Buyer Planner – Manufacturing

Purchasing & Supplier Coordination

• Create and manage purchase orders for electrical and electromechanical components.
• Purchase materials such as wires, cables, energy meters, bus bars, circuit breakers, contactors, transformers, enclosures, cable assemblies, and switchgear components.
• Execute purchasing activities using established supplier pricing and agreements.
• Identify and qualify suppliers based on engineering requirements, lead times, quality, and supply needs.
• Monitor supplier performance, including delivery timing, quality, and lead-time compliance.
• Use spot buys and blanket purchase orders when appropriate for standard and engineered materials.
• Monitor potential supply risks, including long-lead, sole-source, and single-source components.
• Coordinate with suppliers to resolve purchasing and delivery issues.
• Support supplier development and sourcing activities, including domestic and international suppliers.

Material Planning & MRP

• Use ERP/MRP systems to review demand, calculate material requirements, and plan purchases around production schedules.
• Maintain accurate item information, including lead times, safety stock, minimum order quantities, and reorder points.
• Monitor inventory to maintain production supply while controlling excess material.
• Identify shortages and expedite critical components when necessary.
• Coordinate material availability with production schedules and customer delivery requirements.
• Understand the complete material flow from purchase order → receipt → put-away → picking → assembly → shipping.
• Perform cycle counts and inventory reconciliations and investigate discrepancies.
• Maintain accurate supply chain and ERP data.

Production & Engineering Support

• Work closely with production scheduling, engineering, quality, logistics, receiving, and sales.
• Support new product introductions (NPI), engineering changes (ECOs), and bill of materials (BOM) accuracy.
• Help resolve material issues affecting production and delivery schedules.
• Coordinate with quality teams regarding supplier corrective actions, non-conforming materials, and first-article inspections.
• Track inbound shipments and work with receiving teams to resolve delivery discrepancies.
• Provide material availability and supply-risk information for customer delivery concerns.
• Participate in SIOP meetings and production readiness reviews.

Reporting & Process Improvement

• Monitor supply chain performance metrics such as:
  • Purchase Price Variance (PPV)
  • Supplier On-Time Delivery (SOTD)
  • Inventory turns
  • Material shortages
• Identify opportunities to improve purchasing, planning, inventory, and material flow processes.
• Support cost-reduction and supplier improvement initiatives.
• Contribute to Lean Manufacturing and Kaizen activities.
• Promote accurate and effective use of ERP/MRP systems.

• 5+ years of buyer/planner experience in a manufacturing or assembly environment.
• Demonstrated experience purchasing and planning materials for manufactured or assembled products.
• Experience purchasing electrical, electronic, or electromechanical components, including wires, cables, energy meters, breakers, bus bars, enclosures, or similar components.
• Strong working knowledge of ERP/MRP systems, such as SAP, Oracle, NetSuite, Epicor, Infor, or similar platforms.
• Understanding of MRP logic, demand planning, material requirements, and production flow.
• Ability to manage materials from purchasing through receipt and production.
• Ability to read and understand engineering drawings, BOMs, and technical specifications.
• Strong Microsoft Excel skills, including PivotTables, VLOOKUP, and supply/demand analysis.
• Strong organization and communication skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and resolve material issues under deadlines.
• Ability to work on-site in a manufacturing environment; remote work is not available.

• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Business, Operations Management, Engineering, or a related field.
• APICS certification or qualifications, including CPIM or CSCP, highly preferred.
• Experience with power distribution, electrical switchgear, UPS, or critical power equipment.
• Familiarity with PDCs, STS units, RPPs, panelboards, and MV/LV switchgear assemblies.
• Knowledge of UL, ANSI, IEC, NEMA, and NEC standards applicable to power distribution equipment.
• Experience with Lean/Six Sigma or other continuous improvement methods.
• Supplier development and international sourcing experience, including Asia, Mexico, or Europe.
• Familiarity with customs and import requirements for electrical components.
• ISM C.P.M. or CPSM certification.

• Purchasing & Material Planning
• ERP/MRP Systems
• Demand Planning
• Inventory Management
• Supplier Management
• Production Scheduling
• Electrical/Electromechanical Components
• BOM & Engineering Documentation
• Excel & Data Analysis
• Problem Solving
• Cross-Functional Coordination
• Continuous Improvement

• Work is primarily performed in a manufacturing and assembly facility.
• Exposure to moderate shop-floor noise, electrical equipment, and industrial materials.
• Frequent computer use for ERP transactions, purchasing, data analysis, email, and supplier communication.
• Occasional travel to supplier facilities, warehouses, and customer locations.
• Ability to stand and walk through production areas for extended periods.
• May occasionally lift up to 25 lbs. during physical inventory activities.