Job Description

Summary  

The Buyer position exists to support Company operations with an uninterrupted flow of materials and services.  A source of cost saving and cost avoidance, to generate profits and maintain the organization's competitive position.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities include the following.  Other duties may be assigned. 

• Develops reliable and effective sources of supply. 
• Identifies investigates, selects, and develops competent and responsive suppliers. 
• Achieves higher value in the combination of price, quality, and service. 
• Negotiates agreements and addresses major problems. 
• Develops professional relationships with suppliers that ensure both the customer and supplier organizations benefit from the relationship. 
• Analyzes price and cost.  Negotiates the lowest cost that is consistent with the level of quality and service required. 
• Processes debit memos. 
• Achieves maximum integration with other departments to improve material standardization, make or buy decisions, alternate sources or material options, quality, price, and delivery issues. 
• Manages the Supply Chain as a Commodity Team by supporting and developing the Material Planners to achieve joint goals in cost reduction, inventory turns, and on time shipments. 
• Maintains the MRP (Material Requirement Planning) system database for purchase parts according to the Material Control procedures. 
• Reviews requisitions. 
• Confers with vendors to obtain product information such as price, availability, and delivery schedule. 
• Selects products for purchase by testing, observing, or examining items. 
• Estimates values according to knowledge of market price. 
• Determines methods of procurement, such as direct purchase or bid. 
• Reviews bid proposals and negotiates contracts within budgetary limitations and scope of authority. 
• Maintains procurement records, such as items or services purchased, costs, delivery, product quality or performance, and inventories. 
• Discusses defective or unacceptable goods or services with inspection or quality control personnel, users, vendors, and others to determine source of trouble and takes corrective action. 
• Approves invoices for payment. 
• Expedites delivery of goods to users. 
• Participates in additional projects or services as directed by the Material Control Manager. 
• Works within the guidelines established in the Material Control procedures and Work Instructions regarding vendor visitation, quoting, commitments, and all Company policies.

Supervisory Responsibilities

This job has no supervisory responsibilities.