Position Summary:

Responsible for planning jobs, purchasing raw materials, and inventory replenishment using company software. The goal of the Purchasing Agent / Planner is to ensure that an optimum amount of product is produced and shipped on time.

Essential Functions:

• Organize manufacturing jobs by scheduling jobs, purchasing raw materials, and setting priorities to meet and maintain production needs.
• Negotiate pricing and terms with vendors.
• Control inventories, costs, and volumes.
• Coordinate purchasing assistant’s job. Includes launching work orders, calling in purchases, and prioritizing raw material needs with the QA / QC Department.
• Establish and maintain timelines for all custom and regular planned products. Relay these timelines to appropriate department heads.
• Maintain excellent attendance.

Marginal Functions:

• Maintain database supporting all production and sales needs.
• Work with QC on samples of new raw materials and any changes of raw material.
• Work with QC on all rejected raw materials. Coordinate any return / reorder.
• Research new materials for sales and custom sales. Work with all departments to coordinate schedules of new product introductions.
• Maintain open communication with Production Manager, Sales, and all other Departments.
• Work with Receiving Department to expedite and de-expedite materials based on production requirements
• Provide in-depth analysis and identification of excess material for use toward current production requirements. Make sound decisions on material priorities to minimize the total cost to the company.

Physical Requirements:

• Vision, hearing, and speaking to meet performance standard.
• Normal office conditions

Equipment Used:

Computers, terminals, printers, calculators, phones, photocopiers, and fax machine.

Work Environment:

• May require overtime during peak periods or as business needs dictate.
• Requires compliance to all department and company Good Manufacturing Practices and Standard Operation Procedures.
• Requires ability to work in an environment that contains fumes, dust, odors, noise, chemicals, temperature variations, and varying levels of ventilation.
• Requires team-orientation, common sense and good judgment, professional behavior, effective communication (oral and written), and problem solving skills.
• Requires ability to take and follow directions, time management skills, organizational development and improvement.

Qualifications:

• Four-year degree in Business, related field or equivalent.
• Two years purchasing / planning experience in manufacturing / production environment.
• Possess effective communication skills with both technical and non-technical personnel within team management environment.
• Ability to negotiate with outside vendors.
• Experience with personal computers (spreadsheet, Word, E-mail) and other PC or server applications.
• Work with minimal supervision and direction to achieve desired results.
• Ability to make decisions which have a significant impact on company profitability.
• Basic knowledge of process manufacturing, quality, and engineering disciplines.