Buyer / Planner

Company Overview

Brooks Instrument (www.brooksinstrument.com) is an industry leader in flow and pressure instrumentation for critical applications. The company is headquartered in Hatfield, Pennsylvania (suburban Philadelphia) and has manufacturing locations in Pennsylvania, Hungary, Malaysia, and Korea, with sales and service offices worldwide. Its high‑tech products serve laboratory and process markets such as oil & gas, petrochemical, medical devices, waste water, life sciences, and analytical instruments. Brooks is a division of Illinois Tool Works (ITW), a Fortune 200 company operating in 56 countries with over 50,000 employees and nearly 10,000 active patents.

Role Overview

The Buyer/Planner reviews and schedules work orders based on capacity and material availability, executes purchase order releases for assigned commodities, and uses ERP systems to plan, purchase, schedule, and coordinate requirements for on‑time production. The role operates within organizational policies, establishes production schedules, and coordinates sources of supply with attention to total cost, quality, timely delivery, and reliability. Ownership of all inventory for the assigned item classes is required.

Responsibilities

• Plan, purchase, and schedule production activities to meet customer needs, marketing requirements, inventory, and service‑level objectives while ensuring continuous production flow.
• Provide sales and business teams with product lead times based on current business activity.
• Manage inventory to meet goals for active, slow, and obsolete stock, ensuring high on‑time delivery rates.
• Review production schedules in meetings, report supply‑chain status, and advise relevant parties of any delivery deviations.
• Maintain competitive lead times by managing supply‑chain and production activity; use macro‑level trending to recommend resource adjustments.
• Facilitate use of tools such as MRD, Kanban, in‑lining, and USA in production, demonstrating these techniques on the job.
• Release shop‑floor orders, strive for maximum on‑time delivery performance, and employ auto‑scheduling when possible.
• Understand and communicate component specifications to suppliers, including reading drawings.
• Achieve metrics and objectives while working effectively in a team environment.
• Maintain regular attendance and adhere to all safety procedures.
• Process Engineering Change Notices (ECNs) promptly and update open purchase orders to ensure correct revisions are produced.
• Support and manage assigned commodities identified in MRB, process returns, and ensure timely replacement or credit from suppliers.
• Support and implement continuous‑improvement initiatives to meet departmental goals and metrics.
• Follow Brooks Instrument Division/ITW policies, attendance, and safety guidelines.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Minimum 5 years of professional experience in a manufacturing environment, including planning, buying, and inventory control.
• Bachelor’s degree required.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills for cross‑functional collaboration.
• Proficiency with computers, word processing, and Excel spreadsheet software.
• Effective written and verbal communication.
• High adaptability and flexibility to new ideas, people, procedures, and changing environments.
• Ability to organize and prioritize work to meet deadlines.

Preferred Qualifications

• APICS/CPIM certification.
• Experience with AS400 / MAPICS ERP (highly desirable).

Benefits

• Competitive, merit‑based salary.
• Health and dental insurance.
• Company‑paid life insurance.
• Short‑ and long‑term disability coverage.
• 401(k) plan with generous company match.
• Vacation, personal days, and holidays.
• Continuing education reimbursement program.
• Flexible spending accounts.