The Buyer, Planner, Purchasing Agent is responsible for managing assigned commodities within an OEM manufacturing environment. Including supplier development, purchase order management, materials planning, and cost/quality performance. This role partners closely with Engineering, Quality, and Operations to ensure reliable, cost-effective sources of supply.

• Identify, develop, and maintain reliable sources of supply within assigned commodities.

• Negotiate purchase agreements and contracts to secure favorable pricing, terms, and conditions.

• Review engineering drawings for outsourced machined components and prepare quote packages for qualified regional suppliers capable of cost-efficient production.

• Solicit quotations from qualified suppliers to ensure competitive sourcing, and support quoting and cost-gathering efforts for new product introductions.

• Conduct regular site visits to major suppliers within assigned commodity areas.

• Build and maintain strong working relationships with key suppliers.

• Assist the Materials Manager in developing supplier certification and rating programs.

• Place, follow up on, expedite, and de-expedite purchase orders to ensure deliveries align with the material requirements plan.

• Manage commodities of responsibility to consistently achieve targeted inventory turns.

• Plan material purchases to minimize inventory investment, maximize operating efficiency, and achieve lowest total cost.

• Maintain and periodically review Item Master data — including order quantities, lead times, and authorized supplier information — to support accurate MRP.

• Review, approve, and procure items requisitioned by other departments per purchase order approval procedures.

• Maintain purchase order history and inventory item master databases to ensure data accuracy and completeness.

• Investigate purchase price variances that fall outside acceptable tolerance.

• Communicate material specifications and quality requirements; negotiate pricing; establish delivery commitments; identify substitutions and improvement opportunities.

• Audit supplier quality performance to ensure compliance with target quality levels; initiate corrective action as needed.

• Process rejected material per department procedures and drive corrective action on non-conforming material.

• Develop and publish commodity strategies for assigned procurement areas.

• Participate in assigned cost reduction committee(s).

• Contribute to the development of new purchasing procedures and programs.

Additional Responsibilities

• Help maintain an orderly, professional work area.

• Comply with all policies and rules in the company employee handbook.

• Adhere to ISM ethical standards for supply management.

Required

• Associate or bachelor’s degree in business, operations, or a related field; or 10+ years of related experience and/or training; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

• Minimum of 3+ years of purchasing experience in an OEM manufacturing environment.

• Ability to interpret technical drawings, including GD&T.

• Working knowledge of Material Requirements Planning (MRP).

• Experience with automated/ERP purchasing systems.

• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and word processing; at least 1 year of experience with integrated manufacturing systems.

• Solid understanding of purchasing department practices and standard business procedures.

• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced environment, remaining flexible to changing deadlines and priorities.

Preferred

• Knowledge of CNC/machine tooling.

• Working knowledge of Lean Six Sigma.

• ASCM or ISM membership/certification.