Buyer/Planner, Sr in Columbia, South Carolina at Shakespeare Company LLC

Position Summary

Senior Buyer Planner is responsible for tasks related to buying raw materials and planning production. Works closely with cross-functional groups to improve customer on-time delivery, inventory turns, and overall business costs through strategic sourcing, production planning, and leading the SIOP process.

Essential Functions

1. Responsible for the efficient management of scheduling/planning of manufacturing equipment on a daily basis using MRP, Master Schedules and Forecast Modules. Ensures setups, startups, and changeovers are considered to minimize downtime and scrap.
2. Responsible for all tactical aspects of direct & indirect material purchase orders through the use of the company’s ERP system, internal customer requisitions or other areas as assigned.
3. Serves as the company’s liaison with suppliers to build effective relationships, gather data on product & market trends and negotiation interactions. Also leads contract negotiations to deliver the best total cost of ownership to the organization.
4. Tracks market trends through government & third party indices, supplier network, professional journals and other sources to effectively advise pricing trends to developing contractual strategies and share with the organization.
5. Regularly completes business supply base segmentation analysis and other supply risk mitigation practices to limit company’s procurement exposure, determine areas for alternate sources and supply agreements as required.
6. Leads SIOP process to balance supply & demand requirements to satisfy external & internal customer needs while optimizing the organization’s inventory levels.
7. Support new product launches for the supply chain attributes to achieve timely and successful introductions.
8. Continually develops personal expertise in the supply chain function and ERP system knowledge to drive process improvements and share with peers & co-workers.
9. Create, implement and monitor supply chain KPI’s to drive process improvements.
10. Discuss defective or unacceptable new goods or services with users, vendors and others to determine cause of problem and take corrective and preventative actions.

Secondary Functions

• The ability to read and understand documents and perform mathematical calculations
• The ability to work cooperatively and communicate with others
• The ability to deal politely with customers and coworkers
• The ability to perform several tasks at once
• The ability to follow direction or instruction

Position Specifications

• Bachelor’s degree is required.
• Minimum 8 years’ experience and progressive experience in materials management, production planning, purchasing or other related Supply Chain activities required.
• Experience with ERP systems as well as working knowledge of manufacturing concepts such as world class manufacturing, manufacturing standardization and simplification is required.
• Highly analytical with a background in configuration/problem solving of planning parameters on an ERP system is required. Practical experiences operating relational databases, advanced skill sets in Excel and Access and familiar with creating ad hoc reports is required.
• The Association for Operations Management (APICS) CPIM, CSCP or CFPIM, Institute for Supply Management (ISM) C.P.M., CPSM® or CPSM®, Six Sigma or other professional certifications are preferred