Buyer/Planner

Position Summary The Material Planning Scheduler/Buyer manages material requirements, production schedules, inventory levels, and supplier relationships to support customer demand and operational objectives. This position serves as a key link between manufacturing, purchasing, sales, customer service, quality, and suppliers to ensure the timely availability of materials and finished goods while optimizing inventory investment and production efficiency. Working with minimal supervision, the Material Planning Scheduler/Buyer develops and executes purchasing and production plans, manages shop orders, maintains production schedules, monitors supplier performance, and drives continuous improvement initiatives that support on-time delivery, inventory reduction, lead-time improvements, and cost savings. Essential Duties and Responsibilities Production Planning & Scheduling Create, release, expedite, monitor, close, and reconcile shop orders to support customer demand and production requirements. Develop, maintain, and communicate production schedules for assigned value streams and manufacturing departments. Update and maintain scheduling tools, production boards, and planning systems to ensure schedule accuracy and visibility. Run and analyze Material Requirements Planning (MRP) reports to determine production priorities and material requirements. Understand and assist in the adjustment of manufacturing lot sizes to optimize production efficiency, throughput, and inventory levels. Assemble shop order documentation as needed, including bills of material (BOMs), routings, engineering drawings, and special instructions. Work closely with the Plant Manager, production supervisors, and department leaders to align schedules, capacity, staffing requirements, and production priorities Monitor work order status and proactively resolve schedule disruptions or capacity constraints. Identify and communicate production risks that may impact customer deliveries and work cross-functionally to develop recovery plans. Material Planning & Inventory Management Analyze customer demand, forecasts, historical usage, and inventory trends to determine material requirements. Ensure raw materials, purchased components, and finished goods inventory levels adequately support customer and production requirements. Balance inventory investment with customer service objectives while supporting inventory turn goals. Monitor inventory performance and take corrective action to address shortages, excess inventory, and slow-moving materials. Perform ongoing analysis of material consumption and demand patterns to improve planning accuracy. Coordinate inventory strategies that support production continuity and operational efficiency. Purchasing & Supplier Management Create, process, and manage purchase orders for raw materials, subcontracted services, MRO supplies, and other operational requirements. Monitor supplier delivery performance and expedite orders as necessary to maintain production schedules. Develop and maintain effective supplier relationships to support quality, delivery, cost, and service expectations. Evaluate supplier performance metrics and implement corrective actions when performance expectations are not met. Collaborate with suppliers to improve lead times, reduce costs, and resolve supply chain issues. Involvement with Quality and Operations teams to address supplier-related quality concerns, nonconforming materials, and corrective actions. Maintain accurate purchasing data, pricing, lead times, and supplier information within the ERP system. Customer Service & Cross-Functional Collaboration Communicate proactively with Sales, Customer Service, Operations, and Leadership regarding order status, material availability, and delivery risks. Investigate and assist with formulating responses to customer inquiries related to product availability, production status, and expected shipment schedules. Partner with Engineering, Manufacturing, Quality, and Supply…

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