem resolution at a functional level.
  • Strong team player.
  • Commitment to company values and business ethics.