Buyer/Planner

Location: Mentor, OH

About the role

Responsible for the execution of Maintenance, Repair, and Operations (MRO) items, including tools, spare parts, vendor-managed inventory (VMI), and safety equipment. Ensures timely fulfillment of immediate operational needs through effective procurement practices. Monitors and evaluates supplier performance, with a focus on on-time delivery and product quality, to support supply chain reliability and continuous improvement.

Responsibilities

• Run and review MRP daily for assigned buyer codes and product lines; act on action messages to release, reschedule, expedite, de-expedite, or cancel purchase orders (POs) and work orders (WOs).
• Develop and maintain material and production plans that balance customer demand, capacity, lead times, and inventory targets such as months of supply and safety stock.
• Use sales history, forecasts, open orders, and demand trends, including seasonality, to plan requirements and adjust plans as demand changes.
• Establish and maintain item master planning parameters for buy, make, and supply items, including lead times, safety stock, order quantities, minimum order quantities (MOQs), and order policies.
• Create, release, and maintain WOs to coordinate production workflow, and update them as schedules change.
• Plan and prioritize production schedules to maximize schedule attainment and minimize delays and customer disruption.
• Determine the manpower, equipment, and raw materials needed to cover production demand; identify capacity constraints and propose solutions.
• Perform shortage analysis, lead regular shortage and past-due reviews, and drive recovery plans with production, the warehouse, and suppliers.
• Control inventory for assigned buyer codes to meet targets for turns, months on hand, and excess and obsolete (E&O) reduction.
• Plan and issue supplier releases and blanket order schedules based on forecasts and inventory positions.
• Plan and process inventory transfers between company locations to support demand at other sites.
• Coordinate the implementation of ECNs with the cross-functional team, including phase-in and phase-out planning and use of existing inventory.
• Purchase packaging, and MRO/indirect items (office supplies, safety, maintenance, and repairs) in the company ERP system to support the plan.
• Work with Account Payable, staff, and vendors to resolve billing, invoice, and PO discrepancies.
• Provide in-depth analysis, including shortage, spend, inventory, and supplier performance analysis, and report planning KPIs to improve OTD, WO/PO past dues, schedule attainment, and inventory control.
• Identify, propose, and implement cost reduction and process improvement opportunities in planning.
• Collaborate with quality control, the warehouse, production, sales, and other staff.
• Support the company values and product opportunities.
• Additional responsibilities as required.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in a related field required.
• APICS/ASCM certification (CPIM or CSCP) preferred.
• Impeccable attention to detail with the ability to work independently and collaboratively within a team, adapting to new tasks and changing priorities.
• Able to thrive in a high-stress, fast-paced, cross-functional environment.
• Advanced MS Excel (pivot tables, lookups, and planning models) and MS Word.
• Working knowledge of MRP/ERP systems, including item master planning parameters, BOMs, routings, and WO/PO management.
• Experience with reporting tools such as Power BI is a plus.
• 2+ years of experience in production or material planning and purchasing in a manufacturing environment, including hands-on use of MRP, inventory planning, and scheduling, plus knowledge of logistics, and vendor/supplier management.

Benefits

• Room to grow your skills and your career
• A close team that works hard and cares about the people it hires
• Health, Dental, and Vision Insurance – Effective Day 1
• Paid Time Off
• 401(k) Match – Immediate Vesting
• Paid Holidays
• Paid Parental Leave
• Shift Differential Pay
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Life Insurance – Company Paid
• Short-Term Disability Insurance – Company Paid
• Referral Bonuses