Materials Buyer/Planner

Company / Location Information

We are one of the world’s leading manufacturers of water heating and water treatment technologies in the world. We are a $3.5 billion company with 140+ years history and we employ more than 12,000 individuals globally who pride themselves on providing the world with innovative water technology. We are committed to Continuous Improvement, not just in our factories or processes, but in our people.

Primary Function

The Materials Buyer/Planner reports directly to the Materials Manager, Production Manager or Global Sourcing Director and is responsible for day-to-day effective rebuying and planning of direct and indirect materials. Materials Buyer/Planners are accountable for customer service levels and the material flow in their area of responsibility, as well as development and execution of process improvements activity. Will also be involved with onboarding new suppliers as they are identified to help them understand AOS purchasing practices. 

Responsibilities

• Buying of direct and indirect materials required for assembly in the designated areas of responsibility.
• Analyze MRP and forecast data, generate purchase orders, and manage Kanban’s to meet production needs with minimal inventory investment.
• Efficiently plan sales orders to facilitate flow in responsible areas in order of their priority, taking into considerations the resources & capacity available.
• Review Engineering Change Notices and take necessary actions to manage product transitions while minimizing obsolescence and end of life (EOL).
• Supports level-loading plan and all material kitting processes defined for the cells in his/her responsibility.
• Expedites material when necessary to cover spikes in demand.
• Inventory management activities including Kanban management, card resizing, material presentation at the cell; assures inventory accuracy by proper inventory transactions and periodic cycle counts.
• Resolves issues with suppliers relative to material availability and quality.
• Coordinates material shipments with internal and external logistics services.
• Achieve inventory reduction goals while ensuring safety stock minimums are secured and no gap outs of components or materials occur.
• Support 95% on-time delivery to customer request dates.
• Identifies and develops improved material supply processes to support lean initiatives.
• Ensures high quality products from suppliers within commodities of responsibility.
• Material master management and audit.
• Supports Accounting Department with payments and invoice discrepancies in his/her areas of responsibility. Also ensure compliance with company DPO goals.
• Work with Sourcing team to improve and develop the supply chain in conjunction with our strategic goals.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required
• Minimum of 5 years of Purchasing/Planning experience which includes 4 years experience in a Manufacturing environment or 3 years of International Sourcing experience
• High level of integrity and ethics
• Experience with plastic, resin, parts, MRO, and facility services a plus.

Additional Qualifications:

• SAP ERP System knowledge
• Planning or purchasing experience in a Manufacturing environment
• High level of skill with the Microsoft Office programs: Excel, Word, PowerPoint, and Access
• CPM/CPIM/CPSM certification or JDE/Oracle/SAP experience a plus
• Strong, self-directed, and results-oriented
• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• Proactive: bias for action - sense of urgency
• High degree of accuracy and attention to detail
• Ability to work in cross-functional teams
• Strong analytical and problem solving skills
• Understanding of PPAP and/or Quality Standards
• Utilize Supplier Scorecards and provide relevant information to AOS SAP system

We Offer

Competitive compensation package and comprehensive benefits plans which include medical and dental insurance, company-sponsored life insurance, retirement security savings plan, short- and long-term disability programs and tuition assistance.