Buyer/Planner Job Description

Position Summary:

Plans and develops the master production schedule to match the inventory and manufacturing operation requirements, which will ensure orders are shipped on time in an efficient and cost-effective manner. Performs forecasting and analysis on related production activities/processes to drive better manufacturing results and efficiencies. Interfaces with inventory control, finance, purchasing, production, maintenance, engineering, distribution, marketing, sales and customer service to provide reliable information on the production plan.

Additionally, is responsible for the procurement of materials, managing daily vendor performance and compliance, identifying and resolving purchasing issues and reviewing plans to determine if changes need to be made to the projections.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities:

• Purchases materials to ensure supplies meets the Manufacturing Resource Planning (MRP) "planned order" requirements to support demand and on-time delivery of domestic and global demand requirements.
• Ensures international, subsidiary and miscellaneous demands are accurately incorporated into monthly purchases as required by the business unit.
• Responsible for order placement and vendor management of delivery schedules.
• Identifies potential issues, and ensures disconnects such as anticipated product shortages, non-conforming material and excess or obsolete materials are continuously monitored and resolved.
• Identifies risks, develops alternative solutions and assesses impact on product delivery to present optional solutions. Communicates issues and resolutions to internal teams including sourcing and product management.
• Manages day-to-day vendor performance and fulfillment. Evaluates and monitors contracts to ensure that vendors and suppliers comply with expectations, contract terms and the conditions of the contracts and to determine the need for changes. Clearly communicates expectations to suppliers and monitors compliance with contracts to ensure compliance.
• Assists in the development of partnership arrangements with suppliers to manage internal inventories and vendor consigned inventories to reduce inventory ownership and lead times. Performs inventory analysis when required.
• Troubleshoots/analyzes quality issues and collaborates with internal and external teams to obtain resolution. Focuses to drive down the overall freight expenses, material liability and cost of managing materials.
• Develops key reports with measurement and benchmark information to improve purchasing and supplier management processes.
• Reviews the annual forecast plan for requirements, and participates with planning to ensure inventory availability. Additionally, participates in determining disposition of excess and obsolete materials.

• Plans and develops the short term master production schedule which includes the facilitation and monitoring of raw materials, forecasting, customer orders, capacity constraints and work orders to maintain maximum efficiency, and ensure orders are produced on time for distribution. Analyzes effectiveness and efficiency levels and modifies adjustments in customer requirements.
• Coordinates and communicates with all departments on the production of scheduled items.
• Continuously strives to produce more visible, accurate and timely schedules. Evaluates, analyzes, recommends and implements enhancements to existing flows and processes to increase efficiency and effectiveness.
• Monitors and analyzes production statistics, such as downtime, productivity, etc. and provides recommendations on performance changes to existing standards.
• Assists in the coordination of forecasting and plant operation activities as they relate to the production plan. Leads and/or participates on various project teams to determine future planning needs, discuss trends, review plan success, and make adjustments as needed.
• Drives inventory down by balancing inventory carrying costs with costumer fill rates, plant capacity, supplier on time delivery, and inventory accuracy
• Ensure all relevant information and documentation is captured and handled uniformly within the system. Responsible for the accuracy and data integrity of the system as it pertains to production planning.
• May participate in long-term and short-term forecasting, identifying trends, and analyzing customer demands to ensure maximum efficiency and cost effectiveness.
• Ensures compliance with formulated planning strategies, policies and procedures.
• Other duties as assigned.

Education/Experience Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in business, supply chain management or equivalent.
• Typically requires a minimum of 2 years of planner and buyer experience which includes master production scheduling, inventory control and purchasing within a manufacturing environment.
• Process oriented production planning, process/systems development and implementation experience.
• Extensive knowledge of production, warehouse and shipping operations.
• Solid working knowledge of supply management and inventory control methods.
• Knowledge of receiving, quality, engineering and material flow processes.
• Good knowledge of business operations with a sharp focus on the order-to-cash cycle.
• Demonstrated excellent oral and written communication skills to effectively communicate with a variety of individuals and departments.
• Self-motivated independent thinker able to perform multiple tasks without direct supervision.

Job Type: Full-time

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• 401(k) 5% Match
• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Flexible spending account
• Health insurance
• Health savings account
• Life insurance
• Paid parental leave
• Paid time off
• Retirement plan
• Tuition reimbursement
• Vision insurance

Schedule:

• 8 hour shift

Application Question(s):

• What is your salary requirement?

Ability to Relocate:

• Colfax, NC 27235: Relocate before starting work (Required)

Work Location: In person