Buyer / Planner

Location: Hartland, WI, US, 53029

About the role

Reporting to the Purchasing Manager, the Buyer/Planner is responsible for the timely procurement of certain assigned commodities considering factors of cost, delivery, quality requirements, and conformance to applicable specifications. This position ensures on-time delivery to both external and internal customers while planning production to meet delivery commitments.

Responsibilities

• Timely ordering of required materials and requisition review.
• Maintain ERP system parameters such as supplier lead times.
• Confer with vendors to obtain product or service information such as price, availability, and delivery schedule.
• Determine method of procurement such as direct purchase or bid.
• Create, solicit, and analyze supplier RFQs.
• Maintain procurement records such as items or services purchased, costs, delivery, product quality or performance, and inventories.
• Discuss defective or unacceptable goods or services with inspection or quality control personnel, vendors, and others to determine source of trouble and take corrective action.
• Expedite delivery of goods to users.
• Verify nomenclature and specifications of purchase requests.
• Verify invoices from suppliers with bids and purchase orders and approve invoices for payment.
• Negotiate pricing and delivery.
• Use MRP to initiate and change purchase orders, maintain adequate levels of inventory using data and visual inspections, and update specifications on inventory items.
• Expedite late purchase orders.
• Collaborate with Quality and suppliers to disposition off-standard purchased material.
• Identify root cause and initiate corrective action.
• Send copies of updated material specifications to vendors.
• Participate in various continuous improvement projects as required.
• Interact with internal customers to provide timely and accurate information on product availability, schedule changes, and general inquiries.
• Minimize surplus and obsolete inventory.
• Play a key role in new product startups pertaining to materials, training, interplant coordination, cross-functional team coordination, Engineering Change Order implementation, and systems development.
• Support Receiving, Shipping, and Inventory Control operations throughout the process.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience preferred.
• 3+ years of related experience.

Skills

• Team player with excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong organizational skills and detail-oriented.
• Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals.
• Ability to write routine reports and correspondence.
• Ability to calculate figures and amounts such as discounts, interest, commissions, proportions, percentages, area, circumference, and volume.
• Ability to apply concepts of basic algebra, geometry, and blueprint reading.
• Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists.
• Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.
• Understands and supports KPIs in daily work.
• Experienced/proficient in Microsoft Excel and MS Office.

Benefits

• Free coffee daily
• 11 paid holidays
• Vacation and paid sick time
• Medical, Dental, Vision insurance, effective day 1
• 401(k) with company match
• Paid parental leave
• Tuition assistance
• Disability insurance
• Dress for your day

About Columbus McKinnon

Columbus McKinnon is a leading worldwide designer, manufacturer, and marketer of intelligent motion solutions that move the world forward and improve lives by efficiently and ergonomically moving, lifting, positioning, and securing materials. Key products include hoists, crane components, precision conveyor systems, rigging tools, light rail workstations, and digital power and motion control systems. We are focused on commercial and industrial applications that require the safety and quality provided by our superior design and engineering know-how. Columbus McKinnon is a publicly traded company that has been in business for almost 150 years—proud of our heritage, where we come from, and where we’re going. As Columbus McKinnon grows globally, so does our need for driven and inspired employees.