Corporate Purchasing Specialist

• Oct 2018 - Present

Senior Buyer

• Jul 2006 - Mar 2018

• Oversee the purchasing of MRO materials, capital equipment (Star CNC machines, Hydromats, Bar Loaders, Floor Scrubbers), chemicals and oils, packaging materials (boxes, inserts, dividers, etc.), printed materials and office supplies. Established blanket orders with an integrated tooling supplier. • Negotiate contracts for the procurement of required materials. Establish strategies to improve supply chain, solve shortage issues and strengthen supplier relationships. Expedite orders as necessary, identifying actual and potential delivery problems, and taking proactive steps to inform the appropriate personnel. • Manage the day-to-day business relationships with key suppliers through supporting activities including ordering, communication of demand/ volume/ delivery time changes, issue resolution, purchase price variances (PPV), return to vendor (RTV) transactions, follow up on backorders, etc. • Develop supplier scorecards and performance metrics for purchasing functions. Monitor performance to ensure compliance with contractual obligations and to determine the need for changes, and identify process improvement opportunities and recommend actions to improve on-time delivery performance. • Assist internal and external customers by interpreting laws, policies, codes and regulations pertaining to purchasing. Answer inquiries both orally and in writing concerning operations, prepare and present special reports to various groups, and provide training to staff on purchasing procedures. Show less

Purchasing Agent

• Sep 2005 - Jun 2006

• Oversaw logistics and the management of all assigned supply chain activity. Purchased the materials to support production and ensure the cost, delivery, inventory and quality targets were met. Worked with vendors to expedite delivery and resolve any product issues. • Employed strong analytical and planning skills in order to establish supply requirements. Reviewed the demand forecasts and coordinated all supply schedules to control costs, minimize unnecessary stock/inventory and ensured that supplies are available when needed. • Administered bidding processes and contracts for vendor performance/compliance within established limits (e.g. prepared specifications, evaluated bids, recommended vendors, conducted bid meetings, etc.) for the purpose of securing items and/services within budget and in compliance with regulatory requirements. • Executed the purchase order process, under the direction of the Purchasing Manager. Prospected for new purchasing accounts, using discretion when negotiating with customers to close purchase orders and overcome objections. Contacted vendors to correct discrepancies with quantity and quality for orders. Show less

Senior Buyer

• Jul 1999 - Sep 2005

• Managed all aspects of strategic and day-to-day purchasing activities, and facilitated purchasing policies and planning. Measured supplier performance against performance metrics; identifying risks and flagging concerns. Maintained proper re-order points for materials not scheduled through MRP. • Reviewed the overall “value" offered by the existing suppliers and ensure that purchasing terms remained competitive. Negotiated contracts with approved suppliers to reduce costs and minimize the potential for price increases, and measured supplier performance and developed continuous improvement processes. • Utilized all available data to analyze market conditions which may affect procurement, and made recommendations for procurement and materials management strategies. Applied cost effective measures to optimize buy decisions within a manufacturing environment. Show less

Purchasing Manager

• Jul 1997 - Jun 1999

• Managed contract manufacturing processes and purchasing staff, and conducted on-going reviews of subcontracted supply sources. Monitored material inventories and actions messages, and enforced and encouraged purchasing personnel compliance with policies of ethical conduct in all relationships. • Located vendors and interviewed them in order to determine product availability and terms of sales. Prepared and processed requisitions and purchase orders, reviewed purchase order claims and contracts for conformance to company policies, and maintained records of goods ordered and received. • Controlled purchasing department budgets; forecasting levels of demand for services and products to meet the business needs, and keeping a constant check on inventory levels. Developed the organization's purchasing strategy; producing related reports and statistics using computer software. • Processed purchasing-related information (e.g. bid documents, tabulations, requisitions, electronic procurement, product specifications, statements of work, performance terms, contracts, etc.) for the purpose of updating and distributing information, and complying with established accounting practices. Show less